5 main oceans in the world NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee in the Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee in the Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee in the Saints’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “It looks like an ACL tear,” interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday. “He’ll probably get a second opinion, but it looks like it will be season-ending.” Hill, who is listed at tight end but plays a variety of roles, was carted off the field after taking a hard hit to his left knee while converting a fourth down on a direct snap in the Saints’ 21-14 loss Sunday to the Rams. The injury came one game after he’d posted a career-best 138 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns in a victory over Cleveland. He also has lined up at quarterback and running back, as well as playing special teams. “It means everybody else has to step up,” Rizzi said. “He fills so many roles, so there are going to be a lot of different guys that have to be a part of the solution there. It’s hard to sit here and tell you we are going to replace Taysom. You can’t. He’s a phenomenal person, player, leader and captain. It’s a big loss.” Hill is the third key offensive player the Saints have lost. He joins leading wide receivers Chris Olave, who suffered a concussion in Week 9 and has not played since, and Rashid Shaheed, who is out for the year after tearing a meniscus in Week 7. Rizzi said guard Nick Saldiveri also might miss the remaining five games after injuring his left knee in the fourth quarter one series before Hill. Without Hill, though, the Saints’ quest to get back in the NFC South race became even tougher. At 4-8, they trail Atlanta and Tampa Bay by two games. Hill has 99 catches, 437 carries, 302 passes, 44 touchdowns, 19 tackles and one blocked kick in seven years with the Saints. “I don’t know if I can compare Taysom to anybody else that I’ve ever coached,” Rizzi said. “There’s not a guy that comes to mind that has been able to do all the different things he’s been able to do just in one game, forget about his career.” What’s working Alvin Kamara had his third 100-yard rushing game of the year and is 106 yards away from the first 1,000-yard season of his eight-year career. He needs only 39 more yards to set a career high. His 206 carries are the third most in his career. What needs help Los Angeles averaged 5.4 yards per carry, finishing with 156 yards. Rams running back Kyren Williams said they knew at halftime they would win if they stuck to the ground game, and he carried seven times on the opening series of the third quarter as they took the lead. The Saints have allowed 5.1 yards per carry for the season — tied for last with the New York Giants. Stock up Signed in late October after Shaheed’s season-ending surgery, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has become Derek Carr’s go-to receiver for big plays. His 28-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the Saints’ longest gain of the day and his fourth score in the past three games. Stock down Tight end Foster Moreau, a reliable performer all year, could not handle Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse on the Saints’ final offensive snap, allowing him to hit Carr as he released a pass on fourth-and-3 from the Los Angeles 9 with New Orleans trailing by 7. Injuries Although the news was bad for Hill and Saldiveri, Rizzi said he expected starting center Erik McCoy to play Sunday against the Giants. McCoy was scratched against the Rams after aggravating a groin injury two weeks earlier versus Cleveland in his first game back since missing seven in a row. Rizzi said oft-injured running back Kendre Miller, who has played in two games this year, might return from a hamstring injury Sunday. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 2 — The number of sacks for the Saints, not enough to keep Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford from finding his rhythm in the second half. In the Rams’ last five losses, he has been sacked 20 times. In their last five wins, he has been sacked three times. Next steps With their NFC South hopes on life support, the Saints travel to face the reeling Giants, who have lost seven in a row. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement

The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By and large, the nominees don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: CDC pick Dr. Dave Weldon represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated . Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Atria Investments Inc purchased a new stake in Ring Energy, Inc. ( NYSEAMERICAN:REI – Free Report ) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor purchased 143,507 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $230,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Ring Energy by 26.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,068,526 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,934,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062,654 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC bought a new position in shares of Ring Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $47,000. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ring Energy by 448.3% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 23,367 shares of the company’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 19,105 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in Ring Energy by 42.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,967,501 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,325,000 after acquiring an additional 587,690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Ring Energy by 89.6% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 34,130 shares of the company’s stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 16,130 shares in the last quarter. 77.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Ring Energy news, major shareholder Warburg Pincus & Co Us, Llc sold 4,400,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.62, for a total transaction of $7,128,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 35,520,643 shares in the company, valued at approximately $57,543,441.66. This trade represents a 11.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Company insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock. Ring Energy Trading Up 0.6 % Ring Energy ( NYSEAMERICAN:REI – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.05 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $89.24 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $83.27 million. Ring Energy had a return on equity of 9.21% and a net margin of 29.44%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ring Energy, Inc. will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com cut Ring Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on REI Ring Energy Profile ( Free Report ) Ring Energy, Inc, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties. The company has interests in 56,711 net developed acres and 2,668 net undeveloped acres in Andrews, Gaines, Crane, Ector, Winkler, and Ward counties, Texas; and 8,751 net developed acres and 12,405 net undeveloped acres in Yoakum County, Texas and Lea County, New Mexico. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding REI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ring Energy, Inc. ( NYSEAMERICAN:REI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Ring Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ring Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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As small and Northern rural municipalities levy hefty property-tax increases to cover basic services, the amount of hefty grants they receive from the province each year is also going up. The province announced on Friday it’s hiking the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $100 million over the next two years, bringing the total amount to be expended to $600 million by the end of 2026. “We have heard from small, Northern, and rural municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face,” Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, a Toronto-area MPP, said in a news release. Northern municipalities have come to rely on the fund heavily. The Municipality of Shuniah, for example, received nearly $880,000 from the program this year, an amount that wouldn’t cover the amount its spends on social and family services. Shuniah’s amount is expected to rise by just over $100,000 next year, its municipal chief administrator, Paul Greenwood, noted. Though the provincial fund amounts are due to rise in 2025 and 2026, individual municipalities have watched them go down slightly in other years. On Friday, the province claimed the overall amount allocated to municipal programs has spiked. According to a provincial backgrounder, “key provincial support to municipalities grew by over 45 per cent” between 2019 and 2023. “In 2023 alone, the government provided almost $10 billion to Ontario municipalities through key transfers,” the backgrounder said, to help municipalities cope with worsening problems, such as homelessness. Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association president Wendy Landry said the association “has been a long-time advocate for a permanent increase,” to the municipal partnership fund. Landry, who is also Shuniah’s mayor, said small municipalities like hers “greatly rely on this funding.” As rumours continue to swirl about a possible provincial election a year ahead of schedule in 2025, the Doug Ford government has committed to sitting down with municipalities to hold discussions about the partnership fund early next year. “We can work together to guarantee (the) fund meets the needs of small and rural municipalities across Northern Ontario,” Landry said.

GOEDFA Announces Ambitious $5 Billion Plan for Nibiru Smart City in Accra, Ghana 11-22-2024 11:00 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/f5a1f461e86e44ea47100f713354469f.png Accra, Ghana - Nov 22, 2024 - The Global Organization for Economic Development and Financial Advancement (GOEDFA) [ https://goedfa.org/ ], in partnership with Ambassador Michael Sheffield and Ph.D. Alberto Flores Hernandez, Minister of Foreign Affairs for GOEDFA, is excited to announce the development of Nibiru Smart City in Accra, Ghana. This landmark initiative is set to redefine urban living in Africa, blending cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and innovative design into a state-of-the-art, connected urban environment. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/9a4ef8daf2ce25d9077493ff1b1acf65.png Nibiru Smart City will serve as a beacon of optimism, excellence, and leadership for both African citizens and the global diaspora. Designed as a model of advanced urban development, the city will incorporate smart home technologies, renewable energy solutions, and a range of sustainable infrastructures. The first phase of the project will focus on the construction of 5,217 smart homes and the development of key business, retail, and public facilities. "We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with our partners in Ghana," said Ambassador Michael Sheffield. "Nibiru Smart City is not just a place to live, but a space for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration, bringing people together from across Africa and the world. It represents a bold step toward realizing Africa's potential in the 21st century." Key Features and Phases of the Nibiru Smart City Development: Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/701bb038ec9dcf674e9210198f74b550.png * Planning: The initial feasibility study for Nibiru Smart City has been completed, evaluating the site's accessibility, natural resources, and environmental impacts. A detailed master plan is now being developed, outlining the city's layout, zoning, and infrastructure. * Design: The design phase will focus on creating detailed plans for the city's infrastructure, including residential areas, business districts, roads, bridges, public buildings, utilities, and green spaces. * Financing: GOEDFA has set an ambitious financing goal of USD $5 billion to fund the first phase of construction. This includes the development of 5,217 residential smart homes, the installation of essential infrastructure such as roads, power utilities, and the foundation of the business district. The city will also feature hotels, medical facilities, and recreational green spaces. * Construction: The construction phase will involve the excavation and laying of foundations, along with the building of roads, utilities, residential, commercial, and public spaces. Throughout the process, GOEDFA will maintain close coordination with contractors to ensure that all work is completed to the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and quality. Ph.D. Alberto Flores Hernandez, GOEDFA's Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the city's importance in creating a sustainable urban future for Africa. "Nibiru Smart City is not just about building structures; it's about creating a vibrant, connected ecosystem that fosters innovation and encourages sustainable development across the continent." As part of the city's eco-conscious design, Nibiru Smart City will feature solar-powered streetlights that will serve as data access points within the city's interconnected network, promoting connectivity, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship. A Future of Innovation and Sustainability Once completed, Nibiru Smart City will become a model for future smart cities in Africa and beyond, integrating technology, sustainability, and community in ways that have never been seen before on the continent. GOEDFA is committed to creating a world-class urban environment that offers economic opportunities, improved quality of life, and a sustainable future for its residents. For further updates on the development of Nibiru Smart City, please visit GOEDFA.org [ https://goedfa.org/ ]] or contact [Goedfa2022@gmail.com]. Global Economic Development Fund Association United Nations Civil Society Number 690758 No 10 Anum Yemoh Street. East Legon Accra Ghana Accra Ghana Office Phone: +233-0599-495897 Email: headquarters@goedfa.org [mailto:headquarters@goedfa.org] Global Economic Development Fund Association United Nations Civil Society Number 690758 2232 Dell Range Blvd Suite 245 Cheyenne, WY 82009 United states Office Phone: +1-678-271-8451 headquarters@goedfa.org Media Contact Company Name: GOEDFA Contact Person: Ambassador MICHAEL SHEFFIELD Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=goedfa-announces-ambitious-5-billion-plan-for-nibiru-smart-city-in-accra-ghana ] City: Accra Country: Ghana Website: https://goedfa.org/ This release was published on openPR.

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magical ocean moments full movie FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — As spontaneous celebrations rippled throughout the Los Angeles Chargers' locker room after their resounding 40-7 win over the New England Patriots, coach Jim Harbaugh grabbed general manager Joe Hortiz and wrapped him up in a bear hug. “Love you!” Harbaugh said. “Love you!” Hortiz responded. “Great job! Let's keep it going,” Harbaugh replied, finally loosening his grasp. The Chargers (10-6) are back in the playoffs. But the message is clear: They have their eyes on achieving much more. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and Los Angeles locked up its second playoff appearance in three seasons with Saturday's victory. “We had a good opportunity tonight and we went out and took it," Herbert said. “We had a good plan. All week we knew how big of a game this was for us. Guys were dialed in, focused and we executed today.” It also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. “You talk to them and there's more to do,” Harbaugh said. “There's no coach who could have it better than to be coaching these players. Nobody. Maybe the only person would be future us, could have it better than us.” Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. Ladd McConkey had eight catches for 94 yards and pulled in TD throws of 6 and 40 yards. With a 10-yard reception in the second quarter, he passed 1,000 yards receiving for the season, making him the third Chargers rookie receiver to reach that milestone. JK Dobbins rushed 19 times for 76 yards and a TD. The Patriots (3-13) have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. “We just didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “No complementary football, and that’s what you get.” Asked if he thinks he is coaching for his job, Mayo said it comes with the territory. “I’m always under pressure and it’s been that way for a very long time, not just when I became the head coach of the Patriots," he said. New England quarterback Drake Maye finished 12 of 22 for 117 yards and a touchdown. He became the first rookie quarterback in franchise history with a TD pass in eight straight games. But he was sacked four times, and a second-quarter fumble marked his eighth straight game with at least one turnover. Los Angeles outgained New England 428-181 for the game. Maye briefly left the game to be evaluated for a head injury following a blow to his helmet in the first quarter. He was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart, jarring the ball loose as Maye spun out of bounds. No flag was thrown on the play and Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field. He initially sat on the bench before going to the medical tent for evaluation. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series, which ended in a punt. But after further evaluation in the locker room and a Cameron Dicker 27-yard field goal put the Chargers in front 10-0, Maye returned to the game for the Patriots’ third series, at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Maye scrambled for 9 yards on his first play back, ending with him being hit by linebacker Junior Colson as he slid to the ground. Colson was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Five plays later, Maye mistimed a toss to Demario Douglas, causing a fumble that was recovered by Derwin James. The Chargers took over on the New England 24 and nine plays later, Herbert connected with McConkey for a 6-yard touchdown pass to put Los Angeles in front 17-0. Injuries Chargers: WR Joshua Palmer left the game in the third quarter with a heel injury. DB Elijah Molden limped off the field after a collision in the third quarter. He returned but was later driven off the field on a golf cart because of a shin injury. Patriots: In addition to Maye, CB Christian Gonzalez left the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion. Rookie record McConkey, a second-round draft selection, also set a Chargers rookie record for catches, surpassing Keenan Allen, who had 71 in 2013. Up next Chargers: Visit Las Vegas in their regular-season finale. Patriots: Host Buffalo next Sunday in their season finale. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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Magic's Franz Wagner sidelined by torn obliqueGus Malzahn is resigning as Central Florida's head coach to become Florida State 's offensive coordinator, a person familiar with the hire told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Seminoles have not confirmed Malzahn's move, which is pending a state background check. ESPN first reported the decision. The Knights made official that Malzahn is leaving in a statement released a day after UCF (4-8) concluded its season with a 28-14 loss to Utah. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Countdown to 2025: Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop - Performances, live streaming & moreGus Malzahn is leaving UCF to become Florida State's offensive coordinator, AP source says

A new pub is excited to be part of the regeneration of a historic Belfast district and one of the city's oldest communities. Seaton's of Sailortown opened its doors on Dock Street in the Sailortown area last week, promising to showcase the best of Belfast in everything from their drinks, to food, to local portraits on their walls. The pub, which was formerly McKenna's Bar, was taken over at the beginning of this year by the owner of Ben Madigan's Bar and Kitchen on the Cavehill Road, Kelvin Collins. He was drawn to the pub by both the area's thriving history and the promise of regeneration, with a number of apartments, parks, and offices planned in the coming years. Read more: Sailortown regeneration plan one step closer thanks to Council funds Read more: The pub bringing a city centre experience to part of North Belfast Speaking to Belfast Live , Kelvin said: "I had been looking at new venues and looking for something a bit different to do. The pub went on sale last November, I looked at it and thought it wasn't the right time to invest in the area, I thought maybe in a few years time. "Then in January this year I saw Belfast City Council had given planning permission for 69 new apartments next door to the pub, between us and The American Bar. They had also given permission for City Quays developments to be happening as well; new apartments down there, new offices, and a new park are being built beside the Harbour Commissioner's office. "The city centre is gradually moving outwards. We're only a 10 minute walk from the Cathedral Quarter, it's not far. We're starting to see more city centre living - this is what Belfast needs to help regenerate. "I thought now is the right time to get in maybe a year or two ahead of the curve, to put our foot down and become an established bar. "We took over in March around St Patrick's Day and ran the bar as it was until the end of August, until we got all the plans in place and designs agreed. We closed in September and reopened last week at the end of November - so we were closed for 12 weeks." Wishing to have a deep connection with the area, Kelvin researched the story of Molly Seaton, a footballer who grew up locally and captained the Irish women's team. He was so blown away by her life and story that he named the pub after her. "I'm a big believer in a bar having a story to tell that's part of every community we're in. Every bar should have a story of why it's there and the reason for it," Kelvin explained. "I began to research and found Molly's story. Molly Seaton was born in 1905 on Dandy Street just off the Shore Road , she worked in the local linen mill and played soccer for the Irish team. "She captained the Irish team, as well as local teams, but she was that good a player that whenever she was playing in a match, her name was advertised as it drew huge crowds. She was the first female footballer to have an agent - she was really ahead of her time. "She played in the 1920s and 1930s and whenever she retired from her job and football, she would have drank in the bars around Sailortown. She was well known for being in Sailortown, drinking pints of Guinness and smoking cigarettes. I just thought it was a really interesting story, a really pioneering woman who was ahead of her time." During his research, Kelvin made contact with people who had living memories of Molly Seaton, as well as some of her relatives. He said: "Somebody had been asking their grandfather about her, and he said that he remembered her well, he was a child, and he remembers her coming out of the bar and being afraid of her because she was such a big girl. She was so tall, with a high stature and quite intimidating to a small child. "We also had someone get in touch on social media who is a Seaton, and it turns out Molly was her dad's aunt, but they didn't know much about her at all. So we've been in contact over the past few weeks, and she said it's really nice to have the connection. They're really proud of her story and to be able to come to a bar named after their family." Overall, Kelvin said Seaton's of Sailortown had to be a bar that celebrated the local area as well as Belfast as a whole, which is something that has been key to their food and drink offerings, as well as what adorns their walls. He said: "It's in a historic area of the city in the docks, it's one of the oldest communities in Belfast. It's a community that during the 1960s when the motorway was being built, the area was decimated. So many families were moved to the New Lodge and other parts of the city. "But despite that, there's still a strong sense of community here. We tried to celebrate that with the bar. For example, the beams in the bar have photographs on them featuring people from Sailortown. So people can see their grandparents or parents on the beams, and people are starting to bring in their own photographs as well. "Even our drink selection is a celebration of the city. For example, our house whiskey is McConnell's, which is made up the road in Crumlin Road Jail, our house gin is Jawbox. "Our food is from Pickle and Smoke who have had a food truck at Banana Block for years. They smoke all their meats, make their own pastrami, and we're really glad to have them in the kitchen here." Kelvin and the team are already looking towards future plans, including working with The American Bar next door and the Department for Infrastructure to explore the possibility of pavement cafe licenses to allow them to operate outdoors. "We really feel a sense of obligation to the community here," Kelvin added. "We want to do what we can to make it a great place to both live and visit. It's all about lifting Sailortown up as a destination." Join our Belfast Live breaking news service on WhatsApp Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

STANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. Cardinal alum Andrew Luck, left, watches a Feb. 2 game between Stanford and Southern California on Feb. 2 in Stanford, Calif. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Disappointed with Germany, Poland is reorienting its security policy. Warsaw wants to work with the Scandinavian and Baltic countries to help Ukraine, and stand up to Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was hailed as a bearer of hope in Sweden this week. "Poland is a star," said the Swedish premier, Ulf Kristersson, commending the government in Warsaw for its high level of defense spending. Tusk confirmed that Poland will spend 4.2% of its GDP on the military this year, and its defense budget is set to increase to 4.7% in 2025. "Poland is becoming an important player on security policy," the Swedish news agency TT wrote appreciatively. A photo posted on X shows Tusk and Kristersson in conversation in a rowing boat, accompanied by Kristersson's dog, Winston. This was the first time Tusk had participated in a meeting of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic 8) countries. The two-day summit was held at Harpsund, the Swedish prime minister's country residence, and concluded on Thursday, when Tusk and Kristersson signed an agreement elevating the strategic partnership between their countries from foreign minister level to that of heads of government. Poland, northern Europe and the Baltics 'like a fist' "Poland's security is Sweden's security," Kristersson said after the signing ceremony. Tusk described the closing of ranks between northern Europeans and the Baltics as the establishment of a "solid group of states in solidarity," a group that "speaks and thinks identically, including on the most difficult issues, which certainly includes Russia's invasion of Ukraine." He emphasized that "it will send an important message to Europe that, on this issue, we are like a fist." The NB8 group has existed informally since the 1990s. It consists of the Scandinavian countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden — and the Baltic states of Estonia , Latvia, and Lithuania. Is Poland's PM Donald Tusk the EU's new powerbroker? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Tusk proposed a joint surveillance of the Baltic Sea by the navies of the western coastal states — "a sort of Baltic Sea policing " along the lines of NATO's own Baltic Air Policing mission, which guards the airspace over the sea. "I am very glad my colleagues were interested in this idea. We will continue to discuss the details," the Polish prime minister said. Not quite two weeks ago, two undersea communications cables in the Baltic Sea were mysteriously damaged . One ran between Helsinki in Finland and the German port of Rostock, the other between Sweden and Lithuania. The police have not ruled out sabotage. Investigators suspect the damage was caused by the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3, which allegedly passed the sites of the breaks at the relevant times. 'If Europe stands united, Russia is a dwarf' Before leaving Warsaw, Tusk appealed to other countries not to give in to Vladimir Putin's threats, saying: "If Europe stands united, then Russia is a technological, financial and economic dwarf in relation to Europe. If Europe is divided, Russia is a threat to each individual European state." At the summit in Sweden, the participants announced their intention to support arms production in Ukraine, increase ammunition supplies, and strengthen its energy infrastructure "so that Ukrainians can survive the winter." They will also support Ukraine on its path to NATO and EU membership. "Russia does not want peace. If we want a free Europe, we must give Ukraine everything it needs. There can be no red lines," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Long tradition of Polish–Swedish partnership Poland has a history of cooperation with Sweden, but this was overshadowed in the past by its close partnerships with Germany and France. In 2008, it was the Polish and Swedish foreign ministers — Radoslaw Sikorski and Carl Bildt — who initiated the Eastern Partnership, a political and economic cooperation program between the EU and six former Soviet states, aimed at supporting reform processes in the EU's eastern neighbors. In his first governmental declaration on December 12, 2023, Tusk didn't mention Germany once. Instead, he announced plans for closer cooperation with the Baltic states, and with Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This shift in orientation toward northern Europe is in large part a consequence of Polish disappointment with Germany. Despite the change in government in Warsaw a year ago, Polish-German relations are still not what they once were. There has been no progress on reparations for the surviving victims of World War II, nor on the investments Poland wants to secure as a frontline state on Europe's eastern border. And now, following the breakup of the coalition government in Berlin, the German-Polish House project to establish a place of remembrance and mutual encounter will probably also be delayed until after the German federal elections. Poland is disappointed with Germany Poland's self-assured politicians were deeply offended that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz invited the leaders of France and the UK to the October 20 meeting with US President Joe Biden to discuss the situation in Ukraine, but did not invite a Polish representative. Scholz's recent phone call with Putin also raised new questions about Germany's reliability. "No one will stop Putin with phone calls," Tusk wrote on X, in a criticism of this "telephone diplomacy." Germany is not the only country that has disappointed Warsaw. Poland's traditional partners in central Europe, Hungary and Slovakia, cannot be considered its allies because of their close relations with Putin's Russia. "We are adapting to the new geopolitical situation," Marek Prawda, undersecretary of state at Poland's ministry of foreign affairs and former ambassador to Berlin and Stockholm, told the PAP news agency. He added that Poland is going back to the "idea of a northern policy." Tusk's diplomatic offensive also aims to prepare Europe for the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency. In Sweden, the Polish prime minister again emphasized that the European Union must put more into its own defense . Poland will assume the EU Council Presidency on January 1, 2025, and Denmark is next in line. Tusk says both countries must work to ensure that Europe "wakes up," insisting: "We have to do more to ensure our own security." With these new partnerships, Poland's center-left government is trying to show that it has room to maneuver, and is not dependent on Germany. However, this stronger focus on northern Europe does not indicate that it has turned its back on Berlin. Last week there was a meeting in Warsaw of the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle (Germany, France, and Poland), which was expanded to include top diplomats from Italy and the UK; and this week Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz visited Berlin. On Thursday — the day the NB8 summit concluded — it was announced that Germany has proposed to redeploy its Patriot air defense system to southeastern Poland. Coincidence, or a response to Poland's overtures to the countries of northern Europe? This article has been translated from German.

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ZETA CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: Zeta Global Holdings Investors with Losses are Notified of January 21 Deadline in Securities Fraud Class Action – Contact BFA Law (NYSE:ZETA)A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general; and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin , who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. The FBI added: "We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump's transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely," Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Her office said “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.” The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. The agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area" around 9 a.m. Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In Wu’s case, a male caller told police he had shot his own wife and tied another man up. When police and EMT responders arrived at the address given by the caller, they quickly realized it was the Boston mayor’s home. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting' incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump," he wrote on X. “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” ___ Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn , the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X . “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont , last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

EuroDry Ltd. (NASDAQ:EDRY) Short Interest Up 928.6% in DecemberQatar tribune QNA Doha All eyes will turn to the State of Kuwait on Sunday, where the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will kick off at the summit level, as His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will participate in the summit alongside leaders of the GCC countries, and the heads of delegations. This is the 7th GCC summit held in the State of Kuwait since the establishment of the Cooperation Council on May 25, 1981. The agenda includes following up on the support and strengthening of joint Gulf action and developing mechanisms for cooperation between its countries and peoples in various sectors, especially those that concern Gulf citizens. The summit is being held in light of important regional and international developments, especially the situation in the Middle East in general, and in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in particular, in addition to developments in Lebanon and Sudan, which requires redoubling efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation between the GCC countries in a way that supports security and regional and global stability. The Kuwaiti Council of Ministers welcomed, in its weekly meeting on Wednesday, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries and the accompanying delegations to the summit, voicing its hope for more optimism regarding the decisions that the summit will produce, which will advance the march of the council and achieve the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of the GCC countries. In preparation for the 45th GCC Summit, the 162nd GCC Ministerial Meeting was held in Kuwait, which was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and attended by the GCC Foreign Ministers. Reports were reviewed regarding the follow-up to the implementation of the decisions of the 44th Summit held in Doha in December 2023, and memoranda submitted by the ministerial and technical committees and the General Secretariat were discussed, as well as issues related to dialogue and strategic relations with countries and global blocs. The latest regional and international developments affecting the region were also discussed. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed the importance of the meeting as part of efforts to enhance joint Gulf cooperation and ongoing preparations to ensure the success of the upcoming summit. In his remarks to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya said that the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council will discuss several significant topics, especially political and economic ones. He noted that the session’s agenda includes strategic partnerships, cyber security, and discussing the completion of electrical and railway connections between the GCC countries. In a statement on the occasion of the Summit, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the State of Kuwait HE Ali bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud emphasized that the State of Kuwait hosting this major Gulf event reflects the importance of the deep-rooted historical relations between the GCC countries, which seek unity of purpose and common destiny, and work to enhance the path of cooperation and accelerate the wheel of progress and development in all areas to achieve the aspirations of the leaders and peoples of the GCC countries. He considered that the key challenges facing the GCC system at the present time are the geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, especially since the GCC countries are keen to achieve security and stability in the region and work to immediately stop the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip to establish the foundations of security and peace in this region, as well as work to stop the escalation between the Israeli entity and Iran so that its effects do not extend to the countries of the region. He pointed out the economic challenges that the GCC countries are working to overcome by diversifying their economies and developing their infrastructure, including roads, ports, airports, and others, in addition to the technological challenges, the challenges of enhancing cybersecurity for the GCC countries and developing renewable energy sources and alternative energies. He indicated that in light of the current regional and international atmosphere, the leaders of the GCC countries will work to adopt a unified Gulf position towards the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and work to stop the mutual geopolitical escalation between Iran and the Israeli entity, in addition to a number of joint cooperation files that the GCC countries seek to accomplish to enhance the process of cooperation, and achieve the hopes and aspirations of the peoples and countries of the region. The final communique of the 44th GCC Summit, held in Doha, noted that the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reviewed the report of the General Secretariat regarding the progress made in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to enhance joint GCC action. This vision was endorsed by the Supreme Council in its 36th session in December 2015. The Council emphasized the complete, precise, and continuous implementation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ vision, including completing the elements of economic unity, the joint defense and security systems, coordinating positions to enhance solidarity and stability of the Council’s countries, preserving their interests, avoiding regional and international conflicts, meeting the aspirations of their citizens, enhancing their regional and international roles through unifying political stances, and developing strategic partnerships with the international community, regional and international organisations, sisterly and friendly countries. The final communique added that the Supreme Council directed the specialized bodies, ministerial and technical councils, the General Secretariat, and all Council’s agencies to redouble efforts to complete the remaining steps to implement the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ vision within a specified timeline and with meticulous follow-up. It tasked the General Secretariat with submitting a detailed report on this matter for the upcoming session of the Supreme Council, which will be held in Kuwait on Sunday. Regarding the joint Gulf action, the Council reviewed the consultations on implementing the decision of the Supreme Council in its 32nd session regarding the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to transition from the stage of cooperation to the stage of union. It directed the continuation of efforts to move from the stage of cooperation to the stage of union and tasked the ministerial council and the head of the specialized authority to complete the necessary procedures and present the outcomes to the next session of the Supreme Council. Moreover, the Council expressed its keenness on the strength and cohesion of the GCC, unity among its members, achieving more coordination, integration, and interconnection in all fields to meet the aspirations of its citizens. It reiterated the unity of its countries in facing any threat to any of them. The Supreme Council reviewed the developments in joint Gulf work, expressing satisfaction with the steps taken to achieve integration among the Council’s countries. It directed the competent bodies in the member states, the General Secretariat, ministerial and technical committees to intensify efforts to complete the requirements of the customs union, finalize the establishment of the common Gulf market according to previous decisions, and expedite achieving economic unity among the GCC countries. On Nov. 1, 2024, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi confirmed that Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries, pay great attention to the economic and commercial sector. Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries, directed the continuation of efforts to move from the stage of cooperation to the stage of union. They also directed the importance of accelerating the achievement of economic unity among the GCC countries and completing the necessary requirements to achieve this. This consultative meeting took place between Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Commerce and Industry and the presidents of the councils of federations and chambers of the GCC countries, which was held in Doha on October 31, 2024, headed by HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Thani, the president of the current session, and in the presence of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry. The GCC Secretary-General viewed some statistics related to the Cooperation Council, noting that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the GCC countries in 2023 reached around USD 2.1 trillion, which puts them together among the advanced countries in terms of the size of the GDP. The total volume of intra-trade between the GCC countries in 2022 reached more than $127 billion, while the total volume of trade exchange (excluding intra-trade) between the GCC countries for the same year reached more than $1.5 trillion. Over its journey spanning more than four decades, the Cooperation Council has accomplished various historic steps that strengthen the structure of the Council and consolidate its goals and ambitions in the conscience of the people of the Gulf, including the establishment of the Gulf Common Market, which provides several benefits, including ensuring the flow of goods between countries, which leads to increased competition between Gulf institutions for the benefit of the consumer, and the establishment of a free trade zone, which is mainly characterized by exempting the industrial and agricultural products of the GCC countries and natural resources products from customs duties. This zone entered into force in March 1983, and continued for around twenty years until the end of 2002, when it was replaced by the GCC Customs Union. During its journey that entered its fifth decade, the Cooperation Council, also completed the project of the unified identity card for the GCC states (smart card), as this step contributed to facilitating the movement of citizens between member states and reducing the waiting period at the ports by through electronic gates. It also helped in the smooth movement of national workers between member states. In the context of the stations and projects of the GCC journey, the comprehensive security strategy for its member states was approved, as well as the security agreement for the GCC states. Joint military action has also received the attention of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, since its inception. Among the key achievements on this path are the approval of the GCC Joint Defense Agreement, the Council’s defense strategy, the formation of the joint Peninsula Shield Forces, and the conduct of joint military exercises. Electrical interconnection between GCC countries is considered one of the most important infrastructure projects approved by the Council. The project’s benefits include reducing the reserve required in each country, mutual coverage in the event of an emergency, surplus benefits, and reducing the cost of producing electrical energy. The GCC is a reliable economic player on the international level, as it is a huge market for exports from all over the world. Its countries also play a distinguished role in supplying global energy markets with oil and gas, which are the main drivers of the global economy and constitute about 60 percent of the energy consumed internationally. Its countries have also become a center for investment and trade in the region and are strengthening their role as a major player in the global economy through their strategic geographical location, natural resources, and reliance on strong economies. Regarding the foreign policy, the GCC worked to formulate common and unified positions on political issues of concern to its six countries in the Arab, regional, and international and to deal as one bloc with the world within the framework of the foundations and pillars based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and consideration of common interests in a way that preserves its interests and enhances its security, stability, and the prosperity of its peoples. On this path, the GCC has succeeded in strengthening its regional position, confirming its presence on the international scene, and has become an effective and reliable partner in establishing security and stability around the world. Since its inception, it has sought to expand its partnerships and strategic dialogues with many countries and blocs and to enter into free trade negotiations with countries and international economic groups to achieve common interests. Its countries have signed several free trade agreements with other countries around the world to facilitate the movement of goods, enhance inter-trade, expand investment opportunities, and develop strong trade relations. Copy 01/12/2024 10

magical oceans From Corner Stores To Community Hubs, NRS Is Helping Small Retailers ThriveSenators send 2 bills to voting file on day 1 of 37th Guam Legislature's final sessionBethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s online media association confirms that two reporters were killed and others wounded in a gang attack on the re-opening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas eve attack. The killed journalists were identified as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. An unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which was blamed on the Viv Ansanm gang. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.

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Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers Current Records: Sacramento 8-7, Los Angeles 9-7 When: Friday, November 22, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. ET Where: Intuit Dome -- Inglewood, California TV: FanDuel SN - SoCal Follow: CBS Sports App Online Streaming: Catch select NBA matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $35.52 The Clippers will be in front of their home fans on Friday, but a look at the spread shows they might need that home-court advantage. They will host the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET at Intuit Dome. The Clippers might want some stickum for this one as the team gave up 22 turnovers on Wednesday. The Kings are hoping to do what the Magic couldn't on Wednesday: put an end to the Clippers' winning streak, which now stands at three games. The Clippers came out on top against the Magic by a score of 104-93. The Clippers smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as the Magic only pulled down two. Meanwhile, the point spread may have favored the Kings last Monday, but the final result did not. They were just a bucket shy of victory and fell 109-108 to the Hawks. The losing side was boosted by Keon Ellis, who went 9 for 15 from beyond the arc en route to 33 points plus six rebounds. Those nine threes gave him a new career-high. Los Angeles' win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-7. As for Sacramento, their loss dropped their record down to 8-7. Keep an eye on the arc in Friday's contest: The Clippers have been dynamite from deep this season, having made 38.2% of their threes per game. It's a different story for the Kings, though, as they've only made 34% of their threes this season. Given the Clippers' sizable advantage in that area, the Kings will need to find a way to close that gap. The Clippers beat the Kings 107-98 in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Will the Clippers repeat their success, or do the Kings have a better game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough. Sacramento is a 3-point favorite against Los Angeles, according to the latest NBA odds . The line on this game has moved quite a bit since it opened, as it started out with the Clippers as a 5.5-point favorite. The over/under is 220.5 points. See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Los Angeles and Sacramento both have 5 wins in their last 10 games. Nov 08, 2024 - Los Angeles 107 vs. Sacramento 98 Apr 02, 2024 - Sacramento 109 vs. Los Angeles 95 Feb 25, 2024 - Sacramento 123 vs. Los Angeles 107 Dec 12, 2023 - Los Angeles 119 vs. Sacramento 99 Nov 29, 2023 - Los Angeles 131 vs. Sacramento 117 Mar 03, 2023 - Sacramento 128 vs. Los Angeles 127 Feb 24, 2023 - Sacramento 176 vs. Los Angeles 175 Dec 03, 2022 - Sacramento 123 vs. Los Angeles 96 Oct 22, 2022 - Los Angeles 111 vs. Sacramento 109 Apr 09, 2022 - Los Angeles 117 vs. Sacramento 98None

MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.The qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been concluded during the November break Four-time champions Ghana and continent’s fan favourite Cape Verde are two notable absentees Host country Morocco qualified with maximum points and the most valuable squad at the next tournament CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! The qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been completed, and all the 24 participants at the tournament have been confirmed. Host country Morocco, who also went through the qualifying series, came out as the best with a maximum 18 points and the most goals scored. As noted by Sports Brief , the Super Eagles of Nigeria had the most valuable squad at AFCON 2023, but as of this moment, they are not number one in Africa. Legit.ng looks at the top 10 most valuable teams that qualified for AFCON 2025 PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow AFCON 2025 most valuable squads Read also Gernot Rohr names Benin Republic's next target after securing AFCON qualification As noted by Transfermarkt , host country Morocco have the most valuable squad worth €361 million. The Atlas Lions boast of some of the country's best players, including Achraf Hakimi, who has a market value of €60mil, Brahim Diaz, Nayef Aguerd, and Noussair Mazraoui, amongst others. The Super Eagles had a significant drop in their players’ particularly Victor Osimhen, whose value dropped from €100mil to € 75mil. The Nigerian team are currently valued at €333mil. They hope to go one step further at the next tournament and win their fourth crown. 2023 champions on home soil Ivory Coast have the third most valuable squad with a market value of €261mil. Head Coach Emerse Fae will try to prove to the world that his turnaround of the Elephants in the last edition was not a fluke. 2021 champions Senegal have the fourth most valuable squad among the countries that qualified for the tournament with a value of €231mil. The Teranga Lions don't have a permanent manager after Aliou Cisse left. His assistant Pape Thiaw led the team in November. Read also Full list of countries that have qualified for AFCON 2025 as Ghana misses out Algeria are not the fifth most valuable national team in Africa, the honour belongs to Ghana. The Black Stars did not qualify for AFCON 2025 hence the Fennec Foxes took up their spot at the tournament schedules for fellow North African country next year. They have a market value of €180mil. Nigeria ranked 3rd in Africa Legit.ng reported that Nigeria ranked third in Africa when the latest FIFA rankings were released last month, moving up places on the world ranking. The Super Eagles won two games and drew one during the last international break to move up and were also awarded three points after the Libyan airport saga. PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: Legit.ng

mythical sea creature names WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX) announced its financial results for its fiscal 2025 third quarter ( ). All financial results referenced are in United States ( ) currency and, unless otherwise indicated, are determined in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( ). “Our business has grown organically while we’ve added complementary solutions to our Global Logistics Network by way of acquisition,” said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes’ CEO. “We listen to our customers about where best to invest to help them meet the many logistics and supply chain challenges they’re facing, which contributed to us completing two acquisitions this past quarter. The global trade landscape remains highly uncertain and complex for our customers, especially with potential upcoming changes to tariffs and sanctions and the resulting impact on trade. As always, our goal is to help our customers manage this complexity so that they can continue to focus on their core businesses.” As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Descartes’ Q3FY25 included: Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). These items are considered by management to be outside Descartes’ ongoing operational results. We define Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues as the quotient, expressed as a percentage, from dividing Adjusted EBITDA for a period by revenues for the corresponding period. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income determined in accordance with GAAP is provided later in this release. The following table summarizes Descartes’ results in the categories specified below over the past 5 fiscal quarters (unaudited; dollar amounts, other than per share amounts, in millions): As described in more detail below, key financial highlights for Descartes’ nine-month period ended October 31, 2024 ( ) included: Cash provided by operating activities of $158.5 million, up 1% from $156.9 million in 9MFY24. Cash provided by operating activities was negatively impacted in 9MFY25 by the payment of $25.0 million in contingent acquisition consideration for previously completed deals, which was not accrued for at the time of acquisition; The following table summarizes Descartes’ results in the categories specified below over 9MFY25 and 9MFY24 (unaudited, dollar amounts in millions): At October 31, 2024, Descartes had $181.3 million in cash. Cash decreased by $71.4 million in Q3FY25 and $139.7 million in 9MFY25. The table set forth below provides a summary of cash flows for Q3FY25 and 9MFY25 in millions of dollars: On September 17, 2024, Descartes acquired all of the shares of Assure Assist, Inc., doing business as MyCarrierPortal (“MCP”), a leading provider of carrier onboarding and risk monitoring solutions for the trucking industry. The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $22.5 million, net of cash acquired, which was funded from cash on hand, plus potential performance-based consideration of up to $6.0 million based on MCP achieving revenue-based targets over the first two years post-acquisition. On October 11, 2024, Descartes acquired all of the shares of Sellercloud LLC and certain assets of Sellercloud Europe Ltd. (collectively referred to as “Sellercloud”), a leading provider of omnichannel ecommerce solutions. The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $110.2 million, net of cash acquired, which was funded from cash on hand, plus potential performance-based consideration of up to $20.0 million based on Sellercloud achieving revenue-based targets over the first two years post-acquisition. Members of Descartes’ executive management team will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Designated numbers are +1 289 514 5100 and +1 800 717 1738 for Toll-Free in North America, using conference ID 07584. The company will simultaneously conduct an audio webcast on the Descartes website at Phone conference dial-in or webcast login is required approximately 10 minutes beforehand. Replays of the conference call will be available until December 10, 2024, by dialing +1 289 819 1325 or Toll-Free for North America using +1 888 660 6264 with Playback Passcode: 07584#. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at , and connect with us on and . Laurie McCauley (519) 746-2969 This release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) that relates to Descartes’ expectations concerning future revenues and earnings, and our projections for any future reductions in expenses or growth in margins and generation of cash; our assessment of the potential impact of geopolitical events, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine (the “Russia-Ukraine Conflict”), and between Israel and Hamas (“Israel-Hamas Conflict”), or other potentially catastrophic events, on our business, results of operations and financial condition; continued growth and acquisitions including our assessment of any increased opportunity for our products and services as a result of trends in the logistics and supply chain industries; rate of profitable growth and Adjusted EBITDA margin operating range; demand for Descartes’ solutions; growth of Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (“GLN”); customer buying patterns; customer expectations of Descartes; development of the GLN and the benefits thereof to customers; and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions including the following: global shipment volumes continuing at levels generally consistent with those experienced historically; the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Israel-Hamas Conflict not having a material negative impact on shipment volumes or on the demand for the products and services of Descartes by its customers and the ability of those customers to continue to pay for those products and services; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional customs and security regulations relating to the provision of electronic information for imports and exports; countries continuing to implement and enforce existing and additional trade restrictions and sanctioned party lists with respect to doing business with certain countries, organizations, entities and individuals; Descartes’ continued operation of a secure and reliable business network; the stability of general economic and market conditions, currency exchange rates, and interest rates; equity and debt markets continuing to provide Descartes with access to capital; Descartes’ continued ability to identify and source attractive and executable business combination opportunities; Descartes’ ability to develop solutions that keep pace with the continuing changes in technology, and our continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights. These assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Descartes, or developments in Descartes’ business or industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, Descartes’ ability to successfully identify and execute on acquisitions and to integrate acquired businesses and assets, and to predict expenses associated with and revenues from acquisitions; the impact of network failures, information security breaches or other cyber-security threats; disruptions in the movement of freight and a decline in shipment volumes including as a result of contagious illness outbreaks; a deterioration of general economic conditions or instability in the financial markets accompanied by a decrease in spending by our customers; the ability to attract and retain key personnel and the ability to manage the departure of key personnel and the transition of our executive management team; changes in trade or transportation regulations that currently require customers to use services such as those offered by Descartes; changes in customer behaviour and expectations; Descartes’ ability to successfully design and develop enhancements to our products and solutions; departures of key customers; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates; Descartes’ ability to retain or obtain sufficient capital in addition to its debt facility to execute on its business strategy, including its acquisition strategy; disruptions in the movement of freight; the potential for future goodwill or intangible asset impairment as a result of other-than-temporary decreases in Descartes’ market capitalization; and other factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada, including Descartes’ most recently filed Management’s Discussion and Analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in our company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, in making investment decisions about our company and measuring our operational results. The term “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before certain charges that management considers to be non-operating expenses and which consist of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes) and other charges (for which we include restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and contingent consideration incurred due to better-than-expected performance from acquisitions). Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues divides Adjusted EBITDA for a period by the revenues for the corresponding period and expresses the quotient as a percentage. Management considers these non-operating expenses to be outside the scope of Descartes’ ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues are non-GAAP financial measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues does have limitations. In particular, we have completed seven acquisitions since the beginning of fiscal 2024 and may complete additional acquisitions in the future that will result in acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges. As these acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges may continue as we pursue our consolidation strategy, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring part of operations rather than expenses that are not part of operations. The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income reported in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for Q3FY25, Q2FY25, Q1FY25, Q4FY24, and Q3FY24, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues to net income reported in our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for 9MFY25 and 9MFY24, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. (US dollars in thousands; US GAAP; Unaudited) (US dollars in thousands, except per share and weighted average share amounts; US GAAP; Unaudited) (US dollars in thousands; US GAAP; Unaudited)DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family's home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note was left behind. The gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey is covered with flowers Jan. 8, 1997, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Ga. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey." In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. "What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come in to detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the "media circus" surrounding the case. A police officer sits in her cruiser Jan. 3, 1997, outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colo. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an "unexplained third party" in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys "victims of this crime." John Ramsey continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado's governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he advocated for several items that were not prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn't been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be "consumed" if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review ended but police continue to work through and evaluate a "lengthy list of recommendations" from the panel. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Replacing Riqui Puig isn’t an easy job. “He’s unique in what he does,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney. The Galaxy kicked off preparation for its MLS Cup pursuit Tuesday and the big question facing Vanney and his staff is how will they replace Puig in Saturday’s final. Puig, who was selected Tuesday to the MLS Best XI, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Saturday’s Western Conference final win against the Seattle Sounders . “He’s the ultimate competitor,” Vanney said of Puig. “He wants to win, he wants to compete, he wants to play, he wants to impact the game and he wants responsibility out on the field. He drives the team in many ways. “When you look at the stat sheet at the end of any given day, he’s probably touched the ball 120 times, 140 times and he leads the team in touches by a wide margin. We’ll miss that on the attacking side for sure. Somebody who can change the tempo of a game, any play in any given moment, can be the one that changes the game when you have a guy like Riqui because of his capacity to pull plays off. We’re going to miss him.” The Galaxy have a little experience playing without Puig during the regular season, posting a 3-1-1 record. During the playoff run, Puig had recorded four goals and three assists in four victories. “In a season that is 34 games long plus, we had to go through three, four games without him during the course of the season and we were able to be successful to find the right formula with this group in those moments ... it was never something that we wanted, but at least we have something to look back on and say we were successful in this stretch when we didn’t have him,” Vanney said. “We have to redefine who we’re going to be and how we are going to win this game without him.” The Galaxy is also uncertain as to the availability of midfielder Marco Reus. Reus was subbed off in each of the past two games, with what Vanney said was a groin issue. “We’ll see how his health is as the week progresses,” Vanney said of Reus. “Have some optimism that he can get himself turned around and be ready for us. “Diego (Fagundez) gives us a little bit of the option that we saw (during the regular season filling in for Puig), so we want to see who’s ready, who’s going. And I also look at the Red Bulls and see them as a little bit of a unique competitor because of their pressing and they want to get man-to-man and they want to be disruptors as much as they want to be creators in many ways. How we want to manage that situation, both early and late, are things we’re working through and talking through to figure out the right personnel.” Related Articles Mark Delgado replaced Reus at halftime Saturday. Fagundez is another option at starting midfielder, leaving Gaston Brugman as a potential second-half sub and Reus, if he’s available. No matter the connections, Puig will be on the Galaxy’s hearts and minds Saturday. “Our heart is with Riqui and it definitely gives us just another reason to go out there and give it our all,” Delgado said. Who: New York Red Bulls at Galaxy When: 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Dignity Health Sports Park TV: FOX (Ch. 11), Apple TV (free)Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street wavers at the end of a bumpy week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 was down 0.1% in midday trading Friday and headed for a weekly loss. The benchmark index hit its latest in a string of records a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19 points. The Nasdaq composite was down 0.2%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets mostly fell. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion.

Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacksManchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) revealed the club had informed the fans forum that changes to certain ticket policies will take effect immediately “and that this price will apply for kids and over-65s as well as adults”. The news comes as the club confirmed the cost of paying off former manager Erik ten Hag and his staff was £10.4million, while a release clause to bring in new head coach Ruben Amorim and his staff amounted to £11m. The figures were part of a longer version of the club’s first-quarter accounts which were released to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. United and Everton fans are set to stage a protest against ticket prices ahead of their Premier League clash on Sunday. Supporters are being asked to gather next to the trinity statue outside Old Trafford to support the Football Supporters’ Association’s ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ campaign. As well as increasing prices generally, fans are unhappy about the removal of concession tickets for certain groups. An MUST statement read: “Suffice it to say that the idea that the fans must pay their ‘fair share’ for the club’s excesses and/or mismanagement — and above all, the Glazers’ lack of investment over two decades — is offensive. “We fans have done everything we have been asked. We have cheered the players on even in the face of substandard performance. “We have objected to this action in the strongest possible terms, both for the action itself and the complete lack of consultation, which is a step backward based on the process we had agreed with the club before INEOS’ arrival. “Over the coming days MUST will be seeking urgent discussions with the club to get them to listen to fans’ concern at this policy. “United fans have sucked up a lot. We will not be silent on this and we need to be prepared to resist any attempts to further drive up ticket prices.” Supporters’ group The 1958 said along with United and Everton, both Liverpool and Manchester City supporters will also display an FSA banner ahead of their match on Sunday. “With 19 out of 20 Premier League clubs increasing ticket prices this season, FC58, Everton, Liverpool and City supporters will display the FSA banner to raise awareness that any future season ticket price increases, removal of concessions, and treating match-going supporters as an easy target to make quick revenues will not be tolerated,” the fans’ group said. “With the discussions around the rebuild or redevelopment of Old Trafford, we need to send a message to the club that we are laser focused on keeping football affordable and looking after our loyal, match-going fan base. “Manchester United have announced that they will be selling tickets to members for the remainder of the season at a minimum of £66 irrespective of if you are under 16, youth, OAP or disabled, which is a clear exploitation of the loyal fan base and their first move towards dynamic pricing.”

Knight stops 20 shots, Florida rolls past Carolina 6-0 for 2nd win over 'Canes in as many days

The Indianapolis Colts (5-7) face a crucial test when they hit the road in Week 13 to visit the New England Patriots (3-9) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Looking to stay alive in the AFC playoff race as the No. 8 seed entering Sunday's slate of games, the Colts are two games behind the Denver Broncos (7-5) for the final spot in the playoff picture. With the Patriots eliminated from a division title and just about eliminated from playoff contention, the Colts must take care of business on the road leading into the bye week. Both teams are going into this matchup with some significant injuries, and the Colts will be down at least three starters in this matchup. Colts vs. Patriots injury report Week 13 Indianapolis Colts injury report Player Injury Status C Tanor Bortolini Concussion Out WR Josh Downs Shoulder Out WR Ashton Dulin Ankle Out OT Braden Smith Personal Out WR Alec Pierce Foot Questionable New England Patriots injury report Player Injury Status G Cole Strange Knee Out WR Demario Douglas Ankle Questionable S Kyle Dugger Ankle Questionable LB Christian Elliss Knee Questionable OLB Anfernee Jennings Knee Questionable OT Vederian Lowe Shoulder Questionable FS Jabrill Peppers Knee Questionable DT Jaquelin Roy Neck Questionable LB Sione Takitaki Knee Questionable DE Deatrich Wise Foot Questionable MORE NFL: Could Colts GM Chris Ballard be on the hot seat?USWNT beats Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's final matchWant to break bread without breaking up the family this Thanksgiving? Try leaving politics at the door. This month’s presidential election was particularly polarizing and the internet is rife with stories of people planning to skip holiday gatherings or being uninvited to get-togethers due to who voted for who. For example, a CBS News/YouGov poll found 1 in 10 people have changed their plans to avoid gathering with people who voted for a different presidential candidate than they did. But experts say friends and family members of all political ideologies can enjoy one another’s company by focusing on other topics and being grateful for the positives in their lives. That’s the sentiment shared by folks across Franklin County and the North Quabbin region who were interviewed by the Greenfield Recorder ahead of Turkey Day. Orange resident Ann Reed said she is looking forward to again having Thanksgiving in Grafton, where her daughter lives and is hosting a gathering of friends and family. Passionate about her small-government views, Reed said her daughter is a theater professional and has many liberal friends in the arts world. “There have always been people who find it very intellectual to argue politics at the dinner table. I have always found it to be uncouth and ungrateful and a Heimlich maneuver waiting to happen,” she said with a laugh. “We’ve just enjoyed the holiday.” Reed mentioned seeing some younger women online talking about removing their fathers from their lives for voting for President-elect Donald Trump. She said this hurt her on a personal level because her father died in 1973. “I would give anything to have Thanksgiving with my own father,” she said fighting back tears. “He did not live to walk me down the aisle, meet my children or have me make Thanksgiving dinner for him.” Her father, Arnold E. Fallon, was a U.S. Marine veteran and pharmacist who she said made Thanksgiving a special occasion for many years. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Reed said those in her family’s social circle have always had more to talk about than politics and they simply pass the time with lively conversation and witty exchanges. In fact, she recalled a time when there was a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian and an Independent in her four-member immediate family “and it was never a problem.” Athol resident Susannah Whipps said she hosts Thanksgiving for about a dozen family members in the house once owned by her parents, who have died. “I feel the responsibility of having a homebase still for family members. We’ve got family members along a wide spectrum of political ideologies and have different feelings about the election,” she said, adding that, to avoid having awkward breaks in conversation, she has asked her guests to brainstorm and share funny or moving stories about her parents and grandparents. “You can put the battles aside.” Whipps knows a thing or two about seeing all sides of a political debate, as she is the only unenrolled member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Originally a Republican, she left the party in 2017 because nearly two-thirds of her constituents are unaffiliated with a major political party and she wanted to put people over politics. A classically trained chef with a degree from Johnson & Wales University, she said the only heated debate allowed at her Thanksgiving table is whether her guests prefer canned cranberry sauce over her homemade chutney. Whipps will be sworn in for her sixth term in January. David Lewis, chair of the Greenfield Republican Town Committee, said he and a friend plan to attend the Thanksgiving meal at Living Waters Assembly of God at 450 Davis St. in Greenfield. He said the meal is offered to the entire community and he is certain there are guests every year with differing opinions, and politics is never dredged up. “I think, just don’t even talk about it. It’s over. It’s done with, the election. And we all have to move on to the next thing,” he said. Lewis mentioned he has lived at The Weldon apartments in Greenfield for 18 years, and he and his neighbors with different political affiliations meet for a coffee hour every Wednesday. He said politics come up commonly but there is never any disdain or resentment. “We just agree to disagree,” Lewis said. “We don’t throw things or get violent.” Greenfield resident Sandra Boston said her Thanksgiving guests will consist of people who share her progressive values, but she would still prefer politics take a rest. “First of all, be much more interested in asking what’s going on in their life rather than who they voted for,” she said. Boston advised that people should tread lightly if they broach the subject of politics and always remember that young children “will pick up on the energy” if the environment becomes inhospitable. She mentioned her oldest son is a Trump supporter living in Virginia and though they seldom see eye-to-eye, their email exchanges remain kind and affectionate. “We always end it with, ‘I love you,’” she said. Boston mentioned she belongs to a local chapter of Braver Angels, a citizens’ organization aimed at depolarizing American political culture by fostering conversation between liberals and conservatives. The Greenfield group has met at the Greenfield Public Library once a month since 2017. “It’s the only place in my daily life where I sit down with someone of the other political persuasion for an hour and a half and listen. The point of it is to ask questions in order to understand. You know, ‘Tell me more about why you see it that way,’” she said. “We’re not here to change anybody’s minds — we’re here to understand.” Boston mentioned she is a teacher of communication skills, offering eight-week classes in conscious communication. “Don’t try to change anybody’s mind. The point of being family and seeking unity is being able to hold the difference. Have respect for the person even if we don’t have respect for the opinion,” she said. “People don’t want to keep talking to you if you try to tell them they’re wrong.” The Poynter Institute, a global nonprofit, published an article about how to avoid political arguments at Thanksgiving. It can be found at tinyurl.com/mvna9wbk . Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

Combs name-checks Trump in his latest attempt to secure bail. And the feds aren’t feeling it.Notes: Bryant ties single-season touchdown recordManchester United’s decision to put up the cost of all members’ match tickets to £66 for the remainder of the season has been labelled “offensive” by the club’s leading supporters’ group. Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) revealed the club had informed the fans forum that changes to certain ticket policies will take effect immediately “and that this price will apply for kids and over-65s as well as adults”. The news comes as the club confirmed the cost of paying off former manager Erik ten Hag and his staff was £10.4million, while a release clause to bring in new head coach Ruben Amorim and his staff amounted to £11m. The figures were part of a longer version of the club’s first-quarter accounts which were released to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. United and Everton fans are set to stage a protest against ticket prices ahead of their Premier League clash on Sunday. Supporters are being asked to gather next to the trinity statue outside Old Trafford to support the Football Supporters’ Association’s ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ campaign. As well as increasing prices generally, fans are unhappy about the removal of concession tickets for certain groups. An MUST statement read: “Suffice it to say that the idea that the fans must pay their ‘fair share’ for the club’s excesses and/or mismanagement — and above all, the Glazers’ lack of investment over two decades — is offensive. “We fans have done everything we have been asked. We have cheered the players on even in the face of substandard performance. “We have objected to this action in the strongest possible terms, both for the action itself and the complete lack of consultation, which is a step backward based on the process we had agreed with the club before INEOS’ arrival. “Over the coming days MUST will be seeking urgent discussions with the club to get them to listen to fans’ concern at this policy. “United fans have sucked up a lot. We will not be silent on this and we need to be prepared to resist any attempts to further drive up ticket prices.” Supporters’ group The 1958 said along with United and Everton, both Liverpool and Manchester City supporters will also display an FSA banner ahead of their match on Sunday. “With 19 out of 20 Premier League clubs increasing ticket prices this season, FC58, Everton, Liverpool and City supporters will display the FSA banner to raise awareness that any future season ticket price increases, removal of concessions, and treating match-going supporters as an easy target to make quick revenues will not be tolerated,” the fans’ group said. “With the discussions around the rebuild or redevelopment of Old Trafford, we need to send a message to the club that we are laser focused on keeping football affordable and looking after our loyal, match-going fan base. “Manchester United have announced that they will be selling tickets to members for the remainder of the season at a minimum of £66 irrespective of if you are under 16, youth, OAP or disabled, which is a clear exploitation of the loyal fan base and their first move towards dynamic pricing.”After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon

4 magi Labor attempts to pass 36 bills on final sitting dayA late goal from the Toronto Sceptres propelled the hosts to a 3-1 win over the Boston Fleet in the PWHL season opener. Hilary Knight took a late boarding call, and Toronto’s Hannah Miller capitalized on the power play with just 1:38 left in the third period to put Toronto up by a goal. Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel headed to the bench for the empty net, and Emma Maltais scored the empty netter to finish off the Fleet.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate. Now with the weather changing outside, they’re winning with old school football, too. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores , David Montgomery added a third TD run and Detroit's increasingly stingy defense kept the Indianapolis Colts out of the end zone on Sunday, leading the Lions to their ninth straight win, 24-6. “This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it,” coach Dan Campbell said. “We talk about it all the time — limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run — we were able to do that.” They've been doing it all season in their greatest run in decades, but have been more effective lately and it has shown. The Lions improved to 10-1 for the first time since 1934, their inaugural season in the Motor City. They own the league's longest active winning streak and are 6-0 on the road this season. While the Lions have scored points by the dozens all season, Campbell's preference for physical football means they're equally capable of grinding out wins with the combination of a ball-control offense and an ascending defense that propelled them to this win. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards on a day Goff went 26 of 36 with 269 yards and no touchdowns. And for the third straight week, all against AFC South foes, the Lions had a second-half shutout. “If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team,” Campbell said. “And we can win on the road.” The Colts (5-7) found out the hard way by losing their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson had another up-and-down game , going 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. But it was Indy's inability to finish drives with touchdowns that again cost the team. That flaw was evident right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game's first series and settled for a short field goal when they couldn't punch it in. “We've got to take advantage of our opportunities,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “This league comes down to inches, it comes down to yards and you've got to take advantage of those opportunities. We've had issues down in the red zone and you have to look at the tape and clean it up.” Detroit made Indy pay dearly for its offensive miscues. Gibbs' 1-yard TD run on the Lions' second series made it 7-3 early in the second quarter and after Indy settled for another short field goal, Montgomery spun his way across the goal line for a 6-yard TD and a 14-6 lead. Detroit's defense made sure that was all the scoring punch it needed. “Those players, we've been around each other long enough, they've been around each other to know exactly what we're looking for,” Campbell said. “We have an identity about us. We know the critical factors as they pertain to winning, and those guys take that stuff serious.” Gibbs' 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter gave Detroit a 21-6 lead and they closed it out with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards for Detroit while Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for Indy despite leaving briefly in the first half with an injured shoulder. Gibbs' first score extended Detroit's league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He's also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times. Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury. Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not. Lions: Host Chicago in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Colts: Visit New England next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLLions rush for 3 scores and use stingy defense to beat Colts 24-6 for 9th straight win

WASHINGTON (AP) — For years, Pat Verhaeghe didn’t think highly of Donald Trump as a leader. Then Verhaeghe began seeing more of Trump’s campaign speeches online and his appearances at sporting events. There was even the former president’s pairing with Bryson DeChambeau as part of the pro golfer’s YouTube channel series to shoot an under-50 round of golf while engaging in chitchat with his partner. “I regret saying this, but a while ago I thought he was an idiot and that he wouldn’t be a good president,” said the 18-year-old first-time voter. “I think he’s a great guy now.” Verhaeghe isn't alone among his friends in suburban Detroit or young men across America. Although much of the electorate shifted right to varying degrees in 2024, young men were one of the groups that swung sharply toward Trump. More than half of men under 30 supported Trump, according to AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, while Democrat Joe Biden had won a similar share of this group four years earlier. White men under 30 were solidly in Trump’s camp this year — about 6 in 10 voted for Trump — while young Latino men were split between the two candidates. Most Black men under 30 supported Democrat Kamala Harris, but about one-third were behind Trump. Young Latino men’s views of the Democratic Party were much more negative than in 2020, while young Black men’s views of the party didn’t really move. About 6 in 10 Latino men under 30 had a somewhat or very favorable view of the Democrats in 2020, which fell to about 4 in 10 this year. On the other hand, about two-thirds of young Black men had a favorable view of the Democrats this year, which was almost identical to how they saw the party four years ago. “Young Hispanic men, and really young men in general, they want to feel valued," said Rafael Struve, deputy communications director for Bienvenido, a conservative group that focused on reaching young Hispanic voters for Republicans this year. “They're looking for someone who fights for them, who sees their potential and not just their struggles.” Struve cited the attempted assassination of Trump during a July rally in Pennsylvania as one of the catalyzing moments for Trump’s image among many young men. Trump, Struve said, was also able to reach young men more effectively by focusing on nontraditional platforms like podcasts and digital media outlets. “Getting to hear from Trump directly, I think, really made all the difference," Struve said of the former president's appearances on digital media platforms and media catering to Latino communities, like town halls and business roundtables Trump attended in Las Vegas and Miami. Not only did Trump spend three hours on Joe Rogan's chart-topping podcast, but he took up DeChambeau's “Break 50” challenge for the golfer's more than 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. Trump already had an edge among young white men four years ago, although he widened the gap this year. About half of white men under 30 supported Trump in 2020, and slightly less than half supported Biden. Trump's gains among young Latino and Black men were bigger. His support among both groups increased by about 20 percentage points, according to AP VoteCast — and their feelings toward Trump got warmer, too. It wasn’t just Trump. The share of young men who identified as Republicans in 2024 rose as well, mostly aligning with support for Trump across all three groups. “What is most alarming to me is that the election is clear that America has shifted right by a lot,” said William He, founder of Dream For America, a liberal group that works to turn out young voters and supported Harris’ presidential bid. With his bombastic demeanor and a policy agenda centered on a more macho understanding of culture , Trump framed much of his campaign as a pitch to men who felt scorned by the country’s economy, culture and political system. Young women also slightly swung toward the former president, though not to the degree of their male counterparts. It's unclear how many men simply did not vote this year. But there's no doubt the last four years brought changes in youth culture and how political campaigns set out to reach younger voters. Democrat Kamala Harris' campaign rolled out policy agendas tailored to Black and Latino men, and the campaign enlisted a range of leaders in Black and Hispanic communities to make the case for the vice president. Her campaign began with a flurry of enthusiasm from many young voters, epitomized in memes and the campaign's embrace of pop culture trends like the pop star Charli XCX's “brat” aesthetic . Democrats hoped to channel that energy into their youth voter mobilization efforts. “I think most young voters just didn’t hear the message,” said Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a liberal group that engages younger voters. Mayer said the Harris campaign’s pitch to the country was “largely convoluted” and centered on economic messaging that he said wasn’t easily conveyed to younger voters who were not already coming to political media. “And I think that the policies themselves were also very narrow and targeted when what we really needed was a simple, bold economic vision,” said Mayer. Trump also embraced pop culture by appearing at UFC fights, football games and appearing alongside comedians, music stars and social media influencers. His strategists believed that the former president’s ability to grab attention and make his remarks go viral did more for the campaign than paid advertisements or traditional media appearances. Trump's campaign also heavily cultivated networks of online conservative platforms and personalities supportive of him while also engaging a broader universe of podcasts, streaming sites, digital media channels and meme pages open to hearing him. “The right has been wildly successful in infiltrating youth political culture online and on campus in the last couple of years, thus radicalizing young people towards extremism,” said He, who cited conservative activist groups like Turning Point USA as having an outsize impact in online discourse. “And Democrats have been running campaigns in a very old fashioned way. The battleground these days is cultural and increasingly on the internet.” Republicans may lose their broad support if they don't deliver on improving Americans' lives, Struve cautioned. Young men, especially, may drift from the party in a post-Trump era if the party loses the president-elect's authenticity and bravado. Bienvenido, for one group, will double down in the coming years to solidify and accelerate the voting pattern shifts seen this year, Struve said. “We don’t want this to be a one and done thing,” he said. ___ Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, and AP polling editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report. Matt Brown, The Associated PressRJ Johnson, Daylen Berry lift Charleston Southern to surprising 83-79 victory over Miami

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can’t guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” A look at some of the issues covered: Trump has threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn’t believe economists’ predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won’t be paying more as they shop. “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That’s a different approach from Trump’s typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are “going to make us rich.” He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. ”All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field,” Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. “Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump’s role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: “I have the absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that.” At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who had investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. “Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, “No,” and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. “I want her to do what she wants to do,” he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump’s inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, “I’m not looking to go back into the past.” Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. “I think you have to do it,” he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end “birthright” citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — although such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and have been shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, “I want to work something out,” indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not “want to be breaking up families” of mixed legal status, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he “absolutely” would remain in the alliance “if they pay their bills.” Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies’ commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated “fairly” on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin’s invasion. “Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure,” Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump has called for an immediate cease-fire. Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged: “I haven’t spoken to him recently.” Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to “impede the negotiation.” The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell’s term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy, including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: “Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious” that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump’s pick for FBI chief, then “he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? Somebody is the man that you’re talking about.” Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. “We’re not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient,” he said. He added that “we’re not raising ages or any of that stuff.” He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would “probably” not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, “Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change.” Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had “concepts” of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called “lousy health care.” He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for “better healthcare for less money.” Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.

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LONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.” Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. “I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.

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ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSyria’s embassy in Lebanon suspends services as Lebanon hands over former Syrian army officers

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NYT ‘Connections’ Hints And Answers For Friday, December 13An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said an airstrike targeted Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, without saying if the strike was in Khiam. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.

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Local school officials are in the thick of budget season. So when the N.H. Department of Education told school districts last month to expect significantly less state aid for special education costs than initially planned for this fiscal year, school officials statewide were thrown for a loop. And, some say, this will likely force them to ask taxpayers to cover the difference. “I was shocked, and saddened, and worried,” said Rich Popovic, chair of the Nelson School Board. The rural school district is part of N.H. School Administrative Unit 29 and, per state education department data, has 63 students in grades kindergarten through 5. “Even in a small town, one special education case can really sort of — if it’s unexpected, especially — it can throw the budget into a downward spiral,” Popovic said. On the other side of the Monadnock Region, the Hinsdale School District enrolls approximately 523 students, K-12. Hinsdale School Board Chair April Anderson said the shortfall will disproportionately affect small rural districts like Hinsdale because special education services are more expensive and harder to come by for students with higher needs in these areas. “The lack of available funding will mean our taxpayers will have to make up the difference, and as we know the state is already failing to fund an adequate education,” she said in a written statement Dec. 13. “In order to keep our budget affordable, we will need to find revenue in other ways, possibly through reductions of staff and services. This isn’t fair to anyone, especially our students.” The amount of money Nelson districts were approved to receive from the state versus what will actually be funded was not available by press deadline. The Hinsdale School district requested $205,000 for school year 2024-25, according to Board Chair April Anderson. The Keene School District was approved to get $884,219 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, out of $2,566,091.09 in approved expenses, according to SAU 29 Chief Financial Officer Tim Ruehr. “The $884,219.50 is not fully funded so we are expecting to receive 66.3893% or $587,027.64,” Ruehr wrote in an email Dec. 15. “This immediately down shifted $297,191.86 to local taxpayers above what they would normally be responsible to fund.” Keene Board of Education Chair George Downing said the board is having to adjust very late in the budgeting process this year because of the shortfall. “It’s going to be a challenge. It’s always a challenge, but more so this year,” he said. At the start of the 2023-24 school year, 32,019 New Hampshire students, or 19.45 percent, received special education services, according to data from the state education department. Special education services often cost more than general education because these services require support that’s tailored to specific student needs from specially trained staff, assistive technology and smaller class sizes. These costs can also include transportation to out-of-district placements if these services aren’t available in a student’s local district. School districts that don’t raise enough money through the statewide education property tax, known as SWEPT, receive adequacy aid. After that, districts are responsible for any additional costs for those students up to 31⁄2 times the current average cost per pupil, per a handout from the education department. Any per-student special education expenses above that threshold are expected to be reimbursed by the state at 80 percent. Expenses that are 10 times the average cost per pupil must be covered by the state entirely. Federal law mandates that districts provide appropriate education to all students regardless of their disability, even if it means incurring significant expense. Each state has a “catastrophic aid” fund to help offset those costs for their local districts. New Hampshire lawmakers appropriated $33.9 million to the state’s catastrophic aid fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, in the two-year budget passed in 2023. But the N.H. Department of Education said requests for special education aid had exceeded the legislative appropriation this year by $16 million. The state’s manual for special education aid notes that if in any year “the amount appropriated for distribution as special education aid exceeds the allocated amount, the district’s reimbursement shall be prorated.” The N.H. Department of Education said in a written statement Dec. 16 it took the proactive step of alerting school districts that the requests for special education aid had exceeded the legislative appropriation this year, but that it will work with the Legislature in the upcoming session to help ensure appropriate funding is provided to all districts. The state’s total appropriation for special education aid has remained relatively steady since 2021 — $33.3 million in 2021 and $33.9 million in 2024 — despite the number of eligible students and the cost of services rising year to year. The state Legislature set aside $22.3 million in 2017 and again in 2018 when districts were owed $32.5 million, according to the state Department of Education. However, in 2019, the Legislature raised that amount to $32.6 million. “Historically, these special education aid requests have exceeded the state appropriations until 2019 when Commissioner [Frank] Edelblut sought relief to address this important matter,” the department said in the statement. Even though these special education costs are included in New Hampshire’s adequate education funding formula, only 17.47 percent of special education expenditures in 2023 were paid by the state and federal governments, according to the N.H. School Funding Fairness Project, an advocacy group for equitable education funding in the state. This results in the majority of the bill being downshifted to local property taxpayers. Downing, chair of the Keene school board, said board members have been mindful of other burdens taxpayers are already facing, such as the ongoing housing crisis. “We’re trying to balance what our schools need to operate without overburdening the tax base in Keene,” he said. Roughly 55 percent of the Keene School District’s budget each year comes from state and federal funds, according to Downing, with the remainder from taxes and tuition payments from sending towns. “But if you’re in a really small town, like Westmoreland or Marlow, one more student needing [special education] services can have a big impact on the budget,” Downing said. Information about how the shortfall will affect budgets in those two districts was not available. The Sentinel also reached out to the Monadnock Regional School District for comment but did not receive information prior to publication. Popovic has been on the Nelson School Board for roughly 10 years, joining when his daughter entered kindergarten. He said the school board will “do our best” to work with the shortfall, but he noted other small districts in the state might have to have difficult conversations about cutting staff or even considering closing schools. “If more of the burden goes to taxpayers, they have to consider that,” he said. “... You have scores of dedicated teachers and administrators just trying to make it work, and yet somehow they’re becoming the problem. And they’re not.” The budget creation process is still ongoing for Keene, Downing noted, so until he sees the proposed numbers he’s unsure if there’ll be any drastic measures considered to cut costs. “I feel good about our general budget process,” he said. “We’re pretty good about not asking for more than what we need. ... but with any loss of funding from the state, we do have to consider that it may very well impact our local taxpayers.” Both he and Popovic said local involvement is crucial, even if someone doesn’t have children in local schools. “If you’re really concerned about the tax burden from education, look at who you’re voting into power and see if they support public education in a realistic and wholehearted way,” Popovic said. “These are real financial impacts on everyone.”Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHubYoung Congolese refugee paints new Australian life

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. “Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them,” Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR’s “take-it-or-leave-it” final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as “open” teams that don’t have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was “primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR,” Freeze said. “NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit,” Freeze said. “NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved.” A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing “new circumstances” in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a “coordinated effort behind the scenes.” “This is completely false,” Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. “23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing,” Lauletta said. “Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. “It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships,” he continued. “It is a necessity because NASCAR’s monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level.” Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today

Qatar tribune Motasem A Dalloul Days before thousands of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus and across Syria to celebrate living in a country free of the authoritarian regime of Bashar Al-Assad as the rebels had announced the overthrow of his regime of 24 years. Opposition fighters entered the capital Damascus around 5am local time without any resistance, quickly capturing the headquarters of main government institutions following the reported withdrawal of Assad regime forces and government personnel. Russia claimed that Al-Assad left Syria after meeting a number of opposition representatives, but did not reveal details about the nature of meetings or where they were held. It later revealed that Al-Assad had been granted asylum in Moscow on “humanitarian grounds”. In a recorded video, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali said that he remained at his home, was ready to support continuity of governance and ready for a smooth transition to anybody chosen by the people of Syria. Rebel leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, commonly known as Abu Mohammad Al-Julani, ordered his men to protect public institutions, which would remain under Al-Jalali’s supervision until they are officially handed over to the new rulers. At the same time, the rebels freed thousands of political prisoners from Al-Assad’s prison, including the notorious Sednaya Prison. Palestinians, including members of Hamas and its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, are among them. However, hundreds if not thousands more prisoners are seen on CCTV in the prison but cannot be reached. Now, in addition to the existence of US troops and Russian bases, Syria is dominated by several parties, some of them backed by the US such as the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist entity by Turkiye. It has been a candid ally of the Assad regime since 2017. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also backed by the US. The SDF controls large swathes of northeast Syria. Meanwhile, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham – Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant – commonly referred to as HTS is currently the largest opposition body. It toppled the Assad regime and dominated most of the country, including cities such as Al-Quneitra, which includes a buffer zone and shared borders with the Israel occupied Golan Heights. How do the changes in Syria affect the Palestinians? Some monitors, who believed that Al-Assad was part of a resistance axis, which included Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Gaza, expect that the overthrow of Al-Assad will choke the Palestinians. Others, on the other hand, believe that the Assad regime was no more than a guardian for the Israeli occupation, which is troubled by his overthrow and the rise of HTS as a dominant force in Syria. As a Palestinian, I see Al-Assad as not just a guardian of Israel, but its defender. The Assad family, which comes from the Alewite minority, exploited the alleged hostility with the Israeli occupation to reinforce its authoritarian rule which was basically based on the oppression of the Syrians, suppressing their freedoms and deterring any real attempts to fight the Israeli occupation. In fact, this was part of a disengagement agreement signed between the regime and Israel in 1974, ending all the attritions that had existed for months after the Six Day War. A UN Disengagement Observer Force buffer zone was created under the terms of the deal. For its part, the Assad regime complied with this US-brokered agreement. However, since I was born, I have witnessed repeated Israeli violations of this agreement. The Assad regime’s reaction has always been to complain to the international community and pledge to respond at the appropriate time and place, which it has never done. This peace agreement, which was the first of its kind between Israel and the Arab regimes, lasted for more than 45 years. During this time, the Assad regime turned Syria into a buffer zone between Israel and the Arab and Muslim nations, using its relationship with Iran as a pretext to pound any resistance attempt against Israel. The Assad regime even took no action in response to the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights in the early 1980s. Not only did the Syrians suffer during the reign of the Assad family, but so did the five million Palestinian refugees. During the regime’s brutal crackdown on the Syrian revolution, which erupted in 2011, the regime killed, detained, forcibly disappeared and displaced hundreds of Palestinians. Following the overthrow of the regime, more than 600 Palestinians were released from prisons, including operatives from Hamas’ military wing Al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas fighters never acted against the Israeli occupation from within Syria, in spite of this, the Assad regime detained them as part of its duty to protect Israel. Though many highlight that the Assad regime hosted the Hamas leadership and training bases, but that was to reinforce the so-called “resistance axis”, which allowed Israel a pretext to play the victim and fight against an “existential threat” from Iran and its proxies. Now that the Syrian regime has gone and Hezbollah has been pounded harshly and beyond repair following the collapse of its lifeline corridor, the Sunni Muslims, under the leadership of revolutionary Abu Mohammad Al Julani, will emerge as a major power in the area and work for the liberation of Palestine. Many have claimed that Al-Julani is an extremist and with him leading the Syrian rebels chaos and instability would prevail in Syria, along with extremist misinterpretions of Sharia Law. The reality is the opposite as Al-Julani, who quit the US-backed Al-Qaeda, has united most of the moderate and effective rebel factions and established a stable semi-state in Idlib where minorities were respected, Sharia Law was implemented in the areas where people accepted it and not implemented where people rejected it, giving Christians freedom of worship at churches. Al-Julani developed a successful governance system that covered all sectors including the successful military industry. He produced advanced reconnaissance and attack drones, missiles with large warheads and other important equipment that most of the independent Arab and Muslim countries have not produced. Now, he must concentrate on stabilising Syria and work on a peaceful transition, rebuild state institutions, implement social reconciliations among the different sects and ethnicities, lay down a new constitution and repair Syria’s international relations. Once he achieves this, he can turn his sights of Israel. No unstable country with fragile political and social systems can engage in a war with any country, even if it was the weakest one on earth. Al-Julani, a native of the Golan Heights, will never forget his homeland. Meanwhile, Israel announced yesterday that it was stepping away from its peace deal with Syria, claiming that it has “collapsed” and ordered its occupation army to take over the buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights, Mount Hermon and several areas in Al-Quneitra Province. This gives Al-Julani the leverage to start from scratch with Israel. If this happens, America and other international powers are expected to interfere, at least by spreading chaos in Syria. The situation in Syria is one which Israel and all its allies have been working to undermine or delay. One reason could be because the ouster of Al-Assad and the collapse of the “resistance axis” is better for the Palestinians than the contrary. (Motasem A Dalloul, is MEMO’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip.) Copy 13/12/2024 10SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Eddie Lampkin Jr. and Donnie Freeman each posted a double-double and Jaquan Carlos finished an assist shy of joining them as Syracuse closed out its nonconference schedule with a 75-63 win over Bucknell on Saturday. The Orange evened their record at 6-6 with their sixth win in seven home games, taking a 12-point lead at intermission and maintaining it through the second half, handing the Bison (4-9) their seventh straight loss. Syracuse, which lost its Atlantic Coast Conference opener to Notre Dame, finished nonconference play 6-5. Lampkin and Freeman combined to score 24 first-half points and helped the Orange dominate the boards in the first half, 18-11. Pip Ajayi dunked near the 14-minute mark to get Bucknell within five, 48-43, but Elvin Edmonds IV missed a 3-point attempt to make it a one-possession game a minute later and Lampkin scored to push the lead to seven. Kyle Cuffe Jr. scored back-to-back baskets and Carlos added a layup to push the Syracuse lead back to a dozen points, 56-44. Lampkin finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds scored 15 points, grabbed 11 boards and dished three assists with a steal. Carlos posted 11 points with nine assists and three steals. Syracuse outrebounded Bucknell 43-27. John Bascoe hit 6 of 11 from behind the arc and led the Bison with 22 points. Noah Williamson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Syracuse opens the heart of its ACC schedule when it plays host to Wake Forest on New Year's Eve. Bucknell opens Patriot League play January 2 at Lehigh. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Layered in safety pins and studs like a punk encrusted beetle, Frank and Ruby duel in a fight to the death over the spirit of our protagonist within the political, social and economic eye of the storm in Cruel Britannia . Set in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, this trans reimagining of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein puts an all-new twist on the classic story of rebirth – it isn’t Frankenstein’s creation that is reborn, but rather Ruby, shedding the monster of shame and remaking herself anew. It’s Alive! Writer and performer Kristen Smyth dominates the stage for an electrifying 80 minutes to the relentless beat of Di Drew’s soundscape, blending electronics and atmosphere. Smyth transforms between a dizzying array of characters and locations as money-motivated hooligan Frank struggles against the monster within – not Ruby, but the violence that is Frank’s only distraction from the truth that is bubbling just below the surface. Smyth’s charisma and clarity of expression is undeniable as is the tenderness she extends to every one of her characters. Every characterisation is a full-body experience – a testament to Smyth’s powerful and expressive voice and nimble physicality, and to the vision shared between the writer/performer and director, Cohan. Bringing Punk To Frankenstein The costume doesn’t feature rusty bolts and lightening rods, just the coarse stitches that are a signature of Dr Frankenstein’s monster – but this time they’re looping their way around Jessamine Moffett’s cheeky punk costume design, evoking the jagged seam between Ruby and Frank. The set design – a ramp-come-catwalk in the middle of a sea of evocatively alien black sand and reflective rocks by designer Rachel ‘Stoz’ Stone doesn’t recreate 80’s London, but instead gives Smyth all the room she needs to transform the space into a nightclub, a poky flat and a train station filled with brawling hooligans. The ramp almost acts as a funnel for the story – Smyth doesn’t need an expansive stage to tell her tale, but, given it, she fills the space with her voice, her vulnerability and the power of her storytelling. Queer Theatre Pulls No Punches Sitting in an audience that skews significantly more gender-diverse than your mainstream theatre crowd, there is a palpable feeling of free expression for audience and performer – this is a show made by a predominantly trans and non-binary creative team, and it shows. This isn’t a queer story that’s been sanitised and stripped of grit to make it palatable – Smyth and her team don’t pull punches, and it is a joy to sit back and revel in the world of Cruel Britannia . Cruel Britannia runs from 20 – 30 November in The Show Room of the Arts Centre, Melbourne. For more information click here. All That Glitters New Years Eve Party at Hairy Mary’s Melbourne Queer Film Festival Closing Night Screening Cruel Britannia: After Frankenstein Sydney Wearable Art Gala Presents A Vibrant World of Vaudeville And Sustainability Transgender Day of Remembrance/Resistance Vigil & Memorial Workshop Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website related articles Khalid Comes Out After Being Outed Online Nath Valvo Talks Life And Love After Grindr And Finding TikTok Fame The Latest Drag Race Down Under Queen Talks About The Tough Competition This Season Is Season 3 The End of Heartstopper? Kit Connor Says He’s Unsure If Hit Series Will Continue Drag Race Has Officially Launched Another International All Stars Series 2024 ARIAs: Missy Higgins and Queer Aussies Own The Night

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Yellowstone fans all saying the same thing about show creator Taylor Sheridan after Kevin Costner's exit Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By TERRY ZELLER and BRIAN GALLAGHER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:53, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:20, 9 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Yellowstone fans were less than thrilled with the latest episode’s heavy focus on Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the show who also plays horse trainer Travis Wheatley . The social media consensus was clear: Sheridan was taking up far too much of the action for a character who’s little more than a bit part. Many fans were quick to point out that this seemed intentional—now that series star Kevin Costner is no longer part of the show . Costner departed Yellowstone before part two of the final Season 5 in June, amid much drama, including rumors of a feud between him and Sheridan . Now it seems Sheridan may have been making up for the absence of Costner's John Dutton with some screen time of his own, complete with a strip poker game that featured real-life supermodel Bella Hadid . '15 minutes of story and scenes wasted with watching Taylor Sheridan showboat on his own show, partying and just doing his thing. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what he does in real life too,' wrote one unimpressed viewer. Taylor also appeared in a pivotal role in the finale of his show Lioness on Sunday. And he had a role on the Yellowstone prequel 1883. Yellowstone fans were less than thrilled with the latest episode’s heavy focus on Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the show who also plays horse trainer Travis Wheatley; (seen in 2021) Many fans were quick to point out that this seemed intentional—now that series star Kevin Costner (seen in April) is no longer part of the show Another added, 'As if Taylor Sheridan wasted one of the last episodes of this show by inserting himself so he could parade around with half-naked women. We could have had 8 more episodes of Kevin Costner instead of this bs #Yellowstone.' One fan lamented, 'Yeah, and they’ve treated the best actor on the show, @modernwest, Kevin Costner. He was willing to come back, and of course, Sheridan’s ego got in the way. What a sad end for John Dutton’s legacy.' Read More Yellowstone fans speculate on Kayce's new plan to save the ranch in the show's penultimate episode Someone else quipped, 'Being generous on the 15 minutes :) Felt more like an hour with 25 minutes of storylines that we actually want to see.' The episode had all the subtlety of a neon sign flashing, according to another critic, as they commented, 'The episode was a look at me I’m Taylor Sheridan. He may as well have Kevin Costner just come out of the shower at this point.' As for the rumored feud between Tyalro and Kevin, another follower chimed in, 'I think now we know: what caused the fall out with Costner, oh boy Sheridan wanted to be the man lol, and I sure do miss Costner editing this guy's terrible scripts.' Of course, fans were shocked by a surprise cameo by Hadid and her boyfriend Adan Banuelos in Sunday's penultimate episode. The new episode found Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) travelling to Texas to oversee Travis Wheatley (Sheridan) selling the ranch's horses, following last week's episode that featured another shocking death . Fans were quite surprised when Beth knocked on Travis' door and found it being answered by his girlfriend Sadie, played by Hadid, who is aside from being a supermodel is also an accomplished equestrian. The social media consensus was clear: Sheridan was taking up far too much of the action for a character who’s little more than a bit part Her boyfriend Banuelos - an accomplished cowboy himself, being voted into the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame at age 28, the youngest ever to be inducted - was also seen in a brief scene involving Travis playing strip poker. Fans did not hesitate to take to X (formerly Twitter ) to relay their surprise at seeing this couple make their cameo appearances. @nourishing4what said, 'Bella Hadid on Yellowstone was definitely not on my 2024 bingo card...' @shuIkie added, 'did i just see bella hadid in that yellowstone show??' 'Me seeing Bella Hadid on #Yellowstone with her boyfriend. what is going on,' added X user @vickysal99. Jackie Arnold (@jackiearnolddd_) added, 'Bella hadid on Yellowstone is wild I love it.' @theunhingedgem said in all caps, 'BELLA HADID ON YELLOWSTONE MADE MY WHOLE NIGHT.' 'Bella Hadid in tonight’s episode of Yellowstone & not-surprisingly she is stunning,' said @berstreet. He was only a small character on the show for many episodes but now his part is bigger Kevin brought the A list power for years While Bella Hadid is best known as a supermodel, she is also an expert equestrian rider who once had ambitions of competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics. However her mother Yolanda revealed in January 2016 that her daughter had to give up her equestrian dreams after she was diagnosed with Lyme's disease as she had to walk away from the sport . 'Bella had to give up her lifelong dream of having a professional riding career and a shot at the Olympics due to her severe symptoms and inability to ride,' Yolanda said. 'This was the biggest heartbreak of her life and an extremely sensitive subject for her. She is resilient and focused on a new direction--she's made a name for herself in the modeling industry while she struggles with symptoms of chronic Lyme every day,' she added. Hadid did get back in the saddle, as she was spotted riding at an equestrian event in Florida back in March 2023 . She was also photographed on horseback with boyfriend Adan Banuelos at the New York City premiere of his short film series Window To The West. Hadid is no stranger to acting either, appearing in three episodes of Ramy and four episodes of Love Advent. It remains to be seen if both Hadid and Banuelos will return for next week's Yellowstone finale or not. @AAmmyy_J said, 'Not Bella Hadid being on this week’s Yellowstone,' while @allyckontos said, 'BELLA HADID IN YELLOWSTONE' Yellowstone fans were shocked by a surprise cameo by supermodel Bella Hadid and her boyfriend Adan Banuelos in Sunday's penultimate episode Her boyfriend Banuelos - an accomplished cowboy himself, being voted into the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame at age 28, the youngest ever to be inducted - was also seen in a brief scene involving Travis playing strip poker The episode didn't feature any deaths, though it did seem to set up what may well be an epic finale. The family auctioned off all of the ranch's horses and cattle, as many a ranch hand questioned the future of the Yellowstone-Dutton ranch. While the millions they made at auction bought them some time, Kayce came up with a way that he thinks can save the ranch: by giving it away. Who Kayce plans on giving the ranch away to remains to be seen, though it's possible that he could give it back to the Indians, completing a theory fans have suggested since the 1883 prequel finale. An Indian told John Dutton's great great grandfather that his family would control this land for seven generations before his people take it back. John Dutton's family is in fact the seventh generation to run the ranch, and it seems that Kayce just may give up the ranch to save it in next week's finale. Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) did tell Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) that he wanted him to stay on at the ranch to help 'build it back up, while the rest of the ranch hands pondered where they might be working next. Teeter (Jennifer Landon) mourned the loss of Colby (Denim Richards), with Beth helping by taking her to a tourist bar to mess with the out-of-towners. Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) did tell Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) that he wanted him to stay on at the ranch to help 'build it back up, while the rest of the ranch hands pondered where they might be working next Teeter (Jennifer Landon) mourned the loss of Colby (Denim Richards), with Beth helping by taking her to a tourist bar to mess with the out-of-towners Beth also seemingly leaked information about her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley) to the press while the police investigated Sarah Atwood's (Dawn Olivieri) company Market Equities. Jamie insisted that if she ruins him, she'll be ruining the whole family, though she insisted that she'll reveal he was actually adopted by John and is not related to the Dutton's by blood. Next week's finale will feature the burial of John Dutton, with Beth whispering into her father's casket, 'I will avenge you.' Yellowstone returns with the massive finale on Sunday, December 15 at 8 PM ET on Paramount Network. Kevin Costner Bella Hadid Share or comment on this article: Yellowstone fans all saying the same thing about show creator Taylor Sheridan after Kevin Costner's exit e-mail Add comment

Company experts offer predictions across key sectors to help businesses navigate the unexpected MEMPHIS, Tenn. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sedgwick , a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting and technology-enabled business solutions, has published its Forecasting 2025 thought leadership report . In preparing the report, Sedgwick's experts conducted research and engaged with clients for notable insights to forecast trends across key sectors and topics. The content focuses on ensuring organizations are aware of new risks and evolving trends and helping them navigate the unexpected in the year ahead. The Forecasting 2025 thought leadership report highlights trends related to: The future of the workplace: Organizational leaders will need to navigate generational differences, an ever-increasing focus on mental health, and new strategies for talent recruitment, retention and development — while developing efficient support systems to respond in the event of workplace injuries, accidents and other crises. Recalls, regulatory landscape and compliance: Strategies like "mock recalls" will be a priority as leaders focus on maintaining public trust, tailoring communication strategies to broader and more segmented audiences, and maximizing awareness and response in the event of a product recall. Catastrophe planning and disaster recovery: Operational continuity in the event of a disaster will be key in 2025, as business and property owners, company leaders and private citizens anticipate the rising frequency and intensity of droughts, extreme temperatures, flooding and storms. Parametric insurance policies will become more common, as will new building methods and construction strategies amid regulatory and policy changes, technological advancements, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. AI and ...: Artificial intelligence and robotics have driven some of the most prominent workplace evolutions over the past few years. In 2025, these and other leading-edge technologies will continue to play a significant role in the way companies promote efficiencies and engage with customers. However, business leaders must be able to keep up with new regulations, understand the associated vulnerabilities and risks, and put a team in place to effectively implement and maintain them. Planning ahead: The world is rapidly changing, becoming more uncertain and volatile every day. Supply chain disruptions, new tariffs, more frequent and sophisticated cyber-attacks and business interruption will greatly impact organizations in 2025. Diversification, rapid response and technology will be critical tools in being as prepared as possible. "2024 was a seismic year across industry sectors as companies navigated the unexpected, and 2025 will be no different," said Kimberly George, Sedgwick's Global Chief Brand Officer . "These predictions serve as a barometer for what's to come, so leaders around the world can prepare accordingly." The trends and predictions in the Forecasting 2025 report will be monitored by Sedgwick's experts throughout the year and serve as part of a larger thought leadership strategy to keep clients and partners informed. With this, Sedgwick will launch a new podcast featuring in-depth conversations with its experts and client partners on a new topic each month. For more on the report insights, visit sedgwick.com . About Sedgwick Sedgwick is a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting and technology-enabled business solutions. The company provides a broad range of resources tailored to clients' specific needs in casualty, property, marine, benefits, brand protection and other lines. At Sedgwick, caring counts; through the dedication and expertise of over 33,000 colleagues across 80 countries, the company takes care of people and organizations by mitigating and reducing risks and losses, promoting health and productivity, protecting brand reputations, and containing costs that can impact performance. Sedgwick's majority shareholder is The Carlyle Group; Stone Point Capital LLC, Altas Partners, CDPQ, Onex and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see sedgwick.com . SOURCE Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.AWH Partners Promotes Dev Sharma as Director of AnalyticsSyrian natives living in upstate New York celebrate Assad's fall

Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe

5 great oceans in the world U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 2.73 points, or less than 0.1%, to 6,049.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 76.47 points, or 0.2%, to 44,705.53. The Nasdaq composite rose 76.96 points, or 0.4%, to 19,480.91. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 17.79 points, or 0.7%, to 2,416.35. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 17.50 points, or 0.3%. The Dow is down 205.12 points, or 0.5%. The Nasdaq is up 262.74 points, or 1.4%. The Russell 2000 is down 18.38 points, or 0.8%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,280.05 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,015.99 points, or 18.6%. The Nasdaq is up 4,469.56 points, or 29.8%. The Russell 2000 is up 389.27 points, or 19.2%.

What's Going On?NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate" granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office.Revealed: UK politics infiltrated by ‘dark money’ with 10% of donations from dubious sources

Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksSome 70 per cent of respondents who gave their first preference to an Independent said they would still have backed them if the person had been involved in party politics. Overall, just more than half of people surveyed in the election day exit poll, 52 per cent, said they would have voted for their first preference candidate even if they were running for another party. The results indicate that the identity of the candidate is slightly more important than the political party they represent when Irish people come to choosing who to vote for. Forty-seven per cent said they would have voted for someone else had their first preference candidate in the election run for a different party. The highest proportion of people who indicated they would remain loyal to a party over a candidate were those who voted for the Green Party . Eighty per cent of these voters would have chosen someone else had the candidate been in a different party. The next highest block of supporters who answered in the same way were people whose first preferences went to the Social Democrats – 63 per cent. Sixty-two per cent of Sinn Féin voters said they would have voted for someone else had their chosen candidate not been in the party. In contrast, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael voters were more inclined to prioritise the candidate over the party. Sixty-five per cent of Fianna Fáil voters said they still would have voted for the person had they been in a different party. The corresponding figure for those who gave first preferences to Fine Gael was 60 per cent. Of those who voted for the new Independent Ireland party, 46 per cent said they would have voted for the same candidate if they had been in another party. In terms of how different age groups responded to the question, 59 per cent of over-65s said they would have backed the same person if they had run for a different party. In contrast, 58 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they would have voted for someone else had their preferred candidate been in a different party. The poll, which is a joint project of The Irish Times, RTÉ, TG4 and the Political Science Department of Trinity College Dublin, was conducted by Ipsos B&A among 5018 voters as they left 253 polling stations across all 43 constituencies on Friday. Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra of delaying government formation, claiming the ruling parties were unprepared for their victory in the state polls. Thackeray made the remarks during an event in Pune, hours before the BJP announced that the swearing-in of the new government would take place on December 5. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-9167143-2"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); Speaking at a protest led by 95-year-old social activist Dr Baba Adhav against the alleged misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and money power in the November 20 state elections, Thackeray questioned the lack of post-victory celebrations by the BJP-led coalition. Adhav concluded his three-day agitation by accepting a glass of water from Thackeray, news agency PTI reported. "When the Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed (after the 2019 elections), President's rule was imposed. This time, no one has staked a claim to form the government, yet there is no President's rule," said Thackeray, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister. He alleged that the Mahayuti allies had not anticipated their return to power and were unprepared for government formation. "They never thought they would come to power again, so they had no planning on who will be the Chief Minister or the council ministers. This is why government formation is taking time," Thackeray asserted. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1253031-3"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); ALSO READ | ‘Mahayuti Will Form Govt With CM From...’: Ajit Pawar Reveals Alliance Formula Amid Maharashtra Suspense Uddhav Thackeray Alleges Discrepancies, Unusual Voting Pattern Thackeray also raised concerns over discrepancies in the electoral process and called for a thorough count of all Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. "Anyone can see that a vote has been cast. But how does one verify how the vote has been registered?" he questioned. Claiming unusual voting patterns, Thackeray pointed out that as many as 76 lakh votes were cast in the final hour of polling on November 20, equating to an average of 1,000 votes per booth. "The length of queues outside polling booths did not reflect this," he claimed. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the handling of the government formation process. He told ANI, "The date (of the oath-taking ceremony) comes from the Governor's Office. We congratulate the person who is going to take the oath, but anarchy is seen in the country. Someone has to claim to form the government, show a majority, and then all this is decided." #WATCH | Shiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "The date (of the oath-taking ceremony) comes from the Governor's Office. We congratulate the person who is going to take the oath but anarchy is seen in the country. Someone has to claim to form Govt, show majority and then all... https://t.co/HiPKuiQMda pic.twitter.com/wWhykC8kI8 — ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2024 The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition's decision to hold the swearing-in ceremony on December 5 comes amid ongoing criticism from opposition parties regarding transparency and preparedness in government formation.How to Prepare for a Criminal Defense Case Hearing in Louisiana

Dell Technologies CFO Yvonne McGill sells $1.01m in stockPets are undeniably lovable, bringing joy to many homes as they eagerly greet their owners and become cherished members of the family. However, while common belief has held that owning pets—primarily dogs and cats—can positively influence the health and development of both adults and children, recent research challenges this notion. 2 View gallery ( Photo: Shutterstock ) A new study led by Prof. Carri Westgarth from the University of Liverpool, published in BMC Pediatrics, explored the impact of pet ownership on child development. The research followed 14,000 children and adolescents in the United Kingdom over several years, making it one of the largest studies of its kind. The study builds on a 2017 review by the same university, which analyzed dozens of studies examining pets' effects on children's behavior, cognitive skills and social development. That review found inconsistent results—some studies suggested positive impacts, while others did not—and highlighted methodological flaws, such as insufficient consideration of socioeconomic and demographic factors like family income and parental education. The new research addressed these gaps by focusing on environmental factors that could skew results. It also expanded the scope and depth of its analysis, evaluating participants multiple times between the ages of 2 and 15. The study assessed emotional health, social behavior, cognitive development, language skills and academic achievement. Data included both self-reports and external evaluations. Prof. Westgarth and her team hypothesized that children with pets would score higher in self-confidence, language development and academic performance while showing lower levels of anxiety, depression and behavioral problems. However, the findings revealed limited positive effects—and, in some areas, worse outcomes for children with pets. Key findings: Emotional health: The study found no evidence that pet ownership enhances emotional well-being. Researchers noted this contradicted the popular belief that pets benefit children's emotional health. Behavioral issues: Most analyses showed no significant differences in behavioral problems between children with and without pets. One exception was among three-year-olds with pets, who displayed better pro-social behavior. However, in several other age groups, children with pets were found to have more behavioral issues. 2 View gallery ( Photo: Shutterstock ) Cognitive development: No meaningful differences were identified in cognitive development between children with and without pets, except for an isolated negative finding. Eleven-year-olds who grew up with dogs exhibited greater difficulty switching attention between tasks. Language development: Some small benefits were observed in language development. Five-year-olds with pets showed slightly better language comprehension, while two-year-olds with pets scored higher in nonverbal communication. For other language-related measures, no significant differences emerged. Educational achievement: The most surprising results were related to academic performance. Children aged 7, 11 and 15 who grew up with pets scored lower on about half of the educational metrics compared to their peers without pets. For example, seven-year-olds with pets had lower scores in reading, writing and math. Adolescents with pets showed slightly lower achievement in subjects such as biology, chemistry and English. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv A comprehensive article published this month in Psychology Today highlights the disconnect between the emotional bond people feel with their pets and the scientific evidence on their developmental benefits. This phenomenon, dubbed the "Pet Effect Paradox," is a central puzzle in anthrozoology—the study of human-animal relationships. It resonates deeply with those who grew up with pets, felt enriched by the experience and hope to provide the same for their children. Prof. Westgarth is quoted in the article attempting to reconcile this paradox. "My personal takeaway is that, similar to the body of literature in adults, pets can support and encourage social interactions with others, but are not a panacea for treating our low moods or anxieties about life. What this data can’t tell us is how owning a pet may still help comfort children whilst dealing with life’s challenges." >Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Syrian insurgents are inside Aleppo in a major setback for Assad as government forces regroup BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have fanned out inside Syria's largest city Aleppo a day after storming it with little resistance from government troops. Syria's army said troops have redeployed to prepare for a counteroffensive. Witnesses said insurgents were seen Saturday at landmarks in Aleppo for the first time since 2016, when they were expelled by government forces backed by Russia and Iran. The surprise offensive is a major embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has regained total control of the city eight years ago. Israeli strike in Gaza allegedly kills workers with World Central Kitchen charity DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in Gaza has killed five people, according to a senior Palestinian health official. An aid worker says three of the people killed were employees of the charity World Central Kitchen. The charity's aid delivery efforts in Gaza were temporarily suspended earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers. Israel's military says it struck a wanted militant who had been involved in the Hamas attack that sparked the war. In a later statement, it said that the alleged attacker had worked with WCK and it asked “senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration to clarify” how that had come about. Lebanese fisherman hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. How Brazilian police say Bolsonaro plotted a coup to stay in office SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office. The plot was allegedly comprised of several components and substantiated by evidence and testimony in the agency's 884-page report. The pieces of the puzzle include laying the groundwork by systematically sowing distrust of the electoral system among the populace. It also includes drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legal basis and pressuring top military brass to go along with the plan. Bolsonaro and his main allies have denied any wrongdoing or involvement and accuse authorities of political persecution. More than 100 arrested as Georgian police clash with protesters over suspension of EU talks TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — More than 100 demonstrators were arrested overnight in Georgia as protesters clashed with police following the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Friday marked the second straight night of protests after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension the previous day. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament building. The violence follows Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia's visiting defense chief. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday as international concerns about the two countries’ expanding cooperation deepened after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia. During a Friday meeting, Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on issues on how to further boost strategic partnership and defend each country’s sovereignty and security interests, state media said. Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest forecast to be hit with snow and dangerous cold into next week BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snow of the season has the potential to bury towns in New York along lakes Erie and Ontario during a hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend. Forecasters says winter storm conditions could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. Forecasters predict 4 to 6 feet of blowing and drifting snow could fall in Watertown and other areas east of Lake Ontario through Monday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency in affected areas.