Trump selects Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary
On Thursday, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) announced that it has issued a cease-and-desist order to Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, for operating within the country without the necessary license. While Starlink, which provides satellite-based internet services, is active in multiple African nations, it has encountered various regulatory hurdles in certain regions, as well as opposition from state-run telecommunications monopolies. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-9167143-2"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); Although Starlink has already submitted an application to obtain a telecommunications service license in Namibia, the regulatory body has yet to approve it, as the application is still under review. ALSO READ | Google Faces Fresh CCI Probe Following Complaint From Real-Money Gaming Firm WinZO: Here's What Went Down CRAN in a statement said, “Following an investigation, CRAN has established that Starlink is operating a network within Namibia without the required telecommunications license. On 26 November 2024, the Authority issued a cease-and-desist order to Starlink, instructing the company to immediately cease all operations in Namibia.” Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1253031-3"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); The regulator further warned the public against purchasing Starlink terminals or subscribing to its services, emphasizing that such actions are prohibited in Namibia. Authorities have already seized illegal equipment from consumers, and criminal cases have been initiated with the Namibian Police in connection with these violations. Earlier this year, a similar move was made in Cameroon, where Starlink equipment was confiscated at ports due to the lack of a proper license. SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Internet Satellites In another news, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has launched 23 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by onboarding them on the Falcon 9 rocket that took off at on Monday. Of the satellites, 12 are equipped with direct-to-smartphone technology, representing a significant upgrade to the Starlink network. The event was livestreamed on X by SpaceX. SpaceX posted on X, "Falcon 9 lifts off from pad 40 in Florida, delivering 23 @Starlink satellites to the constellation." Today’s launch of 12 Direct to Cell capable @Starlink satellites will continue to provide reliable text service wherever you may be — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 25, 2024
Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level Media
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . NACOGDOCHES, Texas (AP) — Kobe Stewart scored 17 points as Presbyterian beat Monmouth 71-61 on Saturday. Stewart had five rebounds and six assists for the Blue Hose (5-3). Kory Mincy added 16 points while shooting 4 for 11 (3 for 8 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line while they also had five rebounds. Jamahri Harvey shot 5 for 14, including 3 for 9 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Hawks (0-8) were led in scoring by Jack Collins, who finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Monmouth also got 12 points and two steals from Justin Ray. Madison Durr had seven points. The loss is the eighth straight for the Hawks. Presbyterian took the lead with 4:56 left in the first half and never looked back. Stewart led his team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them ahead 45-32 at the break. Presbyterian used an 8-0 run in the second half to build a 17-point lead at 61-44 with 8:51 left in the half before finishing off the win. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .In this article COST Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A Costco Wholesale store in Connecticut. Lindsey Nicholsonp | Getty Images Costco on Thursday beat Wall Street's quarterly earnings and sales estimates, as e-commerce sales jumped and shoppers bought jewelry, luggage and furniture. Here is how the warehouse club did for the fiscal first quarter compared to what Wall Street expected, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: $4.04 vs. $3.79 expected Revenue: $62.15 billion vs. $62.08 billion expected In the three-month period that ended Nov. 24, Costco's net income rose to $1.80 billion, or $4.04 per share, from $1.59 billion, or $3.58 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue increased from $57.80 billion in the year-ago period. Costco has benefited from its reputation for selling bulk items at better value, as U.S. households feel the cumulative effect of higher food and housing prices. The membership-based club also hiked its annual membership fee for the first time in about seven years. The quarterly results are the first Costco has reported since that fee increase took effect in September. Costco's membership fee revenue came in at $1.17 billion, compared to the $1.16 billion Wall Street had expected. It jumped by almost 8% year over year, excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates. But on the company's earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip said the membership fee hike didn't have much of an effect yet because of deferred accounting. It represented less than 1% of fee growth in the quarter, he said. Comparable sales for the company increased 5.2% year over year. In the U.S., comparable sales rose 5.2% as well. Customers visited Costco's stores and website more during the quarter. Traffic rose 5.1% globally and 4.9% in the U.S. The company's average ticket was up 0.1% worldwide and 0.3% in the U.S., including the negative impact of gas deflation and foreign exchange rates. If adjusted to exclude those, average ticket would have risen 2% worldwide and 2.3% in the U.S. Gold and jewelry, gift cards, home furnishings, sporting goods, health and beauty aids, luggage kiosk and hardware were all up double digits year over year, Millerchip said. In Costco's fresh category, which includes items like produce, sales grew by high single-digits in the quarter, Millerchip said. Sales of meat were up by double-digits, as some members continued to purchase pricier premium cuts and other gravitated more toward low-cost options, he said. E-commerce sales rose 13% in the quarter compared with the year-ago period. The company is gaining market share by shipping big and bulky items, CEO Ron Vachris said on the company's earnings call, and it hit nearly 1 million deliveries in the quarter, which was a new record. Membership renewal rates were 90.4% worldwide, down one tenth of a percent, Millerchip said on the company's call. He said renewal rates are down slightly as the popularity of digital signsup grow. He said dthe digital signups tend to renew at a slightly lower rate. It ended the quarter with 77.4 million paid household members, an approximately 8% year over year increase, or 138.8 million cardholders. Costco also hit new records in its U.S. bakery division by selling 4.2 million pies in the three days prior to Thanksgiving and selling 274,000 whole pizzas in its food courts across the country on Halloween, Vachris said on the call. Costco opened seven new clubs in the quarter and plans to open 29 during the fiscal year, including three relocations, Vachris said. Ten of those clubs will be outside of the U.S. The company has a total of nearly 900 clubs, with 617 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. As of Thursday's close, shares of Costco are up nearly 50% so far this year, surpassing the 27% gains of the S&P 500 during the same period. Shares closed at $988.39 on Thursday. 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NoneAs 2024 comes to a close, you might be starting to put a list together of resolutions for the new year. Many people make resolutions to lose weight, save more money, or advance in their careers. If you’re the Edmonton Oilers , there are a few resolutions that can help the team reach the ultimate goal in 2025 of winning the Stanley Cup. Here’s a list of five New Year’s resolutions for the Oilers to reach their goals in 2025: Resolution 1 – Commit to Team Defence Under head coach Kris Knoblauch , the Edmonton Oilers have developed into a stingy team. Going into their Dec. 28 game against the Los Angeles Kings , the Oilers have a goals for/goals against differential of plus-16. This is about middle of the pack in the NHL but it continues to rise as the Oilers continue to play well in their own zone. After such a disappointing start to the 2024-25 NHL season, the Oilers have scratched and clawed their way back into contention mainly through a commitment to team defence. It’s what got them to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and it’s the path they need to take in order to get back there in 2025. The Oilers have had some good head coaches over the past six seasons including Todd McLellan, Ken Hitchcock, Dave Tippett and Jay Woodcroft, but it seems as though Knoblauch and assistant coach Paul Coffey have been the ones to unlock the team’s defensive potential. If the team can keep playing as well defensively as they have in the month of December, they’ll definitely continue to rise in the standings in 2025. Resolution 2 – Stay Disciplined Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions for most of us are to eat healthy, exercise and stop unhealthy habits such as smoking. The Oilers are already doing all of these things, and it’s not like Leon Draisaitl is going to turn into Guy Lafleur and go smoke a couple of lung darts between periods like the great Montreal Canadiens forward was known to do. This is more about staying healthy in mind, body and spirit. The Oilers hired performance whisperer George Mumford as their mental performance coach, and he’s as important as any of the other coaches on the Oilers’ staff. When you’re a professional hockey player at the peak of your physical powers, what truly separates the champions from the pack is their mental game. The Oilers are starting to lock it in, and if they can stay focused and disciplined in the face of all obstacles, they’ll get to their promised land. It’s really easier said than done but the Oilers have the experience and the talent to get there. They just need to stay focused. Thanks to Mumford , they’re well on their way. Resolution 3 – Continue to Develop Youth The Oilers had grown older in the offseason losing Ryan Mcleod, Dylan Holloway, Vincent Desharnais and Philip Broberg. They did pick up Matthew Savoie from the Buffalo Sabres in the trade for McLeod, and general manager (GM) Stan Bowman traded for Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin but there’s a lot of ground to be made up in terms of restocking the prospect cupboards. Under former GM Ken Holland, the Oilers traded high draft picks and let go of good prospects such as Micheal Kesselring in order to try and “win now.” In 2025, Bowman, Oilers CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson and the scouting staff will need to walk the fine line of restocking the pipeline while still acquiring high-end talent. The franchise can ill afford to lose as many prospects as they have in the last two seasons and they need to not only develop youth, but also eventually find room for players such as Noah Philp and Olivier Rodrigue. This will only make them better. Resolution 4 – Trade for a Defenceman The March 7 NHL Trade Deadline is just over three months away and while some people want the Oilers to think about bringing in a goaltender, most believe they will try and trade for a defenceman . Considering how well their defensive core is playing at the moment with Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak playing some of the best hockey of their careers, it’s hard to predict what they might do. Right now the defensive core of Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Nurse, Kulak, Emberson and Troy Stecher is playing solid. But there’s a lot of runway left before the trade deadline, and it’s likely they will bolster the defensive core before tweaking any other area of the team. Who the Oilers target is anybody’s guess at the moment. It all might come down to how much long-term injured reserve (LTIR) space they have accumulated throughout the season. Resolution 5 – Believe The Oilers came within two goals of sipping from the Stanley Cup in 2024. Has that made them more hungry to win this season? Do they believe they can do it? This is a big year for players such as Connor McDavid and Draisaitl. They’re close to the peak of their physical powers but a lot has to go right in order for them to hoist the Stanley Cup this spring. They need a bit of luck, good goaltending, and good health, and need their belief to be stronger than teams such as the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. The Oilers’ biggest opponent might be themselves. It’s time to start believing they’re the second coming of the Oilers of the 80s rather than the Buffalo Bills of the early 90s. Happy New Year Whether you make long lists of New Year’s resolutions or just have one, I’d like to wish you all a healthy, happy and successful 2025. If you’re an Oilers fan, I’d like to wish you a very happy 2025 and hope that this spring brings you and yours a sixth Stanley Cup championship to Oil Country. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
Kunlavut eyes SF spot after tough lossCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday, likely ending the Buckeyes ’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game. Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4) at Ohio State's 17-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2, No. 2 CFP) got the ball back but couldn't move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines' fourth straight win over their bitter rival. “You come to Michigan to play this game,” Zvada said. “So, it's the biggest one of the year. It's the one that everyone looks forward to, and to be able to come in here and take the win, it's amazing.” This Ohio State loss in the “The Game” might have been the toughest of the past four because Michigan was unranked and wrapping up a disappointing season. The Wolverines were also playing without a couple of top players: tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for this rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Records — and point spreads, for that matter — rarely mean much when these two teams meet. “Our defense played outstanding," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. "We held a high-powered offense to 10 points, 77 rushing yards.” The Buckeyes were off all afternoon. Howard was 19 for 33 for 175 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and Jayden Fielding missed two field-goal attempts. The run game was hardly there. “It's hard, man,” an emotional Howard said. “I really don’t have much right now. I do know we're a two-loss team. We're going to get into the playoffs and make a run. But, I mean, this one hurts.” Mullings was Michigan's primary weapon. He rushed for 116 yards and the Wolverines only touchdown of the game in the first half as neither team could get much going offensively on the frigid afternoon. “They made plays, we made plays, so as the game wore on you could definitely, slowly feel them starting to lose confidence, lose that energy and lose that faith,” Mullings said. Howard was clunky all day. In the first half he threw an interception from deep in his own territory that led to Michigan's touchdown. He went out for a play in the second quarter to be checked for a head injury. After the game, he said he was fine. “We're very disappointed, and never thought this would happen right here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We expected to win this game and go play in the Big Ten championship game.” After the game, Michigan players attempted to plant their flag at midfield and were confronted by Ohio State players. A skirmish ensued as both teams pushed and shoved before being separated. Michigan: Did just enough and caught Ohio State on an off day. Ohio State: It's inexplicable how badly the Buckeyes played in their biggest game of the season. They would need No. 4 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana to lose later Saturday in order to make it into the Big Ten title game next week. There has been talk all season about how many of the Ohio State team leaders, including receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive end Jack Sawyer, chose to return for another year instead of entering the NFL draft because they wanted to beat Michigan at least once. Those players were inconsolable after the game. One of them, linebacker Cody Simon, was asked how he felt. “I just can't speak that right now,” Simon said. “I feel like we let the whole Buckeye nation down.” Michigan will wait for a minor bowl game. Ohio State, assuming either Penn State or Indiana wins on Saturday, will see how the final College Football Playoff rankings shakeout on Dec. 8. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has set his sights on automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig. Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute goal gave them victory in Germany after goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran early in each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. That sent them up to third in the new league phase of the competition ahead of Wednesday’s games and with matches against Monaco and Celtic to come, Villa have an excellent chance of finishing in the top eight. Job done... in the end 😅 #RBLAVL #UCL pic.twitter.com/PRD1Hi1Q3A — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 That would mean they would avoid a play-off round to make it through to the last 16 and Emery says that is the target. “Today was key. Juventus at home, we were thinking more to win but in the end we accepted the draw because it was important for a point to be more or less in the top 24,” he told Amazon Prime. “Today was a match we were thinking at the beginning was key to be a contender to be in the top eight with the last two matches to be played. “It is going to be difficult and we have to get some more points but we now have the possibility to achieve this option. “We are going to enjoy and try to get top eight but we have to be happy because we are in the top 24 and maybe even the top 16. “We weren’t contenders in the beginning to get there but now we have to accept it.” Leipzig, who are flying high near the top of the Bundesliga, are out after losing all six matches. They did pose a threat to Villa, who inflicted some of their own problems on themselves, notably a rare gaffe from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for Openda’s equaliser. But Emery was happy with his side’s performance. “I try to enjoy and always we want to improve and sometimes it is hard but today the team were performing well, playing seriously and I was enjoying it,” he added. “We tried to overcome the mistakes we made and we did. More or less we were playing consistently. One mistake and they score but then we played very well. “Champions League is very difficult and we have to expect that every team playing at home are feeling strong. We played with consistency and domination.”
Michigan (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) stunned No. 2 Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in one of the biggest upsets of the college football season. Kicker Dominic Zvada hit the game-winning field with 45 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes were stopped on 4th down on the next drive, securing Michigan's upset victory. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings led the Wolverines with 116 rushing yards on 32 carries and one rushing touchdown. The Buckeyes were held to 77 rushing yards on 26 carries, highlighting the offensive struggles against the Wolverines. The Wolverines have won four consecutive games against the Buckeyes, their longest winning streak in the rivalry since 1988-91. Following the game, Michigan players rushed to midfield to plant a flag at the 50-yard line, which caused a massive brawl between the two teams. A fight has broken out between Michigan and Ohio State after The Game pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN The teams were separated by security, but the tension continued to rise, leading to a second altercation. Following the first brawl, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped the Michigan flag and started a second brawl near the 30-yard line. Multiple Ohio State players were seen getting physical with Michigan staffers as they tried to grab the flag. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer rips away the Michigan flag and throws it amid the insanity after the game. Cops. Pepper spray was even used. Two Michigan players were on the ground rubbing their faces. A photographer as well. Police later lined up at 50 to build a human wall. pic.twitter.com/xANs878xe7 Multiple reports surfaced that security used pepper spray on the players during the brawl. This had fans across college football concerned for the players' safety and well-being inside the stadium. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings called out the Buckeyes in his postgame interview after the brawl. "You hate to see stuff like that after the game," Mulling said. "It's just bad for the sport, bad for college football. They gotta learn how to lose, man. You can't be fighting." "You hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's just bad for the sport, bad for CFB... They gotta learn how to lose man. You can't be fighting." @JennyTaft speaks with Michigan's Kalel Mullings after a fight broke out between Ohio State and Michigan after the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z6rmxu2YJQ Ohio State's chances at the Big Ten Championship game took a significant hit with the loss. Penn State will advance to the title game with a win over Maryland and an Ohio State loss, while Indiana will secure a spot with a win and Penn State and Ohio State loss. Related: Social Media Demands Accountability After Photo of Ohio State Fan Goes Viral
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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black has been hospitalized after suffering a bleed on his brain and is expected to have a “smooth recovery,” his office said. Black, 76, suffered a subdural hematoma earlier this week and is at a local hospital and under the care of the Capitol’s physician, said Rev. Lisa Schultz, Black’s chief of staff. A subdural hematoma is when blood builds up between the skull and the surface of the brain, increasing pressure on the brain. A familiar bow-tied presence in the hallways of the Senate, Black has been the chaplain since 2003. He opens the proceedings each day with a prayer and counsels senators and staff through prayer groups and one-on-one meetings. He was previously the chief of the Navy’s chaplains. Black is well known for his booming voice and his often prescient and timely opening prayers in times of political tension. During an extended government shutdown in 2013, he prayed to “deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable.” During former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, he asked in a prayer that “our senators not permit fatigue or cynicism to jeopardize friendships that have existed for years.” In the early morning of Jan. 7, 2021, after supporters of Trump had attacked the Capitol and Congress had certified Democrat Joe Biden’s victory, he closed a joint session in the middle of the night with a call for unity. “We deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy,” he prayed. Associated Press medical writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops.