super slots game WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors moved Monday to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him and is headed back to the White House. The decision, revealed in court filings, also amounts to a predictable but nonetheless stunning conclusion to criminal cases that had been seen as the most perilous of the multiple legal threats Trump has faced. It reflects the practical consequences of Trump's victory, ensuring he enters office free from scrutiny over his hoarding of top secret documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Smith's team emphasized that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. ''That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,'' the prosecutors wrote in Monday's court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Smith's team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated, and had vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. But it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump's sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year's election. Smith's team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of using ''resorting to crimes'' in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story.Are Utility Companies Neglecting Their Duty to the Public?

Democrats plan to elect new party leader just days after Trump's inauguration

Blue Jays remain in the running to sign 4-time All-Star free agent | Sporting NewsBiden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.

Thai Lion Air is considering operating flights to Nakhon Phanom as part of the government's policy of promoting tourism in secondary tourism cities. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said yesterday that she had assigned the Department of Airports (DoA) to find ways to add more flights to less visited cities and turn them into primary tourism hubs. This initiative aligns with the ministry's "Transport for Thailand's Opportunities" policy, which aims to enhance the country's economic and social development through travel and transport, she said. Ms Manaporn said that in a recent meeting with the DoA, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand expressed a willingness to relax regulations to favour airlines interested in serving secondary cities. She also said Thai Lion Air, which is looking to add a new route to Nakhon Phanom, may be allowed to do so by cutting red tape. The airline has affirmed it can operate flights to the northeastern province and is discussing the feasibility of this with local agencies. Meanwhile, the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) confirmed its commitment to support domestic flight routes with a 25% service fee discount. It will also organise short-haul routes linking Laos, Vietnam and Nakhon Phanom if airlines want to add new international flights. Currently, flights between Bangkok and Nakhon Phanom are operated exclusively by Thai AirAsia, at the rate of three a day. Due to limited options, many passengers choose to fly to Sakon Nakhon, a nearby province, before travelling by land to Nakhon Phanom to save on fares, which are sometimes as high as 5,500 baht for a one-way ticket. With Thai Lion Air set to add four aircraft to its fleet by the end of this year and 14 more in 2025, the airline said it sees Nakhon Phanom as a promising tourist destination.Pep Guardiola drops biggest Kevin de Bruyne exit hint yet as Man City boss says ‘I’m sure he will be honest’Seniors aged 60 years and older, and those who are medically vulnerable, should get a booster vaccination against Covid-19 to protect themselves against serious illness and death. This call from the Ministry of Health (MOH) comes in the light of the 83 people who have died from the infectious disease in 2024. Of them, 78 were aged 60 and above, four were aged 50 to 59, and one was 16 years or younger. MOH said all four adults in their 50s who died had other medical problems, and three had not received a booster shot within the past year. The vaccination status of the fourth adult, a foreigner visiting Singapore, is not known. The young person who died had other medical problems and had “no history of Covid-19 vaccination”. M’sian PM Anwar sends care package to PM Lawrence Wong The 83 deaths linked to Covid-19 so far in 2024 are much lower than the 317 deaths in 2023 and the 860 in 2022. An MOH spokesman said that in general, the Covid-19 situation here has been stable, in spite of the year-end travel season. The peak of around 26,000 cases a week occurred in May, when there was a wave of cases caused by the KP.1/2 variant. But he added: “Our concern continues to be with severe cases, which tend to be seniors.” In the first 11 months of the year, 108 people needed intensive care for Covid-19 infection. Of them, 80 per cent were seniors aged 60 and above, he said. The most prevalent Covid-19 strain circulating in Singapore today is the MV.1, which accounts for more than a third of cases that have been sequenced. This strain is a descendent of JN.1 – the target of the current Covid-19 vaccine MOH rolled out on Oct 28. Given the relationship between the two strains, the vaccine is able to “provide protection against the MV.1 descendant”. The spokesman said: “Based on international data, antibody levels against recent variants increased by more than tenfold with the updated JN.1 vaccine. Similar enhancement in the antibody levels is expected for the MV.1 strain, which is genetically related to the JN.1 variant.” More than 35,000 people have received the latest vaccine, of whom 60 per cent are seniors. About 410,000 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in 2024. Prior to Oct 28, 2024, the vaccine given was targeted at the XBB.1.5 strain. MOH said both the XBB.1.5 and the JN.1 vaccines can enhance protection against the MV.1 subvariant, but the JN.1 vaccine is likely to provide better protection. This is because recently circulating strains, such as MV.1, are more genetically related and similar to JN.1 than XBB.1.5. The spokesman added: “Currently, there is no indication that the MV.1 is more transmissible or causes more severe disease compared with previously identified variants.” The Covid-19 vaccine remains free and is available at polyclinics and about 500 general practitioner clinics. Experts recommend that those who are vulnerable get the vaccine booster shot. Professor Ooi Eng Eong, an expert in emerging diseases at the Duke-NUS Medical School, recommends revaccination “for the elderly and those with chronic diseases where any infection could tip the scale for the worse”. Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital, said people might want to get a booster before travelling. He took a booster shot before a trip to Europe this winter. He added: “I got vaccinated two weeks before I left to protect against my increased vulnerability as a traveller and to minimise the chances of wrecking my trip. No illness after two weeks on the road.” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in December, his first brush with the disease. While he was feeling fine, he self-isolated, which is what MOH recommends, to prevent the spread of the disease. MOH says people with Covid-19 who need to go out should wear a mask and minimise social interactions.

The Broncos opened training camp before this season with a starting center vacancy. Luke Wattenberg took control. “He came into this year with a lot of pride to get the job, and to make sure that he was the guy that took us where we needed to go offensively,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey told The Denver Gazette last week after practice at Broncos Park. “He’s such a great communicator. He keeps all of us on the same page out there. He’s playing his (butt) off.” The Broncos (7-5) host the Browns (3-8) in Week 13 on Monday Night Football at Empower Field. Wattenberg has started in eight of 12 games; missing four starts while on injured reserve (ankle) earlier this season. The fifth-round draft pick (2022) from Washington in his third NFL season has grown to become a key member of Denver’s offensive line. His chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to grow. The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 29-19, on Sunday in Las Vegas. “The big thing is just getting reps between us. The more we play together, the better we click and communicate,” Wattenberg said on a Monday teleconference call with local media. “As soon as (Nix) stepped in the building, I think everyone could kind of feel his confidence, and his confidence in his own abilities. ... The way he runs the offense; I think it does not feel like he’s a rookie. It’s great for us up front and I think everyone feeds off it.” Wattenberg spent his first two Broncos seasons studying the success of ex-starting center Lloyd Cushenberry (signed with Titans). Wattenberg credits his former teammate for preparation to take over the job in Denver. “(Cushenberry) was a great guy to learn from,” Wattenberg said. “His attention to detail is his biggest asset and that’s what I took from him. ... Every meticulous detail, from his notes to the way he practices to the techniques he uses.” Wattenberg, 27, is now earning the respect of his current teammates. “He’s overall kind of quiet, but the hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” left guard Quinn Meinerz told The Denver Gazette last week. “When he needs to make the calls, he makes it loud enough for us to all know what we’ve got to do. He’s very confident in that, and that’s because he works really hard. ... It’s on all of us to get on the same page. But he gets us there.”

NoneKnights captain Stone back after 1-month absence

The findings are from the Jharkhand Assembly Election Study 2024 that was conducted by the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, between November 12-19, 2024. A total of 3,035 respondents were interviewed across 30 Assembly Constituencies and 150 polling stations of Jharkhand. Using multi-stage random sampling, this procedure ensured that the selected sample was fully representative of the cross-section of voters. The constituencies where the survey was conducted were randomly selected using the probability proportional to size method (adjusting the probability of choosing a particular constituency according to the size of its electorate). Thereafter, five polling stations were selected in each of the sampled constituencies using the systematic random sampling method. Finally, 40 respondents were selected at random using the systematic random sampling method from the electoral rolls of the sampled polling stations. Of these 40, we set a target of 20 interviews per polling station. Once we identified our sample, trained field investigators conducted face-to-face interviews using a pre-designed mobile App. The questionnaire was translated into Hindi. Though the sample is relatively small, the total number of voters interviewed represent the social reality of the voters in Jharkhand, i.e., the sample is truly representative with regard to the social composition of the State. Weights were applied to make corrections for under-representation of any social groups. Weights were also applied based on the actual result. The study was directed by Sanjay Kumar, Suhas Palshikar and Sandeep Shastri. Published - November 26, 2024 12:45 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 / Jharkhand / interview / survey / voting / Hindi / mobile phones

I sincerely apologize if you were hoping not to read any more articles about Velus Jones Jr. Even after his release from the Chicago Bears after Week 7, the former third-round pick made some news Monday when his backpack found its way to a local Goodwill. at the local goodwill and i think @VelusJr might’ve left this in his backpack when he donated it pic.twitter.com/6xlpiPFIku The playbook is from Week 2 of the 2022 season when the Bears were set to face the Green Bay Packers. While players are often asked to return their tablets/playbooks upon being released from the team, it would seem that any extracurricular homework assignments are not. Jones Jr. ended up being inactive for that game, so whatever the assignment was, it would seem that it didn't take. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.An $18,000 grant from big-hearted businesses has thrown a critical lifeline to the Border's multicultural community and the volunteers who support them. or signup to continue reading The Albury-Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau's cultural exchange project took out the main award at Thursday night's Border Trust Give500 pitch event at Albury. An ecstatic general manager Renee Wilson said the funds would help retain the services of their bilingual support worker and keep two 12-seater buses on the road to transport participants to the programs so vital to maintaining community connection. During her pitch to Give500 donors, Ms Wilson said the bureau's programs had already helped more than 4000 multicultural community members. From Coffee and Card catch-ups to Conversations in English and Homework Help, the cultural exchange program offers an array of activities designed to break down the barriers to inclusion for people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. She asked those gathered to reflect on a time when they might have stood in a room full of people and yet "never felt so alone ... nodding and smiling but not understanding what anyone is saying". "That's what the majority of newly arrived migrants face on a daily basis," Ms Wilson said. "They know nothing about our processes and systems, they've often escaped from war-torn countries and places of violence ..." The barriers caused by a lack of access to transport and limited or no English can prove detrimental to both physical and mental health, Ms Wilson explained. "The cultural exchange program was born in 2016 from a huge need and a gap we saw in the community to support CALD community members that found themselves socially isolated," she said. "One of the biggest barriers our participants face is transportation, because most do not have their licence or a vehicle to get to and from the programs. "So with wonderful volunteers, we are able to pick them up from their homes, bring them to and take them home afterwards. "If we didn't have the two 12-seater mini buses, unfortunately we wouldn't have people who are able to attend." will each receive $4000 as runners-up in this year's Give500 campaign. Give500 is Border Trust's collective giving campaign, aimed at growing a culture of local philanthropy and supporting life-changing community programs across the Border region. The annual program invites individuals and groups to become Give500 donors and pool their donations (one $500 donation equals one vote) to support local projects. On Pitch Night donors hear from a shortlist of grant applicants and vote to determine the winner. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementComcast Holdings Corp. (NYSE:CCZ) Increases Dividend to $0.45 Per ShareInventiva publie ses informations financières du 3ème trimestre 20241

In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com ’s lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. Dictionary.com aspires to empower people to express themselves, make connections, and find opportunities through the power and joy of language. (PRNewsfoto/IXL Learning) In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com ’s lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. Dictionary.com aspires to empower people to express themselves, make connections, and find opportunities through the power and joy of language. (PRNewsfoto/IXL Learning) Brainrot, brat, extreme weather, midwest nice and weird round out the shortlist SAN MATEO, Calif. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dictionary.com , the world's leading digital dictionary, today announced its 2024 Word of the Year: demure . Traditionally used to describe reserved or modest individuals, demure has taken on an expanded meaning this year to signify refined and sophisticated appearances or behaviors. "As remote work fades and in-person experiences become the norm again, the subtle art of personal presentation has taken on renewed importance," said Steve Johnson , Curriculum Design Manager of the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning . " Demure captures this cultural shift with a modern twist: a word that once carried traditional, often limiting connotations has been reimagined to celebrate understated elegance and suavity. Its evolving meaning gives people a way to express quiet confidence—embracing modesty and charm as intentional, empowering choices . " In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. The word demure dominated the cultural zeitgeist, with its usage in digital media surging a remarkable 1,200% between January and August. This meteoric rise is largely attributed to Jools Lebron, a content creator who popularized the phrase "very demure, very mindful" in a series of TikTok videos illustrating how to embody the term in professional, travel and social settings. The social media buzz surrounding demure sparked a similar spike in search interest. In the 11 months before Lebron's videos, there was no notable trend in Google searches for the term, but interest surged 14-fold by August 2024 . At its peak, searches for demure on Dictionary.com were 200 times greater than their previous rate. While the initial trend has cooled, the word remains five times more popular on Dictionary.com than it was before its breakout moment. Alongside demure, Dictionary.com 's lexicographers identified five additional words that shaped the cultural conversation in 2024, rounding out this year's shortlist. Read more about Dictionary.com 's 2024 Word of the Year at http://dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-year/ . About Dictionary.com Words define every aspect of our lives, from our ideas to our identities. Dictionary.com aspires to empower people to express themselves, make connections and find opportunities through the power and joy of language. With 96 million visitors each month, Dictionary.com is the premier destination to learn, discover and have fun with the limitless world of words and meanings. The brand helps you make sense of the ever-evolving English language so you can put your ideas into words—and your words into action. Press Contact Joslyn Chesson IXL Learning press@ixl.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dictionarycom-names-demure-as-the-2024-word-of-the-year-302315735.html SOURCE IXL LearningHead coach Vanni Sartini paid the price Monday for the Vancouver Whitecaps’ mediocre results this past season and subsequent first-round playoff exit. His firing came about two weeks after the Major League Soccer team won a play-in game before falling to top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a three-game series that went the distance. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” said Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps’ sporting director and chief executive officer. One of the reasons for the change, he said, is everyone in the organization, including himself, needs a reminder that playoff success next year is imperative. “We cannot not get there.” The Whitecaps haven’t reached the conference semifinals since 2017. In a one-hour availability with reporters, Schuster noted the team had the second-worst home record in the Western Conference this year and recorded just two points over its last seven regular-season games. He referenced the need for fresh energy from a new coach and added there was no firm timeline in place for a replacement to be named. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression,” he said. The Whitecaps’ late-season slump dropped them to eighth place in the West with a record of 13-13-8. Vancouver won a play-in game at Portland before dropping a 1-0 decision at LAFC in the deciding game of the series. Vancouver also won its third-straight Canadian championship this season, beating Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties after the final ended in a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Sartini, a 47-year-old from Florence, Italy, took over coaching duties on an interim basis in August 2021 after the Whitecaps dismissed Marc Dos Santos. He was officially named head coach that November. “For the last three years and three months, it has been an absolute honour to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” Sartini said in a release. “I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and ownership for entrusting me to be the technical lead of this club in such an important time. “Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart,” he added. He posted a record of 57-51-39 across all competitions. The exuberant Italian made headlines in November 2023 when he publicly criticized a referee following a playoff game and made a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. He was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 MLS campaign, fined US$20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioural assessment. The coach later apologized for the comments and his suspension was cut to four games. Sartini came to Vancouver in 2019 as Dos Santos’ assistant coach and spent two seasons with the first team before being named the club’s “director of methodology” and taking over coaching the U-23 team in 2020. Before joining the Whitecaps, he worked as a coach educator for the Italian Football Federation and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and coached several different clubs in Italy.

Head coach Vanni Sartini paid the price Monday for the Vancouver Whitecaps’ mediocre results this past season and subsequent first-round playoff exit. His firing came about two weeks after the Major League Soccer team won a play-in game before falling to top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a three-game series that went the distance. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” said Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps’ sporting director and chief executive officer. One of the reasons for the change, he said, is everyone in the organization, including himself, needs a reminder that playoff success next year is imperative. “We cannot not get there.” The Whitecaps haven’t reached the conference semifinals since 2017. In a one-hour availability with reporters, Schuster noted the team had the second-worst home record in the Western Conference this year and recorded just two points over its last seven regular-season games. He referenced the need for fresh energy from a new coach and added there was no firm timeline in place for a replacement to be named. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression,” he said. The Whitecaps’ late-season slump dropped them to eighth place in the West with a record of 13-13-8. Vancouver won a play-in game at Portland before dropping a 1-0 decision at LAFC in the deciding game of the series. Vancouver also won its third-straight Canadian championship this season, beating Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties after the final ended in a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Sartini, a 47-year-old from Florence, Italy, took over coaching duties on an interim basis in August 2021 after the Whitecaps dismissed Marc Dos Santos. He was officially named head coach that November. “For the last three years and three months, it has been an absolute honour to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” Sartini said in a release. “I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and ownership for entrusting me to be the technical lead of this club in such an important time. “Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart,” he added. He posted a record of 57-51-39 across all competitions. The exuberant Italian made headlines in November 2023 when he publicly criticized a referee following a playoff game and made a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. He was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 MLS campaign, fined US$20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioural assessment. The coach later apologized for the comments and his suspension was cut to four games. Sartini came to Vancouver in 2019 as Dos Santos’ assistant coach and spent two seasons with the first team before being named the club’s “director of methodology” and taking over coaching the U-23 team in 2020. Before joining the Whitecaps, he worked as a coach educator for the Italian Football Federation and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and coached several different clubs in Italy.