Taiwan deputy foreign minister attends Somaliland presidential inauguration
Unique among ‘Person of the Year’ designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazineNFL, NBA Issue "Security Alert" After Migrant Gangs Target Players' MansionsA third consecutive loss was fresh in his mind when Mike Tomlin promised changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. “We’re not going to continue to do the same things and hope for a different result,” Tomlin said moments after a Christmas loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “That doesn’t seem sharp to me. So we’re going to take a hard look at this.” Tomlin brought his players to UMPC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday for meetings and film review. He gave them the weekend to rest before presumably holding a bonus practice day Monday. The Bengals await next weekend, the final stop before the postseason. Changes that Tomlin will contemplate can’t exactly be seismic. The playbook was constructed over an entire offseason and implemented in the spring and summer. It can’t be overhauled in one week. The roster will be the same, with perhaps a tweak one or two roles in the lineup. A return to health by cornerback Joey Porter Jr. can aid a leaky secondary. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt wasn’t predicted any massive alterations when he met with the media after the 29-10 setback to Kansas City that followed a 34-17 loss at Baltimore and a 27-13 defeat at Philadelphia. “We need to continue to work,” Watt said, using different versions of that sentence multiple times. “Look at ourselves in the mirror and get back to work.” With that in mind, here are few items the Steelers can work on when they try to build on a 10-6 record that already has assured a wild-card playoff berth: 1. Start faster Arthur Smith can’t wait for his old pickup truck offense to get going. He needs to find a faster, shinier model – all the while relying on the same parts of his unit to show some urgency. The final game of the regular season would be an optimal time for the offense to score a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season. Or at least get a touchdown at some point in the first 15 minutes, something the Steelers have done just three times in 16 games. The same quick-start mentality holds true for the defense. The Steelers have been outscored 30-3 in the first quarter during their three-game losing streak. The Steelers haven’t taken a lead into the second quarter since they were ahead 3-0 against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. 2. Get to the quarterback The Steelers don’t need to reincarnate the Blitzburgh defense that was the staple of the championship teams in the 2000s. What they need to do, though, is generate more of a pass rush than they have for much of the season. A group still led by Watt and Cameron Heyward no longer is near the top of the NFL in sacks. That has been the case for several years. But the Steelers have generated just 36 sacks, or barely more than two a game. Watt leads the Steelers with 11.5 sacks, but he has been held without one in back-to-back games, three of the past four and four of the past six. Alex Highsmith has six sacks while being healthy enough to appear in just 10 games. The defensive line, aside from Heyward, doesn’t get a consistent push or collapse the pocket. The Steelers have blitzed on 24.4% of their defensive snaps, which ranks No. 14, and is a 10% decrease in blitzes since last season. The Steelers also rank No. 28 generating quarterback hurries, and they are doing so on just 5.1% on all dropbacks, which ranks No. 30. It might be time to dial up the blitz against the Bengals. 3. Protect Russell Wilson Cracks along the edges of the offensive line were exposed against the Chiefs as left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right tackle Broderick Jones struggled to contain a Kansas City pass rush that was missing Chris Jones. The Chiefs sacked Wilson a season-high five times. When the Bengals arrive at Acrisure Stadium, they will do so with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has 13.5 of the team’s 30 sacks, putting him in the league defensive player of the year discussion. No player has more sacks than Hendrickson. The Steelers held Hendrickson in check when they met in early December. Expect Cincinnati, though, to try to cut him loose and try to force Wilson into off-balance throws. While George Pickens made little impact in his return from a three-game absence, Wilson wasn’t afforded the time to lock in on his top receiver. Whether it’s using an extra tight end as a blocker or having Jaylen Warren take that role, the Steelers need to find a way to provide Wilson more protection. 4. Expand Warren’s role Warren already has played at least 50% of the offensive snaps for the past four weeks and five times in the past six games. The exception was in Week 13 at Cincinnati when Najee Harris played the majority of the snaps. Harris surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the season against Kansas City, but with his diminished usage and his impending free agent status, the Steelers need to find more work for Warren. It’s becoming evident that Smith likes what Warren brings to the Steelers offense. With a chance to end a losing streak heading into the postseason, it’s the right time to feature Warren more prominently. 5 Slow down the passing game In three games, the Steelers have dropped seven spots in pass defense, and they are yielding nearly 227 passing yards per game to rank No. 24 in the league. The Steelers played without DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson and Porter at various stages of the losing streak but all could be healthy for the season finale. The Steelers must find a way to keep Joe Burrow from replicating what Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts did before him – expose the soft underbelly of the defense. Those elite quarterbacks found tight ends open across the middle, receivers in advantageous spots in the flat and put up a combined 90 points against the Steelers. Burrow, if you’ll recall, had 309 yards passing and three touchdowns while helping the Bengals reach a season high in points against the Steelers in a 44-38 game Dec. 1. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each scored touchdowns, and Mike Gesicki had five receptions. The Bengals frustrated a defense that had all four starters in the secondary. That must change or the Steelers could enter the playoffs rising a four-game losing streak.Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirlingIsrael detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals, Palestinians say DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital on Friday and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s army didn’t respond to questions about the hospital director. It denied it had entered or set fire to the complex but acknowledged it had ordered people outside. It said it was conducting operations against Hamas in the area. The military repeated claims that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan Hospital, which officials there have denied. Israeli airstrikes hit a Yemen airport as a jet with hundreds onboard was landing, UN official says UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The top U.N. humanitarian official in Yemen says Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s main airport as a civilian Airbus 320 with hundreds of passengers on board was landing this week. He says a U.N. delegation led by the head of the World Health Organization was waiting to leave on Thursday as two Israeli airstrikes hit the airport in the capital of Sanaa. Julien Harneis told U.N. reporters on Friday that the most frightening thing about the airstrikes wasn’t the effect on him and about 15 others in the VIP lounge at the international airport. Rather, it was the destruction of the airport control tower as a Yemenia Airways plane was taxiing in after touching down. Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more then 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the United States is expected to announce it will send another $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. It's part of a push by the Biden administration to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. Officials say the large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The officials say they expect the announcement will be made on Monday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks.Published 5:50 pm Friday, December 13, 2024 By Eric Johnson A Mower County woman is hoping her experience with fending off a potential scammer can help others avoid falling for a scam. The 87-year-old woman, who didn’t wish to be identified, said Friday morning that the her experience started in October when somebody claiming to be the CEO of Publishers Clearing House, Andrew Goldberg, called to tell her she had won a Dodge Ram truck and $5.9 million dollars in its sweepstakes, however, to claim the prize, the woman would have had to get gift cards at Walgreens for $1,000 and $200 with instructions to read off the numbers on the back of the card when the scammer called back. “It was to pay for the documentation of the $5.9 million,” the woman said she was told. “There’s a lot of people that would have fallen for this.” The woman contacted the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and reported the scam and has not lost any money in the attempted scam. “The best thing people can do is hang up immediately,” said Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik. “Don’t use any media they give.” On the Publishers Clearing house website, its information page states as its first warning of possible fraud that people should not send money in order to claim a prize, as well as another tip urging people to be suspicious of people calling to say they’ve won, but asking money to be sent. “At Publishers Clearing House we do not notify our contest winners by phone,” the page reads. The Mower County woman said she had an idea that something was wrong almost from the start, but that each time the man called back, he sounded authentic. When calling her initially, the scammer had special codes she was to use to further add to the authentic-sounding nature of the call. “A lot of people would have fallen for this smooth talker,” she said. Sandvik said that scams like this one are nothing new and is part of an ever-evolving group of scams that includes coming across several different modes of communication. He also reiterated that organizations, like Publishers Clearing House, law enforcement, etc. will not contact people asking for money to get money. “Probably the newest thing is the amount of texts, Facebook and social media addresses with links,” Sandvik said. “Any time something requires immediate reaction, that should raise alarms.” He also urged people to look at when messages come in from businesses, understanding that most will not send messages at random points outside of business hours. Check emails and never give personal information over the phone or by clicking on provided links. “Don’t use any media they give,” he said. The Mower County woman also urged people to be careful with these types of calls. “Everybody be aware,” she said, adding that if she can help somebody avoid losing money through her own efforts then the work is worth it.Willy Adames plans to play every day for San Francisco and bring the Giants championships
Baltimore Ravens Vs. Philadelphia Eagles Predictions
A FUTA first class graduate, Caleb Adewole, said that he got 96 out of 100 in his post-UTME before gaining university admission The brilliant Caleb revealed that he had five distinctions and four B's in his WASSCE, with 339 in his UTME A person who read Caleb was still not the first best-graduating student with a 4.85 CGPA asked what the first student got Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! A brilliant Federal University of Technology , Akure (FUTA) graduate, Caleb Adewole, has bagged first class. The man said he studied electrical and electronics engineering at the university and has a CGPA of 4.85 out of 5.0. FUTA graduate in Elect elect The FUTA graduate ( @Caleb_Wole ) listed his other academic achievements, and people praised him. Before admission, he had 5 A's and 4 B's in WASSCE. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! In 2017, he scored 339 out of 400 in UTME. He replicated the same success in his post-UTME with 96/100. Read also FUTA graduate who maintained 5.0 GPA for five times bags first class: "Apply for PhD abroad" Caleb is also a dean's list honoree. He graduated as the second best in his department, revealing the overall best got a 4.96 CGPA. See his post below: Legit.ng compiled some of the reactions below: @Ayo_dee988 asked: "Who come be the first best student?" Caleb replied: "He had a 4.96." @JohnVito21 said: "The only Caleb that I know from EEE. Ìwé Ọgbà." @Mr_Humble001 said: "Congratulations scholar." @Twealth79347074 said: "Once a genius is forever a genius. Big congratulations bro." @Yefz_Peterz said: "Congratulations Caleb." @mickyskofyld said: "High flier. I love this. Congratulations." @Owolabithebest said: "Congratulations brother and I'm proud of you. My friends @Murphydahnear and @FTheophilus couldn't do this for 6 years. I'm really disappointed in them." @SegunOlaboyede said: "Congratulations Caleb. Keep Shining and winning." @Tochukwu_c_c said: "Caleb is HIM! Congratulations, brother!" @oladipojesse said: "Calebbbbb....you're a star, bro! Congratulations." @Demi_Ogunleye said: "Omoor, you have two heads o." @Krazy__8__ joked: Read also UBA Foundation essay: Man rejoices as 16-year-old girl gets N7.5 million prize after winning contest "What's the colour of your Bugatti?????" @j0x3yy said: "Congratulations." 19-year-old bagged first class Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a lady graduated with a first-class degree in software engineering from Babcock University and became an instant sensation. She was glad with her success and had to share the good news on social media. Many were amazed the 19-year-old pulled such off. PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: Legit.ngBy LARRY FLEISHER Dylan Raiola passed for 228 yards and a touchdown as Nebraska built an 18-point lead through three quarters and hung on to beat Boston College 20-15 Saturday for its first bowl victory since 2015. After Nebraska built a 13-2 lead in the first half on scoring runs by Rahmir Johnson and Kwinten Ives, Raiola hit Emmett Johnson with a 13-yard TD pass on fourth down with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter for a 20-2 edge and the Cornhuskers (7-6) held on for the win. Raiola completed 23 of 31 passes in front of a sizable Nebraska crowd that celebrated the team’s first bowl win since topping UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl and first winning season since 2016. Raiola completed passes to 10 receivers, including Jahmal Banks, who finished with four receptions for 79 yards. Rahmir Johnson and Ives scored on short TD runs in the second period, and Nebraska’s defense set up the critical score in the third. Emmett Johnson scored on fourth-and-3 play for a 20-2 lead. That score came after John Bullock sacked Boston College quarterback Grayson James, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Elijah Jeudy at midfield. James finished 25 of 40 for 296 yards as Boston College (7-6) fell to 0-3 in Pinstripe Bowl games. The Eagles got past midfield on five of their first seven drives, but committed two turnovers and failed to convert four fourth downs, including two inside the 10-yard line. Boston College finally cashed with 6:11 left in the fourth when Turbo Richard scored on a 1-yard run, but the two-point conversion failed. BC made it a one-score game on Jordan McDonald’s 2-yard run, a play after getting possession on a blocked punt. After a scoreless opening quarter, Rahmir Johnson easily scored on a 4-yard run on the first play of the second period. After BC turned it over on downs twice in Nebraska territory, the Cornhusker’s took a 13-0 lead on Ives’ 2-yard run that was set up by Rahmir Johnson’s 22-yard run. The Eagles picked up their only points of the first half when Ashton McShane blocked John Hohl’s extra point and returned it for two points. Nebraska: Showed its depth at receivers, with Raiola hitting 10 players with passes, including Thomas Fidone and Emmett Johnson with five each. Boston College: The Eagles displayed their depth at receiver, with nine players catching passes. Lewis Bond and Jeremiah Franklin caught six eacg Nebraska opens its 2025 season against Cincinnati on Aug. 30. Boston College takes on Fordham on Aug. 30 to open its season.
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:53 p.m. ESTBy DAVID BAUDER Time magazine gave Donald Trump something it has never done for a Person of the Year designee: a lengthy fact-check of claims he made in an accompanying interview. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’ National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg The fact-check accompanies a transcript of what the president-elect told the newsmagazine’s journalists. Described as a “12 minute read,” it calls into question 15 separate statements that Trump made. It was the second time Trump earned the Time accolade; he also won in 2016, the first year he was elected president. Time editors said it wasn’t a particularly hard choice over other finalists Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate Middleton. Time said Friday that no other Person of the Year has been fact-checked in the near-century that the magazine has annually written about the figure that has had the greatest impact on the news. But it has done the same for past interviews with the likes of Joe Biden, Netanyahu and Trump. Such corrections have been a sticking point for Trump and his team in the past, most notably when ABC News did it during his only debate with Democrat Kamala Harris this fall. There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Friday. In the piece, Time called into question statements Trump made about border security, autism and the size of a crowd at one of his rallies. When the president-elect talked about the “massive” mandate he had received from voters, Time pointed out that former President Barack Obama won more electoral votes the two times he had run for president. The magazine also questioned Trump’s claim that he would do interviews with anyone who asked during the campaign, if he had the time. The candidate rejected a request to speak to CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the magazine said. “In the final months of his campaign, Trump prioritized interviews with podcasts over mainstream media,” reporters Simmone Shah and Leslie Dickstein wrote. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.From Staff Reports KALKASKA — A man wanted for questioning in a suspected Antrim County car theft was found within 7 minutes of a stolen car report in Clearwater Township, according to the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office. Antrim County Sheriff’s Department officials asked the public to contact them with information about Terry Jordan “TJ” Barkovich’s whereabouts over social media on Wednesday. They were seeking him for his possible involvement in the theft of a 1999 white F350, a subsequent crash and a police chase when the driver ran away, deputies reported. Kalkaska Sheriff’s Office officials reported that the suspect was taken into custody Friday morning, according to a social media post. A statement said deputies got a call about a silver Impala missing from a residence on Innis Road in Rapid River Township around 2 a.m. Friday morning. They found the car 7 minutes later on Valley Road at the Seven Bridges Nature Area where deputies boxed in the car and put stop sticks around it. The car was locked with a man inside and deputies had to break a window. The Sheriff’s Office reported that he was taken to the Kalkaska County Jail without incident. The Kalkaska statement noted that “numerous additional charges for various related incidents” in Kalkaska and Antrim counties are pending against the suspect.
John Kirby grilled on mysterious New Jersey drone sightings: 'Why don't we know?'Report: Institutional neutrality favored at Carolina, Wake, Duke
SINGAPORE: After two decades, the baton changed hands in the city-state in 2024, a planned transition to the fourth generation of People’s Action Party politicians. Ties with India were elevated this year. Economist Lawrence Wong, 51, succeeded Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 72, who relinquished his position in May after holding the office since 2004. Both belong to the ruling party that has been driving Singapore’s economic progress for more than five decades. As India and Singapore celebrate 60 years of diplomacy in 2025, the two countries elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September. Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule called 2024 an “eventful year for India-Singapore relations”. He said the elevation of bilateral ties would support India’s economic growth in the years ahead. During Modi’s visit, the two sides also announced their intention to collaborate in the semiconductor industry. India is also looking at major investments from Singaporean companies. The 2nd round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in August was an unprecedented gathering of ministers. Four senior ministers from India and six from Singapore explored opportunities in new fields. “This 4+6 meeting was unprecedented for both sides. The 10 senior ministers have identified digitalisation, skills development, sustainability, healthcare and medicine, advanced manufacturing and connectivity as pillars for further strengthening bilateral cooperation,” Ambule said. “We also had several other ministerial and official level visits from both sides throughout the year, signifying the importance given by both sides to the bilateral relations,” he added. During Modi’s visit, the two sides decided to set up a Cyber Policy Dialogue and an inaugural dialogue was held in Singapore in October. Wong joined Modi when India launched the Declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI and Data for Governance at the G20 Summit in Brazil in November. The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s engagement with India in 2024 has helped strengthen the economic links between the two nations, with SICCI providing local firms with market outreach and advice on the Indian market, former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said. The chamber has participated in global investment summits, roadshows and trade missions, including key areas like telecommunications. SICCI sparked “India Fever”, an initiative to deepen trade, investment, and diplomatic ties. “This initiative has fuelled six successful trade missions in the last 18 months, all led by SICCI Internationalising sub-committee,” its chairman Neil Parekh Parekh said. Key events in 2024 included the inaugural ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave, an e-workshop on digital health and medical technologies and another on the green economy. Singaporean Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam attended the World Tamil Diaspora Day 2024 in Chennai in January at the invitation of the Tamil Nadu government. Tamil is one of the four official languages in Singapore, reflecting the close-knit ties between the two nations. The 31st edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held in India in October. Soldiers from both countries took part in Agni Warrior, another regular military exercise. The 12th edition of Joint Military Training was held in India from October 4 to December 16. India also hosted the expanded 4th edition of the Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise in November. Back home, a Singapore court sentenced S Iswaran, a cabinet member for 13 years, to a year in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than USD 300,000 worth of gifts in the city-state’s first political corruption trial for nearly half a century.Nick Kyrgios has described Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s positive doping tests as “disgusting” ahead of his return to tennis. The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks