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Aaron Pierre is sharing his thoughts on playing John Stewart in HBO’s DC series Lanterns . In a new interview, Pierre noted his excitement over bringing to life the superheroes in the new live-action series from the Green Lantern universe. “What I can tell you is that the team are just super, super excited to have this opportunity to bring this story to the people,” Pierre told ComicBook . “And, so far as I’m concerned, I’m gonna do my very best to serve and honor and elevate in any way I can, John Stewart and the [Green Lantern] Corps. Hopefully, I serve that and it resonates with me.” Pierre said he was doing “extensive” work to prepare for the role where he will share credits with Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan. Lanterns is a series from Ozark’s Chris Mundy, Watchmen‘s Damon Lindelof, and comic book writer Tom King. It new recruit John Stewart (Pierre) and Lantern legend Jordan (Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. HBO is producing the eight-episode Lanterns in association with Warner Bros Television and DC Studios . Mundy will serve as showrunner, and Lindelof and King are co-writing and executive producing. James Hawes will direct the first two episodes and also executive produce. Following the Deadline report that Pierre was joining Lanterns , the actor took to social media and wrote, “Tremendously honoured and abundantly grateful. A dream come true. Thank you all for the love and beautiful energy. Thank you for welcoming me to DC. Let’s work!”South Korea's martial law confusion deepens caution

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Florida's economy could suffer from Trump’s mass deportation plan, experts sayNew York takes on St. Louis after Panarin's 2-goal showingDAMASCUS, Syria — 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.” 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 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. 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. 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.”

Second-warmest November on record means that 2024 is likely to be Earth's hottest yearKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.Texas lawmakers are scrutinizing university professors’ influence

Preview: Wolfsburg vs. Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineupsTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 6, 2024 / Signal Gold Inc. ("Signal Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:SGNL)(OTCQB:SGNLF) is pleased to announce that the shareholders of the Company ("Shareholders") have overwhelmingly approved the special resolutions authorizing the plan of arrangement of the Company under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "Arrangement") and a related private placement, at the special meeting of Shareholders held earlier today (the "Meeting"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, previously announced on October 10, 2024, NexGold Mining Corp. ("NexGold") will acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold to create a top near-term gold developer advancing NexGold's Goliath Gold Complex Project in Northern Ontario and the Goldboro Project in the historic Goldboro Gold District in Nova Scotia. The purpose of the Meeting was to consider and vote upon the Arrangement Resolution authorizing the Arrangement and approving the transactions contemplated in the arrangement agreement dated October 9, 2024 between Signal Gold and NexGold, pursuant to which, among other things, NexGold will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement, and in exchange, Shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.1244 of a common share of NexGold for each common share of Signal Gold held. In approving the Arrangement Resolution, Shareholders also approved the Debt Restructuring (as described in the management information circular of Signal Gold dated November 5, 2024). At the Meeting, an ordinary resolution was also considered and voted on with respect to a Private Placement Resolution, authorizing and approving, among other things, the issuance by Signal Gold of common shares in connection with a non-brokered private placement of up to 120,075,840 subscription receipts of Signal Gold ("Subscription Receipts"), at a price of $0.08705 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $10,452,601.87 (the "Private Placement"). Prior to the completion of the Arrangement, Signal Gold may exercise its option to issue up to an additional 6,003,792 Subscription Receipts for additional gross proceeds of up to $522,630.10. A total of 126,970,057 common shares were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing approximately 49.779% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold. Approval of the Arrangement For the Arrangement to proceed, the Arrangement Resolution required the approval of at least two-thirds (662⁄3%) of the votes cast at the Meeting, by the Shareholders attending in person or voting by proxy, and a simple majority of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding, for this purpose, votes attached to shares held by persons described in items (a) through (d) of Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. At the Meeting, the Arrangement Resolution was overwhelmingly approved by 121,602,757 votes cast at the Meeting, representing approximately 95.773% of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The Arrangement Resolution was also approved by 95.501% of the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, excluding, for this purpose, votes attached to shares held by persons described in items (a) through (d) of Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. Accordingly, the Shareholder approval required to proceed with the Arrangement has been obtained. Private Placement Financing For the Private Placement to proceed, the Private Placement Resolution must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders present. At the Meeting, the Private Placement Resolution was overwhelmingly approved by 121,562,732 votes cast at the Meeting, representing approximately 95.741% of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Shareholder approval required in order to proceed with the Private Placement has been obtained. Transaction Update Having obtained the requisite approval of the Arrangement Resolution and Private Placement Resolution at the Meeting, the parties are continuing to work diligently towards closing the Arrangement. The Arrangement is expected to become effective on December 13, 2024, subject to, among other things, the Company obtaining a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in respect of the Arrangement and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other customary closing conditions. The hearing for the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) to approve the Arrangement is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2024. Following the completion of the Arrangement, it is expected that the Signal Gold shares will be delisted from the TSX and OTCQB. Further details regarding the Arrangement and on the above matters are set out in the management information circular of Signal Gold dated November 5, 2024, which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Signal Gold's issuer profile. For detailed voting results on each resolution, please refer to the Company's Report of Voting Results filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . ABOUT SIGNAL GOLD Signal Gold is advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study which demonstrates an approximately 11-year open pit life of mine ("LOM") with average gold production of 100,000 ounces per annum and an average diluted grade of 2.26 grams per tonne gold. (Please see the ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia' on January 11, 2022, for further details). On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone, and the Company has now submitted all key permits including the Industrial Approval, Fisheries Act Authorization and Schedule II Amendment, and the Mining and Crown Land Leases. The Goldboro Project has significant potential for further Mineral Resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth, and the Company has consolidated 27,200 hectares (~272 km2) of prospective exploration land in the Goldboro Gold District. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including, but not limited to, the timing of the hearing for the final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) to approve the Arrangement and the timing of the completion of the Arrangement. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Signal Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with the exploration, development and mining such as economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual results of current production, development and exploration activities, government regulation, political or economic developments, environmental risks, permitting timelines, capital expenditures, operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of resources, contests over title to properties, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as those risk factors discussed in Signal Gold's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023, available on www.sedarplus.ca . Although Signal Gold has attempted to identify important factors, assumption and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors, assumptions and risks that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Signal Gold does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Bullock, P. Eng., President and CEO with Signal Gold Inc., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Signal Gold Inc. Kevin Bullock President and CEO (647) 388-1842 kbullock@signalgold.com Robert Dufour Chief Financial Officer (647) 921-7751 rdufour@signalgold.com SOURCE: Signal Gold Inc. View the original on accesswire.com

It’s been business as usual for the Amherst College women’s hockey team this season. Through seven games, the Mammoths are undefeated and sit atop the NESCAC women’s hockey standings. Since the 2020 season, Amherst has averaged 19.5 wins per season. The Mammoths have appeared in three of the previous four NESCAC championship games – winning in 2020 and 2023 – while also qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament in 2020, 2023 and 2024. Currently the third-ranked team in the country among Division III schools in the weekly USCHO poll, Amherst looks primed for another long postseason run, if early returns are any indication. “I think going into the season, a league championship and a national championship are two goals that we definitely have in mind,” Mammoths senior defender Kelsey Stewart said. “We're still early in the season. I think something that as a team our coaches harp on a lot is improving every period of every game.” Keeping the puck out of the net has been Amherst’s lifeblood up to this point. Junior goalie Natalie Stott, a Williston product, has been the Mammoths’ early-season MVP with 139 saves while only allowing four goals all year. Stott’s 0.59 goals-against average and .972 save-percentage is best among NESCAC goalies who have played more than four games. “Natalie is an elite goaltender, two-time All-America, first-team All-American, but the three [goalies] really push each other, and they work really well together,” Amherst head coach Jeff Matthews said. “Certainly it starts with her, but as a team we stress defense, defense wins championships. We try and build from there, from the net out, take care of the D-zone and just play our game and let the game take care of itself." Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess The Mammoths’ penalty-kill hasn’t surrendered a goal in 20 opportunities, and defenders have put their bodies on the line quite a bit as they lead the NESCAC in blocked shots with 97. “I think that defense in general is one of the fundamentals of our team,” Stewart said. “I wouldn't say it's just the defensemen, per se, because every single player on the ice is critical in our D-zone. Everyone has a role, and we were working together as a five-man unit in the D-zone, that's when we're most successful, and we've been able to do that so far.” Amherst (7-0) has been no slouch on offense either as it has averaged nearly four goals a game with 24 goals scored through seven contests. First-year Ayla Abban is scoring at a goal-per-game pace with seven tucks in as many games, while first-year Bea Flynn, junior Marie-Eve Marleau, and junior Maeve Reynolds all have notched three goals. “I think just in a broad sense, our standards for our team is fast, hard and prepared,” senior forward Anna Baxter said. “So I think everyone, the forwards, [defense], goalies included, everyone's showing up, ready to go, and giving it their all, no matter who we're playing. “I think something that we're doing well this year too, is getting a lot of shots off, both on the forward and D-side,” Baxter said. “And I think utilizing the [defense] in the offensive zone has been really pivotal in our season this year, especially playing as a five-unit in the offensive zone as opposed to a three-man unit. So I think that's why they're getting more shots off and if you shoot more, probability wise, it's more likely to go in the net.” The Mammoths are averaging 41.86 shots-per-game, which trails only Williams (44 shots-per-game) among NESCAC teams. Amherst has yet to hoist the NCAA championship trophy in its program history, but has gotten close in each of the last two seasons. In 2023, the Mammoths made it to the Elite Eight, before falling to Elmira College in overtime, 2-1. The year prior, Amherst advanced all the way to the national title game — held at Orr Rink — but lost in triple overtime to Gustavus Adolphus. According to Matthews, he already sees similarities in this year’s Mammoths squad to the national runner-up team from two seasons ago. “This team does resemble the one from two years ago a lot,” Matthews said. “I would say the biggest thing being our team speed. Again, we had good depth with that team, and great team speed. One of our strengths was our forecheck. This team has shown signs of that.” Matthews is in the midst of his 12th season behind the Amherst bench and appears to be well on his way to guiding this Mammoths team to another winning season. Matthews has never finished the season with a losing record as Amherst’s head coach. A Westfield native, Matthews’ winning ways with the Mammoths can be credited to his recruitment style of seeking quality people first, then worrying about on-ice abilities. “He really does recruit the person first, before the player, but he's also recruited amazing players,” Stewart said. “And you know, team culture is probably one of the first things that we talk about when the team gets together. And I think it's one of the most foundational elements of who we are in our identity.” “I think Coach Matthews does a great job of emphasizing the importance of team culture, both on and off the ice,” Baxter said. “And at least my experience playing here, I feel like, off the ice, I'm happy, having a good time, knowing what's expected of me, the hard work and all that stuff that success kind of follows. And I think teams, the teams I've played on here, the closer we are, I feel like, the better that we play. There's more camaraderie, both on and off the ice.” Amherst won’t return to the ice for game action until Jan. 5. The Mammoths will make the trek to Norwich University in Vermont to take part in the East West Classic Tournament following the winter break. Twelve of Amherst’s 15 remaining games will come against NESCAC teams, including No. 1 Middlebury and unbeaten Bowdoin. The Mammoths have high hopes this year and based on their hot start combined with their recent winning pedigree, this Amherst bunch has the chance to make history. “Your culture is the most important part and this is the best our culture has ever been,” Matthews said. “That's a tribute to the people that they are. Their selflessness, their commitment level to our standards and to each other. They love it, they're having a lot of fun. When you have that, it's a lot of fun to come to the rink and work with them.”

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Nearly all of the 74 workers at Acrylicos Vallejo have gone on an indefinite strike. The popular Spanish paint company — which produces their Game Color and Model Color lines most popularly used in miniature painting and wargaming — first announced a partial strike in late November, but escalated earlier this week when they claimed Acrylicos Vallejo’s ownership would not negotiate with workers. According to a statement made on Bluesky by Catalonian labor organization CGT, the demands of the striking employees are threefold: a wage increase, an improvement of safety conditions, and protocols to handle workplace harassment. Incorporated in New Jersey in 1965, Acrylicos Vallejo moved to Barcelona, quickly becoming a major player in the European art scene for their vibrant and extensive color range before establishing themselves as a staple in the world of wargaming and miniatures. It currently distributes paints to over 55 countries across the globe. Following a trend of private capital consolidation, private equity firm Proa Capital purchased a majority stake in Acrylicos Vallejo for just under $53 million in December 2023. The worker’s strike comes in a parallel wave of global labor actions in nearly every sector including entertainment and gaming , most demanding higher wages and more protections in their respective industries. According to a statement by the CGT given to YouTuber Hellstorm Wargaming , workers at the Catalonian factory currently make around the Spanish minimum wage. Earlier this year, the Spanish Council of ministers raised the country’s minimum wage to €37.8 (just under $40) a day, or just over €1,134 ($1,200) a month — a roughly 50% increase from Spain’s minimum wage in 2018. Representatives from the CGT claim executive pay continues to grow with increased profits as employee wages stay stagnant. Workers are also calling for an improvement of safety conditions in the factory, which they allege to be in a “deplorable state.” In their statement they claim “Some parts of the ceiling have fallen, luckily without injuring anyone. There are outdated machines with no maintenance. To give you an idea, some machines had to be repaired by putting in brackets to keep them together.” Their final demand relates to workplace harassment, which they claim the company has no protocols to handle. “There are executives in the company who are professionals in workplace harassment, and have dedicated themselves to harassing and making workers’ lives impossible,” the CGT spokesperson alleged. Striking workers have not explicitly called for a boycott of Acrylicos Vallejo, but said “if you are considering not buying any more products until the strike is over, it will be a good way to put pressure on the company.” Many of the public responses to their strike announcement on social media have stated a refusal to purchase the company’s products until the demands are met. Acrylicos Vallejo has not made a public statement regarding the strike. Polygon did not immediately receive a response to a request for comment, and will update this article if one is provided. Gaming News Tabletop Games

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ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular, and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat tear gas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Khan’s supporters rely on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad.

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