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Endless traffic jams. Air thick with smog. Streets scattered with litter. The ever-present risk of scammers. The notorious Delhi belly. These were the perceptions many people hold of India where I come from in rural Lincolnshire and the rest of England as a whole. To be honest, many people were worried for me when I told them that I was moving here. When I first touched down in the bustling Delhi, everything about it– and India as a whole- felt extremely overwhelming at first. The teeming crowds, the unrelenting heat, and the striking beauty of its people and architecture was all a bit startling initially. However, the more I get used to living here and the more people I meet, the same question is persistently asked of me. What do I, as a British person, think of Delhi and India in general? India has fascinated me for many years even before I had the opportunity to work here. Now having experienced it firsthand, I’ve come to a conclusion: Delhi is extraordinary, even if it does want to beat you up a bit. What I have discovered is that India’s beauty lies not only in its vibrant food scene, stunning historical architecture, and rich culture but, most profoundly, in its people. The kindness, generosity, curiosity, and sense of pride here are unmatched—like nothing I have experienced anywhere else in the world. I grew up in a Church of England family (kind of), where attending church merely on Christmas Eve was the norm. On those evenings, we would sing Christmas carols to merely add a bit of feel to the Christmas season. I do appreciate there is much beauty and incredible work within the Christian faith. However, my upbringing in rural England offered little exposure to the richness of Eastern religion. That changed when I arrived here, where I had the opportunity to experience particularly Hinduism and Sikhism first hand and delve into the subject. I arrived just before Diwali, a festival I had absolutely zero familiarity with, but came quickly to admire. The vibrance of the celebration captivated me- the twinkling lights, the intricate artistry of rangoli adorning doorways and the unexpected generosity of gifts from colleagues I barely knew. It was amazing. One evening, admittedly accidently, I found myself wandering the streets of Humayunpur during the festivities. The setting was electric: fireworks and sparklers being set off from all directions, the beating of drums and explosions of different colours filling every peripheral of my vision. It was an assault to the senses in the greatest possible way. Learning about the Gurdwaras has been profoundly eye-opening for me. Discovering an institution that provides food and shelter to countless people, asking absolutely nothing in return, it blew me away. The selflessness and generosity embodied in this tradition is remarkable to me. India has such a beautiful landscape and hosts individuals with such depth, I can see why religion here is so colourful, welcoming, and fascinating. The more I discover about religion in India the more I want to learn. In 2022, India surpassed the United Kingdom in global GDP rankings to become the fifth- largest economy in the world- a milestone that is tangible as soon as you step into the bustling capital of Delhi. Areas like Aerocity and Gurgaon radiate the economic vitality, with their striking modern architecture and the presence of global brand names serving as clear markets of India’s ascent. However, the story of modern India’s transformation isn’t just written in steel and glass; it’s also reflected in the everyday conveniences that technology has brought to life. The revolutionary UPI system has redefined transactions with a simple tap of your phone- whether it’s a humble cup of chai from a roadside vendor or something as significant as a new car. Equally, services like Blinkit and Swiggy, which can deliver virtually anything you need in under 10 minutes. For someone experiencing this for the first time, it’s a real testament to how innovation and technology are shaping the fabric of daily life in India. As breathtaking as this country is, it’s not without its challenges. As a westerner, certain issues stand out to me, demanding attention and resolution. One of the most pressing issues is the annual smog that envelopes Delhi every year after it drifts from the farmlands South of the city . This smog, caused by the burning of crop stubble, leaves the city’s residents not only struggling to breath but also deeply embarrassed. It is clear that sustainable, effective measures are urgently needed to prevent such practices, which poison the very heart of the nations capital. Poverty, too, casts a long shadow over the country with an exponentially growing economy. Each day on my journey to work, I find no need for distractions like my phone. Instead, I look out the window at scenes that are both humbling and heart-breaking- a vivid reminder of how much needs to be done to lift countless lives out of hardship. Perhaps the most troubling issue, however, is women’s safety, particularly in Delhi. It is sickening that women here must constantly live with caution and fear in a country so rich in heritage and ambition- one that aspires to be a leading voice on the global stage. This is an issue that demands immediate and unwavering attention, for no nation can truly prosper until all its citizens, regardless of gender, feel safe and empowered. What pains me further is the issue of litter. It is bewildering to witness how some people treat such a beautiful country with such disregard. India is a place of unparalleled natural and cultural beauty, and yet it is marred by carelessly discarded rubbish. Why not take the pride that is so deeply ingrained in this nation and reflect it in its streets? A simple act, like placing litter in a bin could preserve so much of this country’s charm and magnificence. Although Delhi is a beast that must be respected, here, I feel like stories unfold around every corner, waiting to be discovered. As a British person, modern India is not a place to visit as part of some “Last Days of the Raj” fantasy, but rather as an exhilarating adventure. Like any country, India faces its share of challenges, yet that only adds to its complexity and depth. I firmly believe that everyone should visit this incredible country if they have the chance- not to seek a polished ideal, but to immerse themselves in its authentic, captivating reality. (This piece represents solely the author’s personal opinion and does not reflect the views of the organization or entity.) ALSO READ: From Santa’s Secrets to Christmas Cheer: A Guide to Rediscovering the Magic of the SeasonHouse Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl

Imperial Security: Setting the Gold Standard for Security Guard Services in CanadaWASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people, setting up potential passage in the final days of the lame-duck Congress. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he would begin the process for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act , which would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.President-elect Donald Trump wants to end daylight saving time, something Oregon lawmakers attempted to do earlier this year. On Friday, Trump wrote on his social media site that he would do what he could to end the twice-annual time changes after he takes office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote in the post . Ending the eight months of daylight saving time would mean major changes for Oregonians, shifting things an hour earlier. Portland would see 97 days of sunrises before 5 a.m., compared to zero right now. Sunrise would happen as early as 4:21 a.m. in mid-June, while sunset on summer evenings would arrive shortly after 8 p.m. at the latest. Over the years, Oregon lawmakers have alternately attempted to make standard time and daylight saving time permanent year-round. Their most recent attempt to eliminate the biannual time change by reverting to standard time year-round failed during this year’s short session. Oregon’s Treasurer-elect Elizabeth Steiner, a physician and Democrat who previously served in the state Senate, has noted that a permanent switch to standard time could bring health benefits for many people. The Associated Press reported groups including the American Medical Association have reached the same conclusion. -- Hillary Borrud is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 503-294 4034 or hborrud@oregonian.com .

Numerology Predictions Today, December 14, 2024: Read your personalized forecast for numbers 1 to 9

Pretty much anywhere you go in Japan you can find scenes of natural beauty and sites of cultural interest. But along with the appeal of the great outdoors and grand history, there’s another major reason to make you way to Japan’s various regions: delicious local foods. In a recent survey of 559 Japanese adults, Hankyu Travel found that two out of every three said that eating regional specialties was a reason they picked their in-Japan travel destinations, with only about 10 percent saying food isn’t a factor at all for them. The researchers then asked those foodie-minded travelers which prefecture they wanted to go to, producing a top-10/10-course list of must-visit destinations for food travel in Japan. The first food that springs to mind for Miyagi is gyutan , or grilled beef tongue, the representative food of the prefectural capital of Sendai. Miyagi is also famous for its zunda edamame -based desserts and their hazy moyamoya flavor, and visitors in winter can enjoy the famous oysters of Matsushima Bay and locally caught kinka mackerel. Kagawa is so synonymous with udon noodles that the tourism board sometimes refers to it as “Udon Prefecture.” The local variety, called sanuki udon , is famous for the firm chewiness of the noodles, and is so loved that many udon restaurants open early in the morning to serve breakfast. There’s also a special winter version, called shippoku udon, with winter vegetables simmered in sardine stock broth. Kagoshima is famous for its satsuma -age fried fish cakes and kurobuta pork, the latter of which makes for some tasty hot pot during the winter months. The prefecture is also Japan’s top producer of farmed amberjack (called kampachi in Japanese), and if you’re looking for some alcoholic accompaniment to your meal, Kagoshima’s sweet potato shochu is not to be missed. Without a lot of tourism attractions, Toyama doesn’t get as many travelers as a lot of other places in Japan. However, Toyama Bay is a treasure trove of delicious seafood, such as shrimp, crab, and especially yellowtail ( buri ) that are extra-sweet in winter when they’ve bulked up against the cold. Toyama even has its own local ramen style, Toyama black ramen, with a deeply colored soy sauce broth. 6. Osaka Prefecture (21.7 percent) In contrast to Toyama, Osaka is one of the top travel destinations in Japan, thanks to sights such as Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. Osaka City in particular, though, also has a long-standing reputation as a town filled with gastronomic gusto, as evidenced by its huge number of takoyaki (octopus dumpling) stands and restaurants serving up kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers of meat, seafood, or vegetables) and Osaka-style okonomiyaki , in which the ingredients of the savory pancake are mixed together in a bowl before cooking. Osaka can also do classy cuisine too, with tecchiri , blowfish (f ugu ) hot pot, being a popular meal in autumn and winter. Like Osaka, Kyoto doesn’t necessarily need great food to attract visitors, being Japan’s capital of traditional culture (and confusing communication). Still, you can find all sorts of great things to eat in Kyoto, from locally grown vegetables (called Kyo yasai ) prized for their freshness and flavor, to yudofu (tofu simmered in kombu stock) and nishin soba (buckwheat noodles with dried herring). And of course we can’t forget all the mouthwatering matcha desserts created courtesy of the quality tea grown in the Kyoto town of Uji. Ishikawa, located on the northern side of Japan’s main island of Honshu and bordering the Sea of Japan, probably could have made the list on the strength of its crab and sushi alone (which is why we made multiple visits to Omicho seafood market during our one-night stay in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa). Add in the appeal of Noto beef from Ishikawa’s northern Noto peninsula, delicious but without the brand-name-fame prices of Kobe beef, and your stomach will be very happy on a trip here. As the most far-flung part of Japan, Okinawa has a very unique food culture, and it’s a very tasty one too. The distinct flavor of goya champuru , bitter melon stir-fry, and soki soba (noodles with boneless pork ribs), More adventurous types might want to try the pig’s feet, while your sweet tooth can be satisfied with various taro desserts, sata andagi frybread, or the frozen treats of local-favorite ice cream brand Blue Seal. Plus, this is the only part of Japan where you can regularly find spam musubi rice balls. Fukuoka’s location along the northern coast of the southwestern island of Kyushu gives it good seafood access, and this is Japan’s top prefecture for mentaiko (spicy cod roe). The biggest name in Fukuoka food, however, is Hakata ramen. The downtown Fukuoka City neighborhood of Hakata is the mecca for these thin, firm noodles served in tonkotsu (pork stock) broth, with the roadside yatai (stalls) being the most atmospheric place to chow down on them. Finally, for the top of the list, we go all the way to the top of the map of Japan. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, has a couple of things going for it from a foodie standpoint. It’s Japan’s most spacious prefecture, and all that agricultural land results in the country’s best-loved corn and potatoes, and also ample dairy space for cheese, ice cream, and other milky delights. Hokkaido’s colder waters result in better-tasting crab, and aficionados largely agree that Hokkaido’s uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe) are head and shoulders above their counterparts from other parts of Japan. Factor in Hokkaido’s famous soup curry (thinner and spicier than standard Japanese curry) and flat-grilled mutton (called “Genghis Kahn” in Japan), and Hokkaido has something to satisfy just about any craving, making it an undeniably great place if you’re packing your appetite when traveling in Japan. Source: Hankyu Travel via PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- What part of Japan has the best food, and what should you eat there? -- The ultimate Shinkansen trip: Riding Japan’s bullet train network from one end to the other -- Prefectural rivalry in Japan: Survey reveals which areas compete against each other, and whyTheir ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday said a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won't impact the league's relationship with Roc Nation, the music mogul's company that has produced some of the NFL's entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl halftime show. "We're aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z's really strong response to that," Goodell said after the conclusion of the league's winter meetings in Irving, Texas. "We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl." A woman who previously sued Sean "Diddy" Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations "idiotic" and "heinous in nature" in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. "I think they're getting incredibly comfortable with not just with the Super Bowl but other events they've advised us on and helped us with," Goodell said. "They've been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They've been great partners." Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyoncé, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas. The video in the player above is from a previous report. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stars arrive at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance after Queen pulls out

MECHANICSBURG — Northwestern Lehigh and Avonworth put on another instant classic at Chapman Field Saturday afternoon. The District 11 champion Tigers marched into the PIAA 3A championship game with one goal, to win a state championship. District 7 champion Avonworth had the same goal, so something had to give. • Sign up for PennLive’s daily high school sports newsletter In the end, Northwestern Lehigh (16-0) came away with a thrilling 36-33 overtime victory against the Antelopes (12-4). Offense was at a premium all afternoon. The run game was cooking on both sides as there was a total of 462 combined yards on the ground for the game. The Tigers and Antelopes scored on each of the first seven drives of the game, there wasn’t a stop to be had defensively for nearly three quarters. When a stop did happen, it was in a big spot. Up by six, Northwestern Lehigh registered the first defensive stop of the game when Micheal Lagowy that Eli Zimmerman recovered. Zimmerman later punched it in from one yard out, giving the Tigers a 14-point lead. The Lopes looked dead in the water after the 13-point swing. Avonworth Luca Neal changed that quickly. Q3, 1:42 — Oh it’s a game! Luca Neal puts the Antelopes right back in it after breaking loose for a 54-yard run down the sideline and to the house. Northwestern Lehigh 30, Avonworth 23 pic.twitter.com/HAJrHy6IGn The Lopes scored another touchdown tying the game, taking the two teams to overtime. The stars The battle between Neal and Zimmerman was fun to watch. Northwestern Lehigh head coach joked that the Avonworth back finished with 80 carries. Neal was halfway there with 36 carries for 252 yards and four touchdowns. He carried the Lopes’ offense the entire afternoon. While the numbers aren’t as gaudy as Neal’s, Zimmerman was just as effective, rushing for 123 yards and three touchdowns of his own. Including the walk-off touchdown in overtime. Game-winning moments Avonworth opened overtime with a field goal. So, if the Tigers scored a touchdown, the game is over. Zimmerman wasted no time getting into the endzone for Northwestern Lehigh. FINAL (OT) — Northwestern Lehigh 36, Avonworth 33 Eli Zimmerman takes the first snap 10 yards in and the Tigers are PIAA 3A champions! Another instant classic at Chapman. pic.twitter.com/6CTFeLFBrd They said it “Unbelievable game. Hats off to those guys over there in Avonworth. What a football game, it must’ve been great to watch. It was a little heart thumping in there for a while. Our kids just kept coming and kept answering the bell.” - Northwestern Lehigh head coach Josh Snyder said after the game. “We struggled there in the last couple possessions on offense. We brought out a Bronco formation that we didn’t show on film. We blocked it up well. Eli (Zimmerman) can make anybody miss one on one. When he went in, I didn’t know how to think, react or respond.” - Snyder on the playcall for the final play of the game. “We called an inside run to the right, I saw the gap close and I just bounced it outside. Micheal (Lagowy) held his block just long enough to let me read off of him, and the rest was history.” - Northwestern Lehigh running back Eli Zimmerman on what he saw on the final play of the game. -- Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. More High School Sports Host Boiling Springs girls wrestlers post statement win over state power J.P. McCaskey in dual tourney Watch: Highlights of Northwestern Lehigh’s PIAA 3A title win over Avonworth Watch: Highlights from the 2nd Annual Boiling Springs Wrestling Classic Northwestern Lehigh honors late teammate Tucker Wessner with first state football titleTexans get grim Tank Dell injury news after brutal hit on touchdown catch vs. Chiefs

To lure Juan Soto, Mets created a video of his statue outside Citi Field next to Tom Seaver's NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team unveiled a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver. Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. LeBron James ruled out of Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday with foot soreness LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It’s unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers’ next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Hojlund scores twice for Man United to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League, Tottenham held 1-1 Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League. The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes’ pass off a free kick to seal the victory. Hojlund came on in the 56th and scored an equalizer six minutes later. Totenham was held 1-1 at Rangers and Lazio tops the standings after a 3-1 win at Ajax. In the Conference League a youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the third-tier competition.

Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.