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Australian Rugby officials have declared the next 10 years will be a “golden decade” for the game, with men’s and women’s World Cups at home creating “once-in-a-generation opportunities” to rebuild the code after years of decline. Releasing a bold new “From Green to Gold” strategy plan covering the next four years, Rugby Australia declared its purpose was “to become the world’s No.1 rugby playing nation”, with aims to develop a “a thriving and sustainable Australian rugby ecosystem” with a raft of high-level expectations. Among them, as well as building a fan base of “50 per cent of Australians”, is a plan to increase winning rates to 70 per cent for all national teams and secure medals in rugby sevens at the 2028 LA Olympics after missing out in Paris. Under new coach Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies won six of 13 Tests in 2024, a win rate of just 46 per cent, but one of those wins included taking down old foes England at Twickenham, a victory sparked by code hopper Joseph Akuso Suaalii, who looms as a key man in RA’s big vision for more success. The plan is underpinned by three pillars – performance excellence, participation growth and promotion excellence – with guiding principles officials believe can help re-establish rugby as the major code it once was. National team success could define the game’s future and under the pillar tagged performance excellence, the plan declares the Wallabies and other Australian rugby teams will: • Win the British and Irish Lions series in 2025 • Compete on the final weekend at the men’s 2027 RWC and women’s 2029 RWC • Improve our win rate by 2029 to more than 70 per cent for all teams and win gold medals medals at LA2028 – Win two Super Rugby Pacific titles Those ambitions will be aided by restructuring the national high-performance system to align national teams, super rugby teams and national academy and pathway teams to help with “greater consistency, alignment and quality in practices across Australia”. RA chief executive Phil Waugh said there was only one way forward after too many years of the sport being disjointed. “Australian rugby is united, aligned, and poised for success on and off the field,” he said. “We believe this strategy will be a landmark in Australia’s rugby story, unlocking unprecedented success and ushering in a new era of growth and unity. “The future has never looked brighter.” Originally published as Making two World Cup finals and winning Olympic medals in 2028 key pillars of new Rugby Australia plan
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad , but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. “You will see there are skills" among the rebels, al-Sharaa said in a video shared on a rebel messaging channel. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad , a decision made by President Vladimir Putin . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons , security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. “Don’t be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!” In southern Turkey , Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he’s alive.” Prime minister says government is operational, but UN official says it's paralyzed Jalali, the prime minister, has sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a U.N. official said some government services had been paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” Britain, U.S. considering removing insurgent group from terror list Britain and the U.S. are both considering whether to remove the main anti-Assad rebel group from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began as an offshoot of al-Qaida but cut ties with the group years ago and has worked to present a more moderate image. The group's leader, al-Sharaa, “is saying some of the right things about the protection of minorities, about respecting people’s rights,” British Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said, adding that a change would be considered “quite quickly.” But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking later during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said it was "far too early” to make that decision. In Washington, a Biden administration official noted that HTS will be an “important component” in Syria's future and that the U.S. needs to “engage with them appropriately.” Another administration official said the U.S. remains in a “wait and see” mode on whether to remove the designation. Both officials requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing internal deliberations. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that such designations are constantly under review. Even while it is in place, the designation does not bar U.S. officials from speaking with members or leaders of the group, he said. The U.S. also announced it was sending its special envoy for hostage affairs to Beirut to seek information about the whereabouts of Austin Tice, a journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago and who President Joe Biden has said is believed to be alive. Israel confirms it struck suspected chemical weapons and rockets Israelis welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next. Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos. “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters Monday. Saar did not provide details about the targets, but the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they included weapons warehouses, research centers, air defense systems and aircraft squadrons. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are military sites related to Iran and Hezbollah . Israeli officials rarely comment on individual strikes. Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people . But it is widely believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in subsequent years. Turkey says its allies have taken northern town Officials in Turkey, which is the main supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad, say its allies have taken full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from a U.S.-supported and Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The SDF said a Turkish drone struck in the village of al-Mistriha in eastern Syria, killing 12 civilians, including six children. Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The SDF has also been a key ally of the United States in the war against the Islamic State group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday warned against allowing Islamic State or Kurdish fighters to take advantage of the situation, saying Turkey will prevent Syria from turning into a “haven for terrorism.” ___ Mroue reported from Beirut and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Mehmet Guzel at the Oncupinar border crossing in Turkey, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria Sarah El Deeb, Bassem Mroue And Tia Goldenberg, The Associated Press
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SANTA CLARA — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. Shanahan said the team is still working through the options of how to deal with Campbell, who walked to the locker room in the middle of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night when he refused to enter the game. “His actions from the game are not something you can do to your team or teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said Friday. “We’re working through the semantics right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Related Story: Campbell’s Future with 49ers in Jeopardy Shanahan said Campbell won’t be part of the team for the final three weeks. Teams have the ability to suspend players up to four games without pay for conduct detrimental to the team, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Niners also could just waive Campbell outright, which would allow him potentially to be claimed or signed by another team. Campbell signed a $5 million, one-year contract with San Francisco in March. Campbell had started 12 of the first 13 games of the season and played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched Thursday night after Dre Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl. Related Story: Campbell’s Refusal to Play Shocks Team When the 49ers wanted to put Campbell in the game in the third quarter because Greenlaw was sidelined with soreness in his Achilles tendon, Campbell refused, something Shanahan said has never happened to him in his time as a head coach or an assistant in the NFL. Shanahan said Friday that he has not gotten any explanation from Campbell on why he didn’t play. Campbell then walked off the field with a towel draped over his head and went into the locker room before the end of the game with the Rams that almost ended the 49ers’ playoff hopes. Shanahan said he didn’t send Campbell to the locker room and didn’t know why he left the field. “Once I found out he wasn’t playing, I moved on to people we could count on,” he said. Related Story: Teammates Express Disappointment and Anger Campbell’s decision left his teammates angered and bewildered. “He’s a professional,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said after the game. “He’s been playing for a long time. If he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out. He could have told them before the game. So I feel like that was selfish. It definitely hurt the team. Dre went down and we needed a linebacker. ... For him to do that, that’s sucker (stuff) in my opinion. He’s probably going to get cut soon.” Ward is one of several 49ers who has played through injury or personal tragedy during a trying season for San Francisco. Ward’s 1-year-old daughter died on Oct. 28 but he has returned and played the last three games for San Francisco. Tight end George Kittle called Campbell’s actions “stupid” and “immature.” “It’s one person making a selfish decision,” Kittle said. “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.” The 31-year-old Campbell signed in the offseason with San Francisco after being cut by Green Bay in March. He had been an All-Pro in 2021 for the Packers but his play fell off the last two seasons in Green Bay. That led to Campbell complaining on social media that he was misused by Green Bay. He expressed excitement about being with a new team but he never got back to his All-Pro level. Campbell had a few bright moments in San Francisco this season but struggled frequently with tackling and in coverage.The Philadelphia Eagles were already stacked with weapons before they signed running back Saquon Barkley in NFL free agency. But now it's clearer than ever that after seven straight wins, including a career-high 255 rushing yards night from him in the win over the Los Angeles Rams , the Eagles have created a monster of an offense. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said it best about the current state of the Eagles' offense that stars Barkley following the Week 12 victory. Jalen Hurts on Saquon Barkley and him being added to the other weapons on the Eagles offense “When you combine an issue with other issues you got a problem” pic.twitter.com/7IrRSj87ES "He's a hell of a player, he's a hell of a player," Hurts said. "I said that after the Jacksonville game and how blessed he is to do some of the things he's capable of. And when you accompany and issue with other issues -- you become a problem. I think we've got a lot of talent on our team, but I think we're fortunate when we're all together. I think that's evident out there. When we can find our rhythm in how we play and feed off of one another. And he set the tone for us, especially at the end." Not only are the Eagles scary in the ground game but they're just as dangerous in the passing game as long as A.J. Brown is healthy. It only gets worse for opponents knowing Hurts isn't afraid to use his legs and that Barkley can catch just as good as he runs too. Philly's offense ranks No. 6 heading into Week 13 and their defense balances them out well at No. 7. This Eagles team, which started the season looking concerning, is well on their way to a playoff run and even in the Super Bowl conversation. Of course, a lot of that can be attributed to the addition of Barkley. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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'Breaking of gridlock' between Quebec, N.L. is the envy of former premiers ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Former Newfoundland and Labrador premiers say a draft energy agreement signed Thursday with Quebec marks a historic break in a long-standing political standoff. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press Dec 13, 2024 11:03 AM Dec 13, 2024 11:05 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Andrew Furey, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding during an announcement in St.John's, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. Former Newfoundland and Labrador premiers say a draft agreement signed Thursday with Quebec marked significant headway in a long-standing political standoff they had tried and failed to make.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Former Newfoundland and Labrador premiers say a draft energy agreement signed Thursday with Quebec marks a historic break in a long-standing political standoff. Brian Tobin, who was premier from 1996 to 2000, describes the sweeping new energy contract as a long-awaited "breaking of political gridlock" between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Tobin says he has no doubt that ending the 1969 deal that gave Quebec nearly free electricity from Labrador was a top priority for every premier since Joey Smallwood, the man who signed the contract. Roger Grimes ran the province between 2001 to 2003, and he says all of the province's premiers wished they had found a willing partner in Quebec to reshape the agreement. Pointing to the province's unsuccessful attempts to challenge the deal in court, he says Quebec Premier François Legault had no obligation to throw out the contract but saw a good opportunity and showed political will. The two provinces signed an agreement in principle Thursday under which Quebec will pay higher rates for power and partner with Newfoundland and Labrador on new hydroelectric projects in Labrador. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix Paula Abdul settles lawsuit that alleged sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe Dec 13, 2024 11:58 AM Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar Dec 13, 2024 11:51 AM Paula Abdul settles lawsuit that alleged sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe Dec 13, 2024 11:46 AM Featured FlyerVB Holdings invests $10 million to expand fleet
Fugitive dog gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and netsForte Speech & Language Therapy Announces New Report on the Benefits of In-Home Speech Therapy 11-25-2024 09:08 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Spine PR Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1732071668.jpg Forte Speech & Language Therapy is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive new report highlighting the significant benefits of in-home speech therapy in Los Angeles [ https://www.fortespeech.com/ ] for individuals of all ages. The report outlines how in-home speech therapy can offer unique advantages, including enhanced convenience, individualized care, and better engagement for clients. As speech and language therapy plays a crucial role in improving communication, cognition, and quality of life, Forte's report underscores the increasing demand for home-based therapy sessions. This is true particularly for families with young children, elderly individuals, and those with mobility challenges. The report also presents data that demonstrate the positive outcomes of therapy delivered in the comfort of the home environment. The report takes a particular interest in children's speech therapy [ https://www.fortespeech.com/services/pediatric/ ] in an in-home setting, and its benefits for both kids with speech or language disorders, and their families. "Let's face it - we're all living busy, complicated lives," the report outlines. "Do you want to drive across Los Angeles in rush hour traffic after you've been working hard all day just to get to your speech therapy appointment?" But there's more to it than just convenience. When children receive speech therapy in their own home, it helps them to feel more at ease. This helps improve the efficacy of speech therapy from the first session when compared to in clinic services. All kids can benefit from this, the report outlines, but it's particularly beneficial for certain populations. For example, neurodivergent kids are often less accommodating to changes in schedule. This is also true for kids with anxiety-related speech disorders, like selective mutism, or for kids with diagnoses that affect their mobility, like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. In-home speech therapy also gives kids access to their favorite toys, which their speech therapist can use in treatment. But the benefits don't end there. When a child receives speech therapy interventions in their home, they have the chance to meet the whole family. This includes parents and caregivers, siblings, and anyone else who lives in the home. This makes it easier to get questions answered, but it actually improves a child's therapeutic outcomes. When everyone in the family is involved, they can more easily reinforce therapeutic goals. Forte Speech & Language Therapy's team of licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide evidence-based, in-home therapy across a variety of diagnoses. These include articulation disorders, developmental delays, stuttering, and more. The new report serves as a valuable resource for families and healthcare professionals seeking insights into the advantages of this flexible and impactful approach to therapy. The report, titled "Why Choose In-Home Speech Therapy? [ https://www.fortespeech.com/why-choose-in-home-speech-therapy/ ]" can be accessed via the clinic's website. Location: https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d4911.4754883458045!2d-119.306607!3d37.269168!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x2aad123f7b3f5da1%3A0x39a6352ab447aaac!2sForte%20Speech%20%26%20Language%20Therapy!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1732071720425!5m2!1sen!2sus Media Contact Company Name: Forte Speech & Language Therapy Contact Person: Kylie Puckett, MA, CCC-SLP Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=forte-speech-language-therapy-announces-new-report-on-the-benefits-of-inhome-speech-therapy ] Phone: +1 (818) 208 0027 City: Los Angeles State: California Country: United States Website: https://www.fortespeech.com/ This release was published on openPR.
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