multiplayer poker game (CNN) — The number of US troops in Syria has regularly surged higher than the Pentagon has publicly disclosed since at least 2020, and in recent months increased to more than double the roughly 900 troops the US has long said are in Syria, multiple defense officials familiar with the matter told CNN. The Pentagon said last week that the additional troops beyond the 900 are “temporary.” But on Monday, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, acknowledged that the numbers of forces in Syria “in general have increased over time as the threat has increased to baseline forces.” Ryder first revealed on Thursday that the number of troops in Syria is around 2,000, “significantly higher than what we’ve been briefing” in recent months and years. He also said that he only found out about the larger footprint there in recent days. The Army’s director of plans, operations, and training distributed the true number internally earlier this month, two officials told CNN. It is not clear when exactly the troop numbers reached their current peak, but the US surged additional assets and personnel to the Middle East following last year’s October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. On Monday, the Pentagon issued a new statement attempting to clarify the long-standing discrepancy about the number of troops in Syria. “In addition to the approximately 900 baseline troops, there are also approximately 1,100 U.S. military personnel in Syria that deploy for shorter durations as temporary enablers in support of force protection, transportation, maintenance, or other emerging operational requirements,” Ryder said. “The numbers of these additional temporary forces have fluctuated over the past several years based on mission needs but in general have increased over time as the threat has increased to baseline forces,” he added. Defense officials have long been reluctant to reveal the true troop numbers in Syria because it could risk angering neighboring partner countries, particularly Iraq, sources told CNN. When the Pentagon first acknowledged the larger troop presence, Ryder said there are “diplomatic and operational security considerations oftentimes with our deployments.” Syria isn’t the only country where the Pentagon has more troops deployed than it has previously said. In its statement Monday, the Pentagon acknowledged there may be more than 2,500 troops in Iraq, the baseline number the military has used for its military footprint in the country. But the Pentagon did not provide any additional details on how many more troops are in Iraq, only saying there are “some additional temporary enablers deployed on a rotational basis.” “However, due to operations security and diplomatic considerations, we do not have any more specifics to provide,” Ryder said in the statement. The vague reference to additional troops in Iraq leaves open the possibility of a significantly larger presence than was previously acknowledged, just as in Syria. The US military presence in Iraq is a sensitive issue for Iraqi officials, who have said publicly they want US troops out of the country. If the Iraqis saw the number of troops increasing in Syria, they’d fear the US was doing so in Iraq as well, officials explained, which it now appears may be the case. It is particularly delicate in the midst of negotiations about the future US military footprint in Iraq. For more than a year, Washington and Baghdad have engaged in a series of talks about the future of the US military presence in the country. In January, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani made the goal of the discussions clear when he said the aim was to “end the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq permanently.” The US military footprint in Syria relies on support from US troops in Iraq, and a larger presence in the former could necessitate more troops in the latter. Defense officials insist the Pentagon has not misled the public about the core number of troops in Syria, which they have said since 2020 is around 900. Most of those are special operations forces, one defense official said, and the military rarely acknowledges changes to special operations troop levels. Officials say the additional 1,100 or so that have been stationed there in recent months are “temporary enabling” forces, primarily with the Army, that are meant to augment the core presence with logistical and defensive help. But those troops are typically replaced as soon as they finish their rotations, which are frequently three months or less, so the total number has consistently surged above 900 over the years, officials said. Concealing the true number of US troops in Syria dates to Donald Trump’s first administration. In 2020, the outgoing US envoy to Syria, Jim Jeffrey, acknowledged that his team routinely misled senior military leaders about troop levels there, which suggests it was not exclusively military officials keeping the number under wraps. “We were always playing shell games to not make clear to our leadership how many troops we had there,” Jeffrey told Defense One at the time . Trump in 2019 had agreed to keep roughly 200 to 400 US troops in Syria, but the actual number was “a lot more,” Jeffrey said. There are even more civilian contractors in the country. A report from the Congressional Research Service said there were more than 5,400 contractors in Iraq and Syria in the second quarter of 2024. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Rising cases of myopia cause for concern

BIOVAXYS ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF FIRST TRANCHE OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND ANNOUNCES DEBT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTFor The Madera Tribune Madera County officials, including Madera County Supervisor Bobby Macauley (in Santa hat) cut the ribbon for the newly remodeled Government Center in Oakhurst. Madera County Supervisors, past and present, its employees, along with thousands of residents in the Mountain Communities celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the remodeled Oakhurst Government Center on Monday. This long-awaited facility, at 40232 Junction Drive in Oakhurst, will enhance local services, providing residents access to Public Health, Social Services, Community and Economic Development, Public Works, Water and Natural Resources and additional Madera County departments without the necessity to travel more than an hour to the Valley floor to receive services. “This is more than a one-stop shop for residents throughout the Mountain Communities of Madera, this is an embodiment of the County’s commitment to serve residents regardless of where they live,” said Madera County District 5 Supervisor Bobby Macaulay. “This, along with the County’s mobile services, will facilitate a higher level of service for residents than ever before. I am encouraged by this opportunity and am grateful for everyone’s efforts in making it possible.”Global Predictive Analysis Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-Sisense, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Minitab

Lam says DAP Sarawak, as part of the unity government, successfully tabled and amended the SLO within just two years in office. KUCHING (Dec 14): The passing of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2024, has highlighted Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) failure to safeguard the interests of Sarawakians during its over 60 years in power, said Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak secretary George Lam. In contrast, Lam said Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak, as part of the unity government, successfully tabled and amended the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (SLO) within just two years in office. This milestone, he said, marked a revolutionary improvement for Sarawakian workers and demonstrates DAP’s ‘people-first’ spirit. “The provisions of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance had been out of sync with the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Law for 20 years, neglecting the rights of Sarawakian workers for two decades. “GPS, formerly Sarawak Barisan Nasional, including SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party), had failed to secure the rightful interests of Sarawakians during its 60-plus-years in power. “However, after DAP took office, immediate efforts were made to consult various agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organisations), culminating in the successful amendment and passage of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance in Parliament yesterday,” he said in a statement yesterday. With the passing of the amendment, Lam said that Sarawakian workers earning a monthly salary of RM4,000 or less are now entitled to a maximum of 45 working hours per week. “Any hours beyond this must be compensated with overtime pay. Additionally, maternity leave has been increased to 98 days, with fathers now entitled to seven days of paternity leave. “Employers are also prohibited from dismissing pregnant employees, and issues such as workplace sexual harassment could be addressed under the revised legislation,” he said. Lam said this long-awaited amendment grants Sarawakian workers the rights they have been denied for nearly 20 years, making it a significant milestone. “Today, we thank Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for hearing the voices of Sarawakian workers and successfully tabling and passing this bill within just one year of his appointment. “SUPP has failed to address grassroots concerns during its six decades in power. If SUPP had taken the people’s voices seriously, Sarawakians would not have had to wait 20 years for these rights,” he said. “DAP, by contrast, have worked tirelessly to fulfil the people’s wishes and succeeded in amending the Sarawak Labour Ordinance within a short period, highlighting the fundamental difference between the DAP and SUPP. “While SUPP, under GPS, focused on cronyism and large-scale projects for personal gain – ignoring grassroots voices – the DAP Sarawak will continue to be the strongest pillar for the people of Sarawak, putting public interest first and assisting the federal government in implementing policies that benefit the people,” he added. As a member of the DAP Sarawak committee, Lam believes what Sarawakians need most now is a political party that truly understands the voices of the people. He criticised SUPP and GPS for “being out of touch” and “governing based on their own perspectives while ignoring grassroots needs”. “DAP Sarawak remains steadfast in standing with the people and we urge Sarawakians to unite in the upcoming state elections to strengthen DAP’s voice in representing the people of Sarawak and protecting our interests,” he said.

Google announces quantum computing chip breakthroughOregon State offensive linemen Joshua Gray and Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan have accepted invitations to play in the East-West Shrine Game on January 30 in Arlington, Tex. The senior duo, who started all 12 games during the 2024 season on the Beavers’ left side of the offensive line, are among three Beavers headed for postseason all-star games. The other is tight end Jermaine Terry II , who is playing in the Hula Bowl. The East-West Shrine Game is played at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.Kings 2, Kraken 1

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A police officer responding to a report of a man with a gun inside a North Carolina supermarket was fatally shot Monday and authorities said a suspect was later taken into custody, authorities say. Police announced the death of Michael Horan, a Greensboro police officer, at an afternoon news conference, saying Horan was responding to a call about an armed person when he was shot before midday at a Food Lion store in Greensboro in the central part of the state. Ramona Miller told WGHP-TV she was shopping with her 6-year-old granddaughter when she heard shots fired. “We were on our way out and I was purchasing a lottery ticket and I was just sitting there and heard a ‘pop-pop’ and then ‘pop-pop-pop.’ I think I heard five shots,” Miller said. “At first I didn’t know it was a shooting ... but an employee yelled out ‘shooting! shooting!’ ” Miller said she and her granddaughter then left the store and police had already arrived. Authorities said Monday afternoon that the circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation and they did not immediately release further specifics of the shooting. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is expected to continue the investigatoin. Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said. Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. “He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said. Elsewhere, Gov. Roy Cooper said he had been monitoring the developments. Cooper said on the social media platform X that his officer had sent a “significant” number of state law enforcement officers to help aid in the emergency response in Greensboro. A heavy police presence was spotted outside the grocery store in Greensboro afterward. The store will remain closed while police continue their investigation, a Food Lion spokesperson said in a statement. The company plans to provide resources to its affected workers. It added that it was directing all questions to local law enforcement and cooperating with authorities. The shooting was another reminder that state lawmakers should strengthen resources and improve safety for law enforcement officers, said Democratic state Sen. Michael Garrett, who represents part of Guilford County where Greensboro is located. “During what should be a time of joy and celebration, another brave officer has been shot in the line of duty. Another family’s holiday season forever changed,” Garrett said in a Facebook statement.

New pilot program promises to revolutionize diagnostic healthcare in the remote North, but will Ottawa pay?

MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity (NHCJE) has received a $500,000 general operating grant from the Point32Health Foundation . The funds, to be distributed over five years, will support NHCJE’s work in community building, organizing, policy advocacy, and capacity building to advance equity and belonging across the Granite State. “We envision a New Hampshire that offers fair opportunities for all Granite Staters, regardless of age, gender, who you love, where you grew up, or the language of origin you speak,” said Anthony Poore, President/CEO of NHCJE.“This support allows us to continue sparking meaningful dialogue and work toward solutions that reflect New Hampshire’s values, helping to ensure everyone can belong and thrive.” This grant is part of a $15 million commitment to social and racial justice over the next five years by Point32Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Point32Health, which includes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. This multi-year investment aligns with the Foundation’s broader strategy to improve conditions for older people, build community power, promote healthier lives, and advance equitable communities across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. We don’t spam! You're on the list! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

hit the highest level in more than seven months as ’s production prospects dim, threatening global supplies at a time of historically low inventories. The most-active contract rose as much as 6.1 per cent to US$10,454 per metric tonne, the highest since April 29, before trimming some gains. Futures have rallied back to the highs witnessed earlier this year following harsh weather in top growers Ivory Coast and Ghana. “The outlook for the mid-crops have deteriorated in the past weeks,” Steve Wateridge, head of research at TRS by Expana. “The weather conditions in next three months will determine whether we see further deterioration.” The key growing regions in West Africa have entered the seasonal Harmattan period that can dry out the soil and stress crops. Lower soil moisture and minimal rains will not support mid-year crop growth, according to weather forecaster Maxar Technologies Inc. While bean arrivals to ports in top grower Ivory Coast are ahead of last year’s pace, analysts at ADM Investor Services calculated that the latest data showed arrivals last week hitting below the five-year average for the period. “This fact that arrivals have fallen below the average may reinforce concerns that the harvest will rapidly slow down,” the analysts said in a Monday report.CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals took care of business and won three straight games for the first time this season. Cincinnati is playing its best football, but it might be too late to sneak into the playoffs, with five teams battling for the two remaining AFC postseason spots. At 7-8, the Bengals are on the bubble along with two other teams that have the same record, the Colts and Dolphins. To have a chance, the Bengals will need to beat the visiting Denver Broncos (9-6) on Saturday, then try to take down the Steelers (10-5) at Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale. They'll need some help from other teams, too. The rub for the Bengals is that they have yet to beat a team with a winning record this season. Now with some momentum for the first time, the Bengals will have to clear that hurdle. “It’s just what it’s supposed to feel like for us. This is our expectation," coach Zac Taylor said after on Sunday. “We just put ourselves in a position to now play some real meaningful games. ... We found a way to get the win and now we can turn our focus to a short week and the Denver Broncos.” Joe Burrow became the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards and three or more touchdowns in seven consecutive games. One of his TD passes, to Tee Higgins, came as he was falling down. He finished 23 for 30 for 252 yards. ... Ja'Marr Chase continues to build his resume as he strives to win the receiving “triple crown.” He had six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Browns and leads the league in receptions, yards and TDs. ... K Cade York tied a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal. “The guys have responded this way all season,” Taylor said. “We lost some heartbreakers to be quite frank, and games that just came down to the end. It doesn’t mean that we’ve had a bad football team and we weren’t in it. We’ve been in this, and now — I don’t want to say getting our confidence back, because we’ve had confidence — but we’re just making the plays necessary at the critical points of the game to take control of these games. That’s really what’s happened the last three weeks, and we’ve got to continue that.” Burrow has fumbled 10 times this season. Against the Browns, he lost a fumble on a strip-sack with the Bengals on the Cleveland 2-yard-line. Last week, S Jordan Battle scooped a fumble and ran it all the way back, only to fumble as he crossed the goal line, leading to a touchback. Against the Browns, he intercepted a second-half pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the end zone. The Bengals' defense has nine takeaways in the past two games. Cincinnati's depleted offensive line allowed four sacks. The offensive line took a hit when tackle Amarius Mims went out with an ankle injury and didn't return. 5.1 — Yards per carry by RB Chase Brown, who seems to get better every week. He had 18 carries for 91 yards. The Bengals continue their improbable effort to slip into the playoffs when they host the Broncos in their home finale on Saturday. They finish the season the following week at Pittsburgh. AP NFL:

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour confirmed on a podcast interview that his employees asked social media influencers to promote memes about the FBI’s raid on the home of his archrival, the CEO of Polymarket. Both companies offer competing events-betting markets, a new kind of betting industry where people wager about the outcomes of events ranging from elections to popular culture. The FBI raided the home of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan last month, and it turns out Kalshi tried to capitalize on its rival’s misfortunes by asking influencers to post memes about it, Mansour said. “Some of our team got pretty heated. They didn’t pay anyone; they just asked some of our longstanding affiliates to post some of the memes,” Mansour told Nichole Wischoff on this week’s episode of her show FirstMoney In. Pirates Wires, a media outlet founded by Mike Solana, reported that Kalshi employees were paying influencers to post content suggesting that Polymarket and its CEO Shayne Coplan were engaging in illegal activities. The Pirates Wires article, however, also acknowledged its own apparent conflicts of interest with this report. Solana is a chief marketing officer for Founders Fund, one of Polymarket’s key investors, and Polymarket is an advertiser for Pirates Wires. The podcast segment discussing Kalshi’s response to the raid and the rivalry with Polymarket was deleted shortly after it initially aired. TechCrunch, however, has obtained and listened to the deleted portion. On the podcast, Mansour accused Polymarket of engaging in similar social media tactics against Kalshi, too. “Both companies have been doing this,” he said, adding that his team believed Polymarket was behind some social media posts suggesting that “we also got raided by the FBI. That did not happen,” he said. “We did not get raided by the FBI.” TechCrunch couldn’t confirm these allegations. Neither Polymarket nor Kalshi responded to our requests for comment. But the CEO did say on the podcast that he let the social media wars “go too far” by members of his company, adding, “I don’t think there’s a point going tit for tat.” While Kalshi didn’t fire the involved employees, Mansour said the individuals “understand that it was a mistake, and they shouldn’t do this again.” Polymarket alleged the reasons for the raid had to do with political motivations surrounding wagers on the U.S. presidential election, although both markets were making bets on its outcome. According to Bloomberg, the Department of Justice is investigating Polymarket for allegedly allowing U.S. users to engage in restricted trades. Following a 2022 settlement with the Commodity and Exchange Commission, Polymarket is barred from allowing U.S. traders to place bets on its platform, Bloomberg also reported. Kalshi, unlike Polymarket, has been legally permitted to accept trades from U.S. residents since 2021. In September the company also won a lawsuit that permitted it to accept bets on election outcomes. Kalshi, whose backers include Sequoia and Y Combinator, is currently raising a funding round of as much or more than $50 million, TechCrunch reported last month.MEXICO CITY (AP) — Walmart’s Mexico subsidiary said Friday it plans to appeal a $4.6 million fine for Walmart de Mexico said in a statement that it had talked with suppliers to see if there were any concerns. The agency that issued the fine, known as the Federal Competition Commission, expressed concerns about a “relative monopolistic practice.” The commission, Mexico’s main anti-monopoly regulatory agency, is one of several independent agencies soon to be eliminated as part of what the government describes as a money-saving measure. It apparently levied the fine after at least one rival store chain accused Walmart of using its substantial purchasing power to gain discounts that put other sellers at a disadvantage. Walmart is by far the largest retail chain in Mexico. It called the decision “incorrect” and said it contained “errors in applying the law.” The company said it would abide by the agency’s ruling Thursday, but would appeal the decision. Walmart’s shares rose about 7.5% on the Mexican stock exchange Friday. The Associated Press

Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise