sports yahoo Intel awarded 7.865 bln USD CHIPS Act grantARTIFICIAL intelligence is taking over dating apps after years of user backlash and exhaustion, according to a bold prediction by officials at Tinder. Tinder , the most popular dating app in the world, is shifting toward new technology as users are becoming burnt out on internet romance. In a recent survey conducted by Forbes , 78 percent of respondents reported feeling "emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted" by dating apps . Match Group , a tech company that owns online dating services including Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge, says an AI shift is exactly what the apps need to reignite excitement in users. "AI is going to transform the dating experience," Tinder executive Bernard Kim said at a recent investors meeting, according to the Financial Times . "It’s going to enable us to make all aspects of the online dating journey better." READ MORE ON APPS In preliminary efforts to improve the app experience, Tinder has started to test a trial requirement for users to upload pictures of their faces, which is currently optional in most regions. The app is also testing a check that uses biometric scans to ensure that users' profile pictures aren't fake. Faye Iosotaluno, the CEO of Tinder, also said on investor day that the app is trying an "AI-enabled discovery feature” that would suggest people's matches based on pictures and quizzes. Tinder already uses AI to help its users pick the best pictures to use in their profiles. Most read in News Tech However, the steps toward innovation didn't stop the app's slow descent over the years as sales dropped and digital dating fatigue grew. A year ago, Tinder launched a pricy subscription plan called Tinder Select that allowed users to send messages to profiles without matching with them first. The model sparked a backlash as critics worried that the plan removed consent from the user experience and created opportunities for stalking and harassment. However, users have to meet a specific criteria and go through an application process to be eligible for Tinder Select. Tinder isn't the only dating platform considering AI advancements. Hinge CEO Justin McLeod said at Match's investor day that the Tinder rival plans to create personalized dating coaches for users with the help of AI. Artificial intelligence is a highly contested issue, and it seems everyone has a stance on it. Here are some common arguments against it: Loss of jobs - Some industry experts argue that AI will create new niches in the job market, and as some roles are eliminated, others will appear. However, many artists and writers insist the argument is ethical, as generative AI tools are being trained on their work and wouldn't function otherwise. Ethics - When AI is trained on a dataset, much of the content is taken from the Internet. This is almost always, if not exclusively, done without notifying the people whose work is being taken. Privacy - Content from personal social media accounts may be fed to language models to train them. Concerns have cropped up as Meta unveils its AI assistants across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There have been legal challenges to this: in 2016, legislation was created to protect personal data in the EU, and similar laws are in the works in the United States. Misinformation - As AI tools pulls information from the Internet, they may take things out of context or suffer hallucinations that produce nonsensical answers. Tools like Copilot on Bing and Google's generative AI in search are always at risk of getting things wrong. Some critics argue this could have lethal effects - such as AI prescribing the wrong health information. “Dating isn’t easy," McLeod told investors, according to CNN . "Many people using the app don’t get that first match and don’t know why — whether it’s their photos, not sending enough likes or taking too long to ask a match on a date. "A dating coach can step in with personalized suggestions." ON A HINGE McLeod said that Hinge plans to fully embrace AI in the coming future with the same goals as Tinder. “While AI is not going to be a panacea when it comes to the very deeply and personal problem of love, I can tell you that it is going to transform the dating app experience, taking it from a do-it-yourself platform to an expertly guided journey that leads to far better outcomes and much better value to our daters,” he said. As AI expands to help daters find their perfect matches on dating apps, users can also take warning against scammers who use AI to prowl dating apps to manipulate or steal from victims. However, social scientist Liesel Sharabi told CNN that daters are still in the "early stages" of embracing AI. Read More on The US Sun “The platforms are still figuring out its role in the online dating experience, but it really does have the potential to transform this space," Sharabi said. Tinder hasn't responded to The U.S. Sun's request for comment.

Senators looking to acquire a defenseman after injury to Artem Zub

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan 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 prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over 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 nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. 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 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, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” 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,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he 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 a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. 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. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. 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 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. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.Week 12 was filled with sloppy play around the NFL, leading to some upsets and surprising outcomes. Jayden Daniels nearly led Washington to an improbable comeback down 10 in the final two minutes against Dallas only to fall short because Austin Seibert's extra point sailed wide left. After a field goal and successful onside kick, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown to bring the Commanders within one point with 21 seconds remaining. But Seibert's point-after attempt failed and the Cowboys returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown to seal a 34-26 victory. Special teams were atrocious for both teams. Seibert also missed his first extra point and Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score earlier in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys missed a field goal, had another blocked and had a punt blocked. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals, just a number of things going to that spot," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Washington (7-5) was a 10 1/2-point favorite over the undermanned Cowboys (4-7) but ended up losing a third straight game. The Houston Texans were 8-point favorites against the lowly Tennessee Titans and let the game come down to Ka'imi Fairbairn missing a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it with just under two minutes left. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and the Texans (7-5) committed 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that negated a go-ahead 33-yard TD pass to Nico Collins on the drive that ended with Fairbairn's miss in the 32-27 loss. The Titans (3-8) averaged just 17 points per game before putting 32 on the scoreboard against Houston's defense that entered No. 4 in the league. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives. Too many negative plays. Score, get a penalty, get touchdowns called back. Get penalties on special teams. Just way too many negative plays defensively, like unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We just didn't play good across the board." The San Francisco 49ers didn't have quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams against Green Bay. That was no excuse for their undisciplined performance. The Niners committed nine penalties and their tackling was shoddy in a 38-10 loss to the Packers. The defending NFC champions are 5-6 with a trip to Buffalo (9-2) coming up. They're still only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. "I'm really not concerned right now about how many guys were missing. We didn't play good enough, so that's not a factor. But, when you are missing some guys, you do have to be better. When you have those penalties and we didn't stop the run like we did and we had those three turnovers in the second half, that's how you get embarrassed." Coming off their first loss of the season, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs needed Patrick Mahomes' heroics on the final drive to beat Carolina 30-27. Mahomes ran 33 yards to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired. Kansas City had 10 penalties, including a pass interference that gave the Panthers (3-8) another chance to make the 2-point conversion that tied the game with 1:46 remaining. On defense, the Chiefs (10-1) suddenly shaky unit gave up 334 total yards against Bryce Young and an offense that entered last in the NFL. "We've got to do better. We're doing good in the red zone but that's only a third of the field," Chiefs safety Bryan Cook said. "We will go back and look at the film to see what we're doing week to week, and see the tendencies that we're giving up, and just move forward from there. At the end of the day, we're all vets in the room for the most part. ... got to go back to the drawing board and see what we're doing and correct it from there." The Vikings allowed the Bears to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left and Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal. But Minnesota won in overtime, 30-27. The Chiefs and Vikings overcame their mistakes in narrow victories. The Commanders, Texans and 49ers couldn't. They have to be better down the stretch to make a playoff run.Justin Baldoni’s ex-publicist sues him and his PR team following Blake Lively’s complaint

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Greg Dulcich went from the Broncos' future to their past far quicker than either could have anticipated. The Broncos waived their once promising tight end Monday, less than three years after he was the team's third-round draft pick out of UCLA. The impetus for the move is the Broncos have two players on their injury lists who are ready to return. The deadline for activating outside linebacker Drew Sanders from the physically unable to perform list is Wednesday. Sanders was a third-round draft pick last year out of Arkansas. He has been out since blowing out his Achilles at the start of the team's offseason conditioning program in mid-April. Even if Sanders is not deemed up to speed to help on game day for a few more weeks, he is the type of promising prospect who would benefit from continued practice time. The Broncos also have veteran receiver Josh Reynolds on injured reserve with a fractured finger. Reynolds was initially thought to have a four-week injury, but it's now been seven weeks. His return was delayed first by the fact he was a victim in a drive-by shooting on Oct. 18 (he suffered minor physical injuries) and then the continued emergence of rookie receivers Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin. Dulcich's stay with the Broncos was doomed at the start by what became a chronic hamstring injury. He missed the first five games of his rookie 2022 season because of the hamstring issue, then made a spectacular NFL debut in game six when he caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson in a 19-16 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers. Dulcich had 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games his rookie season, missing the final two games because of the recurring hamstring issue. Dulcich had a fantastic offseason in 2023 for new head coach Sean Payton, who thought he had his guy for the "Joker" position. But Dulcich popped the hamstring again in the Broncos' season opener, sat out the next four games, then suffered another injury to his hammy again upon his return. Built like a Greek God with long, flowing curly hair, Dulcich was instructed to change his running gait prior to this year as the thought was his toe-heel pronate running style could have put stress on his hamstring. Dulcich did seem to put the hamstring issue behind him and was the Broncos' "receiving" tight end to start the season, catching five passes for 28 yards. All that missed time, though, crimped the quick-twitch athleticism that made him such a promising prospect. He dropped two passes in game three against Tampa Bay, played one more game, then was benched and replaced by Lucas Krull. Dulcich had been inactive since after the Broncos' game four win against the New York Jets. The Broncos tried to trade Dulcich during the NFL trading deadline period last month but found no takers. That doesn't mean he won't draw interest on the waiver wire where teams can put in a claim without compensation to the Broncos. Dulcich has $390,424 remaining on his contract this year and a non-guaranteed $1.673 million next year, If he clears waivers at 2 p.m. Tuesday he will become a free agent.Fall Protection Market to Expand by USD 5.05 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by Growth in Onsite Training, Market Evolution Powered by AI - TechnavioJulie Scelfo started MAMA — Mothers Against Media Addiction — earlier this year to help parents fight back against the harms of social media on children. A former journalist, Scelfo says she was inspired to take action after reporting on the youth mental health crisis and how screens and social media are affecting young people’s lives. The group has 28 chapters in 17 states, with waitlists to start other chapters. Scelfo says the group wants to establish chapters in every state, provide parent education about technology, “ensure the school day remains smart-phone-free for students and overcome the ”inertia in our state capitals and Congress so technology is safeguarded like other consumer products." Scelfo spoke with The Associated Press recently about her work with MAMA, as well as a new Australian law banning children under 16 from using social media. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. QUESTION: What are the biggest issues you hear from parents about technology, anything new that hasn’t been talked about as much? I’m not sure it hasn’t been talked about, but what I hear the most from parents is that they are extremely stressed about the ubiquity of technology in their children’s lives and they don’t know what to do about it. Whether it’s the massive social pressure to get kids their own phones, or the fact that kindergartners are handed tablets on their first day of school, it can feel almost impossible for parents to do what they intrinsically know is better for their kids — which is to be outside in the world as much as possible and not parked in front of a screen. But parents cannot possibly bear the entire responsibility of keeping children off screens and keeping them safe online because the problems are baked into society and into the design of the products. Parents and kids face a polycrisis — multiple crises happening at the same time which creates an effect even more devastating than each one would be individually. At a time when children should be building their social skills and attention span, they are increasingly interacting with the world through technology that can impede the development of both – and on platforms without adequate safeguards. Social media companies relentlessly target our kids with hidden algorithms that exploit their emotions for profit , and I don’t think there’s a real understanding of just how pervasive that exploitation is. Q: Is Australia’s ban on social media for kids under 16 the right move by a government? Why/why not? Australia’s social media ban for children under 16 puts the responsibility of compliance where it should be — on tech platforms, not parents. With more than half of teenagers spending nearly five hours a day on social media platforms and our heart-breaking national youth mental health crisis, it’s unconscionable that governments around the world, including here in the U.S., have failed to pass meaningful social media regulation since the days when AOL still distributed CD-ROMs by snail mail. Much like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would do here in the U.S, Australia’s ban represents a crucial first break in the long-standing logjam on any type of internet regulation and I applaud Australia’s legislators and Prime Minister Albanese for having the courage to stand up to Big Tech. Big Tech is personalizing content to pull our kids into a world where addiction, anxiety, and even depression are side effects. To keep them on the app longer, children are shown more and more extreme content, leveraging the mountains of data they are collecting on our kids, with no common-sense safeguards or basic protections every parent expects. They are making billions while having the nerve to say it’s the parents’ job to make their products safe for our kids? It’s time for governments to step in and force Beg Tech to take responsibility for the effects of their products. Big Tech has spent more than $51 million this year alone to prevent KOSA from passing. Q: What are the reasons that teens should wait until 16 to be on social media? A: Today’s youth spend nearly 9 hours on screens daily and it’s not healthy or safe for their hearts and minds. For example, Meta in September acknowledged taking action on 12 million pieces of suicide and self-harm content on Facebook and Instagram this year — just between April and June. Our kids’ compulsion to check their phones is exposing them to unsafe content and displacing critical, real-world experiences they need to properly develop socially, emotionally and academically. Q: Won’t kids just get around the restrictions, as they always do? A: Every other industry is safeguarded. From toys to food to buildings to cars, we have regulations in place to keep children safe. Why should social media products be any different? Kids may try to get around the restrictions — just like they do for alcohol, tobacco or drugs — but nobody is saying that because they try, we should give them unfettered access to them. Parents cannot possibly bear the entire responsibility of keeping children safe online, because the problems are baked into the design of the products, and so we need policies that hold Big Tech accountable for ensuring their products are safe. Q: What is your ultimate goal with MAMA? A: Just like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the genesis of this movement is fury and anger at the injustice of young people being robbed of their lives just because they happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I want to direct that energy into cultural change — we can’t continue to tout the benefits of technology without having an open and real-time discussion about its significant, and widespread harms and without ensuring that powerful corporations, just like Big Tobacco, are forced to make their products as safe as possible for humans. The ultimate goal for MAMA is to put tech products in their place: as powerful, and often helpful tools - but just a part of human life, not the center of it.None

AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST

BBC Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood admits changing judging style over 'cancel' fearsWhat's New An Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday sentenced five men to prison terms of up to six months for their involvement in violence surrounding a UEFA Europa League match between Dutch club Ajax and Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv last November. Why It Matters The match was marred by a series of violent clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soccer fans. Some of the violence was denounced as antisemitic, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer evacuation for Maccabi supporters. Five people were hospitalized, 20 others sustained minor injuries and authorities detained more than 60 individuals in connection with the violence. What To Know On Tuesday, the court handed down prison sentences to four of the defendants, ranging from six months for one individual to two-and-a-half months and one month for two others. The fifth defendant was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. The five defendants, Dutch residents aged 19 to 32, faced charges including public violence, theft and assault. Despite the Netherlands' counterterrorism agency determining there was no "concrete threat" to Israeli fans and classifying the November 8 match as low risk, Amsterdam authorities preemptively banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Johan Cruyff Arena. An investigation revealed that on the eve of the match, authorities documented several incidents involving Israeli fans, including the removal of a Palestinian flag from a building in Amsterdam and an assault on a taxi. Israel Response In November, the Israeli military initially wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Following the severe incidents of violence against Israelis in Amsterdam, under the guidance of the political echelon and following the assessment of the situation, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] immediately prepared to send out a rescue mission in coordination with the Dutch government." However, Israel's military later said the rescue mission would not be taking place. "Following the directive of the political echelon, the IDF mission will not be departing to Amsterdam," the IDF said in a statement provided to Newsweek . What People Are Saying In a statement earlier this month, the prosecutor's office said: "It seems that the violence arose from strong pro-Palestine sentiments and dissatisfaction with the situation in Gaza, and related anger against the Israelis present." What's Next Six additional suspects, including three minors, are set to stand trial at a later date. Dutch law requires that juvenile proceedings take place behind closed doors. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the violence and have released images of several unidentified suspects in hopes of gathering more information. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

NoneFormer Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup to overturn his election defeat in 2022. A Federal Police report implicates Bolsonaro and 36 others in the alleged scheme, suggesting his active participation and knowledge of efforts to undermine Brazil's democratic process. The 884-page document accuses Bolsonaro of planning to suspend the country's electoral court's powers. Key military leaders reportedly opposed the plan, thwarting its execution. Bolsonaro, however, denied the claims, dismissing them as baseless and politically motivated. Despite Bolsonaro's denial, allegations of misconduct persist, including possible involvement in a January 2022 riot and other controversies. The Supreme Court has forwarded the report to the Prosecutor-General to decide whether to charge Bolsonaro. (With inputs from agencies.)By Conor Ryan Tom Brady appeared in 285 career games with the Patriots, winning six Super Bowls and throwing for 614 total touchdowns (postseason included) over those 20 seasons in Foxborough. Bill Belichick had a front-row seat to every single one of those plays as Brady’s lone head coach in New England. But for the ex-Patriots head coach (and now current UNC football coach), one play stands above the rest as Brady’s finest play in his legendary career. Speaking on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go!” Podcast with Jim Gray and Brady, Belichick tabbed Brady’s first touchdown of Super Bowl XXXIX to David Givens as his most impressive feat. The four-yard pass tied up New England’s matchup against the Eagles at 7-7 with 1:13 left in the first half. “Tom, one of your greatest plays ever was in the Super Bowl against the Eagles,” Belichick said. “This comes down to fundamental execution that’s just so critical. ... We gotta go to the third guy and make it a back-shoulder throw. That’s what great execution is under pressure in the most critical moments of the game. That’s how you win.” Coach Belichick breaks down his favorite @TomBrady play (from 19 years ago) like it was yesterday 🤯🤯 With @JimGrayOfficial on this week's Let's Go! DOWNLOAD 🔗 https://t.co/tyHs0oQxCc pic.twitter.com/OqAIUDWAOZ Some might point to one of Brady’s clutch throws during New England’s Super Bowl triumphs over Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” in Super Bowl XLIX, his final drive against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, or the 28-3 comeback over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI as some of his top plays. But for Belichick, Brady’s throw to Givens was his best because of his ability to improvise after the initial play broke down. Belichick said that tight end Christian Fauria fell on his route while Deion Branch was well covered, prompting Brady to hit Givens off a fade route. “Tom, you had a lot of great plays, but I’ll put that one up there, maybe after your scramble against (Brian) Urlacher, ” Belichick said. Conor Ryan Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023. Sign up for Patriots updates🏈 Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during football season. Be civil. Be kind.

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_NFL Pat Graham, The Associated Press

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Photo: Apex Mountain Resort/James Shalman Snow keeps on falling on Apex Mountain but the resort is reminding would-be attendees that the terrain is not yet safe, and they are not open. "That means that there is no hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding or any other activity permitted within the Apex Mountain Resort controlled recreation area," reads a public social media post from James Shalman, resort general manager. "This is for your safety and the safety of the Apex Mountain Resort employees that are working hard to get the mountain ready to open." Shalman explained that there are all kinds of potentially dangerous heavy equipment at work making the mountain ready for opening day that would be unexpected hazards to someone recreating in the area who was not in the know. "All Apex Mountain staff working out on the mountain have radios and are in contact with each other. As a member of the public you do not know where [dangers] exist," Shalman wrote. "For your safety, and our staff's safety, please respect this closure." The resort is excited to safely welcome guests on the planned official opening day, Dec. 7.Can we teach kids about the most wonderful — and most sorrowful — time of the year?

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Test facility unveils digital twin, making its physical AV testing facility available for free in the virtual worldEddie Howe got ruthless with his Newcastle United players at St James' Park when hauling off £110million worth of talent in this miserable Monday night defeat to West Ham. This was an evening in which nothing came off for the black and whites and their sloppy defending meant they were architects of their own downfall in a 2-0 loss. Under pressure Julen Lopetegui changed things up from their previous game by moving from a 4-1-4-1 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system but shoddy defending from Newcastle proved to be a major factor in this defeat. Toon chief Howe has warned his players he won't put up with complacency and will make changes at the slightest sign of below par displays. It's believed that the head coach hauled his entire team in for a half-time roasting but it did not have the desired effect and even the changes didn't make a great deal of difference. The Magpies lost the toss and attacked the Gallowgate End in the first 45 minutes on a mild November Tyneside night. United then had their first opening on two minutes as Tino Livramento rolled the ball to Alexander Isak but he hit it high and wide. Isak then raced through and clipped the ball over Lukasz Fabianski before the flag went up and a VAR check then subsequently rubber stamped he'd strayed offside. With 10 minutes played though it was the visitors who opened the scoring after Livramento had conceded a corner. Emerson Palmieri's corner was whipped in and big centre-back Tomas Soucek was afforded a free header to steer it home near the penalty spot. Given Newcastle's meticulous work in front of the video screen this would go down as a cheap goal to concede. Soucek shimmied his way around the penalty box to lose his marker Lloyd Kelly before grabbing the opening goal of the night. On 15 minutes the ball dropped to Joe Willock after Joelinton's cross but he sent the ball wide of the target. The first half reached the mid-way point with the Hammers still ahead but Carlos Soler watched a long range sail narrowly past the post. Willock fell awkwardly on 24 minutes and required treatment with the midfielder's knock causing concern on the Toon bench. Anthony Gordon's cross from the left found Sean Longstaff at the back post on 29 minutes but his header went straight into the hands of the keeper. The game was halted on the half-hour mark after Michail Antonio had to go off to replace a ripped jersey - much to the frustration of the United faithful. But even as early as the 15 minute stage, West Ham began trying to wind the clock down with some serious time wasting. The Magpies went in a goal down at the break and were forced to change things up during the interval as Harvey Barnes replaced Willock. It saw Gordon take up a position on the right-hand side and he sent an effort wide on 52 minutes. But West Ham would strengthen their grip two minutes later as Jarrod Bowen slipped in Aaron Wan-Bissaka before the ex-Man United man was allowed to glide his way into the box before drilling the ball home to make it 2-0. Given the sloppiness of the first goal, the second hardly made for good viewing either. Longstaff was caught ball watching as Lucas Paqueta had time to pick out Jarrod Bowen. Bowen then neatly cut the ball across to the unmarked Wan-Bissaka who had the time to take a touch before firing the ball off the post. Howe then got ruthless with more changes, taking off stars Joelinton and Gordon for the returning Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy. Wilson had not played since May and was handed the trickiest of tasks. Wilson's first real involvement in the game saw substitute Konstantinos Mavropands wrestle with the number 9 in the box but the onfield decision of no penalty would stand. West Ham threw Danny Ings and Vladmir Coufal on for the last 15 minutes as they looked to seal off the points. . As the game slipped away from United, skipper Bruno Guimaraes signalled to be replaced with 10 minutes to go. Kieran Trippier came on for the Magpies as Bruno headed straight down the tunnel having pointed to the top of his right leg. The game drew to a close with every West Ham pass being roared with enthusiasm from Level 7. In contrast, Newcastle's post-game lack of appreciation was subdued and the delights of Nottingham Forest before the Premier League break seemed long forgotten. Back to the drawing board for the trip to Crystal Palace for Howe and his backroom team after this one unfortunately. Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield) Attendance: 52,094