EU updates asylum guidance for Syrians a year after Assad's fall

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday issued updated guidance for asylum applications by Syrian nationals that reflects new conditions in Syria a year after thefall of the Bashar Assad. The changes may influence the result of asylum requests of some 110,000 Syrians who were still awaiting an asylum decision at the end of September.

The European Union Agency for Asylum said opponents of Assad and military service evaders "are no longer at risk of persecution."

But the agency said other groups may be considered at risk in the post-AssadSyria, including people affiliated with the former government and members of theAlawites, Christians, andDruzeethnic-religious groups.

While decisions on asylum applications are made at a national level, the agency's guidance is used to inform the 27 EU member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland. The goal is to create greater coherence between the 29 nations granting international protection.

The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of Assad, to 3,500 in September 2025. Still, Syrians had the most number of cases awaiting a decision at first instance.

Syria's conflictthat began in March 2011 killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million. More than 5 million Syrians fled the country as refugees. While most sought refuge in neighboring countries like Turkey, many also went to Europe, contributing to the continent'srefugee crisis in 2015.

The asylum agency said the situation in Syria is "considered improved but volatile" since Assad's fall in December 2024, and that "indiscriminate violence continues to take place" in certain parts of Syria.

Many Syrians had high hopesafterAssad was brought downin an offensive by insurgent groups in early December. However, sectarian killings against members of Assad's Alawite minority sect inSyria's coastal regionand against the Druze minority in the southernprovince of Sweidaearlier this year has claimed hundreds of lives.

Still, the agency said it now considers Damascus, the capital, to be safe.

The agency also cited two other groups living in Syria who should remain eligible for refugee status: LGBTQ+ people and Palestinians in Syria who no longer receive United Nations assistance or protection.

Since the fall of Assad in December, more than one million people have returned to Syria and nearly 2 million internally people have returned to their regions, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Follow AP's global migration coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/migration

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

EU updates asylum guidance for Syrians a year after Assad's fall

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday issued updated guidance for asylum applications by Syrian nationa...
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Thinking about a 'thrifty' Christmas? Consider a resale shop

Secondhand gifting is growing in popularity as shoppers look to save money and give something meaningful this holiday season.

"You are going to find items that are unique. You are not going to see a whole shelf full of the same item," said Stephanie Aldridge, who managesLegacies Upscale Resale,a non-profit resale and consignment shop in Cincinnati.

Aldridge shared unique gift options like bracelets for as little as $5. The store offers vintage necklaces for $10 each, a 1950s mid-century modern ice bucket for $30, and classic Christmas tree ornaments starting at $3.

RELATED STORY |Why 2 in 3 shoppers are turning to thrifting regularly

"These are items that all have history and stories behind them. We are keeping things out of landfills," Aldridge said. "It will make that gift giving a more fun, enjoyable experience."

Watch: Unique secondhand gifts in thrift shops that can save money

Thrift shop Christmas: Great gifts at great prices

Shoppers thrift to save on gifts

The National Retail Federation found59% of shoppers would consider giving a secondhand gift this year to save money and get greater value for the gifts they purchase.

"I think what you see, especially with younger generations, it's not even just OK. It's actually the preferred gift," said Kate Sanner, co-founder and CEO ofBeni, a search engine that aggregates inventoryfrom secondhand retailers like Poshmark, The RealReal, Depop and eBay.

Before you buy something new, Beni suggests checking those sites and flagging cheaper options.

RELATED VIDEO:

"Before I buy this new and full price, is it sitting on a secondhand site for 50, 60, 70% off? And what you'll find is that oftentimes it is," Sanner said.

Sanner said about 30% of listings on Beni are actually new with tags.

"It's stuff that was liquidated. It's things that were returned but couldn't be resold," she said.

Screenshot 2025-12-02 at 4.24.26 PM.png

Safely buy items secondhand

Whether you're thrifting online or in person, Melanie McGovern with theBetter Business Bureauurges shoppers to arm themselves with information so they don't overpay.

"There are tags on every piece of clothing that tell you the year and the month it was made," McGovern said. "Looking at that tag, knowing how old is this item, is it worth anything?"

RELATED STORY |Thrift treasures or new trends? Shoppers find style without breaking the bank

To steer clear of scammers while secondhand shopping,the BBB recommendsconsumers take the following steps:

  • Check reviews of the seller and the platform

  • Inspect listings closely when shopping online

  • Look for wear, stains and tears if shopping in person

McGovern recommends you check out a company's business profile on BBB.org to see if other consumers have filed complaints and how those complaints were resolved.

"Especially when you're buying through the secondhand websites — make sure that you know, if something does go wrong, there is some recourse for you," she said.

Aldridge said once you visit a thrift shop, you'll be hooked.

"It's the hunt. I feel like we're all like Indiana Jones. We are going in to find that really special item that you are not going to see everywhere," she said.

So consider secondhand gifts this holiday season, so you don't waste your money.

____________________________

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

_________________________________

"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

Follow John:

For more consumer news and money saving advice, go towww.dontwasteyourmoney.com

More Don't Waste Your Money news:

Thinking about a 'thrifty' Christmas? Consider a resale shopHow to avoid surprise fees this holiday shopping seasonIs the new iPhone 17's battery worth the upgrade? Here's what tests reveal

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

Thinking about a 'thrifty' Christmas? Consider a resale shop

Secondhand gifting is growing in popularity as shoppers look to save money and give something meaningful this holiday sea...
Read More
A 1-year-old was among 159 killed in Hong Kong apartment fires. 30 others remain missing

HONG KONG (AP) — The death toll of Hong Kong'shigh-rise apartment blazerose to 159 on Wednesday, as authorities arrested six people on suspicion of deactivating some fire alarms during maintenance work at the housing complex.

The youngest person who died in the fire was a 1-year-old infant, police said. The oldest was 97.

Police said they have completed a search for bodies inside all seven of eight high-rise residential towers ravaged in the fire that first broke out last Wednesday andtook until Friday to be extinguished. About 30 people were still reported missing.

"We have not finished our work yet," Commissioner of Police Joe Chow told reporters, adding that officials will continue to search through piles of fallen bamboo scaffolding to check if any remains or bodies were buried there.

The deadly blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court, in the northern suburban district of Tai Po, which was undergoing a monthslong renovation project with buildings covered by bamboo scaffolding and green netting.

Police and the city's anti-corruption body said Tuesday that they had arrested 15 people as authorities probe corruption and negligence in relation to the renovation work.Substandard nettingcovering scaffoldings erected outside the towers and foam boards installed on windows were found to have aided the fire's rapid spread, authorities said earlier this week.

Police said Wednesday that six people who allegedly deactivated some fire alarms at the housing complex during the renovation works were arrested on suspicion of making false representation to the fire services department.

Residents and officials have said that some fire alarms in the buildings failed to sound when the fire broke out, though it was not clear how widespread that problem was within the complex.

The initial cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Nineteen bodies among the 159 were still unidentified, police said. Ten migrants who worked as domestic helpers at the housing complex, including nine from Indonesia and one from the Philippines, as well as one firefighter, were among those killed in the fire.

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

A 1-year-old was among 159 killed in Hong Kong apartment fires. 30 others remain missing

HONG KONG (AP) — The death toll of Hong Kong'shigh-rise apartment blazerose to 159 on Wednesday, as authorities arres...
Read More
Live Q&A: Jesse Yomtov takes your questions about the World Cup draw

The anticipation is building for the2026 World Cupand soon we'll find out which teams are playing in the 12 groups.

Overall, there will be 48 teams in the upcomingWorld Cup,which equates to four teams in each group. What teams will be in each group?

That's an answer we'll get on Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.,when the drawis conducted.

USA TODAY Sports'sJesse Yomtovis ready to answer your questions about the 2026 World Cup, the upcoming draw and the teams that have qualified thus far on Thursday, December 4 at 12 p.m. ET.

This photograph shows the FIFA World Cup trophy ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and European Play-Off draw and Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)

You can send in your questions in advance via the box below and of course come back on Dec. 4 to get your answers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Chat World Cup draw, teams, tournament in live Q&A with Jesse Yomtov

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

Live Q&A: Jesse Yomtov takes your questions about the World Cup draw

The anticipation is building for the2026 World Cupand soon we'll find out which teams are playing in the 12 groups...
Read More
Where are top 100 college football recruits going? Signing day updates

The day that culminates years of recruiting efforts has finally arrived on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The early national signing day will see most of the nation's top prospects confirm their commitments with their letters of intent.

While the transfer portal has mitigated some of the importance of recruiting high school players, there's still a strong correlation to having strong freshmen classes and success on the field. So landing elite recruits still has a great importance for teams.

Who stands to be the big winners? Will there be flips or delayed decision that have become synonymous with singing day? We will keep track of the highest-rated prospects, according to the 247Sports, composite as they make official where they will be playing next fall.

Where are the top 100 high school football recruits headed?

  1. Jared Curtis, QB, 6-3, 225, Nashville Christian (Nashville, Tenn.) – Committed to Vanderbilt

  2. Lamar Brown, ATH, 6-4, 285, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La. ) – Committed to LSU

  3. Keisean Henderson, QB, 6-3, 185, Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas) – Committed to Houston

  4. Jackson Cantwell, OL, 6-7, 325, Nixa (Nixa, Mo.) – Committed to Miami

  5. Zion Elee, Edge, 6-3, 220, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) Committed to Maryland

  6. Carter Meadows, Edge, 6-6, 225, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) - Committed to Michigan

  7. Faizon Brandon, QB, 6-3, 200, Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C. ) – Committed to Tennessee

  8. Savion Hiter, RB, 5-11, 200, Louisa County (Mineral, Va.) – Committed to Michigan

  9. Dia Bell, QB, 6-2, 215, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Committed to Texas

  10. Chris Henry Jr. WR, 6-5, 205, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Ohio State

  11. Tristen Keys, WR, 6-2, 180, Hattiesburg (Hattiesburg, Miss.) – Committed to Tennessee

  12. Rodney Dunham, Edge, 6-4, 227, Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) – Committed to Notre Dame

  13. Felix Ojo, OT, 6-6, 275, Mansfield Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) – Committed to Texas Tech

  14. Ezavier Crowell, RB, 5-11, 205, Jackson (Jackson, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama

  15. LaDamion Guyton, Edge, 6-3, 225, Benedictine Military School (Savannah, Ga.) – Committed to Texas Tech

  16. Immanuel Iheanacho, OL, 6-6, 345, Georgetown Preparatory (North Bethesda, Md.) – Committed to Oregon

  17. Xavier Griffin, LB, 6-3, 200, Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga) – Committed to Alabama

  18. Kendre Harrison, TE, 6-7, 243, Reidsville (Reidsville, N.C.) – Committed to Oregon

  19. Kodi Greene, OT, 6-5, 320, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Washington

  20. Tyler Atkinson, LB, 6-2, 210, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) – Committed to Texas

  21. Ian Premer, TE, 6-5, 220, Great Bend (Great Bend, Kan.) – Committed to Notre Dame

  22. Jalen Lott, WR, 6-0, 176, Frisco Panther Creek (Frisco, Texas) – Committed to Oregon

  23. Mark Bowman, TE, 6-4, 225, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Committed to Southern California

  24. Khary Adams, DB, 6-2, 175, Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.) - Committed to Notre Dame

  25. Jorden Edmonds, DB, 6-2, 175, Sprayberry (Marietta, Ga.) – Committed to Alabama

  26. Anthony Jones, Edge, 6-3, 240, St. Paul's Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.) – Committed to Oregon

  27. Kelvin Obot, OT, 6-5, 265, Fruitland (Fruitland, Idaho) – Committed to Utah

  28. Richard Wesley, Edge, 6-5, 250, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) – Committed to Texas

  29. Richard Anderson, DL, 6-4, 340, Edna Karr (New Orleans) – Committed to LSU

  30. Bralan Womack, DB, 5-11, 195, Hartfield Academy (Flowood, Miss.) – Committed to Mississippi State

  31. Joey O'Brien, DB, 6-3, 185, La Salle College (Glenside, Pa.) – Committed to Notre Dame

  32. Jireh Edwards, DB, 6-2, 210, St. Frances Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.) – Committed to Alabama

  33. Ekene Ogboko, OL, 6-6, 280, South Garner (Durham, N.C.) – Committed to Georgia

  34. Brandon Arrington, ATH, 6-2, 180, Mount Miguel (Spring Valley, Calif.) – Committed to Texas A&M

  35. Kaiden Prothro, TE, 6-6, 210, Bowdon (Bowdon, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia

  36. Jett Washington, DB, 6-5, 205, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) – Committed to Oregon

  37. Darius Gray, OL, 6-3, 285, St. Christopher's School (Richmond, Va.) – Committed to South Carolina

  38. Ryder Lyons, QB, 6-2, 220, Folsom (Folsom, Calif.) – Committed to Brigham Young

  39. Ethan Feaster, WR, 6-1, 180, DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) – Committed to Southern California

  40. Cederian Morgan, WR, 6-4, 210, Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama

  41. Chauncey Kennon, DB, 6-1, 175, Booker (Sarasota, Fla.) – Committed to Florida State

  42. Khary Wilder, DL, 6-4, 250, Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.) – Committed to Ohio State

  43. KJ Edwards, RB, 5-10, 180, Carthage (Carthage, Texas) – Committed to Texas A&M

  44. Luke Wafle, Edge, 6-5, 245, Hun School (Princeton, N.J.) – Committed to Southern Caifornia

  45. Salesi Moa, ATH, 6-1, 190, Fremont (Ogden, Utah) – Committed to Tennessee

  46. Elbert Hill, DB, 5-10, 175, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) – Committed to Southern California

  47. Davon Benjamin, DB, 5-11, 180 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) – Committed to Oregon

  48. Jaimeon Winfield, 6-4, 310, Richardson (Richardson, Texas) – Committed to Southern California

  49. Davian Groce, WR, 6-1, 190, Frisco Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) – Committed to Florida

  50. Cincere Johnson, LB, 6-3, 222, Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) – Committed to Ohio State

  51. Sam Greer, OL, 6-7, 315, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) – Committed to Ohio State

  52. Jamarion Matthews, DL, 6-2, 240, Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga.) – Committed to Alabama

  53. Nolan Wilson, DL, 6-4, 250, Picayune Memorial (Picayune, Miss.) – Committed to Alabama

  54. Deuce Geralds, DL, 6-2, 275, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) – Committed to LSU

  55. TJ White, LB, 6-1, 230, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.) – Committed to Tennessee

  56. Zyan Gibson, DB, 6-0, 174, Gadsden City (Gadsden, Ala.) – Committed to Alabama

  57. Tony Cumberland, DL, 6-4, 285, Willamette (Eugene, Ore.) – Committed to Oregon

  58. Justice Fitzpatrick, DB, 6-0, 185, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Committed to Georgia

  59. Somourian Wingo, WR, 6-2, 180, St. Augustine (St. Augustine, Fla.) – Committed to Miami

  60. Bryce Perry-Wright, DL, 6-2, 250, Buford (Buford, Ga.) – Committed to Texas A&M

  61. Naeem Burroughs, WR, 5-11, 175, The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Committed to Clemson

  62. Kevin Brown, OL, 6-5, 270, Harrisburg (Harrisburg, Pa.) – Committed to West Virginia

  63. Devin Jackson, DB, 6-2, 195, The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) – Committed to Oregon

  64. Jay Timmons, DB, 5-11, 185, Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – Committed to Ohio State

  65. Joel Wyatt, ATH, 6-4, 195, Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) – Committed to Tennessee

  66. Jermaine Bishop, ATH, 5-11, 155, Willis (Willis, Texas) – Committed to Texas

  67. Trenton Henderson, Edge, 6-4, 225, Pine Forest (Pensacola, Fla.) – Committed to LSU

  68. Bowe Bentley, QB, 6-2, 200, Celina (Celina, Texas) – Committed to Oklahoma

  69. Jett Thomalla, QB, 6-3, 220, Millard South (Omaha, Neb.) – Committed to Alabama

  70. Calvin Russell, WR, 6-5, 195, Northwestern (Miami) – Committed to Syracuse

  71. Blaine Bradford, DB, 6-1, 207, Baton Rouge Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) – Committed to Ohio State

  72. Jake Kreul, Edge, 6-3, 230, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) – Committed to Oklahoma

  73. Keenyi Pepe, OL, 6-7, 320, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) – Committed to Southern California

  74. Jonathan Hatton Jr., RB, 6-0, 205, Cibolo Steele (Cibolo, Texas) – Committed to Oklahoma

  75. Caden Harris, DB, 6-0, 160, Haywood (Brownsville, Tenn.) – Committed to Georgia

  76. John Turntine III, OL, 6-4, 270, North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) – Committed to Texas

  77. Brian Bonner, RB, 6-0, 185, Valencia (Valencia, Calif.) – Committed to Washington

  78. Talanoa Ili, LB, 6-3, 215, Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii) – Committed to Southern Caliifornia

  79. Izayia Williams, 6-1, 215, Tavares (Tavares, Fla.) – Committed to Florida State

  80. Tommy Tofi, OL, 6-6, 330, Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) – Committed to Oregon

  81. Ayden Pouncey, DB, 6-2, 160, Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.) – Committed to Notre Dame

  82. J'Zavien Currence, DB, 6-3, 205, South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) – Committed to South Carolina

  83. Brysten Martinez, OL, 6-5, 300, East Ascension (Gonzales, La.) – Committed to LSU

  84. Aaron Gregory, WR, 6-2, 177, Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.) – Committed to Texas A&M

  85. Kentavion Anderson, DB, 6-2, 190, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) – Committed to Clemson

  86. Brayden Rouse, LB, 6-2, 210, Kell (Marietta, Ga.) – Committed to Tennessee

  87. James Johnson, DL, 6-2, 285, Northwestern (Miami) – Committed to Texas

  88. Jordan Smith, DB, 6-1, 185, Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia

  89. Jamarion Carlton, DL, 6-4, 260, Temple (Temple, Texas) – Committed to Texas

  90. Gabriel Osenda, OT, 6-7, 330, Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Committed to Tennessee

  91. Aiden Harris, DL, 6-3, 245, Weddington (Matthews, N.C.) – Committed to South Carolina

  92. Craig Dandridge, WR, 6-0, 172, Cambridge (Alpharetta, Ga.) – Committed to Georgia

  93. Havon Finney, DB, 6-2, 170, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) – Committed to LSU

  94. Chase Campbell, WR, 6-1, 180, Wolfforth Frenship (Wolfforth, Texas) – Committed to Texas Tech

  95. Jase Mathews, WR, 6-1, 193, Greene County (Leakesville, Miss.) – Committed to Auburn

  96. Julian Walker, Edge, 6-5, 252, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) – Committed to Michigan

  97. Jaquez Wilkes, LB, 6-4, 220, Wadley (Wadley, Ala.) – Committed to Auburn

  98. Pierre Dean, Edge, 6-3, 255, West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C.) – Committed to Georgia

  99. Derrek Cooper, RB, 6-1, 205, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) – Committed to Texas

  100. Victor Singleton, DB, 5-11, Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) – Committed to Texas A&M

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football signing day top 100 recruits destinations

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

Where are top 100 college football recruits going? Signing day updates

The day that culminates years of recruiting efforts has finally arrived on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The early national signing ...
Read More
Deion Sanders skimps on 2026 freshman recruiting class for Colorado – by design

Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersis expected to sign a recruiting class this week of only 10 high school players after some top recruitswithdrew their commitmentto play for him recently — dropping the Buffaloes to a 69th national ranking and 14thout of 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference, according toOn3's recruiting rankings for 2026, as of Dec. 2.

But signing such a small freshman class is all part of Sanders' plan, according to him. Hedoesn't make off-campus visits to high school recruitsand was a pioneer in college football for relying on transfer players instead.

The question is whether this is the right strategy afterhis team finished 3-9 in 2025. Should he focus more on developing high school players and getting them to stick around in Boulder? Or is his strategy still sensible since players can transfer to a new school every year if they're not happy with their playing time or compensation?

Paying Prime:Colorado forecasts $27M deficit after Deion Sanders pay raise, NIL payments

The debate rages on at the start of the football signing period on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

"Just to go into the (transfer) portal, it becomes like trying to build through free agency," former Colorado and NFL linebacker Chad Brown told USA TODAY Sports recently. "You can get it done in spots if you've got a hole that you need filled, but home-grown talent is always going to be the best to coach up and get up to speed with your offense and defense.

"If every year you're trying to build a new team, you can't ever get to layer two in your playbook. You're always operating on the surface, and then these guys don't get the chance to come together as a team."

Deion Sanders sees it differently

The high school recruiting class Sanders is expected to sign includes four-star defensive back Preston Ashley and four-star linebackerCarson Crawford. But it's only a precursor to his bigger roster moves coming when the transfer portal opens Jan. 2. That's when Sanders will bring in players from other colleges, many of them backups looking for better playing time or income opportunities. Sanderspioneered the portal-heavy strategyduring his first year in 2023, when he brought in 47 scholarship transfer players from other four-year colleges to fill a roster limited to 85 scholarship players.

"You want about 15 to 17 high school kids," Sanders said at a news conference last week in Boulder.  "Why do you say that, coach?' Well, check the statistics. You get 30. Are they gonna be here in two years? Statistically, check the statistics."

USA TODAY Sports checked the statistics: He's signed 43 total high school scholarship recruits during his first three seasons at Colorado, an average of 14 per year, compared to the 25 or 30 that some schools sign. Only 21 of those 43 were still on Colorado's roster at the end of the 2025 season. The rest transferred out already or left for other reasons.

One was freshman four-star linebacker Mantrez Walker, who signed with Colorado out of high school last year and recentlyannounced his decision to transfer out.

"In Mantrez's case, he had a situation where his playing time was pretty limited this season and there were opportunities that he believes are going to be a better fit," said Jacob Piasecki, co-founder of A&P Sports, the agency that represented Walker's name, image and likeness (NIL) interests for compensation.

Piasecki told USA TODAY Sports it was more about Colorado's plan for him, not NIL money, per se, but playing time and money are intertwined. "There's definitely a correlation between how much they pay you and how much they play you," Piasecki told USA TODAY Sports.

Why didn't Deion Sanders' recruiting strategy work in 2025?

Sanders said he mostly "hit" on his high school recruits but missed on his transfer portal recruits. His most high-profile transfer recruit last year was former Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter, whose record as a starter for Colorado was 3-6 in 2025.

In previous years, Colorado "hit" on transfer recruits that included his quarterback son Shedeur (Jackson State), Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter (Jackson State), receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (South Florida) and receiver LaJohntay Wester (Florida Atlantic). All four were drafted into the NFL in April after leading the Buffaloes to a9-4 season in 2024.

"Nowadays, if kids aren't playing by that spring of that second go-round, they out — they jump in the portal," Deion Sanders said. "You got to figure out the strategy. What do you want to go? How do you want to get it? The strategy a year ago was the same strategy it was last year. And you hit on your portal guys. You hit on your freshman guys. This year, you hit on your freshmen, to me, some of them. And you missed on your portal. So that's why we' sitting where we sit. It's not like you didn't have a strategic plan. No, you had a strategic plan. You missed. Sometimes it happens. And I'm going to take responsibility. I'm not going to say we missed. I missed."

The risk of Deion Sanders' strategy

Sanders' teams have been up and down since his arrival: a 3-0 start in 2023 followed by a 1-8 finish, then 9-4 in 2024, followed by five straight losses to end the 2025 season at 3-9. It's arguable that trait is a symptom of the roster churn, with so many new players every year who have no prior chemistry.

By contrast, several top teams today were expected to sign around 25 to 30 high school recruits this week, including Southern California, Georgia and Ohio State. Those schools just hope they can hang on to those players beyond next year.

In Colorado's case, Sanders also hopes to hang on to his own former high school recruits, including standout offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and quarterback Julian Lewis. Lewis has said he's stayingafter redshirting in 2025. Seaton's future isn't clear.

"Buffs could have consistently brought in great players from the high school level, but instead, just don't," On3 recruiting analyst Josh Newberg recentlysaid on social media site X.  "You're not finding Jordan Seaton-type players in the portal."

But Sanders did find NFL-caliber players in the portal before. In 2025, his best defensive player was safety Tawfiq Byard, a transfer from South Florida who led the team in tackles (84). He has two more years of college eligibility but could jump in the portal Jan. 2 just like the rest after theNCAA allowed unrestricted annual player transfers last year.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Why Deion Sanders' recruiting strategy at Colorado is up for debate

byAdministrator
in
December 03, 2025

Deion Sanders skimps on 2026 freshman recruiting class for Colorado – by design

Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersis expected to sign a recruiting class this week of only 10 high school players after ...
Read More
Anabel's lost year illustrates the failings of Spain's breast cancer program

By Elena Rodriguez

SEVILLE, Spain, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Anabel Cano believed she was in the clear after receiving no follow-up for a breast cancer screening in 2023 at Seville's Virgen del Rocio Hospital.

But a year later, during what she assumed was another ​routine screening she began to realise something was wrong when doctors focused solely on her right breast with worried looks on their ‌faces. She had cancer, she was told. In October, after undergoing chemotherapy, she was on the operating table for a mastectomy.

Cano is one of thousands of women in the Spanish ‌southern region of Andalusia who were not properly informed about inconclusive mammogram results. The delay in diagnosis sparked protests, legal claims, and the resignation of the regional health chief.

"I accept the cancer, but what I don't accept is why they abandoned me for a year," she told Reuters.

The controversy has spilled into national politics, with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez using it to attack his opponent, the conservative People's Party which governs in Andalusia, and the Health Ministry ⁠ordering all regions to review cancer screening protocols.

Andalusia, Spain's ‌most populous region and a former Socialist stronghold, must hold regional elections by June 2026. It is one of several regional votes that could act as a barometer for a national election expected in 2027.

PATIENTS IN THE DARK

Most ‍of the cases of delayed diagnosis were linked to the Virgen del Rocio Hospital, where follow-up protocols failed, leaving patients unaware that further tests were needed.

It is unclear whether it was due to human error, or a systems failure.

Andalusian authorities say they have implemented new guidelines to avoid similar cases in the future.

Since Spanish radio station ​Cadena Ser broke the news in late September, the regional government says it has already rescheduled tests for 2,317 women whose screenings showed ‌breast abnormalities of which they were not informed.

Most of the abnormalities are benign, the Andalusian government said. There are no official data on whether any of those women turned out to have cancer.

Breast cancer association Amama says it has been warning since 2021 that there were flaws in the screening program and believes there may be more cases yet to be uncovered, affecting a potential total of between 3,000 and 6,000 women.

Manuel Jimenez Soto, a lawyer working with Amama, is representing more than 200 women who are suing or plan to sue the regional government on negligence grounds.

Each case ⁠is different and therefore individual, although there's always the same pattern, he said.

The prosecutor's ​office is investigating whether the cancer screening program was poorly managed. On Tuesday, it dropped ​a separate inquiry into the alleged disappearance of data from the health portal, concluding that all the information was intact.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour in women in Andalusia, Spain and Europe.

Around 1.3 million women in Andalusia are ‍part of the screening programme, and around ⁠400,000 mammograms are performed every year. Around 1,800 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year thanks to the programme, according to official statistics.

Cano thinks she could have avoided losing her breast if the cancer had been caught earlier.

The late diagnosis shattered her life. ⁠She lost her cleaning job, had to sell her home and now lives with her sister on just 470 euros ($546) a month social benefits.

"If they had called me (before) I would ‌have a job today, I would be in my home, I would be happy," she said.

($1 = 0.8608 euros)

(Additional reporting by Emma ‌Pinedo; writing by Emma Pinedo; editing by Charlie Devereux and Sharon Singleton)

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