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Itoje starts for Saracens as Spurs crash out and Love Island returns; Wales mine restoration battle; US strikes ISIS in Syria; Minneapolis clears “autonomous” barricades amid shooting protests; mother faces court over 9-year-old’s killing
Champions Cup team news, Itoje starts for Saracens
Maro Itoje will start for Saracens against Toulouse in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup. Confirmed team news and line-ups are also included for Harlequins and Northampton in their respective matches.
Campaigners tell residents to block “cut-price” Ffos-y-Fran mine restoration plan
Coal Action Network is urging residents to object to Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd’s proposal to downgrade the agreed restoration of the Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine near Merthyr Tydfil. The group claims the company, led by director David Lewis, illegally mined for over a year, can afford the £75 to £110 million restoration, and is trying to swap it for a cheaper plan that could leave a deep flooded void, large spoil tips, and long-term pollution and safety risks, while unlocking £15 million held in escrow. Objections are due to Merthyr Tydfil council by 17 January 2026.
Tottenham dumped out of FA Cup as pressure grows on Thomas Frank
Aston Villa knocked Tottenham Hotspur out of the FA Cup after goals from Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers. A wasteful Spurs performance increased pressure on manager Thomas Frank.
Jess Harding says “no bad blood” ahead of Love Island: All Stars return
Former Love Island winner Jess Harding says there is “no bad blood” with her ex as she prepares to return for Love Island: All Stars series three, starting January 12.
U.S. carries out new airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria amid diplomacy with new leadership
U.S. officials said the military conducted airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria, the second such operation since Dec. 19. The strikes come as U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said he met in Damascus with Syria’s new leadership, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, to discuss developments in Aleppo and Syria’s political transition. The White House and the Defense Department did not immediately comment.
Minneapolis clears short-lived “autonomous” zone barricades to restore access
Minneapolis city officials dismantled barricades after activists briefly set up a multi-block “autonomous” area in the city’s southeast, blocking streets with bins, trees, and other materials and posting “guards” at intersections. The city cleared the blockade early Friday to restore access for residents and emergency services, while leaving a nearby memorial intact, citing concerns the roadblocks could delay fire and medical response.
Nationwide protests planned after officer-involved shootings in Minneapolis and Portland
More than 1,000 protests are planned nationwide following federal officer-involved shootings that killed a woman in Minneapolis and two other people in Portland.
Mother charged in killing of 9-year-old appears in court as prosecutors seek life without parole
Ashlee Buzzard, charged with murdering her 9-year-old daughter Melodee, appeared in Santa Barbara County court to set a preliminary hearing date. Prosecutors are seeking life in prison without parole and allege firearm use and lying in wait. Melodee was reported missing after leaving California on a road trip with her mother, and her body was found Dec. 6 in rural Utah with gunshot wounds to the head. Authorities say forensic evidence, including ballistic and DNA analysis, links Buzzard to the death, they believe she acted alone, and no motive has been publicly disclosed. Outside court, Melodee’s grandmother said she believes the killing was planned and questioned any insanity defense, citing allegations Buzzard changed license plates on a rental car.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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