At the City Section breakfast on Wednesday morning for teams competing this weekend in championship football games, two linebackers from the class of 2027 were asked to take a photo together, because one day, it could be historic.
Elyjah Staples, a 6-foot-3 junior from Marquez, and De’Andre Kirkpatrick, a 6-3 junior from Crenshaw, can match their skills against anyone in the state. College recruiters are paying attention and one day NFL scouts will too. They are helping destroy the stereotype that City Section football is lacking in talent.
Running back Darnell Miller of Santee has rushed for 3,100 yards. He’s a perfect gentleman taking care of his 10-year-old brother Frederick. No offers. If anyone needs a terrific talent with character Darnell Miller is that person. pic.twitter.com/g64gaDJutQ
Add versatile junior quarterback Chris Fields III from Carson and senior running back Darnell Miller from Santee, who has surpassed the 3,000-yard mark rushing this season, and you have a group of players you’ll be watching on television in the coming years.
Marquez coach Rudy Fortiz has been hearing from friends through text messages. He’s in a bit of a bind. His team is facing his alma mater, South Gate, for the Division I title on Saturday. Fortiz says he always roots for South Gate — except for this week. South Gate was 0-10 two seasons ago.
Hawkins coach Ronald Coltress is the one who had the put the program back together after it went 0-13 in 2016 because of forfeits and firings of coaches. In 2017, he was JV coach when the varsity went 0-11 following an exodus of players. He took over in 2018 and the team went 1-9. The administration told him to stay the course and make sure players were going to class, behaving and graduating. Now Hawkins is 10-2 and playing for the Division III championship on Friday against Santee at Birmingham.
“There was nobody left,” Coltress said. “I had to find kids who wanted to play.”
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].
Vinicius Junior will not sign a new deal at Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool will keep an eye on his situation, while Liverpool have held concrete talks over a move for Antoine Semenyo.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, 25, has told Real Madrid he does not intend to renew his contract which expires in the summer of 2027, because of a strained relationship with manager Xabi Alonso. (Athletic – subscription required), external
Liverpool, Manchester United and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius’ situation. (Mirror), external
Liverpool have already held concrete talks over a move for Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, and are aware of his £65m release clause. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Marseille want to hold talks with Brighton about signing Denmark midfielder Matt O’Riley, 25, permanently in January. (Sky Sports), external
European giants AC Milan are plotting a spectacular move for Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28. (Teamtalk), external
Premier League clubs are expected to queue up to sign Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher in January, provided the Spanish club agree to sell or loan out the 25-year-old former Chelsea player. (Sky Sports), external
Paris St-Germain have joined Real Madrid in the race for Bayern Munich and France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, who looks set to become a free agent at the end of the season. (Sky Sports Germany – in German), external
Wolves and Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, 24, has had his head turned by Manchester United’s interest in him and would be keen on a January move. (Teamtalk), external
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, is likely to leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Chelsea and Arsenal will fight to sign Marseille’s French striker Robinio Vaz, 18, who is valued between 20 and 30m euros (£17.6m to £25.5m). (Caught Offside), external
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood, 24, with the Englishman valued at about £70m. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Nov. 23 (UPI) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa brought the G20 summit in Johannesburg to a close Saturday, and rejected a proposal by the United States for him to pass control for next year’s meeting in Florida to a junior U.S. embassy official.
Ramaphosa depicted the two-day summit as a win for multilateralism but said it was marred by a U.S. boycott. The United States has repeatedly accused South Africa, without proof, of discriminating against white-minority Afrikaners
“We’ve met in the face of significant challenges and demonstrated our ability to come together, even in times of great difficulty, to pursue a better world,” Ramaphosa said in his closing remarks.
As he closed the conference, Ramaphosa said “We shall see each other again next year” in the United States. It was his only mention of the United States during the summit.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly accused Ramaphosa of “refusing to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency.”
“This, coupled with South Africa’s push to issue a G20 leaders’ declaration, despite consistent and robust U.S. objections, underscored the fact that they have weaponized their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles,” Kelly said.
As part of the conference Saturday, the G20 declared a need to address climate change and achieve “gender equality” among participating countries.
While not making any specific reference to President Donald Trump and the United States during the G20 summit, references were made to his administration’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement on the first day of his second term and its undoing of policies aimed at eliminating sexism, racism and homophobia.
South Africa offered to provide an equivalent junior diplomat to hand over the G20 presidency to the United States at his foreign ministry. Country officials said it would breach protocol for Ramaphosa to pass the torch to a U.S. acting ambassador.
China, Russia and Mexico were also no-shows at the Johannesburg G20.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has routinely delegated attendance at such events to Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Russian President Vladimir Putin is wanted by the international court and Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum was not in attendance.
The 2026 G20 summit is scheduled to be held at the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort, which is owned by the Trump Organization.
The demolition of the East Wing of the White House is seen during construction in Washington, on Monday. President Donald Trump began demolishing the East Wing last month to build a $200 million ballroom at the property. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
DENISE Van Outen was all smiles as she hit the decks and kicked off Christmas party season.
The actress and presenter was a surprise DJ at the Toca Social VIP press night at Westfield Shopping Centre.
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Denise Van Outen beams behind the decks at Westfield Shopping CentreCredit: GettyDenise brought some festive sparkle with her bomber jacketCredit: Getty
Dressed in a glittering jacket and black trousers, Denise beamed as she got the party going with the big day barely a month away.
It comes just weeks after the star opened up about hitting the studio to work on an Ibiza inspired album.
Chatting to The Sun last month, Denise said: “I’ve been writing not just this kind of music [ballads] but also dance tunes.
“I’ve started to get a real feel for what’s out there and I’ve been playing around with writing.
On whether she will release her electronic tunes, she added: “I’m working on one at the moment, so yeah, 100 per cent.”
Also at the bash was nepo-baby royalty Princess and Junior Andre.
Taking a leaf out of mum Katie Price‘s book, Princess, 18, opted for a tight black top and leggings and draped a faux fur jacket over her arms.
The budding fashionista matched the fluffy garment with a pair of maroon PVC boots.
Girl group Sweet Love looked effortlessly cool in coordinated crop tops and loose trousers, while Love Island’s Harry Cooskley cut a a stylish figure in a tight long-sleeve top and pleated trousers.
Princess and Junior Andre hung out at the star-studded eventCredit: GettyHarry Cooksley cut a cool figure in baggy trousers and a fitted topCredit: GettySweet Love oozed glam on the red carpetCredit: Getty
SACHA Baron Cohen hooked up with a stunning Kylie Jenner lookalike 28 years his junior – just hours after his ex-wife said she had “cried” over being a single woman.
Sacha Baron Cohen hooked up with a stunning Kylie Jenner lookalike 28 years his juniorCredit: BackGridThe comic, 54, was spotted with American influencer Kelsey Calemine, 26, in HollywoodCredit: BackGridSacha appeared to exchange numbers with Kelsey before they left the nightspot in separate carsCredit: BackGrid
After they had left an exclusive new nightspot in Hollywood, the movie star chatted intimately with Kelsey, before handing her his pink mobile phone, as she appeared to tap her number into it.
Sacha, who is just two years younger than Kelsey’s 56-year-old dad, had spent two hours inside the club between 1am and 3am on Friday morning.
Kelsey and her friend had also emerged from it when the actor got talking to her outside.
Brunette Kelsey – wearing a figure-hugging pink dress – leaned in close to the actor as he whispered into her ear.
The US socialite and foodie influencer – who has 2.8million Instagram followers and is friends with Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and entrepreneur Lauren Perez – spent several minutes laughing and chatting with Sacha.
After appearing to exchange phone numbers they finally got into separate Ubers, as he waved fondly at her.
An onlooker said: “Sacha arrived at 1am at a hot new exclusive nightclub that is just up and coming in Hollywood.
“He was on his own with no security.
“He left the club at 3am just seconds after Kelsey and her friend left.
“He instantly noticed her.
“He was staring at Kelsey and then walked over and started chatting to her. Someone told me he had been flirting with her inside the club.
“Outside they were both very flirty and they didn’t stop laughing.
“He then walked over to her Uber when it came and gave her his phone which had a pink case and she typed her number into it.”
She has a mega-wealthy real estate developer father Robert Peck, 56.
Witnesses told how Sacha was flirting with Kelsey inside the club before being spotted chatting outsideCredit: BackGridKelsey Kelsey was previously linked to ex-England and Chelsea footballer Ben ChilwellCredit: InstagramSacha has recently divorce from actress Isla Fisher after 13 years of marriage, and have three childrenCredit: Getty
Insiders said Sacha, who was wearing a brown jacket and white trainers, has been “playing the field” after his marriage split to Isla.
She revealed that creating a fresh life from “a grassroots level” has been “tough”.
Discussing the moment her furniture arrived, Isla added: “I did have a bit of a cry because this was my first time as a single woman, being in a home of my own.”
‘LONG TENNIS MATCH MARRIAGE’
She and Sacha announced their split in April last year, saying that after a “long tennis match” their marriage had come to an end.
They met in 2001 and married nine years later in March 2010. They have three children.
Isla previously revealed how the methods of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung had helped her heal from the divorce.
The Jungian method is a therapeutic approach that explores dreams and symbols.
In a statement at the time, Sacha and Isla said: “We are proud of all we’ve achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children.”
In July Isla admitted: “I’ve had a tough couple of years but I’m making it through.”
It was understood the pair resolved their split amicably.
Pals of Sacha said that he’s enjoying being single and is having fun but he also gives out his number for career advice because of his respect in the industry.
Sacha became famous for his comic creation Ali G, with television series and even a movieCredit: Getty – ContributorSacha’s next comic character Borat saw him become even more famous, with a movie and a sequelCredit: Alamy
She posted on Instagram: “For all those men who say ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free’ here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80 per cent of women are against marriage. Why? They realise it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage.”
They spent two hours at a Beverly Hills steakhouse and then left in a limo.
SACHA’S DATES
Kelsey – who has a food page where she reviews restaurants – was snapped in April with basketball player Michael Porter Jr, 27, at an Italian eatery in St Tropez, France.
She posts videos on social media of herself eating food and then rating it.
On her TikTok page she describes herself with the title: “I love food and food loves me.”
She also has a channel called “Cooking w Kels” where she shows her followers meals that she has made.
On Friday she posted pictures to her 2.8million followers on Instagram at a fashion event wearing the same pink dress as in our exclusive snaps.
She captioned it: “Lowkey eating.”
Fans posted online that Kelsey was bought a Tesla by dad Rob to “encourage her to drive” and that she once had an OnlyFans page.
Sacha rose to comedy fame in the 1990s with his character Ali G, a wannabe gangster with the catchphrase, “Is it because I is black?”
He won more fans with characters Borat Sagdiyev, a bigoted Kazakh journalist, and Brüno Gehard, a flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter.
It led to film hits including the Madagascar franchise, Anchorman 2 and Grimsby.
