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NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just gotten its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just gotten its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — McLaren driver Lando Norris extended his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, with his main rival and teammate Oscar Piastri again failing to make the podium. Norris, who also won Saturday’s sprint race and started from pole position, earned his first win at Interlagos with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen second and third, respectively. Norris now has 390 points in the standings, with Piastri’s fifth place leaving him 24 points behind with three more races to go. Montreal's Lance Stroll was 16th. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The head of the BBC resigned Sunday after criticism of the broadcaster’s editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump. The BBC said that Director-General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness both announced their resignations on Sunday. Britain’s public broadcaster has been criticized for editing a speech Trump made on Jan. 6, 2021, before protesters attacked the Capitol in Washington. Critics said that the way the speech was edited for a BBC documentary was misleading and cut out a section where Trump said that he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully. In a letter to staff, Davie said quitting the job after five years “is entirely my decision.” “Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility,” Davie said. He said that he was “working through exact timings with the Board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.” Turness said that the controversy about the Trump documentary “has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC — an institution that I love. As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me.” Pressure on the broadcaster’s top executives has been growing since the Daily Telegraph newspaper published parts of a dossier complied by Michael Prescott, who had been hired to advise the BBC on standards and guidelines. As well as the Trump edit, it criticized the BBC’s coverage of transgender issues and raised concerns of anti-Israel bias in the BBC’s Arabic service. The Associated Press

VICTORIA — An animal sanctuary in B.C.'s interior says it is facing a "heart-breaking" experience after discovering a positive case of H5N1, also known as avian flu. Critteraid based in Summerland B.C. says in a social media post dated Nov. 7 that its team and volunteers are "devastated" following the discovery because their animals are at the centre of everything, and "the emotional weight of this moment is immense." Critteraid says on its website that it provides a home for a variety of rescue animals with 54 animals listed on its website. They include house pets, barnyard animals such as pigs, goats and cows, as well as ducks and chickens. The post says that the situation has required "immediate action" and "coordination" with Interior Health, veterinary professionals and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the organization promises to handle the situation with transparency and accuracy. The post goes on to say that staff and volunteers are "simply consumed with this horror" and that the "situation is still active and regulated." The announcement comes shortly after the cull and disposal of what CFIA says were 314 ostriches at Universal Ostrich farm near Edgewood, B.C. Neither CFIA nor Critteraid were immediately available to comment on the case, but Critteraid says in its post that it might not be able to respond to questions right now, because its full attention is on the sanctuary and the animals. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9. 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judges' orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay. Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states. But, even before it won a stay on those rulings through an appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday night, the Trump administration balked at reimbursing states for the initial round of SNAP payments. Wisconsin, for example, loaded benefits onto cards for 700,000 residents, but after the U.S. Treasury froze its reimbursements to the state, it anticipates running out of money by Monday, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration warned in a lengthy statement on Sunday. The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned. “States could face demands to return hundreds of millions of dollars in the aggregate,” the filing at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals says. That situation "would risk catastrophic operational disruptions for the States, with a consequent cascade of harms for their residents,” the filing concludes. That filing arrived as the Department of Agriculture on Saturday told states it would now consider any payments made last week to be “unauthorized.” “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Evers issued a quick response to the Trump administration’s demand. “No,” the governor said in a statement. “Pursuant to and consistent with an active court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards, ensuring nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, had access to basic food and groceries," Evers said. “After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available.’ They have failed to do so to date." Scott Bauer And Nicholas Riccardi, The Associated Press

It was going to happen sooner or later.  The Tri-City Americans scored five unanswered goals, three of which came on the power play, and handed the Prince Albert Raiders their first regulation loss of the WHL season.  “We’d be pretty foolish to think that we were going to go the whole season and never have a […] The post Tri-City hands Raiders first regulation loss of 2025-26 WHL season  first appeared on Prince Albert Daily Herald.

TORONTO — Zdeno Chara could hardly believe what had just unfolded. Duncan Keith was in the same boat — at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. Chara and his Boston Bruins held a 2-1 lead late in Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup final against Keith and the Chicago Blackhawks. A victory on home ice would ensure a winner-take-all finale back in the Windy City. That script then flipped in dramatic fashion. The visitors scored twice in a jaw-dropping 17-second span to stun the Bruins 3-2 and claim the Blackhawks' second Cup in four years. "Shocking for us," Chara recalled more than a decade later. "That's sports, that's life." Keith, meanwhile, had just moments earlier been dreading a pressure-packed Game 7. "It's never over until it's over," he said. "Special to do it against such a good team." Chara and Keith, two standout defencemen with decorated NHL and international careers, will share a special moment together Monday when they are enshrined as part of the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2025 class. "It causes you to reflect," Keith said Saturday after inductees were given their hall rings and jackets. "It's a long journey with a lot of people that have helped me." The pair will be inducted alongside fellow former players Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker. Jack Parker and Danièle Sauvageau will enter as builders. "Loved every minute," Thornton said of his 24-season NHL career. "Started at 18 (years old) and I ended up at 42. I was very, very fortunate." Chara, 48, was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1996 and traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2001, but his career really took off after signing with Boston. The six-foot-nine blueliner from Trencin, Slovakia, spent 14 seasons with the franchise — all as captain — from 2006 through 2020. The Bruins won the Cup in 2011 and made the final two other times. The second European captain to hoist hockey's holy grail, Chara also competed at three Olympics and seven world championships. He was a six-time all-star and captured the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman in 2009. The tallest player to ever suit up in the league, Chara finished with 680 points in 1,680 regular-season games. He added 70 points in 200 post-season contests. Keith played 16 seasons with Chicago after making his debut in 2005, winning the Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, to go along with four all-star appearances. The 42-year-old Winnipeg native won Olympic gold for Canada in 2010 and 2014, twice claimed the Norris Trophy and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2015. Keith was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2021 and played one more season to finish with 646 points in 1,256 games. He added 91 points in 151 playoff contests. Thornton was selected No. 1 overall by Boston at the 1997 draft, captaining the club from 2002 until he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2005. The 46-year-old from St. Thomas, Ont., who also suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers to close out his career, spent 14 seasons in California. He led the NHL in scoring and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2005-06. Only the third player to top the league in assists three consecutive seasons, Thornton led San Jose in scoring eight times, including five straight campaigns, and helped the Sharks make the 2016 final. Thornton, who won Olympic gold in 2010, put up 1,539 points in 1,714 regular-season games, finishing 12th all-time in scoring, seventh in assists and sixth in games played. He added 134 points in 187 playoff outings. Mogilny, who is not taking part in the hall celebrations, defected to the U.S. in 1988 and set career-highs with 76 goals and 127 points with the Buffalo Sabres in 1991-92 — the most ever by a Soviet/Russian player. The 56-year-old won the Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000, and also played for the Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, finishing with 1,032 points in 990 regular-season games. He collected 86 points across 124 playoff contests. Botterill played for Canada at four Olympics, winning three gold medals and a silver. She was part of five podium-topping performances and three second-place finishes at the world championships, including taking MVP honours in 2001. "So fortunate to be surrounded by great people throughout my playing career," said the 46-year-old from Winnipeg, who now works in television. "This has been a chance to reflect with them." Sauvageau has taken part in six Olympics either behind the bench or in management for Canada, with coaching the country to gold in 2002 the highlight. Sauvageau's long resume includes her current role as general manager of the Professional Women's Hockey League's Montreal Victoire. "I don't think I realize it yet," said the 63-year-old trailblazer from Montreal, who is the hall's first female builder. "When I put the ring on, it's a little big, and the first reaction is: still a lot to do because (the game) needs to grow." Decker won gold at the 2018 Olympics with the United States and also has two silver medals. The 34-year-old forward from Dousman, Wis., earned gold at the worlds six times along with a pair of second-place finishes. Parker was head coach of Boston University's men's program from 1973 through 2013. A three-time national champion, the 80-year-old from Somerville, Mass., was also a three-time NCAA coach of the year. "It's hard to really sum it up in a few words," Chara said when asked to look back on his own career. "You are going through the roads that are not always smooth, not always fun, but you've got to just stay with it and believe and have a hope and dreams. "And continue to go after them." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia support individual judges who choose to ban the wearing of poppies in their courtrooms. In a statement released today, Chief Justice Deborah K. Smith and Chief Judge Perry F. Borden said that judges have an obligation to ensure the courtroom is unbiased and impartial. The statement says banning a symbol such as the poppy is not intended to undermine veterans but to ensure everyone knows they are in a neutral space. The judges gave an example of a non-veteran charged with assault of a veteran walking into a courtroom where officers are wearing poppies, suggesting it could make the accused doubt the neutrality of the process. Earlier this week, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston posted on social media that he was shocked to find out that staff in the provincial court system need permission from the presiding judge before wearing a poppy in the courtroom. Houston called the practice wrong and disgusting, and said he may introduce legislation enshrining the right to wear a poppy in the workplace. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Emily Baron Cadloff, The Canadian Press

Canada Red has won its first U17 World Challenge gold medal, after defeating Canada White 6-3 on Saturday night. Canada Red took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission with goals from Charlie Murata (Scarborough, ON/Flint, OHL), Loïk Gariepy (Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, QC/Victoriaville, LHJMQ) and Mirco Dufour (Rocky View, AB/Everett, WHL). After Ryerson Edgar (Holland Landing, ON/Niagara, OHL) made it 4-1, Canada White clawed its way into the game with back-to-back markers from Kaden McGregor (Braeside, ON/Peterborough, OHL) and Maddox Schultz (Regina, SK/Regina, WHL). Despite a furious push by the defending champions, Canada Red sealed it with a pair of empty-net markers from Camryn Warren (Maple, ON/North Bay, OHL) and Benjamin Veitch (St. John’s, NL/Newfoundland, LHJMQ). Leif Oaten (Calgary, AB/Lethbridge, WHL)backstopped his club to the gold medal with a 38-save performance, while Sam Berthiaume (Stellarton, NS/Truro, MHL) kicked aside 38 shots for Canada White. Ryan McDonald, head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders, was the bench boss for Team Red. “It’s hard to put into words the effort and detail these young men have put in,” said McDonald. “The work started in the summer when we got together for our first training camp and led to an incredible two weeks here. From the staff to the coaches to the players, everyone put in an incredible amount of work and to finish this night celebrating at centre ice, there is no better feeling.” According to a post on the Raiders social media page, McDonald is the first to ever win the U17 World Hockey Challenge as both a player and head coach. Brock Cripps, Raider’s defenceman who played with Team Red, and McDonald celebrate their win. (P.A. Raiders/Facebook) Raiders forward Ben Harvey also attended the championship, playing for Team White. Following the gold medal game, Hockey Canada announced the 2025 U17 World Challenge all-star team:

• Goaltender – Leif Oaten (Canada Red)
• Defence – Brock Cripps (Canada Red)
• Defence – Diego Gutierrez (United States)
• Forward – Alexis Joseph (Canada Red)
• Forward – Maddox Schultz (Canada White)
• Forward – Brayden Willis (United States)

Earlier in the day, the United States got a pair of goals from Brayden Willis to claim its third bronze medal at the U17 World Challenge with a 3-1 win over Czechia. –with files from Hockey Canada.

MONTREAL — Thousands of protesters are expected at Montreal's Bell Centre today to demand the suspension of a new law that changes how doctors in the province are paid. Organized by four medical federations, the demonstration targets a bill that Premier François Legault forced through the national assembly late last month. Known as Bill 2, it ties part of physicians' remuneration to performance targets and threatens steep fines for those who use pressure tactics to boycott the changes. Doctors argue it muzzles them and could drive physicians out of Quebec, with medical associations opting to challenge it in court. In response to the discontent, Health Minister Christian Dubé announced Tuesday he was suspending a pair of provisions in the bill. The protest is slated to kick off downtown at 2 p.m., following up on a protest in Quebec City last weekend. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

SASKATOON — Premier Scott Moe received healthy support from members at the Saskatchewan Party’s convention Saturday despite his dismal performance in the province’s two major cities in the last election. Moe received an approval rating of more than 80 per cent. An exact percentage was not provided by organizers. Before the vote, he told the crowd he’s owning up to losses from the last election. “It was a step backwards for us and a step backwards for the Saskatchewan Party. For that, I take responsibility,” he said. “I was the face of the campaign and we didn’t always get it right.” Moe won a fifth-straight majority in 2024 but was swept out of Regina and held on to only one Saskatoon riding. His government has 34 seats in the legislature while the Opposition NDP has 27. Political watchers have said the Saskatchewan Party lost the cities due to growing issues of overcrowded classrooms and hospitals. Party members have also said they were disappointed in the election results and have urged Moe to do better on addressing urban issues. At the convention, members were passing around buttons that read “Earn Saskatoon Back” and “Earn Regina Back.” Moe told the gathering the party need to refocus, organize and do better. Potential candidates for the next election can start seeking their nominations early next year, a move he said will get them acquainted with the public sooner. “This is not the time for any of us in this room or in this province to in any way become complacent,” Moe said. “We cannot afford to take anything for granted as we move forward.” Moe also plans on running as leader in the next election. “I will never, ever take that support for granted,” he said. Poor performance in cities Asked by a delegate about poor performance in the major cities, Moe said members are going to have to find areas where they can agree. He said the party’s founding legislature members, four Liberals and four Progressive Conservatives, came together to form the Saskatchewan Party in 1997. “They realized that in order for us to win, we’re going to have to bite our tongue just a little bit at times, or we can go back to being in opposition,” he said. “I think that’s a good reminder for us.” Moe received an approval rating of 97 per cent at the last convention in 2023. Asked about his new approval rating, he later told reporters it’s good. “In this day and age, what we’re trying to do is keep the support for the party strong,” he said. “Our real goal here is very much about the next election.” Moe told the convention he offers a stable choice to voters who want the economy to grow, arguing the NDP is “lost and reckless.” “It would be my true honour to continue to lead this party, to lead our team to that sixth-consecutive Saskatchewan Party victory,” he said. Meanwhile at the convention, members passed a motion that strips voting powers from permanent residents and youth. Now, only Canadian adult citizens can vote on party matters. They also elected Joe Hargrave as the new president of the party. Hargrave, a former legislature member who did not seek reelection, served as a cabinet minister in Moe’s last government. —

Tommy Nield has written his name into the history books of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. With just 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the 26-year-old caught a pass from quarterback Trevor Harris to claim a 24-21 win in the CFL West Final, which sent the Riders to the 112th Grey Cup. It’s the first time the Riders will be back in the CFL championship since 2013. “You can’t really put it into words. It’s just a super exciting moment. I’m thankful to be put in that position. That’s a play you dream about making. I’m just grateful to make a play for my team,” Nield said. Despite it bringing 33,350 fans to their feet and cheering, Nield admitted he couldn’t tell how loud it was. “I kind of just blanked out. I know it was loud but I didn’t take it in,” Nield said. “I’ll have to see the audio of it after and take that one in.” Harris said the seven-play, 76-yard drive the team will remember for a while. “Everyone did their part in it, whether it was protection or the receivers making plays or us responding as a unit and as a group,” Harris said. “The moment is not going to get to big for this group … We never flinch and that’s kind of what we do.” Harris said it was a fun way to end. “I feel like we have gotten the short end of the stick in terms of I don’t know if people were rooting for us or they wanted the other team or whatever it was. We found a way to take it personal,” Harris said. “This group is capable of more — our best football game we haven’t played it. “Hopefully that can be in Winnipeg next week against Montreal.” Harris finished with 305 yards and two touchdowns — the game-winner to Nield and a crucial third-and-goal pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker. On the other sideline, possible CFL Most Outstanding Player winner Nathan Rourke had a solid day for the Lions, throwing for 290 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed in two scores and on the second one in the fourth quarter, the 27-year-old screamed, “It’s our time,” to the fans. The day before the game, Harris had said it was the Riders’ time and he wasn’t there to talk about Rourke. “I know my comments yesterday were a little bit more brash than what they normally are but I saw what Nathan said on that sneak, ‘It’s our time.’ I think it’s our time,” Harris said. A moment in the game that could have become an infamous moment in team history was when head coach Corey Mace elected to kick a 13-yard field goal with just 2:40 left to only reduce the Lions’ lead to four. Mace admitted he was close to going for the touchdown. “To take the points, just knowing what we are capable of doing to make sure we are taking points,” Mace said. “Just faith in the guys. That’s all it came down to. I thought about it but pretty easy decision.” Saskatchewan Roughriders running back AJ Ouellette had over 100 yards in the game against the Lions. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted) AJ Ouellette had a big game on the ground for the Riders. The running back finished with 113 yards on the ground. Defensive back Marcus Sayles also had a big play in the game after he intercepted a Rourke pass that bounced off a couple of players, including the back of safety C.J. Reavis as the Lions were threatening to score. Coming into the game, one of the questions fans had was it kicker Brett Lauther would be playing in the game due to his struggles throughout the season. He rewarded the club for their faith, hitting all three field goal attempts and two convert kicks. “Kind of about time to go out and do that for the guys. I’ve always tried to pride myself a little bit more, being better come playoffs,” Lauther said. Lauther admits it feels like it’s been a long time coming to get to the Grey Cup. “Trying to process everything and stuff is going to move quickly but at the end of the day, just preaching the job is not done. We didn’t come this far to just come this far. One more (game) but it definitely feels great,” Lauther said. Riders punter Jesse Mirco added a rouge in the game. Lions kicker Sean Whyte missed his only field goal attempt but did hit all three of his convert tries. The Riders will take on the Montreal Alouettes in the 2025 Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Nov. 16. —

Christopher Best told his family not to worry about the pictures of polar bears he was snapping and posting on social media as he worked at a radar site in Nunavut. "Chris said, 'Well, yeah, they're not close to us,'" his mother, Shelly Cox, said he told his stepfather on a call shortly before he was killed by a bear on Aug. 8, 2024. "'God, Dad,' he said, 'You know, I know difference, right?'" A report into Best's death by Nasittuq Corporation, the company that operates North Warning System' sites stretching from Yukon to eastern Labrador, says the 34-year-old went outside with his camera at the remote installation on Brevoort Island. He had been told a bear was nearby, says the report. Best went out a door with a large sign warning of polar bears and rounded the corner of a building, thinking the animal was off in the distance. But Best didn't appear to know there was a second bear. The report says surveillance video shows that bear cut off a route for Best to run to a building for safety and charged. The first bear then joined the attack. "I don't think he would have went out if he would have known that second bear was there," Cox said in an interview from her home in Goose Bay, N.L. She said the tragedy could have been prevented and that changes are needed, such as fences and motion-sensor monitors with alarms, to make radar sites safer. The report says there had previously been no known fatalities or injuries from a bear attack during operation of the North Warning System or its predecessor, the DEW Line, for seven decades. Best grew up in Labrador, said Cox. He liked reading and photography, and had worked a variety of jobs, from cleaning barbecues in Toronto to working as an assistant on the reality TV show "Alone." He also had earlier stints as a custodian and a general labourer on North Warning System sites. She said he was good with computers and was hired by the company again to do logistics work. Due to the sensitive nature of the radar sites, she said, he was waiting for security clearance before he could begin that job and agreed to something else in the interim — fuel tank cleaning. Best and other members of a tank cleaning crew arrived at the site the day before the attack. The report says they spotted a bear and took photos from the safety of a vehicle, which Best posted online. Best asked a wildlife monitor at the site to let him know when bears were around so he could take more pictures, says the report. That employee saw Best at the end of the work shift on Aug. 8 and told him a bear was outside. Some radar sites are inland and rarely experience bears, the report says, including ones where Best previously worked. It also wasn't uncommon for workers to take hikes after-hours at those sites. The Brevoort site was different, however. A problem bear was killed there in 2023, after it repeatedly tried to enter buildings and couldn't be deterred. Due to the bear risk, workers at Brevoort were allowed to smoke inside the technical services building near an exhaust fan. One worker there looked out a garage door window and saw the bears attacking Best and yelled for a gun. There wasn't a gun, so he ran to the accommodations building and alerted the wildlife monitor, who went and fired a non-lethal bear-banger from a 12-guage shotgun. The report says both bears ran but one turned back and charged, forcing the monitor to fatally shoot it. Another employee arrived with a weapon and kept watch while others loaded Best into a truck and brought his body inside. An RCMP officer delivered the news to Cox at her home early the next morning. "We were just in shock," Cox said. "I stayed up all night, too, just waiting for someone to get up so I could tell my family." The report makes several proposals to improve its safety policies, including requiring any worker going outside after-hours to get permission from a manager or supervisor. It also says public address system announcements should be made when bears are known to be outside. Best underwent training for polar bear awareness, the report says, but some documentation for course completion was missing. It also proposes fencing be erected at some areas in the camp. The report notes a substance believed to be from a grease trap was found in snow near the attack but it probably had no more effect in attracting bears than smells from the facility's kitchen. Employment and Social Development Canada says its report on the death is not yet complete. In an email, it says that under the Canada Labour Code, federally regulated employers must protect the health and safety of employees and fines can be imposed for infractions. Nasittuq said in a statement it wasn't able to comment since the federal government report isn't finished. "We care deeply for the safety and well-being of all our employees and feel for everyone who continues to be affected by this tragic incident," it said. Best's camera, along with the SD card containing his photos, were eventually sent to his mother along with the rest of his belongings. Cox said she's still trying to get all the details she can. "I don't care. I want to know everything. That's just the person I am. I'm not letting it go." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Rob Drinkwater, The Canadian Press

Canadian climate negotiators are headed to Brazil for the next two weeks as leaders gather for annual United Nations climate talks. The talks come as Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose credentials as an international climate advocate helped win him support in this year's election, comes under increasing scrutiny for his reversal of some key Trudeau-era climate policies — and his government's perceived softening on the oil and gas sector, the biggest source of Canada's emissions. One focus is expected to be on how the world will adapt to climate change risks — and how countries will pay for those mitigation efforts. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement, and leaders will face questions about whether the deal is working and if countries are pulling back from their climate commitments, says Catherine Abreu, a leading Canadian climate policy expert. But she is optimistic: "I think we'll see strong political signals coming out of (the conference) that the vast majority of the world is definitely still committed to this process," Abreu, a member of an independent group of federal climate advisors, said ahead of the meetings. Here's what else you need to know. What is COP30? The summit's name stands for the 30th Conference of the Parties who signed the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year, Brazil will host the summit in Belém, a city known as a gateway to the Amazon River. That location is a stark reminder of what's at stake if emissions aren't kept in check, as climate change and deforestation fuel the rainforest's transformation into a drier, fire-prone savanna. Unlike the summit 10 years ago in Paris, the host Brazil has indicated this COP is focused on following through on existing deals, rather than advancing new rulemaking. What will be discussed? A key focus will be on adaptation — how to make countries more resilient to increased climate risks, from rising sea levels to extreme heat. Negotiators are set to finalize a list of about 100 indicators used to track global progress, such as how many people have access to reliable drinking water capable of withstanding climate-fuelled drought. There is still debate over how to track the money developing countries say they need to turn adaptation goals into reality. Parties are looking at indicators that could include measuring what portion of all adaptation funding is flowing to local governments, small island nations or Indigenous Peoples, reflecting a broader goal to promote equity and justice in how money to fight climate change is distributed. Negotiations will look to advance a major outcome of last year's talks: the pledge to mobilize at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate finance. There will also be discussions about the agreement two years ago to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and transition away from fossil fuels, the major driver of human-caused climate change. More than half of the countries attending the talks have yet to submit updated national climate plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions. Those plans, due earlier this year, represent each country's contribution to the climate change fight and are intended to be strengthened every five years in an escalating cycle of ambition. Abreu said she expects to see a push at the talks for leaders to explain how "countries will fill that gap." What is Canada's role? Federal officials say Canada will continue to play a bridge-builder role to help countries reach a consensus on some of the summit's key issues. The officials, who briefed reporters ahead of the talks, say Canada will support calls to scale up climate finance and keep global warming targets within reach. But climate observers say Canada's support for oil and gas expansion, as well as its silence on whether it will meet its 2030 and 2035 emissions targets, could be among issues undermining its position. Advocates pointed to the latest federal budget, which offered no details on how the industrial carbon price would be strengthened, talked of potentially setting aside an oil and gas industry emissions cap and also opened the door to the Canada Infrastructure Bank supporting projects in that sector, rather than limiting its work to sustainability-linked projects. "There's just no way that we can make those commitments given the current ways in which the government is pushing for oil and gas industry in Canada," said Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, president of nonprofit Indigenous Climate Action and a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Deranger said Canada has over the past decade been receptive to Indigenous proposals at the UN climate summit, especially around increased funding for adaptation and climate finance. Yet "when it comes to implementation at home, it's falling flat," she said. Who will be there? Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin will lead Canada's delegation for the first week of the conference. Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former UN special envoy on climate finance and veteran of the summit, is not expected to attend as his government faces confidence votes on the budget. There has been reduced participation in pre-summit events, taken by some as a sign of a dwindling global focus on climate change. A meeting of heads of state earlier this week saw about half the attendance that last year's summit had, with notable absences from the leaders of the planet's three biggest polluters: China, the United States and India. This summit will also take place in the shadow of the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Agreement for a second time under President Donald Trump. Abreu said it may be for the best. "I think that that might actually result in the rest of the world being able to come up with some solutions together without that obstructionist presence," she said. Does the Paris Agreement still matter? A decade ago, world leaders adopted a deal in Paris to limit global warming to two degrees and aim for 1.5 C above pre-industrial times, while charting a course for the future of climate diplomacy. Catherine McKenna, who helped negotiate the deal as Canada's then-environment minister, said the deal has been "foundational." Before Paris, there was no clear global temperature target and no framework for how each country could do their part. In 2015, the planet was on track to warm by about 3.5 C by the end of the century, the UN says. Now, if countries live up to their climate plans, that could be closer to 2.5 C. While that is an improvement, experts say that level of warming would still make heat waves unbearable in some areas, threaten coastal countries with sea-level rise and lead to major biodiversity losses, among a range of other issues. "That's not where we need to be," said McKenna. "But (the Paris Agreement) was critically important. Without that, we wouldn't have this framework, we wouldn't have ways to evaluate integrity, we wouldn't have targets." The agreement's legacy is also showing up in the uptake of renewable energy, Abreu said. This year, investments in clean energy are expected to double the money put into fossil fuels. Fossil fuels continue to dominate the global energy mix at about 60 per cent, but for the first time, renewable and nuclear energy sources covered two-fifths of total annual power generation in 2024, the International Energy Agency said. What's important now is to see renewables scale up even quicker to push out fossil fuels, she said. "We really need to reach a turning point on that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. — With files from The Associated Press Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — The historic village of Calixa-Lavallée is named after the man who composed the Canadian national anthem, so perhaps it's no surprise its residents take their civic duty seriously. While nearby Montreal reported a voter turnout of 37 per cent in Sunday's municipal elections, more than 78 per cent of the registered voters in the off-island, 500-person South Shore suburb showed up to cast a ballot. "Citizen participation here is always very strong, and this year was especially remarkable," said Pénélope Larose, the town's general manager. "We're a small municipality, so people know each other, they take an interest in what is happening, and they get actively involved in community life." Data released by Quebec's Municipal Affairs Department shows that voter turnout across the province was up, to 41.3 per cent compared to 38.7 per cent in 2021. But more than two dozen towns far surpassed the average, reporting voter turnout of over 70 per cent, according to Elections Canada data. About a half a dozen towns surpassed 80 per cent. Representatives from the high-voting municipalities -- most of them small towns of less than 1,000 people -- attribute their success to their close-knit nature, the effort made by candidates, and to competitive races after years of candidates running unopposed. Calixa-Lavallée is one of those places. Larose says these were the "biggest elections in 20 years," with races for mayor and all six council spots. In 2021, all the candidates were elected by acclamation. "We saw a real surge of enthusiasm with several opinions and different visions that were expressed," she said. It's a similar story in Lac-Édouard, in the Mauricie region, where just over 80 per cent of voters showed up to cast a ballot for one of the two candidates vying to replace the outgoing mayor of 20 years. That mayor, Larry Bernier, said he'd been elected by acclamation for each of his five terms. He thinks the high voter turnout is due partly to the small size of the town -- around 200 residents -- but also the chance to vote for new faces. "I thought I could maybe make some room for others," said Bernier. The almost 80-year-old describes his successor as a dynamic "young lady" in her 50's. "It's a good thing that there were two candidates instead of just one, because that's democracy," he said in a phone interview. Thierry Giasson, a political science professor at Université Laval, says a number of different factors can affect voter turnout, including the perceived competitiveness of the race. The data from the province shows that towns with 2,000 citizens or less vote in higher percentages than their big-city counterparts, which Giasson said might be due in part to greater social pressure. "When we're in a small municipality, you know your neighbours, everyone knows everything about everyone, and the electoral officers are our neighbours, brothers- or sisters-in-law, father, mother ... in short, everyone knows who will vote and who won't," he said. However, he noted that some small towns have low turnout as well -- possibly due to the high number of part-time residents with primary homes in other cities. Of Quebec's five biggest cities, only Quebec City managed to surpass a 50 per cent turnout rate. On the other hand, residents of many Quebec small towns didn't get a chance to vote at all. Just over half of municipal candidates in the province ran unopposed, and more than 4,500 candidates, including 564 mayors, were elected via acclamation. Bernier, the outgoing Lac-Édouard mayor, said the job has become increasingly complex, expanding from simple service delivery to include tourism and economic and social development. All that, he said, for a salary that is often around $10,000 or $12,000 a year, which he says would have worked out to about $3 an hour in his case. Bernier chose instead to decline the "ridiculous" salary. In the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean town of Desbiens, the city's president of elections credits the candidates themselves for a "historic" voter turnout of 72.38 per cent. "They did a lot of door-to-door canvassing during election days. They made phone calls to encourage people to vote," Isabelle Leduc said in an interview. "They really did a great job campaigning and were very present in the field, compared to other years or other towns." She also credits a strong get-out-the-vote effort from the town, a population desiring change, and the implementation for the first time of mobile voting, which may have boosted participation from residents of a seniors home. Like some of the other towns, she said Desbiens also benefited from having a number of competitive races, after previous elections failed to draw more than one candidate for most posts. "I believe this was historic," she said. "We're celebrating our 100 years next year, and these will have been historic elections." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Seven weeks ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney assigned former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland to be Canada's new special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Canadians haven't heard much about the job since, and nothing at all about how Ukraine can be rebuilt while Russia continues its wide-scale bombing of critical infrastructure. But experts say Canada has a major opportunity now to help preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and international law — and to turn a profit in multiple sectors. Here's what we know. What is Freeland's job? It's not clear. The former journalist has not been interviewed by a Canadian news outlet since her appointment, despite multiple requests from The Canadian Press. A September cabinet order establishing Freeland's new role says she is serving as a parliamentary secretary to Carney for a term of 12 months. Alexandre Lévêque, an assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, told the Senate foreign affairs committee on Oct. 22 that the job comes with a single staff member and support from his team at Global Affairs and the Privy Council. "Madame Freeland, I think, is developing the role, as she's beginning her functions in it," he said. "I think essentially, her role will be to detect opportunities — so bringing … the Canadian private sector, finding investors, finding potential Canadian expertise, particularly in things like infrastructure development (and the) mining industry." In a Nov. 5 response to a parliamentary request for information from Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, the Privy Council Office said the envoy role comes with the $20,000 salary bump all parliamentary secretaries receive. It said “certain expenses" incurred by Freeland, "such as travel, could be paid by the Privy Council Office.” Genuis asked if the job came with any set of goals. The PCO did not offer any but said Freeland will advise the government on both economic reconstruction and Canada's efforts to bring home thousands of abducted Ukrainian children taken into Russia over the course of the war. The PCO also said Freeland would receive no “administrative support," despite Lévêque testifying otherwise. In a recent piece she wrote for The Financial Times, Freeland argued Ukraine can win against Russia if it's sufficiently financed by western countries. She called Ukraine an "innovation nation," citing its remarkable success with a decentralized approach to building drones. In a statement, Freeland's office said she visited Kyiv in September and "the Ukrainian government has since invited Ms. Freeland on an official visit to Ukraine later this year to talk about how Canada can best support Ukraine’s reconstruction." How can you rebuild a country still at war? Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk said even with the war going on, his country still manages to export products while building out an arms industry that has been forced to produce rapidly and adapt to new technology on the fly. Plakhotniuk told the Senate committee that Canada already has preferred trade access in Ukraine through its recently updated trade agreement and the goodwill that comes with being a major financial donor. "Ukraine is ready to develop joint production of defence matériel with our partners, including Canada," he testified. While Plakhotniuk did not get into specifics, other countries are showing how such a partnership could work. France's defence ministry is in talks with carmaker Renault about building drones partly or entirely in Ukraine — a partnership that would bring government financing to both Ukrainian and French businesses. "Certainly, we understand the current risk of doing business in Ukraine. My message to all our friends in Canada here is we should use each and every opportunity to start business in Ukraine," Plakhotniuk said, adding that this effort could start with projects in neighbouring countries. "My major message is not to wait (until) we have postwar reconstruction efforts. We need your presence now. We need your good advice, and we need capacity-building and many other things." How keen are Canadian companies? Lévêque testified that a small team of Canadian public servants stationed in Kyiv, and some trade officials in Poland, are working to find economic opportunities for Canadian firms in Ukraine. He conceded they've seen limited progress. "Given the risk that exists, both to their physical safety and to their investments, a lot of these business arrangements are outside the country," he said in French. "The fact is that the appetite of Canadian companies to do business in Ukraine remains relatively limited at this time." Still, he said, the government sends representatives to various "reconstruction fairs" that bring businesses and governments together to discuss projects to further Ukraine's recovery. "We also send our ministers and trade commissioners, as well as Crown corporations such as Export Development Canada and the Canadian Commercial Corporation, which are there to facilitate this type of trade, especially when it comes to investments in the military sector or between governments," he testified in French. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Hamas announced it will hand over on Sunday afternoon the body of an Israeli soldier who was killed in 2014 and who has been held in Gaza since then. His remains are the only ones held in Gaza since before the latest, two-year war between Israel and Hamas. The return of the soldier, Hadar Goldin, would be a significant development in the U.S.-brokered truce and close a painful, 11-year saga for his parents, who spearheaded a campaign, along with the family of another soldier whose body was taken in 2014, to bring their son home for burial. According to the announcement, Hamas said it found the Goldin's body in a tunnel in the enclave's southernmost city of Rafah on Saturday. Goldin was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, two hours after a ceasefire took effect ending the that year’s war between Israel and Hamas. Israeli media, citing anonymous officials, have reported that Hamas was delaying the release of Goldin's body in hopes of negotiating safe passage for more than 100 militants surrounded by Israeli forces and trapped in the enclave's southernmost city of Rafah. Gila Gamliel, the minister of science and technology and a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, told Army radio said that Israel is not negotiating for a deal within a deal. “There are agreements whose implementation is guaranteed by the mediators, and we shouldn't allow anyone to come know and play (games) and to reopen the agreement,” she said. Hamas made no comment on a possible exchange for its fighters stuck in the so-called yellow zone, which is controlled by Israeli forces, though they acknowledged that there are clashes taking place there. Goldin is one of five bodies of deceased hostages still remaining in Gaza. As part of the U.S.-brokered ctruce deal, the militants are expected to return all of the remains of hostages. Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that Israel expected the release of Goldin in the afternoon. Herzog made the comments during a eulogy at the funeral of Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, an American-Israeli soldier who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023 and his body was in Gaza until militants released it last week. Since the ceasefire began last month, militants have released the remains of 23 hostages. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Ahmed Dheir, director of forensic medicine at Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, said that the remains of 300 have now been returned, with 89 identified. The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which 251 people were kidnapped and 1,200 killed in Israel, mostly civilians. On Saturday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has risen to 69,169. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts. Back in 2014, the Israeli military determined, based on evidence found in the tunnel where Goldin’s body was taken — including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes — that he had been killed in the attack. Earlier this year, Goldin’s family marked 4,000 days since his body was taken. The military retrieved the body of another soldier who was killed in the 2014 war earlier this year. __ Chehayeb reported from Beirut. ___ Find more of AP’s Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Melanie Lidman And Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press

OTSU, Japan (AP) — Nasa Hataoka won a playoff Sunday to take the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic after the final 18 holes were washed out by all-day rain and what officials termed “unplayable course conditions.” Hataoka and fellow Japanese golfer Yuna Araki shared the lead on Saturday after 54 holes at 15-under 201 at the Seta Golf Club in western Japan. After rain wiped out regulation play on Sunday, Hataoka prevailed on the first playoff hole to claim the title in an improvised finish and break the tie. It was her seventh title on the LPGA Tour. Hataoka shared the lead in each of the first three rounds, with different golfers each time. Miyu Yamashita, who won the Maybank Championship in Malaysia last week, carded a 68 on Saturday and finished one stroke behind after 54 holes. Yamashita was followed by Shuri Sakuma (69), who finished three back, and Ai Suzuki (70), who was four off the lead after 54 holes. Defending champion Rio Takeda, who was not in contention all week, had a 68 on Saturday and finished nine shots behind. Minjee Lee of Australia, one of the highest profile players in the field, finished 14 behind the leaders after a 74 on Saturday. ___ AP Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan Meteorological Agency says a powerful earthquake occurred off the northern Japanese coast Sunday, and a tsunami advisory has been issued. The JMA said that the earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 occurred off the coast of the Iwate prefecture at the depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) below the sea surface. The agency issued an advisory for a tsunami of up to 1 meter (3 feet) along the northern coastal region. The Associated Press