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how do you play baccarat One of the most challenging times of the year for those suffering from addiction is the holiday season. We just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner. In addition, the holidays are filled with mental stress, responsibilities and numerous financial obligations. All of these things serve as triggers for those who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. For many, the holidays may also bring about more family/relationship conflicts (or loneliness for those who have lost loved ones) and subsequently the desire for increased or resumed substance abuse. We certainly can’t totally avoid the holiday season. This time is ultimately meant to be enjoyed. But, there are things everyone can do to reduce holiday stress. It’s also important to recognize your own triggers and limit them. Take care of your basic needs first. Be sure to eat well and get plenty of rest, fresh air and exercise. Try to avoid prolonged time with individuals who cause stress or in unhealthy environments. If you struggle with substance abuse, be prepared to decline invitations to consume alcohol at a social gathering. It’s also acceptable to decline an invitation to attend a social event entirely. Your peace of mind and stability are most important. Plan ahead to deal with tempting situations. If you are hosting a party, be sure to offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. Never questions why a person chooses not to drink alcohol or try to push him/her to just have one drink. Alcohol is not a requirement for celebrations. Choose healthy new habits and opportunities to meet new friends; try new activities to limit temptation and the desire to engage in unhealthy habits. For many, meditation and mindfulness practices are helpful to fight the cravings of substance abuse. Striving to keep your mind calm during the hectic holiday season should be a daily habit for everyone, whether you are managing addictions or not. Finally, if you are fortunate not to have a substance abuse problem during the holiday season, keep an eye out for your friends, family members and co-workers who may be having difficulty at this time of year. Your support and kindness can go a long way to help him/her deal with daily stress. If you know someone is striving to avoid alcohol, invite that person to lunch or dinner at a place where they won’t be tempted. Take the time to listen. Maybe he or she just needs to vent or simply needs a friend. Everyone has issues they are dealing with and when they holidays are upon us, these issues often become more visible. Take a closer look at those around you and you may have the opportunity to improve someone else’s day or even their life.Justin Thomas with big drives and a few big putts takes 1-shot lead over Scheffler in the Bahamas

Course correction, RSS backed campaign and women voters script Mahayuti's come back in MaharashtraNASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. “I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. “I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I’m still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we're always going to say that.” Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. “Feel like I’ve been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everybody else or what’s going on, I’ve just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it’s enough come Sunday.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfUK wants to hire EU negotiator to 'reset' relations

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Canadians face a fresh wave of scams as fraudsters seize on the Canada Post strike to try to trick victims out of their cash. The last few weeks have seen an “exponential” rise in attempted fraud, ranging from phishing emails to deepfake phone calls, says Octavia Howell, chief information security officer at Equifax Canada. “Any time there is a major political event, a major strike or anything like that, we’ll see an uptick,” she said in a phone interview. “Not only is there a Canada post strike ... it’s the holidays.” Scams related to parcels and deliveries typically tick up in step with online shopping orders this time of year, but the work stoppage at Canada Post has led to even more fraud attempts amid the confusion around shipments, Howell said. Comprehensive figures on the latest batch of scams are not yet available from Equifax Canada, but the credit bureau’s daily updates have marked the rise nonetheless. Rather than the roughly half-dozen daily consumer fraud reports of previous increases, Equifax Canada’s investigations team is filing up to “87 in one report in one day coming from the same IP addresses,” said Howell. She called the trend “insidious.” “We’re seeing exponential growth in the amount of scams that are actually happening ... because, one, holidays, and then two, people aren’t able to get their shipments out.” Mail carriers walked off the job on Nov. 15, halting deliveries of letters and packages at the start of the holiday shipping season. Canada Post cautions users that it never reaches out about a delivery via text or email unless it has been requested to. The Crown corporation has asked Canadians to be on guard for telltale signs of a phishing scam or fraud attempt, including poor grammar, imagery inconsistent with Canada Post logos and a tracking number at odds with its standard format. The Better Business Bureau similarly cautioned users when the strike kicked off. “Watch out for fake package delivery offers during Canada’s postal strike,” the non-profit said in a release last month. It advised potential victims to verify delivery services, avoid unsolicited shipment offers from little-known companies and check for accreditation by the bureau before selecting a service. It also noted that scammers may send false messages claiming to be from Canada Post or another carrier asking for payment for undelivered items or offering “priority service.” “Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or texts. Instead, visit the official website of the courier service for updates,” the bureau said. Canada Post recommends customers contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if they receive a suspicious email, text or call related to the postal service.Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 13, 2024 / Electric Metals (USA) Limited ("EML" or the "Company") (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) announces that, further to its news release dated October 31, 2024 , it has closed the first tranche of the Company's non brokered private placement (the "Offering") issuing an aggregate of 5,837,000 common shares ("the "Shares") at $0.10 per share for gross proceeds of C$583,700. The Company also announces that it has obtained an additional 30-day extension from the TSX Venture the "TSXV") Exchange to close a second tranche of the Offering. The final closing and filing acceptance of all documentation required by the TSXV in respect of the Offering has been extended from December 13, 2024, to January 13, 2025. The Shares issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities for Canadian subscribers and six months from the date of issuance for U.S. subscribers. Under the Offering, directors of the Corporation have subscribed for a total of 3,737,000 Shares for a total consideration of C$373,700, which constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Regulation 61-101 respecting Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("Regulation 61-101") and TSXV Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. However, the directors of the Corporation who voted in favor of the Offering have determined that the exemptions from formal valuation and minority approval requirements provided for respectively under subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of Regulation 61-101 can be relied on as neither the fair market value of the Shares issued to this insider, nor the fair market value of the consideration paid exceeded 25% of the Corporation's market capitalization. None of the Corporation's directors have expressed any contrary views or disagreements with respect to the foregoing. A material change report in respect of this related party transaction will be filed by the Corporation but could not be filed earlier than 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering, due to the fact that the terms of the participation of each of the non-related parties and the related parties of the Offering were not confirmed. The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Electric Metals (USA) Limited Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) is a US-based mineral development company with manganese and silver projects geared to supporting the transition to clean energy. The Company's principal asset is the Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota, the highest-grade manganese deposit in North America, which has been the subject of considerable technical studies, including National Instrument 43-101 Technical Reports - Resource Estimates. The Company's mission in Minnesota is to become a domestic US producer of high-value, high-purity manganese metal and chemical products to supply the North American electric vehicle battery, technology and industrial markets. With manganese playing a critical and prominent role in lithium-ion battery formulations, and with no current domestic supply or active mines for manganese in North America, the development of the Emily Manganese Project represents a significant opportunity for America, the State of Minnesota and for the Company's shareholders. For further information, please contact: Electric Metals (USA) Limited Brian Savage CEO & Director (303) 656-9197 or Valerie Kimball Director Investor Relations 720-933-1150 info@electricmetals.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation: the ability of the Company to complete the Offering; the size, terms and timing of the Offering; participation in the Offering by insiders of the Company; the timing and receipt of TSXV and other approvals required in connection with the Offering; the intended use of proceeds of the Offering; the Company's mission to become a domestic US producer of high-value, high-purity manganese metal and chemical products to supply the North American electric vehicle battery, technology and industrial markets; that manganese will continue to play a critical and prominent role in lithium-ion battery formulations; that with no current domestic supply or active mines for manganese in North America, the development of the Emily Manganese Project represents a significant opportunity for America, Minnesota and for the Company's shareholders; and planned or potential developments in ongoing work by Electric Metals. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain all necessary stock exchange and regulatory approvals; investor interest in participating in the Offering; and risks related to the exploration and other plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, updated conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Electric Metals (USA) Limited View the original on accesswire.com

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rouge baccarat A wildlife sanctuary says it is being inundated with abandoned goats because hard up Brits are struggling to afford the animals. Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats, based in , has received a sudden influx of goats over the past fortnight - after a series of people "ditched" the poor animals and left them on busy roads. The site is now caring for just over 130 goats - which workers say is "slightly above" its maximum capacity. Head of hoof stock Ben Ward says this means the sanctuary cannot take any more goats in until it rehomes some of those it has - and has called on animal lovers to help. Mr Ward said: "Our job is to rescue and rehome goats. But there’s no pattern that dictates how often we get enquiries about helping goats. "And over the past couple weeks, we've had an inundation of goats. We received 13 because their owner had suddenly passed away and there was no one left to look after them - but others were just abandoned by the roadside. "A mum and baby goat were ditched on the A229 - and they weren't even tethered. The mum had a poorly foot, which I reckon is the only thing which stopped them from walking out into the traffic. "It's awful to think about what could have happened." Mr Ward said it's impossible to understand exactly why people abandon animals, but guessed that it might be to do with the costs. He said: "We're in a cost of living crisis and the costs of everything are rising, so that may push people to this. Others may not have considered beforehand the obligations that come with owning an animal. "And for others, I think there is an awareness that if they abandon an animal - people feel obligated to come and collect it. Maybe people know that places like us exist and assume they can just fall back on it." But Buttercups Sanctuary now has so many goats that it may not be able to help any others in need. "We are at a point where we can't take any more animals in until we alleviate the ones that we've got," Mr Ward said. "We've had to put up temporary pens already and we're just at capacity." Mr Ward insisted that anyone looking to rehome a goat would "get a lot out of it". He said: "Goats are actually a lot like dogs. They're incredibly loving, compassionate, personable, and intelligent. "If they stay with us, they'll still have a wonderful life. But if they are rehomed - they get more out of that one-to-one care and closeness." However, he stressed that people need to consider what they're getting themselves in for. "The day-to-day costs, such as food, aren't actually that much, perhaps £300 per goat per year," Mr Ward said. "But the initial outlays are more expensive, like making sure you have land, stabling, and fencing." And for those who want to help but can't take on a goat at the moment, Mr Ward says financial contributions are "just as helpful". He said: "We understand that plenty of people don't have the ability to take on a goat, and honestly, financial contributions, no matter how big or small, are just as helpful. This helps us keep running and makes sure we can look after as many goats as possible." To find out more about Buttercups Sanctuary, and how you can help, .CBC resurrects live New Year's Eve broadcast special with coast-to-coast show

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 December 2024 – Directors and Officers (D&Os) have been operating in a highly complex environment throughout 2024, and further volatility can be expected during 2025. Executives face multiple exposures in an increasingly interconnected business world, confronted with risks arising from business insolvencies, geopolitical upheaval, climate change, digital transformation, economic uncertainty, shifts in public opinion, and an evolving legal landscape. These are the latest key risk trends in the D&O insurance space, as identified by Allianz Commercial’s annual Directors and Officers Insurance Insights report. “The D&O insurance market has remained competitive for buyers over the past year, but loss potential is still high,” says Vanessa Maxwell, Chief Underwriting Officer, Allianz Commercial. “ The global rise in business insolvencies is a particular focus of concern, with companies and leaders exposed to potential claims from lenders seeking to recover funds, or from shareholders who allege breach of fiduciary duty. At the same time, the litigation landscape and enforcement are increasingly stringent, and we are seeing regulatory bodies across the globe step up scrutiny of corporate conduct, making D&Os more vulnerable to investigations, penalties and lawsuits.” Insolvencies as an emerging D&O risk Global business insolvencies for 2024 are expected to rise by +11%, and countries accounting for more than half of global GDP will be hit by double-digit insolvency increases in 2024, according to Allianz Trade . Major insolvencies already increased by +26% year-on-year for the first three quarters of 2024 (344 cases). Western Europe leads the global count with 195 cases, a reflection of the region’s current economic instability, followed by Asia-Pacific (67 cases) and North America (66 cases). Rising bankruptcies typically lead to an increase in D&O claims, so this trend is a reminder to business leaders of the need to respond and adapt to the challenging environment. “Many companies have faced higher interest expenses, inflationary pressures, and macro- and microeconomic headwinds that have impacted their business and resulted in a struggle to service their debt load,” says Dan Holloway, Head of Global Management Liability Commercial at Allianz Commercial . “Some sectors are particularly exposed, including real estate, construction, hospitality, tourism, and businesses in ‘consumer discretionary’, or non-essential purchases.” Turbulent geopolitical environment and stringent litigation landscape With war in Ukraine and the Middle East, the geopolitical landscape presents liability challenges to businesses as they find themselves caught up in world events with potentially significant consequences for their operations. Upheaval can lead to supply chain disruption, business interruption, and legal and regulatory scrutiny. Companies can face scrutiny for non-compliance with international sanctions, or for failing to adequately manage risks related to politically unstable regions. D&Os can be held accountable for misjudging the impact of geopolitical developments on their company’s operations, leading to shareholder lawsuits or regulatory penalties. At the same time, the litigation landscape and enforcement are increasingly stringent, with securities class actions proliferating not only in the US, but also in Europe (+10% year-on-year) and Australia (+43%) . “D&Os need to update their knowledge around geopolitical and regulatory changes more regularly than ever before,” says Jarrod Schlesinger, Global Head of Financial Lines and Cyber at Allianz Commercial. “A once-a-year review is no longer sufficient in the volatile era businesses are now operating in. These trends are driving the need for D&O policies that are responsive to multi-jurisdictional risks and can provide local coverage for legal defense costs, settlements and other liabilities.” “AI washing” – the new “greenwashing”? The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) is huge, but it also means companies must adapt quickly to potential exposures around disclosure, regulation, shareholder scrutiny and litigation. AI-related litigation is increasing and exaggerated claims about firms’ technological capabilities – a trend known as “AI washing” – could lead to securities class action lawsuits and enforcement actions. Class action lawsuits have already been filed in the US, but the risk extends beyond North America, as any company that has its stock listed on a US exchange is subject to US securities law. Third-party litigation funding a growing exposure The global litigation funding industry is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years –by almost 10% CAGR up to 2028 – widening access to justice, but also potentially driving up the number of class actions and settlement costs and damages, as also highlighted in Allianz Commercial’s Five Liability Loss Trends To Watch report. And it is not only confined to the US – third-party litigation funding is also established in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. “D&Os will face increasing scrutiny from third parties ready to jump on cases and fund them. Claims are likely to become more complex because of funders’ aggressive litigation strategies and the experts they can afford to hire,” says Schlesinger. “Plaintiffs with little to lose financially could be tempted to make baseless claims. Even if the case doesn’t have legs, directors still have to defend it.” Challenges persist in Asia D&O market The price-driven Asia D&O market has experienced a drop in overall premium rates during 2024, due to factors including high competition from an abundance of capacity globally, and challenging economic environments resulting in some clients reducing limits purchased to save costs. “We foresee the overall market size for D&O in 2025 will continue to retract, driven by rate erosion, smaller limits being purchased by customers, and very limited new opportunities given slow capital market activities. Despite this, D&O insurance remains crucial for companies due to the multiple exposures executives face, and as loss potential increases with higher severity for claims being resolved,” says Danielle An, Regional Practice Leader, Management Liability Commercial, Asia, at Allianz Commercial. Hashtag: #Allianz https://commercial.allianz.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/allianz-commercial/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world’s largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry as well as family-owned and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions. Powered by the employees, financial strength , and network of the world’s #1 insurance brand, as ranked by Interbrand , we work together to help our customers prepare for what’s ahead: They trust us to provide a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services, as well as seamless claims handling. The trade name Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2023, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated more than €18 billion gross premium globally.‘WHAT is his problem?’ screamed I’m a Celebrity fans as they demanded Dean McCullough is axed after his shock heated bust-up. Tensions erupted in the jungle on tonight as Dean , 32, found himself in a heated argument with Coronation Street star Alan Halsall, 42. 4 I’m a Celebrity fans are demanding one campmate is axed Credit: ITV Alan became frustrated with Dean after the Radio 1 DJ, 32, skipped his chores and opted for a nap. Dean had indulged in a feast of junk food earlier, which had been won by Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles during a secret mission. Alan’s frustration boiled over when Loose Women panellist Jane Moore was left to collect firewood alone. Jane said, “I can’t do it on my own.” read more on Dean McCullough CAMP CHAOS I’m A Celeb’s biggest rule breaks as Dean McCullough brings teabags into camp not happy Dean McCullough 'looks fuming' as Ant takes another swipe at him after 'row' Alan, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, attempted to wake Dean, but the presenter barely moved. Alan asked, “You don’t fancy it? No?” before walking off to help Jane himself. Dean eventually joined the pair but wasn’t pleased with Alan’s earlier approach. He said, “Listen to me. If you’re gonna wake me up, you need to give me a minute, alright? It takes a couple of minutes for my contact lenses to get back working again, alright? Most read in Reality Close Bond Strictly star JB Gill opens up about ‘tough week’ after Liam Payne’s funeral AISLE SAY MAFS' biggest transformations including bride who shed 5st after husband cheated BAE-CAY Georgia Steel packs on the PDA with footballer boyfriend at £1k a night hotel NAME GAME Dermot O’Leary’s real name revealed as he shocks This Morning co-host Cat Deeley "So you don’t need to turn around to me and say, ‘Do you not fancy it, OK?’ And then turn around and walk away.” Alan responded, “I’ve listened to you. Jane was halfway down here, that’s why I went.” I'm A Celeb fans spot clues that Ant is 'raging' with Dean after Bushtucker Trial flop ITV viewers were left fuming as they rushed to X, formerly Twitter, to slam Dean. One wrote: "dean sir what is your problem???????" while another added: "Hopefully Dean McCullough will walk out, he’s insufferable." A third commented: "Dean screwed himself on tonight’s show going after Tyrone. #ImACeleb. He has been beyond useless in the trials and then scolds Tyrone like a bold child." One more concluded: "Well Dean can f**k the right off after talking to Alan like that! Shame you don’t put that much emotion into your trials. D**khead." Yesterday, host Ant McPartlin broke his silence after viewers accused him of being in a feud with Dean. Ant and Dec appeared on ITV2 spin-off show Unpacked on Thursday as they discussed the latest Bushtucker Trial. Ant admitted he was "annoyed" at Dean for screaming 'I'm A Celeb' and quitting the task early - and being "unprofessional" in how he dealt with it. Unpacked presenter Joel Dommett said: "It's going to be so nice seeing someone new do a trial tomorrow." Dec replied: "Also Danny is determined, he's enthusiastic, so there's no hiding for Dean - he's going to have to step up." Ant said: "You kind of hope that he's going to raise his game a little bit, I thought he was going to do that today." While Sam Thompson, who won the jungle show last year, admitted he was disappointed by Dean's efforts. He piped up saying: "Fish guts mates, he had a spider on his head." An irritated Ant responded: "I told you not to talk to me about it Sam. My annoyance came across on screen and it was quite unprofessional and I'm not happy about it." Dec sarcastically said: "I think you hid it quite well, Ant...I think you hid it quite well." Ant went on: "You get to the point when you think 'what are you doing?'" He then admitted that he's "going to be kind to him [Dean] today...I'll be good cop today." Dean returned to camp last night, announcing that he’d won just four stars after a gruesome trial. Earlier this week, viewers were convinced that Ant was secretly furious with Dean after he called time on Wednesday's challenge and failed to secure any stars. Ant, known for his playful banter with co-host Dec, appeared unusually stern, hinting at his frustration as he greeted Dean for yet another trial, Lethal Lab. He even warned Dean that he was the "bad cop" in their hosting duo. Dean’s upbeat demeanor after the trial seemed to catch Ant off guard. As the DJ bowled into the clearing, Ant quipped: "Hello, Dean. I didn’t expect that. I thought you’d be a little bit forlorn, a little bit sad. It looks like you’re loving life. Have you been to the pub?" Dean laughed it off, replying: "No, no, I’ve just had a cold shower." Ant then shifted to a more serious tone, confronting Dean about his recent failures, saying: "Now, Dean, I want to have a word with you. What happened yesterday? No stars. What happened the day before? You said, 'I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.'" Dean admitted: "Oh, it’s not good, but that’s why I’m ready for it today, because we’re going to change the narrative." But Ant didn’t let him off the hook, firmly responding: "You can only change the narrative by sticking with it and getting on with it." The exchange left Dean momentarily stunned. "I feel like I’m being told off by Ant and Dec," he joked. Ant was quick to clarify: "Well, by me," while Dec chimed in to reassure, "I’m good cop." Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort Read Rebekah Vardy's latest I'm A Celebrity column here . I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." 4 Dean found himself in a heated argument with Corrie star Alan Halsall Credit: ITV 4 Alan’s frustration boiled over in tonight's episode Credit: ITV 4 He became frustrated with Dean after he skipped his chores and opted for a nap Credit: ITV

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness," Trump wrote on social media, referring to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a television interview that aired Sunday, Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO . Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Asked on NBC's “Meet the Press” if he were actively working to end the nearly 3-year-old Ukraine war, Trump said, “I am.” He refused to say if he had spoken to Putin since winning election in November. “I don’t want to say anything about that, because I don’t want to do anything that could impede the negotiation,” Trump said. Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire went beyond the public policy stands taken by the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. It also marks Trump wading unusually deeply into efforts before his Jan. 20 inauguration to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration. Trump made his proposal after a weekend meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders in Paris, where many world leaders gathered to celebrate the restoration of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire. None of the advisers traveling with him appeared to have expertise on Ukraine. Kyiv would like to close a deal, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump added. He was referring to mediation efforts by China that many in the West have seen as favoring Russia. Zelenskyy described his discussions Saturday with Trump, brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron, as “constructive" but has given no further details. Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine needs a “just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years.” “When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must talk first of all about effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land,” he said Sunday in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump's post by repeating Moscow’s long-standing message that it is open to talks with Ukraine. Peskov referenced a decree by Zelenskyy from October 2022 that declared the prospect of any talks “impossible” as long as Putin was Russia's leader. That decree came after Putin proclaimed four occupied regions of Ukraine to be part of Russia, in what Kyiv and the West said was a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Trump’s former national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, warned there was no such thing as a quick fix to ending Russia’s war with Ukraine. “What I’m worried about is this kind of flawed idea that Putin can be placated, right, that Putin will come to some kind of a deal,” McMaster told “Fox News Sunday." “I think it’s really important for President Trump to adhere to his instinct in this connection ... peace through strength,” McMaster said, adding, “How about give them what they need to defend themselves, and then saying to Putin, ‘You’re going to lose this war?”’ While Trump has said before that he would like to see a quick ceasefire in Ukraine, his proposal Sunday was framed as a direct appeal to Russia. The quick responses from Ukraine and Russia demonstrated the seriousness with which they regarded the idea from the incoming American president. Both Trump and President Joe Biden pointed this weekend to Russia’s disengagement in Syria , where the Russian military largely moved out of the way while Syrian rebels overthrew the country’s Russian-allied president , as evidence of the extent to which the Ukraine war has sapped Russia’s resources. Biden said at the White House on Sunday that resistance from Ukraine had "left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.” The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have made a point of not being seen to press Ukraine for an immediate truce. Ukraine's allies fear a quick deal would be largely on the terms of its more powerful neighbor, potentially forcing damaging concessions on Ukraine and allowing Russia to resume the war again once it has built back up its military strength. Trump portrays himself as up to making fast deals to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that have frustrated many of the Biden administration's own mediation efforts. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise affect current U.S. policy. The Logan Act bars private citizens from trying to intervene in “disputes or controversies” between the United States and foreign powers without government approval. But the 1799 statute has produced just two criminal cases, none since the 1850s and neither resulting in a criminal conviction. In the NBC interview taped Friday, Trump renewed his warning to NATO allies that he did not see continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance as a given during his second term. Trump has long complained that European and the Canadian governments in the mutual-defense bloc are freeloading on military spending by the U.S., by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments say a majority of countries in the bloc are now hitting voluntary targets for military spending , due in part to pressure from Trump in his first term. Asked whether he would consider the possibility of pulling out of NATO, Trump indicated that was an open question. “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I’d stay with NATO,” he said. But if not, he was asked if he would consider pulling the U.S. out of the alliance. Trump responded, “Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.” Trump expressed the same openness when asked if Ukraine should brace for possible cuts in U.S. aid. “Possibly,” he said. U.S. arms and other military support are vital to Ukraine's efforts to fend off invading Russian forces, and Biden has been surging assistance to Ukraine before leaving office. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday announced nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine. Austin spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Sunday about the status of the war and U.S. military backing, the Pentagon said. Russian forces kept up their grinding advance in eastern Ukraine, taking the village of Blahodatne, according to a statement Sunday by Russia’s defense ministry. If confirmed, that gain would bring Russian forces a step closer toward capturing the town of Velyka Novosilka and disrupting a key logistics route for the Ukrainian army, military analysts said. Kozlowska reported from London. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York and AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

Stanford Professor Accused of Using AI to Write Expert Testimony Criticizing DeepfakesRock Island City Council voted not to grant a special use permit to Del’s Metal Company at a meeting Monday night, preventing Del’s from operating a junk yard at 1600 Mill Street and 1700 First Street. Several members of the public attended the council meeting to speak in favor of or against the special use permit. Discussion hinged on the environmental and health impacts of the junk yard. A legal representative of Del’s, Robert Duckels, asked the city council to table the measure until Del’s could have an environmental assessment of the property and the operations. A look at Del's Metal Co. at 1605 First St., Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in Rock Island. “Science, rather than conjecture and unverified statements, can be presented to this council, so that an informed decision can be made that balances all interests," he said. Owners of neighboring businesses, Thomas Unley of Unley Marine and Rick Jackson of Jackson Auto Body & Custom Paint, spoke against granting the permit. They alleged that Del’s had been cutting or burning scrap metal at the new addresses, producing harsh smoke and metal shavings, impacting the health and safety of employees and customers in the area. “The wind blows that direction, and it goes right over the top of all of our stuff,” Jackson said about smoke from the properties. “And we have to smell it, very strong, it clogs your throat up, coughing a lot." City ordinances only allow junk yards in districts that are zoned for “heavy industrial” use, while the parcels of land west of Illinois 92 in that area are all zoned for “light industrial” use. According to a city council memo, Del’s has operated a junk yard at 1605 First Street in Rock Island since the 1980s. Since the business predates the city’s zoning standards, it’s allowed to continue. In 2010, Del’s purchased two neighboring properties to the west at 1600 Mill Street and 1700 First Street, which it planned to use as storage for vehicles, empty trailers, roll-off containers and crushed and bailed items, according to the council memo. Del’s began storing scrap metal on the properties by at least 2020, and city staff notified Del’s that the company was violating the city’s zoning ordinance for operating a junk yard in May of this year. Following the city’s notification, Del’s worked with the city to apply for a special use permit and were allowed to operate as they had been while working through the permit process. The city’s planning and zoning commission held a public hearing for the case on Nov. 4, and voted 6-1 to deny the permit request, which comes before the city council as a recommendation. After a lengthy discussion at Monday’s council meeting where members listened to public comments, asked questions of stakeholders and watched videos provided by business owners depicting smoke and metal shavings on their properties, the city council also voted 6-1 to deny the permit, with 3rd Ward Alderman Randy Tweet voting against the denial. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

In a match that could affect both the relegation battle and the race for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach are set to welcome St Pauli to Borussia-Park on Sunday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. Die Fohlen are ninth with 14 points and managed to earn a point against RB Leipzig on November 9 after drawing 0-0, whereas their opponents are third-last in 16th place with eight points and were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich on November 9. © Imago Borussia Monchengladbach are currently two points from sixth-placed Union Berlin, who occupy the Bundesliga's Conference League qualification spot, and they are just three points from Bayer Leverkusen, who hold the last of four Champions League places. Sunday's hosts were excellent in the first half against Leipzig, creating two big chances and limiting Die Roten Bullen to none, but Borussia Monchengladbach retreated deeper in the second half. Head coach Gerardo Seoane suggested that the decision to defend deeper was tactical rather than his players being forced back, telling reporters in the aftermath of the draw: "In the first half, we created a lot of chances to take the lead. We threatened again and again because of our good mix of possession, counterattacking and set pieces. After the break, we sat very deep and wanted to hold on to the point." Seoane's side have scored 15 goals and conceded 14 times in the Bundesliga, and these records make them the division's joint eighth-best offensive and joint sixth-best defensive club in the top flight. Die Fohlen's form in the league in recent weeks has been somewhat better given they have won two and drawn two of their last four Bundesliga outings, whereas they had lost three of the prior four. They have also won their three most recent home matches in the top flight, a significant improvement on their previous seven home fixtures, a period in which they drew three and lost four. © Imago St Pauli come into Sunday's clash having lost against Bayern, though they should take positives from that game considering they were able to frustrate the rampant Bavarians in front of goal. Indeed, Vincent Kompany 's side had scored 32 goals in their first nine league matches, but Kiezkicker's opponents produced just 0.8 xG on the day. Head coach Alexander Blessin praised his players, saying: "If you only lose 1-0 to Bayern, you've done a lot of things right overall. We didn't allow many chances. We knew we wouldn't get many chances from open play because they just press well." Blessin's team have lost four of their six most recent games, but they have picked up four points from their last three Bundesliga outings, winning one, drawing one and losing one. St Pauli have also triumphed in two of their past three away games in the league, and their record of 12 goals conceded is the top flight's fifth-best tally. © Imago Seoane's side have relatively few injury concerns, though they will still be without defender Luca Netz and attacking midfielder Yvandro Borges Sanches until next month. The hosts could field a back four consisting of Joseph Scally , Marvin Friedrich , Ko Itakura and Lukas Ullrich , and they will be tasked with protecting goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas . Borussia Monchengladbach are likely to start Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl as a pairing in midfield behind Alassane Plea . St Pauli have a number of absentees, including goalkeepers Soren Ahlers , Sascha Burchert and Ben Alexander Voll , as well as centre-back Adam Dzwigala . Nikola Vasilj can be expected to start in goal behind a back three featuring Hauke Wahl , Eric Smith and Karol Mets . However, midfielders Conor Metcalfe and Robert Wagner will miss out, as will forwards Elias Saad , Scott Banks and Simon Zoller . Jackson Irvine and Carlo Boukhalfa may start in a double pivot, while Johannes Eggestein could be given the nod up front. Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup: Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Itakura, Ullrich; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Plea, Hack; Kleindienst St Pauli possible starting lineup: Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui Borussia Monchengladbach have been in better form of late, and it is difficult to see them losing at home. Having said that, St Pauli may prove to be stubborn opposition, and it would not be surprising if they managed to hold out for a draw. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .China set to narrow digital divide

Five Video Essays for the Holiday SeasonChicago Divorce Lawyer Russell D. Knight Discusses the Impact of New Spouse's Income on Illinois Divorce Agreements 11-21-2024 10:34 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Chicago divorce lawyer Russell D. Knight ( https://rdklegal.com/a-new-spouses-income-after-an-illinois-divorce/ ) from the Law Office of Russell D. Knight sheds light on the complex issue of how a new spouse's income affects existing divorce arrangements in Illinois. In a recent article, Knight discusses various scenarios where remarriage can alter maintenance and child support agreements, helping former spouses and parents understand the intricate aspects of Illinois family law in these situations. For divorced parents in Illinois, a new marriage often raises questions about child support adjustments. Russell D. Knight emphasizes that while Illinois courts primarily use both biological parents' income to determine support, they may sometimes consider a new spouse's contributions to shared expenses. "While the traditional rule has excluded a new spouse's income, recent trends show courts may now take it into account if it relieves the financial burden on the paying parent," the Chicago divorce lawyer explains, pointing to case precedents that illustrate this evolving approach in Illinois law. Child support obligations, often recalculated based on substantial changes in the parent's financial circumstances, may or may not include new spouse income. Illinois law typically views the new spouse's finances as irrelevant to direct child support calculations. However, exceptions may apply when the new spouse significantly contributes to household expenses. Chicago divorce lawyer Russell D. Knight clarifies, "If a new spouse's contributions reduce the biological parent's living costs, courts might see this as increased availability of income, indirectly impacting child support decisions." Beyond child support, Knight also explores maintenance adjustments post-remarriage. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act automatically terminates maintenance payments if the maintenance-receiving spouse remarries. The legal logic here is that a new marital relationship introduces a fresh support structure, making continued support from a former spouse unnecessary. For the paying spouse, remarriage generally does not alter their original maintenance obligations, as Illinois law prioritizes support for the first family regardless of new financial responsibilities. With new families and potentially new children, child support modifications for the paying parent are another area where Illinois law permits changes. Knight explains that when additional children are born to a divorced parent, courts often view this as a "substantial change of circumstance," allowing for recalculations that may adjust support obligations for prior children. Illinois law balances the needs of all dependents, often adjusting support to account for both previous and new familial obligations. Courts may also consider a new spouse's financial resources when determining contributions to a child's higher education costs. Illinois statutes allow judges to evaluate all available parental resources, including those accessible through a new spouse. Knight references key cases where courts recognized that pooling finances in remarriage can be relevant, especially in complex college funding decisions. "Illinois law acknowledges the blended financial dynamics of remarriage, particularly as they pertain to shared educational expenses," Knight notes. Russell D. Knight's article provides practical insights for individuals managing the legal and financial responsibilities of remarriage after divorce. The analysis gives both divorced and remarried individuals a clearer understanding of when and how a new spouse's income could factor into support determinations, helping families prepare for potential legal changes as circumstances evolve. For those seeking clarity on post-divorce financial obligations in Illinois, Knight's thorough examination underscores the nuances of family law when it comes to remarriage. This detailed exploration offers guidance to help ensure individuals are well-informed about how Illinois courts may interpret remarriage and family support. About the Law Office of Russell D. Knight: The Law Office of Russell D. Knight, based in Chicago, Illinois, can provide comprehensive legal support in family law. Led by Chicago divorce lawyer Russell D. Knight, the firm can assist clients with divorce proceedings, child custody, and financial support matters. Knight is committed to delivering personalized service, aiming to protect clients' rights and support their long-term interests. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUSD2ZNem-o GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=13056420905624162796 Email and website Email: russell@rdklegal.com Website: https://rdklegal.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Law Office of Russell D. Knight Contact Person: Russell D. Knight Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=chicago-divorce-lawyer-russell-d-knight-discusses-the-impact-of-new-spouses-income-on-illinois-divorce-agreements ] Phone: (773) 334-6311 Address:1165 N Clark St #700 City: Chicago State: Illinois 60610 Country: United States Website: https://rdklegal.com/ This release was published on openPR.

Eat‘n Park isn’t smiling over a St. Louis bakery producing a similarly named cookie. McArthur’s Bakery and The Pioneer Cafe in St. Louis, which employs adults with disabilities, has received a cease and desist letter from Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain Eat’n Park alleging trademark infringement — over their popular Smiley Cookies. McArthur’s owner Scott Rinaberger said Eat’n Park’s request is unjust. He founded The Smiley Face Cookie Company. “I don’t think anybody would confuse our cookies for theirs,” he said, calling the designs “perfectly imperfect” smiley faces. The Pioneer Cafe is a training facility for adults with disabilities, giving them practical experience before finding competitive employment. Through the program, the bakery created a separate brand called the Smiley Face Cookie Company to sell cookies decorated by people in the program. “We can coexist. They have their brand; they have their cookie,” Rinaberger said. “I don’t think our perfectly imperfect cookies look anything like their cookies.” And he claims that McArthur’s Bakery has been selling the cookies for many decades — even before he purchased the bakery in 2014. The original owners operated the bakery since the ’70s, he said. “Through the years, we’ve always been making them,” Rinaberger said. “As part of the Pioneer Cafe, we took that and made it a primary part of it.” On Facebook, he said he started polling former customers to see what they knew about the smiley cookies’ history at McArthur’s. “Some remembered buying them in the ’70s, some in ’80s and many in ’90s,” Rinaberger said. The cookies are now sold in 77 Schnucks supermarkets, which he explained is the local grocery store chain in the St. Louis area. These supermarkets are the only place the cookies are sold aside from the bakery, he said. Legal action Rinaberger said he received the latest cease and desist letter from Eat’n Park within the last month — but it wasn’t the first one. He said he believes the first letter was sent from Eat’n Park around 2010 before he purchased the bakery in 2014. He then personally received one in 2016 and another in 2022 before an email recently. “We’ve kind of ignored it because we feel that we’ve been making them as long as they have,” Rinaberger said. The letters from Eat’n Park have become more aggressive, he said, as the most recent email was directed to his attorneys. “I think it’s their history of aggressively pursuing the defense of their trademark has us to the point where we know it’s coming,” Rinaberger said. “At this point, it’s a decision where do we stay firm, or rebrand ourselves and move on.” Eat’n Park did not return multiple requests by TribLive for comment this week. However, it issued a statement on the matter to the Pittsburgh Business Times . “We’ve owned the Smiley Cookie trademark since we first introduced Smiley Cookies to our restaurants in the 1980s,” said Eat’n Park’s Dec 5 statement. “The defense of this trademark is a necessary step in protecting our brand so we can continue to serve our guests and the community, just as we have for the last 75 years.” Rinaberger explained that the cease and desist is all about the name and the brand — and that the cookie designs would be able to remain the same. However, defending the brand would be expensive, especially for a small business. “It would pretty much drain us,” Rinaberger said. And yet, he’s not deterred. “We’re kind of reevaluating defending ourselves over the reactions and support, especially from Pittsburgh over the weekend,” Rinaberger said, citing multiple calls and social media comments in support. “We’re not 100% going toward a rebrand after the weekend.” Rinaberger said Thursday that he set up a GoFundMe for a defense fund , with a goal of raising $25,000. No money has been donated yet as of Thursday afternoon. He said he believes that since the Smiley Face Cookie Company was a byproduct of the Pioneer Cafe, and the bakery has been making smiley cookies for decades, the bakery has a legal right to keep its branding. “Plus, there are many many bakeries making these cookies — calling them smiley cookies throughout the United States,” Rinaberger alleged. If McArthur’s ends up rebranding, he said he’s taking ideas from the public, and he’s already had more than 100 suggestions. “(We) can’t have the word smile or smiley in it, even various spellings,” Rinaberger said. For now, he said the bakery isn’t making any quick decisions on the situation yet. “We don’t feel like we need to be in a rush,” Rinaberger said.

Rahul Gandhi (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla , expressing "deep concerns" over BJP MP Sambit Patra allegedly using "slanderous language" against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at a media interaction. The Congress' whip in Lok Sabha has sought stringent action against Patra. Describing Patra's behaviour as "highly inappropriate and disrespectful", Tagore, in his letter, said that he trusts that the Speaker will address this matter with the "seriousness it deserves and take appropriate steps to uphold the dignity and integrity of our parliamentary system". Tagore alleged that Patra's conduct is a "clear violation of the decorum and ethics expected of an MP", adding, "Such behaviour not only tarnishes the image of Parliament, but also insults the dignity of a high constitutional office. As a custodian of Parliament, I urge you to take stringent action against Patra." In another face-off with BJP, Congress lashed out at MP Nishikant Dubey for drawing links between a foreign investor and Gandhi. In a post on X, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said "agents of Adani" have been given only one task - to defame and abuse those who expose their "mega corruption". Congress' deputy leader in LS Gaurav Gogoi said, "We've spoken with the Speaker and it is our demand that the person (Dubey) should take back his words and apologise, and the Speaker takes a strong step." Venugopal said when the entire opposition was raising the issue of a "travel ban" on the leader of opposition to Sambhal, "Speaker allowed Dubey to speak in the zero hour and he used the "most defamatory words" against the LoP, Wayanad MP ( Priyanka Gandhi ) and Congress." Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

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Chiefs list Chris Jones, D.J. Humphries as out of practice againEA's consideration of remaking "Need for Speed 9" comes as part of the company's efforts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series. With advancements in technology and gaming capabilities, a remake presents the opportunity to breathe new life into a classic title, giving both new and old players a chance to experience the thrills of street racing in an entirely new way.

By LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Many Americans have come to rely on Chinese-made drones. Now lawmakers want to ban them Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.Just when Jake's spirits threatened to falter, a flash of gold caught his eye amidst the tangled thicket. With trembling hands, he reached out and retrieved the necklace, its familiar weight a tangible reminder of his past misdeeds. And yet, as he held the necklace in his hands once more, a sense of catharsis washed over him, cleansing him of the darkness that had clouded his soul.

Al Jazeera Media Institute has announced the second edition of the Al Jazeera Artificial Intelligence in Media Conference, which will be held from Jan11 to 12, 2025. The conference features panel discussions and professional workshops with the engagement of a host of international experts, along with speakers from major tech firms including Microsoft, Google, IBM and Cisco. The attendees will discuss cutting-edge AI tools in news collection, verification and deepfake detection and showcase successful Arab and global experiences in employing AI in media. In addition, the conference will address forward-looking issues, including algorithmic bias and its impact on the integrity of media content, ways to build trust between the audience and content produced using smart tools, and the impact of AI on professionals in journalism. Director of Al Jazeera Media Institute Eman al-Amri emphasized that through organizing this conference, the Institute aims to create a space for serious dialogue between technology experts and media organizations on a responsible and effective AI use to ensure maintaining core journalistic values and adapting to technological advancements. The conference provides an opportunity to blend in-depth discussions with practical application and features scientific sessions and debates on ethical and professional challenges with respect to leveraging AI, in addition to practical workshops that allow participants to explore the state-of-the-art advancements in this field. The Al Jazeera Media Institute invited journalists, academics and tech enthusiasts to engage in the event, which represents a unique platform for exploring the latest technological innovations and an opportunity to learn about successful global experiences in integrating AI into journalism and sharing ideas and perspectives on the future of media in light of the rapid technological evolution. Related Story HMC teams up with IHI to enhance healthcare quality, safetyThe response from NATO allies has been mixed, with some countries expressing concerns over the potential repercussions of a US withdrawal from the alliance. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stated that Germany remains committed to increasing its defense spending and meeting its NATO obligations. However, other member countries have voiced reservations about being strong-armed into higher financial contributions by the United States.The Milwaukee Bucks enter the Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds as the Eastern Conference’s top seed, boasting a perfect 4-0 record in group play. Their group-stage dominance, beating the Toronto Raptors , Indiana Pacers , Miami Heat , and Detroit Pistons , highlighted not only the star power of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard but also the depth and versatility that solidify this team as a legitimate title contender. Why Winning the NBA Cup Matters for the Milwaukee Bucks Key Numbers for the Bucks During the Emirates NBA Cup Group Play The Bucks averaged 115.5 points on 49% shooting from the field and 43.8% from three-point range. Milwaukee’s supporting cast played a crucial role, with Taurean Prince leading the league in three-point percentage at 54.2% ( 75% in group play matches), and Gary Trent Jr. rediscovering his defensive and offensive rhythm. Brook Lopez , a vital anchor for the defense, is currently third in the NBA in blocks per game at 2.2 ( 2.5 in group play matches), further solidifying the Bucks’ interior presence. Giannis and Lillard combined for 58.6 points per game in the group play, showcasing their growing synergy as one of the league’s most dangerous duos. But this cup run is about more than just stats—it’s about making a statement. Why the NBA Cup Matters for the Bucks Momentum and Redemption The Bucks started the season with a disappointing 2-8 record, leading to questions about their chemistry under Doc Rivers . Winning the Emirates NBA Cup would symbolize their resurgence and send a message that Milwaukee is not only back but ready to dominate on the biggest stages. It’s also a chance to build confidence and cohesion in high-stakes, single-elimination games. Team Identity and Depth The Emirates NBA Cup has showcased Milwaukee’s depth and versatility. Players like Prince and Trent Jr. have stepped up, providing elite shooting and defense, while Lopez continues to anchor the paint with his shot-blocking prowess. AJ Green has emerged as a reliable 3-and-D contributor, and Andre Jackson Jr.’s energy and defensive instincts have been game-changers. Khris Middleton’s return further strengthens the rotation , giving the Bucks a proven scorer and playmaker. These contributions make the Bucks one of the most well-rounded teams in the league. Setting the Tone For Giannis and Lillard, the Emirates NBA Cup is an opportunity to cement their partnership in high-pressure moments. It’s also a chance for the Bucks to establish a winning culture early in the season, setting the tone for a deep playoff run. Winning this Cup could serve as a catalyst, boosting team confidence and morale as they pursue another NBA championship. A Legacy in the Making The Bucks have never shied away from lofty expectations, and the Emirates NBA Cup is the perfect stage to demonstrate why they remain among the league’s elite. A victory here would not only add a historic accolade to their resume but also solidify their standing as serious contenders this season. Now, the Bucks find themselves three wins away from the trophy. First, they face the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals. Should they prevail, a potential semifinal clash against the winner of the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks awaits. The road to Las Vegas won’t be easy, but for a team built to thrive under pressure, the Bucks are ready to prove they belong at the top. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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Official Notice: Multiple Fainting Incidents in Women's Bath Area Prompt Immediate Closure and Renovation of Bathhouse CenterWith no transportation or means to return home, Mr. Johnson, despite his advanced age, took charge of the situation. Determined to find a way back, he sought help from nearby residents and eventually managed to contact the authorities. However, the damage had already been done – the promise of a wonderful day out had turned into a nightmare that would not be easily forgotten.

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city’s chief medical examiner’s office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI’s flagship large language model and a basis for the company’s famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI’s willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn’t think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji’s family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. or Canada is available by calling or texting 988. —————–In conclusion, the upcoming meeting between Barcelona and Ansu Fati's entourage will be a pivotal moment in determining the player's future at the club. Barcelona are determined to secure Fati's long-term commitment and ensure that he remains a key figure in their plans for the future. With the right support and vision, Fati has the potential to become a true superstar in the world of football and leave a lasting legacy at Barcelona. The outcome of the talks in January will shape the trajectory of Fati's career and have a significant impact on Barcelona's future success.

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baccarat card game Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have arrived in Jos, the Plateau State capital, for a meeting on the party’s leadership. Naija News gathered that the PDP Governors are set to meet in Jos on Saturday but several of them have already arrived on Friday ahead of the planned meeting. While there is yet to be an official communication on the agenda of the meeting, sources in the know on happenings in the party disclosed that the PDP Governors are in Plateau State to solidify their stand on leadership positions in the party, including the choice of a permanent National Chairman. This platform reports that the drama involving steps to choose a substantive National Chairman to take over from Umar Damagum , who is currently in the position in an acting capacity, has witnessed a lot of power play within the PDP. The Governors’ meeting is seen as a crucial step towards laying the matter to rest, thus the urgent need for party leaders to align ahead of the convention. The leadership crisis within the PDP has created tension, especially as the party looks to present itself as a formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. A top source who spoke with BusinessDay on the meeting in Jos, said that “As the PDP moves closer to its national convention, all eyes are now on the Jos meeting, with party loyalists and observers keen to see whether the governors can broker a resolution to the leadership crisis. The outcome of this crucial meeting could determine the future trajectory of the party, especially in its quest for political relevance in the coming years.”Venice overpowers Lake Mary in Class 7A state football final

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PHILADELPHIA — Logan Cooley broke a tie on power play late in the second period and had an assist to help Utah beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Sunday night. Cooley took a no-look pass from Dylan Guenther and made a slick forehand-to-backhand move in front of the net to beat goalie Sam Ersson. Cooley also assisted on Juuso Valimaki's first goal of the season. Valimaki's shot hit Philadelphia captain Sean Couturier's stick and went past Ersson. Jaxson Stauber stopped 20 shots for Utah. Ersson made 21 saves in his first start after missing a month because of a lower-body injury. Philadelphia has lost three straight. Michael Carcone opened the scoring for Utah when Ersson made a save on his shot, but the rebound bounced off Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen's skate and slid into the net. Kevin Stenlund added an unassisted short-handed goal with 4:17 to play to give Utah an insurance marker. Utah Hockey Club's Juuso Valimaki, left, celebrates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton Joel Farabee snapped a 12-game goal drought and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Takeaways Utah: Goaltending has been good despite starter Connor Ingram being sidelined with an upper-body injury since Nov. 18. Stauber made his second start of the season, following up as shutout against Vegas last week. Flyers: Defenseman Jaime Drysdale returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with an upper-body injury. Key moment Drysdale thought he scored the tying goal in the third period, but a challenge by Utah coach Andre Tourigny was successful. Replays showed Philadelphia's Travis Konecny collided with Stauber in the crease, interfering with his ability to make a save. Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson reacts after giving up a goal to Utah Hockey Club's Logan Cooley during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton Key stat Plus-14 — Utah's goal differential since Nov. 23, the best in the NHL in that span. Utah is 5-2-1 in that span. Up next Both teams are back in action Tuesday night, with Utah hosting Minnesota, and Philadelphia at Columbus.There are over 58,000 illegal migrants who are convicted felons or facing criminal charges roaming NYC — and close to 670,000 across the country, startling new data obtained by The Post shows. Of the 759,218 illegal-border crossers living in the Big Apple the feds were aware of as of Nov. 17, a jaw-dropping 58,626 – 7.7% — were either previously convicted of crimes or had criminal charges pending, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency data. And of the 58,626 migrants with rap sheets, 1,053, nearly 2%, are “suspected or known gang members,” according to the agency. “These numbers make it clear what everyone but our elected officials already know: sanctuary city laws are endangering New Yorkers by shielding criminals instead of protecting law-abiding citizens,” said Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Queens Democrat. Nationwide, the numbers are just as galling. Of The nearly 7.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States, 662,586 – or 8.6% — are convicted criminals or have charges pending, according to ICE data through July 21. It’s unclear how many are suspected gang members. Kenneth Genalo, who heads the ICE’s New York City office, told The Post last week he’s hoping to get additional resources to weed out criminal migrants. Last week, he estimated the number of migrants criminals to be in the thousands in The Post’s exclusive front-page story, while saying he’s “frustrated” over how New York’s sanctuary laws have prevented many of them from being rounded up and deported under his watch. “In New York City, it would take a lifetime to clear the city of the criminals that we have” if the status quo remains the same, said Genalo in his first interview since Donald Trump was elected president. More than 223,000 migrants alone have poured into the Big Apple since the immigration crisis began in the spring of 2022 — and at least 58,000 are still being cared for by taxpayers in city-funded shelters. Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said he’s “shocked and appalled, but not surprised” by the newly released data. “What does any criminal do?” Borelli said. “They run away to somewhere else.” He pointed blame at the Biden administration’s weak border-control policies. “The Democratic Party, top to bottom, is responsible for every single one of these criminals and should be financially responsible to compensate crime victims,” he said. In 2014, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio teamed up with the Council and signed a bill into law barring the NYPD from working with federal immigration officials when they’re seeking to boot dangerous migrants from the US. Then, in 2018, the avowed Marxist took it a step further by issuing citywide guidance and new NYPD protocols to codify the Big Apple’s policy of not cooperating with the feds. The revisions have had serious consequences. Murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal migrant who had been in custody in NYC on child-endangerment charges but set free, might still be alive if the woke rules were not in effect, critics have told The Post. Both Holden and Borelli co-sponsored legislation in June to repeal migrant-friendly sanctuary laws that limit NYC law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with the feds on immigration matters, but it stalled before Councils far-left majority. Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly called for the sanctuary rules to be loosened so migrants “suspected” of “serious” crimes could also be turned over to ICE. He’s also insisted he doesn’t have the political support needed on the City Council to change the laws. However, Holden isn’t buying the matter is totally out of the mayor’s hands. The pol on Friday insisted “City Hall refuses to take action,” pointing blame at an Adams-appointed Charter Revision Commission that snubbed requests by him, Borelli and other like-minded pols and citizens over the summer to have voters decide the matter through a ballot question. The commission by law is supposed to make its decisions independently based on input from New Yorkers, including elected officials. Holden last week also wrote a letter to Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to back the stalled bill but said as of Friday he’s not received any responses. “Mayor Adams has repeatedly said that while we will continue to respect our city’s sanctuary laws, we must also have a serious conversation about the small number of individuals who repeatedly commit violent crimes in our city and the consequences they face,” said mayoral spokesperson Kayla Mamelak. “We must also fix this nation’s unsuccessful border policies that have led us to this place.”

Rivada brushes off regulatory setback for proposed broadband constellationNoneNEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.

NoneRENTON, Wash. — Man, it looked dirty. And the roles of villain and victim were quickly assigned. On Dec. 1, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence slid just past Houston's 45-yard line in an attempt to give himself up, only to be drilled in the head by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The play resulted in an ejection and three-game suspension for Al-Shaair, and a concussion for Lawrence that will likely end his season. It was exactly the kind of hit modern NFL rules are designed to prevent ... but is it possible the villain was mislabeled? There are often two types of reactions to controversial moments that go viral. The first is the immediate, instinctual response fueled by emotion. The second is the one following a deep breath and an appeal to reason. Al-Shaair, who, yes – has a history of personal fouls – prompted almost unanimous social-media scorn in the minutes and hours following that play. But people in the league – including Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith – acknowledged that these are split-second decisions defenders have to make. Their job is to take down the runner in the open field, and they don't know when or if the QB is going to take himself down. Said Geno: "I feel for both sides, man. As a quarterback, I understand that you're trying to protect yourself and the guy hits you and you're not expecting it. So, that's probably the most vulnerable you'll be when you're sliding, you're not expecting to get hit. But also as a defender, you're trying to get the guy to the ground. It's a split-second decision, like you said. A lot of guys play with a lot of aggression, so to dial that back would kind of take away from the player. I think it's a great conversation to be had, but ultimately you just don't want that type of stuff to happen." This is not to exonerate Al-Shaair, who issued an apology for the hit. It is rather meant to examine an issue more nuanced than it may seem. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has faked a slide and faked going out of bounds, only to pick up extra yards in the process. He essentially took advantage of the fear defenders have of hitting a quarterback a quarter second too late and losing a chunk of their livelihood as a result. Remember, the NCAA outlawed such deception after Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett faked a slide en route to a 59-yard touchdown run. But in the NFL, said trickery is still legal. Mentioning Mahomes by name, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons pointed this out earlier in the week and called for changes. Could the NFL penalize fake slides the way the NBA does flops? It might be hard to adjudicate, but it also might make it more fair for guys on the defensive side of the ball. "It's difficult being a defensive player in this league now. We've got all these different rules and how to land and how to hit and when to not hit and how to tackle. It's really difficult," Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu said. "I'm sure that player had no intentions of hurting Trevor. But, I think from a defensive player, I think quarterbacks have got to slide a little earlier. You can't wait until the last second to test the guy because he's going to go his hardest." Seahawks backup quarterback Sam Howell agreed that Lawrence might have slid a little too late on that play. He emphasized the need to slide early but considers this whole situation to be a "flaw in football right now." "When you look at it, it looks terrible, but in reality, it was kind of a late slide and he was going to hit him," said Howell of the Lawrence hit. "I mean, also you never want to get hit in the head. I don't know, it's an unfortunate play and it happens pretty often in the NFL." The bottom line is this: The NFL is a quarterback's league, and these rules are designed to protect what may be the most important position in team sports. If that means harsh penalties for a defensive player with no malicious intent, the league is going to accept that. But quarterbacks need to be smart about their slides, too, and faking them shouldn't be allowed. There was nothing good about that hit on Lawrence. Maybe something good will come out of it.

Celebrity Life Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Timothée Chalamet has blown TV audiences away with his unexpected knowledge of American college football during a weekend appearance on ESPN. Some were curious about why Chalamet, a New York-born actor with seemingly no connection to Power 5 football, was chosen to be the guest picker on the college football program College GameDay in Atlanta ahead of the SEC (Southeastern Conference) title game. Well, the Wonka star showed he has some chops on the sports punditry circuit, the New York Post reported. And, not only that, he seemed to do plenty of research as he made his picks ahead of an important slate of conference championship games. Timothee Chalamet more than held his own on ESPN's College GameDay. Picture: College GameDay/X He particularly stood out for his picks for the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) — Jackson State — and the MAC (Mid-American Conference) — Ohio. “Jackson State, eight wins in a row, 11 all-conference players — this should be a comfortable, easy win for them,” Chalamet said with plenty of confidence, getting plenty of love with shoulder taps from College GameDay regulars Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit. Instead of picking a favourite in the MAC title game between Miami of Ohio and Ohio, Chalamet had his reasons to pick an upset. “The Red Hawks defence looks good, but I’m looking at fourth-year quarterback Parker Navarro. Sixty-five per cent completion rate. If he can get going, he’ll tilt this in favour of the Bobcat. I’m going underdog Bobcats here, underdog Bobcats.” Chalamet earned a handshake from sports analyst Pat McAfee. Picture: College GameDay/X That bold pick earned a strong handshake from McAfee, a top sports analyst. And, when it came down to it, Chalamet thought hard about his pick for the SEC championship, and when it came down to it, he went with the Texas Longhorns over the Georgia Bulldogs, much to the chagrin of the large swath University of Georgia fans in attendance. College football social media was largely impressed with the actor’s sports preparedness. “You are all fools for doubting Timothée Chalamet’s knowledge of ball. He drank the Water of Life,” wrote podcaster Ross Bolen on X. “Timothee Chalamet, I owe you an apology — I wasn’t familiar with your game,” wrote College Sports Only in reference to the widely-shared meme of Shaquille O’Neal. Viewers were impressed by the Hollywood star’s depth of football knowledge. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP “Timothee Chalamet being a real deal college football fan, being a SMU fan, and knowing about all these teams was so crazy to me. I thought just invited cause famous, but he was a legit great guest picker on College Gameday ,” wrote the Ringer’s Chris Vernon. Fox NFL writer and NFL Network personality Peter Schrager didn’t mince words. “Timothee Chalamet came prepared, researched, and referenced the Pony Express. Maybe the best College Gameday guest picker yet. NYC guy. Respect,” he wrote. In a season that’s included plenty of famous folks like actor Keegan-Michael Key, Pirates star Paul Skenes, gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne and swimmer Michael Phelps, Chalamet might have stood out as the best and most prepared. This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission More Coverage ‘It was rape’: Daughter’s awful revelation Nina Funnell ‘Blacked out’: Evidence we can’t show you Heath Parkes-Hupton and Dan Box Originally published as Timothee Chalamet unleashes secret talent in unexpected TV moment More related stories Entertainment Katie Holmes hits back at ‘trust fund’ claims The actor made a rare comment about her ex-husband Tom Cruise, rubbishing claims a trust fund for their daughter had “kicked in”. Read more Celebrity Life Jay-Z accused of raping 13yo girl Jay-Z has been accused of raping a teenage girl with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in a civil lawsuit that came to light over the weekend. Read more

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NCHM JEE 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has begun the online registration procedure for NCHM JEE 2025. Eligible and qualified applicants can apply for the National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination (NCHM JEE) 2025 by going to exams.nta.ac.in/NCHM, the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology's official website. According to sources, applicants may apply until February 15, 2025, with the examination planned for April 27, 2025. NCHM JEE 2025: Steps to apply To apply for the National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination (NCHM JEE) 2025, applicants can follow the steps below: Step 1: Visit the official website of NTA NCHM at exams.nta.ac.in/NCHM. Step 2: Click on the link that reads,'NCHM JEE 2025: Click here for register/Login,’ available on the homepage. 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Some charging stations can also support Bluetooth, WiFi connection, and APP remote control; On the interface, American standard, European standard, and national standard charging plugs are adopted for different market demands, suitable for various types of charging port models. Battery energy storage system [ https://www.topstarevc.com/ ] Energy conservation and environmental protection The battery energy storage system, due to its minimal design, combines the characteristics of easy installation and is suitable for household integrated light storage and charging systems. It has floor to ceiling and wall mounted installation options, built-in battery safety protection technology, high energy efficiency density design, and IP65 waterproof rating; Simultaneously compatible with multiple inverter models, supporting high-power output of battery pack units (100A/5KW under specified conditions), suitable for power outages and emergency situations. TOPSTAR will adhere to the new requirements of green and sustainable development, adhere to the high-quality development path of green and low-carbon, accelerate the construction of energy-saving and consumption reduction in urban road lighting, actively promote the development of urban lighting into the photovoltaic industry, broaden the application scenarios of new energy, and continuously contribute to the national "dual carbon" goals. Media Contact Company Name: Xiamen Topstar Co., Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=topstar-is-fully-committed-to-entering-the-new-energy-field ] Country: China Website: https://www.topstarevc.com/ This release was published on openPR.

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After rough start under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defense has become a strengthKamala Harris could already have an opponent if she runs for Governor of California: 'I would destroy her' Caitlyn Jenner is mulling a bid for governor of California as a Republican Sign up for the latest with DailyMail.com's U.S. politics newsletter By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, DC Published: 21:46, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 21:48, 25 November 2024 e-mail 3 View comments As Vice President Kamala Harris considers her next move after her brutal presidential election defeat, she could face a well-known opponent should she run for governor. The defeated Democratic presidential nominee is reportedly mulling a bid for governor in her home state of California as she prepares to leave office in January. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited, so the governor seat will be open in 2026. But celebrity Caitlyn Jenner , a well-known Trump supporter, is also hinting at a bid for governor. 'If I ran, and it was ultimately against Harris, I would destroy her,' the transgender former Olympian wrote on X. Jenner previously ran for governor as a Republican replacement in the recall election against Newsom in 2021, but she received just one percent of the vote. But lately, Jenner has been dropping hints she will run again in the regular 2026 election for governor. Reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner claims if she runs as a Republican against Kamala Harris for governor of California she would 'destroy her' Jenner is a vocal supporter of Trump, who proudly voted for him in the 2024 election despite the president-elect demonizing transgender people as part of his campaign messaging. The reality TV star referred to her last failed bid for governor in a recent post 'Should we do it again? Have been getting a lot of calls with a lot of strong opinions. Newscum is out in 2026.' The day after the presidential election was called for Trump, she posted a picture of her with the president-elect and supporter Elon Musk, writing 'Hope is back in America.' But Jenner's political ambitions and hopes to take on Harris directly would be a long stretch in California, which is a blue state. Caitlyn Jenner speaking at a news conference as she ran in the recall election against Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. The recall effort failed and Jenner received only 1 percent of support as a replacement Jenner suggesting she would run against Kamala Harris for governor For one, it's not clear Harris will make a play for governor or if she could potentially run for president again in 2028. Advisers and allies said they have been instructed by the vice president to 'keep her options open,' according to Politico. At the same time, winning liberal California statewide is an uphill climb for any Republican candidate. While Trump won the election, Harris won the state by more than 58 percent to Trump's 38 percent with more than 9.1 million votes to the president-elect's 5.9 million votes. But Republicans were able to gain grounds in The Golden State after President Biden won the state by more than 63 percent in 2020 and 11.1 million votes. Jenner has been a vocal supporter of Trump and posted this image of her with the president-elect and Elon Musk one day after his 2024 election victory Jenner noted the state has shifted more red in the most recent election. When it was pointed out that she could not win the recall election, the 75-year-old acknowledged the challenge. Recalls are quite different. Times are also quite different. But ofc point taken,' she wrote on X. But she is keeping followers on social media guessing writing on Monday in response to reports she is considering it 'MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN!' Politics Share or comment on this article: Kamala Harris could already have an opponent if she runs for Governor of California: 'I would destroy her' e-mail Add comment

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The Senate is required to confirm the choice. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

NEW YORK — Stoli Group USA, the owner of the namesake vodka , has filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to contend with slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack that has snarled its operations and several years of fighting Russia in court. The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its U.S. business. Until 2022, Stoli was sold as Stolichnaya in the United States, which loosely translates to “capital city” in Russian. The company shortened its title following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and boycotts against Russian-branded vodkas . Stoli Group’s founder, Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler, was exiled from that nation in 2000 because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. People are also reading... Intel announced on December 2 that CEO Pat Gelsinger has resigned after a difficult stint at the company. The once-dominant chipmaker’s stock cratered as it missed the AI boom and was surpassed by most of its rivals. Craig Barritt/Getty Images via CNN Newsource Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement. “Earlier this year the company and our owner were both named by the Russian state as ‘extremist groups working against Russia’s interests.’” Its ongoing legal battle with the Russia government has forced Stoli to “spend dozens of millions of dollars on this long-term court battle across the globe with the Russian authorities,” according to its court filing. Caldwell also said that Stoli’s global operations has been a “victim of a malicious cyber attack” that has forced the company to operate “entirely manually while the systems are rebuilt.” A slowdown in demand for alcohol has crushed several company’s bottom lines following the pandemic when people were stuck at home and stocked up. Stoli’s filings said that it has seen a “decline and softening of demand for alcohol and spirits products post-Covid and especially beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.” Stoli Group USA, maker of Stoli vodka, has filed for bankruptcy due to slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack, and ongoing legal battles with Russia. Cheddar The business news you need

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The Senate is required to confirm the choice. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Winners (Arizona State) and losers (*gestures at the entire SEC*) from a chaos-filled Week 13 of college football

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card game baccarat Baker Mayfield, a quarterback known for keeping receipts, cashed in on some history with the Bucs versus his ex-team, the Carolina Panthers, in a 48-14 victory at Raymond James Stadium. On Sunday, Mayfield completed 84.4% of his passes for 359 yards and a season-high five touchdowns, which matched his personal best from his 2020 season in Cleveland. With those yards, he set a new career high for single-season passing yards at 4,279 and tied an all-time franchise record set by NFL legend Tom Brady. “He really played a heck of a ballgame, intelligently,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “We didn’t turn it over offensively. We were very good on third down and he controlled the ball. Spread it around. [He] got everybody touches and he played a good ball game.” Baker Mayfield, A Panthers Castaway Turned Bucs Star Before Baker Mayfield became one of the faces of the Bucs, he spent a short stint with the Carolina Panthers. Back during his time with the Panthers during the first half of the 2022 season, Baker went just 1-5 as a starter before becoming a defensive lineman in practice on occasion on Carolina’s scout team. With that, the former No. 1 overall pick’s time as a starter in the league seemed to be in jeopardy before joining the Los Angeles Rams off the waiver wire at the end of the 2022 campaign to play for Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who was an L.A. offensive assistant at that time. Since becoming the Bucs starter, he’s beaten the Panthers four straight times, and on Sunday, he did so in a dominant fashion with two touchdowns to future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, two scores to rookie receiver Jalen McMillan and tight end Payne Durham’s first career TD. “It starts with the guys up front,” Mayfield said about his offensive line. “I thought they protected extremely well. Obviously, our pass schemes, we had some guys running pretty open so that goes to the staff and then guys making plays. Everybody was detailed. Obviously, we’d like to have a few more touchdowns in the first half than settling for field goals but yeah, guys were on point.” This game marked Mayfield’s eighth game this season where he had three or more passing touchdowns. With that, he tied Tom Brady (2021) for the most in a single season of any quarterback in Bucs history. That’s far from where the historic day ended, though. Sunday marked Mayfield’s fourth game in 2024, throwing for four or more touchdowns, tying him with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson for the most in the league in 2024. “It was about starting fast,” Mayfield said. “It was sloppy ball on the offensive side of things in Carolina so we wanted to make sure we corrected that and I thought our guys did just that. [We had] just a little bit of few hiccups here and there. We’ll look back on the tape and figure that out but for the most part, everybody was dialed in.” According to Next Gen Stats, Mayfield completed all 12 of his pass attempts against the blitz for 90 yards and five touchdowns. Mayfield’s five touchdowns against the blitz were the most in a game since Patrick Mahomes in Week 1, 2022. Across all dropbacks, Mayfield generated +23.4 EPA, his most in a single game in his career. According to Elias Sports, Mayfield became the fifth player ever with 350+ passing yards, five-or-more touchdown passes, a passer rating of 150.0+ and completion percentage of 80.0+ in a game, joining Tom Brady (twice), Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Deshaun Watson. The Bucs offense soared to new heights against the Panthers, scoring the most points at home in franchise history as Mayfield had a near-perfect game with a 153 QB rating. Mayfield now has 39 touchdown passes on the season and needs four more to top Brady (43 in 2021) for the most in franchise history. This article first appeared on Pewter Report and was syndicated with permission.

India’s insurance penetration fell to 3.7 per cent in 2023-24 from 4 per cent in the previous fiscal, despite the insurance regulator’s sustained efforts to advance the ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ vision, IRDAI’s Annual Report for 2023-24 showed. The drop marks a second consecutive year of decline, as insurance penetration had already fallen to 4 per cent in 2022-23 from 4.2 per cent in 2021-22, raising concerns for policymakers. The silver lining is that India’s insurance density showed a modest rise to $95 in 2023-24 from a level of $92 in previous year, the report tabled this past week in Parliament showed. Specifically, non-life insurance density increased from $22 to $25, while life insurance density remained stable at $70. This upward trend in insurance density has been consistent since 2016-17. AIF fundraising up 30 per cent in September despite RBI tightening InGovern asks investors to vote against re-appointment of Saluja However, India’s performance on insurance penetration and density in 2023-24 is still much lower than the overall global reading of 7 per cent and $889, respectively, in 2023. According to Sandip Goenka, CEO, ACKO Life, one of the key factors contributing to the decline in insurance penetration is the relatively low uptake of life insurance, particularly term plans. “This stems from a deeply ingrained mindset where financial products are viewed primarily as investment tools and term insurance, which serves as a pure protection plan, often lacks appeal because it doesn’t offer tangible financial returns. Changing this perception requires consistent efforts like strengthening customer literacy around protection products, simplifying insurance offerings, and leveraging technology to engage with younger demographics. Leveraging digital ecosystems, integrating preventive care elements, and fostering partnerships with community organisations will play a vital role in reshaping how life insurance is perceived and adopted in India,” Goenka said. While life insurance penetration declined from 3 per cent in 2022-23 to 2.8 per cent in 2023-24, general insurance penetration remained unchanged at 1 per cent. The life insurance industry reported a 6.06 per cent growth in premium income in 2023-24 to ₹8.30 lakh crore, driven by robust renewal premium income, IRDAI report showed. The private sector life insurers have clocked a growth of 15.05 per cent in premium, while the public sector life insurer recorded a growth of 0.23 per cent in premium. The latest decline in India’s insurance penetration comes at a time when the GST Council has recently deferred a critical decision to reduce the GST rate on insurance premiums. The current rate of 18 per cent, viewed as a deterrent for citizens considering insurance, continues to weigh on buying decisions . Rationalisation of GST rate and 100 per cent FDI could become a booster dose for improved insurance penetration in coming years, suggest industry observers. Industry observers attribute the drop in life insurance demand in 2023-24 to the government’s budget decision altering the tax treatment of high-premium policies, coupled with reduced disposable incomes among the middle class due to soaring food inflation. Also there has been a shift in investment mindset away from investment oriented life insurance products to mutual funds and capital markets. During 2023-24, life insurers issued 291.77 lakh new policies under Individual Business, out of which the public sector Insurer issued 203.93 lakh policies (69.89 per cent) and the private life insurers issued 87.84 lakh policies (30.11 per cent). While the private sector insurers registered a growth of 9.23 per cent, public sector insurers reported a de-growth by 0.18 per cent and the industry registered a growth of 2.48 per cent in the number of new policies issued against their previous year. As per a Swiss Re report, the Indian insurance market experienced a slowdown due to rising inflation and change in tax norms for high-ticket policies. Non-Life Sector Sizzles During 2023-24, the non-life insurance industry underwrote a total direct premium of ₹2.90 lakh crore in India registering a growth of 12.76 per cent from the previous year. The contribution of public sector general insurers increased by 8.88 per cent from ₹82,891 crore in 2022-23 to ₹90,252 crore in 2023-24. Private sector insurers (including standalone health insurers) have underwritten ₹1.88 lakh crore as against ₹1.58 lakh crore in 2022-23. Among various segments under non-life insurance business, health insurance business at ₹ 1.17 lakh crore premium is the largest segment with a contribution of 40.29 per cent (38.02 per cent in 2022-23) of the total premium. The health insurance segment reported growth of 19.50 per cent (21.32 per cent growth in 2022-23). The public sector general insurers together contributed to 35.03 per cent of the market share, while the private sector general insurers contributed to the remaining 64.97 per cent. Comments

The President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, Tuesday, apprised that Pakistan-US trade volume that crossed $7 billion mark in 2023 has continued the increase in 2024 as it has crossed $6.3 billion in the first 10 months, January to October 2024 KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Dec, 2024) The President of the Federation of and Industries (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, Tuesday, apprised that Pakistan-US trade volume that crossed $7 mark in 2023 has continued the increase in 2024 as it has crossed $6.3 in the first 10 months, to 2024. The U.S. is one of the few countries in the with which enjoys a bilateral trade surplus, the FPCCI president said, in a statement issued on Tuesday. He said, "the community believes this volume can potentially be doubled within a short-span of few years – given the demand of products in the U.S.; surging information and anticipated diversification of basket for the U.S." He informed that Ambassador of in the U.S. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has started a consultative process with FPCCI -aimed at exploring ways and means to achieve exponential growth in to the U.S. Atif Ikram Sheikh maintained that the U.S. GSP Program be renewed and expanded and exporters should remain agile and committed to make full use of the opportunities the enormous export of the U.S. has to offer to . He maintained that 55 percent to the U.S. comprise of textiles; however, other sectors are catching up as IT to the U.S. have crossed the $1 psychological mark. The SVP FPCCI, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, emphasized that , apart , should focus on export of IT, pharma, and human resource to the U. S and exporters need to maintain quality, standards and compliance of their . needs to ensure regionally competitive of doing specifically, vis-à-vis access to finance and tariffs, he added. Ambassador of in the U.S Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, stressed the fact that has a very large and influential diaspora of 1 Pakistani-Americans in the U.S.A. is the largest importer of American in the while the U.S. continues to be one of the countries where receives foreign remittances. He also highlighted the U.S. -Pakistan strategic partnership in the war against terror and strong bilateral defense ties and informed that 40,000 doctors are working in America, 5,000 nursing staff will soon be exported to the U.S. and pharmacists are expected to follow. Ambassador Sheikh emphasized that the economies of California and Texas are ranked as the 4th and 6th largest in the , respectively. This highlights the significance of economic, trade, industrial, investment, and B2B relations with the , he added. He noted that while certain aspects of political diplomacy seem impossible, significant achievements can be made through economic diplomacy, and that is where our focus lies.

Sydney Roosters star Dominic Young has clarified his position on a code switch to rugby union. The English winger was reported to be considering a switch to union to represent his home nation – and follow ex-teammates Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Joey Manu from the Roosters to rugby union. In an interview with News Corp, Young said: “There were a few rumours lately, but I haven’t really had any talks or anything like that. More Rugby “I have considered it in the past, and have had some talks with a couple of clubs before but I came out here. “It’s not even like that I want to play union, it’s just an option that I have considered.” Young’s manager Michael Cincotta sparked the rumours when he told UK media earlier this year that there was strong interest in Young from European rugby teams. “There’s always been strong interest from rugby union for Dom,” Cincotta said. “There were some discussions prior to Dom beginning his NRL career. It’s certainly something that will be considered down the track if it’s the right opportunity. Dom is an exceptional athlete and would make a seamless switch with his game-breaking ability. Dominic Young is tackled. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) “Dom has only scratched the surface of what he is capable of. “If he transitioned to rugby union, he would undoubtedly draw significant attention and elevate interest in the sport. Dom is box office.” Young is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2027 and is one of the competition’s most potent attackers, with 63 tries in 73 games for the Knights and Roosters.

Thanksgiving break is over, and that means the high school basketball season is ramping up across the state of Wisconsin and especially Kenosha County. There have only been a few games on the girls side, but there are plenty of reasons to check out some Kenosha County battles this season, whether it's rivalries between Wilmot and Westosha Central or Tremper and Bradford. Here are five high school girls basketball players to watch this season in Kenosha County. Lilly Lackenbach is the straw that stirs the Eagles' drink She's the do-everything baller from Christian Life, and the 2024 first team all-county performer is back for her junior season. Lackenbach, who was the only player in the county last year to average 20-plus points, make 100 free throws, score a 40-point game and register a triple-double, flirted with player of the year honors as a junior. As a sophomore, Lackenbach led the county with 23.7 points per game. This season, she opened with 37 points in her first game, including a halftime buzzer-beater, and followed it up with 32 points in her next contest. "Lilly was not just an offensive threat, but impacted the game on both sides of the ball," Christian Life head coach Nathaniel Cessna said about Lackenbach last year. "Teams have to game-plan specifically for her, and yet she still was able to have success at a high statistical level." After a lopsided loss Tuesday, the Eagles dropped to 2-2, but Lackenbach is averaging 29.7 points per game. Emily Giese is a double-double machine The power in the paint for the Tremper Trojans is a walking double-double, and her senior season figures to be even more impressive than her standout junior year. Giese averaged a double-double last year, including 12.4 rebounds per game to lead the county. She also surpassed the 1,000-point milestone for her career. Giese is expected to reach 1,000 career rebounds this season. “Emily is a three-year starter and captain of our team,” Collins said after last season. “She is constantly double- and triple-teamed on a nightly basis. She’s a force inside and has been developing her mid-range game and shot. She can rebound the ball and lead the fast break. She’s a good and unselfish passer who loves to get her teammates involved. I’m looking forward to a big senior year from her.” The Trojans are 1-2 to start the season in nonconference action, and Giese is right on cue with 20 points in each of her first two games. Kamryn Lecce leads talented Lancers The 5-foot-10 multi-faceted leader for the St. Joseph girls was a first team all-conference and second team all-county selection last year. She helped lead the Lancers to their best record in seven years at 15-10. Lecce scored 11.7 points per game, shooting 54% from the field, good for third in conference. Also, Lecce grabbed 9.2 rebounds per game, snatched 2.4 steals and blocked 1.2 shots. St. Joseph head coach Jason Coker is excited about the team's prospects, with plenty of experience and Lecce and fellow junior and Division 1 college basketball recruit Frankie McLain leading the way. "This is the most complete team we have had since losing at sectionals two years ago," Coker said. "We have speed, toughness, the ability to score from anywhere, and we can get out and run, so it's up to them to execute." Coker's praise of Lecce is extremely high, and he can't wait to see how last year's team MVP develops this season. "The most consistent player I have coached in 25 seasons," Coker said. "She can literally contribute from everywhere, assists, steals, rebounds and can defend anyone. She has continued to improve her perimeter shot which makes her very hard to defend considering her IQ is through the roof, she will take what you give her and make you pay for it." Last week, the Lancers crushed St. Augustine Prep, 92-28, in the season opener, and Lecce scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists. Iyanna Green runs the Red Devil show The senior point guard for the Bradford girls basketball team is ready to improve on a breakout junior season where she did it all. Iyanna Green is considered a top key returning letter-winner by head coach Nicole Ferrille, coming off a junior season where she led the county in steals (3.7 per game) and added 14.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and three assists per contest. She also shot 40 percent from three-point land. Green's efforts put her on the all-Southeast Conference first team and all-county second team. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Reflections of a Legacy: The Enduring Words of Jimmy Carter

The federal government's decision to direct the Future Fund to invest more in housing and green energy was always going to ruffle feathers. Specifically, Liberal feathers. The fund is a legacy of former treasurer Peter Costello, who is fiercely protective of his brainchild, even more so after a decade as its chair. Treasurer Jim Chalmers insists it is a refresh, not a redesign. He spent a large part of Thursday's press conference downplaying the significance of the change. "I pay tribute to treasurer Costello for setting up the Future Fund. I see it as one of the big, national, economic advantages that we have ... I want to make it really clear that we are not changing [its] fundamental focus." But he has broken a bipartisan practice that had lasted 18 years: resisting the temptation to ask the fund to do anything other than chase financial returns. It opens up a debate about what Australia does, and should do, with the hundreds of billions of dollars it has squirrelled away. What exactly is the Future Fund? It's Australia's rainy day fund. Costello set it up in 2006 at a time when the budget was in surplus and had little debt. A few years earlier, Treasury had published the first Intergenerational Report, telling a story about future pressures on the budget from an aging population, which would see a smaller pool of workers funding greater care needs. The government put $60.5 billion into a fund, the Future Fund, in part to ensure it could meet financial obligations like the payment of public service pensions, but also broadly so that it would have money saved to help future... Tom CrowleyJHVEPhoto After an incredibly strong start to the year, Nvidia Corporation ( NASDAQ: NVDA ) has seen its share price stagnate, dipping almost 2% after-hours once the company announced earnings. We've been bearish on the company before, recommending that investors You Only Get 1 Chance To Retire, Join The #1 Retirement Service The Retirement Forum provides actionable ideals, a high-yield safe retirement portfolio, and macroeconomic outlooks, all to help you maximize your capital and your income. We search the entire market to help you maximize returns. Recommendations from a top 0.2% TipRanks author! Retirement is complicated and you only get once chance to do it right. Don't miss out because you didn't know what was out there. We provide: Model portfolios to generate high retirement cash flow. Deep-dive actionable research. Recommendation spreadsheets and option strategies. Click for our discounted 2-week free trial! The Value Portfolio specializes in building retirement portfolios and utilizes a fact-based research strategy to identify investments. This includes extensive readings of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations. He invests real money in the stocks he recommends. The Retirement Forum Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial short position in the shares of NVDA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

‘Rich farmers backed the Tories who ruined our country – now they can reap what they sow’

Finding joy in abstinence: Merry Christmas, crazy miserable commiesRobert Cardillo, Chief Strategist and Chairman of Planet Federal, to Present at Goldman Sachs Investor ConferenceBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — American swimmer Gretchen Walsh set three more world records on Friday at the world short course championships. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — American swimmer Gretchen Walsh set three more world records on Friday at the world short course championships. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — American swimmer Gretchen Walsh set three more world records on Friday at the world short course championships. She lowered the 100-meter individual medley time to 55.11 seconds in the final, and the 100 butterfly record twice. In the morning heats, Walsh broke Canadian Margaret Mac Neil’s mark of 54.05 from 2022 to 53.24. Then she dropped it again in the evening semifinals to 52.87. Walsh has seven world records in Duna Arena this week. The U.S. men’s 4×200 relay team achieved two world records in the same final. The team clocked a winning 6:40.51, slashing nearly four seconds off its own record from the last championships in 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. 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. Also, Luke Hobson on the lead-off leg set the individual 200 freestyle world record that Peter Biedermann of Germany held since 2009. Americans also claimed the day’s other world records: Regan Smith won the women’s 50 backstroke final in a world record time of 25.23, and Kate Douglass improved her own world record in the 200 breaststroke from October to 2:12.50. The 25-meter pool is half the length of an Olympic pool. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports Advertisement

Syracuse, Albany each hoping to get right at expense of the otherLANGHORNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Savara Inc. (Nasdaq: SVRA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare respiratory diseases, today announced the grant of inducement awards to five new employees. On December 20, 2024, the Compensation Committee of Savara's Board of Directors granted the inducement awards to five new employees who recently joined the Company. The inducement awards consist of options to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and restricted stock units (RSUs) covering an aggregate of 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. These equity awards were granted under the Savara Inc. 2021 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules as an inducement material to the employees’ acceptance of employment with the Company. The options have an exercise price of $3.23 per share, the closing trading price of the Company's common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the grant date. Each option has a 10-year term and vests as to 1/16 th of the number of shares subject to the option on each quarterly anniversary of the employee’s first day of employment, subject to the employee’s continued employment on each such vesting date. The RSUs vest in full on the two-year anniversary of the employee’s first day of employment, subject to the employee’s continued employment on such vesting date. About Savara Savara is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare respiratory diseases. Our lead program, MOLBREEVI*, is a recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in Phase 3 development for autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP). MOLBREEVI is delivered via an investigational eFlow ® Nebulizer System (PARI Pharma GmbH). Our management team has significant experience in rare respiratory diseases and pulmonary medicine, identifying unmet needs, and effectively advancing product candidates to approval and commercialization. More information can be found at www.savarapharma.com , X: @SavaraPharma , LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/savara-pharmaceuticals/ ). *MOLBREEVI is the FDA and EMA conditionally accepted trade name for molgramostim inhalation solution. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223814372/en/ CONTACT: Media and Investor Relations Contact Savara Inc. Temre Johnson, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs ir@savarapharma.com KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY FDA HEALTH PHARMACEUTICAL CLINICAL TRIALS SOURCE: Savara Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 04:07 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223814372/en

Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE:RC) (the “Company”) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock and Operating Partnership unit for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This dividend is payable on January 31, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. Additionally, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on its 6.25% Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), and its 6.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series E Preferred Stock”). The Company declared a dividend of $0.390625 per share of Series C Preferred Stock payable on January 15, 2025, to Series C Preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. The Company declared a dividend of $0.40625 per share of Series E Preferred Stock payable on January 31, 2025, to Series E Preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. About Ready Capital Corporation Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services lower-to-middle-market investor and owner occupied commercial real estate loans. The Company specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including agency multifamily, investor, construction, and bridge as well as U.S. Small Business Administration loans under its Section 7(a) program. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company employs approximately 350 professionals nationwide. Contact Investor Relations 212-257-4666 InvestorRelations@readycapital.com Media Relations PR@readycapital.comWATCH: Fallon prices security fence at Butler, Pa. rally at $410

ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $1.13 billion. On a per-share basis, the Round Rock, Texas-based company said it had net income of $1.58. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.15 per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.06 per share. The computer and technology services provider posted revenue of $24.37 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $24.56 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on DELL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/DELL

Innocan Pharma Announces Encouraging Results from a Safety Assessment Study of LPT-CBD on Minipigs

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young children later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.”Marco Silva: Fulham finally turning Craven Cottage into a fortress

Ashland rings opening bell at NYSE recognizes 100-year anniversaryJoe Depa named as EY Global Chief Innovation Officer to lead its global innovation strategy

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the game baccarat In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in incidents of harassment and misconduct on public transportation systems around the world. From unwanted touching and lewd comments to more serious acts of assault, passengers are increasingly facing uncomfortable and unsafe situations while using public transit. This trend has prompted experts to call for a more refined and precise definition of what constitutes misconduct on public transportation, in order to better protect passengers and prevent such behavior from happening in the future.Manchester United's Last Premier League Title-winning Squad: 17 Retired, Only 5 Still Competing in the Top Five LeaguesOppenheimer & Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of The Chemours Company ( NYSE:CC – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 14,008 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock, valued at approximately $285,000. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in CC. Burney Co. raised its holdings in shares of Chemours by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Burney Co. now owns 197,046 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $5,174,000 after acquiring an additional 601 shares in the last quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC raised its stake in Chemours by 2.7% in the first quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 24,658 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $648,000 after purchasing an additional 641 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Chemours by 166.9% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,169 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 731 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in Chemours by 2.1% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 41,657 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $940,000 after purchasing an additional 863 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new position in Chemours in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.26% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently commented on CC. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Chemours from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Chemours from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Chemours from $25.00 to $18.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Chemours from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Chemours from $28.00 to $25.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $24.88. Chemours Trading Up 3.5 % Shares of NYSE CC opened at $21.52 on Friday. The Chemours Company has a twelve month low of $15.10 and a twelve month high of $32.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.05. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.32 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.61. The firm has a market cap of $3.22 billion, a PE ratio of 43.04 and a beta of 1.75. Chemours ( NYSE:CC – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.44 billion. Chemours had a return on equity of 29.48% and a net margin of 1.34%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.64 earnings per share. Analysts expect that The Chemours Company will post 1.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Chemours Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.65%. Chemours’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 200.00%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Chemours news, SVP Alvenia Scarborough sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.64, for a total value of $154,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 16,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $343,552.80. This trade represents a 31.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 0.47% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Chemours Profile ( Free Report ) The Chemours Company provides performance chemicals in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials. The Titanium Technologies segment provides TiO2 pigment under the Ti-Pure brand for delivering whiteness, brightness, opacity, durability, efficiency, and protection in various of applications, such as architectural and industrial coatings, flexible and rigid plastic packaging, polyvinylchloride, laminate papers used for furniture and building materials, coated paper, and coated paperboard used for packaging. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Chemours Company ( NYSE:CC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Chemours Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemours and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Israel’s barbaric war on Gaza people must end, says South African president

New Delhi [India], : Star India wicketkeeper-batter took to social media and shared a special message for his former Indian Premier League franchise, Mumbai Indians after being signed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league. Kishan found a new home in Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL 2025 mega auction at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week. Total Match 111 Total Runs 3284 Highest Score 128 runs Total Match 115 Total Runs 3127 Highest Score 96 runs Total Match 50 Total Runs 1326 Highest Score 104 runs Wickets 3 Best Bowling 2/29 Total Match 65 Total Runs 29 Highest Score 10 runs Wickets 76 Best Bowling 5/32 Total Match 260 Total Runs 37 Highest Score 8 runs Wickets 205 Best Bowling 5/40 Total Match 107 Total Runs 3582 Highest Score 124 runs Total Match 132 Total Runs 4683 Highest Score 132 runs Total Match 104 Total Runs 83 Highest Score 17 runs Wickets 121 Best Bowling 4/18 Total Match 35 Total Runs 195 Highest Score 27 runs Wickets 46 Best Bowling 3/15 Total Match 12 Total Runs - Highest Score - Wickets 12 Best Bowling 3/24 Total Match 93 Total Runs 109 Highest Score 14 runs Wickets 93 Best Bowling 4/21 Total Match 41 Total Runs 105 Highest Score 29 runs Wickets 51 Best Bowling 4/15 Total Match 21 Total Runs 653 Highest Score 89 runs Total Match 105 Total Runs 2644 Highest Score 99 runs Wickets - Best Bowling - Total Match 40 Total Runs 730 Highest Score 49 runs The bid began on ₹ 2 crore, and MI straightaway got into action to ensure a reunion. Punjab Kings joined the action for the in-demand explosive wicketkeeper batter. As the bid escalated to ₹ 5 crore, MI pulled out, and Delhi Capitals decided to have a taste of the action. The back and forth continued, but PBKS stood in the firm position of taking away Kishan, with the bid standing at ₹ 10 crore. As things looked almost done and dusted, SRH arrived to add more firepower to their batting unit. They landed the winning bid, which stood at ₹ 11.25 crore. "So many memories with all of you, so many moments of joy, happiness and growth. MI, Mumbai, and the Paltan will always remain in my heart. I've grown as a person and a player with all of you by my side. We say goodbye with memories that will stay with me for life. Thank you to the management, coaches, the players I've played with and all you fans for always being in my corner," Ishan Kishan wrote on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC60KyrNcYV/?igsh=MWVhOHR4bGQ2OWduZA== Speaking in a video by SRH, Kishan said, "Hi Hyderabad, I'm super stoked to be joining this incredible team and be part of this amazing franchise. Looking forward to work with each one of you and Orange Army, let's play with fire." https://x.com/SunRisers/status/1860719832888480003 Ishan has represented Gujarat Lions and Mumbai Indians in his IPL career since his debut in 2016. He has scored 2,644 runs in 105 matches at an average of 28.43 and a strike rate of 135.87, with 16 fifties. His best score is 99. He was a vital part of MI from 2018-2023, scoring 2,325 runs in 89 matches at an average of 29.80, with a strike rate of 136.84 and 15 half-centuries. His best score is 99. In 61 matches for India across all formats, he has scored 1,807 runs at an average of 33.46, with a century and 14 fifties. His best score is 210. In 32 T20Is, he has scored 796 runs at an average of 25.67 and a strike rate of 124.67, with six fifties and best score of 89. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

University System of Georgia to ban DEI, commit to neutrality, teach Constitution

The development of TSMC's 2nm process technology marks a major leap forward in the semiconductor industry, as it promises to deliver even more powerful and energy-efficient chips for a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to high-performance computing systems. With the rapid advancement of technology and the growing demand for faster, more efficient chips, TSMC's progress in the 2nm process is seen as a major breakthrough that could redefine the capabilities of future electronic devices.As foreign investors continue to show confidence in the Chinese market, analysts expect the trend of investment inflows into Chinese assets to persist in the coming months. The Golden Dragon Index's impressive performance, coupled with the country's solid economic fundamentals and government support, bodes well for the future outlook of Chinese equities, bonds, and other financial instruments.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Malik Grant rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Rhode Island beat Bryant 35-21 on Saturday to capture its first league title in 39 years. Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) secured the program's seventh title, with each of the previous six coming in the Yankee Conference. The Rams tied a program record for total wins in a season with 10, first set in 1984 and matched in 1985. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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The collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime sparked nationwide celebrations, as scenes of jubilation and chaos unfolded across the country. In the early hours of December 8, videos emerged on social media showing groups of people gathering on Umayyad Square in Damascus, a key landmark in the capital. Thousands more joined them throughout the day, with some participants climbing atop a tank. Social media footage verified by RFE/RL showed people exiting the central bank building in Damascus carrying bags and boxes. Looting was reported in the capital and in other cities across the country, according to multiple eyewitness accounts. At the gates of the presidential palace in Damascus, video footage captured jubilant men cheering and firing weapons into the air. People were seen entering the palace freely throughout the day after Assad fled the country. Russian state media reported later on December 8 that he and his family had arrived in Moscow and been granted asylum. Video footage from inside the palace showed crowds milling around, as well as people carrying out furniture and valuables, leaving trashed rooms behind them. Verified video footage obtained by RFE/RL also showed the building of the Syrian Interior Ministry's immigration and passport department ablaze in Damascus. Statues of Assad's late father, Hafez al-Assad, who created the authoritarian system his son inherited, were dismantled nationwide after a lightning-fast rebel offensive. On Arwad Island, off the coast of Tartus and around 10 kilometers from a Russian naval base, jubilant crowds toppled a statue of the elder Assad, who died in 2000, and climbed onto the monument in celebration. In Latakia, a coastal town that was a stronghold of the Assad family, another statue of Hafez al-Assad was torn down and dragged through the streets behind a truck as revelers rode atop it. Images also showed the aftermath of the storming of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, which appeared to have been abandoned earlier on December 8. Iranian media reported that diplomats had already evacuated the premises. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow, Russian state media reported, as rebels have taken control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, bringing to an end the brutal, half-century rule of the Assad family. According to Russian media reports, Assad and his family have been granted asylum by Moscow. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Assad "decided to resign" after "negotiations" with a "number of participants in the armed conflict" and left office "giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power." "Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry added. Russia has been a longstanding ally of Syria, providing significant military and political support to Assad's regime, especially during the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement came as the rebels said in a statement aired on state TV that Damascus is "now free of Assad," whose family ruled the country with an iron fist since 1971. Many Syrians across the country took to the streets to celebrate Assad's ouster, pulling down statues and ransacking government buildings. Social media footage shows crowds of men entering the presidential place in Damascus, with reports of looting. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said in a video that the government is "ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people." "We believe that Syria is for all Syrians and that it is the country of all its sons and that this country can be a normal state that builds good relations with its neighbors and the world without entering into any regional alliances and blocs," Jalali said. He was later seen leaving his home on December 8, escorted by armed men, reportedly to meet the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Sunni rebel group that led the current offensive against the Assad regime. HTS is a U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist organization. In recent years, the Islamist militant group severed ties with Al-Qaeda and sought to remake itself as a pragmatic alternative to the Syrian government. But concerns remain over its alleged rights abuses and ties to terrorist groups. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the HTS, has sought to reassure Shi'ite Alawites and other Syrian minorities, including Christians. In Washington, President Joe Biden said the United States "will engage with all Syrian groups" as the country transitions to a post-Assad government. He warned that some of the rebel groups that helped overthrow Assad "have their own grim record" of human rights abuses even though they have been "saying the right things" in recent days. "As they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions," Biden said in a televised address from the White House on December 8. He said the United States will be closely watching the activities of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, which could seek to use the power vacuum in Syria to again establish rule. Biden said the United States conducted a dozen precision strikes on IS positions in Syria earlier in the day. Setback For Russia Experts have said the fall of the Assad regime represents a major geopolitical setback for the Kremlin, which, along with Tehran, has supported the Syrian government through many years of civil war. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Russia and Iran did not appear to bolster the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), which was rapidly collapsing, by rushing in additional forces. Russia has an estimated 7,500 troops and multiple military sites in Syria, including an air base at Hmeimim and strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which are also used to support the Kremlin's actions in North and Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency, the leaders of the armed Syrian opposition "have guaranteed security to the Russian military bases and diplomatic establishments in Syria." RFE/RL can not confirm those reports. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declined to comment on the fate of the Russian bases, saying he "wasn't in the business of guessing." Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of Russia's upper house of parliament, said on December 8 that Syrians will have to cope with a full-scale war alone, but he suggested Moscow was ready to support the Syrian people in certain circumstances. The ISW said Moscow had not yet begun to evacuate the naval base, "but it remains unclear whether Russia will keep its vessels at the port as Syrian rebels continue to advance swiftly across regime-held territory." Ruslan Suleymanov, a Russian expert on the Middle East, told RFE/RL that Moscow would "cooperate with the rebels" if they take power in Damascus and that HTS too has "claimed previously that it was ready to negotiate" with the Kremlin. "Putin wants to save his military presence in the region. In any case, to do that, he has to make concessions -- both to jihadists and to [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan who supports [the rebels]," Suleymanov said. The surprise offensive began on November 27 during which a coalition of rebel groups led by HTS captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's second largest. Since then, they moved on to take other major cities with Assad's forces providing little resistance. Besides HTS, the fighters include forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Turkey has denied backing the offensive, though experts say insurgents would not have launched it without the country's consent. The United Nations said on December 6 that almost 300,000 people in Syria had already been displaced since late November by the fighting, and that up to 1.5 million could be forced to flee as the rebels advance and inflict losses on Assad, as well as his Russian and Iranian allies. Assad has relied on Iran and Russia to remain in power since the conflict erupted in 2011. Neighbors, World Powers React The developments in Damascus prompted Syria's neighbors to take urgent measures, with Lebanon announcing it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel said on December 8 it has deployed forces in a demilitarized buffer zone along its northern border with Syria and sent troops "other places necessary for its defense." The Israeli military said the deployment was meant to provide security for residents of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The United States said it will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State (IS) in the region. The United States has about 900 soldiers in Syria. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said Washington is "aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give [IS] space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations." Speaking at a security conference in Bahrain on December 8, Shapiro said the United States is determined to work with its partners to "continue to degrade [IS] capabilities." "[We're determined] to ensure [IS's] enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of IS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons," Shapiro added. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen described the latest developments as a "watershed moment in Syria's history" and urged all armed actors in the country to maintain law and order and preserve pubic institutions. Speaking in Doha on December 8, Pedersen also said he has no information on Assad's whereabouts. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN humanitarian aid agency, warned about the plight of the millions of Syrians displaced by nearly 14 years of the country’s civil war. Now many more are in danger, Fletcher said. “We will respond wherever, whenever, however we can, to support people in need, including reception centers -- food, water, fuel, tents, blankets,” he said. British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner called for a "political solution" while the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was time in Syria for unity, a peaceful political transition, and for fighting to end. President-elect Donald Trump said Russia and Iran are in a "weakened state" and called on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to end the nearly three-year war in Ukraine. Trump made the comments in a post on Truth Social on December 8 as Syrian rebels captured Damascus , ending the half-century rule of the Russia- and Iran-backed Assad family. The incoming U.S. president said Russia and Iran couldn't come to the support of Syrian dictator Assad because they were in a "weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success." Russia has lost about 600,000 soldiers since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Trump said, adding that Ukraine has lost about 400,000 defending its territory. "There should be an immediate cease-fire and negotiations should begin," Trump said. "I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!" The Kremlin did not immediately respond to Trump's comment. Paris Meeting Trump said in the post that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy "would like to make a deal." Trump held talks with Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on December 7 to discuss the war. Zelenskiy called the trilateral talks "good and productive" and said the leaders discussed the potential for "a just peace." Trump and Zelenskiy were among world leaders who gathered in Paris on December 7 to mark the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. "We talked about our people, the situation on the battlefield, and a just peace for Ukraine. We all want to end this war as quickly and fairly as possible," Zelenskiy said in a December 7 post on Telegram . "President Trump, as always, is determined. We are thankful for that," he added. Macron said , "Let us continue joint efforts for peace, security." Trump , who will take office on January 20, has criticized the tens of billions of dollars the United States has poured into Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion. He has claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of retaking the White House, a statement that has been interpreted as meaning that Ukraine would have to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. Experts say it will be difficult to hammer out a peace deal quickly because there are so many aspects, including security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions relief for Russia. In the meantime, the outgoing Biden administration has been accelerating weapons shipments to Ukraine ahead of the transfer of power to Trump to bolster its defenses. Washington said on December 7 that it is preparing a $988 million package of arms and equipment to Ukraine, funds taken from the remaining $2.21 billion available in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The funds will be used to buy precision missiles for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and for drones, the Pentagon said. European countries are also stepping up aid in case the Trump administration ends U.S. support for Kyiv. Zelenskiy announced on December 7 that Ukraine had received a second shipment of sophisticated F-16 fighter jets from Denmark. Copenhagen announced last year it would deliver a total of 19 aircraft to Ukraine. "The second batch of F-16s for Ukraine from Denmark is already in Ukraine. This is the leadership in protecting life that distinguishes Denmark," he wrote on Telegram . When Vladimir Putin took the reins of power in a post-Soviet Russia in shambles a quarter-century ago, he immediately set about restoring Moscow's status as a global power. It took 15 years, but Russia heralded its military intervention in the Syrian civil war as proof of its return as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Moscow leveraged that image to expand its influence throughout the Middle East and beyond as a counterweight to the West. Now, the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Moscow, has dealt a serious blow to Russia's great-power ambitions. "Putin's military adventure in Syria was designed to demonstrate that Russia is a great power and can project its influence abroad," said Phillip Smyth, a Middle East expert. "Losing Syria is a huge slap in the face for Putin." Assad's ouster represents not only a reputational hit to Russia but likely a major strategic setback. Syria is home to two major Russia military installations: an air base in Hmeimim and a naval base in Tartus. The latter is Russia's only warm-water naval base outside the former Soviet Union and provides Moscow access to the Mediterranean Sea. "Russia has used its bases in Syria to project its power both into the eastern Mediterranean and into the broader Middle East," said Smyth. High-Maintenance Asset Russia's military intervention in Syria in 2015 changed the tide of the war. Moscow's devastating aerial campaigns against rebel positions helped the Syrian Army regain swaths of territory and keep Assad in power. Moscow's Syria campaign came a year after its invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula as well as its support for separatist forces in Ukraine's east. Moscow capitalized on its involvement in both Syria and Ukraine to sell itself as a power capable of challenging the United States, NATO, and the West in general while expanding its global reach from the Mediterranean to Africa and Latin America. Following Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Syria became more of an asset for Moscow, experts say, while also presenting the challenge of maintaining military campaigns on two fronts. With the anticipated fall of Russian military assets in Syria, following the collapse of Assad's government, the task has become even more daunting. Russia is already heavily invested in a major counteroffensive to regain captured territory in its southwestern Kursk region that it lost to Ukraine, to the point that it is relying on help from North Korean troops. At the same time, it is trying to take as much territory as it can in Ukraine's east before possible peace talks. Russia military facilities along the Mediterranean coast in western Syria could be overrun by militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, and its allies. Aaron Zelin, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, said Russia simply does not have the same firepower at its disposal to protect its assets in Syria. "It is important to remember that Russia has to deal with its larger war in Ukraine now compared to when they first went in Syria in 2015," said Zelin. "Russia also has its assets fighting in sub-Saharan Africa, too. And unlike a decade ago, when Russia had the Wagner Group led by [the deceased Yevgeny] Prigozhin ... Russia doesn't have the same level of capacity or capability to deal with this now in the same way." Zelin said losing the Tartus naval base, in particular, would be an "extremely huge loss for Russia." "It's Russia's only warm-water port that it can use for its naval activities and power projection," he said. "Losing it would essentially cut Russia out of the core of the Middle East." Moscow did not send ground troops to help Damascus, which fell to the HTS and its allies on December 8. Russia conducted dozens of air strikes since the militants launched their offensive against Assad's forces in late November, but Moscow's limited intervention did little to stop the rebel advance. Russia will pay a huge price for its failure in Syria, experts say. The fall of Assad is a "major blow to Russia's claim of still being a global power in terms of sustaining military and political influence abroad," said Hamidreza Azizi, fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. From there, actors in other regions such as Latin America and Africa might "start rethinking their ties and their reliance on Russia as well," he said. Syrian rebels led by Islamist militants have entered the central city of Homs as they close in on Damascus while the country’s main allies -- Russia and Iran -- scrambled to protect the regime of authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad and their own assets in the country. Abu Mohammad al-Golani, a leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group, said late on December 7 that the insurgent fighters were "in the final moments of liberating" Homs, a city of 775,000 people. HTS is considered a terrorist group by the United States, Britain, Canada, and the European Union. Experts said the future of the Assad regime was hanging in the balance -- and that, if it fell, it would also represent a major geopolitical setback for the Kremlin which, along with Tehran, has supported the Syrian government through many years of civil war. Media reports said many residents of Damascus were stocking up on supplies as thousands were attempting to leave the country through the border with Lebanon -- itself a war-torn nation in the increasingly chaotic Middle East. As fighting on the ground and rebel gains intensified, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, and Turkey held emergency talks in Doha, Qatar, on December 7 calling for an end to hostilities in the most serious challenge to Assad’s rule in years. The U.S. State Department told RFE/RL that Washington was closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria. A spokesperson said the United States and its partners and allies urged that civilians, including members of minority groups, be protected. The spokesperson said it was time to negotiate an end to the Syrian conflict consistent with principals established in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The spokesperson added that the refusal of the Assad regime to engage in the process has directly led to the current situation. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War ( ISW ) said that “Assad regime forces have collapsed and Assad’s backers do not appear willing to bolster the Syrian Arab Army by rapidly deploying additional forces.” Russia has multiple military sites in Syria, including an air base at Hmeimim and strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which are also used to support the Kremlin’s actions in Africa. The ISW said that Moscow had not yet begun to evacuate the base, “but it remains unclear whether Russia will keep its vessels at the port as Syrian rebels continue to advance swiftly across regime-held territory.” The American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats blog said the Assad regime “faces an existential threat given the widespread collapse of regime forces and lack of sufficient external backing to bolster these forces.” It added that “Russia will face logistic challenges that will undermine its Africa operations if it loses its footprint in Syria.” Mark Katz, a professor emeritus at George Mason University who focuses on Russia and the Middle East, told RFE/RL that the Kremlin risks losing its air assets in Syria if it can’t agree with Turkey on the use of its airspace. “In one sense, the Turkish government might be happy to grant permission as the more the Russian Air Force is out of Syria, the happier Ankara will be,” he said. "Russia would also face difficulties relocating its warships because they would need Turkey's permission to get into the Black Sea. They would have to go through NATO waters," he added. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said the United States “should have nothing to do” with the war in Syria, where a small contingent of U.S. forces remain deployed in some areas. "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” he wrote on the Truth Social platform. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Fast-moving developments on the ground were difficult to confirm, but media outlets quoted witnesses as well as rebel and Syrian army sources as saying militant fighters were continuing to make large gains on December 7 in their effort to topple Assad. Some reported signs of panic in Damascus, with shortages of critical supplies, although the government said Assad was at work as usual in the capital. Government forces and their Russian allies appear to have failed in their attempt to halt the rebel push toward Homs, which stands at an important intersection between the capital, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus. Homs is 140 kilometers from the capital. Witnesses and army sources told Reuters and other news agencies that rebels had entered Homs amid reports that government forces had pulled out. Celebrations were reported in some areas of the city. Homs Province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan. The city is also home to one of Syria’s two state-run oil refineries. The AFP news agency quoted security sources as saying hundreds of Syrian government troops, some injured, had fled across the border into Iraq. The surprising offensive was launched last week by a coalition of rebel groups led by the Islamist HTS faction. Besides HTS, the fighters include forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Turkey has denied backing the offensive, though experts say insurgents would not have launched it without the country's consent. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said civilians were fleeing from Homs toward the Mediterranean coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of the government and the site of the Russian air and naval bases. Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declined to comment on the fate of the Russian bases, saying he “wasn’t in the business of guessing.” The United Nations said on December 6 that almost 300,000 people in Syria had already been displaced since late November by the fighting, and that up to 1.5 million could be forced to flee as the rebels advance and inflict losses on Assad, as well as his Russian and Iranian allies. Assad has relied on Iran and Russia to remain in power since the conflict erupted in 2011. Following the foreign ministers' meeting in Doha, Lavrov said -- referring to HTS rebels -- that it was "inadmissible to allow terrorist groups" to take control of Syrian territory and that Russia would oppose them with all means possible. Since the rebels seized control of Aleppo a week ago, they have moved on to capture other major cities with Assad’s forces providing little resistance. Besides capturing Aleppo in the north, Hama in the center, and Deir al-Zor in the east, rebels rose up in southern Suweida and Deraa, saying on December 6 they had taken control of the two cities and posting videos showing insurgent celebrations there. Taking Deraa and Suweida in the south could allow a concerted assault on the capital, Damascus, the seat of Assad's power, military sources said. Video posted online showed protesters in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana chanting and tearing down a statue of Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000, when his son took power. Golani, the HTS leader, told CNN in an exclusive interview on December 5 from Syria that Assad’s government was bound to fall, propped up only by Russia and Iran. “The seeds of the regime’s defeat have always been within it,” he said. “But the truth remains, this regime is dead.” Russian forces bombed a key bridge and highway to try and slow a lightning advance by rebels toward the Syrian city of Homs as thousands fled the area. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said civilians were fleeing from Homs towards the Mediterranean coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of the government and the site of Russian air and naval bases. The United Nations said on December 6 that almost 300,000 people in Syria had already been displaced since late November by the fighting, and that up to 1.5 million could be forced to flee as the rebels advance and deal losses to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, as well as his allies in Russia and Iran. Assad has relied on Iran and Russia to remain in power since the conflict erupted in 2011. A Syrian Army officer was quoted by Reuters as saying that Russian bombing overnight had destroyed the Rastan bridge along the key M5 highway linking Homs to Hama, another city the rebels captured a day earlier. The rebels, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have made major advances over the past several days, including the capture of Aleppo, the country's largest city, as well as 14 central villages and towns, and gotten as close as 35 kilometers from the Russian-operated Khmeimim air base. HTS is considered a terrorist group by the United States, Britain, Canada, and the European Union. Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, is key to the defense of Damascus and the gateway to the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia, the former being home to a strategic Russian naval base. In his first media interview in several years, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the group's leader, told CNN the goal "remains to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad regime, and it is our right to use all available means to achieve this goal." Besides HTS, the rebels also include an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. The foreign ministers of Iraq, Syria, and Iran were to meet on December 6 to discuss the situation, while Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the top diplomats from Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara will meet in Qatar on December 7. The state news agency TASS reported on December 6 that Russia's embassy in Syria had urged Russian nationals to leave the country due to the situation. Militants have seized control of a second major city in Syria in what experts say is a turning point in the country’s 13-year civil war. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group and its allies captured the key city of Hama on December 5, just days after taking over the country's second city, Aleppo. The lightning advance is a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad, who has relied on key allies Iran and Russia to remain in power since the conflict erupted in 2011. The fall of Hama "illustrates that this offensive has staying power and is not just a blitzkrieg," said Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute. Hama is key to the defense of the capital, Damascus, and the gateway to Syria's coastal cities -- the heartland of the Alawites, the sect of Shi’ite Islam to which Assad and many of his supporters belong. The coast is also home to a strategic Russian naval base and air base. "It makes it easier [for the militants] to potentially take over Damascus," Zelin said. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian proxies and Shi'ite militias, said the fall of Hama was a "game-changer," with the militants "demonstrating that the Assad military machinery is a shell." Still, despite losing two key cities in little over a week, Assad is not yet facing an existential crisis, experts say. Syrian government forces -- who suffer from low morale and poor pay as well as dysfunction in the chain of command -- still control Homs, the country’s third city, and the capital. As the militants push further south to "the core territories of the regime," Zelin said, they will face stiffer resistance. Assad has relied heavily on Tehran and Moscow to shore up his forces. But both countries have been distracted by their own crises. Since 2013, Iran deployed hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officers to recruit and train tens of thousands of local and foreign Shi'ite fighters. Russia’s aerial campaigns against rebel positions since 2015 helped the Syrian Army and Iran-backed militias regain swaths of territory. Moscow is preoccupied with its war in Ukraine. Iran has been focused on other conflicts in the Middle East, including in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, another key player in the Syrian conflict and ally of Damascus, has been severely weakened after a yearlong war with Israel. Moscow and Tehran have been slow in getting more support to Assad. Russia has intensified air strikes on militant-held areas and Iran-backed Shi’ite militias have headed to the front lines. But it is unclear if that will be enough to stop the advance of the HTS, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, and its allies. "Iran requires air support for its militias and recruits, but Russia is having trouble providing it due to Ukraine," Smyth said. "Additionally, the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah war had been extraordinarily costly for Iran's command and control apparatus in Syria that relied on Hezbollah. It will be a slower-burning process than before." The Syrian Army said it was redeploying troops "to preserve civilians lives and prevent urban combat" after Islamist-led rebels entered the key city of Hama, another loss for the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, as well as his allies in Russia and Iran. "Over the past few hours, with the intensification of confrontations between our soldiers and terrorist groups...these groups were able to breach a number of axes in the city and entered it," a Syrian Army statement said on December 5. Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, is key to the defense of Damascus and the gateway to the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia, the former being home to a strategic Russian naval base. Syrian and Russian forces had shelled the rebels a day earlier and used air strikes to try and stop their advance. "With that (advance in Hama), Assad's in real trouble. Homs is next & its countryside is FAR more amenable to facilitating an opposition advance," Charles Lister, a senior fellow and the director of the Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute, wrote on X. The rebels, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have made major advances over the past several days, including the capture of Aleppo, the country's largest city, as well as 14 central villages and towns, and gotten as close as 35 kilometers from the Russian-operated Khmeimim air base. Syria turned over the air base to Russia in 2015 as Moscow moved in to help Damascus turn the tide of a four-year civil war in its favor. Besides HTS, the rebels also include an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. The United Nations has said tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the fighting. The footage is striking, stark -- and familiar -- from both Syria and Ukraine. In Syria’s Idlib Province, one man sprays foam on a tangle of flaming wreckage as others run down a rubble-strewn street and into a heavily damaged hospital corridor. At a camp for displaced people, a resident says he pulled the dead bodies of five people from the debris after what he says was a Russian air strike. “May God accept them as martyrs,” he said of the victims in a video filmed by the Associated Press. In 2015, when Russia intervened in the civil war in Syria, its air strikes were the most crucial part of a campaign that was instrumental in averting a potential government defeat and keeping President Bashar al-Assad in power. In addition to propping up an ally, Russia’s first major military foray outside the former Soviet Union in decades increased Moscow’s clout in the Middle East and beyond. It was a slap in the face of the United States and the West, which despised Assad for his human rights record and wanted him out. Those gains for Russian President Vladimir Putin came at an enormous cost for Syrian civilians , who were often the victims of the devastating air strikes despite Moscow’s claim that it only targets what it calls “terrorists.” Estimates of overall civilian deaths since the war began in 2011 range from more than 300,000 to over 600,000. Now, it’s happening again, as Assad’s government and Russia scramble to stop a surprise offensive led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The HTS and allied groups have captured most of Aleppo, Syria’s second city, in the biggest push by government opponents since a cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2020 led to a relative lull in the war. “Russia presided over very extensive civilian damage in Syria in the past, and there is no reason to believe that it will be any different this time,” Jenny Mathers, an expert on Russian politics and security and a senior lecturer at Aberystwyth University, said in written comments to RFE/RL. Accounts and images from Idlib -- a rebel and militant stronghold in northwestern Syria -- and elsewhere since the offensive began late November appear to bear that out. Russian air strikes damaged a cluster of four hospitals and a health administration building in Idlib on December 2, according to the White Helmets, a rescue organization operating in opposition-held parts of Syria. Photos and footage showed burning vehicles, clouds of smoke, buildings damaged inside and out, and streets strewn with dust and debris. “Most of the strikes have seemed to be directed at assets which may be considered crucial to [Russia’s] operational objectives,” Nicole Grajewski, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said in written comments to RFE/RL. “However, Russia has never shown a real particular concern for civilian casualties, especially in rebel-held areas,” she added. In part, that’s because Russia’s air forces are “not amazing at dynamic targeting,” Grajewski wrote. But she suggested that Russia has also shown a lack of concern for civilian life with its “prior siege tactics in eastern Ghouta and Aleppo during the earlier stages of the campaign -- not to mention Ukraine.” 'An Ad Hoc Response' Since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have frequently hit apartment buildings, private homes, and public places such as supermarkets and shopping malls in cities and towns across the country. The missile and drone attacks have killed and wounded civilians daily. Russia has also targeted crucial civilian facilities , such as power plants and other energy infrastructure. Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russian politics and security, said that for the most part, Russia “neither deliberately targets civilians nor avoids them: if they are in the way of a strike deemed operationally necessary, so be it.” “That said, sometimes they do deliberately target civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, power stations and water plants, in order to drive people out of areas they wish to depopulate,” he added in written comments. But he said that in terms of tactics and aims, the current Russian bombings in Syria differ from its air campaign against Ukraine. In Syria, “this is an ad hoc emergency response to a crisis, in Ukraine, a deliberate strategy of degrading the critical national infrastructure,” said Galeotti, who is an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies. “However, they certainly reflect a common doctrine, a way of war that regards civilian casualties as inevitable -- and sometimes necessary,” he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the conflict in northern Syria in a phone call on December 3 to discuss the renewed fighting. A statement from Erdogan’s office after the call said Syria should not become a source of greater instability. "President Erdogan emphasized that while Turkey continues to support the territorial integrity of Syria, it also strives for a just and permanent solution in Syria," Erdogan told Putin in their conversation on December 3, according to the statement from Erdogan's office posted on X. He also said it is important to open more space for diplomacy in the region and the Syrian regime must engage in the political solution process, according to the statement. Erdogan vowed Turkey will maintain its determined stance on the fight against the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and the United States, and its "extensions,” who are trying to take advantage of the recent developments in Syria, the statement said. Erdogan and Putin spoke as Syrian rebels advanced against government forces after capturing Aleppo last week. The rebels pushed close on December 3 to the major city of Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the rebels said. The Syrian Observatory said on December 3 that the toll from the rebel offensive in the north had risen to 602 dead, including 104 civilians. An attack on Hama would ramp up pressure on Assad, whose Russian and Iranian allies have scrambled to support him against the revived rebellion. The city has remained in government hands since civil war erupted in 2011. A statement from Syria's army command said its forces were striking "terrorist organizations" in north Hama and Idlib provinces with Russian air support. The Kremlin said Putin stressed the need for a "speedy end to the terrorist aggression against the Syrian state by radical groups." Both leaders noted the importance of further close coordination between Russia, Turkey, and Iran on the matter, a Kremlin statement said. "The two presidents will continue to be in contact with each other in the context of seeking steps to de-escalate the crisis," the statement said. The Syrian civil war had been mostly dormant for years until a major offensive by militants in northwestern Syria revived the conflict. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies last week seized control of most of Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, marking the biggest offensive in years. HTS is a militant Islamist group that seeks to establish a state in Syria governed by Islamic law. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters, according to U.S. intelligence estimates. The conflict has pitted Moscow and Tehran against Turkey, which supports armed groups involved in the HTS-led offensive. Russia's ambassador to the United Nations late on December 3 accused Ukrainian intelligence services of aiding the HTS. Rebels fighting with HTS are "openly flaunting" that they are supported by Ukraine, Vasily Nebenzya told the UN Security Council. The envoy said there was an "identifiable trail" showing Ukraine's GUR military intelligence service was "providing weapons to fighters" and claimed Ukrainian military instructors from the GUR are training HTS fighters for combat operations, including against Russian troops in Syria. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Russia and Iran "bear the main responsibility" for the recent escalation in fighting. It also noted Ukrainians were being targeted on a nightly basis by Iranian-designed drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies in Iran "continue to make every effort not to lose control over the puppet Syrian regime, which is associated by the majority of Syrians with inhuman cruelty, tyranny, and crimes," the ministry said on December 2. There are indications the conflict could escalate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on December 3 in an interview with a Qatari news outlet that Tehran would consider sending troops to Syria if Damascus asked. Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani said Baghdad would not be "a mere spectator" in Syria and blamed Israeli military strikes on the Syrian government for the rebel advance, his office said. Compounding Assad's problems, fighters from a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led coalition battled government forces in the northeast, both sides said, opening a new front along a vital supply route. Syria's devastating 13-year civil war was mostly dormant for years. But a major offensive by militants in northwestern Syria has revived the conflict and dragged in regional powers, including Russia. Since late November, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies have seized control of most of Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, and the surrounding countryside. The offensive poses a major threat to President Bashar al-Assad, who has maintained his grip on power with the backing of key allies Russia and Iran. The conflict has pitted Moscow and Tehran against Turkey, which supports armed groups involved in the HTS-led offensive. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS is a militant Islamist group that seeks to establish a state in Syria governed by Islamic law. Many of its members are followers of Salafism, an ultraradical sect under Sunni Islam. The group first appeared in 2012 under the name Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. Based in the northwestern province of Idlib, it later changed its name several times and distanced itself from Al-Qaeda. In 2017, it merged with other opposition groups to form HTS. A U.S.-designated terrorist organization since 2018, the HTS has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters, according to U.S. intelligence estimates . HTS is allied with several smaller militant Islamist groups, including Faylaq al-Sham, Jaysh al-Izza, Harakat Ahrar al-Sham, and the Turkistan Brigade. The latter is made up of foreign fighters from China and Central Asia. Turkey-Backed Syrian National Army Turkey, Syria's northern neighbor, is a major player in the conflict. Ankara supports the Syrian National Army (SNA), a rebel group involved in the ongoing offensive in northern Syria. Turkey also has some influence over HTS, experts say. The main target of the SNA has been the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SNA recently seized control of Tel Rifaat, a predominately Kurdish town in northern Syria. The Kurds are a long-oppressed ethnic minority in Arab-majority Syria. Since 2016, Turkey has launched several cross-border ground operations against the SDF, a key Western ally in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. The SDF is a coalition that includes the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and the United States. The United States maintains around 900 troops in southeastern Syria along the border with Jordan and Iraq. Iran Iran has a longstanding relationship with Syria, where it has significantly boosted its influence since the civil war erupted in 2011. Tehran intervened militarily in 2013 and played a key role in shoring up Assad's forces. It deployed hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officers to recruit and train tens of thousands of local and foreign Shi'ite fighters. For Iran, Syria provides a crucial land corridor to the Levant that is considered the logistical backbone of the so-called axis of resistance, Tehran's loose network of regional allies and proxies. Syria is the only other state actor in the axis. Hamidreza Azizi, fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said ensuring Assad stays in power is "even more important now for Iran than it was before." That is because Tehran intends to use the land corridor through Syria to rearm and resupply its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, whose military capabilities were degraded following the recent war with Israel, said Azizi. Iran has spent billions of dollars to keep Assad in power and is unlikely to ditch its investment, experts say. Russia Russia's military intervention in Syria's civil war in 2015 changed the tide of the war. Moscow's aerial campaigns against rebel positions helped the Syrian Army and pro-Iran militias regain swaths of territory but also caused widespread civilian casualties. "When Russia first intervened in Syria's civil war, it was mainly about supporting an ally in the region, wanting to shore up an existing regime and avoiding instability that would follow its collapse, and wanting to push back against terrorism," said Jenny Mathers, senior lecturer on Russian politics at Aberystwyth University. But now it is also a matter of pride, Mathers said, because Moscow would "lose face" if the Assad government were to fall after years of Russian support. Russia has two major military installations in Syria: an air base in Khmeimim and a naval base in Tartus, which provides Moscow access to the Mediterranean Sea. Experts say losing an ally in Syria would be a blow to Russia's prestige on the international stage and its regional ambitions. Since the HTS and its allies launched their surprise offensive, Russia has launched dozens of air strikes in areas under the militants' control. The leader of Hezbollah has claimed that its cease-fire deal with Israel is a "divine victory" for the Lebanese political party and militant group. In his first address since the cease-fire took effect on November 27, Naim Qassem said on November 29 that the Iran-backed group had "won because we prevented the enemy from destroying Hezbollah" and weakening the Lebanese "resistance." Hezbollah, which controls much of southern Lebanon and has representatives in parliament, is designated in its entirety by the U.S. as a terrorist organization but the EU has blacklisted only its military wing. The cease-fire ended nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel ramped up the pressure by launching a ground offensive in southern Lebanon in October and carrying out massive aerial bombardments of Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut and elsewhere. The truce ends the presence of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel, too, must withdraw its ground forces from Lebanon within 60 days of the deal going into force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 26 warned Hezbollah that Israel would take action if it suspected that Hezbollah had violated the agreement. On November 29, hours before Qassem made his speech, Israel said it had struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon after detecting militant activity. The United States and France are overseeing the implementation of the truce, which includes provisions for thousands of Lebanese soldiers moving into southern Lebanon to work with UN peacekeepers and keep Hezbollah away from the Israeli border. Hezbollah had been launching rockets at northern Israel since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. It said it would stop its attacks only after Israel ended its war in Gaza. Over the past 14 months, Israel killed nearly the entirety of Hezbollah's leadership, including Qassem's predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah , and decimated the group's military arsenal. Israel has vowed to ensure Iran cannot continue to fund and arm the group, and has warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against facilitating Iranian aid for Hezbollah. A U.S.-brokered deal to end hostilities in Lebanon is a significant win for Israel, which achieved its key war aims , experts say. The cease-fire agreement that came into effect on November 27 ended nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group and political party. Israel has eroded Hezbollah as a military power as well as a political and economic force in Lebanon. Israel has also succeeded in decoupling Hezbollah's rocket and missile attacks on Israel from the Gaza war. The Iran-backed group had vowed to continue its attacks until Israel ended its ongoing yearlong war in the Palestinian enclave. The truce will also end the presence of Hezbollah -- a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, although the EU has only blacklisted its armed wing -- in southern Lebanon, its stronghold. Israel, too, must withdrawal its ground forces from Lebanon. "Israel got the deal it wanted," said Michael Horowitz, head of intelligence at the Bahrain-based Le Beck International consultancy. "Some are arguing in Israel that it would have been better to continue the war and aim for Hezbollah's full defeat, but the deal Israel achieved is as good as it could have hoped for," he added. Don't Underestimate Hezbollah Israel's devastating aerial bombardment of Lebanon decimated Hezbollah's leadership and military arsenal. But experts say it is too early to write off the group, which has representatives in parliament and retains support among the Shi'ite Muslim community in Lebanon. "Hezbollah is now a shadow of its former self, but it remains dangerous -- both to Israel and its many opponents in Lebanon," said Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Still, the war has shattered the armed group's narrative that it is Lebanon's protector against Israel, experts say. Hezbollah vowed to continue attacking Israel until it ended its war in Gaza. But the group was forced to drop that demand. The Israel-Hezbollah conflict killed over 3,600 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and displaced over 1 million people. Large areas of southern Lebanon and parts of the capital, Beirut, lie in ruins. "Not only was it not able to defend Lebanon, but it dragged it into a conflict for reasons outside of Lebanese interests, and now effectively gave up on this very narrative -- as it decoupled from Gaza," said Horowitz. "The group will face a legitimacy crisis, and will have to re-invent itself, and it will have to do so with a far less intelligent and politically shrewd leadership at its helm," he added. Hezbollah has not publicly commented on the cease-fire deal. But Hassan Fadlallah, a Lebanese lawmaker and member of Hezbollah, insists that the group will stay armed. "A lot of political groups in Lebanon will oppose this," Assaad Bechara, a political analyst based in Lebanon, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "Hezbollah will not be present in Lebanon's southern borders and will not face Israel, so their weapons will be aimed [at Lebanon]. Lebanon's transition phase will be very difficult and precarious." The Iran Angle Hezbollah has long been the crown jewel within Iran's loose network of regional allies and proxies known as the "axis of resistance." It also served as Iran's first and most formidable line of defense against Israel. Iran will try to use the respite afforded by the cease-fire to help Hezbollah "rehabilitate and reestablish its rank and file," said Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Azizi added that Iran and its allies view the cease-fire agreement as a "temporary respite until the next phase of confrontation with Israel." Under the terms of the cease-fire deal, thousands of Lebanese soldiers will be stationed in southern Lebanon along with a UN peacekeeping force. The United States will provide military support to the Lebanese Army and will ensure the implementation of the deal along with France. The presence of the West will likely be a major source of concern for Iran, which has long exerted its influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah, experts say. Tehran will see this as an attempt to bolster Hezbollah's domestic political rivals and " erode the potential for Hezbollah to remain active in Lebanese politics," Azizi said. A cease-fire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has come into effect in southern Lebanon after almost 14 months of fighting that triggered concerns of a wider conflict in the region. After the cease-fire kicked off at 4 a.m. local time, the Israeli military warned civilians not to return to their homes in south Lebanon yet and not to approach Israeli positions. However, convoys of civilians crossed into southern Lebanon, defying the both the Israeli warning and appeal by the Lebanese Army, which is set to deploy to the area to replace the Israeli forces. Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and its military wing is blacklisted by the European Union. The cease-fire was overwhelmingly approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, Netanyahu’s office said on November 26, marking a major development toward peace between Israel and Hezbollah militants. The move was immediately welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said it represents a fresh start for Lebanon and shows that peace is possible after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee and killed thousands of Lebanese. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the cease-fire agreement as he recommended his security cabinet adopt the plan, vowing to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the deal. In the hours leading up to the meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings, while Hezbollah said it launched drones toward Israel amid cross-border fire. In a televised address, Netanyahu did not say how long the truce would last but noted that the length of the cease-fire "depends on what happens in Lebanon." He added: "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike. If they try to renew terror activities near the border, we will strike. If they launch a rocket, dig a tunnel, or bring in a truck with missiles, we will strike." The cease-fire marks the first major step toward ending the violence triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. However, the truce will not apply directly to Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the cease-fire took effect, Hamas said it was also "ready" for a truce. Earlier, Netanyahu said on November 26 that Israel would now focus its efforts on Hamas and releasing the hostages seized by the militants on October 7. "From Day 2 of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own," he said. "We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages." Biden said that Israel reserved the right to resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce. "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," Biden said at the White House shortly after Netanyahu announced the security cabinet approval of the truce. If any party breaks the terms of the deal, "Israel retains the right to self-defense." He said that over the next 60 days civilians on both sides will be able to safely return to their own communities. The deal requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy some 5,000 troops in the region, while Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the cease-fire and said it was a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon." The war has killed at least 3,799 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. The war in Lebanon escalated after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. Separately, Syria's Defense Ministry said six people were killed in Israeli strikes on border crossings with Lebanon just after midnight on November 27, hours before the cease-fire took effect. Yemen's Huthi rebels have attacked international shipping and fired on U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea for over a year. The Huthis' missile and drone attacks have disrupted a key global trade route and triggered retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain. Now, U.S. media reports suggest that Russia has been helping the rebels pick their targets -- most of them commercial ships owned or operated by Western companies or vessels heading to or coming from Israel. Experts say Russia is expanding its cooperation with the Huthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that is backed by Iran, including by sharing intelligence. Moscow could even supply the Huthis with advanced arms in response to Washington loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weapons. "It sends a message to the United States that Russia could make life very painful if it wants to, and it's a not-so-veiled threat that could be construed as retaliation for Washington's assistance to Ukraine," said Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the New York-based Soufan Group intelligence consultancy. Enemy Of My Enemy The Huthis have said their attacks on Western and Israeli targets in the Red Sea are in response to Israel's devastating yearlong war in the Gaza Strip. The rebels have vowed to continue their attacks, which include direct missile and drone attacks on Israel, until a cease-fire is reached in the Palestinian enclave. The Gaza war has pitted Israel against Iran's so-called axis of resistance, a loose network of state and nonstate actors that include the Huthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Shi'ite militias in Iraq and Syria. Experts say Russia's support for the Huthis aligns with the Kremlin's narratives about opposing the West and empowering anti-Western armed groups globally. "The Kremlin is interested in having friends who can test the nerves of Moscow's enemies in the Red Sea or anywhere in the Middle East," Ruslan Suleymanov, an academic and oriental studies expert, told Current Time. He added Russia also wants to be seen supporting any group that "stands up to the West." U.S. media reports and intelligence in recent months suggest that Russia is providing intelligence , including satellite data, to the Huthis to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea. Since July, reports have said the Kremlin even threatened to transfer anti-ship missiles to the Huthis, but that the United States and Saudi Arabia dissuaded Russia . Experts say that could change after Washington on November 17 reportedly allowed Ukraine to use longer-range U.S. Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike inside Russia. "The Russian consideration of arming the Huthis has been directly related to what [Russian President] Vladimir Putin perceives as U.S. escalation against Russia in progressively loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weaponry," said Kenneth Katzman, former senior Middle East analyst for the U.S. Congress. In addition to disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, Russia is reportedly using the Huthis to recruit fighters from Yemen to join the war against Ukraine. Moscow is also ensuring that Russian ships can safely transit the Red Sea. The Huthis have wrested control of Yemen's northwest and Red Sea coastline since the country's devastating civil war erupted in 2014. Boon For The Huthis Experts say the Huthis stand to gain by expanding their relations with Russia. Clarke of the Soufan Group said Russian intelligence helped the rebels more accurately target Western vessels in the Red Sea. It also shows that the Huthis are not an "uncontrollable gang of terrorists," he said. "On the contrary, they are a rational actor, a highly capable organization that is becoming an even bigger player in the Middle East and doing so through asymmetric means," Clarke added. Iran is the Huthis' main military backer, supplying them with weapons technology and missile components, according to U.S. intelligence. Experts say the rebels would benefit significantly from Russian missile technology, which Katzman said was "far more precise and effective" than the arms provided by Tehran. This could lessen the group's dependence on Iran, an ally of Russia. "The Russian weaponry might even enable the Huthis to successfully strike U.S. and coalition warships, which could escalate the Red Sea conflict enormously, were the Huthis to actually strike a U.S. naval vessel," Katzman said. The United Arab Emirates on November 25 disclosed the names of three suspects detained in the killing of a 28-year-old Israeli-Moldovan ultra-Orthodox rabbi saying they were Uzbek nationals. The suspects were arrested a day earlier after the body of Zvi Kogan, who ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai and was also a representative of the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, was discovered by security services. U.A.E. authorities identified the suspects as Mahmudjon Abdurahim, 28, Olimboi Tohirovich, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33, apparently giving patronymic names of the last two men instead their last names. They did not say if official charges have been filed against the suspects. "Hate has no place in our world. Our thoughts are with his family, the Jewish community, and all who grieve. We are in contact with Israel and the U.A.E.," Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in a statement . Kogan had been reported missing on November 22. His body was found later in the city of Al Ain. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the killing of Kogan, calling it a "heinous anti-Semitic terrorist act." While Israeli officials have not publicly accused archrival Iran for the deadly attack, analysts noted that Tehran has been threatening retaliation against Israel for recent air strikes it carried out on Iranian soil after Iran launched a missile attack against Israel. Tehran has denied any involvement in the murder of Kogan. The Muslim-majority Gulf state with an overwhelmingly expatriate population prides itself on its safety, stability, and religious tolerance. The Chabad Hasidic movement is known for its outreach efforts worldwide. The U.A.E. normalized relations with Israel in 2020 alongside Bahrain and Morocco in a series of U.S.-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords. There is no figure for the number of Jews in the U.A.E., but an Israeli official has told AFP there were about 2,000 Israelis in the Gulf country, with the Jewish community estimated to be up to twice that figure. The White House also condemned the killing on November 24. "This was a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It was an assault as well on U.A.E. and its rejection of violent extremism across the board," the White House said in a statement on November 24. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza are "not enough." Khamenei told a gathering of the Basij volunteer corps on November 25 that the two Israeli leaders should face the death penalty. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan issued the warrant and judges said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival" as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza." Israel has called the warrants "absurd." The current war in the Gaza Strip was sparked by an attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Some 1,200 people died in the attack, with around 240 more taken hostage back to Gaza. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here . Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) on November 24 said three suspects have been arrested in the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in an assault that Israel called an anti-Semitic "terrorist attack." The victim, who was reported missing on November 22, was identified as Zvi Kogan, who worked in the U.A.E. for the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, which supports Jewish visitors and residents in the country. His body was found in the city of Al Ain near the Omani border, but it was not clear where he had been killed. The U.A.E. Interior Ministry did not provide further details on the suspects held in the matter. It's not clear if Benjamin Netanyahu will ever face prosecution after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. But even if he never appears before The Hague, the charges and the stigma they carry promise to dog the embattled Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu has defended himself against the charges related to Israel's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, and Israel does not recognize the Netherlands-based court's jurisdiction. But there is no question that carrying out his duties as prime minister just became more difficult for Netanyahu. Bound By Rome Anthony Dworkin, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told RFE/RL that while Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, "there are 124 countries around the world that are." Those states now "all have a legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu" if he enters their territory, Dworkin said, and that is going to impose "far-reaching limitations on the countries that he'll be able to go to." As precedent, Dworkin pointed to the complications Russian President Vladimir Putin has encountered since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023 related to alleged war crimes against Ukraine. "He's had to change his travel plans pretty significantly," Dworkin said, singling out what was called a mutual decision for him not to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa in July 2023. This September, ICC member Mongolia faced immense pressure to arrest Putin upon his arrival for a visit. It failed to heed the calls, in a move that was seen as exposing the limits of the court responsible for prosecuting individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. The ICC announcement on November 21 came six months after the court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, first announced he was seeking warrants not only against Netanyahu, but against former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Muhammad Deif, a military commander of the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group Hamas whom Israel claimed in July to have killed. Deif is accused of crimes connected to Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Netanyahu and Gallant are charged in relation to Israel's retaliatory invasion of Gaza, where more than 43,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian officials. Rejecting Israel's challenges to the charges on November 21, the ICC announced that it was issuing warrants against all three, working from the assumption that Deif may still be alive. Depending On Cooperation The ICC has no powers to enforce its warrant accusing Netanyahu of criminal responsibility for war crimes, including starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity including "murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” Relying on cooperation, Khan has urged all the court's member states to act on the warrants and for nonmembers to work toward "upholding international law." Among the latter would be the United States, a key Israeli ally that does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction over this matter and which "fundamentally" rejected the court's decision to issue the warrant. All European Union states are ICC members, however. Dworkin noted that "European countries have been quite divided" in responding to Israel's actions in the Palestinian enclave, most of which is in ruins after a year of relentless Israeli air and ground operations. "Some countries have been increasingly critical of Israel's actions," Dworkin said, while "other countries have tried to walk more of a middle path, criticizing some aspects but broadly supporting Israel." Now, even a vocal Israel supporter like Germany will have to weigh its support with its commitments to the rule of law. "We will see a difference in the way that countries look at him, talk about him, and so on," Dworkin said. Israel has already canceled a visit next week by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp following his assurances that the Netherlands would uphold the ICC warrants. France has said it supports ICC prosecutor Khan's actions, and Italy has said it would have to arrest Netanyahu if he arrived in the country. The Outliers At the same time, the ruling could have some unintended ramifications. Viktor Orban -- the prime minister of EU-member Hungary who is often at odds with Brussels on hot-button topics such as relations with Putin -- has already positioned itself as an outlier. On November 22, Orban accused the ICC of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes” and said that its warrant against Netanyahu undermined international law. Orban said he would defy the warrant by inviting Netanyahu to Hungary. The ICC could also face more backlash in the United States from the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has cast himself as a greater ally to Israel than outgoing President Joe Biden. Trump's nominee to serve as his national security adviser, Republican congressman Mike Waltz, on November 21 warned that "you can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC" when Trump takes office on January 20. Netanyahu's office, too, has denounced the ICC's decision to issue the warrants as "anti-Semitic," and some observers say Netanyahu could ride such sentiment to get a political boost at home. Support for Netanyahu and his right-wing government fell sharply following the October 7 attack, but has recently improved, according to opinion polls. "There's universal condemnation across the political spectrum in Israel, so it doesn't hurt him domestically at all," Khaled Elgindy, an analyst at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL. "Maybe [it] helps him a little bit, because people will rally around the flag." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has invited his Israeli counterpart to visit Hungary, defying an arrest warrant for issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu that other European states say they will honor. Orban, speaking during his regular weekly interview with Hungarian state radio, said on November 22 that the ICC's decision a day earlier to issue the warrant accusing Netanyahu of "crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed during the war in Gaza was "outrageously brazen" and "cynical." The ICC issued similar arrest warrants for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas military leader who Israel claims to have killed but whose death the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group has not officially acknowledged. The ICC said Netanyahu and Gallant were suspected of using "starvation as a method of warfare" by restricting humanitarian aid while targeting civilians in Israel's war in Gaza -- charges Israeli officials deny. Orban said the ICC move against Netanyahu "intervenes in an ongoing conflict...dressed up as a legal decision, but in fact for political purposes." "Later today, I will invite the Israeli prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, where I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the ICC will have no effect in Hungary, and that we will not follow its terms," he added. "There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision," Orban said. Shortly after the ICC decision was announced, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said ICC decisions "are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states." However, the EU's most powerful members, Germany and France, on November 22 reacted with restraint to the ICC warrants. A spokesman said the German government will refrain from any moves until a visit to Germany by Netanyahu is planned. "I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis," Steffen Hebestreit said on November 22, adding that legal questions had to be clarified about the warrant. In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine only said that France acknowledged the ICC's move and voiced its support for the ICC's independence. "France takes note of this decision. True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the court, in accordance with the Rome Statute," Lemoine said. Hungary, a NATO and European Union member state, has signed and ratified the 1999 document. However, it has not published the statute's associated convention and therefore argues that it is not bound to comply with ICC decisions. Netanyahu on November 22 thanked Orban for his show of "moral clarity." "Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary" is "standing by the side of justice and truth," Netanyahu said in a statement. A right-wing nationalist in power since 2010, Orban has maintained close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has voiced opposition to the EU's sanctions imposed on Moscow after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban has previously said that Hungary would not arrest Putin either, despite the ICC arrest warrant issued on the Russian leader's name for war crimes for his role in deporting Ukrainian children. Furthermore, he flew to Moscow in July immediately after Hungary took over the EU's rotating six-month presidency to meet with Putin, in defiance of the fellow members of the bloc. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Muhammad Deif, a military commander in the Iran-backed group Hamas, alleging they committed crimes against humanity in the ongoing Gaza war. All three are accused of committing war crimes connected to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, an EU- and U.S-designated terrorist organization that is part of Tehran's network of proxies in the Middle East, and Israel's subsequent military intervention in the Gaza Strip. Iran's backing of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-supported militant group and political party that controls much of the southern part of Israel's neighbor, Lebanon, has sparked fears that the war in the Gaza Strip will engulf the Middle East. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollah’s political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament. The court said the warrants had been classified as "secret" to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations. Israel, which claims it killed Deif in July, blasted the move as "a dark moment for the ICC." Hamas, which has never officially acknowledged Deif's death, called the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant an "important step toward justice." The ICC said it had issued the arrest warrant for Deif as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether he was dead. His warrant shows charges of mass killings during the October 7 attack on Israel that left some 1,200 dead, as well as charges of rape and the taking of around 240 hostages in the attack. "The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both [Israeli] individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," the ICC said in a statement . "This finding is based on the role of Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal," it said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the move against Netanyahu and Gallant "absurd" in a post on X, saying it was an attack of Israel's right to self-defense. "A dark moment for the ICC in The Hague, in which it lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity," Sa'ar said. Tehran has yet to comment publicly on the warrants. Neither the United States nor Israel have recognized the ICC's jurisdiction. A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said Washington "fundamentally rejects" the issuance of the arrest warrants and "the troubling process errors that led to this decision. Meanwhile, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a post on X that ICC decisions "are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States." The court said Israel's acceptance of the court's jurisdiction was not required. However, the court itself has no law enforcement levers to enforce warrants and relies on cooperation from its member states. The general chief of staff of Saudi Arabia's armed forces, Fayyad al-Ruwaili, met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Baqeri, in Tehran during a rare visit on November 10. Iran's official IRNA news agency said they discussed the development of defense diplomacy and bilateral cooperation without offering any details. Iranian media said Baqeri had discussed regional developments and defense cooperation with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman al-Saud last year. Ruwaili is only the second high-profile Saudi official to travel to Tehran since Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations after seven years following Chinese-brokered talks in March 2023. Previously, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan visited Iran in June 2023. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia severed ties with Shi'a-dominated Iran in 2016 after its diplomatic compounds in Tehran and Mashhad were attacked by protesters over Riyadh's execution of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The trip comes days after the election of Donald Trump, whose second term as U.S. president begins in January. He has pledged to bring peace to the Middle East, where U.S. ally Israel is engaged in wars against Iranian-backed groups in Gaza and Lebanon. Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said the timing of the trip was significant because it comes as various countries are preparing for a second Trump presidency. He said the Saudis' decision to send their top military official to Tehran "is a signal that they are committed" to the detente process that started last year and that "they don't want Trump's election to jeopardize the recently improving relations with Iran." Separately, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on the phone and discussed expanding bilateral relations, according to Pezeshkian's office. Trump had good relations with Persian Gulf Arab states in his first tenure in office and worked on normalizing relations between Arab states and Iran's archfoe, Israel. Saudi Arabia has not normalized relations with Israel but Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is said to have discussed the possibility of normalization with Saudi Arabia since 2021. In another sign of warming relations, Saudi Arabia announced last month that it held military drills with Iran in the Sea of Oman. Israel sent several chartered planes to Amsterdam to bring back Israeli soccer fans after they were attacked following a match on November 7 by what Mayor Femke Halsema described as "anti-Semitic hit-and-run squads." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incidents "anti-Semitic attacks" as his office announced that the Israeli airlines El Al and Israir have set up special flights for free on November 8 and 9 to do the job. El Al said it was sending six planes to bring the fans home, and Israeli airport authorities said later on November 8 that the first plane had landed. Amsterdam police said that 62 people were detained following the violence, with 10 in custody on November 8 in connection with the clashes -- which left five people hospitalized -- in the center of Amsterdam between young locals and Israeli supporters who had come to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv's game against Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League competition. "This is a very dark moment for the city, for which I am deeply ashamed," Halsema told a news conference. "Anti-Semitic criminals attacked and assaulted visitors to our city, in hit-and-run actions," she said. Dutch authorities said there was no concrete threat to Israeli soccer fans before the game and that it was not clear how or precisely when the violence began. Peter Holla, the city's acting police chief, told a news conference that the Israeli fans were "willfully attacked." U.S. President Joe Biden condemned "anti-Semitic" violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, calling the attacks "despicable" throwbacks to dark moments in history. "The anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam are despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted," Biden said on X. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and other world leader joined Biden in condemning the violence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attacks as "vile" and said she discussed them with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. "Outraged by last night's vile attacks targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam," von der Leyen said in a post on X. "I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar flew to Amsterdam for impromptu meetings with the Dutch government and far-right leader Geert Wilders, and Amsterdam banned demonstrations for three days. Police said fans had left the stadium on November 7 without incident after the game was won 5-0 by Ajax, but various clashes in the city center were reported during the night. Video posted online also purported to show Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans in the streets ahead of the game. Maccabi fans are known to have used similar chants in Israel at recent matches there. Earlier, a pro-Palestinian protest against Maccabi's visit scheduled to take place near the stadium was banned by Dutch authorities for security reasons amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Anti-Israeli protests have been held in various parts of the world, including in Western Europe amid Israel's war in the Gaza Strip against Iran-backed Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and the EU, following the group's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people. The conflict has spilled outside of Gaza and into southern Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah -- designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollah’s political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament. Schoof said he was "horrified" by the incidents. which he called "completely unacceptable." He said he told Netanyahu that those who are guilty would be "identified and prosecuted." Netanyahu told Schoof that he "views the premeditated anti-Semitic attack against Israeli citizens with the utmost seriousness and requested increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands," the Israeli prime minister's office said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he had talked to Dutch King Willem-Alexander on the phone, who had voiced "deep horror and shock over the criminal acts committed." The Israeli Embassy in the United States said on X that "hundreds" of Maccabi fans were "ambushed and attacked in Amsterdam tonight as they left the stadium following a game against Ajax." "The mob who targeted these innocent Israelis has proudly shared their violent acts on social media," the embassy said in its message accompanied by a video of violent clashes in the city. Israel also said it had banned members of its military from traveling to the Netherlands.Green Bay Packers standout cornerback Jaire Alexander missed the team’s Week 9 game with an injury, then played just 10 snaps in his Week 11 return against the Chicago Bears. As it turns out, what was characterized as a knee injury was a good bit more severe than that. Alexander admitted Thursday that he has been dealing with a torn PCL and will miss more time as a result. Alexander had been hopeful that he would be able to battle through the injury, but he aggravated the problem during his limited showing against Chicago. “I stayed here the whole bye week trying to hopefully come back and make an impact for the team,” Alexander said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic . “It was a game-time decision at that, so we didn’t know ... until, you know, a few minutes before the game if I would play or not. “I just tried to give it a go ... I went out there and s–t, all I could really give was 10 plays and then it — I felt something. If you know how (posterior cruciate ligaments) work, it don’t just get done in three weeks, so it just needed more time. I reaggravated it going back out there and only doing 10 plays, so now we just trying to get my knee back right.” A two-time All-Pro selection, injuries have been a big problem for Alexander over the last few seasons. He was limited to seven games in 2023, the same total he has played in this year. He and the Packers are not putting a timetable on his return, so it seems safe he will miss at least a few more weeks. Alexander has 16 total tackles and two interceptions for Green Bay this season. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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Williams went 8 of 13 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) for the Panthers (8-1). Kezza Giffa scored 14 points, going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Kimani Hamilton shot 4 for 8, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Falcons were led by Doug Smith and Justin Gaten with nine points apiece. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Stay warm and dry all winter long with these cold-weather running tipsOne of the key challenges in addressing this issue is the lack of clear and consistent definitions of what constitutes harassment and misconduct on public transportation. While some transit systems have policies in place to address such behavior, these policies can often be vague or open to interpretation, making it difficult for authorities to take decisive action against offenders. In order to effectively combat public transportation harassment, experts are calling for a more detailed and specific definition of what behaviors are considered unacceptable on public transit.

Macron hunts for new PM as government resignation loomsThe collision of art and reality, as embodied in Cai Guo-Qiang's statement, underscores the nuanced interplay between our creative aspirations and the harsh realities of existence. Art has long served as a vehicle for expressing complex emotions, grappling with existential questions, and pushing the boundaries of human imagination. Through his art, Cai Guo-Qiang invites us to confront the contradictions and complexities of our existence, challenging us to embrace both the beauty and the sorrow that define our shared humanity.Bethany Handley, who is also a poet, was named as one of the ten most influential disabled people working in politics, law and media in the UK. She was recognised for her impact, innovation and influence in changing the perceptions and stereotypes of disability. Her award-winning writing, poetry and campaigning calls for better access to nature for disabled people. Bethany is an ambassador for Country Living’s Access for All campaign, for Wales Coast Path and for Ramblers Cymru. Bethany said: “I’m honoured to be featured on this year’s disability power 100 list alongside so many disabled change makers I look up to. "I’m looking forward to continuing campaigning for better access to nature, ensuring we can all help to create equality in the outdoors.” “When I became a wheelchair user, I found myself padlocked out of a lot of our countryside. I’ve since learnt that the physical and attitudinal barriers the most marginalised in our society face when accessing nature are removable. We can all help to open up the countryside to more people.” Head of Disability Power 100, Alona De Havilland, said: “The Disability Power 100 is all about creating change, it celebrates ambition and achievement, and plays a role in challenging society’s perceptions of disability by recognising the strengths, contributions and successes of 100 disabled individuals each year. “We all need role models. People who are pioneers and changemakers. This year we witnessed our Team GB Paralympians rightly celebrated for their elite athleticism, sporting prowess and determination to succeed. "The Disability Power 100 celebrates disabled roles models with the same determination, expertise and ambition in all sectors from architecture to construction; finance to healthcare; transport to music. It is a rallying cry to future generations of leaders and a call for employers and society to recognise the talents and skills of disabled people.” The awards are publicly nominated and judged by a panel of 25 disabled champions including international leader Dr Shani Dhanda, chief executive of Paralympics GB, David Clark and Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston.