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blackjack meaning Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Ruud's here for his first press conference as our Manager 😃 pic.twitter.com/A4Juixvorb — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 2, 2024 Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions

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Ariana Grande fans are feeling Christmas all around! The singer-actress surprised her Arianators with a live performance of her holiday hit “Santa Tell Me” on Monday (Dec. 23) to mark the song’s 10th anniversary. “celebrating ten years of Santa Tell Me ! thank you so much for all of the love you have shown this record over the past decade,” the star — who currently stars as Glinda in the hit film Wicked — captioned a clip of the live video performance on Instagram. “wishing you all a happy, happy holiday !” In the visual, the two-time Grammy winner — who came in at No. 9 on Billboard ‘s list of Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century — starts off looking ethereal in a flowy white knee-length dress — in the center of a studio, surrounded by musicians. As the string instruments begin to play, the star looks around before launching into the lyrics, showing off her vocals. Later, when the bridge kicks in, her voice becomes breathy and dreamy until she soars again as Grande belts out, “This year I’ve got to be smart! Oooh baaaaby!” The pop star’s celebration of the holiday smash comes the same day that “Santa Tell Me” reached the Billboard Hot 100 ‘s top 10 for the first time since it’s November 2014 release. The track landed at No. 9 on the chart dated Dec. 28; it previously peaked at No. 11 during the 2023 holiday season. In addition to gifting fans a live version of the song just two days before Christmas, the pop star also made it a merry holiday season for some of her fans in England. The Manchester Foundation Trust Charity revealed on Monday that Grande had donated gifts to children across its hospital system, something she done in 2022 as well. “We are so grateful to Ariana for thinking of our young patients this Christmas,” the U.K. organization shared on social media. “The gifts she has donated are being distributed to babies, children and teenagers.” Watch Grande’s live performance of “Santa Tell Me” below:

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In January, the great Nick Saban hung up his whistle at Alabama, having won six national championships, nine SEC titles and a mind-blowing 206 games over 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide. Immediately, Oregon coach Dan Lanning, a rising star still in his 30s — and a former graduate assistant at Alabama — became rumored replacement No. 1. After a month or so, though, Lanning put out a minute-long “I’m staying” video, puffing a cigar inside his swanky, capacious office as it faded to black. It was quite the prophetic start to the year for the Ducks, it seems. With a win Saturday in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, they can break out the victory stogies in celebration of a perfect debut season in the conference and a certain No. 1 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff . On the other hand, another pretty damn good team will be at Lucas Oil Stadium, too. No. 1 Oregon (-31⁄2) vs. No. 3 Penn State (7 p.m., CBS 2) is anything but a mismatch. The Ducks (12-0) — unbeaten through the regular season for the first time since 2010 — are the most well-rounded they’ve ever been, with an offense that ranks 15th nationally (448.5 yards per game) and a defense that ranks seventh (283.8). Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is the face of this team, but it’s the other side of the ball that’s making Lanning, a former defensive coach at Georgia, look so good. Well, that and a practically bottomless NIL stockpile. But the Nittany Lions (11-1) — in this game because of then-No. 2 Ohio State’s shocking loss to Michigan — are the Big Ten national-title contender the public hasn’t been talking about enough. Defense? This one is even better than Oregon’s, ranked fourth (266.8). Offense? It’s merely a couple of nosehairs behind Oregon’s, ranked 19th (442.8). Dillon’s crisp, easy passing to seemingly wide-open receivers has been widely admired all season, but the finesse lefty ranks eighth in passer rating while PSU’s big, burly Drew Allar is seventh. Will the Ducks’ speed be a separating factor? They’re bigger than ever and fast like always. “Yeah, you don’t want [to face] that,” PSU coach James Franklin said this week with a laugh. But the idea there’s a sizable talent gap here is foolishness. Franklin’s team runs the ball better. It gets after opposing passers with similar virulence. Take all the stats under consideration and it’s pretty much a wash. Fun facts: It’s these distant conference mates’ first meeting in 30 years, the last one having gone PSU’s way in the Rose Bowl. Franklin is going for victory No. 100 at PSU. Also, one that truly tickles: Even with all the hero worship Indiana coach Curt Cignetti deservedly received in his first season, his fired predecessor, Tom Allen, has made a triumphant return to the state as coordinator of one of the baddest defenses in the land — the Nittany Lions’. The mighty Ducks as the No. 1 playoff seed? Or the nasty Nits as No. 1 or No. 2? Each team will be in the playoff win or lose, but the stakes are high and it’s truly a tossup. Roll this in your cigar and smoke it: Nits, 27-26. OTHER CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS Big 12: No. 15 Arizona State (-2) vs. No. 16 Iowa State (11 a.m., ABC 7): The best possible outcome for either of these teams heading into the weekend required No. 10 Boise State to lose the Mountain West title game, opening a top-four playoff seed and first-round bye. There was also a potential scenario in which ASU or ISU could get in as the 12th seed, score a first-round upset and get to face Boise State in the quarterfinals. Complicated all the way around. Hey, what about this Big 12 game itself? I’ve been wrong about this league all season, so don’t ask. ASU wins (or does it?) 27-20 in Arlington, Texas. MAC: Ohio (+2) vs. Miami (Ohio) (11 a.m., ESPN): Defending champ Miami is on a seven-game winning streak that includes a 30-20 outcome at home against the Bobcats. But the Bobcats — still seeking their first MAC title — are 5-0 since that loss, winning those games by an average of 27 points. Cats in a good one, Bob. SEC: No. 2 Texas (-21⁄2) vs. No. 5 Georgia (3 p.m., ABC 7): Why is Texas favored (and in Atlanta, of all places)? These teams have played already, you know. It was back in October, and Georgia led 23-0 at the half in Austin en route to a 30-15 win over the then-No. 1 Longhorns. Texas simply couldn’t block the Bulldogs, who had seven sacks. Winning QB Carson Beck threw three interceptions, to no real detriment. I must not be smart enough to overlook all that evidence. UGA, 30-24. Sun Belt: Marshall (+51⁄2) at Louisiana (6:30 p.m., ESPN): Don’t know about you, but I dig a championship game played on the home field of the first-place team. The last three title games have gone the home team’s way — Louisiana in 2021, Troy in 2022 and 2023 — with the winner covering each time. That there is what folks in the biz call a trend. Ragin’ Cajuns win and cover. ACC: No. 8 SMU (-21⁄2) vs. No. 17 Clemson (7 p.m., ABC 7): SMU has been terrific, rising up defensively and slicing through the ACC like a hot knife through the tenderest brisket in all of Texas. But the football gods don’t want the Mustangs. No, the football gods want Alabama. The only outcome can be Clemson winning and three-loss Alabama being back-doored into the dance by the committee at the expense of the Mustangs. It’s not a playoff until somebody not from the Big Ten or SEC gets shafted. Clemson wins, some way or another. Last week: 9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread. Season to date: 66-27 straight up, 44-48-1 against the spread.

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NFL Week 14 predictions: Picks against the spread for every game76ers' Joel Embiid returns, says knee issues 'depressing' - ESPNResolution 2254, agreed upon by the UN Security Council in 2015, outlined how the Syrian civil war might end and how the country could transition to democracy. But is it still fit for purpose now so much has changed? As the situation in Syria continues to evolve following the ouster of President Bashar Assad , an almost decade-old UN Security Council resolution is being described as vital for what comes next. "The people of Syria stand at a moment of history — and a moment of opportunity. That opportunity cannot be missed," United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said last week in New York. "The process must be guided by the underlying principles of Security Council Resolution 2254." Many senior international diplomats, including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock , have said similar. The Security Council, or UNSC, released a statement last week that also agreed with this statement, even though the body has been divided over issues pertaining to Syria. Russia, one of the council's permanent members, is a long-standing ally of the Assad regime and became involved in the war on his behalf in 2015. Russia has vetoed or interfered in UNSC measures around Syria many times throughout the conflict, including blocking aid deliveries and vetoing an investigation into the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. However, now that the Assad regime is gone, Russia is taking a more placatory attitude to UNSC work on Syria. What is UNSC Resolution 2254? The resolution was passed unanimously by members of the UN Security Council in 2015 as the Syrian civil war became increasingly brutal and bloody. It was intended as the basis of ceasefire talks. It advocates for a peaceful transition of power from dictatorship toward democracy. The Assad family had controlled Syria since 1971 and was known for violently suppressing any political dissent. After peaceful revolutions in 2011 during the so-called "Arab Spring," fighting broke out between the Syrian government, which tried to suppress the protests, and anti-government rebels. According to Resolution 2254, any ceasefire should have included setting up a new, inclusive transitional government and drafting a new constitution. The ultimate aim was to ease Assad out of power and hold free and fair elections. The resolution said that this process should be Syrian-led but supported by the UN. "The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people" was probably the most often quoted line from Resolution 2254 over the past decade of war. Resolution 2254 also committed to Syria's territorial integrity , national independence, societal unity and a non-sectarian system of governance. How did the resolution come about? Resolution 2254 was broadly based on what's known as the Geneva Communique of June 2012. The Geneva Communique was a statement issued after talks held in Geneva, Switzerland, by the UN-backed Action Group for Syria. This group included foreign ministers from Arab countries, the EU, US, UK, Turkey, China and Russia. Syrians were not involved. The UN Security Council endorsed the Geneva Communique in a 2013 resolution, but Resolution 2254 later outlined the steps needed to end the conflict more concretely. Does Resolution 2254 still apply? As one commentator noted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "applying 2254 today feels like prescribing meds for a condition that no longer exists." Indeed, some of the details of the resolution are now outdated. For instance, it calls for negotiations and power sharing between the Syrian opposition and the Syrian government, headed by Assad. Obviously, that government no longer exists. Syria's de-facto head of government, Ahmad al-Sharaa , head of the rebel militia that led the charge that toppled the Assad regime, has also raised this point. Al-Sharaa's "General Command," which is running the country during the current transition, broadly supports Resolution 2254, a statement from the organization said. But at this weekend's meeting with the UN's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Damascus , al-Sharaa also suggested that Resolution 2254 needed to be updated given new realities on the ground. Foreign interference Over the weekend, countries attending a meeting of what is known as the Astana Process also expressed support for Resolution 2254. The Astana Process was started in 2017 by Russia, Iran and Turkey to "jumpstart" peace talks in Syria. All those countries played a significant part in the Syrian war, with Russia and Iran supporting the Assad regime and Turkey backing some anti-Assad rebel groups. Over the weekend, the representatives of the original three Astana countries met with foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Qatar in Aqaba, Jordan . The group released a statement agreeing that the Syrian transition should proceed in accordance with Resolution 2254. This statement has been met with some skepticism by Syrian opposition groups. They fear Resolution 2254 could be used as an excuse for foreign powers to interfere in Syria. Some Syrians have even expressed the same kind of suspicion about the UN aiding the transition, seeing it as either helpless or useless during their long-running civil war. A roadmap Despite criticisms of Resolution 2254, it still seems the most likely proposal to guide the Syrian transition. "It is easier for [UN Security] Council members to stick with the basic principles of 2254 than come up with an entirely new plan for a UN role in Syria," Richard Gowan, UN director at the Criss Group think tank told Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National earlier in December. The resolution could simply serve as a basis for a "Syrian-Syrian dialogue, with the participation of the full spectrum, including trustworthy individuals, technocrats, experts, patriots," Yahya al-Aridi, a university professor and former spokesperson for the Syrian opposition, told specialist publication Syria Direct last week. To succeed, Syrian's transition "must be carried out by Syrians for Syrians, but with external assistance," Carl Bildt, Sweden's former prime minister and foreign minister, argued in a December op-ed for Project Syndicate . "The UN process represents the best way forward." Edited by: Davis VanOpdorp Is HTS ready to govern post-Assad Syria? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoStocks notch strong weekly gain, US yields slip as markets eye Trump policies

Sister Wives season 19 is still airing, but fans have spent the entirety of the season speculating that this will likely be its last. After all, the entire show was supposed to center around polygamy. They are no longer polygamists. Despite fan speculation, it looks like TLC is still committed to sharing the story of the once-plural family. A cafe in Utah just confirmed that filming is underway for more Sister Wives seasons. A small Utah Cafe announced its involvement in an upcoming season of ‘Sister Wives’ The family isn’t on hiatus while season 19 is airing. The network, which generally announces new seasons just weeks before their premiere date, has deployed a camera crew to capture new footage. A small cafe in Utah spilled the beans. Dede’s Farmhouse Cafe in Parowan, Utah, took to its social media accounts to inform its patrons that the Sister Wives cast would be filming at its eatery. The overzealous business owner’s update has confirmed that fans will be seeing more from the Browns despite the family now living hundreds of miles apart. A Reddit user caught the social media post and shared it. In the upload, the proprietors encouraged patrons to dine in and check out filming while the cast was on hand. They did not reveal exactly which cast members would be filming, but based on the cafe’s location, it’s safe to assume Meri Brown would be the main focus of the scene. Meri lives in Parowan, Utah. She has owned an inn in the town for several years. Meri opted to move to the area full-time after her spiritual split from Kody. Fans watched Kody help Meri move to the area just weeks ago on Sister Wives . What could fans expect to see from another season? Season 19 of Sister Wives has focused almost entirely on the family’s future now that they are no longer spiritually wed. Season 20 might be more of the same, but we have a feeling plenty of drama may play out as the Brown family learns how to navigate their separate lives. While season 19 has been pretty slow-moving, there is plenty of real-time drama to fill another season. Season 20, which has no official release date, might be more dramatic than previous seasons. If it does air, it will likely cover Janelle Brown’s move to North Carolina . The family’s squabbles over what to do with Coyote Pass will likely come into play, too. It’s possible the additional season would also cover Christine Brown and Kody Brown’s custody battle over Truely Brown. The couple are battling it out in court. Mykelti and Tony Padron’s decision to leave Utah, and Robyn and Kody Brown’s new house purchase could be featured, too.CARSON, Calif. — Ten years had passed since the LA Galaxy last basked in MLS Cup glory, the final spasm of a dynasty that brought stars onto the field and into the stands. Dignity Health Sports Park roared again Saturday, just as it had done for David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan during the 2011-14 dynasty. A decade later, Angelenos saluted Ghanaian speedster Joseph Paintsil, Serbian marksman Dejan Joveljic and sidelined Spanish playmaker Riqui Puig, who had helped make this record sixth title possible. With a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, the Galaxy reclaimed its place atop the league and cast aside years of disarray and disappointment. “This is kind of the stamp that we’re back,” coach Greg Vanney said. “We’ve proven (this year) we’re back as an organization, and now it (was) to prove that we’re back as champions, and we’re on top again.” Paintsil and Joveljic scored four minutes apart early in the captivating match, which tightened before halftime on Sean Nealis’ goal and embarked on a wild ride after intermission before a sellout crowd of 26,812. The trophy is “finally back where it belongs,” Joveljic said. A year ago, the Galaxy won eight of 34 games and finished 26th on the 29-team circuit. The outcome extended decades of frustration for the Red Bulls, who have never hoisted the silver trophy. The MLS originals were born MetroStars, housed for 14 years in an NFL stadium, lost in the congestion of New York sports, helpless and heartbroken for decades as MLS grew around them and a new local rival (New York City FC) beat them to a first title. But the Red Bulls were a playoff revelation this year, storming from the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and winning three consecutive away games to advance to their first final since 2008. Seeded No. 2 in the Western Conference, the Galaxy tore the local spotlight from downtown-based Los Angeles FC, which won the title in 2022 and finished second last year. The suburban club claimed the championship without its luminescent midfielder, Puig, who tore an ACL (and kept playing) in the conference final against the Seattle Sounders. (A day later, the diagnosis ended his season.) With the Spaniard at the controls, the Galaxy scored 16 goals in its first four playoff games. Puig was not in uniform Saturday, but his No. 10 featured prominently. In pregame festivities, Donovan carried the trophy onto the field wearing a Galaxy No. 10 jersey – not his own from his standout Los Angeles career but Puig’s. “We did it for him,” said goalkeeper John McCarthy, who won the championship with LAFC two years ago. Los Angeles roared to two quick goals. It began in the ninth minute when Puig’s replacement, game MVP Gastón Brugman, threaded a lovely through ball between defenders to the fleet-footed Paintsil in stride. Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel slowed the shot but not enough to prevent the ball from trickling over the line. As his teammates celebrated around him, Paintsil was more concerned with locating a Puig jersey to hold up in honor of the injured star. Furiously pulling on his own shirt and yelling at the bench, Paintsil finally found what he was looking for. Four minutes later, Joveljic collected a pass some 40 yards from the target. Embarking on a central run, the 25-year-old encountered no challenges as he entered the penalty area. While falling to his left, Joveljic shot across his body and scored into the low right corner. After a pair of celebratory somersaults, he pointed to Puig in the stands and bowed. “He’s the engine of our team,” Joveljic said. “So this win is for our fans, for our families, but also for him.” The Red Bulls withstood severe pressure, gained traction in possession, then struck on a 28th-minute set piece. After the Galaxy failed to clear a corner kick, Nealis chested the ball down to himself and ripped a 12-yard volley into the right side of the net. Some 2,000 red-clad supporters in the upper reaches of the east stands went nuts. Though the second half was tighter, chances flowed. Excellent individual defending at both ends foiled opportunities at the final moment, and Galaxy right back Miki Yamane hit the near post in the 65th minute. Back and forth it went, picking up speed and drama. In the 72nd minute, after Coronel made a reflex save on Gabriel Pec, the Red Bulls unleashed a swift counterattack. It ended with captain Emil Forsberg nicking the right post. “I should score,” Forsberg said. During an injury break late in the match, Puig appeared on the video boards. The crowd roared, then began chanting his name. The Red Bulls threw additional players forward. Galaxy fans whipped white towels above their heads. Six minutes were added on. A mad scramble in the box yielded three swipes by the Red Bulls but no reward. A whistle signaling offside, not the end of the game, triggered a premature celebration. Seconds later, after the field was cleared of extra players, staff and photographers, the Galaxy danced for real. “When you come to the LA Galaxy as a player, you come with the burden but also the North Star,” said Vanney, a former Galaxy player who guided Toronto FC to the 2017 title. “You are trying to get into that history books and you’re trying to build on the legacy that is of the Galaxy.”

Supreme Court Denies Facebook’s Appeal to Halt Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit From Jilted InvestorsAriana Grande fans are feeling Christmas all around! The singer-actress surprised her Arianators with a live performance of her holiday hit “Santa Tell Me” on Monday (Dec. 23) to mark the song’s 10th anniversary. “celebrating ten years of Santa Tell Me ! thank you so much for all of the love you have shown this record over the past decade,” the star — who currently stars as Glinda in the hit film Wicked — captioned a clip of the live video performance on Instagram. “wishing you all a happy, happy holiday !” In the visual, the two-time Grammy winner — who came in at No. 9 on Billboard ‘s list of Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century — starts off looking ethereal in a flowy white knee-length dress — in the center of a studio, surrounded by musicians. As the string instruments begin to play, the star looks around before launching into the lyrics, showing off her vocals. Later, when the bridge kicks in, her voice becomes breathy and dreamy until she soars again as Grande belts out, “This year I’ve got to be smart! Oooh baaaaby!” The pop star’s celebration of the holiday smash comes the same day that “Santa Tell Me” reached the Billboard Hot 100 ‘s top 10 for the first time since it’s November 2014 release. The track landed at No. 9 on the chart dated Dec. 28; it previously peaked at No. 11 during the 2023 holiday season. In addition to gifting fans a live version of the song just two days before Christmas, the pop star also made it a merry holiday season for some of her fans in England. The Manchester Foundation Trust Charity revealed on Monday that Grande had donated gifts to children across its hospital system, something she done in 2022 as well. “We are so grateful to Ariana for thinking of our young patients this Christmas,” the U.K. organization shared on social media. “The gifts she has donated are being distributed to babies, children and teenagers.” Watch Grande’s live performance of “Santa Tell Me” below: