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DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLVP Kamala Harris addresses election loss, urges supporters to hold ‘power’jsbet app 。

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US consumer confidence takes unexpected hitThe latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.

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Mounties in Richmond, B.C., say a man has been arrested for allegedly uttering threats against police while livestreaming on a social media platform. RCMP say they received the complaint about the man on Friday morning as he stood outside Richmond City Hall. Police say officers flooded the area and made an arrest without any incident. Insp. Michael Cohee, with RCMP investigative services, says they commend the person who recognized the potential risk and called police. He says they take public safety and threats of violence “very seriously,” whether they are online or in person. Police haven’t said what charges are being considered but say the investigation is ongoing.

Qamishli, Dec 25 (AP) The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Tuesday they have launched a counter-offensive against the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to take back areas near Syria's northern border with Turkey. The SDF is Washington's critical ally in Syria, targeting sleeper cells of the extremist Islamic State group scattered across the country's east. Since the fall of the totalitarian rule of Bashar Assad earlier this month, clashes have intensified between the U.S.-backed group and the SNA, which captured the key city of Manbij and the areas surrounding it. The intense weekslong clashes come at a time when Syria, battered by over a decade of war and economic misery, negotiates its political future following half a century under the Assad dynasty's rule. Ruken Jamal, spokesperson of the Women's Protection Unit, or YPJ, under the SDF, told The Associated Press that their fighters are just over seven miles (11 kilometers) away from the center of Manbij in their ongoing counter-offensive. She accused Ankara of trying to weaken the group's influence in negotiations over Syria's political future through the SNA, “Syria is now in a new phase, and discussions are underway about the future of the country,” Jamal said. “Turkey is trying, through its attacks, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.” A Britain-based opposition war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says since the SNA's offensive in northern Syria against the Kurds started earlier this month, dozens from both sides have been killed. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke on Tuesday with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Güler, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. He said they discussed the ongoing situation in Syria, and Austin emphasized that close and continuous coordination is crucial to a successful effort to counter IS in the country. They also discussed the importance of setting the conditions to enable a more secure and stable Syria. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. Turkish-backed armed groups alongside Turkish jets for years have attacked positions where the SDF are largely present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the large shared border. While the SNA was involved in the lightning insurgency — led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — that toppled Assad, it has continued its push against the SDF, seen as Syria's second key actor for its political future. On Monday, the SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami said the group's forces pushed back the Turkish-backed rebels from areas near the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, a key source of hydroelectric power. He said the SDF also destroyed a tank belonging to the rebels southeast of Manbij. The British-based war monitor said on Tuesday that the Kurdish-led group, following overnight fighting, has reclaimed four villages in the areas near the strategic dam. Turkish jets also pounded the strategic border town of Kobani in recent days. During Syria's uprising-turned-conflict, the Kurds carved out an enclave of autonomous rule across northeastern Syria, never fully allying entirely with Assad in Damascus nor the rebels trying to overthrow him. Even with the Assad family out of the picture, it appears that Ankara's position won't change, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's landmark visit to Syria maintaining a strong position on the Kurdish-led group in his meeting with de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa of HTS. “It has turned the region into a cauldron of terror with PKK members and far-left groups who have come from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Europe," Fidan said in a news conference after the meeting. “The international community is turning a blind eye to this lawlessness because of the wardenship it provides (against IS).” With the ongoing fighting, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi has expressed concern about a strong IS resurgence due to the power vacuum in Syria and the ongoing fighting, which has left the Kurdish-led group unable to carry out its attacks and raids on the extremist group's scattered sleeper cells. Tens of thousands of children, family members, and supporters of IS militants are still held in large detention centers in northeastern Syria, in areas under SDF control. (AP) AS AS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

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US consumer confidence takes unexpected hitBRITS will watch five hours of telly a day over Christmas and 'lie' to loved ones to avoid socialising for a boxset. As Christmas officially kicks off, many will embrace the slow, relaxed pace of the Twixmas period between December 26th and 31st, indulging in some guilty pleasures while avoiding the social demands of the festive season. 3 Brits will watch five hours of telly a day over Christmas and 'lie' to loved ones to avoid socialising for a boxset Credit: Getty A recent survey from Sky and Now has revealed that, during this in-between lull, Brits will engage in some surprising habits, with a focus on binge-watching TV, staying in their pyjamas, and even skipping showers. According to the poll, a quarter will avoid showering for three days or more during Twixmas, while half admit to wearing the same pair of pants for longer than a day. Even more surprising, 21 percent of respondents will go up to five days without leaving the house, making the period a time for ultimate relaxation and avoidance of any unnecessary errands or social obligations. In fact, it seems that getting dressed is not a priority for many, as over half of respondents - at 55 percent - will spend at least one day lounging around in their pyjamas, with some spending the entire period in their most comfortable attire. read more on Christmas ONE HIT WONDERLAND Christmas song rich list revealed - including star who makes £1m a YEAR PROUD BRO Princess Kate's brother James praises his sister as she leads carol concert The trend of taking it easy continues with the discovery that 64% of Brits said their favourite activity during Twixmas is staying at home and watching TV. With family and friends often still lingering from Christmas, some will take the opportunity to lie about being busy to avoid socialising beyond December 25th. Around 22 percent of people admitted to fibbing to loved ones so they can stay home, binge-watch boxsets, and simply unwind without any obligations. It’s no surprise, then, that Brits are setting aside considerable time for television, with the average person watching five hours a day. Most read in Streaming LAST CHRISTMAS Gavin and Stacey cast break down in tears ahead of final episode ROYAL ENGAGEMENT? The Crown star Vanessa Kirby 'is engaged' to hunky sports star boyfriend HOT FOR BOT Racy Megan Fox movie packed with robot sex scenes tops Netflix streaming charts BACK ON Disney+'s most raunchy show Rivals confirmed for series two Over the six days of Twixmas, this adds up to an impressive 30 hours of TV viewing, and across the UK, it amounts to a staggering 1.8 billion hours of collective screen time. During this period, many will start and finish a new TV series in just a few days, with 52 percent of respondents committing to new shows. Hannah Murray's Deeply Personal Journey: From Game of Thrones to Wellness Cult Two-fifths will go so far as to binge-watch TV all day without ever getting up, cementing the idea that this is a time dedicated to indulgent relaxation. Rewatching old favourites is also common, with 51% of Brits revisiting beloved series they've already seen multiple times. With Gavin and Stacey's final ever episode set to air, it's perfect timing for fans to re-watch the entire series from the beggining. The Twixmas period also serves as a time for many to catch up on all the Christmas specials and festive-themed TV shows they missed during the chaos of the holiday. More than half of those surveyed - at 52 percent - will spend their time revisiting these programmes, and over a fifth - 22 percent - will make it a point to rewatch their favourite Christmas classics. This trend reflects a broader shift towards embracing comfort and relaxation in the days following Christmas. Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' MAKE THE YULETIDE GREY White Christmas update for Scots as snow & 80mph winds wreak chaos Jamie Morris, Executive Director of Content Strategy and Performance at Sky, said that this period of rest is the ideal time to relax, snack on leftovers, and enjoy some great television. Whether it's watching nostalgic favourites, diving into thrilling new series, or simply revisiting Christmas classics, Sky and NOW have ensured that Brits have access to everything they need for the perfect Twixmas. 3 Popular choices include the Harry Potter movie franchise Credit: Alamy 3 Sky's exclusive series like Game of Thrones too Credit: AlamyCHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Pinzon had 22 points in Bryant's 97-85 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday night. Pinzon shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line for the Bulldogs (4-3). Connor Withers scored 17 points while going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and 1 for 4 from the line. Keyshawn Mitchell finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points, while adding 13 rebounds. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.The disturbing sight of young people from traveller communities up and down the country - many of them children - being herded onto trains by police at Manchester Victoria railway station on Saturday has prompted anger, consternation and concern. The obvious upset, however, isn't confined to people from those traveller communities. The question being privately asked of Greater Manchester Police bosses by the Mayor's Office is whether it was really proportionate to use a so-called 'section 34' order to cover the whole of Manchester city centre . For some, it is an indiscriminate, blunt weapon that risks collateral damage. The order, made under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, allows police to turn people away from a specified geographical area if they think there might be trouble - and arrest those who refuse. READ NEXT: Traveller girl, 13, ended up 'hysterical' in Grimsby after being herded onto train by police in Manchester The Manchester Evening News understands that the senior officers were well aware their decisions might well attract some public flak, but they sanctioned the order to prevent a repeat of trouble from previous years. The arrival of hundreds of young people from traveller communities from all across the country to enjoy Manchester's Christmas markets has become an important date in the social calendar of those communities. But it has also proved something of a headache, particularly for security and retailers in the Arndale centre which has been a particular focal point for young visitors. In November 2022, police were called to break up a 'huge' gathering of young traveller people at the Arndale amid reports that fire alarms had been triggered, fireworks set-off and people were 'running up and down the tram tracks' in Exchange Square. The crowds which gathered outside the Arndale in November 2022 (Image: Pat Karney) Police were, and are, sensitive to perceptions that senior officers appeared powerless to act despite what appeared to be widespread disorder. An even larger gathering of youths happened at the Arndale again on Saturday. Councillor Pat Karney, the council's city centre spokesman, was there and he tweeted that there were about 400 youths gathered, aged between nine and 19. He told the Manchester Evening News he saw no trouble 'unlike previous occasions' as he praised the efforts of police and security staff. However, the mass gatherings seen at the Arndale in previous years formed part of the decision-making of GMP bosses when they decided to sign the dispersal order. The city was also packed with people out Christmas shopping and football fans heading to the Etihad stadium for Manchester City's match against Tottenham Hotspur. It was very busy. The dispersal order, signed by a senior police officer at 12.13pm on Saturday, was 'in response to a rising number of reports, and in the interest of protecting the public from excessive anti-social behaviour, disorder, and criminality over the weekend', said the officer who signed it. GMP later clarified the order was 'due to intelligence' that groups of people were en route to Manchester on trains 'causing antisocial behaviour', with similar reports of trouble in the city centre already coming in. The order was signed and the effect was that cops were dispatched to Victoria and Piccadilly railway stations under instruction to stop the groups and send them back. Mobile footage shared widely online showed uniformed officers escorting young people into trains at Victoria, with many of them clearly unclear where exactly they were going to end up. One girl, aged 13, who had come from Doncaster, ended up in Grimsby. (Image: UGC) Her mother contacted the Manchester Evening News and said her daughter had called while she was being 'pushed' onto the train and was 'hysterical'. She said: "She didn't have a clue where it was going. She was crying and screaming. I could hear the police officers saying 'we don't care where you go, just get back on that train and get off now'. I was saying to put the police officers on the phone but I could hear them saying 'I don't want to speak to your mother - get on that train'." Jonny O'Brien, 26, claimed his 14-year-old sister was 'bullied' onto a train to Manchester Airport . A woman from Lancashire, 34, who declined to be named, said she was 'pushed, pulled and shouted at' by police at Victoria before being forced onto a train to York. "I haven't done anything wrong apart from going to the Christmas markets. It was an absolutely horrible experience," she said. Other footage showed police officers preventing some young travellers from entering stores in the city centre. The force confirmed later that they had broken up two fights and at least 40 individual dispersal orders were made telling people to leave town. The Traveller Movement, a national charity, said the police action was 'shocking' and 'completely unacceptable'. It is considering legal action. Greater Manchester's deputy mayor, Kate Green, called for a 'full report' from GMP. Most of those who visited on Saturday came from the north west and the Welsh borders. It was supposed to be a day out 'in their finery', according to the charity, which confirmed some visitors were as young as 11 although these were said to be accompanied by older siblings. Greater Manchester Police operating a dispersal order covering Manchester city centre (Image: men) As an MP, Ms Green was a co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, a forum for parliamentarians to address issues facing those communities. The group also called for a 'full investigation' saying 'over-policing and targeting of minority ethnic communities is never acceptable'. It's notable that, despite numerous requests by the Manchester Evening News , Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell has so far refused to comment. Tomorrow (Tuesday) the charity, Ms Green and senior officers of GMP will hold a crunch meeting at her offices. It will be a key test of the 'back to basics' policing promised by Stephen Watson when he was installed as chief constable in 2021. As well as an increase in the scale of arrests and the use of stop and search powers, a central plank of his approach was the increased use of 'dispersal orders'. They have typically been adopted following outbreaks of serious disorder or violence, for instance stabbings. But the geographical area covered by Saturday's dispersal order - virtually the entire city centre - was huge, and for the first time it appeared to target a specific community. Senior officers at GMP are believed to be confident the legislation was used correctly, but whether that position will survive a storm of protest and obvious anger within travellers communities is a question that only time will answer.

The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.None