Farmers in Sardasht face severe economic hardships as they struggle to market their world-renowned black grapes due to the absence of cold storage facilities and wholesale markets. Local orchard owners report being forced to sell their high-quality produce at drastically reduced prices to intermediaries who profit significantly from reselling the fruit. Idris Qaderian, a fruit vendor, explained that buyers set low prices at orchards and then sell the grapes for higher profits in other cities.
Hawdi Hamzayi, an orchard owner, stated that farmers must sell their harvests at half their actual value because perishable fruit cannot be preserved without proper storage infrastructure. Yaser Karimi noted that middlemen purchase grapes at a low...
Syrian Democratic Forces repelled three consecutive attacks by pro-government units near Resim al-Kirom village in the Deir Hafir district of eastern Aleppo countryside on Friday, as tensions escalated across northern Syria. The assaults involved drone support and heavy bombardments, but no SDF casualties were reported. Syrian government troops closed the main Deir Hafir-Aleppo highway for nearly a week and sealed off key roads in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods of Aleppo city. Planned talks between the SDF and the Syrian government in Damascus, mediated by the U.S., collapsed after Damascus refused to meet with SDF officials.
The SDF deployed reinforcements from Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah to strengthen defenses in Deir...
The United States military killed four people on Friday in another strike targeting a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off Venezuela's coast, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed the operations would persist until attacks on Americans cease. The action marks the fourth lethal strike against alleged narcotics traffickers in the Caribbean within five weeks, and the combined death toll has reached at least 21 individuals. The Trump administration treats international drug smuggling as armed conflict rather than a law enforcement matter, and this approach has sparked fierce criticism from regional leaders but celebration from top U.S. officials. The Pentagon announced the strike occurred in international waters as the speedboat transported...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino resisted mounting pressure on Thursday to ban Israeli teams from global competitions, arguing the football body cannot resolve geopolitical disputes but must champion peace through sport. European football federations from Norway and Turkey had pushed UEFA toward a suspension vote that seemed poised to succeed, yet a U.S.-Israeli peace plan announced on Monday stalled the initiative. The State Department had pledged to defend Israel's football standing, while Infantino's relationship with President Donald Trump added weight to FIFA's position ahead of the 2026 World Cup in America.
Palestinian football leader Jibril Rajoub met privately with Infantino to address the Gaza crisis, but FIFA offered no...
Rookie Connor Zilisch secured his 10th victory of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity season on Sunday at the Roval, leading most laps after starting from pole position. The race concluded under caution on the final lap after Alex Labbe and Brennan Poole collided, but officials determined Sammy Smith had claimed the eighth playoff position by one point over Taylor Gray.
Smith advanced to the Round of 8 as Gray joined Austin Hill, Nick Sanchez, and Harrison Burton in playoff elimination. Burton encountered mechanical failure earlier in the race, while Sanchez received a penalty that damaged his championship prospects.
The race featured multiple incidents, and a late caution triggered by Sage Karam forced overtime. Several drivers pitted for fresh...
NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick competes in the playoff Round of 12 while his four-month-old son, Rookie, remains hospitalized at Levine Children's Hospital with severe heart complications. The infant receives treatment in the cardiovascular intensive care unit after doctors diagnosed heart failure that initial pediatric visits failed to detect. Reddick's wife, Alexa, shared updates on social media, and the family requests prayers as their son undergoes medical intervention.
Reddick trails by 27 points at the bottom of the playoff standings ahead of the elimination race at Charlotte Roval on Sunday. The driver reported improvements in his son's condition, but acknowledged significant challenges remain in the recovery process. Reddick has...
Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez collided in Sector 2 of the Indonesian Grand Prix on Sunday, eliminating both riders from competition at Mandalika. Bezzecchi appeared to make contact with Márquez's Ducati while attempting an overtake, and both motorcycles tumbled through the gravel after the crash. Race officials confirmed the incident would undergo review following the race, with early assessments suggesting potential sanctions for the Italian rider.
Márquez experienced difficulty removing his helmet after the incident and displayed visible discomfort in his right arm as medical personnel provided assistance. Ducati team members expressed concern while the world champion received attention from track staff. Bezzecchi departed the...
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold joined the Carolina Panthers as former top draft picks seeking fresh opportunities after struggles with their original teams. The Panthers traded for Darnold on April 5, 2021, but he posted a 4-7 record as a starter in his first season while recovering from a fractured scapula. Mayfield arrived on July 6, 2022, and won the starting position over Darnold before a high-ankle sprain limited his playing time.
Carolina released Mayfield on Dec. 5, 2022, while Darnold finished the season with a 4-2 record as a starter. The Panthers declined to re-sign Darnold after the 2022 campaign ended. Both quarterbacks found success with new franchises as Mayfield signed with Tampa Bay, and Darnold joined San Francisco as...
Houston visits Baltimore on Sunday with both teams holding 1-3 records as they attempt to reverse their early struggles. The Texans defeated Tennessee in their most recent contest, but quarterback C.J. Stroud faces pressure behind an offensive line that has failed to provide consistent protection.
Baltimore's defense presents significant obstacles for Stroud, who must avoid turnovers while running back Dameon Pierce establishes the ground attack. The Ravens will start Cooper Rush at quarterback with Lamar Jackson sidelined by injury, but cornerback Jaire Alexander returns to strengthen the secondary.
CBS broadcasts the game at 1 p.m. ET from M&T Bank Stadium with Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt on the call. Viewers can stream on Paramount...
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