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u777bet But another issue overshadowed the visit. When reporters tried to question the president about why he gave his son Hunter a far-reaching pardon after repeatedly saying he would not do so, Biden tried to brush aside the questions. He gestured toward Lourenço and laughed, declaring, “Welcome to America.” Biden saluted Lourenço for his efforts to bolster stronger U.S. relations, declared that Africa and its booming youth population would shape the world's future and even indulged his love of trains by championing a major railway project that his administration says could change the way the entire continent does business. Some takeaways from the president's visit: Biden offered the joke about America before his meeting with Lourenço, and he answered a question on Tuesday about the political situation in South Korea, saying only that he'd not been briefed — something that was rectified moments later when advisers filled him in on what was happening as the motorcade sped away from a site where he'd given a speech. Other than that, Biden went the entire trip, which began Sunday night and included two brief stopovers in Cape Verde in addition to Angola, dodging reporters. He did similar during last month's six-day visit to South America . Since Biden announced his pardon decision shortly before climbing aboard Air Force One bound for Africa, it fell to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to spend nearly half an hour offering long and awkward answers to uncomfortable questions aboard the aircraft hours later. Biden said in a statement explaining the pardon that, while he believed in the justice system, he also felt that politics had infected the cases against his son and “enough was enough.” Jean-Pierre maintained that he wasn't trying to have it both ways. “I don’t think it’s a contradiction,” she said. “Two things could be true. You can believe in the Department of Justice system, and you could also believe that the process was infected politically.” She also bristled when it was suggested that such complaints about the Department of Justice smacked of President-elect Donald Trump's promises to dismantle the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats that he's said for years are out to unfairly undermine him and fellow top Republicans. During his meeting with Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said, “The United States is all in on Africa,” and extolled how strong Angolan relations were with Washington. His administration has invested billions in Angola, with the centerpiece being promoting the Lobito Corridor, a vast project to revitalize supply chains by refurbishing 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Angola, Zambia and Congo. Given where Angola was barely a generation ago, the alliance is in many ways remarkable. An oil-rich nation on Africa's southwest coast, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, but spent subsequent years embroiled in civil war, which often featured proxy fighting between U.S.-backed forces and those allied with the Soviet Union. Even today, the country's red and black flag features a yellow machete and half-cog, an insignia resembling the Soviet hammer and sickle. But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and Lourenço, like many leaders of African nations, has already begun suggesting that he's looking toward a Trump-dominated future. Biden administration officials say they're hopeful Trump and top Republicans will continue a business-friendly approach to investing in Africa that includes continuing to support the Lobito Corridor. Biden lauded Lourenço for helping boost his country's relationship with the United States, and he said the youth of Africa would change the world. He also visited the country’s national slavery museum, stressing how Angola and the United States — which were once linked by the horrors of enslaved human beings, now could increasingly be linked by economic opportunity. But if Biden came to Angola hoping to cement his foreign policy legacy in this country and throughout Africa, it will actually fall to Trump — the man he beat in the 2020 election and spent much of 2024 running against before bowing out of the race in July — to see it through.

US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for UkraineBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Tommy Mellott threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns and top-seeded Montana State tied a school record with its 13th straight win, dominating Tennessee-Martin 49-17 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Scottre Humphrey ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, one of three rushing touchdowns for the Bobcats (13-0), who are home next weekend against the winner of Saturday's late game between Lehigh and eighth-seeded Idaho.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze excited about early signees; players bios included1 2 Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority ( HYDRAA ) has pledged to intensify efforts to restore urban lakes and nalas while addressing encroachments, particularly by commercial establishments. Speaking at a brainstorming session on fixing Full Tank Levels (FTL), HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath said, "Our primary focus is on removing illegal commercial encroachments from nalas and lakes. Existing residential structures will not be disturbed, but no new unauthorised constructions will be tolerated." Ranganath clarified HYDRAA's intent, stating, "We are not here to demolish everything within the FTL boundaries. Our goal is to conserve these tanks and ensure no new structures emerge within the tank areas. This involves incorporating water area data, Survey of India maps, and village records to establish clear boundaries. An expert committee will be formed to consolidate inputs from all relevant departments and finalize these limits." To address ambiguities in FTL levels, especially in cases of shrinking or expanding water bodies, the commissioner announced that on-ground surveys would be conducted. "In areas where there's confusion, technical committees will re-evaluate the FTL limits," Ranganath said. He also revealed plans to adopt technology for real-time alerts against illegal construction activities in these areas. Citing the example of Ameenpur lake, Ranganath pointed out how the closure of its tank resulted in submerged layouts, exacerbating urban flooding. "This highlights the urgency of establishing clear FTL limits. Without clarity, such cases will continue to repeat," he said. The session also delved into historical issues. Experts noted that during the Nizam era, govt-owned shikam lands were converted into patta lands, complicating current land-use planning. Ranganath provided an update on Bathukamma kunta, where restoration efforts are underway despite legal hurdles. "Some individuals obtained a status quo order from the court. We have filed a counter and are confident of vacating the order to proceed with restoration work," he shared. Experts at the session noted that unchecked urbanisation, including road and infrastructure development, has significantly degraded Hyderabad's water bodies. Ameenpur lake, once a thriving wetland habitat, no longer attracts birds, highlighting the ecological fallout.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Trenton McLaughlin scored 23 points as Northern Arizona beat South Dakota 95-82 on Saturday. McLaughlin shot 6 of 14 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 12 from the line for the Lumberjacks (7-3). Jayden Jackson scored 20 points while going 6 of 9 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line and added seven assists. Monty Bowser had 14 points and shot 6 for 7, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc. Isaac Bruns led the way for the Coyotes (7-4) with 22 points and seven rebounds. Chase Forte added 15 points, five assists and four steals for South Dakota. Paul Bruns also had nine points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Unite the union has said the latest steps from SNP ministers to reinstate a Winter Fuel Payment from 2025/2026 does not go far enough. Last week, the Scottish Government announced every pensioner in Scotland would receive a winter heating payment of at least £100 from next winter. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said those in receipt of pension credits or other benefits would receive £200 or £300. Scottish ministers were forced to delay plans to bring in the devolved pension age winter heating payment this year when the universality of its UK-wide counterpart was cut . Later on Tuesday – just one day before Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivers the Budget – Scottish Labour will table amendments to a bill which would expand winter heating payments under the devolved system. The amendments, during Stage 3 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, would also include a tapering provision so money can be recovered from those on higher incomes. Ahead of the demonstration at Holyrood on Tuesday, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (below) said: “Scottish pensioners are facing winter right now. They must not be left to freeze just because the UK Government has picked their pockets. “The Scottish Government and Scottish Labour have been listening and we welcome steps to restore the cuts next year, but jam tomorrow won’t keep pensioners’ homes warm this winter. “Unite’s campaign has now seen some positive moves in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, but that is not enough. READ MORE: Reform will help SNP at 2026 Holyrood elections, Scottish Tory leader claims “We will not stop until the Winter Fuel Payment is restored across the UK.” The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.The next class of Tigers are officially on their way to Auburn. On Wednesday, Auburn signed a 25-player class of high school players — largely filled with 2025 high school seniors from the home state of Alabama. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, which balance player rankings from 247Sports, On3, Rivals and ESPN, the Tigers’ class includes one five-star, 16 four-stars and eight three-stars. For the most part, Auburn avoided most drama — only losing one recruit who entered signing day as an Auburn commit in four-star cornerback Shamar Arnoux. A few targets committed elsewhere — Na’eem Offord, Zion Grady and Ousmane Kromah – did not end up signing with Auburn, but in all, the Tigers were able to retain most of their commitments and flip three-star defensive lineman Darrion Smith from Tennessee. As it stands, Auburn is on track to sign a top-10 class — something head coach Hugh Freeze said Auburn must do to compete against the top teams in the SEC. “Really excited. Good day for us,” Freeze said. “I've been very clear since my arrival that I thought it would take three top 10 classes to overhaul our roster to get it to where it's apples to apples with the elite in the country. “And man, today's one of those days where the first emotion you probably feel is relief, and excitement is the next one, and there's so many people that played such a critical role in us — looks like we'll finish with another top 10 class, which is one of the tops in the SEC.” SIGNEES BIOS Malik Autry (DL, 6-6, 325; Opelika HS; Opelika, Ala.): Explosive defender with plenty of power ... dominant defensive lineman for Coach Bryan Moore at Opelika High ... 152 career tackles, 26 TFL, 19 sacks ... U.S. Navy All-American Bowl, Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... Rivals camp MVP ... O-A News Super 8 Senior, AL.com A-List ... all-area, ASWA all-state ... 247 Sports rates him the third best prospect in Alabama and the No. 5 recruit at his position nationally ... top 10 DL recruit nationally by Rivals, ESPN and On3 ... A-B Honor Roll, national English honorary ... also a basketball and track and field letterman ... son of Rachel and McCarty Autry Tai Buster (OL, 6-4, 290; A.L. Brown HS; Kannapolis, N.C.): Versatile offensive line prospect who can play multiple positions ... four-year starting tackle for Coach Justin Hardin in helping the Wonders to the Class 4A state playoffs ... WSOC Big 22 ... Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas ... all-state, two-time all-Greater Metro Conference ... rated the No. 11 overall prospect in North Carolina by ESPN, Rivals ... honor roll student ... also a track and field letterman ... son of Mike Buster and Erin Wells Antonio Coleman (DL, 6-2, 270; Saraland HS; Saraland, Ala.) : Agile and active defensive line prospect ... versatile contributor for Coach Jeff Kelly and the top-ranked Class 6A Saraland Spartans with 153 career tackles, 53 TFL, 10 sacks, 27 QB hurries, scoring 3 TD ... 62 tackles, 22.5 TFL as a junior ... 2x area defensive lineman of month ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... AL.com A-List, first team class 6A all-state ... rated a top 15 overall prospect in the state of Alabama by On3, 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals ... top 20 nationally at his position ... also a basketball letterman ... son of Omekia Coleman Jourdin Crawford (DL, 6-2, 325; Parker HS; Birmingham, Ala.): Productive defensive lineman with impressive strength ... two-year all-state selection for Coach Frank Warren at Parker High with 155 career tackles, 38 sacks ... team MVP, all-state, all-region ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... first team Class 6A all-state, AL.com A-List ... 67 tackles, 17 sacks (most in region) as a junior ... ranked No. 8 overall prospect in Alabama by 247 Sports, ESPN ... top 15 at his position nationally by ESPN, On3, 247 Sports .. honor roll student ... also a track and field letterman in shot put ... son of Antonio Robinson and Patsy Crawford Hollis Davidson III (TE, 6-5, 230; McIntosh HS; Peachtree City, Ga.): Fluid tight end with strong receiving skills ... career numbers of 72 receptions for 1,033 yards and 7 touchdowns for Coach Derek Smith at McIntosh High ... all-region honoree for the Chiefs and GASC all-state ... Fayette Super 12 ... top 20 ranking at his position nationally by 247 Sports, On3, ESPN, Rivals ... 247 Sports ranks him among top 30 overall recruits in Georgia ... also a soccer letterman ... son of Hollis II and Lendy Davidson Bryce Deas (LB, 6-2, 215; St. Frances Academy; Upper Marlboro, Md.): Productive defender from a perennially prominent program ... team captain for Coach Messay Hailemariam at St. Frances Academy and the nationally ranked Panthers ... projects as a linebacker at the collegiate level ... Rivals rates him the No. 8 overall prospect from Maryland; 247 Sports and On3 rank him in top 20 ... also a track and field letterman ... son of Eugene and Shadawn Deas Kail Ellis (OL, 6-5, 300; Cass HS; Canton, Ga.): Athletic, powerful offensive interior lineman with strong technique ... team captain for Coach Steve Gates at Cass High ... all-state and three-year all-region honoree for the Colonels ... 99.8% snap efficiency as a junior and senior with no sacks allowed ... rated a top 5 center prospect nationally by ESPN and Rivals ... also a basketball and wrestling letterman ... son of Matt Ellis and Sheree Twilley J.J. Faulk (LB, 6-3, 230; Highland Home HS; Highland Home, Ala.): Talented defender with great versatility ... team captain at Highland Home High for Coach Justin Bragg ... 58 tackles with 13 TFL, 3 sacks, 19 QB hurries as a junior ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... AL.com A-List ... 247 Sports, On3 rank him among the top 10 overall prospects in the state of Alabama ... No. 7 nationally at his position by 247 Sports; top 20 by On3, ESPN, Rivals ... A-B Honor Roll ... also a basketball letterman who was final four MVP for the state runners-up ... brother of current Auburn all-SEC defender Keldric Faulk ... son of Lakendral Barnes AnQuon Fegans (S, 6-1, 185; Thompson High; Alabaster, Ala.): Defensive back who combines tremendous experience and instincts ... team captain for Coach Mark Freeman at Thompson High, which plays in this week’s Class 7A state title game ... career totals of 234 tackles, 22 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles for the Warriors ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, Under Armour All-American Game ... MaxPreps All-America ... AL.com A-List ... top four prospect in state of Alabama by Rivals, On3, ESPN, 247 Sports ... On3, ESPN, 247 Sports rate him in the top six nationally at his position ... A-B Honor Roll ... also a basketball letterman ... son of Antwon Sr. and Tanquella Fegans ... older brother Antwon is an Auburn safety Ryan Ghea (TE, 6-6, 240; Milton HS; Milton, Ga.): Tight end prospect equally skilled as a receiver and blocker ... team captain for Coach Ben Reaves at Milton High ... 53 receptions for 651 yards, 4 TD ... first-team all-region for the Class 7A state champion Eagles ... ESPN ranks him the No. 9 tight end prospect nationally ... top 75 recruit in Georgia by Rivals, ESPN, 247 Sports and On3 ... also a baseball and basketball letterman ... son of Thomas and Nicole Ghea Alvin Henderson (RB, 5-10, 200; Elba HS; Elba, Ala.): Record-setting tailback who is the first 10K-yard rusher in Alabama state history ... team captain for Coach Marc Sieving at Elba High and the three-time region champion Tigers ... 10,923 career yards on 748 carries (14.6 avg.) with 202 total TD ... averaged 192 yards per game ... 46 100-yard games while setting 15 state records ... Class 1A back of the year, AL.com A-List ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, U.S. Navy All-American Bowl ... Rivals rates him the top running back prospect in the nation ... No. 2 recruit in the state according to Rivals; top 12 overall recruit from Alabama by On3, ESPN and 247 Sports ... active in community service ... also a baseball and basketball letterman ... son of Catina Washington Deuce Knight (QB, 6-4, 210; George County HS; Lucedale, Miss.): Five-star dual-threat quarterback ... team captain for Coach James Ray at George County High ... career totals of 7,855 passing yards with 56 TD and 1,361 rushing yards with 31 scores ... U.S. Navy All-American Bowl, Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... rated among the top three overall recruits from Mississippi by 247 Sports, Rivals, On3 and ESPN ... Rivals and ESPN rank him the No. 2 recruit nationally at his position ... also a basketball and track and field letterman ... son of Justin and Jacqueline Knight John Alan McGuire (P, 6-2, 205; Thompson HS; Alabaster, Ala.): Outstanding prep specialist for Coach Mark Freeman at Thompson High ... all-state, all-region, all-county, all-metro as a punter and kicker for the Warriors, who play in this week’s Class 7A state title game ... averaged 42.8 yards per punt during his career with a long of 63 and 27 placed inside the 20 ... U.S. Navy All-American Bowl ... rated a top five punter nationally by On3 and 247 Sports ... National Honor Society, Beta Club ... also a soccer letterman ... son of Chris and Sarah McGuire Elijah Melendez (LB, 6-2, 225; Osceola HS; Kissimmee, Fla.): Linebacker prospect with size, speed and savvy ... tallied 69 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 interceptions as a senior for Coach Eric Pinellas at Osceola High, leading the Kowboys to the Florida Class 6A semifinals this weekend ... Rivals, On3, ESPN rank him among the top 25 prospects in Florida ... rated No. 4 among ILB recruits nationally by Rivals, ESPN ... son of Miguel and Linnette Melendez Broderick Shull (OL, 6-6, 310; Bixby HS; Bixby, Okla.): Impressive offensive line prospect with strong athleticism ... has allowed zero sacks his senior season for Coach Loren Montgomery at Bixby High ... part of state championship teams in Oklahoma and Missouri ... all-state ... On3 rates him the seventh-best overall recruit at his position ... top 5 in Oklahoma by On3, Rivals, ESPN ... also a basketball letterman and involved in theatre ... honor roll student and all-academic ... son of Jonathan and Gretchen Shull Darrion Smith (DL, 6-2, 265; St. Frances Academy; Annapolis, Md.): Explosive defender who plays with great body control ... dominant pass rusher for Coach Messay Hailemariam at St. Frances Academy ... ranked among the top 15 overall recruits in the state of Maryland by Rivals, 247 Sports ... top 60 prospect nationally at his position by 247 Sports, Rivals, On3, ESPN ... son of Tina Barnes Jared Smith (DL, 6-6, 245; Thompson HS; Alabaster, Ala.): Dominant defender with a tremendous upside ... 78 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 20 QB hurries as a senior for Coach Mark Freeman at Thompson High, which plays in this week’s Class 7A state title game ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, Under Armour All-American Game ... AL.com A-List ... rated the No. 2 overall recruit in Alabama by On3, 247 Sports, ESPN ... consensus top 5 nationally at his position ... also a basketball letterman ... son of Tiffany Threadford Duke Smith (WR, 6-2, 190; Southside HS; Selma, Ala.): Highly productive offensive weapon for Coach Charles Moody at Southside High ... rushed for 1,036 yards and had 1,487 receiving yards as a junior, scoring 23 touchdowns ... team captain ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, U.S. Navy All-American Bowl ... ranked among the top five athlete recruits nationally by 247 Sports, Rivals, On3 and ESPN ... top 5 in-state prospect by On3 and ESPN ... also a basketball letterman ... twin brother of fellow Auburn signee Erick Smith ... son of Derick Smith Sr. Erick Smith (WR, 6-6, 190; Southside HS; Selma, Ala.): Athletic wide receiver prospect ... team captain for Coach Charles Moody at Southside High ... rated among the top 50 overall prospects in the state of Alabama by 247 Sports ... also a basketball and track and field letterman ... twin brother of fellow Auburn signee Duke Smith ... son of Derick Smith Sr. Donovan Starr (CB, 6-0, 175; Ravenwood HS; Brentwood, Tenn.): Versatile athlete with a myriad of skills ... Mr. Football state finalist for Coach Will Hester at Ravenwood High ... all-region honoree for the two-time region champion Raptors ... state 100 meter and high jump champion ... 247 Sports rates him the top prospect in the state of Tennessee ... top 20 corner recruit nationally by On3, 247 Sports ... also a basketball and track and field letterman ... son of Amy Starr Sam Turner (WR, 6-2, 195; Southwest DeKalb HS; Decatur, Ga.): Athletic wide receiver with tremendous production ... caught 56 passes for 903 yards, 6 TD as a junior for Coach Marion Bell at Southwest DeKalb High ... 61 catches as a senior for 1,100 yards, 17 TD ... DeKalb career receiving TD record ... all-state and all-Region 6-4A selection for the Panthers and county offensive player of year ... Rivals ranks him top 35 overall prospect in Georgia and top 40 receiver nationally ... Mr. Southwest DeKalb, honor roll student, H-Pride award ... also a baseball and basketball letterman ... son of Corey and Vanshelle Turner Jacobe’ Ward (OL, 6-4, 330; Benedictine Military School; Savannah, Ga.): Competitive offensive line prospect with great size and strength ... GACA all-state performer for Coach Danny Britt at Benedictine Military School ... helped the Cadets win the state Class 4A championship as a freshman and sophomore; made state semis as a junior ... first team all-Greater Savannah and all-region ... U.S. Army Bowl ... ESPN and Rivals rate him among top 40 interior line prospects nationally ... top 100 recruit in Georgia by On3, Rivals, ESPN ... John E. Dolan Memorial Scholarship ... also a wrestling and track and field letterman ... son of Jeffrey Ward and Elisa Golden Devin Williams (CB, 5-10, 170; Buford HS; Dacula, Ga.): Impact prospect at cornerback with impressive speed and ball skills ... first team all-region and all-county as a junior for Coach Bryant Appling at Buford High ... team captain ... Wolves won the 2021 Class 6A state title and three regional crowns ... Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six ... MaxPreps All-America ... ESPN rates him the No. 19 prospect in state of Georgia ... top 50 corner recruit by ESPN, On3, 247 Sports ... National Honor Society ... TD Club of Atlanta all-state ... Gwinnett County sprint champion in track and field ... son of Frederick and Toka Williams Eric Winters (S, 6-2, 205; Enterprise HS; Enterprise, Ala.): Versatile defender who has great knowledge of the game ... 75 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INT as a senior while scoring 11 TD on offense ... explosive athlete for Coach Ben Blackmon at Enterprise High, where he was six times player of the week ... Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... U.S. Navy All-American Bowl ... Rivals camp MVP ... Class 7A all-state ... AL.com A-List ... consensus top 10 national prospect at safety ... On3 and 247 Sports rate him among top five overall recruits in Alabama ... also helped the basketball Wildcats to the state finals ... son of Trista Crislip Blake Woodby (CB, 5-11, 180; St. Frances Academy; Upper Marlboro, Md.): Speedy, aggressive prospect for the secondary ... projects as a college cornerback ... team captain for Coach Messay Hailemariam at St. Frances Academy ... Under Armour All-American Game ... MaxPreps preseason All-America ... ESPN and Rivals rank him the top overall prospect in the state of Maryland, with a top five national corner rating ... also a track and field letterman ... son of Tyrin and Aja Woodby Auburn Media Relations provided the bios. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record

Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn't all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president's devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeat at the polls, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son for a federal felony conviction — after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who operates above the law. The White House on Monday struggled to defend the pardon, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated — a page out of Trump's playbook. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats who are angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump. Hezbollah fires into Israel-held area after multiple Israeli strikes in Lebanon since truce began JERUSALEM (AP) — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations. Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, further straining the fragile U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire. Israeli strikes in recent days, including a string of hits on Monday, have killed at least four people in Lebanon. U.S. officials said the ceasefire was largely holding. Key players in Syria's long-running civil war, reignited by a shock rebel offensive BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s civil war has exploded back onto the world stage after insurgents poured out of their main bastion in northwestern Syria and seized large parts of nearby Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and dozens of nearby towns and villages.. The insurgents offensive triggered the heaviest clashes in the country since a March 2020 cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia, who back rival sides in the conflict. Five countries have military presence in Syria including the U.S. that has troops deployed in the country’s east, Turkey that controls parts of northern Syria, Israel that has presence in the Golan Heights and Russia and Iran that have been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Woman driving drunk who killed bride still in her wedding dress sentenced to 25 years in prison A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jamie Lee Komoroski pleaded guilty Monday to reckless homicide and three felony driving under the influence charges. Police said the 27-year-old drank at several bars on April 28, 2023, and was driving 65 mph on a narrow Folly Beach road when she slammed into a golf cart leaving a wedding. The bride, 34-year-old Samantha Miller, died still wearing her wedding dress. Florida woman sentenced to life for zipping boyfriend into suitcase, suffocating him A 47-year-oldFlorida woman has been sentenced to life in prison for zipping her boyfriend into a suitcase and leaving him to die of suffocation amid a history of domestic and alcohol abuse. Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick imposed the sentence Monday in Orlando on Sarah Boone for the 2020 killing of 42-year-old Jorge Torres. A jury deliberated only 90 minutes Oct. 25 before convicting Boone of the second-degree murder of Jorge Torres after a 10-day trial. Boone had insisted she was herself a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Torres and had pleaded not guilty. Great Lakes region gets yet more snow after a weekend of snarled Thanksgiving travel Some storm-weary residents of the Great Lakes region saw additional snow and faced the prospect of even more accumulations this week. Lake-effect snow continued to fall on parts of western New York that were already blanketed with a foot or more over the past four days. Lake-effect snow warnings were in effect through Tuesday night in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Snow showers fell in western Michigan overnight, and heavier, persistent snow of up to a foot was expected to follow Monday. Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routine, Cyber Monday continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to steady discounts and a fair amount of hype. Several major retails actually started their Cyber Monday promotions over the weekend. Consumer spending for the online shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday provides an indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.LOS ANGELES — Until he sustained a season-ending knee injury last week in the Western Conference final, Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig was having a tremendous season. So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Canadian facing ‘exponential’ rise in fraud as holidays, ail strike collide

Elon Musk’s apparent power flex to block The Onion’s purchase of Infowars follows a long history of the billionaire’s own personal vendetta against the satirical publication. On Nov. 25, Musk’s attorneys filed a narrow objection that would block The Onion from taking over the social media accounts of what was once conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ controversial platform. The filing claimed that X owns all its social media profiles and added that it “merely grants its users a non-exclusive license to use their accounts.” “While X Corp. takes no position as to the sale of any Content posted on the X Accounts, X Corp. is the sole owner of the Services being sold as part of the sale of the X Accounts,” attorneys argued. Emphasizing that “neither Jones nor his bankruptcy estate” own the X profiles, attorneys added that Jones’ accounts “may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred as part of the Sale nor can any X account, including any maintained personally by Jones, including the Jones X Account, be sold to any third party.” Nearly two weeks before X’s legal temper tantrum, The Onion—a recent purchase of Global Tetrahedron— bought the bankrupt platform . While X’s declaration of social media account ownership raises its own questions, Musk’s involvement in The Onion’s dealings brings up old quarrels the SpaceX exec previously had with the satire site. In a time long, long ago when X was called Twitter and wasn’t controlled by Musk, the eccentric billionaire sang the praises of The Onion. Retweeting and @’ing across the Twittersphere, Musk would compliment the writers and editors for their quips and jabs—even emailing the staffers personally. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone , Musk said, “In order to understand the essential truth of things, I think you can find it in The Onion and occasionally on Reddit.” A source told Daily Beast that Musk had even considered buying The Onion in 2014—before he poached staffers from the site to launch his own (failed) satirical publication, Thud. However, tides shifted years later when The Onion came for Musk’s lore. Poking at the source of Musk’s wealth, The Onion published the satirical piece , “The Richest Person In Every State And How They Made Their Money.” “Elon Musk, Texas: Apartheid,” the satire site tweeted alongside the article. The Onion’s joke directly challenged Musk’s rag-to-riches claims, pointing out the popularized rumors that Musk’s father, Errol, once owned shares in a Zambian emerald mine. In the same 2017 Rolling Stone report, the outlet wrote that “Errol was, by his own account, making money in the often dangerous worlds of construction and emerald mining—at times so much that he claims he couldn’t close his safe.” However, The Onion’s apartheid comment hit a sore spot for Musk, who replied to the tweet : “Shame on you, Onion. This is why people are switching to @TheBabylonBee!” The Onion still posts satirical content of Musk today, with headlines like: “Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can’t Follow Him In.” While Musk has drawn a line in the sand with The Onion, he has also recently forged an alliance with Jones. Following his purchase of X, Musk used his power not solely to reinstate Jones’ banned platform. The memester also hopped on a livestream with Jones —as well as accused human trafficker Andrew Tate and other controversial figures—urging social media users to follow Infowars again. Daily Kos reached out to X and The Onion for comment but did not immediately hear back. Controversy still surrounds the platform purchase, with Jones contesting the validity of the auction results. Approval of the purchase is currently awaiting a federal judge’s orders sometime this month.Synopsys Posts Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024

(BPT) - The holidays are almost here! It means parties and events, hustle and bustle ... and figuring out what to buy for everyone on your list. Sometimes it's hard to get inspired with great ideas that your nears and dears will love at a price you can afford, right? The good news? Inspiration + savings are covered this year. One of the top gifts of Holiday 2024 is technology, and there are a lot of deals out there right now. Done and done! Here are 5 ideas for hot tech gifts for everyone on your list. Smartphones for the family T-Mobile is running a hot deal right now. Get four new smartphones at T-Mobile — this includes Samsung Galaxy S24 and other eligible devices — and four lines for just $100/month . It doesn't get better than that! These new Galaxy phones are tech-tastic, too, with features like AI, Circle to Search with Google, which can be used to help solve math problems and translate entire pages of text in a different language, and Note Assist with Galaxy AI, which lets you focus on capturing your notes and then Note Assist will summarize, format and even translate them for you. High tech spiral notebook for students We've got to admit, this is pretty cool. The Rocketbook looks (a bit) like a regular spiral, paper notebook. Here's the high tech twist: You can take notes, capture ideas, brainstorm, draw — whatever you do on paper — on the pad, and the Rocketbook digitizes your doodles and saves to the cloud device of your choice. Then you simply wipe the pad clean and it's good to go. Look for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales at your favorite online retailer. Wrist-worthy smartwatches for athletes (or those who want to be) Everyone loves smartwatches (if you're not already tracking your sleep and heart rate, where have you been?) and the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm & 45mm) takes it to the next level with features for athletes or anyone who may be setting fitness goals for the coming year. The watch has workout prompts like Real Time Guidance — audio and haptic cues for when to sprint, cool down or maintain pace. It gives you the ability to program your workouts and even monitors your cadence and stride. It also has Offline Maps, with driving navigation, search and maps. Here's the deal of the century: Get it for free at T-Mobile when adding a qualifying watch line. Cute wireless keyboard for people who are all thumbs Who else is annoyed by typing email or texts or social posts on a smartphone? The Logitech Multi-Device Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard solves that problem with style! It comes in sweet colors like lavender, it's wireless, it's small and portable, and it works with just about any device. Pop it into your backpack or purse and you'll never have to thumb-out a message again. Speakers perfect for hosting and giving Have a music lover in your life or need the perfect hosting gift? T-Mobile has you covered. For a limited time, you can get the JBL Clip 5 for free when you pick up a Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9 . The JBL Clip 5 is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker perfect for those on the go and the Onyx Studio 9's sleek design and booming sound will take care of all your holiday hosting needs. For more tech-tastic holiday gift inspiration, check out T-Mobile's holiday gift guide at t-mobile.com/devices/tech-gifts .

NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis.

COLUMBUS, Ga. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared the first quarter dividend of $0.58 per share, payable on March 3, 2025 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2025 . This represents a 16.0% increase over the previously declared fourth quarter dividend. Commenting on the announcements, Aflac Incorporated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos said: "I am pleased with the Board's action to increase the first quarter 2025 dividend. We treasure our record of 42 consecutive years of dividend increases, and our dividend track record is supported by the strength of our capital and cash flows. As an insurance company, our primary responsibility is to fulfill the promises we make to our policyholders. At the same time, we are listening to our shareholders and understand the importance of prudent liquidity and capital management. We remain committed to maintaining strong capital ratios on behalf of our policyholders and balance this financial strength with tactical capital deployment." Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan . In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products. 1 In Japan , Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol . Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under "Sustainability." 1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. The company desires to take advantage of these provisions. This document contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "may," "should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," "will," "assumes," "potential," "target," "outlook" or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. The company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy, including inflation defaults and credit downgrades of investments global fluctuations in interest rates and exposure to significant interest rate risk concentration of business in Japan limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate differing interpretations applied to investment valuations significant valuation judgments in determination of expected credit losses recorded on the Company's investments decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems and on successful execution of revenue growth and expense management initiatives interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures operational risks of third-party vendors tax rates applicable to the Company may change failure to comply with restrictions on policyholder privacy and information security extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, as a result of climate change, epidemics, pandemics (such as COVID-19), tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation ability to effectively manage key executive succession changes in accounting standards level and outcome of litigation or regulatory inquiries allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States Analyst and investor contact - David A. Young , 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667 or dyoung@aflac.com Media contact – Ines Gutzmer , 762.207.7601 or igutzmer@aflac.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aflac-incorporated-announces-16-0-increase-in-the-first-quarter-2025-dividend-302320084.html SOURCE Aflac IncorporatedBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Tommy Mellott threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns and top-seeded Montana State tied a school record with its 13th straight win, dominating Tennessee-Martin 49-17 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Scottre Humphrey ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, one of three rushing touchdowns for the Bobcats (13-0), who are home next weekend against the winner of Saturday's late game between Lehigh and eighth-seeded Idaho. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.None