BEIJING — Rescue workers in the freezing, high-altitude Tibet region in western China searched Wednesday for more survivors and victims of a strong earthquake that struck a day earlier near a holy city for Tibetan Buddhists, killing at least 126 people and leveling thousands of houses.
Tents, quilts and other relief items were being delivered to people whose homes were uninhabitable or unsafe. Temperatures fell well below freezing overnight in an area with an average altitude of about 4,200 meters (13,800 feet).
The confirmed death toll stood at 126 with another 188 injured as of Tuesday evening. The earthquake struck the city of Xigaze, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism. It was not immediately known whether he was in his Tashi Lhunpo Monastery at the time of the quake or how much damage the city sustained. The quake’s distance from Xigaze, which sprawls across a high altitude plain, was about 25 kilometers (15 miles).
The Chinese government and followers of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s highest figure, have feuded over who should hold the position of Panchen Lama since a boy appointed by the Dalai Lama disappeared in the mid-1990s and a Chinese-backed candidate was approved for the position. The Dalai Lama, viewed by the Chinese government as a dangerous separatist, denounced the move and has refused to recognize the current Panchen Lama.
China’s government says Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say they were functionally independent for most of that time. China’s People’s Liberation Army invaded the territory in 1950 and the Dalai Lama fled to India nine years later during an uprising against Chinese rule, seen as eroding Tibet’s unique Buddhist culture.
More than 500 aftershocks were recorded after the earthquake, which the U.S. Geological Survey said measured magnitude 7.1. China’s earthquake center recorded a magnitude of 6.8.
The quake was also about 75 kilometers (50 miles) from Mount Everest and the border with Nepal, where the shaking sent people running out of their homes in the capital.
The dead included at least 22 of the 222 residents of Gurum, the official Xinhua News Agency cited the village’s Communist Party chief, Tsering Phuntsog, as saying. The victims included his 74-year-old mother, and several other of his relatives remained buried in the debris.
“Even young people couldn’t run out of the houses when the earthquake hit, let alone old people and children,” Tsering Phuntsog said.
More than 3,600 houses collapsed, according to a preliminary survey, and 30,000 residents have been relocated, Xinhua said, citing the city government in Xi, also known by its Tibetan spelling, Shigatse.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has 1,850 rescuers on the ground along with firefighters and others, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Tibet is generally closed to foreign journalists over reports about the ill treatment of the native population by Chinese authorities.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered “all-out rescue efforts to save lives and minimize casualties,” Xinhua reported. Communications in the area have also been restored, allowing smoother delivery of emergency goods, it said.
A candlelight vigil was planned in Dharamsala, India, home of the Dalai Lama and a large Tibetan population, on Wednesday night, and an announcement on the Dalai Lama’s website said he would lead a prayer ceremony in memory of the victims on Thursday.
Asked about the prayer ceremony, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “We are very clear about the separatist nature and political schemes of the Dalai Lama and remain highly vigilant.”
Guo expressed confidence that the people in the earthquake zone would be able to rebuild under “the strong leadership” of the Communist Party.
ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE LOUISIANA FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (December 6, 2024) — In its 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Harlem Berry of St. Martin’s Episcopal School is the 2024-25 Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year. Berry is the first Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year to be chosen from St. Martin’s Episcopal School.
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Berry as Louisiana’s best high school football player, and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fl.), Peyton Manning (1993-94, Isidore Newman School, La.) and DJ Lagway (2023-24, Willis High School, Texas).
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior running back and free safety rushed for 2,178 yards and 41 touchdowns this past season, leading the Saints (9-3) to the second round of the Division IV Select State Tournament. Berry ran for more than 100 yards in all 12 games and averaged 12.7 yards per carry. Defensively, he recorded 25 tackles, forced three fumbles and blocked a field goal. A three-time First Team All-State selection, he concluded his prep football career with 8,571 rushing yards and 132 touchdowns.
A member of the St. Martin’s Black Student Union, Berry has volunteered locally at Holy Name elementary school and has donated his to multiple community service initiatives through his church. “Harlem has been the best player on that football team since his freshman year,” said Lee Roussel, head coach of Riverside Academy. “His elite speed is what makes him scary with the football. He can impact the game anywhere he lines up.”
Berry has maintained a B average in the classroom. At the time of his selection, he had made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play football at Louisiana State University next fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports – football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Berry joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Football Players of the Year Ju’Juan Johnson (2023-24, Lafayette Christian Academy), Arch Manning (2022-23, Isidore Newman School), Landry Lyddy (2021-22, Calvary Baptist Academy) and Walker Howard (2020-21, St. Thomas More High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade, Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY and X(Twitter) at x.com/Gatorade.
HAMMOND, La. – A total of 13 student-athletes agreed to continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana University football program, SLU head coach Frank Scelfo announced on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
The 2025 Lion signing class includes seven defensive players and six offensive players, adding to a Southeastern roster that just finished 7-5 overall and 6-1 in Southland Conference play, closing out the season by winning six of its final seven games.
“We went into this recruiting period looking not necessarily to fill specific needs, but to find the best players that fit what we do,” Scelfo commented. “We found 13 young men who fit into our program, not only with their play on the field, but as student-athletes who will buy into our culture and be solid academically.”
On the defensive side of the ball, SLU added four defensive linemen in BJ Ausmer (6-3, 230, Ocean Springs, Mississippi), Laramie Guidry (6-6, 235, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Gabriel Harvey (6-3, 230, Watson, Louisiana) and Etison Pholo (6-2, 275, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). Southeastern also added defensive backs Carter Byrd (6-1, 190, Gulf Shores, Alabama) and Jakyri Jones (5-10, 190, Monroe, Georgia), as well as linebacker Tanner Spears (6-0, 200, Amite, Louisiana).
The Lions brings in five playmakers on offense in wide receivers Aamir Ellis (6-0, 170, Locust Grove, Georgia) and Kyree Paul (5-9, 165, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), running backs Deantre Jackson (5-8, 165, Marrero, Louisiana) and Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. (5-11, 210, Boutte, Louisiana) and tight end Lonnie Shinn (6-5, 235, Columbus, Mississippi). Rounding out the Lion offensive haul is powerful offensive lineman Deshawn Feazell (6-2, 330, Moss Point, Mississippi).
“We made a commitment going into this past season to get more athletic on both sides of the ball and it showed,” Scelfo said. “We continued that direction with this class. We were looking to increase our team speed and get longer. We were able to accomplish those goals with the group we signed today.”
Feazell, Guidry, Harvey, Jackson, Jones, and Pholo will all enroll at Southeastern for the spring semester and participate in spring practice, which starts March 11. The Lions will open the 2025 season at Louisiana Tech Aug. 30.
2025 Southeastern Football Signing Class
BJ Ausmer | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Ocean Springs, Miss. | Ocean Springs HS
Carter Byrd | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores HS
Aamir Ellis | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Locust Grove, Ga. | Locust Grove HS
Deshawn Feazell | OL | 6-2 | 330 | Moss Point, Miss. | Moss Point HS*
Laramie Guidry | DE | 6-6 | 235 | Baton Rouge, La. | Naval Academy Preparatory School/University Lab HS*
Gabriel Harvey | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Watson, La. | Live Oak HS*
Lonnie Shinn | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Columbus, Miss. | New Hope HS
Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Boutte, La. | Hahnville HS
Tanner Spears | LB | 6-0 | 200 | Amite, La. | Oak Forest Academy
* – Will enroll at SLU for spring semester and participate in spring practice
BJ Ausmer | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Ocean Springs, Miss. | Ocean Springs HS Led the state of Mississippi and ranked 17th nationally with 22 sacks as a senior at Ocean Springs High School … The 2024 Region 4-7A Player of the Year recorded 83 tackles (65 solo), 41 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a blocked field goal and scored two touchdowns for the Greyhounds.
Southeastern head football coach Frank Scelfo on Ausmer: “He can be special as he continues to develop physically. He’s an edge rusher with a lot of production. He fits the mold of successful pass rushers in our league.”
Carter Byrd | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Gulf Shores HS Finished senior season at Gulf Shores High School with 77 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two pass breakups and an interception … As a junior, totaled 110 stops with five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and seven tackles for loss for the Class 5A state champion Dolphins … High school teammate of current Lion Otto Brewer III.
Scelfo on Byrd: “Carter is an athletic safety. He has great range and length and can really cover the field.”
Aamir Ellis | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Locust Grove, Ga. | Locust Grove HS
Standout performer at both wide receiver and defensive back at Locust Grove High School … Projects as a wide receiver for SLU … Also a standout on Locust Grove track and field team.
Scelfo on Ellis: “Aamir is an outstanding receiver. He’s got great speed and can take the top off the defense. Aamir has really good hands and makes a lot of plays with his ability to rack up yards after the catch.”
Deshawn Feazell | OL | 6-2 | 330 | Moss Point, Miss. | Moss Point HS
Multi-time All-State performer at Moss Point High School … Powerful interior lineman also represented the Tigers on the 8-4A Super 22 Team … Will enroll at Southeastern for the spring semester and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Feazell: “We’re excited to get Deshawn here in January for spring practice. He’s a powerful guy who fits what we’re looking for from our offensive lineman from an athleticism stand point. He can pull and get out on the perimeter, but also plays with a lot of strength.”
Laramie Guidry | DE | 6-6 | 235 | Baton Rouge, La. | Naval Academy Preparatory School/University Lab HS
Signed with Navy out of high school and spent the 2024 season at the Naval Academy Preparatory School … First team all-state, all-district and all-metro selection as a senior at University Lab … Started prep career at The Dunham School, where he also excelled on the basketball court … Will enroll at Southeastern in January and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Guidry: “We recruited Laramie out of high school and we’re glad to get him to come back to Louisiana. He’s a long defensive lineman that has a lot of tools to build on.”
Gabriel Harvey | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Watson, La. | Live Oak HS
All-district and All-Parish performer at Live Oak High School … Finished with 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior … January enrollee will participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Harvey: “Gabe came to our camp this summer and really impressed us. He’s athletics and gets around the edge well. Gabe is going to get bigger and stronger in our program.”
Returns to Southeastern after spending the fall at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he rushed for 682 yards and eight touchdowns … Played for the Lions in 2023, rushing for 243 yards on the season, including an 81-yard touchdown run in a win at Northwestern State … Had a 40-yard kickoff return in a SLC road win at then-Texas A&M-Commerce and averaged 25.2 yards per kick return as a true freshman … Standout running back at Edna Karr High School … Three-time All-State performer for the EKHS track and field team … Nickname is “The Jet” … Will enroll at SLU in January and participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Jackson: “We knew what we had in Deantre and we’re glad to get him back now that he’s taken care of what he needed to academically. He adds an element of speed to our running back room and we’re excited to have him rejoin our program.”
Jakyri Jones | DB | 5-10 | 190 | Monroe, Ga. | Georgia Military College/Monroe Area HS
Finished with 55 tackles, five tackles for loss, an interception and three pass breakups in two seasons at Georgia Military College … Recorded 107 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior at Monroe Area High School … Was also a standout on the MAHS basketball team … Will enroll at SLU in January and participate in spring practice. Scelfo on Jones: “Jakyri is a physical player and his skill set jumps out on film. He attacks the football and he’s someone we expect to come in and compete for a starting position in the secondary immediately.”
All-state return specialist and first team all-district 6-4A on offense, defense and special teams in his first season of high school football last season at Istrouma High School … Rushed for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, while also returning six kickoffs or punts for touchdowns and catching three scores … Played multiple positions on the way to leading Istrouma to first trip to state quarterfinals in over two decades as a senior … Expected to be a wide receiver at SLU.
Scelfo on Paul: “Kyree is explosive with the ball in his hands. He played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, cornerback and returned punts and kickoffs at Istrouma. Kyree has a chance to be a really special player here at Southeastern.”
Spent senior season at McCallie High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee … Canada native spent junior season at Clearwater Academy International, where he was teammates with current Lions Evan Aubrey, Isaiah Hayes and Louis Gendron … Started prep career at St. Joseph’s High School in native Ontario … Will enroll in SLU in January and will participate in spring practice.
Scelfo on Pholo: “Etison is a good addition for our defensive line and we can never have enough big guys. He moves well and is athletic, while also playing with power. He’s someone who can hold the point of attack for us.”
Lonnie Shinn | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Columbus, Miss. | New Hope HS
First team All-District as a junior at New Hope High School … Also named team’s offensive MVP … Standout in both football and basketball for the Trojans.
Scelfo on Shinn: “Lonnie is a tall, rangy tight end that fits the mold of we’ve had at that position. He’s athletic and can block, but also can stretch the field with his ability to catch the football.”
Calvin “CJ” Smith Jr. | RB | 5-11 | 210 | Boutte, La. | Hahnville HS Powerful running back at Hahnville High School … Rushed for 264 yards and four touchdowns in first round playoff win over H.L. Bourgeois, earning Friday Night Football and Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club Prep Player of the Week honors … Rushed for over 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns during the regular season this fall … Also a standout on the HHS track and field team as a sprinter.
Scelfo on Smith: “Calvin is an explosive running back and a sleeper in this class. He’s extremely productive and has a nose for the end zone.”
Tanner Spears | LB | 6-0 | 200 | Amite, La. | Oak Forest Academy
Two-way player recorded 96 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles, while also rushing for 10 touchdowns as a senior at Oak Forest Academy … Selected to play in the MAIS All-Star Game … Won the Class 5A 100-meter championship as a junior … High school teammate of current Lion Stiles Guidry … Head coach at OFA was former SLU All-SLC linebacker Drew Misita.
Scelfo on Spears: “Tanner is a multi-sport, multi-positional athlete who can fill a lot of different roles for us. He’s a physical guy who is ready to come in and play for us right away. We had him at our camp and fell in love with his game.”
Pep Guardiola kept holding up six fingers. The Liverpool fans were in delirium and the Liverpool players were jigging and jiving across the turf, and his own players had gone over to applaud the travelling support, which is really the least anyone deserves after attempting to travel across northern England on a Sunday.
Still Guardiola kept holding up six fingers: proudly, almost incredulously, as if discovering the concept of fingers for the very first time. What did it all mean? The number of defeats since they last won a game? The position in which they most desperately require reinforcements in January? The number of touches, over 90 minutes, that Erling Haaland had in the final third?
A new empire may yet rise, but this one is done. And before we talk what-nows and what‑nexts, we should probably dwell a little on the sheer concussive speed of the collapse. A collapse that as recently as a fortnight ago was believed not just improbable but inconceivable. Should we be more shocked that a dynasty this impregnable can basically implode in three weeks? Or more shocked at the feat of sustaining a dynasty this impregnable in a world where they can implode in three weeks?
Perhaps the ultimate measure of the standards Manchester City have set over the past four seasons was what happened when they briefly let those standards slip. Nobody noticed how fast the Titanic was going until it stopped. Nobody realised just how bloodthirsty the chasing pack was until it finally found something to devour. And on a riotous Anfield afternoon, it was Liverpool who came to eat.
No mercy and no brakes. They score early, the dazzling flourish to an electrifying opening act in which they essentially disdain the idea that anybody might want to resist them. City barely do. Manuel Akanji stands off Mohamed Salah, Kyle Walker loses the run of Cody Gakpo and right at the start of the move Trent Alexander-Arnold nails an incredible 70-yard long pass that – remarkably – will not be his best 70-yard pass of the half. But he does so from the base of midfield with absolutely no pressure on him: five City players close, but none willing to engage.
‘Maybe I deserve to be sacked’: Guardiola laments loss as Slot has ‘no empathy’ – video
This isn’t tactics. You cannot remotely conceive of a scenario in which Guardiola would want his players to stand off in that situation. But either they cannot or they will not, and either way the buck still probably has to stop with the coach. Whatever levers Guardiola is tugging – refinement, renewal, cajoling, confrontation – he is not getting a response.
For Arne Slot, it helps that the messages are still fresh, that the structures are already drilled and honed, that he inherited a squad finely balanced between experience and youth, that he is so clearly prepared to change what does not work (the Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen games the clearest examples of this), that this team is so clearly a meritocracy. Contrast this with Guardiola’s decision to drop Ederson, presumably as punishment for the rush of blood against Feyenoord in midweek, while doubling down on the 4-4-2 system that led directly to that comeback.
It helps, too, that there are leaders in the dressing room who can feel their own careers sharpening to a point. Perhaps it was not simply coincidence that Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk were probably Liverpool’s three best players here. All of their contracts are up in the summer. Salah has already started taking his shirt off a lot more when he scores, which is a clear statement of intent to potential suitors. Right now, it feels odds against that all three will still be at the club next season.
And if, on some level, Liverpool can be accused of a certain carelessness in allowing three of their biggest stars to run down their contracts at the same time, with the possible consequence that they will again forget to replace Andrew Robertson, then in the short term at least there is a certain alignment of mission here. Slot’s first season will probably also be the final hurrah of the great Jürgen Klopp team before it is finally broken up for parts. There is an urgency and a romance there. That team really deserved more than one title. Well, here’s your chance, and it’s probably the last.
Ironically, there is in all this a potential solution for City. The vultures are circling; the lawyers are grappling; a fifth title in a row is probably gone but there is still plenty to be salvaged from this season. What’s missing is the “why”. Why flog your guts out for another league title? The treble has been won, the post‑treble slump avoided, every critic answered. What’s the big idea now?
Perhaps Guardiola squandered that idea when he announced he was staying for two more years. But it’s not too late to recant, not too late to give this season some shape and meaning, to give his players a reason to fight. Pep’s last season. The legacy of a legend. And to the club for whom he gave everything: one final heartfelt act of love.
Congratulations to Frank Lampard, who has defied the odds to be named the new manager of Coventry City. In an age when people are losing their collective minds over the quality of English managers and the supposed opportunities they are failing to be presented with in the wake of Thomas Tuchel’s appointment of the national side, it’s good to know that Lampard is keeping the quota up towards the bottom of the Championship. “Frank cut his teeth [there] and knows what is needed in this league to be successful,” roared Coventry’s owner and chief suit, Doug King. “His experiences thereafter at Chelsea and Everton will ensure he brings to our talented squad clear understanding of exactly what is needed to succeed at the very top level that we as a club are striving to reach.”
Which is a longwinded way of suggesting that Lampard might be able to dial up his pals at Chelsea and get a few loan signings in January. Just imagine what Omari Kellyman – the £19m summer signing yet to play a minute of first-team football for Chelsea – or £17.2m Brazilian Deivid Washington could do against the likes of Portsmouth, Hull and Cardiff. At least that trick worked at Derby County in 2018-19, Lampard’s only Championship experience, when England internationals Ashley Cole, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori were added to a squad that also contained other senior internationals in Harry Wilson and Tom Huddlestone. Lampard’s brave Rams finished sixth, before losing to Aston Villa in the playoff final.
That’s not to slate the job that Lampard did at Derby (win rate 42.7%). It was his first gig in management, and although he had some of the best players in the Championship and a wave of goodwill based upon his outstanding playing career that had no bearing on his ability as a manager, he did get within 90 minutes of the Premier League. But Lampard’s “success” was six seasons ago, a lifetime in football. Since then, he has brought a multitude of mediocrity to Chelsea, Everton and Chelsea again on an interim basis, with his last job (outside of a TV studio) at Stamford Bridge (played 11, won one, lost eight) coming a full 18 months ago.
Another manager with a much more recent history of success (two promotions, losing the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 on penalties, nearly dumping out Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup semi) is Mark Robins, who was both named as one of Coventry’s “greatest ever managers” and booted through a door marked “Do One” by Sky Blue suits earlier this month. A legend of the club after his seven-year reign, Robins even accepted an honorary doctorate from Coventry University last week for bringing joy, pride, success back to a city and supporters back to the stadium. Hull City – who sacked Tim Walter on Wednesday – or Plymouth Argyle, thumped 6-1 by Norwich and struggling under the stewardship of another legendary former player who had a brief managerial stint at Pride Park, might now be interested in Robins or anyone else who “knows what is needed in this league to be successful”.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
It is nice for him, his family and us but also for the academy. Not only him … Caoimhín and Curtis were outstanding. To have three academy players doing so well is a big compliment for [it]” – Arne Slot waxes lyrical about Liverpool trio Conor Bradley, Caoimhín Kelleher and Curtis Jones after they managed to get one over on Real Madrid in Bigger Cup.
I thought surely that Richard Moyse Fenning’s long letter o’ the day-winning description of Spursiness (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) should have fallen on a day that is prizeless – what a gag that would have been” – Ian Potter.
Re: former Manchester City player Mikheil Kavelashvili trying to be elected as president of Georgia (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). There is a precedent” – John McEniff.
I hope Wayne Rooney (yesterday’s Quote of the Day) has been polishing up his CV, though it may take a massive amount of polishing” – JJ Zucal.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is …. Ian Potter, who lands their very own piece of Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
Port City Colombo, a visionary multi-service Special Economic Zone and master-planned city, invites the local community to partake in an assortment of engaging excursions that range from luxury shopping to serene strolls by the waterfront. With a series of experiences that provide something for everyone, Port City Colombo further encourages local guests to spend more time within the vibrant, thriving city of Colombo, especially during this holiday season.
Embodying the dynamic lifestyle ambiance of Port City Colombo set to emerge once the project is fully operational, the Mall at Port City Colombo caters to discerning shoppers who seek world-class convenience, luxury travel retail, and diverse culinary offerings. The Mall at Port City Colombo, being South Asia’s first downtown duty-free retail concept, features China Duty Free — the world’s No.1 travel retail operator, with additional travel retail brands set to commence operations shortly. The Mall is open to all eligible visitors, including returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, general tourists, diplomats and diplomatic organisations, and departing travelers. Returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents will be able to avail an annual allowance limit of USD 2,000, with specified quantity limits as per Schedule 1 of the published Extraordinary Gazette, and purchases to be made on a single visit within four days from the First Date of Arrival (FDOA). For returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, only the permitted customer and one family member are allowed.
Guests visiting the Mall could also explore the curated assortment of other dining, cultural retail, and lifestyle offerings, which include the renowned Nihonbashi by Dharshan, Café Chill, Spa Ceylon, Department of Coffee, and so forth.
Port City Colombo further encompasses Sri Lanka’s only artificial beach, increasingly popular with local guests since its opening in 2023, which provides the perfect tropical sanctuary in the urban heart of Colombo. This includes a swimmable beach within the vicinity of Port City Colombo’s breakwater lagoon, vivid, awe-inspiring sunsets, and a lively beachside restaurant culture that is ideal for any guest who desires a tranquil day by the ocean. The exquisite Marina Promenade, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, enables guests to enjoy panoramic views of the Colombo city skyline and the sea as they take a saunter down this distinct pathway up to the arched footbridge, which is slowly becoming an icon of the city’s landscape. The newly opened Central Park also presents an urban oasis of relaxation, recreation, and physical activity, enhancing Colombo’s appeal as a city that harmonizes modernity with nature.
Port City Colombo, a visionary multi-service Special Economic Zone and master-planned city, invites the local community to partake in an assortment of engaging excursions that range from luxury shopping to serene strolls by the waterfront. With a series of experiences that provide something for everyone, Port City Colombo further encourages local guests to spend more time within the vibrant, thriving city of Colombo, especially during this holiday season.
Embodying the dynamic lifestyle ambiance of Port City Colombo set to emerge once the project is fully operational, the Mall at Port City Colombo caters to discerning shoppers who seek world-class convenience, luxury travel retail, and diverse culinary offerings. The Mall at Port City Colombo, being South Asia’s first downtown duty-free retail concept, features China Duty Free — the world’s No.1 travel retail operator, with additional travel retail brands set to commence operations shortly. The Mall is open to all eligible visitors, including returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, general tourists, diplomats and diplomatic organisations, and departing travelers. Returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents will be able to avail an annual allowance limit of USD 2,000, with specified quantity limits as per Schedule 1 of the published Extraordinary Gazette, and purchases to be made on a single visit within four days from the First Date of Arrival (FDOA). For returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, only the permitted customer and one family member are allowed.
Guests visiting the Mall could also explore the curated assortment of other dining, cultural retail, and lifestyle offerings, which include the renowned Nihonbashi by Dharshan, Café Chill, Spa Ceylon, Department of Coffee, and so forth.
Port City Colombo further encompasses Sri Lanka’s only artificial beach, increasingly popular with local guests since its opening in 2023, which provides the perfect tropical sanctuary in the urban heart of Colombo. This includes a swimmable beach within the vicinity of Port City Colombo’s breakwater lagoon, vivid, awe-inspiring sunsets, and a lively beachside restaurant culture that is ideal for any guest who desires a tranquil day by the ocean. The exquisite Marina Promenade, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, enables guests to enjoy panoramic views of the Colombo city skyline and the sea as they take a saunter down this distinct pathway up to the arched footbridge, which is slowly becoming an icon of the city’s landscape. The newly opened Central Park also presents an urban oasis of relaxation, recreation, and physical activity, enhancing Colombo’s appeal as a city that harmonizes modernity with nature.
Support will help fund Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and the baseball clubhouse project.
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Department of Athletics has received a $1.5 million gift from the James D. Moncus Family Foundation which will provide support for the continued renovation of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and the baseball clubhouse project at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park, it was announced Wednesday.
In recognition of the transformational gift, the premium entryway on the West side of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will be named the Jim & Ruth Moncus Premium Entry.
“We are extremely grateful and very appreciative of this generous gift from the Moncus family,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard said. “This investment in Louisiana Athletics will play a key role in our continued efforts to transform our facilities which will enhance the experiences for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
A native of Houston, Jim Moncus entered the oil and gas industry following service in the United States Marine Corps. He came to Lafayette in 1962, after his first oil and gas job in Casper, Wyoming, ended suddenly. Moncus worked for Lamb Oil for over a decade; in 1974, he founded Devin International, an oilfield equipment company. Moncus held patents for dozens of oilfield tools and procedures – many still being used today – during an almost 50-year career in the industry.
After selling the company in 2008, Jim and Ruth Moncus shifted their focus to continuing their decades-long commitment to philanthropy, creating the James Devin Moncus Family Foundation and investing in local and regional non-profits.
The Moncus Foundation locally invested millions to establish a new city park, further the arts and education, and ensure the very best of health care for the citizens of Lafayette Parish.
Among their many contributions to the University, the Moncus family has established scholarships and endowed professorships. Their longstanding support of the University resonates in many corners of campus, including arts, nursing, sciences and athletics.
“Jim was an avid and enthusiastic supporter of UL Athletics. He enjoyed attending all sporting events and was a loyal Ragin’ Cajuns fan,” said Debbie Spallino of the James D. Moncus Family Foundation. “The Moncus Foundation is very proud to be a part of this exciting time at the University and honored to continue Jim’s legacy of giving back to the community he loved so much.”
The University posthumously honored Mr. Moncus with an honorary Doctor of Nursing practice degree in December 2021, shortly after his death at age 81. His wife, Ruth, a nurse for 35 years, accepted on his behalf. Ruth Moncus has continued her late husband’s philanthropic work through the Moncus Family Foundation; she was a driving force behind the $7 million gift to UL Lafayette from the James Devin Moncus Family Foundation that will enable the Health Sciences Campus’ continued growth and fund an endowment to support the College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
The $1.5 million gift from the Moncus Family Foundation to Athletics is part of the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University’s history.
Announced in November of 2021, Together: The Campaign for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette aims to raise $500 million. Among the campaign’s priorities: the renovation and maintenance of training and competition spaces for Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes.
Athletics projects completed as part of the Together Campaign include Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, Russo Park, the renovation of E.K. Long Gym, the Donald and Janice Mosing SAPC Auditorium, and the Golf Indoor Teaching Facility at Oakbourne Country Club.
The renovated west tower of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will offer premium suites, a luxurious club level, loge boxes, and club seats, providing Ragin’ Cajuns fans new opportunities to engage with the football program and the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation (RCAF).
Premium suites will include both indoor and outdoor seating, access to a climate-controlled club area, premium catering, and suite attendants. Loge boxes will feature private outdoor seating and premium parking access, while club seats will offer comfortable outdoor seating with armrests and beverage holders. Both loge box and club seat patrons will enjoy access to the exclusive McElligott Club and its amenities.
The upgrades to Russo Park will significantly enhance the facility’s functionality and appeal, featuring a state-of-the-art clubhouse designed to meet the needs of players and staff. The baseball clubhouse will provide a comfortable and efficient space for team operations and newly renovated coaches’ offices.
The renovations will introduce dedicated indoor hitting and pitching areas in the left field corner, allowing athletes to train year-round regardless of weather conditions. These upgrades are set to elevate the overall experience for the team and coaching staff, positioning Russo Park as a top-tier facility on the national level.
Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajuns) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Athletics.
More information about Together: The Campaign for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is available at together.louisiana.edu.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin’ Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Norwich City’s signing of Wes Hoolahan proved to be one of the best bargains in club history.
It was reported by ITV that the playmaker signed for the Canaries in a deal worth just £250,000 when he arrived from Blackpool in 2008.
This turned out to be the best £250,000 the club ever spent, with the Irishman going on to become a key figure for the club for a full decade.
Hoolahan made the switch to Carrow Road with the team in the Championship and departed in 2018 after a 14th-place finish in the second tier, but it was an incredible journey to get to that point.
Remarkably, the 42-year-old has kept going strong since his exit from the Norfolk outfit and was still plying his trade in the lower regions of the English football pyramid earlier this year, having joined Doncaster City in February 2024.
Wes Hoolahan – Norwich City league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com)
Season
Appearances (Starts)
Goals (Assists)
2008-09
32 (27
2 (3)
2009-10
37 (36)
11 (13)
2010-11
41 (36)
10 (9)
2011-12
33 (25)
4 (7)
2012-13
33 (28)
3 (3)
2013-14
16 (10)
1 (1)
2014-15
36 (27)
4 (10)
2015-16
30 (25)
4 (8)
2016-17
33 (30)
7 (10)
2017-18
29 (14)
1 (3)
Wes Hoolahan’s importance to Norwich City
Hoolahan’s first year at Norwich didn’t quite go to plan, with the team suffering relegation from the Championship with a 22nd-place finish.
The creative midfielder played 32 times, contributing two goals and three assists in a difficult opening 12 months with the club.
However, he cemented himself as a key part of the side in the following season, registering 11 goals and 13 assists as Paul Lambert’s side clinched the League One title at the first attempt.
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Back-to-back promotions were secured with a second-place finish in the Championship in the following term, with Hoolahan again proving a valuable provider of goals and assists, 10 and nine this time.
The Republic of Ireland international went on to feature 112 times in the top flight for the Canaries across four of the next five seasons, with the club reaching a high point of 11th place in the 2012/13 campaign, smoothly and impressively improving his game to adapt to life in the Premier League after competing in League One just two years prior.
He contributed 12 goals and 19 assists in that period, as well as four and 10 in the Championship in 2014/15 to ensure the team went straight back up after their relegation.
Wes Hoolahan will be fondly remembered by Norwich supporters
Hoolahan left behind a legacy at Norwich that supporters will always remember fondly, bringing an electric style of play that had them on their feet in excitement almost every week.
His creativity was key to the team remaining a consistent presence in the top flight over a four-year period, while also providing plenty of goals in his own right.
It’s not often a player of his talent comes along, and he made Norwich his home after stints at Livingston and Blackpool following his move to English football in 2005.
That he has still been competing this year, even at a much lower level, shows his dedication to the game and providing people with entertainment.
Not many can keep going post 40 but he has been rolling back the years in the 11th tier earlier in 2024.
While the timing was right for his departure from Norwich in 2018, there is no doubt that they got their money’s worth from the incredible £250,000 paid to sign him all those years ago.
Step aside Phoenix – because Arizona has a new boomtown.
Buckeye has just been ranked America’s fastest-growing city. Located 30 miles west of downtown Phoenix, it is outpacing its bigger and better-known neighbor.
Buckeye’s population grew by 46 per cent over five years to hit 108,900 people in 2023, an analysis of Census Bureau data by SmartAsset shows.
That’s still far short of Phoenix’s 1.65 million people, but Buckeye mayor Eric Orsborn says his up-and-comer has more space to grow and ‘will be bigger’ in the end.
SmartAsset found that most of the country’s fastest-growing spots were suburbs or exurbs of bigger cities across the Sun Belt.
The sprawling suburbs of Buckeye, Arizona, are giving nearby Phoenix a run for its money
They included Atascocita, Texas, Lehi, Utah, Goodyear, Arizona, and Riverview, Florida.
‘These high-growth cities are driving change, innovation, and opportunity,’ researchers said.
Buckeye started out as a small, quiet farming community in the 1870s but has seen rapid growth in recent years and is expected to grow to 300,000 people by 2040.
Houses and highways are under construction and businesses are moving in.
This month, Tract announced plans for a $20 billion data center park in Buckeye. Last month, Rehrig Pacific celebrated the opening of a 264,000-square-foot manufacturing facility there.
Other developments include a Costco, Abrazo Community Health Network and Banner Health hospitals, and a KORE Power lithium-ion battery plant that will bring some 3,000 jobs to the area.
Local planning chief Ken Galica has talked up an ‘exhilarating’ retail, business, and housing area called The Landing in northeast Buckeye.
‘Buckeye had a reputation for being a sleepy suburban town which was true for a long time, but it’s not what we see ourselves being in the future,’ Galica told 12News.
‘We want to give all of our residents what they’re looking for or even prospective residents a reason to move here.’
A new, master-planned residential community in Buckeye, Arizona
A contractor frames a house under construction in Lehi, Utah, to the south of Salt Lake City
Realtor Samantha Sloane says Buckeye residents enjoy having bigger homes, a laid-back lifestyle, and great quality schools.
But she adds that summers can be unbearably hot, traffic can be painful, and many people have to commute for work in Phoenix.
Buckeye locals say they appreciate the easy access to hiking trails and several golf courses.
Though people are moving to Buckeye in large numbers, they do not appear to be getting the best deals in the country.
The cost of living and the median house price listing — $441,000 — are both close to the national average.
Atascocita, a suburb of Houston, ranked as America’s second-fastest growing city. It grew by 39 percent over five years to hit 119,502 people in 2023.
Meritage Homes and Ashlar Development are among the construction firms building out the sprawling suburbs there.
Lehi, located some 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, comes next. It grew by 37 percent over five years to hit 90,229 people in 2023.
Researchers also identified the cities that posted the biggest population gains in 2023.
A row of single family town homes in fast-growing Atascocita, a suburb of Houston, Texas
Silver Springs, a suburb of Washington DC, in Maryland, recorded the biggest gains of nearly 13 percent to reach 84,996 people.
New Braunfels, Texas, and Glen Burnie, Maryland, also recorded similarly large growth spurts last year.
The boomtowns reflect a pattern across America, which sees people opting for lower taxes, and cheaper, bigger homes in the Sun Belt.
Last year, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina were the most popular destinations for domestic migrants. Together, they saw a net gain of some 366,000 people.
Meanwhile, residents waved goodbye to California, New York, and Illinois in droves.
Those states recorded the biggest exodus, which added up to a whopping loss of 540,000 people.
Americans mostly relocate for better jobs, affordable housing, cheaper living costs, and to cut their tax bills.
Some move away from high crimes areas, homelessness, and the sight of drug addicts stumbling on the sidewalk.
