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Those who know President Javier Milei well say that handing over the more than 129 companies in which their is some form of state involvement to private ownership is a priority. Because of this, the government is working on the documents required to open air cargo company Intercargo to privatization bids. They hope to have them ready before the end of the year, official sources told Herald sister publication Ámbito . Intercargo is the cargo company currently providing ramp-operation services and passenger transportation in 21 major airports in Argentina. It handles aircraft towing, ground signaling before takeoff and landing, moving passengers to and from an aircraft, baggage handling, supplying drinking water and power, as well as bathroom cleaning, among other functions. Authorities are studying what is the best model to transfer this service to private owners. An international tender process is expected, and one of the possibilities is that the entire company will be sold. However, it is more likely that it will be split up, with bids depending on how lucrative each business unit is. Official data from the first semester of 2024 shows that Intercargo had 1,580 employees. According to fact-checking site Chequeado, last year the company had a financial surplus of AR$1,2 billion (approximately US$1,1 million at the MEP rate) and of AR$9,6 billion (US$8,9 million) by the end of June 2024. The case of Aerolíneas Argentinas The flag carrier is one of the most difficult to privatize, according to government officials. Although unions agreed to cut workers’ benefits, critics say that unions merely “managed to make it through the summer” with what they say are “marginal concessions that do not solve the basic problem.” Likewise, unions continue fighting privatization and make a point of showing their struggle to passengers. In the buses that carry them to the aircraft, for instance, there are posters criticizing Deregulation Minister Federico Sturzenegger amid appeals to “national sovereignty by defending Aerolíneas Argentinas.” However, Milei is determined that the airline be privatized. One of the problems is that uncertainty about the future of the company is likely to affect its results. In Uruguay, for example, the sale of Aerolíneas Argentinas tickets “totally collapsed” due to the company conflicts. The Uruguayan Association of Travel Agencies (Audavi, for its Spanish initials) advises its customers not to buy tickets in the midst of the current uncertainty. Utility company AYSA Water provider Argentine Water and Sanitation (AYSA, for its Spanish initials) is another company that the government intends to transfer to private hands in the near future. “There are people interested in taking over the operation,” official sources told Ámbito . They pointed out that the problem is more “political than economic,” given that AYSA provides services in the Buenos Aires suburbs, where Kirchnerism has a strong political presence. In any case, they indicated that President Milei intends to resolve the situation because “it is not fair that all Argentines subsidize consumers in Greater Buenos Aires.”

Shares of Citi Trends Inc. ($CTRN ) were up 4% ahead of its third-quarter results, with retail sentiment remaining cautious to bullish with many of its competitors. Wall Street consensus estimates expect the company to post earnings per share of -$0.66 on revenues of $179.1 million. The company has missed estimates thrice out of the last four quarters. Its stock price, meanwhile, has rallied over the past month, reaching a month-high on Monday. In the second quarter, it posted a wider net loss of $18.4 million ($16.2 million adjusted), compared to a net loss of $5.0 million ($4.9 million adjusted) in the same quarter in 2023. Its total sales increased by 1.7%, but comparable store sales declined by 1.7%. That quarter, it also incurred $13.4 million in one-time expenses, including $9.4 million it spent clearing aged inventory. Last month, Citi Trends’ board named Kenneth (Ken) Seipel as CEO from Interim CEO and also appointed Peter Sachse, then executive chairman, as chairman. Announcing its preliminary Q3 2024 results also in November, it said last month its Q3 sales results are expected to be above the company’s previous outlook. Gross margin for Q3 2024 is expected to be 39.8%, an increase of 160 basis points compared to Q3 2023. Q3 2024 adjusted Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) is expected to be a loss of $3.3 million, which includes strategic costs for in-depth customer and market research and costs to improve operational processes. Citi Trends is a retailer of urban fashion apparel, accessories, and home trends. Its brands include 'Citi Steps' and 'Red Ape,’ and it operates 592 stores across 33 states. Citi Trends stock is down 26% year-to-date.

PlayStation launches free-to-play version of ‘Gran Turismo’ December 6Can we expect proficiency in developing or using artificial intelligence to begin to slowdown in the field of human resources? The succinct answer is ‘no’, but the more nuanced response is perhaps ‘yes’. This latter response comes with the caveat that companies and HR leaders will need to adopt innovative strategies to address them. Andy Bradshaw, CEO of SHL tells Digital Journal what we can expect in the business world on the AI front. Skills: Enterprises Will Focus on Role Outcomes to See Skills Success Bradshaw observes, on the subject of skills: “The principle of focusing on skills for the future is fantastic—it’s simple and straightforward. But the reality is that implementing these ideas isn’t always as easy as it sounds.” To be effective, such skills need to be appropriately channelled. Here Bradshaw states: “Companies that aim to leverage skills effectively in 2025 will focus on mastering the requirements of specific functions or roles, gaining a deep understanding of the skills necessary for success.” Such information needs to be captured and processed, says Bradshaw: “Once these insights are incorporated into their learning and development strategies, they can confidently address other critical organizational roles.” AI: Culture of AI Will Become Priority No digital technology can be successfully incorporated without reforming the workplace culture. Emphasizing the importance, Bradshaw says: “Companies will begin to foster a culture where people feel comfortable leveraging AI for efficiency and customer service improvements without seeing it as a threat. Some will embrace this more readily than others, but to succeed, organizations must balance small-scale experimentation with building a broader, AI-ready culture. AI will become dominant in the workforce, so it’s essential to start learning in a controlled environment now.” Fall of the HR Tech Stack, Rise of the CHRO How well does HR interact with the board and what matters most as we think about entering 2025? Bradshaw recommends: “I’m hearing more and more from senior HR leaders about the challenges of integrating the various layers of their HR technology stack. The struggle to get these systems working seamlessly together is a real issue.” In terms of how artificial intelligence can assist, Bradshaw considers: “AI could help solve this by driving better data and insights, but it also requires HR to evolve. We need more HR tech specialists and analysts who can go beyond delivering raw data to provide actionable insights. It’s about understanding what the workforce looks like, identifying skill gaps, and aligning with the CEO’s vision. As a result, I think we’ll see the role of the CHRO elevated, with some even coming from business backgrounds, as HR becomes a key driver of business optimization and productivity.” Interview Intelligence: Structured Digital Interviews Will Be Key to Talent Acquisition Getting recruitment right is also essential. Bradshaw says:“We’re witnessing the emergence of digital interviewing as a pivotal solution in both talent acquisition and management. Every job, whether it’s a barista or a CEO, involves an interview process, yet most of these interviews are unstructured and often kept private, making them inefficient. The rise of virtual interviewing has made candidates more comfortable with online platforms, but it’s time to move toward a more structured approach that incorporates interview intelligence. By analyzing key metrics—like engagement and communication dynamics—we can enhance the experience for both candidates and organizations. Research indicates a strong demand for this transformation in structured digital interviews, which I believe will significantly improve hiring processes in the coming year.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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John Swinney and Gordon Brown at Alex Salmond memorial serviceNone

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat

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game online game online The success of the live stream event underscored the power of creativity and collaboration in the world of fashion and entertainment. It served as a reminder that behind every glamorous red carpet appearance lies hours of hard work, dedication, and artistic vision. Xiao Huawei and Xiang Zuo's partnership not only created a stunning new hairstyle but also inspired millions around the globe to embrace their own creativity and individuality.SUNNYVALE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / TechStar Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company listed in Hong Kong, announced that it entered a Business Combination Agreement with Seyond, a solution provider of high fidelity, high-performance LiDAR and intelligent sensing systems. Upon completion of the merger, Seyond is expected to be successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The agreed valuation for this De-SPAC transaction is 11.7 billion Hong Kong dollars. Additionally, Seyond has introduced three PIPE investors with a cumulative investment of approximately 553.1 million Hong Kong dollars. Previously, Seyond has garnered investments from a host of prestigious institutions, including NIO Capital, Temasek, ERVC, Gaorong Ventures, Joy Capital, BAI Capital, Shunwei Capital, and Guotai Junan Venture Capital, among others. Established in 2016, Seyond specializes in providing automotive-grade LiDAR solutions for autonomous driving and a variety of automotive and non-automotive applications. As the first company to achieve mass production of automotive-grade high-performance LiDAR, Seyond ranked first globally in sales revenue of passenger car LiDAR solutions in 2022 and 2023. Rigorously tested with proven automotive-grade reliability and lifetime, Falcon, the flagship 1550nm LiDAR sensor for high-level autonomous driving, is mass-produced, with over 400,000 units delivered globally. Additionally, Seyond achieved a design win for its 905nm wavelength LiDAR products with a leading new energy automotive OEM, becoming the only company in the LiDAR industry with mass production experience in both 1550nm and 905nm products. In addition to the automotive market, Seyond is strategically expanding into the robotic and intelligent transportation markets with combined revenue opportunities of over USD 260 billion globally by 2031, aiming to create a more substantial revenue scale. Seyond is looking forward to embarking on this exciting new journey with its investors, partners, and customers. On January 7-10, the company will exhibit its latest technology at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees visiting Booth #5060 will learn how Seyond's LiDAR solutions power intelligent systems worldwide. About Seyond SeyondTM is a global leader in high fidelity LiDAR solutions, powering a safer, smarter and more mobile world across the automotive, intelligent transportation, robotics and infrastructure industries. Seyond delivers a dynamic portfolio of robust, high resolution LiDAR sensors, perception software, and the Seyond ITS Management Platform (SIMPL). Founded in Silicon Valley with a global footprint, Seyond is dedicated to the highest quality engineering and manufacturing, and unwavering commitment to our customers. About TechStar TechStar is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a business combination with one or more businesses, with efforts concentrated on companies in new economy sectors, including but not limited to innovative technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, culture and entertainment, consumer and e-commerce, green energy and climate actions industries. TechStar completed an offering comprising 100,100,000 TechStar Class A Shares at an offer price of HK$10.00 per TechStar Class A Share and 50,050,000 TechStar Listed Warrants on December 23, 2022. CONTACT: Name: Sally Frykman Email: sally.frykman@seyond.com SOURCE: Seyond View the original on accesswire.comMAC defensive lineman commits to Iowa out of transfer portal

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship. The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South , but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance. That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race. “This one, we've got to take it on the chin,” Mayfield added. “It's a short week. It's Christmas week. We've got to focus on Carolina and figure out a way to win.” If Atlanta is able to maintain its lead, Tampa Bay could make the postseason as a wild card if the Bucs win out and the Commanders lose twice. Coach Todd Bowles sounds confident that his players understand the challenge ahead and will clean up mistakes that contributed to the end of their four-game win streak. “We’ve got to win a ballgame (this week). If we don’t win a ballgame, we don’t give ourselves a chance,” Bowles said Monday. “We have to focus on us like we’ve been doing,” the coach added. “We have to correct the mistakes, and we have to go out and win Sunday, and we’ve got to win the next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that.” What's working The offense, which ranks third in the NFL at 389.8 yards per game, isn't a fluke. Despite losing to the Cowboys, Tampa Bay finished with 410 yards total offense. It was the team's fifth straight game — as well as an NFL-high ninth overall — with 400-plus yards. The Bucs are seventh in rushing (143.7 yards per game) after ranking 32nd each of the past two seasons. What needs helps The defense yielded 292 yards passing against the Cowboys, 226 of it in the first half when Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bowles said shoddy tackling was the biggest issue — not poor coverage. Lamb had one reception for 5 yards after halftime. Stock up Mayfield's chemistry with rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who has 27 receptions for 336 yards and five TDs, continues to grow. McMillan had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown — his fourth in the past three games — against Dallas. He was also the intended receiver on Mayfield's deep throw that CB Jourdan Lewis intercepted in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off the Bucs in the closing minutes. Stock down Turnovers were costly against Dallas. The end-zone interception stopped the Bucs from cutting into a 26-17 deficit with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rachaad White's fumble with 1:31 left ended any hope for a last-minute victory. On both plays, defenders ripped the ball out of the grasp of the offensive player. “We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame," Bowles said. "We just have to have two hands on the ball, and we have to fight for it. We have to take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.” Injuries Bowles said it's too early to project the status of several starters for coming games, including S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee), who has missed the past two games. TE Cade Otton (knee) and LB K.J. Britt (ankle) were inactive against the Cowboys, while reserve WR Sterling Shepard left during the game with a hamstring injury. Key number 80. Bucky Irving leads all NFL rookie RBs with 920 yards rushing. He needs 80 over the next two games to reach 1,000. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown against Dallas. That tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing TDs by a rookie running back in franchise history. Doug Martin set the record of 11 in 2012. Next up Host Carolina on Sunday. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated PressElon Musk blasts ABC over Joe Rogan

Huawei Announces Successful Commercial Deployment of 5G EasyMacro High-Precision Positioning in Subway Tunnels with China MobileDEAR ABBY: My friend is married to a penny-pincher. He hates spending money. They are retired and have sizable assets. He never buys her anything for her birthday or takes her out to dinner. He doesn't buy her a card on Valentine's Day, either. They each own their own homes and commute back and forth between them. When he comes to her house, she has her refrigerator stocked. When she goes to his, he has no food. She must go to the market and buy food for both of them. Then he gets angry in the market about spending money on food. He hates restaurants because they cost money. Because he's so cheap, he goes to the local hospital and buys his dinner from the cafeteria there. They keep their finances separate, but she feels he should do SOMETHING for her for holidays and special occasions. She always does nice things for him, like treat him to sporting events, dinners, etc. If they go out with a group of people, he gets annoyed with splitting the bill. She's always slipping him money under the table so he can pay his and her share. At this point, his cheapness is affecting their marriage. Abby, can you suggest anything to change a cheapskate husband? He has the resources; he just doesn't want to spend any of it. — ASKING FOR A FRIEND DEAR ASKING: If your friend and her husband spent a reasonable amount of time together before they married, she must have known about his "quirk." He may have a deep-seated fear of poverty. Because his penurity has become increasingly hard for her to live with, she must speak up. That their homes and financial assets have been kept separate may have been very wise. (You didn't mention whether they are happy in other aspects of their marriage.) Counseling might help — if he is willing to admit there is a problem. If she's soliciting advice from you, suggest she become less generous and eat well before she arrives at his home. If his cupboard is bare, he, not she, should go to the store to fill it or even treat himself to dinner at the hospital cafeteria. Not every spouse needs gifts but, because she does and he chooses to ignore it, she may have to accept they are two very different people. While opposites can attract, in this case, apparently it isn't true. What a shame. DEAR ABBY: I have been a widow for three years. There's a guy I have known for the last eight years, and I have had a crush on for a couple of years. I'm not sure how to talk to him about my feelings and I don't want to ruin our friendship. How can I talk to him and not ruin our friendship? — FEELING LOST DEAR FEELING LOST: Do you socialize with this person? If you do, the next time you go out together, tell him how much you like him and how special he is to you. If he reacts positively, tell him you may have a crush on him. THEN LISTEN. I wouldn't call that being unduly forward, but if he runs for the hills, you'll know your crush is not reciprocated. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069)In addition, the participants also discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing global economic landscape. They emphasized the need for China to strengthen international cooperation, promote open and inclusive trade policies, and actively participate in global governance to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the global economy.

Santa Cruz (California), Dec 24 (AP) Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest, authorities said. Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco, as the storm rapidly gained strength. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service's Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Lifeguards rescued two people from the water, officials with Santa Cruz Fire Department said. No one had serious injuries, Mayor Fred Keeley said. The mayor said the section of the wharf that collapsed had been damaged over time. The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter. “It's a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf," said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water around 12:45 p.m. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf's pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. Gov. Gavin Newsom's has been briefed and the state's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said. Forecasters warned that storm swells will continue to increase throughout the day. “We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” the mayor said. Ocean swells along California's central coast could reach 60 feet (18 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said. “A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service's Ocean Prediction Center said on X. The end of the pier that broke off had been shut down during renovations. The portion, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River. Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area. Building inspectors were now looking at the rest of the Santa Cruz Wharf's structural integrity. Monday's collapse came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm. Further up the West Coast, dangerous surf conditions and waves up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) were expected from the central Oregon coast up through southwestern Washington. Winds could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and a high surf warning in effect until 10 p.m. Monday night, forecasters said. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said “it will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” (AP) AS AS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

, the world’s wealthiest man and President-elect Donald Trump’s ” took to his social media platform X to ominously accuse the key witness in Trump’s first impeachment of treason while calling for him to “pay the appropriate penalty.” Musk, who has been tasked by Trump to lead an outside agency on government efficiency , took issue on Wednesday with comments made by former National Security Council official during an appearance on MSNBC. Vindman, who in 2019 that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, cited that Musk had been engaged in secret conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin dating back to 2022. He then expressed concerns that Musk, who has through his SpaceX, Tesla and Starlink companies, may have shared “state secrets” with Putin. “And [Putin’s] been using the richest man in the world to do his bidding. In some cases, that’s encouraging him probably to support Donald Trump,” Vindman told MSNBC. “That’s not speculation. We see how far in Elon has gone. And then using Twitter as a disinformation platform.” Reacting to a of Vindman’s remarks, Musk : “Vindman is on the payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs and has committed treason against the United States, for which he will pay the appropriate penalty.” According to , the penalty for treason — which is defined by the Constitution as levying war against the United States or adhering to the nation’s enemies — is death, or no fewer than five years imprisonment. Anyone convicted of treason also forfeits their right to hold public office. Unsurprisingly, a number of political observers and journalists expressed outrage over Musk’s remarks, especially since he is so closely intertwined with the incoming administration. “Oh nothing, just a person deeply integrated into the incoming administration’s center of power calling for the execution of one of his critics,” The Unpoulist’s senior editor Berny Belvedere on Bluesky. “Lying about a private citizen and making a not-so-veiled threat that he will be executed,” The Bulwark’s executive editor Adam Keiper . “And the person doing it is the richest guy in the world, a major government contractor, who is new besties with the convicted-felon president-elect. Do I have that right?” While Musk would later clarify his threat in a , claiming that Vindman “has committed treason and belongs behind bars,” he still hasn’t explained how Vindman is a traitor to the U.S. or what proof he has that the retired Army officer is on the “payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs.” has reached out to both Vindman and Musk for comment. Republicans and conservative media, meanwhile, have Vindman of holding “dual loyalty,” citing the fact that his family fled Soviet-era Ukraine when he was 3 years old. After Vindman before the House impeachment inquiry about Trump’s actions towards Zelensky, Fox News hosts and GOP lawmakers said he “has an affinity for Ukraine” while suggesting he was simultaneously advancing Ukrainian interests while working in the White House. As reported by The Intercept at the time, the leaned heavily on antisemitic tropes, especially since Vindman himself is Jewish. This also isn’t the first time that Musk has questioned the loyalties of Vindman, who has been a frequent critic of both Trump and the X owner. “Vindman is both puppet & puppeteer. Question is who pulls his strings,” Musk wondered in 2022 after Vindman commented on Musk’s purchase of Twitter. “Musk’s tweet — deliberately or not — evoked an antisemitic trope that Jews are puppeteers who secretly wield power over various institutions or that they are puppets of the Israeli government,” at the time.We needed it – Pep Guardiola relieved to end Man City’s winless run

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Who are the favorites to win Golden Globes? | Streamed & Screened podcastEvans 1-7 1-2 3, Diakhate 2-6 0-0 4, Avinger 2-7 1-3 5, Flournoy 3-13 0-0 8, Makolo 2-7 0-0 4, Verse 1-3 2-4 4, Summer Davis 2-5 0-0 4, Indya Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Turner 6-16 0-0 15, Totals 19-64 4-9 47 Hall 2-7 0-0 4, Merkle 6-11 0-0 12, Campbell 7-11 0-0 14, Murray 8-16 1-1 24, Oden 1-6 1-2 3, Johnson 1-4 1-1 3, Elliott 3-8 1-1 7, Jekot 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 28-63 4-5 67 3-Point Goals_Georgia 5-18 (Avinger 0-2, Flournoy 2-6, Makolo 0-1, S.Davis 0-2, Turner 3-7), Penn St. 7-17 (Murray 7-14, Oden 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Elliott 0-1). Assists_Georgia 11 (Avinger 5), Penn St. 20 (Campbell 7). Fouled Out_Georgia Turner. Rebounds_Georgia 38 (Verse 9), Penn St. 45 (Merkle 11). Total Fouls_Georgia 17, Penn St. 13. Technical Fouls_Georgia Turner 1, Verse 1, Penn St. Johnson 1, Oden 1. A_735.online game online game 。

Motion Control Software In Robotics Market in 2024: Intelligent Automation Platforms In Enhancing Robotic PerformanceBy Hanna Webster, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) It wasn’t a surprise when President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services , but the news put many in the medical community on alert — watching to see how the nominee’s rhetoric will affect his approach to leading the key federal agency. The enormity of the new role — the HHS secretary oversees 13 federal agencies and their combined $1.7 trillion budget — will hand over a significant amount of responsibility for the nation’s health to Kennedy, who has limited applicable experience in the field and a history of promoting debunked health conspiracy theories as well as being a vaccine skeptic. Concern over Kennedy’s statements about vaccines has already begun to stir opposition to the appointment. Nearly 14,000 physicians have signed a petition objecting to the nominee. The petition, led by a nonprofit, The Committee to Protect Health Care, has a goal of 15,000 signatures. “Many physicians are looking at this and thinking, ‘We’re going to watch the destruction of the public health system,’” said Alice Rothchild, a Seattle-based retired ob-gyn who was one of those to sign. While public questioning of Western science, pharmaceutical industries and even vaccines is certainly not new, the spotlight placed on those who oppose vaccines has grown brighter in recent years — especially as the COVID-19 pandemic became politicized and public health measures, like social distancing and masking, received criticism among some groups. And as trust in science declines, some are turning toward fringe beliefs, many that RFK Jr. himself has supported, such as trusting herd immunity over vaccination or experimental and debunked treatments like ivermectin. Why was RFK Jr. chosen? In a Nov. 14 emailed statement announcing the nomination, Trump said the Department of Health and Human Services plays an important role in ensuring the health of the nation, including “that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in this country. “Mr. Kennedy will restore these agencies to the traditions of gold standard scientific research, and beacons of transparency, to end the chronic disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again !” The statement seems to suggest that Trump chose Kennedy explicitly because of his nontraditional approaches. Is RFK Jr. equipped for the role of health secretary? George Benjamine, a physician and the executive director of the American Public Health Association, responded with a Nov. 18 statement that Kennedy “fails on all fronts” to effectively lead HHS. Certainly, it’s a big job. The nation’s health secretary is in charge of preparing for and responding to medical and public health emergencies, such as circulating infectious diseases. The position also controls funding to agencies under the HHS umbrella, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, the latter of which oversees thousands of clinical trials and the research and development of drug treatments. The Senate will vote on many of Trump’s cabinet nominees once the new president is sworn in. Historically, it is rare for nominees to be rejected. More: What are brain worms and how could RFK Jr. have gotten one? A half-dozen medical experts interviewed for this story pointed to Kennedy’s dogged criticism of vaccines throughout his career, including falsely stating that vaccines cause autism. The one paper that had linked MMR vaccines to autism was retracted by the journal that published it 12 years later, and the scientist was stripped of his medical license after results were found to be fraudulent and fabricated. Other debunked health claims made by Kennedy include that human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is not the cause for AIDS, and that raw milk is safe to drink. While it is sold in Pennsylvania , the FDA has stated that raw milk is not safe because it may contain dangerous bacteria that are typically killed during the pasteurization process. Requests for comment on Kennedy’s nomination from members of the GOP Doctors Caucus, including former co-chair house Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), Brian Babin (R-Tex.) and John Joyce (R-Pa.), were not returned. In a Nov. 15 post on X, Harris congratulated Kennedy on the nomination and said he looked forward to working with him “in the fight to reform nutritious foods.” Spokespeople for Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment. But many of those with concerns aren’t shy about raising their issues. “This is a time when we need the highest level of competence possible at HHS,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and a professor of pediatrics and molecular biology, who has spent his career developing vaccines for tropical diseases. Hotez has communicated with Kennedy directly over the years, he said, as the two have been embroiled in online debates. “From my experience with him, he doesn’t have any interest in the science. He has trouble understanding the science, and he comes to the table with preconceived and dug-in notions,” Dr. Hotez said. “I don’t see him willing to adapt.” Where does RFK Jr. stand on other key health issues? Kennedy has spent his career as an environmental lawyer and has defended against large corporations including Monsanto, which seems to have informed his promises to focus on environmental exposure to chemicals, food additives and chronic disease. Among the positions that he has advocated for are removing artificial dye from foods and ending fluoride in water supplies. The European Union bans some food additives that are allowed in the U.S. and requires warning labels on many artificial dyes — although research indicates that fluoride doesn’t fall in that category. In cities where water is fluoridated, it has been shown to protect against dental decay. Kennedy has also criticized ultraprocessed foods, and chemicals such as high-fructose corn syrup, calling them culprits for record-high obesity rates and chronic disease, stances many physicians believe he is right to criticize. Is a medical background needed for the job? Many past HHS secretaries have not had medical backgrounds, although they often had experience overseeing large organizations and hefty budgets. Tommy Thompson, HHS secretary between 2001 and 2005, was governor of Wisconsin for nearly two decades and chair of the National Governors Association. Alex Azar, in the role from 2018 to 2021, had been president of the U.S. division of global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, as well as general counsel and deputy secretary to the health secretary over many years. What’s unprecedented about Kennedy’s nomination is that he is “a person who avowedly wants to destroy one of humans’ greatest inventions: vaccines,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based physician and senior scholar with Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Epidemiologists are especially worried about Kennedy’s penchant for sowing distrust in vaccine research . “His role there is not going to be to promote health, but to destroy health,” said Adalja. “We have the exact opposite of what you would want in a health secretary in RFK Jr.” Kennedy has stated in the past that, if he were in this role, he would fire hundreds of scientists, remove entire departments and divert attention and resources away from infectious disease research. “We’re going to take a break from infectious disease for about eight years,” he said at an anti-vaccine conference in Georgia in 2023, NBC reported. Kennedy started the foundation Children’s Health Defense in 2018, a nonprofit that states, according to its website, to “restore and protect the health of children by eliminating environmental exposures, holding responsible parties accountable, and establishing safeguards to prevent future harm of children’s health.” The Instagram and Facebook accounts of the nonprofit were temporarily banned in August 2022 for posting misinformation about vaccines. More on politics After disavowing Project 2025, Trump hires people who worked on it Judge delays sentencing Trump for his hush-money case conviction Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Incumbent Bob Casey concedes Pennsylvania Senate race to Dave McCormickIf you’re new to snowboarding, you may not realize the importance of a solid pair of snowboard bindings. In reality, this piece of gear does more than just secure your boots to the snowboard. Bindings are responsible for transferring the power from your legs to the board, allowing improved control and comfort. A quality pair of bindings could last for years, so the decision to buy is a big one. For snowboard bindings that are durable, lightweight and comfortable, check out the BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings . Some snowboard bindings are better suited for certain riding styles. Consider how you plan to use your snowboard before settling on a specific pair of bindings. If you’re not sure, try renting some gear for a day and see how the bindings feel on the slopes. Many snowboard manufacturers include a 1 to 10 flexibility rating with their bindings. A high number indicates stiff bindings, while a low number is assigned to bindings that are particularly soft and flexible. Most snowboard bindings have straps that secure the ankle and toe sections of your boots to the board. The ankle straps keep you in a flexible yet fixed position when you lean forward onto your toes, while the toe straps keep your feet in place when you lean back. Padding is used on snowboard bindings to absorb some of the shock caused by bumpy runs. Think about your riding style when deciding how much padding you need. Mounts secure the bindings to the board. You can use mounting screws to attach the bindings and adjust the foot positioning to your preference. Just like a snowboard, snowboard bindings come in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. If you want a cohesive look, pick out bindings that match the rest of your gear. When shopping for snowboard gear online, try to purchase from well-known brands like Burton, Salomon or Rossignol. Cheap snowboard bindings from an obscure manufacturer might be tempting, but you could find yourself with an inferior product once you hit the slopes. The cost of snowboard bindings can vary depending on the brand name and the quality of the parts. Beginner and intermediate snowboarders can expect to pay around $100-$250 for a quality pair of bindings, while advanced snowboard bindings regularly exceed $300. A. Most snowboard bindings are sold in two to five size options. Look at the model’s sizing chart and compare it with your boot size to find bindings that fit you. A. Yes. Although there are women’s snowboard bindings that advertise particular design features, snowboard bindings are universal. This means you can choose any pair you want, as long as they’re the right size. BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Despite being advertised as men’s snowboard bindings, these bindings use advanced technology to deliver quality support and performance for any rider. What you’ll love: Backed by Burton’s legendary reputation, these snowboard bindings offer an advanced level of performance, control and comfort in a stylish package. The padding has a gel to absorb extra shock, and the bindings come in five color options. What you should consider: These bindings might be too expensive for beginner and intermediate riders. Salomon Pact Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: These versatile bindings are durable and affordable enough for almost any rider. What you’ll love: A solid choice for beginners, these snowboard bindings have a rear-entry design with high-quality straps for fine adjustments. Many users note their durability and comfort during long days of riding. What you should consider: These bindings have a limited number of size options, and the mounting discs may not attach to every board type. BURTON Grom Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Designed for kids and small snowboarders, these popular bindings have a solid construction and reasonable price tag. What you’ll love: Perfect for young riders hitting the slopes for the first time, these beginner bindings are compatible with most snowboard mounting systems and feature a single-component baseplate for consistent control and responsiveness. They’re also available in two sleek color options, black and white. What you should consider: Some users questioned the quality and longevity of the bindings’ highback. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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Jimmy Carter To Receive State Funeral: Trump Calls Him 'Truly A Good Man,' Biden Mourns Loss Of 'Extraordinary Leader'

Noah Lyles knows he's fast, just not Usain Bolt fast -- at least not yet, anyway. The Team USA sprinter captured 100m gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a personal best time of 9.79 seconds before taking bronze in the 200m in 19.70 seconds while battling COVID-19. The 27-year-old is the undisputed king of the athletics world but even he admits there's a long way to go to catch Jamaica's sprint king. Track icon Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and the fastest human in history. The retired 38-year-old speedster still holds the world records in the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds), which he set back in 2009. Lyles was asked about being the fastest man on the planet during a recent episode of his ' Beyond the Records Podcast ' with special guest Mr Beast. However, Lyles rejected the crown, insisting it's Bolt's until he can eclipse the Jamaican's record times. “I’m the world’s fastest man [currently], you get it with the title of being the Olympic champion,” Lyles told the YouTuber. “Technically, the world’s fastest man, and the fastest man alive, is Usain Bolt .” Asked if he would ever be able to eclipse Bolt’s best times, Lyles replied: “I’m knocking on the door of the 200m [his best is 19.31]. If it was that easy, I’d have done it five years ago. “I’m the fastest American to ever live, so I have the American record, like Rai [Benjamin, who joined him on the podcast] in the 400m hurdles, which is pretty cool. We’re just constantly getting closer to breaking world records.” Lyles also believes he has plenty of time to beat Bolt’s times, highlighting the longevity of sprinters these days and the age they tend to peak. “They used to say it was around 30 [when a sprinter reaches their peak] but with technology now, it’s more like 35," he explained. “But then you’ve got people like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce [who is 38 and still at the top of the sport]. I’ve just reached what they consider peak fitness. So 26 through 31/32 is what they consider to be peak.” Lyles certainly has time on his side, with an Olympic Games on home soil in 2028 and one in Brisbane in 2032 well within his reach. The Florida native has been enjoying his newfound celebrity status in the wake of the Paris Games. He's been spotted racing popular streamer IShowSpeed and continues to go back and forth with NFL star Tyreek Hill about a prospective footrace. The explosive Miami Dolphins wide receiver -- nicknamed 'Cheetah' due to being one of the quickest players in the NFL -- claimed he could beat the reigning 100m Olympic champion in a race shortly after the American claimed gold in Paris. That sparked an intense war of words between the pair that Lyles now suggests could get settled during the NFL's 2025 Pro Bowl Games on February 2.

The best snowboard bindings to raise your game on the slopes

ATLANTA—Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old. The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief” and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise” speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter’s diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Alex Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.AP News Summary at 12:21 p.m. EST

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The University of Colorado Boulder has created a free resource to help people recover their loved ones’ digital accounts or make plans for their own after death. The Digital Legacy Clinic at CU Boulder is a pro-bono service offered to the public to help with issues around digital legacy and online data accounts. They can help family members recover photos, emails and social media accounts belonging to a deceased loved one, and they can help people make an end-of-life plan for their own digital accounts. Jed Brubaker, the founder of the clinic and a CU Boulder professor, said the average internet user has about 190 online accounts and produces 850 gigabytes of data each year. “That’s a whole lot of photos, letters and personal history, and it would be a shame if that were lost,” Brubaker said. “And the truth is, the technology platforms just haven’t kept up with our end-of-life needs, so at the clinic, we’re here to bridge that gap.” Brubaker’s work has focused on the digital afterlife for 15 years. His work has directly informed the design and development of Facebook’s Legacy Contact, a feature that allows a user to select someone to manage their memorialized profile after their death. Without a feature like that, social media accounts that are inaccessible to anyone but their owner can exist long after that person has died, sending out routine birthday notifications, friend anniversary notices and memories. However, most technology platforms don’t allow users to name a beneficiary like they would in a financial account. “I think the tech sector is in need of some help to figure out what the best practices are so that every platform has some kind of support for end-of-life planning because most of them don’t right now,” Brubaker said. The clinic, which has a research and education focus, is partly funded by a $550,000 National Science Foundation grant. A team of specially-trained students respond to inquiries from clients and help them navigate digital accounts. Master’s student Rory O’Flynn helped develop the website for the clinic and has helped support a client. The client she worked with had a brother who died but still had portfolios online. She helped the client archive the brother’s photos, shut down part of the accounts and memorialize the rest privately for his family. “It was actually really cool,” O’Flynn said, adding, “It’s really, really interesting because it’s not something many people think of until it happens to them.” Digitized photos, videos, art, music, stories, blogs or professional work can all be lost after death. Losing it can be a loss of memories, and it can be devastating for loved ones. “It’s not just data,” Brubaker said. “There are personal stories, there are personal histories, there are family heritage. It’s hard to overstate the symbolic value of this.” The logistical burden of not being able to access those accounts can worsen stress and suffering when loved ones are already grieving. “It’s about reducing suffering and reducing extra areas of stress when someone is grieving, whether it’s grieving their eventual death or grieving the loss of a loved one,” doctoral student and researcher Dylan Thomas Doyle said. “When someone dies, there’s so many tasks and there’s so many emotions that come up.” Brubaker said many people don’t know how to talk about death. He hopes the clinic will help by providing clarity. “We can take them through the process and take them step by step and reduce the ambiguities and uncertainties and show them how to do this,” Brubaker said. The clinic is open to anyone of all ages. For more information or to request support, visit colorado.edu/center/digital-legacy .Canadiens' Mike Matheson out against Utah with lower-body injury

NoneNoneKosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has decided not to certify the main ethnic Serbian party, effectively barring it from competing in the February 9 parliamentary elections. The CEC said its main reason for declining to certify Serbian List was its nationalist stance and close ties to Serbia. Some commission members noted that Serbian List leader Zlatan Elek has never referred to Kosovo as independent and continues to call it Serbia's autonomous province of Kosovo. The CEC also said that Serbian List has close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other Serb leaders who also refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. There was no immediate reaction from Serbian List. The move may further aggravate the already tense ties between Kosovo and Serbia despite international efforts to normalize them. The parliamentary elections on February 9, 2025, are expected to be a key test for Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose party came to power in 2021 in a landslide. Vucic claimed on December 23 that Kurti is trying to "eliminate the only opponent" in the elections. He also accused Kurti and his allies of attempting to expel the Serbian people from the southern areas of Kosovo. Vucic said that he had also spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about what he considered to be violations of international law by Pristina. Only the chairman of the CEC, Kreshnik Radoniqi, voted for the certification of Serbian List. Two members of the ruling Self-Determination party voted against, while the others abstained. Political analyst Albert Krasniqi of the Demokraci+ NGO told RFE/RL that the decision is part of the preelection campaign being conducted by Kurti’s Self-Determination party. He said Serbian List will appeal the decision to the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) and predicted that it will reverse the decision. “All this noise will last at most four days, and I am sure that the ECAP will reverse this decision of the CEC and will oblige the CEC to certify Serbian List,” Krasniqi said. Eugen Cakolli of the Democratic Institute of Kosovo told RFE/RL that the CEC has once again become “part of [the] political rhetoric, making a decision in violation of the law and other regulations in force.” He also said Serbian List will appeal and the ECAP will overturn the decision. Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade still considers Kosovo a province of Serbia and has a major influence on the ethnic Serbian minority living there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of wanting to "help" President Vladimir Putin earn money to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine after Fico paid a visit to Putin in Moscow. Zelenskiy said on X on December 23 that EU leaders had previously observed that Fico opposes reducing energy dependence on Russia, "implying that he wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war and weaken Europe." Ukraine is “losing people as a result of the war that Putin started, and we believe that such assistance to Putin is immoral,” Zelenskiy said . Fico said his trip to Moscow and meeting with Putin on December 22 was in response to Zelenskiy opposing any "transit of gas through Ukraine to our territory." Ukraine has said it will not renew a contract for gas transit through pipelines in Ukraine that expires on December 31. Slovakia has raised concerns about the prospect of losing supplies of natural gas as a result. The flow of gas through the pipeline accounts for around half of Russia's total exports to Europe, and Slovakia, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic are set to be most affected if it ends. The European Commission has said it is ready for the current contract to expire, and all countries receiving Russian fuel via the Ukraine route have access to alternative supplies. Fico is one of the few European leaders Putin has stayed friendly with since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, but Zelenskiy questioned his motivation. "Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?" Zelenskiy asked rhetorically. The visit by Fico, whose country is a NATO and European Union member, had not been previously announced, but Fico said he had informed EU leaders about it ahead of time. Fico said on Facebook after his meeting with Putin that the Russian president had confirmed Russia's “readiness to continue supplying gas to the West and to Slovakia in view of the Ukrainian president's stance after January 1, 2025." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 23 said he could not give more details about the talks between Putin and Fico but said the situation regarding the flow of gas is “very difficult” and “requires increased attention." Fico’s visit with Putin drew strong reactions from other European leaders. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky denounced it, saying on X that the Czech government “has been working to achieve independence from Russian energy supplies so that we don't have to grovel to a mass murderer." Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda reacted sarcastically, saying that any dealings with Russia involve a price. “How cheap is your love,” he said on X . “There are those who come to Russia with love and feel gassed to meet a war criminal. This is not Lithuania's way. We choose energy independence and real market prices -- with no political strings attached! Uzbek authorities are keeping a close eye on the family of the suspect in the high-profile assassination of a Russian general in Moscow last week, neighbors and activists say. Uzbek national Ahmadjon Qurbonov, 29, has been charged by a Moscow court with terrorism and other offenses in the December 17 killing of Igor Kirillov, who headed Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces. Qurbonov, who grew up in the Uchteppa district of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, has been accused of remotely detonating a homemade bomb hidden on a scooter parked outside a residential building. The blast killed Kirillov and his assistant. Qurbonov's neighbors in Tashkent told RFE/RL that his family are refraining from speaking to media and are being monitored by Uzbek authorities since the news of Qurbonov’s arrest broke. Uzbek law-enforcement agencies have since been in regular contact with the family, according to Abdurahmon Tashanov, head of the Ezgulik human rights group in Uzbekistan. Tashanov told RFE/RL that he had spoken with the family and quoted them as saying the relatives first found about Qurbonov's alleged involvement in the attack from the anti-terrorism unit of the Uchteppa police department. They learned other details from media reports, Tashanov added. Uzbek authorities did not respond to RFE/RL's request for comment. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the neighbors said Qurbonov's mother had last spoken with her son two days before the attack, when he called from Russia and had assured her he was healthy and had found good work as a cook. According to the neighbors, Qurbonov left Tashkent in 2021, saying he was going to Turkey as a migrant worker. They claimed the family didn't know when Qurbonov moved from Turkey to Russia. Both Russia and Turkey host thousands of migrant workers from Uzbekistan. The residents in Uchteppa's Pakhtakor neighborhood described the Qurbonovs as a regular, middle-class family with a comfortable life. Qurbonov’s late father, Alijon, made a living as a cook, and one of his siblings works at a bakery, they said. Tashanov raised concern about a video released by Russian authorities that purportedly shows Qurbonov "confessing" to having committed the deadly attack on Kirillov. It is not known whether the "confession" was obtained under duress. Tashanov said releasing such footage violates the presumption of innocence in Qurbonov's case. During a hearing at Moscow's Basman district court on December 19, Qurbonov requested a translator due to his limited knowledge of the Russian language. Russian investigators claimed Qurbonov was recruited and trained by Ukrainian intelligence services to carry out the attack. There has been no official claim of responsibility, but Ukraine's security service SBU has said it was behind the killing. Kyiv had accused Kirillov of being responsible for Russia's use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops, a claim Moscow denies. The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoev, discussed cooperation in the fight against terrorism in a phone call on December 19. Belarus's Central Election Commission (CEC) said five candidates, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, have been registered for a presidential election next month, the first since balloting in 2020 triggered mass unrest amid claims of victory by the 70-year-old authoritarian ruler, who has since wiped out almost all traces of opposition and dissent in the country. Lukashenka, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expected to easily cruise to a seventh consecutive term in office as the other four candidates announced by CEC on December 23 are seen as being pro-government. "Lukashenka has announced the date of his 'reelection' -- January 26. It’s a sham with no real electoral process, conducted in an atmosphere of terror," exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenka in the August 2020 election after her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was arrested and jailed during the campaign, said on X when the January vote was first announced. "No alternative candidates or observers will be allowed. We call on Belarusians and the international community to reject this farce," she added. Along with Lukashenka, the CEC said Oleh Gaidukevich, Serhey Syrankov, Anna Konapatskaya, and Alyaksandr Khizhnyak were approved to run in the vote. Massive street protests followed the disputed 2020 presidential election that extended Lukashenka's long-standing rule for another term. The election was widely condemned as fraudulent by the United States, the European Union, and other international actors. The protests, which demanded Lukashenka's resignation, were met with mass arrests, alleged torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead. Tsikhanouski, as well as other opposition politicians and activists, were arrested and many were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Many opposition leaders remain imprisoned or in exile, while Lukashenka refuses dialogue with his critics. Tsikhanouskaya was forced into exile in 2020. Her husband was later convicted of organizing riots among other charges following a trial condemned as a sham and sentenced to 18 years in prison. The Romanian parliament has sworn in a new pro-European coalition government led by leftist Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The new government took the oath of office and held a ceremonial first cabinet meeting after parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote on December 23. President Klaus Iohannis had earlier appointed Ciolacu as prime minister to form a new government after three pro-Western parties agreed on a coalition aimed at preventing far-right groups from joining the government. "You are entering a difficult period in your new responsibilities," Iohannis told the government in a congratulatory message. "I wish you to succeed in everything you set out to do, but, first of all, I wish you to succeed for Romania and Romanians. People expect solutions, stability, and a government that firmly maintains Romania's trajectory." Iohannis said the situation is like no other the country has experienced, adding that all those he spoke to asked for the continuation of the pro-European path. The government, which includes five new ministers, took shape amid political turmoil prompted by revelations about Russia's malign influence that led to the annulment of a presidential election after a Moscow-friendly outsider won the first round. "It will not be an easy mandate for the future government," Ciolacu said in a statement. "We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis. It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people." The coalition government includes Emil Hurezeanu, a former journalist for RFE/RL, who will serve as foreign minister. The parties that together won just over half the seats in parliamentary elections on December 1 -- the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR -- reached an agreement to band together late on December 10 in Bucharest. That deal came after they threw their support behind presidential candidate Elena Lasconi ahead of a December 8 scheduled runoff against the pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won a shock victory in the first round on November 24. However, Romania's Constitutional Court on December 6 canceled the results of the first round and ordered a rerun of the presidential polls after the EU and NATO member's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by an unnamed "state actor" with the help of Chinese-owned TikTok social media platform. The PSD and the PNL, the two parties that have dominated Romania's politics since the fall of communism, formed an unlikely left-right alliance in 2021. The alliance became increasingly unpopular while also eroding both parties' support among voters, and allowed the shock rise of pro-Russian, far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which finished a close second in parliamentary elections with more than 18 percent to PSD's 23 percent. Adding to the current instability, no presidential polls are likely until sometime early next year while it remains unclear if parties would have to propose new candidates or if Georgescu will be allowed to run again. One of the government's first tasks will be to set a date for the new presidential election. Last week, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, an independent, said he will be a candidate in the presidential election when it is re-run. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called on the ruling Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party to set a date for new parliamentary elections by December 29 amid unrest over the last vote and the party's unilateral decision to postpone negotiations with the European Union. Zurabishvili has been locked in a standoff with the party since it won October parliamentary elections plagued by allegations of electoral fraud . The opposition has refused to recognize the vote, accusing Georgian Dream of rigging the vote to cling to power. In a speech late on December 22, she invited Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and the founder of Georgian Dream, to the presidential palace for talks on setting an election date. Georgian Dream has denied any election wrongdoing and has refused to consider new elections despite almost daily protests over its victory and its subsequent decision to halt talks with the 27-member bloc until 2028. "Ivanishvili should come to the palace, and I am ready to sit down and think about how the elections should be scheduled. The date of the elections should be agreed upon by the 29th," Zurabishvili told a rally on Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue, the site of countless Georgian protests. Due to technical issues during the speech, Zurabishvili said she would release a new video recorded message of the address on December 23. Georgia received EU candidate status in December last year but ties with Brussels have been tense in recent months following the adoption in May of a controversial "foreign agent" law pushed through parliament by Georgian Dream, which has ruled since 2012. Critics say the legislation threatens media outlets and civil society groups and mirrors a similar Russian law used by the Kremlin to stifle political opponents and civil society. While initially endorsed by Georgian Dream for her successful presidential run in 2018, Zurabishvili has been a thorn in the ruling party's side. Although officially a nonpartisan president limited to a ceremonial role, Zurabishvili has criticized Georgian Dream for its increasingly authoritarian stance. Earlier this month, an electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream chose Mikheil Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former soccer player and right-wing populist, as Georgia's next president. His inauguration is supposed to take place on December 29, though the 72-year-old Zurabishvili, whose term ends this year, has said she isn't going anywhere. After the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in an election on October 26, protests restarted and intensified after the government said it was suspending talks with Brussels on Tbilisi's bid to join the EU, Georgia’s biggest donor, biggest economic market, and home to the South Caucasus country's biggest diaspora. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said in its final report on the elections -- which it issued on December 20 -- that numerous issues "negatively impacted" the elections and eroded public trust. The report refers to the passage of the "foreign agent" law, modeled on a similar Russian law, saying the election took place amid “serious concerns about the impact of recently adopted legislation on fundamental freedoms and civil society.” The law, which mandates that organizations receiving significant foreign funding register as foreign agents, took effect on August 1, sparking significant backlash from international and domestic actors. The government last week pledged to amend the law, though it did not give details of the changes it would enact. The Kremlin said there are currently no plans for President Vladimir Putin to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump amid a rise in talk of finding a peace deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Trump told a conservative convention on December 22 that Putin said he "wants to meet with me as soon as possible.” In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS on December 23 that "so far, there have been no real impulses" for a meeting with Trump before his inauguration in January. Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has ratcheted up in recent weeks, with Moscow launching waves of drones and missiles across Ukrainian territory, mainly aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure. Kyiv has countered with attacks on Russian oil and energy targets just inside Russian territory and over the weekend struck high-rise buildings in Kazan, the capital of Russia's oil-rich republic of Tatarstan. Last week Putin dangled the prospect of Russian concessions before audiences in Washington and the West, saying more than once during his annual question-and-answer conference that Russia was ready for a compromise. But he attached numerous conditions to the idea of compromise, suggesting Moscow’s goal of subjugating Ukraine and winning major security guarantees from NATO and the West remain in place, as well as saying he does not consider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a legitimate leader. Trump has said he would move to end the war quickly and during his remarks at Turning Point’s America Fest convention on December 22, said, "We have to end that war. That war is horrible, horrible." Analysts say that behind closed doors in Moscow, Kyiv, Brussels, Washington, and other capitals diplomats, elected leaders, and military officers are gearing up for what will likely be a full-court press to find a resolution to Europe's largest land war since World War II. In Western negotiating rooms, sentiment has shifted decisively toward a push to resolve a conflict that has killed or wounded more than 1 million men on both sides over 34 months and counting. In a rare meeting with a European Union leader, Putin met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on December 22. While the main topic was a soon-to-expire contract allowing for Russian natural gas to transit through Ukraine, the two leaders also talked about the military situation in Ukraine and the possibility of a peaceful settlement to the war. Fico is one of the few European leaders with whom Putin has maintained ties since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. Kyiv said it will not extend the gas transit deal beyond January 1 as payments Russia receives for gas have helped fund Moscow's war. Fico, whose views on Russia's war on Ukraine differ sharply from those of most European leaders, returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his country's military aid for Ukraine, hit out at EU sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. Zelenskiy warned on December 23 that Fico's stance on Russian gas was a "big security issue" for Europe. "His key goal is to deal with Russia, and this is what benefits him. This is indeed a big security issue -- both for Slovakia and the entire Europe," Zelenskiy said on X. "Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?" he added. Students who have been blocking academic faculties at the University of Belgrade for weeks staged a protest on December 22 to demand accountability for the collapse of a canopy at the train station in Novi Sad that killed 15 people. Streets near Slavija Square in central Belgrade were closed to traffic as thousands gathered for the protest, filling the square and beyond as farmers, actors, and educators joined the student-led protest. The demonstration began at 4:30 p.m. local time with 15 minutes of silence for the victims of the collapse on November 1, which seriously injured two people in addition to killing 15. Many of the participants turned their mobile phone lights on and held them high. The 15 minutes of silence was followed by 30 minutes of participants blowing whistles and vuvuzelas. Student Teodora Topalovic told RFE/RL at the protest that the support of citizens means a lot to the gathered students. "Every time something like this starts at the beginning, I'm first on the verge of tears, and then I pull myself together and continue," Topalovic said. "This means a lot to all the students." Nikola Peric of Belgrade said his motive for coming to this protest is to say "no" to the entire situation and the authorities in Serbia. "To support the students, to honor the people who died innocently, and to try to change the situation in the country, which is not good," he told RFE/RL. Pensioner Tatjana Spolja Miletic told RFE/RL that "new, young forces" have arrived and that the older ones are have joined in the protest to support them. "I can't be silent and sit at home," she said. The organizers demanded the government identify and prosecute the people who allegedly attacked demonstrators during protests that swept across Serbia in the days following the collapse of the canopy. The organizers also called for the release of activists detained during earlier protests and an end to legal proceedings against them. Serbians have protested regularly over the accident to demand accountability. Some of the protests turned violent, but there was no violence reported during the demonstration in Belgrade on December 22. The collapse of the canopy has turned into a political headache for President Aleksandar Vucic as more than 50 academic faculties at four state universities, the offices of several university rectors, and dozens of high schools remain blocked in solidarity with the protests. Students also have taken part in daily protests in which traffic stops for 15 minutes in cities across Serbia. The accident occurred after the railway station had been renovated twice in recent years by a Chinese-led consortium of four companies. Serbian Railways insisted that the renovation didn’t include the concrete overhang, but some experts disputed that. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad announced on November 21 that 11 people had been arrested after being found responsible for the collapse. Among them were former Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure Minister Goran Vesic and the ex-director of railway infrastructure Jelena Tanaskovic. They face up to 12 years in prison if they are found guilty of charges of committing criminal acts against public security, endangering the public, and irregular construction work. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met in the Kremlin on December 22 to discuss a soon-to-expire contract allowing for Russian natural gas to transit through Ukraine. Fico said the meeting with Putin came in reaction to Ukraine saying it would not renew the contract, which is set to run out on December 31. "Putin confirmed [Russia's] readiness to continue supplying gas to the West and to Slovakia in view of the Ukrainian president's stance after January 1, 2025," Fico said on Facebook. He said he and Putin also exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine, the possibility of a peaceful settlement to the war, and mutual relations between Slovakia and Russia. Fico is one of the few European leaders with whom Putin has maintained ties since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. Fico arrived in Russia on a "working visit" and met with Putin one-on-one, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying earlier on December 22. According to Russian media reports, Peskov said the meeting was to focus on "the international situation" and was likely to also touch on Russian natural gas deliveries. Slovakia and Hungary, which rely on Russian gas, raised concerns about the prospect of losing supplies after Ukraine said it would not renew the contract. Fico, whose views on Russia's war on Ukraine differ sharply from those of most European leaders, returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his country's military aid for Ukraine, hit out at EU sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. The visit by the leader of the NATO- and EU-member country had not been previously announced, but Fico said top EU officials had been informed about his journey and its purpose on December 20. Michal Simecka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia, described Fico's trip to meet Putin as a "shame for Slovakia and a betrayal of national interests." "If the prime minister actually cared about gas transit, he should have negotiated with Ukraine rather than turning Slovakia into a tool of Putin's propaganda," Simecka said on X. Fico also complained that in addition to allowing the natural gas transit contract to expire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also in favor of sanctions against the Russian nuclear program. He called this "unacceptable," saying it would financially damage and endanger the production of electricity in nuclear power plants in Slovakia. Zelenskiy said on December 19 during a European Union summit in Brussels that Kyiv could consider continued transit of Russian gas on the condition that Moscow does not receive payment for the fuel until after the war. "We will not give the possibility of additional billions to be earned on our blood, on the lives of our citizens," Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy also lambasted Fico, who has claimed that his country will face an economic hit if it loses cheap gas from Russia. "To be honest, during war, it's a bit shameful to talk about money, because we are losing people," Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy said he told Fico that Ukraine would be open to carrying another country's gas through its pipeline infrastructure to reach Europe, but it would need assurances that the gas was not merely relabeled Russian fuel. "We have to know that we will only transit gas if it's not coming from Russia," Zelenskiy said. The European Commission has said it is ready for the current contract to expire, and all countries receiving Russian fuel via the Ukraine route have access to alternative supplies. Russian forces executed five Ukrainian prisoners of war according to the latest war crime allegation against Russian troops raised by Ukraine's ombudsman for human rights. Dmytro Lubinets said on December 22 that Russian troops shot the five unarmed soldiers at point-blank range after they had surrendered. He gave no details but said on Telegram that a Ukrainian military unit had released a video showing the alleged shooting. "I will report this fact to the UN and the ICRC," he said . "Russian war criminals who shoot Ukrainian prisoners of war should be brought before an international tribunal and punished with the most severe punishment provided for by law," Lubinets added. Russia did not immediately comment on the accusation but has previous denied committing war crimes. Lubinets said earlier this month that there had been 177 confirmed cases of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian military since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin in October called the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers a deliberate policy of the Russian Federation. Kostin said in a statement on October 15 that torture and executions without trial and investigation are used as weapons of war, intimidation, and destruction. "We can prove that these cases are not isolated incidents but an organized and targeted policy," Kostin said. The Institute for the Study of War reported in October it had observed an increase in Russian forces executing Ukrainian POWs, adding that "Russian commanders are likely writ large condoning, encouraging, or directly ordering the execution of Ukrainian POWs." A Ukrainian open-source intelligence project reported on October 13 that Russian forces executed nine Ukrainian POWs near the village of Zeleny Shlyakh in the Kursk region on October 10. Lubinets condemned those executions as a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of POWs and stated that he sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the case. The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called on Syrians to resist the emerging rebel-led government after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, saying the uprising was orchestrated by the West. Speaking in an address on December 22, Khamenei said Syrians, especially the country's youth, "should stand with strong will against those who designed and those who implemented the insecurity." Assad left the country in the late hours of December 8 after the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- overran government forces in a blitz offensive. While Assad was granted political asylum in Russia by President Vladimir Putin after more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family, the HTS has since moved quickly to establish an interim government, and its leader, Riad al-Asaad, has said he is confident the factions that helped topple Assad will unite as one force. HTS and the transitional government have insisted the rights of all Syrians will be protected, but Khamenei said he believes a group aligned with the Islamic republic's government would end up prevailing in Syria. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on December 22. Details of the meeting were not immediately released, but Turkey has long been seen as a backer of HTS as it looked to remove Assad. The toppling of Assad was seen by many as another blow to Tehran, which has seen regional groups aligned with it -- parts of the so-called axis of resistance -- suffer major setbacks in the past 14 months. Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, has been decimated by Israel, which launched a war against the group in the Gaza Strip and Hamas fighters in October 2023 crossed into Israel and killed 1,200 people while taking another 250 hostage. That conflict spread to Lebanon, home of the Tehran-backed Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the EU blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollah’s political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament. Israel has severely weakened Hezbollah -- killing its longtime leader and many of its top officials -- after the group launched attacks on Israel that it said was in support of Hamas. A U.S.-brokered deal to end hostilities in Lebanon took effect last month. Khamenei downplayed the links to Iran, saying they have fought against Israel on their own beliefs. "They keep saying that the Islamic republic lost its proxy forces in the region. This is another mistake. The Islamic republic does not have a proxy forces," he said. “If one day we plan to take action, we do not need proxy force,” he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge over Kyiv's attack a day earlier on high-rise buildings in Kazan , the capital of Russia's oil-rich republic of Tatarstan, as Russia launched a massive drone attack at Ukraine on December 22. More than the 100 drones that Russia launched in the December 22 attack were shot down, according to Ukraine's military. Businesses and apartment buildings were damaged in the Russian attacks, though at this point, the military said, "without casualties." The regions of Kherson, Mykolayiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv all saw drones fired in their direction, with 52 of the total 103 shot down, the Ukrainian Air Force reported . Russia has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying on December 21 that Moscow has launched more than 550 guided bombs, almost 550 drones, and 20 missiles over the past week. Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure since the start of the war, stepping up attacks especially at the onset of the cold season, causing maximum difficulties and lengthy power cuts for Ukrainians for the third winter in a row. It has also been accused by Kyiv of targeting residential buildings, which Moscow denies. Russia's massive attack comes a day after Ukraine struck high-rise buildings in Kazan , the capital of Russia's oil-rich republic of Tatarstan. Putin vowed to bring more "destruction" to Ukraine in retaliation for the drone attack on Kazan. "Whoever tries to destroy something here will face many times more destruction on their own territory and will regret what they are trying to do in our country," Putin said during a televised meeting. On December 22, Ukraine appeared to again strike inside Russian territory. Andrey Klychkov, the head of Oryol region near the border with Ukraine, said a fire broke out at a fuel infrastructure facility in the village of Stalnoy Kon after the area came under a drone attack, the second in a week. Kyiv has not commented on the accusation, but footage on social media showed what appeared to be explosions in the area. Ukraine has been investing heavily in drone production in part to compensate for its shortage in manpower on the battlefield. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said earlier this month that it had transferred 1.2 million drones to the armed forces through the first 11 months of 2024, including more than 6,000 deep strike drones. Ukraine's drone production is now close to parity with Russia, experts have said. Kyiv has used its long-range drone capacity to hit objects crucial to Russia's war effort, such as weapons and energy facilities. It has tried to avoid civilian targets in part amid concern about backlash from its Western backers. Kazan, one of the wealthiest cities in Russia, is approximately 800 kilometers east of Moscow. Several Russian pensioners were allegedly tricked by scammers into carrying out risky stunts in crowded places in Moscow and St. Petersburg on December 21, police said. A number of the pensioners have been detained, the police said. Law enforcement is still searching for at least one of the suspects. It is unclear who is behind the scam. One incident took place at the Fort shopping center in northeastern Moscow. The building was evacuated following a small explosion in the public services center located there. One woman was treated for injuries after she fell amid the rush for the doors. Meanwhile, a shopping center and a post office in the suburban Moscow towns of Korolev and Khimki, respectively, were evacuated the same day on similar grounds. In Korolev, the explosion blew out several windows and triggered a fire that damaged the shopping center’s ceiling. In the Fort incident, police detained a pensioner who allegedly detonated a firecracker on the instructions of unknown individuals who had extorted 120,000 rubles ($1,200) from her. The 64-year-old suspect in the Korolev incident allegedly tried to detonate pyrotechnics at the police station as well. A 70-year-old woman was detained in connection with the explosion at the post office in Khimki. The same day, two retired women in St. Petersburg allegedly tried to set fire to a police car at the direction of telephone scammers. They have been detained and a case has been opened against them on terrorist charges. Also in St. Petersburg, an explosion occurred at an ATM location belonging to Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender. No injuries were reported. Local media reported that an elderly woman poured a flammable liquid inside the ATM before the explosion. A similar incident at an ATM occurred the night before in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, RFE/RL’s Siberia.Realities reported. This time the suspect was a teenager. Police said the 19-year old girl was duped into carrying out the attack by scammers. She received second-degree burns and is being treated at a hospital. Pakistani militants carried out a daring early-morning raid near the northwestern border with Afghanistan, killing over a dozen officers in the latest attack of 2024 -- a year already marked as one of the deadliest in the region. Laddha Police Deputy Superintendent Hidayat Ullah told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that 16 security officers were killed when militants opened fire at a security checkpoint in South Waziristan at 2 am on December 21. He said eight more officers were wounded. Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which claimed responsibility for the attack, said it killed 35 Pakistani security officers. Radio Mashaal could not independently confirm the number of officers killed. Neither side said how many militants were killed during the attack. There has been a steady increase in TTP attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in August 2021. The TTP seeks to impose Shari'a law in Pakistan. The latest attack came as the elders of Dre Maseed in the Sur Rogha area of South Waziristan held a meeting on December 20 to demand that the security forces change tactics. Sherpao Maseed, a leader of the assembly, told Radio Mashaal that Pakistani defense forces are targeting militants with artillery and mortar shells , putting civilians in danger. The Pakistan Center for Conflict and Security Studies said in its most recent report that more than 240 people were killed in "terrorist incidents" in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November The death toll included 68 security officers, the highest in a single month this year. Meanwhile, the Army Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) claims to have killed dozens of suspected militants in operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this month. The governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan say they are committed to wiping out the TTP. BUDAPEST -- Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's recent reported proposal for NATO members states to increase their defense spending would cripple the Hungarian economy. According to recent reports in Britain's Financial Times and The Telegraph, Trump's team informed European officials that the president-elect was expecting the United States' NATO allies to raise their defense expenditure to 5 percent of national gross domestic product (GDP). Speaking at his year-end press briefing on December 21, Orban said that Hungary has already sweated blood to reach the current 2 percent target, and "if the 2 percent has to be increased, that would shoot the Hungarian economy in the lungs." "We would prefer to not spend even 2 percent of GDP on weaponry...but the world is going in the opposite direction," he said. Orban, who has been accused at home and abroad of democratic backsliding, also said he had not discussed this with Trump, adding that, if the increase is inevitable, then he believes it should be gradual. Hungary budgeted to spend 2.1 percent of GDP in 2024 on defense. Orban is one of Trump's main allies in Europe and, on December 9, he met with the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Throughout the Ukraine war, Orban has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been critical of EU aid for Ukraine, and has obstructed the bloc's sanctions regime against Moscow. NATO Spending Targets During his time as president between 2016 and 2020, Trump regularly called for NATO members to meet the required 2 percent level of defense spending, goals that most have since met. NATO leadership has also called for member nations to boost spending following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered the largest war in Europe since World War II. Before leaving office, former Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance's members would "have to be willing to pay the price for peace" and said that the current 2 percent target was "no longer enough to keep us safe." And in Budapest in November, the current NATO secretary-general, Mark Rutte, said at the European Political Community summit that member states would have to pay more. "It will surpass the 2 percent greatly more. I am quite clear about that," Rutte said. The United States contributes around 16 percent to NATO's common-funded budget, which is the joint largest share alongside Germany. The United States will also spend roughly $967 billion on defense in 2024. While that accounts for around two-thirds of what all NATO members will spend on defense combined this year, it represents about 3 percent of GDP. The United States last spent 5 percent of GDP on defense in the late 2000s and early 2010s amid the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Cold War, the United States spent between 5 and 11 percent of GDP on defense . Experts said that Trump's proposal is likely a starting point for negotiations with NATO members. Spat With Poland The Hungarian prime minister also defended Budapest's decision to grant political asylum to Marcin Romanowski, a Polish lawmaker from the right-wing Law and Justice party, who is wanted for alleged corruption during his tenure in Poland's previous government. Orban said he didn't think the case involving a Polish politician would be the last. He added, however, that he wanted to keep "conflicts with Poland at a manageable level," and would refrain from commenting on the country's rule-of-law situation. The Hungarian prime minister's office made the announcement on December 19, arguing that the Polish government was persecuting its political rivals. Warsaw has called the move a "hostile act" and has summoned Hungary's ambassador to Poland. KARACHI, Pakistan -- Pakistani military courts have sentenced 25 people for their part in attacks on military facilities in May 2023. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's armed forces, said in a statement on December 21 that 25 defendants were given sentences ranging from two to 10 years. On May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a fraud case, supporters of Khan's party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), attacked and damaged military installations, mosques, and government buildings in cities across Pakistan. Several people were killed and dozens injured in the unrest. In its statement, the military's media wing described the sentences as an "important milestone in dispensation of justice to the nation." It added that May 9, 2023 was a sad day for the country, and it would be officially commemorated every year. In response to the verdicts, PTI wrote on the X social network that the military courts have violated the defendants' constitutional and human rights. Khan's party has said the judicial process is not transparent and about 80 people have been in military custody since the unrest, their fundamental rights violated. Supporters of the imprisoned former prime minister, who is accused of inciting attacks against the armed forces, have expressed concerns that military rather than civilian courts are trying some of the cases. They have staged months of protests to demand Khan's release. PTI says its members and supporters did not attack military or government buildings on May 9, 2023. Last year, Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled that civilians should be tried in civilian courts, not military courts. However, on December 13, the Supreme Court suspended the decision and allowed military courts to hear civilian cases. Others charged over the violence are being tried in anti-terrorism courts. PTI regularly campaigns against corruption and nepotism in Pakistan but has been accused of populism and authoritarian tendencies centered around its charismatic leader Khan. KVIV -- An air-raid warning has been declared in all regions of Ukraine due to possible ballistic missile strikes, Ukrainian military authorities said. Russia continued its regular attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure overnight, launching 113 drone attacks, according to the Ukrainian Air Force on December 21. Of those drones, 57 were shot down, and 56 others were unable to reach their targets, the air force said. The Ukrainian Air Force also said Russia had fired one surface-to-air S-400 missile at central Ukraine, but it did not cause any damage or casualties. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported that in the eastern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhya and Kharkiv regions downed drones damaged apartment buildings, causing casualties. Ukraine was under a general air-raid alert for several hours on December 20 as Russia launched missile and drone attacks against the capital, Kyiv, and several other regions around the country. Russian Advance The latest attacks come as Ukrainian forces are struggling to stop Russia's rapid advance in the east of the country. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on December 21 that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Kostyantynopolske in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk region. The claim about the village, called Ostrovsky by Russia, could not be independently confirmed by Reuters. Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Aleksandr Khinshtein, the acting governor of Russia's Kursk region, as saying that six people, including one child, were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on December 20 on the town of Rylsk. Ukraine seized territory in the Kursk region in an incursion in August but has since given up about half its territorial gains. Drones, thought to be from Ukraine, hit high-rise buildings in Kazan , the capital of Russia's republic of Tatarstan, with the attacks causing the city's airport to temporarily suspend flights. No casualties were reported. KAZAN, Russia -- Ukraine struck high-rise buildings in Kazan, the capital of Russia's oil-rich republic of Tatarstan, in the latest display of its growing drone capabilities. The December 21 attacks came in three waves between 7:40 a.m. and 9:20 a.m., the Russian Defense Ministry said. The ministry said the drones were of Ukrainian origin. Western experts said they appeared to be Ukraine's Lyitiy model , a light, aircraft-like drone. Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the strike. The press service of Rustam Minnikhanov, the leader of Tatarstan, said in a statement that eight drones attacked the city. According to the statement, six struck luxury residential buildings, one struck an industrial facility, and one was shot down over a river. In a post on its Telegram channel, Kazan mayor’s office said the drones struck targets in three districts of the city. Two drones slammed into the upper floors of a 37-story luxury skyscraper, according to videos posted on social media. The strikes, which were about 30 minutes apart, hit the glass-and-metal building in roughly the same spot. Schools Evacuated RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reported that pupils were evacuated from schools in the Soviet district of Kazan and that sirens could be heard in the city. There were no casualties, local authorities said. According to Interfax reports, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin said that people had been evacuated from the affected buildings and were being provided with accommodation and food. The mayor said that all large events in the city would be canceled over the weekend. Kazan, one of the wealthiest cities in Russia, is approximately 800 kilometers east of Moscow. In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that a "Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan by the air defense forces on duty." Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said in a statement that "temporary restrictions were imposed at Kazan Airport on the morning of December 21 in order to ensure the safety of civilian flights. Both arrivals and departures are suspended." The ban has since been lifted. Ukrainian drone attacks have previously targeted Russian military and industrial locations in Tatarstan. Local authorities on May 15 shut down two major airports -- one in Kazan and another in the city of Nizhnekamsk -- for several hours "for security reasons" following a drone attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said that "a Ukrainian drone" was shot down over Tatarstan. In April, Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery in Tatarstan and a dormitory in the Alabuga special economic zone in Yelabuga, which hosts more than 20 industrial enterprises, including chemical, mechanical engineering, and metal treatment factories. It also reportedly houses a facility producing drones. Drone Surge Ukraine has been investing heavily in drone production in part to compensate for its shortage in manpower on the battlefield. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said earlier this month that it had transferred 1.2 million drones to the armed forces through the first 11 months of 2024, including more than 6,000 deep strike drones . Ukraine's drone production is now close to parity with Russia, experts have said. Kyiv has used its long-range drone capacity to hit objects crucial to Russia's war effort, such as weapons and energy facilities. It has tried to avoid civilian targets in part amid concern about backlash from its Western backers. In the summer of 2023, Ukrainian drones twice struck the floors of a high-rise building in Moscow's business district housing Russian government ministries. Experts speculated whether the skyscraper in Kazan that was struck twice was home to someone connected with Russia's war effort. Zelenskiy said that Ukraine will continue to target military objects in Russia with drones and missiles. "We will definitely continue to strike Russian military facilities - with drones and missiles, and increasingly Ukrainian ones, at precisely those military bases, at precisely that Russian military infrastructure that is used in such terror against our people," he said in his regular nightly video address to the nation. In the meantime, Russia has continued its regular attacks against Ukraine, including civilian targets. Russia's armed forces launched 113 drone attacks against Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force on December 21. Of those drones, 57 were shot down, and 56 others were unable to reach their targets, the air force said. At least two people were killed and more than 60 injured after a car drove at high speed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, German officials said on December 20. The car plowed into the market in what authorities suspect was an intentional act in the city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. “This is a terrible event, particularly now in the days before Christmas," Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haseloff said. The driver of the car was arrested. Haseloff told reporters that the suspect is a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia who first came to Germany in 2006. He had not been on law enforcement's radar as a known Islamist, security sources told the dpa news agency. "From what we currently know he was a lone attacker, so we don't think there is any further danger for the city," Haseloff said. Haseloff said the two people confirmed dead were an adult and a toddler, and he couldn’t rule out further deaths. Police evacuated the area as they suspected there could be a bomb still in the car that was driven into the market. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he plans to visit the city on December 21. “The reports from Magdeburg suggest something terrible is to come. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours,” Scholz said on X. French President Emmanuel Macron also reacted on X. “Deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany this evening. My thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and their loved ones and families. France shares the pain of the German people and expresses its full solidarity,” he said . Magdeburg, a city of about 240,000 residents west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt. The suspected attack came eight years after an Islamic extremist plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin. killing 13 people and injuring dozens more. The attacker was killed days later in a shootout in Italy. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said in its final report on the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia that numerous issues “negatively impacted" the elections and eroded public trust. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) issued the final report on December 20. The OSCE said shortly after the October 26 elections that it had recorded instances of vote-buying, double-voting, physical violence, and intimidation. The final report reiterates the organization's concerns and offers recommendations to improve elections in Georgia. “Numerous issues noted in our final report negatively impacted the integrity of these elections and eroded public trust in the process,” said Eoghan Murphy, who headed the ODIHR’s 2024 election observation mission to Georgia. Murphy urged authorities in Georgia to urgently address all concerns about the elections, which gave the ruling Georgian Dream party more than 54 percent of the vote, enough to maintain control of the government. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze acknowledged that the final report contains "critical remarks," including on the suppression of votes. "In 76 percent of the polling stations where it observed, OSCE/ODIHR did not identify any irregularities at all," he said at a briefing, adding that in other cases there were "isolated irregularities" that were identified. "These were related to incorrect ballot entry, improper arrangement of the polling station, so-called leaks, video recording, etc." According to Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream government is ready to cooperate with the OSCE to implement its recommendations. The report refers to the passage of a "foreign agents" law modeled on a similar Russian law, earlier in the year, saying the election took place amid “serious concerns about the impact of recently adopted legislation on fundamental freedoms and civil society.” The law, which mandates that organizations receiving significant foreign funding register as “foreign agents,” took effect on August 1, sparking significant backlash from international and domestic actors. The final report also cites pressure on voters and election day practices that “compromised the ability of some voters to cast their vote without fear of retribution.” In addition, there was an overall lack of response to complaints in the post-election period, the report said, saying the ODIHR “found that cases were not considered sufficiently, limiting legal remedies.” The report reiterates the negative impact of the “polarized and instrumentalized media” and limited campaign finance oversight. It notes that candidates were generally able to campaign freely, and candidates across 18 party lists competed, but a "significant imbalance in financial resources contributed to the uneven playing field.” Demonstrators began gathering in central Tbilisi soon after the elections as criticism mounted over voting irregularities. The protests intensified after Kobakhidze announced that Tbilisi was suspending until 2028 talks with Brussels on Georgia's bid to join the European Union. The ODIHR notes that some protests were violently dispersed, resulting in numerous arrests and allegations of brutality toward protesters and journalists. The ODIHR said that the suppression of protests by force and numerous arrests “caused grave concerns about compliance with international commitments to freedom of peaceful assembly.” Poland has summoned Hungary's ambassador over Budapest's decision to grant political asylum to a Polish opposition politician who is wanted for alleged corruption during his tenure in Poland's previous government. Warsaw was outraged by Hungary's decision to grant political asylum to Marcin Romanowski. The decision, announced the Hungarian prime minister's office on December 19, accused the Polish government of persecuting its political opponents. Poland called the move a "hostile act" that runs counter to the principle of loyal cooperation among members of the European Union. "In response to this action, the Hungarian ambassador to Poland will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, where he will receive an official protest note," the ministry said on December 20. The ministry also said that if Hungary fails to comply with its EU obligations, Poland will ask the European Commission to respond. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government says it has opened the door for prosecutors to investigate suspected wrongdoings committed during the tenure of the nationalist Law and Justice party, which ruled the country for eight years until 2023 and which have been covered up. Tusk said he was dismayed by Hungary's decision to shelter a man being sought on suspicions of defrauding the state of millions of zlotys. “I did not expect corrupt politicians escaping justice would be able to choose between [Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr] Lukashenka and [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban,” Tusk said on December 20. His reference to Lukashenka was apparently linked to the case of a Polish judge who fled to Belarus. Romanowski was detained during the investigation but released in July. He denies the charges against him. Through his lawyer he has argued that he is the victim of political retribution by Tusk's government. Gergely Gulyas, head of Orban's office, said the decision of the Hungarian authorities was in line with both domestic and European Union legislation. He said Romanowski's arrest raised serious concerns about fair treatment and political bias in Polish judicial proceedings. Polish opposition lawmakers, including Romanowski, accused Tusk's government of conducting a politically motivated witch-hunt against them. Romanowski told Polish broadcaster TV Republika that he thinks the fact that Hungary has granted him asylum confirms that "we are dealing with political persecution in Poland." Prosecutors and judges in Poland are politically controlled, he said. A spokesman for the European Commission declined to comment on the specific case but emphasized that EU member states are obligated to enforce European arrest warrants. Stefan de Keersmaecker said at a briefing in Brussels on December 20 that the obligation means that Hungary should send Romanowski back to Poland to face justice. The spokesman added that all EU member states maintain a high level of protection for fundamental rights and freedoms, making them all safe countries for asylum seekers. But an asylum application from a national of another EU member state can only be accepted under exceptional circumstances. The Georgian government has pledged to amend its controversial "foreign agents" law following discussions with the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. Berset announced at a press briefing in Tbilisi on December 20, wrapping up a three-day visit, that a working group including Georgian representatives, the Council of Europe, and the Venice Commission will be formed to draft necessary changes to the legislation. "The government of Georgia promised to modify the content of the 'Foreign Influence Transparency' law. This working group will determine the specific changes required. I hope similar collaborative processes can extend to other areas, such as equality, anti-discrimination, electoral reform, and reforms in penitentiary and probation systems," Berset said. The law, modeled on a similar Russian law, mandates that organizations receiving significant foreign funding register as "foreign agents." Passed by the Georgian parliament in May despite a presidential veto, it came into force on August 1, sparking significant backlash from international and domestic actors. Georgian NGOs began appearing on the "foreign agent" registry in October, raising concerns about their ability to operate freely. Critics, including the European Union, have warned that the law could derail Georgia's aspirations for EU membership. While Moscow praised the Georgian government for adopting the law, Western countries, including the United States and Britain, condemned it as a tool for undermining democracy. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, however, reiterated Georgia's openness to discussions about the law. "If anyone proves there's something harmful in this legislation, we're ready to address it and work with relevant structures of the Council of Europe," Kobakhidze said. Berset's visit comes amid heightened political tensions in Georgia, marked by public polarization, high-level violence, and allegations of electoral misconduct. Addressing the situation, Berset emphasized: "Georgia is at a critical juncture. The country is filled with political tension, polarized public debate, and high levels of violence," adding that the country "deserves stability and democracy." "I am not here to legitimize elections; that is the responsibility of other competent institutions," Berset said, stressing that his primary goal was "to support Georgia and its people." He also said that resolving the political crisis depends on "upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law." During his visit, Berset held multiple meetings with government officials, including Kobakhidze, Georgian Dream party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, and opposition representatives. His visit is seen as an effort to mediate amid deep divisions within Georgian society. On December 19, the United States imposed sanctions on Georgia's Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and Special Tasks Department Deputy Director Mirza Kezevadze under the Global Magnitsky Act. Hours earlier, Britain had sanctioned Gomelauri and four other senior officials. These sanctions reflect growing Western dissatisfaction with Georgia's political trajectory. Despite this, Kobakhidze assured that the government would "compensate any losses" incurred by sanctioned individuals and announced plans to award honors to the Interior Ministry's leadership following the presidential poll in February 2025 and inauguration of Georgia's next president, whose legitimacy is contested by the opposition and the current President Salome Zurabishvili. Georgia's "foreign agents" law has become a focal point in the country's strained relations with the West. The government's decision last month to delay European Union accession talks until 2028 also sparked protests in the country and criticism in the West. Moreover, economic hardship and the threat of backsliding from the Euro-Atlantic course have created a sense of urgency and fertile ground for unrest. International partners are apprehensive that Georgia's adoption of tactics similar to those used by Moscow could undermine its democratic progress and EU aspirations. Russia's top Islamic body has approved a religious edict that allows Muslim men to practice polygamy, which contradicts Russian law that prohibits individuals from entering multiple registered marriages simultaneously. The Council of Islamic Clerics of Russia's Spiritual Administration of Muslims (DUM), issued a fatwa on December 18 that allows a Muslim male to enter up to four marriages at the same time as long as certain conditions are met. Russia's Family Code explicitly prohibits a person from entering a registered marriage with someone who is already married. But it comes as the Russian authorities are grappling with a dire demographic situation amid a population decline exacerbated by emigration, low birthrates, and high mortality. While the full text of the fatwa has yet to be published, reports from Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti revealed key provisions in it that allow Muslim men to enter into multiple religious marriages. The fatwa stipulates that a man can engage in polygamy only if he ensures equitable treatment for all wives. This includes equal material provision, separate housing for each wife, and spending equal time with them according to an agreed schedule. If a man cannot meet these requirements, he is prohibited from entering multiple religious marriages unless a bride "voluntarily waives" her rights to them. Other circumstances under which polygamy is permitted by the DUM include cases where the first wife cannot conceive due to health issues, lack of desire, or age; in situations of "sexual incompatibility" between spouses; or when a man wishes to provide social and financial support to a single woman and her children. The DUM has acknowledged that women in purely religious marriages lack legal protections, which critics argue may leave women in polygamous religious marriages vulnerable. The conditions for such a marriage, they say, place a significant burden of proof on religious institutions or individuals to ensure compliance. How these provisions align with Russia's secular legal framework and broader societal norms is yet to be determined. Russian officials have yet to comment on the fatwah. The government, however, has been looking for ways to spur Russians to have more children as the declining population ages, a problem worsened by the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, which experts say has seen hundreds of thousands of Russian men die. The Russian government has actively promoted policies to encourage women to have more children, with financial incentives for larger families and efforts to discourage abortions. The Russian Orthodox Church has been assisting the government to promote such policies. Ukraine launched a deadly missile attack on the Russian region of Kursk on December 20, just hours after Russia carried out a massive air assault on Kyiv during rush hour that killed one person and damaged a historic cathedral and other buildings in the capital, including six embassies. Russia's Investigative Committee said an unspecified number of people were killed in the attack on Kursk involving U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets on the town of Rylsk. According to Mash Telegram channel , at least five people have been killed, and 26 others injured. The attack has destroyed several critical pieces of social infrastructure, including a pedagogical college, a cultural center, and a school. The attack came shortly after Russian launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv and several other regions around Ukraine. The whole of Ukraine was under a general air-raid alert for several hours as Russia launched eight missiles -- including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles -- on Kyiv alone, Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, reported . Ukrainian cities and infrastructure continue to sustain regular Russian drone and missile strikes while outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian forces are facing difficulties in staving off Russia's increasingly rapid advance in the east. One person was killed by a strike in Kyiv's Holosiyiv district, while eyewitnesses reported several blasts in the city. The U.S. State Department condemned the missile attack, which damaged a building hosting several diplomatic missions. "Any attack against diplomats or diplomatic facilities anywhere is unacceptable," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on X. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko separately reported that falling debris from downed Russian drones fell on four of the capital's districts -- Holosiyiv, Solomyansk, Shevchenkivsk, and Dniprovsk -- wounding at least two people. Kyiv restaurateur Nadir Ahundov voiced his outrage at the Russian strike that completely destroyed his restaurant. "These subhuman [Russians], to drop such bombs on residential buildings," Ahundov told RFE/RL. "I put my heart, my soul into [creating] this," he said, pointing to the trees outside the restaurnat. "These trees were small when I planted them. Look at them now -- those monsters knocked them down." In Kherson, a 60-year-old man was killed in a Russian strike and two others, including an 86-year-old man, were wounded, regional Governor Roman Mrochko reported on Telegram. Late on December 19, a Russian missile struck and badly damaged a two-story apartment building in the southeastern city of Kryviy Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown, wounding five people, including two pulled alive from under the rubble, officials said. The attack also crippled the power supply in parts of the city of 600,000 and damaged a hospital, regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said. In a statement on Telegram, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that the strikes on December 20 were "in response" to Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets using Western-supplied weapons. The latest wave of attacks from both sides came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested at his highly choreographed annual press conference a "high-tech duel" over Kyiv to prove that Russia's new hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik, cannot be shot down by Western-supplied air defenses. "It would be interesting for us.... Let's conduct this experiment, this technological duel, and see the results. I think it would be useful for both us and the Americans," Putin said. In reaction, Zelenskiy posted a message on X calling Putin a "dumbass." "People are dying, and he thinks it’s 'interesting'... Dumbass," Zelenskiy wrote. The United States and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions on Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and other senior officials in the ministry in response to their alleged role in a violent crackdown on journalists, opposition figures, and anti-government protesters. The United States also imposed sanctions on Mirza Kezevadze, deputy head of the special forces department in the Georgian Interior Ministry, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement on December 19. The Treasury Department said it was taking the action in coordination with Britain, which on December 19 imposed sanctions on Gomelauri and four other officials of the Interior Ministry for alleged human rights violations. A U.S. Treasury Department official said the reasons cited by the two governments for imposing the sanctions were similar. “In the wake of Georgia’s election, key officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs engaged in a severe and vicious crackdown against their own people, including the intentional targeting of journalists and use of violence,” Acting Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith said in the statement. Any assets owned by Gomelauri and Kezevadze in U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, making their business operations more difficult, the Treasury Department statement said. In addition to Gomelauri, Britain imposed sanctions on deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, Sulkhan Tamazashvili, Zviad Kharazishvili, and Mileri Lagazauri, according to a U.K. government statement. Thousands demonstrated in Tbilisi again on the night of December 19. It was the 22nd consecutive day of protests against the government's decision to effectively halt the country's EU accession talks. The protesters have questioned the legitimacy of the victory of the Georgian Dream party in the election that took place at the end of October. The demonstrations intensified after Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Tbilisi was suspending until 2028 talks with Brussels on Georgia's bid to join the European Union. “Security forces from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Task Department responded to protests with disproportionate violence to suppress dissent and discourage protesters,” the U.S. Treasury Department’s statement said. Georgia's pro-Europe president, Salome Zurabishvili, has said the October 26 election was rigged with the help of Moscow and has vowed not to leave office even when her successor -- selected by what protesters say is an illegitimate parliament -- is scheduled to be sworn in on December 29. Zurabishvili has condemned the "brutal and disproportionate attacks on the Georgian people and media," comparing the crackdown to "Russian-style repression." Demonstrations have repeatedly been violently broken up, activists have been detained, and opposition politicians and media representatives attacked. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, and according to surveys, a majority of Georgians support EU membership. Kobakhidze has refused to back down and threatened to punish political opponents, whom he accuses of being behind violence that has occurred at the protests. Georgia’s relations with Brussels soured with the adoption of a Russian-style "foreign agent" law that critics say threatens media and civil society groups by accusing them of "serving" outside powers.

LA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championship

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Mexico City — Bluff? Negotiating tactic? Or existential menace? World leaders, economists and investors are struggling over how to view President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated threats to impose broad tariffs on imports to the United States. That question took on new urgency this week when Trump announced that he would hit the top three U.S. trading partners hard on his first day in office. In a post Monday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would levy a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this invasion of our Country!” In another post, Trump threatened a 10% tariff on all goods from China, which he blamed for not doing enough to stop clandestine manufacture of the deadly synthetic opiate fentanyl — which U.S. authorities say is mostly produced in Mexico from chemicals imported from China. Trump’s posts were the most serious indication yet that he intends to follow through with his campaign pledge to impose sweeping tariffs — a move that economists warn could wreak havoc on global supply chains and hurt U.S. companies that rely on cross-border trade. Global markets, at least, appeared to take Trump’s latest threats seriously, with the currencies of Canada and Mexico falling against the dollar. At the same time, others held out hope that Trump may be using the threat of tariffs as a negotiating tactic before he returns to the White House. “There’s just a tremendous amount of uncertainty right now,” said Sofía Ramírez, an economist who heads México, ¿cómo vamos?, a research group. “No one knows what’s going to happen.” The anxiety is especially acute in Mexico, whose economy is largely built on its proximity to the massive U.S. consumer market. Mexico sends 83% of its exports to the U.S. Economists warn that even a small increase in tariffs on Mexico’s goods could lead to a rise in unemployment and poverty there — and prompt more people to migrate to the United States. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had been saying for weeks that officials were planning to meet with Trump’s team in a bid to dissuade him from proceeding with tariffs. But her government was clearly blindsided by his announcement. At her news conference Tuesday, Sheinbaum avoided direct criticism of Trump but warned of retaliatory levies by Mexico on U.S. products entering the Mexican market. “One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,” she said. Mexican officials plan to rally support among both U.S. and Mexican investors and industrialists to make the point that Trump’s tariff plans would hurt U.S. businesses and consumers. She singled out General Motors, one of a number of U.S. automotive companies producing vehicles in Mexico. Sheinbaum said she expects her government to reach an agreement with the U.S. But it was unclear what more concessions Mexico can give when it comes to Trump’s demands that it curb the illegal flow of narcotics and migrants to the United States. Reading from a letter she planned to send to Trump, Sheinbaum pointed out Mexico’s efforts to keep migrants from crossing the U.S. border, and said illegal border crossings have plummeted in recent months. While she said Mexico is taking steps to combat fentanyl smuggling, she laid blame for the crisis on the U.S. “Fundamentally it is a public health and consumption issue within your society,” she said. Sheinbaum also noted the illegal flow of arms from the U.S. into Mexico: “You must be aware that 70% of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country. We do not produce the weapons, we do not consume the synthetic drugs.” Mexico became the United States’ leading trading partner in 2023, with almost $800 billion in exports and imports. Like Mexico, China and Canada also responded quickly to Trump’s tariff announcement . “The economic and commercial cooperation between China and the United States is of a mutually beneficial nature,” the spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, wrote on X. “No one will win a trade war.” Canada released a statement emphasizing the closeness of its relationship with Mexico, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump hours after he announced the tariffs to talk about trade and border security. Mexico, China and Canada purchased more than $1 trillion in U.S. exports in 2023 and sent almost $1.5 trillion of goods and services in the other direction. Experts said Trump can unilaterally impose tariffs by claiming a national emergency, though he would almost certainly face legal and political challenges. It’s unclear how Trump could impose tariffs without violating the United-States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that he helped negotiate during his first term. Mexico and Canada could challenge tariffs under a dispute resolution mechanism that is part of their agreement. They could also lodge complaints with the World Trade Organization. And on Tuesday, 10 House Democratic lawmakers representing Washington, California and other states introduced the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act , a bill to stop the president from imposing tariffs without congressional approval. But the most forceful pushback would probably come from the business community and financial markets. Auto manufacturers have spent decades building up complex and cost-efficient supply chains in which parts are transported back and forth across North American borders, and new tariffs will cause significant disruptions and almost certainly price increases to consumers. The ripple effects of trade skirmishes could lead to higher inflation and higher interest rates, risking a pullback from investors and sliding stock markets. Trump has often spoken of the stock market as a key barometer of his performance. “He wants his tariffs, but he doesn’t want to sink the market,” said Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. “He doesn’t want to tank the market, he doesn’t want to be unpopular, he doesn’t want inflation to go up. If the market starts to fall, he’ll listen to that.” Given those economic stakes, some have questioned whether Trump is simply using tariffs as a negotiating tactic. In his first term, Trump threatened to impose import levies against Mexico if it failed to crack down on U.S.-bound migrants. Mexico quickly caved, dispatching troops to turn back migrants headed for the United States. Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, has described tariffs as a powerful means of negotiation. “Tariffs are ... a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives,” he wrote in a recent opinion piece for Fox News. “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” He dismissed warnings by many economists who say that tariffs could trigger a trade war and inflation. It’s unclear what Mexico could give in negotiations. Since January, Mexican troops and agents have been detaining record numbers of migrants from Central and South America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere, arresting them on roads and in safe houses; pulling them from vehicles and freight trains; and catching them at airports and bus stations. Most are shipped back to southern Mexico, where many begin the trip north anew. However, experts said it would be impossible for Mexico to stop the flow completely along an almost 2,000-mile long border, much of which remains without barriers or a large presence of U.S. agents. Trump’s demands “show a fundamental disconnect from the realities of the border, of immigration,” said Adriana Jasso, coordinator of the U.S.-Mexico border program in San Diego for the American Friends Service Committee. “This migration is not something that can be just stopped in 15 days, in two months, or in years. It’s a very complex problem, related to poverty in other countries and the needs of people seeking a better life.” Similarly, it is unclear what concessions Mexico could make on the issue of security. Critics said it was unrealistic to expect Mexico to shut down billion-dollar trafficking organizations that have been expanding their territories, rackets and power for years. Mexican trafficking organizations are also among the largest employers in Mexico, their payrolls bloated with gunmen, lab workers, logistics experts, and corrupt cops and officials. “It’s not realistic,” Mike Vigil, former head of international operations at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said of Trump’s demand. “What he is implying is that Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican government can just say: ‘We’re going to shut down drug trafficking now.’ It doesn’t work that way.” Linthicum reported from New York and McDonnell from Mexico City. Staff writer Don Lee in Washington and special correspondent Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in Mexico City contributed to this report .Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightings

BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. As they have advanced, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands rushed the Syria border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those that remained open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some shops were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reach the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. Amid the developments, Syria’s state media denied rumors flooding social media that Assad has left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. Pedersen said a date for the talks in Geneva on the implementation of U.N. Resolution 2254 would be announced later. The resolution, adopted in 2015, called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching from eastern Syria toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth largest city. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an interview Thursday from Syria that the aim is to overthrow Assad’s government. The Britain-based Observatory said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle is looming. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement Saturday that it has carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists.” The army said it is setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus is home to the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union while Latakia is home to a major Russian air base. In the gas-rich nation of Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey met to discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. On Friday, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured wide parts of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq as well as the provincial capital that carries the same name. The capture of areas in Deir el-Zour is a blow to Iran’s influence in the region as the area is the gateway to the corridor linking the Mediterranean to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. With the capture of a main border crossing with Iraq by the SDF and after opposition fighters took control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government's only gateway to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Image via Getty Currently Taylor and Travis bring together the fans of both music and football through their presence at each other’s concerts and matches. While Swift is busy concluding Eras Tour, Kelce’s team Kansas City Chiefs entered the NFL 2024 Playoffs yesterday. It’s safe to say that both Taylor and Travis are currently in the best phases of their career. The Black Friday Match After a cosy Thanksgiving with Kelce’s parents and her own family, Swift made news yesterday when she arrived to attend the Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears last night. Dressed in a red shirt and black jeans, Swift looked beautiful cheering for her boyfriend. Interaction with the Fans Many people who attended the game reported that Swift interacted with many of her fans at the game yesterday which was captured in a video that was shot by WIBW sports director Vince Lovergine. She was seen speaking to a lot of fans and enjoying the game with them. Taylor Swift gives gifts & takes photos with young fans after Chiefs win A Gift for a Fan Taylor’s attendance at the game was not marked just by her cheering for Travis. Taylor has reportedly handed some souvenirs to a teenage girl when the stadium cleared out. What was the Gift? Even though Swift was captured handing out the gift, it was not exactly clear what gift it was. However, this itself excited all the Swifties and many were upset that they missed a chance to meet the global popstar. Taylor’s Era is Coming to an End According to many media reports, Taylor is disheartened with her Eras Tour coming to an end this year. The Eras Tour began last year and became highly popular. She has travelled the world for it with fans queuing up to watch her. Travis is apparently supporting his girlfriend through this, while they are planning to take off next year’s summer and spend it in Italy away from fans and their media. Also Read - Sauce Gardner’s Social Media Slip-Up: A Leaked DM and a Public Apology What’s Next for Them? According to sources, Swift and Kelce are planning to get married in June 2025. While neither of them have confirmed this rumour, speculations are on the rise since the time they started dating each other last year. Stay updated with the latest from IPL Auction 2025 , including the final squads of all 10 teams – MI , CSK , RCB , GT , RR , KKR , DC , PBKS , SRH , and LSG . Don't miss the latest updates on our Live Cricket Score page .

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casino online game MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social media.The ridiculous clown car that is the second Trump administration just gained another clown. He just named Dr. Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford to lead the National Institutes of Health. Eight weeks ago, when Stanford held a strange conference on future pandemic policy planning featuring a number of highly questionable "experts" who were basically COVID deniers and vaccine naysayers, several people surmised that this was just a performative exercise. What better way to audition, as it were, for a potential second Trump administration than to make a big show of your medical wisdom when it comes to pandemics, and what you would have done differently if another COVID came along. Stanford being a conservative institution and home to the right-wing Hoover Institution , they have on their faculty some folks who were more aligned with Trump and his anti-masker cohort, because of course Republicans had to make the pandemic political. One of those is physician and economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who co-authored a manifesto embraced by the right called the Great Barrington Declaration , a document that was penned out of fears for the economic collapse of the country under early-pandemic public health policies. The manifesto argued that young people should be allowed to roam free get infected, in order to achieve herd immunity and keep the economy humming, while the elderly and vulnerable should stay locked down. Setting aside the logistical problems of such a policy — what do families with elderly members do? — many other public health experts contended that such a policy would result in a half-million or more unnecessary deaths, with some young people having underlying conditions they may not even be aware of. It should also be noted that Dr. Bhattacharya, in an incredibly irresponsible move for a physician, jumped out ahead of the scientific community, which had not even reached a consensus at that point about how the virus was even spreading, to pen an opinion essay in March 2020 in the Wall Street Journal titled "Is the Coronavirus As Deadly As They Say?" In that essay, Dr. Bhattacharya predicted that the total death toll from the virus in the US might top out at 40,000, when it's actually been 1.2 million to date. Now, Dr. Bhattacharya has been nominated to be director of the NIH, where he would be in charge of a $48 million budget, answering to another jackass in the field of public health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services. "Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease," writes Trump on Truth Social, about his latest pick. As the New York Times reports , Dr. Bhattacharya is not a practicing physician, and he has previously "called for overhauling the N.I.H. and limiting the power of civil servants who, he believes, played too prominent a role in shaping federal policy during the pandemic." People like Dr. Bhattacharya have been getting more attention recently, as the Times notes, as public health officials continue to debate how the government's handling of the pandemic both succeeded and failed. Notably, many experts now agree that schoolchildren should not have been kept locked down at home as long as they were. But nonetheless, most experts remain firm in the belief that the only way to handle the uncertain early days of a pandemic like we had is through social distancing and masking, and ultimately a vaccine — something that RFK, if he's confirmed, finds suspect. A colleague of Dr. Bhattacharya's at Stanford, Dr. Pantea Javidan of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, called it "a platform for discredited figures who continually promote dangerous, scientifically unsupported or thoroughly debunked approaches to COVID." And Martha Louise Lincoln of San Francisco State University told Bay Area News Group last month, regarding the Stanford symposium and Bhattacharya's ilk, "It’s an election year, and [people are looking to prove themselves as potential advisors to a Trump administration who would] likely advocate weaker, cheaper public health protections that tolerate disease, ask little of government, and leave it to individuals to protect their own health.” Meanwhile, healthcare policy advocacy group Protect Our Care has come out saying Kennedy would be a danger to our healthcare system. Rep. Arvind Venkat, MD, a Pennsylvania congressman and a doctor who is a member of the group, put out a statement Monday saying of Kennedy, "Simply put, he is wholly unqualified and, frankly, dangerous to the public health and well-being of our country." Dr. Venkat added, "His comments and his activities in American Samoa that led directly to a drop in the number of individuals who received measles vaccinations, and as a result, 83 of our fellow Americans, primarily infants and children, died from a vaccine-preventable disease, measles." Speaking to Bay Area News Group, Dr. Bhattacharya sounded magnanimous about his views and differences of opinion with the mainstream scientific community. "Seeing people in public health discussing their different points of view honestly with each other, rather than trying to create an illusion of consensus,” he said, “is a step forward toward restored restoration of trust in public health.” Top image: Jay Bhattacharya speaks during the 2023 Forbes Healthcare Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)Trump Names Anti-Lockdown Stanford Doctor to Lead NIH

On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro

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(The Center Square) – Homeowners in the market for washers and dryers may have better-performing options to choose from in the near future due to a bill limiting the extent of energy efficiency mandates on laundry appliances passing the U.S. House. The Republican-led House Resolution 1612 , or Liberty in Laundry Act, would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy conservation standards for clothes washers or dryers that “are not cost-effective or technologically feasible.” Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who introduced the legislation, said the move is a response to the “slew of woke, ‘environmental’ nonsense rulemaking attempts” by the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Energy. “I have spent much of my time in Congress fighting back the federal government’s vast overreach into the lives of hardworking Americans,” Ogles announced after the bill’s passage Tuesday. “Americans should be able to do their laundry in peace without the input of Big Brother.” Earlier this year, the DOE finalized new updated standards for residential clothes washers and dryers which aim to cut costs and pollution. It estimates the regulations will reduce nearly 71 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions–equivalent to the combined annual emissions of nearly 9 million homes–and up to $39 billion on Americans’ energy and water bills over the next 30 years. House Democrats opposed the legislation's passage, saying "absolutely no one" stands to benefit from the law and accused Republicans of trying to curry favor with special interest groups. "H.R. 7673 guts popular energy efficiency standards for laundry machines – standards that save Americans money on their utility bills and reduce dangerous greenhouse gas pollution at the same time," said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J. "These efficiency standards create certainty for manufacturers and they protect consumers from rising costs. And, in the case of these laundry machine standards, they also reduce water use – a benefit that could greatly aid drought-prone regions around the nation." But the less electricity and water laundry appliances use, the less effectively they tend to perform, according to an Oct. 2024 report by the Institute for Energy Research. “Historically, appliances meeting Energy Department standards have often underperformed and have higher costs,” the report stated. “The Biden-Harris administration is imposing a series of regulations that are raising appliance prices and compromising quality for homeowners.” Unless the bill is signed into law, laundry appliance makers have until March 2028 to comply with the new rules.

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in HubSpot, Inc. ( NYSE:HUBS – Free Report ) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 3,210 shares of the software maker’s stock, valued at approximately $1,706,000. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. GDS Wealth Management bought a new position in HubSpot during the third quarter valued at about $2,149,000. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in HubSpot during the third quarter valued at about $624,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in HubSpot during the second quarter valued at about $3,135,000. Curi RMB Capital LLC increased its stake in HubSpot by 15.1% during the third quarter. Curi RMB Capital LLC now owns 7,143 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $3,797,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares during the period. Finally, Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in HubSpot during the second quarter valued at about $1,346,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Dawson Alyssa Harvey sold 573 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $700.00, for a total transaction of $401,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,603 shares in the company, valued at $5,322,100. This represents a 7.01 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO Yamini Rangan sold 116 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $491.19, for a total transaction of $56,978.04. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 67,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,009,441.57. This represents a 0.17 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 44,391 shares of company stock valued at $29,101,488. Company insiders own 4.50% of the company’s stock. HubSpot Stock Up 3.2 % HubSpot ( NYSE:HUBS – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The software maker reported $2.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $669.72 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $646.97 million. HubSpot had a negative net margin of 0.56% and a negative return on equity of 1.16%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 20.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.04) EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that HubSpot, Inc. will post 0.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently issued reports on HUBS shares. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on HubSpot from $625.00 to $740.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on HubSpot from $700.00 to $750.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $730.00 price objective on shares of HubSpot in a report on Thursday, November 7th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on HubSpot from $550.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on HubSpot from $600.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, HubSpot presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $672.68. Read Our Latest Analysis on HUBS HubSpot Profile ( Free Report ) HubSpot, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform for businesses in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's CRM platform includes Marketing Hub, a toolset for marketing automation and email, social media, SEO, and reporting and analytics; Sales Hub offers email templates and tracking, conversations and live chat, meeting and call scheduling, lead and website visit alerts, lead scoring, sales automation, pipeline management, quoting, forecasting, and reporting; Service Hub, a service software designed to help businesses manage, respond, and connect with customers; and Content Management Systems Hub enables businesses to create new and edit existing web content. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUBS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HubSpot, Inc. ( NYSE:HUBS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for HubSpot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HubSpot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Sigh. If you thought the people working for the federal government were adults, think again. The U.S. State Department held taxpayer-funded “therapy and listening sessions” for government employees after Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory. pic.twitter.com/b780zA1emK Donald Trump can't clean house fast enough. First, grow up. Second, What the actual...!?!?Third, @VivekGRamaswamy @elonmusk , @DOGE https://t.co/hTxMbvru1M pic.twitter.com/vYH8EELhsR This. This government needs restructuring. https://t.co/oZT9ClIJ9V God help us these folks r so soft https://t.co/v5Q7ElMINi They are toilet tissue soft. Taxpayer funded 🤬 https://t.co/CNQ8i8AFGi That's the worst part. We are not a serious people. https://t.co/oToJxMyHhJ The therapy should be finding a real job https://t.co/nd0lA15HhD Hopefully, after January 20th, they will. People this soft shouldn't be working with state dept. https://t.co/A2xMLjffmA If you need a safe space, you shouldn't work for the state department. you have GOT to be kidding on this..?? https://t.co/ckd8myQCQU Coddling adults. Waste of money. Go listen to a taxpayer of you want to help with grief counseling. https://t.co/4kcAlZsGIX Listen to taxpayers who can't buy groceries. Those are the real sad stories. An easy way to start improving the state of this government would be to fire anyone that took part in these sessions. https://t.co/2xhlRCOoJV A great start. Anybody that attended should be fired! https://t.co/vS5x9CdG5Z Govt employees “needing therapy” because their person wasn’t elected is alarming. Any person that lacks a certain level of social awareness and mental fortitude shouldn’t be allowed to hold office. https://t.co/eUyAgnwQbJ They need a wake up call. The whole Government might need to be razed and rebuilt from the ashes. Holy crap. Elon and Vivek have their work cut out for them. https://t.co/aglxEUid8I Every single person who attended needs to be fired. You can not serve the USG in a diplomatic capacity when you need THERAPY over the duly elected POTUS. No reasonable person would trust you to represent the country fairly. https://t.co/myA77Rbau7 That pretty much sums it up. That needs to come out of their pay. No way should taxpayers fund anything so partisan. (Unless they can show they had the same sessions after Biden victory) https://t.co/kes45UGvSF Exactly. Pay for your own therapy like everyone else. A perfect example why @DOGE needs to exist. https://t.co/t1pygRlKjm It's so sorely needed.Pep Guardiola laments Man City's inability to win games as their winless run is extended to SIX matches after surrendering a three-goal lead in the last 15 minutes against Feyenoord

Election results on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean have set the background for the final stretch of campaigning for Irish parties ahead of polling day on Friday. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US has brought heightened concern that his administration’s proposals around corporation tax and tariffs would significantly impact Ireland’s economic model. Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has argued Ireland and other EU countries need to prepare for the possibility of trade shocks as he criticised the scale of Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as well as their saving plans. He said: “I think that is irresponsible, I think it is dangerous and I think it is reckless.” He accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of not being able to say what her party was prepared to do in the event of an economic crash, adding that Fine Gael would borrow and stop putting money towards a rainy-day fund. Asked if the party was engaging in “project fear” to dissuade voters against Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: “I call it ‘project truth’. It’s telling people what’s being discussed right across European capitals.” Ms McDonald told an RTE interview on Wednesday morning that a Sinn Fein government would also be prepared to start borrowing in the event of an economic downturn. Both Mr Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who were partners in the last coalition government in Ireland, have made clear they will not countenance Sinn Fein as a potential partner in the next administration in Dublin. One day after the only three-way debate featuring the leaders of the main parties, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of being “dishonest” about how they will fund their manifesto plans. Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, he said he is anxious to get clarity on the issue. “I think Sinn Fein have been very dishonest, frankly, in terms of the funds, because if you go through their figures, and this is a matter of fact, not opinion, they’re predicting a surplus of a billion in 2026, a billion in 2027. “Even in 2025, they’re talking about a mini budget, which would mean reducing the surplus that we’re anticipating in 2025. “There’s a legislative obligation now on any new government to put 0.8% of GDP to one side, and into the funds. There’s no way you can do that with a surplus of a billion in 2026 or 2027, and we would argue they would not have enough funds next year either to put into the funds.” He added: “It means they have no room to manoeuvre if things go wrong, if there’s headwinds come externally, or there are shocks internationally, Sinn Fein is not allowing any headroom at all in terms of room to respond or to move it.” Ms McDonald accused the other two parties of conspiring to keep Sinn Fein out of government and prevent change in Ireland. She said the two men were now “indistinguishable” from each other as she claimed they were suffering “acute amnesia” in regard to their records in government. On a visit to Naas fire station in Co Kildare, she said: “To listen to them, you’d imagine they had just arrived on the scene and that they were going to come up with all of these solutions. “They have had ample chances, ample opportunity, to make things better, and they have failed, and in between the two of them I make the case that now we ask for our chance, with our plans, with our team, to demonstrate how change can happen, how your community, your family, yourself, can be supported when the government is actually on your side.” Mr Martin’s and Mr Harris’ coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Greens, issued a warning to the public over a future government without his party. On Wednesday, he said it is looking likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be returned to government – but cautioned they may not want the Greens to continue “fighting hard” on policies. He told reporters: “My sense is certainly the mood music from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is that they’d like an easier life in the next government – and my concern is they use these small populist parties and right-wing independents.” Mr O’Gorman argued that the Greens could continue to provide stability to government at a time when economic shocks may be around the corner. As the Green leader suggested that relying on independents would be unstable, Mr Martin has also argued that “too much fragmentation would lead to incoherence in government”. Reflecting on Tuesday night’s debate, the Fianna Fail leader said the race remained “too close to call” while Mr Harris said it is “all to play for”. The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in the last televised debate before Friday’s General Election. The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, saw the parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day. The latest opinion poll on Wednesday put the parties in a tight grouping, with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael in joint second. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power – with the Greens as a junior partner. From 2016 to 2020, Fianna Fail had supported Fine Gael in power through a confidence-and-supply arrangement from the Opposition benches in the Dail parliament. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.House passes bill limiting energy efficiency mandates on home laundry machines

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VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) – Reports of unidentified drone-like objects have surfaced in the Victor Valley region, echoing similar sightings noted across the East Coast and now other parts of Southern California. Residents are increasingly alarmed as these strange occurrences continue to unfold. On the evening of December 19, 2024, five orbs were filmed hovering over Victorville, CA, moving towards Apple Valley around 6:50 PM. The sighting was first reported by Marylynn Cruz, whose son spotted the lights while relaxing in their backyard. “This was our first sighting ever, so please excuse our excitement. The video doesn’t do justice to how bright these orbs were when viewed with the naked eye,” Cruz stated. The video, lasting five minutes, features discussions between Cruz and her son about the orbs’ intensity and their strange disappearances. The footage has since been uploaded to YouTube, inviting a wider audience to witness the phenomenon. In another recent sighting, Brenten Moore recorded a one-minute video from his backyard in Victorville. He declared that the object he saw moving across the High Desert sky was certainly not a star, exclaiming, “Aliens are real, bro.” He described it as a white object gliding overhead. The initial report VVNG received about drone sightings in the area came from a local Oak Hill resident who wished to remain anonymous. He described a colorful bright object he spotted while using the restroom late at night, distinct from known constellations. “The object was changing colors and bounced away just as I tried to grab my phone to record,” he noted, emphasizing that other stars were obscured by fog that night. As these reports grow in Southern California, locals have begun to share videos and images depicting large, car-sized objects traversing the sky. Marylynn Cruz’s YouTube footage of multiple hovering drone-like entities has heightened both curiosity and alarm within the community. The phenomenon first emerged in November near Morris County, New Jersey, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In response to the uptick in reported sightings, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have stated that the increase may not denote anything unusual. They emphasize that the majority of sightings likely involve lawful commercial and hobbyist drones, alongside a handful of misidentified aircraft and celestial bodies. A joint statement from the DHS, FBI, FAA, and Department of Defense (DoD) was released on December 17, detailing their assessment of ongoing drone-related reports. They confirmed that over one million drones are legally registered in the U.S., with thousands in operation daily. The FBI has received more than 5,000 tips regarding drone sightings within recent weeks and is collaborating with state and local authorities to investigate these incidents. While the agencies continue to monitor drone activity, they have not identified any threats to national security or public safety. However, officials acknowledge the growing concern among residents. They continue to support local authorities with advanced detection technologies and advocate for comprehensive legislation to manage drone activities. As reports of mysterious crafts persist, the community remains on high alert, eager for clarity on the origin and nature of these seemingly uninvited aerial visitors.HOUSTON (AP) — For a second straight season, the Houston Texans will be without Tank Dell to end the regular season and for the playoffs after the dynamic receiver suffered another major injury. Dell sustained what coach DeMeco Ryans called a “significant” knee injury on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s loss to Kansas City on Saturday . Though the team hasn’t officially ruled him out for the season, it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to return after he was hospitalized overnight following the injury. Ryans said Sunday that Dell had been released from the hospital and was heading back to Houston. He added that he was still being evaluated to see what the next steps would be. This injury comes after Dell fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos last season and had surgery on it the following day. “It’s tough to see guys get injured, the work that guys put in, how much they put their bodies on the line to play this game,” Ryans said. “It’s deeper than football. We are talking about real people who have real emotions and real feelings who are going through a tough time right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in that situation.” The AFC South champion Texans will have to regroup quickly with a visit from the Ravens coming on Christmas Day. Dell’s injury is another blow to a team that was already missing Stefon Diggs after the four-time Pro Bowl receiver sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 8. Dell ranks second on the team with 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns behind Nico Collins, who has 909 yards receiving and six scores. Tight end Dalton Schultz has 482 yards receiving and two touchdowns and running back Joe Mixon 291 yards receiving and a touchdown grab. But with Dell and Diggs out, the Texans are thin at receiver. John Metchie, who has just 182 yards receiving this season, could fill in for Diggs this week, but his status is uncertain after he missed Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury. “There is a chance John could be back,” Ryans said. “I think he’s progressing, so we’ll see where he ends up on Wednesday.” Other options at the position are veteran Robert Woods, who has just 143 yards receiving this season, and Xavier Hutchinson, who nine catches. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, one of Dell’s closest friends, was distraught after Dell’s injury and remained upset after the game. He said it will be difficult for the team to bounce back after losing Dell to a serious injury again. “The easy answer is to tell you something to make everybody feel nice, but it’s not the truth right now,” he said after the game. “The truth is that it’s not easy seeing your brother go down like that. (Sunday) we’ll have to get recovery, get ready for Wednesday because it’s another big-time opponent. The Ravens are a great team. It’ll be a playoff atmosphere on Christmas Day.” What’s working Stroud distributed the ball well Saturday, completing passes to six different players. Dell led the way with six receptions for 98 yards and Collins had seven receptions for 60 yards while being double-teamed often. With teams likely to place even more emphasis on stopping Collins with Dell out, Stroud will need to continue to spread the ball around against the Ravens. What needs help The Texans continue to struggle in the red zone and converted just 1 of 3 opportunities Saturday. This comes after they were also 1 of 3 in a win over the Jaguars in Week 13 and converted just 2 of 4 chances in a loss to the Titans in Week 12. “We had our opportunities, and it just comes down to as simple as guys being in the right spot,” Ryans said. “We just have to make the plays. We have to finish and that’s all it comes down to.” Stock up LB Christian Harris had seventh tackles and a sack against the Chiefs in his second game of the season after missing the first 13 with a calf injury. His sack was Houston’s 46th of the season, which ties a franchise record that was set last season. Stock down K Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an extra point Saturday. He’s been excellent from long range this season, making 13 field goals longer than 50 yards. But has struggled on shorter kicks, missing two from less than 30 yards before Saturday’s PAT miss. Injuries S Jimmie Ward injured his foot Saturday and could miss the rest of the season. ... G Shaq Mason injured his knee against the Chiefs and will likely miss Wednesday’s game. Key number 10 — Dell’s touchdown Saturday was the 10th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Andre Johnson for most TD catches by a Texans through their first two seasons. Next steps The Texans look for their first win over Baltimore since 2014 after five consecutive wins by the Ravens, including a 34-10 victory in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

WASHINGTON , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA continues to advance its campaign to explore more of the Moon than ever before, awarding Firefly Aerospace $179 million to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. This fourth task order for Firefly will target landing in the Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon in 2028. As part of the agency's broader Artemis campaign, Firefly will deliver a group of science experiments and technology demonstrations under NASA's CLPS initiative, or Commercial Lunar Payload Services, to these lunar domes, an area of ancient lava flows, to better understand planetary processes and evolution. Through CLPS, NASA is furthering our understanding of the Moon's environment and helping prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface, as part of the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach. "The CLPS initiative carries out U.S. scientific and technical studies on the surface of the Moon by robot explorers. As NASA prepares for future human exploration of the Moon, the CLPS initiative continues to support a growing lunar economy with American companies," said Joel Kearns , deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington . "Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, as well as the ancient lava flows surrounding the landing site, will help the U.S. answer important questions about the lunar surface." Firefly's first lunar delivery is scheduled to launch no earlier than mid-January 2025 and will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, on the northeast quadrant of the Moon's near side. Firefly's second lunar mission includes two task orders: a lunar orbit drop-off of a satellite combined with a delivery to the lunar surface on the far side and a delivery of a lunar orbital calibration source, scheduled in 2026. This new delivery in 2028 will send payloads to the Gruithuisen Domes and the nearby Sinus Viscositatus. The Gruithuisen Domes have long been suspected to be formed by a magma rich in silica, similar in composition to granite. Granitic rocks form easily on Earth due to plate tectonics and oceans of water. The Moon lacks these key ingredients, so lunar scientists have been left to wonder how these domes formed and evolved over time. For the first time, as part of this task order, NASA also has contracted to provide "mobility," or roving, for some of the scientific instruments on the lunar surface after landing. This will enable new types of U.S. scientific investigations from CLPS. "Firefly will deliver six instruments to understand the landing site and surrounding vicinity," said Chris Culbert , manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston . "These instruments will study geologic processes and lunar regolith, test solar cells, and characterize the neutron radiation environment, supplying invaluable information as NASA works to establish a long-term presence on the Moon." The instruments, collectively expected to be about 215 pounds (97 kilograms) in mass, include: Through the CLPS initiative, NASA purchases lunar landing and surface operations services from American companies. The agency uses CLPS to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. By supporting a robust cadence of lunar deliveries, NASA will continue to enable a growing lunar economy while leveraging the entrepreneurial innovation of the commercial space industry. Two upcoming CLPS flights scheduled to launch in early 2025 will deliver NASA payloads to the Moon's near side and south polar region, respectively. Learn more about CLPS and Artemis at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-nasa-science-tech-will-fly-to-moon-aboard-future-firefly-flight-302335523.html SOURCE NASA

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Coffee badging . The Great Stay . Revenge quitting. This year has seen no shortage of terms to describe the new ways we work. As 2024 comes to a close, Fast Company ’s Work Life team has been thinking about the major trends we’ve seen this year—but also what the new year will bring. Here are some of the biggest stories we’ll be monitoring in 2025. 1. The fight over RTO Why are we still talking about a return to office ? We’ve been chronicling the push to get workers back into physical offices for over three years now, but the rift between what most employees want (flexibility and a hybrid schedule) and what some leaders want (in-office collaboration and a return to pre-pandemic workplace norms) remains. As much as everyone wants to move on from this debate, we’re likely to see more companies adjust their policies in 2025, especially following major employers like Amazon deciding to bring workers back to the office five days a week. | Even with additional in-office pressure, many companies will still commit to some version of hybrid work . “ Hybrid work is the new normal, ” Sam Naficy, CEO of the employee visibility and productivity intelligence software provider Prodoscore, tells writer Stephanie Vozza. “Despite the push for in-office mandates , hybrid work is here to stay, driven by the need for flexibility. Few companies will fully revert to all-office models without risking talent loss .” Of course, in some cases, RTO office mandates may actually be designed to get workers to quit. Last month, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal expressing the hope that requiring federal workers to come in to an office full-time would lead to resignations. “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the COVID-era privilege of staying home,” they wrote. 2. AI affecting jobs—and hiring We’ve spent much of this year chronicling employee concerns about the ways in which AI will affect careers . That impact is already being felt. A November study showed a 21% reduction in job posts “for automation-prone jobs related to writing and coding compared to jobs requiring manual-intensive skills” since ChatGPT was introduced. Many experts, however, are bullish on the positive impacts of AI to reduce boring tasks—and even to create new jobs altogether. “It is normal to worry about the loss of jobs that comes with a new technology,” writes futurist Frank Diana . “But there has always been fear around new technologies, and almost without fail, the new technology has led to more jobs than the previous technology ever allowed.” One of the areas where we’re already AI changing things is in hiring. While many companies have long used AI to screen candidates through applicant-tracking systems, more are likely to embrace AI in the process in 2025. According to one recent study from Resume Builder, nearly 70% plan to use AI for some part of the hiring process by the end of 2025. It’s not just the initial vetting process that is transforming: 23% of companies surveyed already rely on AI to conduct interviews and another 19% said they plan to start using AI for interviews within the next year. Adam Charlson, managing partner of Focus Search Partners, cautions against allowing AI to take over the process. “AI can quickly sift through a vast pool of résumés and pinpoint those that best match the keywords in a job posting,” writes Charlson. “But can AI alone truly determine the best fit for a position? The short answer is no. While AI can do a lot, it doesn’t replace a human when it comes to hiring .” 3. The backlash to DEI This year saw many companies—including Walmart , Lowe’s , Ford , John Deere , Harley Davidson , Jack Daniels , and Toyota —scale back DEI programs in response to conservative activism. Anti-DEI sentiment appears to be reaching some employees, too. In a November 2024 Pew study, 23% of workers described focusing on DEI as “a bad thing” compared with 16% in 2023. But DEI is not over , writes Out & Equal’s Erin Uritus and Witeck Communications, Inc.’s Bob Witeck. “The truth is that we are not witnessing a sea change in the marketplace or an erosion in public attitudes,” write Uritus and Witeck. “Most businesses understand that DEI is good for workers and good for business.” With the arrival of a new Trump administration, there will likely be additional pressures on DEI programs. We’ll be watching carefully in the new year to explore how businesses committed to greater equity in the workplace rebrand or shift their efforts.10 Iconic Cars That Still Don’t Have Their Own LEGO Set

If you’re ready to transform your living room into a cinematic paradise, this massive Sony 85 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV is your ticket to an extraordinary viewing experience. For Black Friday, it is currently at a record low price of $998, a massive 33% off its original price of $1,498 . The previous record low was $1,199 (during last year’s Black Friday), so this is $200 less than that amount. For an 85-inch TV, we’ve never seen a lower price. See at Amazon For those concerned about holiday shopping logistics, Amazon offers an extended return policy for this product. Customers have until January 31, 2025, to return items purchased during this period, which is particularly convenient for holiday gift-giving. Amazon also provides a price guarantee during the Black Friday period: if the price drops further after your purchase, they will refund the difference. XXXXXL 4K TV The Sony X77L boasts a 4K Processor X1 which enhances picture quality by upscaling HD content to near-4K resolution so that all your favorite shows and movies are displayed with sharp details and vibrant colors. The TV supports 4K HDR which allows for a wider range of colors and improved contrast and results in lifelike images that pop on the screen. This Sony 85-inch TV also features a wide viewing angle which makes it ideal for larger rooms where viewers may be seated at various positions. This characteristic ensures that everyone can enjoy a consistent picture quality regardless of where they are sitting. The TV also incorporates Motionflow XR technology which reduces motion blur during fast-paced scenes. This model also includes smart capabilities powered by Google TV which allows users to access a vast array of streaming services and apps conveniently from one interface. With Google Assistant built-in , you can use voice commands to search for content, control playback and even manage smart home devices directly from your TV. Finally, in terms of connectivity, the Sony X77L is well-equipped with multiple HDMI ports so that you can connect various devices such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and sound systems. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing for wireless audio streaming from compatible devices. This versatility ensures that you can create a complete home theater setup tailored to your preferences. To see the current Black Friday deal, here it is: See at AmazonNoneMovie review: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ a boundary-pushing prequel worthy of original film

In an appearance on his brother's podcast this week (The Thanalysis Show), Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo opened up on his experience with the NBA media. Giannis trolled the news companies and their reporters for having such reaction takes after every win or loss. "Today it's like 'Vegas baby the Bucks are going to Vegas! Blank check, wow!' And the day you lose? It's 'They suck! Get them out of here! Trade Giannis, he has blood on his hands and nobody wants him and he can't shoot!' Guys, yesterday I was the best player in the world," said Giannis . Giannis has experienced countless ups and downs in his 11-year career so far. After failing to make an impression in his first three years, the Greek Freak finally rose to stardom in the 2016-17 season and fans were in awe over his game. In 2019 and 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVPs as he secured the title of the best player in the world. At the time, his place at the top was inarguable and the Milwaukee Bucks were seen as a borderline dynasty that would be competing for championships for at least the next decade. After winning the finals in 2021, Antetokounmpo reached the height of his career and fans were quick to discuss his place among the NBA's all-time greats. Today, at 30 years old, Giannis is still one of the best players in the world even if he doesn't get the credit he deserves. Because since the title run a few years ago, the Bucks have been in a miserable state and many critics have called them the most disappointing team in the league. After trading for Damian Lillard and pairing him with Giannis, the Bucks had ambitions of winning another championship but it's been a mess so far and Giannis' Bucks have been on the hot seat ever since . After winning just 49 games last year, the Bucks are on track to finish with a similar record, or worse, this season if they don't turn things around. As much as Giannis hates the reactionary takes from the fans and media, they aren't exactly wrong when they say the Bucks are not a good team right now and they will only validate that opinion if the team continues to struggle. At 13-11 this season, the Milwaukee Bucks are 6th in the East but they could easily slide back down to 8th or 9th with a few more losses. No matter what happens, you can be sure that the reactions will be extreme one way or the other. As for Giannis, he's done worrying about what the critics have to say. More than most sports, the NBA media has a knack for stirring up drama and creating panic in an otherwise stable situation. The key for Giannis and the Bucks is to drown out the noise and work together to solve their biggest problems. Tomorrow they'll have another chance to set things right in the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal. They're in Las Vegas for a battle against the Atlanta Hawks at 4:30 PM EST. If they win, they'll play on Tuesday for a chance at the NBA Cup championship. If not, their next game won't be until Friday, December 20th, at 7:30 PM EST. This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

Those economic horses showed plenty of pluck in 2024, gamely hauling the social cart through an unfamiliar post-COVID-19 pandemic terrain. (If unemployment was so low in Manitoba, why the heck were those nags making such poor time as per GDP growth?) Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Those economic horses showed plenty of pluck in 2024, gamely hauling the social cart through an unfamiliar post-COVID-19 pandemic terrain. (If unemployment was so low in Manitoba, why the heck were those nags making such poor time as per GDP growth?) Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Those economic horses showed plenty of pluck in 2024, gamely hauling the social cart through an unfamiliar post-COVID-19 pandemic terrain. (If unemployment was so low in Manitoba, why the heck were those nags making such poor time as per GDP growth?) In some respects, the unusual dynamics allowed the field to clear, allowing new players to emerge (like the Manitoba Métis Federation). The sad culling of some favourite restaurants happened almost on cue after facing interminable pandemic shutdowns and the hand-wringing about downtown Winnipeg took on a more dire rhythm, but the top business stories of the year also included the kind of slow, steady pace Manitobans know and love and are resigned to live with. Despite some of their own looking for ancestral links to other nations so as not have to endure another four more years of Trumpy weirdness, Winnipeggers have never had so many direct route options to fly to the U.S. WestJet added Nashville and seasonal Fort Lauderdale, Fla., service after fanfare-inducing L.A. and Atlanta flights that started last year. United Airlines revived its Chicago and Denver flights this year, and there’s even a daily flight to Montreal and thrice weekly to Ottawa. Winnipeggers have never had such a diversity of choices to get out of town. Not only did the hard-working souls at the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone have to cajole and entice workers back to the area while many of its member businesses embraced hybrid workplace environments, unhoused encampments and a revival of old-fashioned shoplifting made doing business a real challenge this year. Although the first half of the year saw the first net increase in downtown businesses since 2020, there are 60 fewer than there were four years ago. Still, with the construction of the first high-rise in the east Exchange District in 50 years, the occupation of the city’s newest downtown tower by Wawanesa Insurance, and revival of construction of a half-built apartment tower at Donald Street and St. Mary’s Avenue means maybe there’s still hope. Delta 9 Cannabis entered receivership. While the rest of the industry was blowing its brains out trying to create an industry model matching the old cigarette oligarchy, Winnipeg’s Delta 9 Cannabis, the fourth licensed producer of cannabis in Canada, was a great homegrown story of well-organized, modest production of formerly illicit weed. But Delta 9 ran out of runway in 2024, done in by standard-issue vulture capitalism. Even in receivership, it still managed to stay cool with all the stores remaining open, staff employed and buds still being harvested. A casual observer might be mistaken to think the Town of Churchill is a lot larger and busier than it really is. The only Arctic port in Canada has a growing ($100 million) tourism industry and is the terminus of the only railway through the North. This year, it received a much-needed $60 million in track upgrades and, for the first time in 20 years, shipped Manitoba-mined minerals (concentrated zinc) destined for Europe. But for it to realize its potential — both as a tourism destination and thriving seaport — it has a long way to go. And to make it that much harder to realize, an even more fantastical alternative concept was being touted by some (Alberta energy concerns) to build an entirely new port south of Churchill. It may have taken some time to materialize, but as some pundits warned when the lockdown mandates started up in 2020, many Winnipeg restaurants finally succumbed and shuttered this year. The list includes, in no specific order: Yafa Café, Starbucks (Osborne Village), Tropikis, Roughage Eatery, RnR Family Restaurant, Pancake House (The Forks), Preservation Hall, Second Cup (Polo Park), Fionn MacCool’s (Regent Avenue), Nick’s on Broadway and A & W (Osborne Village). According to Restaurants Canada, more than half of Manitoba eateries are currently losing money or breaking even compared to 19 per cent before COVID. Winnipeggers finally got local access to big-name brands including Kripsy Kreme in 2024. 7-Eleven just opened its first licensed facility in Winnipeg (and also closed a handful of its convenience stores), Stella’s returned to the airport and boutique bakery Jenna Rae Cakes opened a kiosk inside airport security. Wolseley stalwart Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company is building its biggest location yet in St. Boniface. Activate Games has continued its rapid internationalexpansion. Activate Games, the Winnipeg high-tech amusement facility featuring unique interactive technologies, continues to take over the world. After inking a partnership with a developer in Dubai at the end of 2023, and along with significant growth in the U.S., it signed distributorships in Europe in 2024. It’s now on pace for 200 locations around the world in the next few years. Two of the largest development projects in the city — Naawi-Oodena and Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn — are led by First Nations organizations. The Manitoba Métis Federation’s big property acquisitions in Winnipeg. The Manitoba Métis Federation has been going hard for years but, in 2024, it was as if its stock doubled. Already the owner of the old BMO building at Portage and Main, the MMF acquired the 24-storey Bell MTS tower and its 13-floor sister space at 191 Pioneer Ave., along with a 99-stall parking lot, opened the Lake Manitoba Resort and a new pharmacy and health facility in Dauphin, plans to turn the old Roxy Lanes into an affordable 55-plus residential tower and partnered in a downtown yoga studio. Manitoba’s economy is fuelled by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but when the big players are feeling confident, it makes a difference. In 2024, the Chipman family-owned True North Real Estate Development flexed once again to commit to a $680 million redevelopment of Portage Place mall. After years of successfully satisfying ‘Buy America’ provisions to be able to sell its heavy-duty urban buses to U.S. transit authorities, NFI is investing in its hometown so it can finish the manufacturing of its buses sold into the Canadian market. James Richardson & Sons, Limited reacquired the Fairmont Hotel after a 24-year hiatus. Gerry Price, one of the smartest and most successful (and least well-known) Winnipeg entrepreneurs of his generation, was recognized by his alma mater, the University of Manitoba, with the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. CentrePort Canada Inc. has built a highway through its 20,000-acre footprint that virtually surrounds the Winnipeg airport. This year, the second tenant of its 665-acre rail park started construction, with five more in the queue. This is where the largest greenfield developments in town that need direct rail access to the CPKC main line (with interswitching to CN and BNSF) will be built. Also this year, the City of Winnipeg and province of Manitoba committed $75 million to install servicing for another 1,800 acres in CentrePort south, including 500 acres of residential (housing for up to 12,000) and 1,100 acres of industrial space. In the past five years, $750 million of development permits have been let for the northwestern corner of the city and part of the Rural Municipality of Rosser. Arctic Char, to be specific. Arctic char fry at the Sapphire Springs facility. Sapphire Springs Inc., a locally owned enterprise is building an Arctic char fish farm north of the city that will almost double the global supply of the delicious salmonoid. Located at the former site of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Rockwood Experimental Fish Hatchery, it draws its water from a glacial aquifer, recycling 99 per cent of it through each growing cycle. Sapphire Springs may not solve global food security problem, but if successful, it could provide at least the inspiration for other forms of industrial protein production. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Martin Cash is a business reporter/columnist who’s been on that beat for the since 1989. He’s a graduate of the University of Toronto and studied journalism at Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan University). . Every piece of reporting Martin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.UK, Italy and Japan to Collaborate on New Fighter Jet

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online games casino WASHINGTON - US stocks had a mixed session on Dec 11, with a rally in Google’s parent company Alphabet spurring the tech-rich Nasdaq to end the day above 20,000 for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2 per cent to close at 44,148.56, while the broad-based S&P 500 closed up 0.8 per cent at 6,084.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index was the day’s big winner, jumping 1.8 per cent to close at a new record of 20,34.89 after Alphabet reported it had made a breakthrough in quantum computing. The news sent the firm’s share price soaring, with its class A shares closing up 5.5 per cent. Investors were also digesting the news that consumer inflation ticked higher last month, largely in line with expectations. “The investors are reacting positively to the latest inflation data for two reasons,” Mr Adam Sarhan, of 50 Park Investments, told AFP. “Number one, it gives the Fed more room to continue with easy money, cutting rates,” he said. “And then number two, it allows more room for the economy to grow without the threat of inflation picking up.” “That’s good for earnings, that’s good for stocks,” he added. AFPPresident Jimmy Carter may have only had one term in the White House , but he remained a familiar figure on the world stage long after clearing his desk at the Oval Office. Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London , took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.

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BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Thursday after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from Villa head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal. However, Villa said Friday night that its bid was unsuccessful and the forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct. “Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Duran’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected," a statement on Villa’s official X account read. "The player will now miss our next three matches.” Duran will miss Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester, followed by Villa's FA Cup third-round match with West Ham on Jan. 10. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer'Blood on your hands': Brawl erupts in national parliamentfree online game 。

Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ) by 15.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,033 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 533 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Capri were worth $171,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CPRI. Riverwater Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Capri in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,030,000. Aristides Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Capri in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,865,000. Fortis Group Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Capri during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,149,000. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in Capri by 116.8% during the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 267,131 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,101,000 after buying an additional 143,899 shares during the period. Finally, ING Groep NV lifted its position in Capri by 6.5% in the third quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 473,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $20,091,000 after buying an additional 29,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.34% of the company’s stock. Capri Stock Performance Shares of CPRI stock opened at $20.48 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $32.47 and its 200 day moving average is $33.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The firm has a market cap of $2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.69, a PEG ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 2.05. Capri Holdings Limited has a 52-week low of $18.70 and a 52-week high of $51.23. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Capri Capri Profile ( Free Report ) Capri Holdings Limited designs, markets, distributes, and retails branded women's and men's apparel, footwear, and accessories in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through three segments: Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors. The company offers ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear, handbags, scarves and belts, small leather goods, eyewear, watches, jewelry, fragrances, and home furnishings through a distribution network, including boutiques, department, and specialty stores, as well as through e-commerce sites. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CPRI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Capri Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capri and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. TJ Smith drove North Alabama to the EKU 45-yard line before he threw an interception to Mike Smith Jr. to end the game. Smith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Warfield to give North Alabama a 15-14 lead with 10:37 to play. Morrissey completed 9 of 15 passes for 154 yards and added 60 yards on the ground with a touchdown run. Brayden Latham added 103 yards rushing on 19 carries that included a 2-yard score for Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 United Athletic Conference). Smith was 23-of-39 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for North Alabama (3-9, 2-5). Tanaka Scott had 109 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNone

Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss the federal cases against US President-elect Donald Trump -- including one for election subversion -- citing an official policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Trump, 78, was accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden and mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, but neither case ever came to trial. Smith, in a filing with the district judge in Washington presiding over the election case, said it should be dropped in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy of not indicting or prosecuting a sitting president. He cited the same reasoning in withdrawing his appeal of a ruling by a district judge, a Trump appointee, who dismissed the classified documents case earlier this year. Smith asked District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the election interference case "without prejudice" -- leaving open the possibility it could be revived after Trump leaves office four years from now. The special counsel paused the election interference case this month after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed," Smith said in the filing with Chutkan. "But the circumstances have." "It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President," Smith said. "As a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated." In a separate filing, Smith said he was withdrawing his appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump but pursuing the case against his two co-defendants, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the cases were "empty and lawless, and should never have been brought." "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME," he said. "Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before." Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021 by a mob of the then-president's supporters. Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election. The former and incoming president also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Judge Juan Merchan has postponed sentencing while he considers a request from Trump's lawyers that the conviction be thrown out in light of the Supreme Court ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from prosecution. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office. cl/bgs Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.

NoneAston Villa fails in its bid to overturn Jhon Duran’s red card at NewcastleBOSTON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - A former engineer at a semiconductor manufacturer pleaded not guilty on Friday to U.S. charges that he illegally procured technology for an Iranian firm that made a key component of a drone used in a January attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members. Mahdi Sadeghi, who was fired by Analog Devices (ADI.O) , opens new tab after his Dec. 16 arrest , pleaded not guilty during a hearing in federal court in Boston to charges , opens new tab that he engaged in a scheme to violate U.S. export control and sanctions laws. He entered the plea nearly two weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against the dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and the head of an Iranian navigation systems manufacturer, Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested in Italy. Prosecutors said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was the primary customer of Abedini's company, San'at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co, which made the navigation system used in its military drone program. Prosecutors say that system was used in an unmanned drone that struck a U.S. outpost in Jordan called Tower 22, near the Syrian border, in an attack that killed three Army Reserve soldiers from Georgia and injured 47 others. The White House has said the attack was facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization of hardline Iran-backed militant groups. Iran has denied involvement in the attack, and its foreign ministry was quoted in Iranian media on Saturday saying the arrests of Sadeghi and Abedini, an Iranian citizen, violated international law. Prosecutors said that in 2016, Sadeghi, a resident of Natick, Massachusetts, traveled to Iran to seek funding from a governmental organization for a fitness wearables company that he had co-founded. Through an affiliated Iranian company he established, Sadeghi began helping procure U.S.-origin electronic components on behalf of Abedini, who is also known as Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, prosecutors said. After taking a job at Massachusetts-based Analog Devices in 2019, Sadeghi helped a Switzerland front company for Abedini's Iranian firm enter into a contract with Analog Devices, and assisted Abedini in procuring U.S. technology, prosecutors said. The electronic components Abedini obtained included the same type used in the navigation system found in the drone, prosecutors said. Sadeghi has been detained since his arrest. U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell set a Jan. 2 hearing to potentially grant his release after a defense lawyer reported progress in talks with prosecutors on acceptable bail conditions. Sign up here. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.

Penticton pub raises $13K for local kids sports (Penticton)Pinarayi Vijayan clarifies stance on Sadiq Ali Thangal, condemns IUML's political shift