Messi's son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watch
SNP ministers backed calls for free bus travel to be revoked for young people who commit anti-social behaviour. Scottish Labour had urged the Nats government to remove free passes from hoodlums amid concerns they are stoking a rise in bad behaviour. 2 Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Claire Baker backed the bus ban Credit: Alamy It comes after a survey by Unite the Union published earlier this month (NOV) found that 84 per cent of bus drivers reported an increase in instances of abuse at work over the last year. Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Claire Baker told MSPs: “There has to be consequences for persistent abusive behaviour towards bus drivers and passengers. “Aggressive, intimidating behaviour and vandalism is leading to the cancellation of bus services, impacting on other passengers, increased costs to operators as buses are taken off service for repairs, negatively impacting on their passenger numbers as they, including young people who are often the victims of assault and bullying connected to bus travel , choose not to travel by bus.” Official figures estimate the scheme, first introduced by SNP-Green ministers in 2022, will cost around £200million over the next financial year. READ MORE SCOTS POLITICS GENDER MUDDLE John Swinney says men can't get pregnant despite SNP lawyers arguing opposite FREEBIES ROW Under-fire SNP minister under MORE pressure over trip to glitzy film premiere Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said she has the “greatest sympathy” for bus drivers who are the victims of anti-social behaviour, as she confirmed the Scottish Government would vote in favour of the Labour motion calling for the passes to be removed from those acting improperly. She added: “We are developing a behaviour code with the intention that it will cover all concessionary bus passengers. “The vast majority of Scotland’s young people will not have any hesitation in agreeing to accept the responsibility that accompanies their entitlement.” It comes after Anas Sarwar demanded that SNP ministers must “end the scandal” of bus drivers facing violence from gangs of thuggish youths. Most read in The Scottish Sun TRAGIC SMASH Woman, 36, dies in horror crash between lorry and car on busy Scots road BUS BEAST Kilmarnock fan famous for foul-mouthed post-match rants exposed as paedophile THREAT CONCERN Glasgow councillor APOLOGISES for Gers fans comment in shock pub row RAID HORROR Moment robbers attack ITV star with HAMMER after storming his jewellery shop The Scottish Labour leader made the call ahead of a Holyrood vote on Wednesday on a scheme to take free bus passes off misbehaving thugs. Mr Sarwar said: “Enough is enough — it’s time that the Scottish government woke up to the scale of the violence and intimidation that bus drivers face.” As Scotland mourns a political titan, what is Alex Salmond's legacy? Free bus travel for under-22s was first introduced by the Scottish Government back in January 2022, having been pushed forward by the Scottish Greens . And official figures estimate it will cost around £200million over the next financial year. 2 The SNP has backed calls for free bus travel to be scrapped for thug youngsters Credit: Alamy
Bryant defeats Tennessee State 97-85
A quarter-century ago, Michael and Patricia Ferry diligently prepped for the potential crash of computer systems across the world as the year changed from 1999 to 2000. The "Y2K bug" whipped up concerns across the globe about a technological collapse that could affect computer-reliant businesses, governments and more. As programmers shored up computer infrastructures worldwide, countless survival guides — many with intense titles such as "The Y2K Tidal Wave: Year 2000 Economic Survival" and "The Millennium Meltdown" — were published. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.DENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'"
Jimmy Carter, Longest-Living U.S. President, Dies at 100By ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Related Articles National Politics | Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia National Politics | Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Political stress: Can you stay engaged without sacrificing your mental health? Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”
ASSOCHAM Hosts Odisha Edumeets and Excellence Awards 2024
Gophers look to duplicate 2019 upset of Penn State on SaturdayThe ceremony at Rodney Parade will celebrate the health and care providers across South Wales, and the finalists have been revealed. Arian Care believes that happy, well supported and valued staff provide the best possible standard of care and support to individuals so therefore invests heavily in its staff team. Among things it does are: above average rates of pay and mileage; supportive office team, open door policy, regular meetings and social opportunities provided; snacks, drinks always available for staff ( and their children) when they visit the office; box of toys and activities for children that visit the office with their parent - this is to support Arian Care's vision of being a family focused employer; period, menopause and andropause positive employer that supply's sanitary products to all staff available from the office. St David's Hospice Care employs just over 200 staff and every single person is important and contributes to the over all success of the hospice. It is a fair and equal employer which supports staff in many ways. A menopause support group has been established, a number of mental health first-aiders have been trained to support staff and an annual well-being survey is undertaken to 'check in' with staff to see how they are feeling about work, life and everything. Their comments and thoughts are requested to see where things can be improved and what needs to be done differently. The CEO sends out a monthly briefing to all staff to ensure everyone is aware of what is going on and any news across the hospice. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in Monmouthshire and Monmouthshire County Council believe the working environment is the best place to work due to the integration and innovative ideas continually produced. Both organisations endeavour to treat all employees with respect and equality through all levels of staffing and look at how to improve and if wanted progress careers. Both organisations encourage employees to take pride in their work, often with successes being shared on the intranet, via email, Good News items on agendas, and included in newsletters.