Biden pledges £472m for rail project to improve access to Africa’s mineralsFRONT ROYAL — The newly formed Hike Kidz Foundation has hit the ground running with an outpouring of community support -- and learned some difficult lessons this week as it worked to meet the holiday needs of local families. The 501c3 nonprofit has long been a dream for Aaron and Harmony Hike — a dream that came to fruition with a flurry of activity over the last month. With a mission to raise awareness and help meet the basic needs of local children, the foundation is off to a quick start. In a week, it raised $6,350 for Warren County elementary schools through its Unburden the Teachers, Unburden the Children campaign. The foundation will soon launch a new Safe and Sound campaign aimed at helping the more than 50 homeless children attending Warren County Public Schools. But first, there is Christmas. The organization, which won Best Overall Float in the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade earlier this month, gave away more than 80 gingerbread houses that day and spread the word that they wanted to help local families over the holidays. The young foundation was able to secure sponsors to provide gifts for seven local families. There was the homeless mother who asked for a coat, hat, blankets and some toys for her 5-year-old son. And the mom on disability who asked for “clothes, shoes and basic gifts” for her 7- and 9-year old boys. Others cited unexpected medical bills or high utility costs as burdens causing financial strain over the holidays. In addition to coordinating sponsors for the families, Christina Rogers, treasurer of Hike Kidz, was able to work with Cracker Barrel in Front Royal to provide 36 holiday meals for those gift recipients. Realizing that there was a greater need, the group decided to put together stuffed stockings for local kids. “Giving the stockings out was a way to do something for more families. At least we know these kids will have stockings. That was the idea,” said Harmony Hike. The foundation put together 48 stockings — thanks to donations from Hike Construction, Warren County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3588, and Fussell Florist — and invited the community to come pick them up Sunday evening. As volunteers wrapped gifts for sponsored families at the North Royal Avenue location of Hike Construction, two individuals arrived before the planned 5 p.m. start of the giveaway and took more than 30 stockings. By the time the event was supposed to start, there were none left on the business’ front porch. “Right at 5 there was a door knock and it was a lady asking for a stocking. I looked and they were all gone,” Harmony Hike said Monday. “We were all just in a frenzy about how this had happened. We knew that the event was about to start and we had nothing there. So I had to go on [Facebook] and tell everyone I’m sorry but the stockings are gone.” A video posted to Facebook shows one person carrying a large number of stockings to a car. Commenters there expressed disappointment and anger that two people appeared to take the lion’s share of the donated stockings — and many responded Sunday and Monday to make up for the loss. “Many people have come forward from the community offering donations in all ways to help with what happened,” Harmony Hike said, adding that the group was able to put together a second round of 86 stockings Monday for distribution that night. Along with a $50 donation to the organization, Hike Construction helped purchase the stockings. Representatives for Toys for Tots dropped off some items and Steve Rodriguez, a Realtor with Mint Realty in Front Royal, went shopping and drove from Harrisonburg to drop off more stocking stuffers Monday. Play Favorites in the Royal Plaza Shopping Center donated $200 worth of stocking stuffers, Harmony Hike said. Store manager Bret Bement said that a representative of Hike Kidz came in Monday morning and showed him the video of the stockings disappearing. “That was all there was to it. We talked about all the good stuff that can be done. We understand that sometimes people take advantage. That’s the danger of doing good things, but you just gotta keep on doing good things,” said Bement. He said that though Play Favorites is “a little thin right now as it’s right before Christmas,” he found “all the fun little things” he could to help with the effort. “These folks are just looking for fun,” he said. “What goes around comes around. We’re happy to make the world a brighter place.” This time, a costumed Grinch and ship captain were on hand to oversee the giveaway. “What happened here, I will say that we are learning. We’ve learned a couple valuable lessons this week and that was one of them,” said Harmony Hike. “It’s really nice to see the community say ‘hey that’s not OK’ and this allows us to get even more awareness out there. We’re just really providing more information, awareness and more opportunity to help.” Aaron Hike said that the organization’s Facebook page has had more than 100,000 visitors since the incident Sunday. Hike said that as late as Monday, the organization was receiving calls from local families who had no gifts for their children. She said that any items left over from the stockings were going to those families, many of whom are staying in Front Royal motels. As a new nonprofit, the group is working to establish relationships with other organizations in the community. It has already developed a connection with Warren County Public Schools. After raising more than $6,000 in a week for the Unburder the Teacher, Unburden the Child campaign, Harmony Hike reached out to superintendent of schools Chris Ballenger, who created a bank account for each school so that administrators can give money to teachers who have students in need. “The idea is that if you’re teaching a child every day and see that they’re without their basic needs, you’ve got access to go directly to administration and there’s an account set up where you say said they need these things,” said Harmony Hike, adding that the program is a way to directly impact local children and provide for their needs. The organization will continue to accept donations for that fund, dividing money among the schools based on the poverty level at each school. “What’s nice is each principal will have kind of a discretionary fund where the teachers can come in and request.” said Aaron Hike, adding that he wanted the funds to stay separate from other school money. By distributing money through the teachers, he said that he’s confident it will be spent on student needs. “The teachers know better than anybody. It’s harder on our end trying to vet. They know,” he said. Added Harmony Hike, “We knew we wanted to start with something solid that everyone could trust.” In the coming months, the organization will kick off its Safe and Sound campaign, which will go directly to supporting local homeless children, the couple said. For more information, visit www.hikekidzfoundation.org .777.gbt.com 。

Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says “violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable” and the White House will “continue to condemn any form of violence.” She declined to comment on the investigation into the Dec. 4 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson or reports that writings belonging to the suspect, Luigi Mangione, said insurance companies care more about profits than their customers. “This is horrific,” Jean-Pierre said of the fatal shooting of Thompson as he walked in Manhattan. He didn’t appear to say anything as deputies led him to a waiting car outside. “I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Hochul said in the statement. “I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. Public safety is my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.” That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners' 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23. As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks. A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona. He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla. --Field Level MediaStocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda’s U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Major stock indexes rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Monday, after a choppy start to a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered from an early slide to gain 29 points, or 0.1% as of 3:40 p.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%. Gains in technology and communications stocks helped outweigh losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.3%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1.2%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 13.4%, while Nissan slipped 0.2%. Eli Lilly rose 3.5% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.6% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets were mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press

AU President Jonathan Alger and Mr. Astin will celebrate the Class of 2024 on Dec. 15 WASHINGTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American University is proud to present Sean Astin --fondly known to many as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rudy Ruettiger in the sports classic Rudy, and Bob Newby in the Netflix's hit series Stranger Things--as the keynote speaker for fall commencement. Astin is also a recent graduate of the School of Public Affairs, earning his master's degree in public administration and policy. During the ceremonies, Astin will be awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Though many are familiar with his onscreen work, Astin is also known for his stewardship and leadership with his union, SAG-AFTRA. Serving on the National and Los Angeles Local Boards as well as on many committees, such as the Executive, Strike Preparedness, Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Government Rules. Astin served on the 2023 TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee, which oversaw the historic 118-day summer strike, —one of the longest labor outages in Hollywood history, which resulted in $1 billion in gains for SAG-AFTRA and new protections around AI technology. The native Angeleno also served under six cabinet secretaries in two presidential administrations as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. Astin was appointed to serve as a nonpartisan on the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. "Through his longtime career as an actor, his civic engagement, and his work as a mental health advocate, Sean Astin exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner and community-builder, which are both important parts of what we do and who we are at American University ," said AU President Jonathan Alger . "And, as an Eagle himself, Sean will inspire our graduates with his journey and his continued quest to build change in our world." Astin regularly speaks to universities, corporations, and nonprofit organizations on various subjects, including leadership, acting, and with a special emphasis on mental health. His dedication to advancing the conversation around mental health continues the legacy of the late Patty Duke , who was a champion for those who are impacted. "I have always had a passion for public policy and administration. Completing my degree at American University this year is the realization of a lifelong dream. At this moment in the history of our country, nothing is more important than affirming the value of the skill, talent, and dedication of our civil servants," Astin said. "Starting during COVID, the American University online program was an incredible guide. From the curriculum to my cohort, my academic journey was rigorous and fulfilling. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be delivering this year's commencement address. I believe that my mission is to offer praise and appreciation for everyone's accomplishments and to share some thoughts on our path forward." Sean Astin and President Alger will celebrate approximately 1,475 graduates, who will receive their degrees from all eight of AU's schools during ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the AU campus. Students will also hear from fellow graduates at each of the ceremonies: Oreoluwa Erinfolami, is receiving her Master's of Science from the College of Arts and Sciences. Erinfolami's passion for biotechnology led them to focus on regenerative medicine, stem cell research, and cell culture techniques. Ethan Cesar , who will be awarded his Bachelor of Arts from the School of Public Affairs and School of Communication, immersed himself in politics during his time at AU. Cesar interned for two U.S. representatives and one U.S senator. Mina Lili Kassim, will receive her Bachelor of Science from the School of International Service. Kassim hopes to pursue a career in the law field, while continuing to work with her organization Youth for Yemen , which focuses on uniting youth to address the Yemeni humanitarian crisis. Peyton Upchurch , who will be awarded her Master's of Education from the School of Education, is currently the assistant director of Alumni Communications at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro . Upchurch is excited to put the skills she built at AU to work in the world of education policy. This is American University's 148 th commencement. Sean Astin joins other notable American University fall commencement speakers such as Abby Phillip , CNN senior political correspondent and anchor of NewsNight , Andrea Mitchell , host of MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports , and recently Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy . ABOUT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY : American University leverages the power and purpose of scholarship, learning, and community to impact our changing world. AU's faculty, students, staff, and alumni are changemakers who shape the future from sustainability to social justice to the sciences. Building on our 130-year history of education and research in the public interest, we say "Challenge Accepted " to addressing the world's pressing issues. Our Change Can't Wait comprehensive campaign creates transformative educational opportunities, advances research with impact, and builds stronger communities. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-university-to-welcome-recent-graduate-sean-astin-spampap-24-as-commencement-speaker-for-fall-commencement-302320024.html SOURCE American University © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Blame it on the food and drink?

CAIRO — The United Nations chief said on Monday the situation in war-torn Gaza was "appalling and apocalyptic", warning conditions faced by Palestinians in the territory may amount to the "gravest international crimes". In remarks read out on his behalf at a Cairo conference aimed at increasing humanitarian aid, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to "build a foundation for sustainable peace in Gaza and across the Middle East". The war in Gaza broke out when Hamas suddenly attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 44,429 people in Gaza, according to figures from the territory's health ministry that the UN considers reliable. Guterres highlighted the devastating toll of the conflict and the urgent need for international action. "Malnutrition is rampant... Famine is imminent. Meanwhile, the health system has collapsed," he said. The UN chief added that Gaza now has "the highest number of children amputees per capita anywhere in the world", with "many losing limbs and undergoing surgeries without even anesthesia". The secretary-general also criticised the severe restrictions on aid delivery, calling the current levels “grossly insufficient”. According to UNRWA’s count, only 65 aid trucks per day had been able to enter Gaza this past month, compared to a pre-war average of 500. International aid organisations have repeatedly raised alarm over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, warning that civilians are on the brink of famine. They have said aid shipments reaching the enclave are now at their lowest since the start of the war. Israel, which early in the conflict imposed a complete siege for a period on the Hamas-ruled territory, has blamed aid issues on what it says is the inability of relief organisations to handle and distribute large quantities of aid. UN’s Guterres said on Monday that the blockade of aid to Gaza “is not a crisis of logistics” but rather “a crisis of political will and of respect for fundamental principles of international humanitarian law”. UNRWA said all the attempts it made to deliver aid into northern Gaza had either been “denied” or “impeded” between October 6, 2024 and November 25, amid fierce fighting in the area. Guterres said UNRWA is an “irreplaceable lifeline for millions of Palestinians”, adding that “if UNRWA is forced to close, the responsibility of replacing its vital services ... would rest with Israel”.CONWAY — Luckily for Coastal Carolina , it has time to get some new players out of the transfer portal. The University of Texas at San Antonio dominated CCU in the Myrtle Beach Bowl 44-15 on Dec. 23 at Brooks Stadium. The Roadrunners cruised thanks to 254 passing yards and two touchdowns from UTSA quarterback Owen McCown, son of former NFL quarterback Josh McCown. After CCU lost its top two quarterbacks Ethan Vasko (Liberty) and Noah Kim to the portal and DJ Moore was dismissed from the team following an arrest , it turned to redshirt freshman and North Carolina transfer quarterback Tad Hudson to lead the Chants in the bowl game. The University of Texas at San Antonio dominated Coastal Carolina University in the Myrtle Beach Bowl 44-15 on Dec. 23 at Brooks Stadium. Hudson turned in a decent performance, going 15-for-22 for 165 yards and two touchdown passes. 'A part of the town': Why this Georgetown baseball tournament won't end when the paper mill closes “I thought [he played] well,” CCU coach Tim Beck said. “He protected the ball. He played hard. Like everybody, there’s good things and bad things. I think there’s things he’d probably wish he had back, but for the most part, I was proud of the way he went in there and played ... He’ll certainly be in the mix [to start next year]. There’s no question about it. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the mix.” The University of Texas at San Antonio dominated Coastal Carolina University in the Myrtle Beach Bowl 44-15 on Dec. 23 at Brooks Stadium. The only other quarterback left on CCU’s 2024 roster is Alex Walker, but it also recently added JUCO transfer quarterback Samari Collier. Quarterback Chris Denson committed to CCU back in April but flipped to Clemson after getting an offer from Dabo Swinney. Redshirt senior running back Braydon Bennett, who rushed for 54 yards on 22 carries in the game and led CCU in rushing yards and rushing scores this season, still has a year of eligibility left should he choose to use it. Coastal Carolina quarterback Tad Hudson got his first start for the Chants in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. The University of Texas at San Antonio overpowered CCU 44-15 on Dec. 23 in the bowl game at Brooks Stadium. CCU finished the season 6-7 overall and is now 2-3 in bowl games. The Chants gave up 514 yards of total offense to the Roadrunners. However, they were missing some of their best defensive players after they hit the portal, including bandit Clev Lubin (Lousiville), defensive back Matthew McDoom (Cincinnati) and defensive lineman Will Whitson. 'We grew up as those kids': This SC group helps struggling youth find hope through skateboarding Overall, CCU has had over 30 players enter the portal since it opened in early December. The University of Texas at San Antonio dominated Coastal Carolina University in the Myrtle Beach Bowl 44-15 on Dec. 23 at Brooks Stadium. “Myself included, a lot of young guys out there got the chance to go out there and play their first college snaps or first college start,” Hudson said. “I mean, we were prepared. The coaches had us prepared all week. It just came down to me executing and getting it done.” Good news for the Chants is after the game, redshirt senior linebacker Shane Bruce, who led the team in tackles this season with 75, said he intends to stay with CCU for his last year of eligibility. SC's third-largest school district just hired a superintendent. Here's why he was picked.

Lance vs. Rush Move Frustrating Cowboys FansCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Perhaps the biggest improvement in Bryce Young’s game in Year 2 has been his ability to improvise and use his legs to create plays. On Sunday, Young ran five times for a career-high 68 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown on a scramble in Carolina’s 36-30 overtime win over Arizona , which eliminated the Cardinals from playoff contention . It was Young’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season after failing to score on the ground in 2023 as a rookie. Aside from the touchdowns, his rushing numbers are similar to 2023, but it’s clear Young is making better decisions and getting out of the pocket quicker when his protection begins to breaks down. “I'm trying to take what the defense gives me,” Young said. “As a passer, I always try to remain a passer as long as possible. We talk about all the time just extending above the 2.7 (seconds) and starting the second play, and doing whatever it takes. For me, it's just being more comfortable in the system and playing with the guys. I want to do everything I can to continue to be efficient by moving the chains and doing what’s best for the team. The last couple of weeks have been a little more than that." Young played one of his better games against the Cardinals, finishing 17 of 26 passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions one week after turning the ball over four times in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Carolina scored TDs on its first three possessions, the first time that has happened in six years. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Young played “fast” and was “really decisive." “You saw some of the scrambles early in the first half where he was able to pick up some critical third downs for us there and run one in for a touchdown,” Canales said. “It was about just being decisive, knowing where all the bones are buried in his concepts and being able to get to the scramble when those windows opened up for him. Again, just making some really nice throws when we needed him to.” What’s working Carolina's offensive line was outstanding on Sunday in the run-blocking game as the Panthers racked up 243 yards with Chuba Hubbard running for 152 yards and two TDs. Hubbard has 1,195 yards rushing, which ranks as the fourth most in a season in team history behind DeAngelo Williams (1,515) in 2008, Stephen Davis (1,444) in 2003 and Christian McCaffrey (1,387) in 2019. His 10 touchdowns on the ground are tied for the fifth most in franchise history. What needs help The Panthers run defense. It's the same old refrain and it isn't going to get any better until next season. Carolina allowed James Conner to run for 117 yards and a touchdown as Arizona put up 206 yards on the ground. The Panthers have now allowed an average of nearly 200 yards rushing over the past seven weeks under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Injuries have played a major role in that as the team lost defensive lineman Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson early in the season, but it's obvious that adding help on the front seven will be a major priority for general manager Dan Morgan in the offseason. Stock up Hubbard got the redemption he sought on Sunday when he ran 21 yards for the winning touchdown in overtime to knock the Cardinals out of playoff contention. Three weeks earlier, Hubbard fumbled in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while the Panthers were driving for the winning field goal, costing his team the game. The left Hubbard sitting on the team's bench on the sideline in disbelief. But Hubbard told himself at the time he would get another shot — and make the most of it. Hubbard had all 49 yards on the team's winning drive in OT and finished with 152 yards — 1 shy of a career high — and two touchdowns. Stock down Getting plays in on time to the huddle and getting them off before the play clock expires has been a challenge at times this season, and it crept up again against the Cardinals. On third-and-goal at the Arizona 3, the Panthers were flagged for delay of game after spending too much time reviewing whether Jalen Coker had hauled in a TD catch on the previous play. Replays showed Coker made the catch, but was out of bounds. The play call got in late to Young and he didn't get it off in time and no timeout was called. The penalty moved the Panthers back 5 yards, but the Cardinals bailed them out when they were flagged for roughing the passer. That gave the Panthers a new set of downs at the 4, and Hubbard scored on the next play. Injuries The Panthers came out of Sunday's game relatively injury-free. There had been an illness running through the team's locker room last week and it forced center Cade Mays to sit out the game. Brady Christensen stepped in and played well, helping aid in Hubbard's big day. Key number 1 — The NFL wanted to emphasize taking hip-drop tackles out of the game. Well, for the first time this season a flag was thrown on Sunday, coming against Panthers rookie linebacker Jacoby Windmon with just under eight minutes remaining in the second quarter when he brought down Conner. Conner was not injured on that play, but later left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Next steps The Panthers play their final two games on the road at Tampa Bay and Atlanta, so they'll play a factor in who wins the NFC South. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Steve Reed, The Associated Press

Trudeau accuses Poilievre of failing to put politics aside in face of Trump tariff threatNSW Premier Chris Minns has hit out after it was revealed he would be referred to the state’s corruption watchdog over his relationship with a key figure behind the redevelopment of the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. It was reported on Wednesday a parliamentary committee inquiring into the redevelopment voted to refer the Premier’s relationship with Stephen McMahon, the head of corporate relations at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse’s parent company Australian Turf Club, to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The state government announced in December 2023 its plan to turn the racecourse into a 25,000 home mini-city with a metro station, a public park and new amenities. Mr Minns responded to the ICAC referral plan on Wednesday evening, stating it was a “completely disgraceful” the corruption watchdog was being politicised with “unsubstantiated rumours”. "There is absolutely no evidence or even an attempt to quantify what rule, practice or procedure has been breached," he said. "This is an old-fashioned smear from a group of politicians opposed to changes at Rosehill. "But while opposing a policy may be understandable, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption is a cynical attempt at political point scoring." In announcing the redevelopment proposal last year, Mr Minns claimed the $5 billion project would “re-shape Sydney”. Mr Minns is being accused of a conflict of interest for striking the deal with Mr McMahon, who he has known for more than 20 years, during an informal meet and greet. Minutes from the committee’s deliberations last Friday, which were obtained by 7News, showed opposition and crossbench members voted to refer the Premier to ICAC. “The committee is of the view that the premier should have declared a conflict of interest especially in light of the ICAC ruling on Operation Keppel,” the minutes revealed. Mr Minns was questioned in June about who came to him with the redevelopment idea during a budget estimates hearing. "It would've been — I can't remember his position — but Steve McMahon at the ATC," Mr Minns said at the time. "I have known him for a long time." A report into the proposal will be handed down on Friday. While questions about possible political corruption arose as the state looks into the proposal, many in racing have hit out at the move with racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse claiming the industry is “incensed” by the plan when testifying to an inquiry in July. She also said members of Australian Turf Club would not agree to sell the track if it was put to them. "The members are who own Rosehill. If they put it to the members now for a vote, it would be overwhelmingly against the sale," Ms Waterhouse said. SkyNews.com.au has contacted the Premier’s office.