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UMass coach Don Brown stokes up the rivalry with UConn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

Minutemen head coach Don Brown has been on both sides of the UMass vs. UConn divide.Brown enjoyed a successful run in Amherst as head coach from 2004-08 when UMass was a 1AA program that included the CAA championship in 2007.Brown returned to the rudderless UMass program last season and took on a rebuilding project for the ages. One of his many jobs in between was defensive coordinator at UConn for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.The rivalry between the flagship state universities separated by 50 miles was intense during their days in the old Yankee Conference but has lingered on in a diminished capacity as struggling FBS independents.The Minutemen (3-8) and the Huskies (2-9) will meet for the 76th time on Rivalry Saturday (noon) at McGuirk Stadium, with the Minutemen up 38-36-2 in the series. Brown is intent on putting some pizzazz back into the regional rivalry.“I been on both sides of this rivalry and that is kind of an interesting piece,” said Brown. “To play them at home in our rival...

Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos set to face Miami in season finale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

Boston College cashed a winning ticket in the NCAA transfer portal sweepstakes when the Eagles’ secured the services of quarterback Thomas Castellanos from Central Florida.The 5-10, 196-pound sophomore from Waycross, Ga., added dual threat capabilities to the position that are unavailable to incumbent pocket passer Emmett Morehead, who started against Northern Illinois in the opener and lasted two sets of downs.Castellanos will make his 12th appearance and 11th start when the Eagles (6-5, 3-4) host the Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 2-5) in the season finale on Friday (noon) at Alumni Stadium. Castellanos has an opportunity to become the third BC quarterback to win seven games in his first season as a starter in this century.“I feel like I’ve grown a lot from the previous year,” said Castellanos. “Obviously I wasn’t playing at (Central Florida) so people say this is my sophomore year but to me it is really my freshman season.“Looking back at this year I feel I did a pretty good job in my fi...

Staff picks for Week 12 of 2023 NFL season: Packers vs. Lions, 49ers vs. Seahawks, Broncos vs. Browns and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 12:Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (Thursday, 12:30 p.m.)Brian Wacker (103-61 season; 9-5 last week): LionsChilds Walker (105-59 season; 10-4 last week): LionsMike Preston (94-70 season; 9-5 last week): LionsC.J. Doon (109-55 season; 11-3 last week): LionsTim Schwartz (99-65 season; 9-5 last week): LionsWashington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.)Wacker: CowboysWalker: CowboysPreston: CowboysDoon: CowboysSchwartz: CowboysSan Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Thursday, 8:20 p.m.)Wacker: 49ersWalker: 49ersPreston: 49ersDoon: 49ersSchwartz: 49ersMiami Dolphins at New York Jets (Friday, 3 p.m.)Wacker: DolphinsWalker: DolphinsPreston: DolphinsDoon: DolphinsSchwartz: DolphinsNew Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: SaintsWalker: FalconsPreston: SaintsDoon: SaintsSchwartz: SaintsPittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker...

San Diego-area teen plays clarinet in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- This year's Thanksgiving morning became very special for a North County teen who plays the clarinet. Sofia Rosati, a 15-year-old who attends Poway High School, was one of 200 performers selected across the country to march in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.The group in which she will be performing with is known as "The Great American Marching Band." How to listen to San Diego’s all Christmas music station After discovering there were open auditions to join the marchers while watching last year's parade, she vied for her spot on the pavement. Her skills must up to par and beyond because to her delight, she was selected for the 2023 ceremony.While speaking to FOX 5 from New York City, Rosati expressed her excitement for the once in a lifetime opportunity. She also gave some insight into her performance. "Marching the parade route, we'll be performing 'Sweet Caroline' and then at Harold Square we'll be playing 'Cheeseburgers in Paradise' as a tribute to Jimmy...

Aid groups say Ottawa still hampering work in Afghanistan, despite legislation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian aid groups say they are still facing roadblocks from Ottawa in getting aid into Afghanistan, despite Parliament passing legislation this spring intended to keep them from being prosecuted for terrorism offences if they operate in the country.Before that change, paying taxes to the Taliban for labour or goods in the country could be considered financial support for a terrorist group under the Criminal Code. Parliament passed a bill in June to automatically allow aid workers to undertake urgent humanitarian work, and to require Ottawa to eventually put into place a permit process for longer-term projects, such as building schools. But the charity Islamic Relief says Ottawa is giving contradictory information about what projects require a permit, so the organization hasn’t been able to respond to immediate crises such as malnutrition and natural disasters. World Vision Canada says it can’t undertake programs meant to boost women’s rights, because the...

Spike in hate crimes in Toronto since Israel-Hamas war began, police chief says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

Toronto’s police chief says there’s been a “staggering” increase in hate crime reports in the city since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last month.Chief Myron Demkiw says there have been 38 reports of anti-Semitic hate crimes and 17 anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab hate crime reports since Oct. 7.Other key statistics shared by policeThere is a marked increase in anti-2SLGBTQ+, with five incidents last year and nine reported incidents in 2023.Anti-semitism makes up 49 per cent of incidents across Toronto. Anti-semitism is up 192 per cent compared to this time last year.Anti-semitism makes up 40 per cent of all hate crimes reported.There has been a spike in hate-related graffiti since Oct. 7.In terms of anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab or Islamaphobic incidents, 63 have been reported this year – up two from 2022.Speaking at a Toronto Police Services Board meeting today, Demkiw said the city is experiencing a period of high tensions. H...

S&P/TSX composite higher in late-morning trading, U.S. stock markets closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was up in late-morning trading, helped higher by gains in the industrial, technology and financial stocks.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 41.76 points at 20,155.72.U.S. stock markets are closed for their Thanksgiving holiday.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.98 cents US compared with 72.87 cents US on Wednesday.The January crude contract was down US$1.19 at US$75.91 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up two cents at US$3.05 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$1.60 at US$1,991.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$3.78 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Pension fund opposes Brookfield-led bid for Australian company Origin Energy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

TORONTO — A vote by shareholders of Australian’s Origin Energy Ltd. on a takeover offer by a Brookfield-led consortium of investors and EIG has been delayed after the utility’s largest shareholder voiced opposition to the proposal.Pension fund manager AustralianSuper says it holds a stake of more than 17 per cent in Origin and that it will vote against the offer.The consortium has made a revised offer valued at US$10.6 billion, excluding debt, that would allow institutional shareholders to reinvest in the business. If it is not approved Brookfield has proposed an alternative to buy Origin’s energy markets business, while EIG would buy the other assets.AustralianSuper has called the bid a “lowball offer” that strengthens its view that it “remains substantially below” its estimate of Origin’s long-term value.Shareholders were to vote on the takeover plan Thursday, but Origin said in a statement that based on the proxy votes received to date, t...

Quebec public sector strikes: Premier Legault says ready to increase offer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

Quebec Premier François Legault says he’s ready to increase his government’s offer to striking public sector workers, but he says their unions have to show more flexibility.He made the comments today in Quebec City as unions representing 570,000 teachers, nurses, orderlies and other public sector workers are on strike across the province.Legault says that in exchange for more money, he needs flexibility from nurses to fill undesirable shifts and from teachers about when they are assigned classes.It’s the first time since unions staged a limited strike earlier this month that the premier has stated so clearly that the government is ready to increase its offer.Unions have rejected the proposal for a 10.3-per-cent salary increase over five years, a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker, and an extra three per cent for certain jobs the province says are priorities. Instead, they want a three-year deal that includes salary increases tied to the inflation rate: two p...

Trump tells Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei he plans to visit Buenos Aires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:56 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has told Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei that he plans to travel to the South American country so the two can meet, Milei’s office said Thursday. The office did not give a date for when Trump intends to be in Buenos Aires. The inauguration of Milei, a right-wing populist who has expressed admiration for Trump, is scheduled for Dec. 10.“The president-elect received a call last night from the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, who congratulated him and pointed out his triumph by a wide margin in last Sunday’s election had a great impact on a global scale,” a news release from Milei’s office said.A local journalist who was first to report the news, Luis Majul, wrote on X early Thursday that the lawmaker son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, was the one who “facilitated” the contact between Milei and the GOP front-runner. “That’s right,” Milei posted in resp...