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GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the group-stage draw in Miami for the revamped 32-team club event . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and Budweiser brewer AB InBev in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after Saudi Arabia is confirmed next week as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or posting consistently good results across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who FIFA gave the entry reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will host the World Cup final one year later. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
NEW YORK — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date. A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. "She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.” Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo," “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.” Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’” NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak. “Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which toured in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.” After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.” After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism. “President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.” During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020. Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died. Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.” In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said.The New Jersey Devils hope the momentum they built leading up to the NHL's holiday break will carry over after the three days off, as the Metropolitan Division leaders start a two-day, home-and-home series with the third-place Carolina Hurricanes on Friday in Newark, N.J. Coach Sheldon Keefe's team has won five of its last six games, including the previous two by shutouts. Jacob Markstrom stopped a dozen shots in the Devils' 5-0 win over the visiting New York Rangers on Monday. That came just two days after he made 12 saves in a 3-0 home victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.TTD mulling automation AI chatbot for ''efficient'' pilgrim services
Washington CommandersAs the crypto market faces turbulence, significant investments can vanish rapidly. Yet, there are cryptocurrencies that might secure a portfolio against such losses. Discover the top five digital assets poised to protect and potentially grow investments. These selections could be the key to safeguarding holdings in uncertain times. DOGEN Pumps Hard: The Strongest Meme Token Dominating Crypto Doge, Shib, and Floki will be left whimpering as the real alpha storms in. Meet DOGEN – the baddest, most bullish meme token to ever hit the market. Only the strongest, most fearless holders can tame it. Big muscles and balls of steel - that’s DOGEN. No dips, no drama - nothing but hardcore! Just moving forward to ATHs! Like it tough? Then DOGEN is the right token for you. Frogs leap away - DOGEN will show who is the boss here ! Supercharged from day one, it's primed to explode with a 700% surge expected in the coming months. This Solana-powered beast is ready to pump out insane, thousand-fold gains await! DOGEN’s got a little something special for its hardcore believers — an airdrop ! Want in? All you gotta do is flex those social muscles, grab some tokens during the presale, and start recruiting the DOGEN army with your referral link. For every recruit, you'll pocket a juicy 20% of the Golden Points from their token buys. And it doesn’t stop there. DOGEN’s referral game is fierce ! You’ll rake in 7% of every token your direct bros (1st level) buy with your code. And it gets sweeter — the more bros you bring, the more levels you unlock, stacking up profits like a boss. Altseason is on the horizon, and DOGEN holders will be the ones leading the charge . Wanna dominate the crypto market? Then join the DOGEN army! It’s a community for true winners who enjoy exclusive campaigns, killer perks, and the top deals in the game. Afford yourself a luxury life! Posh cars, stacks of money, and beautiful women - that’s all for DOGEN holders who don’t settle for less. Flex Hard, Earn Big – DOGEN is Your Next Power Play! Stellar (XLM): A Decentralized Network Enhancing Global Payments Stellar (XLM) is a decentralized payment network that uses blockchain to enable quick, low-cost fund transfers without favoring any national currency. Since 2014, it has processed billions of transactions and partnered with major companies. It allows transfers of any currency type, including digital versions of national currencies and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Unlike other cryptocurrencies aiming to replace financial systems, Stellar seeks to enhance them by providing a unified network for collaboration. Individuals can send funds globally using Stellar apps, and companies can build blockchain applications or use the network for payments and currency conversion. With ongoing development and its focus on integration, Stellar has potential in the current market cycle. Terra Classic (LUNC): A Blockchain for Stable Global Payments Terra Classic (LUNC) is a blockchain protocol that uses fiat-pegged stablecoins to power global payment systems with stable prices. It combines the stability of traditional currencies with the censorship resistance of Bitcoin, aiming to offer fast and affordable settlements. Development began in January 2018, and the mainnet launched in April 2019. In May 2022, the original Terra chain was rebranded as Terra Classic after significant changes. The native token, originally known as LUNA, became LUNA Classic (LUNC). The protocol provides stablecoins pegged to currencies like the U.S. dollar and South Korean won. The technology has potential for efficient global transactions. The attractiveness of LUNC in the current market cycle depends on various market factors. Dogecoin: The Memecoin Turned Top Cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) is a cryptocurrency that began in 2013 as a fun alternative to traditional coins, using a Shiba Inu dog as its logo. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a limited supply, Dogecoin has no maximum cap and adds 10,000 new coins every minute. Initially seen as a joke, its value soared in 2021, breaking into the top ten cryptocurrencies with a market value over $50 billion. This rise was fueled by social media and support from figures like Elon Musk. Dogecoin's strong community and broad appeal show its potential. In the current market cycle, it remains a significant player, and its active community might attract those interested in cryptocurrency. Kaspa (KAS): A High-Speed PoW Cryptocurrency Using GHOSTDAG Protocol Kaspa (KAS) is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency that uses the GHOSTDAG protocol. Unlike traditional blockchains, GHOSTDAG allows blocks created in parallel to coexist and orders them in consensus. This makes Kaspa's blockchain a blockDAG, not a simple chain. This approach enables high block rates—currently one block per second, aiming for 10 per second and dreaming of 100 per second—with very short confirmation times. Kaspa includes features like Reachability to query the DAG's topology, block data pruning, SPV proofs, and plans for future subnetwork support to ease layer 2 implementations. Given its innovative technology and goals, Kaspa may be an attractive option in the current market cycle. Conclusion XLM, LUNC, DOGE, and KAS may offer less short-term potential. DOGEN, designed for those seeking the best, embodies luxury and success. Expected 700% growth by presale end with potential for huge returns, following tokens like BONK, WIF, and Popcat. Building a community of leaders, DOGEN offers real benefits and exclusive perks for early adopters. Site: https://dogen.meme/ Twitter: https://x.com/dogenmeme Telegram: https://t.me/Dogen_Portal Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate" granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office.
The Washington Commanders (7-5) experienced what is easily the toughest loss of the season and also one of the scariest moments at the end of the game when veteran running back Austin Ekeler suffered a hard hit that left him motionless on the ground. Ekeler returned a kickoff and was trying to get the offense in good field position for a final Hail Mary attempt when he was decked by Dallas Cowboys players Nick Vigil and Dwight Clark. He immediately fell to the turf and didn't move. Several teammates instantly waved to the sideline for trainers to come out and check on him. Fortunately, he eventually walked off the field. Very scary scene here to close the Commanders-Cowboys game. Austin Ekeler down on the field. pic.twitter.com/VPMo32shBQ Commanders head coach Dan Quinn updated Ekeler's status after the game. He suffered a concussion, which is the second one he's suffered this year. "I just had a chance to visit with him now. He'll do more tests, tonight, but it was a concussion." As a result, the team decided to send him to the hospital as a precaution. Ekeler finished the game with 22-yards on nine carries and two-yards on two receptions. It's more unfortunate injury news regarding the running back room, as the team also lost top running back Brian Robinson Jr. to a sprained ankle earlier in the game. Out of an abundance of caution Austin Ekeler is headed to the hospital for further testing, per Commanders spokesperson This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
MP’s swim-hole poses serious threat to marine ecosystemTrump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama CanalTAMPA — Somewhere, in the backs of our closets and bottoms of our drawers, are precious memories. That’s where you will likely find neglected Lightning jerseys adorned with a familiar No. 91. Some may have a large C on the chest. Almost all will have the iconic STAMKOS stretched across the back. Like relics of days gone by, our Steven Stamkos attire is probably tucked away in some safe, comfortable spot we rarely think about anymore. Much like our recollections of the man himself. It’s been nearly six months since Stamkos rejected a pay cut in Tampa Bay and signed a 4-year, $32 million contract in Nashville. At the time, it seemed devastating. The Lightning were losing a team captain, a future Hall of Famer, a bay area icon. And yet, 32 games later, the transaction is barely mourned and hardly mentioned. Except for those who wish to gloat. Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but there have been some emails and social media posts that seem to take glee in the situation. The Lightning are playing better than in the recent past, and the Predators have one of the worst records in the NHL. Being giddy over the Lightning’s transformation is permissible. So is relief, joy and anticipation for what’s next. Being smug is not. Yes, it’s true that Julien BriseBois made the correct call. The difficult, heart-wrenching call. The Lightning general manager recognized the team was trending in the wrong direction and, instead of cursory changes, he began remaking the roster by acquiring Jake Guentzel, Ryan McDonagh and J.J. Moser while trading Mikhail Sergachev and allowing Stamkos to walk out the door. The difference has been remarkable. The Lightning went from a team that was minus-18 in 5-on-5 play last season to one that is plus-24 with 50 games remaining in 2024-25. The power play is slightly off last season’s pace but still among the best in the NHL. And that, absolutely, should be celebrated. But not at Stammer’s expense. He’s on pace to score 23 goals, which would be his lowest output in a full season since he was an 18-year-old rookie. His plus-minus rating, which was a career-worst last season, is looking just as bad this year. Seven weeks away from his 35th birthday, it’s worth wondering what his role should be on a nightly basis. The past two seasons, opponents have a plus-24 goal differential in even-strength situations with Stamkos on the ice. The previous two seasons, the goal differential was plus-34 in Stamkos’ favor. Maybe that’s indicative of the personnel around him. Or maybe it’s a sign that he doesn’t have the same 200-foot game. At the very least, those numbers go a long way toward explaining why BriseBois did not offer Stamkos a bigger contract. And, considering all he had given the organization for 16 years, it’s understandable that Stamkos viewed that as a slight. Which is how we’ve ended up here: With the Lightning showing signs of resurgence, and Stamkos already the subject of trade rumors in Nashville. Predators general manager Barry Trotz has already dealt Alexandre Carrier, Scott Wedgewood and Philip Tomasino in separate deals in the past month, but he told The Athletic earlier this week that there was “no chance” he was trading Stamkos. Whether Stamkos is on the move or not before the March 7 trade deadline remains to be seen, but there should be one inescapable truth for anyone who watched him play in Tampa Bay for the better part of a generation: He deserves better. He deserves a team with postseason hopes. He deserves a community that appreciates him. He deserves the love and appreciation that Lightning fans showered him with for so many years. Is there any chance that Stamkos could return to Tampa Bay if the struggles continue in Nashville? Perhaps, down the road. You need to remember the reason BriseBois did not offer him a big contract in the off eason is because Stamkos’ value no longer aligned with Tampa Bay’s salary cap. With that in mind, the Lightning are not going to take on an $8 million a year deal unless Nashville assumes half of the cap hit. But the idea of bringing Stamkos back in a Dave Andreychuk-type role for the final seasons of his career could be intriguing in a couple of years. In the meantime, enjoy and appreciate what the Lightning are doing in their first Stamkos-less season since 2007-08. And don’t forget to occasionally check out, and cheer, for an old friend in Nashville.
A few minutes after delivering his camp-opening address to the full roster this past spring training, manager Oliver Marmol stood outside that same clubhouse and explained how the theme might differ from year to year, but the Cardinals’ expectations, like the number of birds perched on the bat, do not. “That never changes,” he said. “That’s my point in all of it. You show up every year with the same expectations. They don’t change, year to year. We’re looking to win a World Series. And we’re going to prepare and put ourselves in the best position to do that. Take our shot.” This year already has seen a shift in that messaging. It might be another year or more before they’re in that “best position” to take a shot. The formal end Saturday of the Cardinals’ Goldschmidt-Arenado Era was only the most recent of the club’s repositioning of expectations and priorities for 2025. Goldschmidt agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees, according to sources, and the Yankees are one of a select few teams the Cardinals approached about a trade for Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals seek to reduce payroll as broadcast fees shrink and ticket sales are sluggish, and part of that goal is to find a contending team for their third baseman. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. summarized the adjusted approach in six words: “We’re going young. That’s the message.” How to measure those results is the question. For more than two decades the bottom line by which to judge the Cardinals — Marmol even used those words “bottom line” — was wins, and not just in the standings. Playoff wins. Pennants won. The success of a season could be measured by the calendar and how deep the Cardinals played into October. They could be compared against their history with every move or game scrutinized by fans and media through the lens of whether it got them closer to a World Series. It has been 11 years since their most recent pennant, and now they are striding back from that stance, in comments and actions. So what metric shows if they’re making progress? Thus far, the Cardinals can be measured by how much salary they’ve shed or at-bats they’ve opened for younger players. Should improvement be measured in the square feet of new facilities, the cost of new technology, or the number of new staff members — all of which are going increase? Can it be measured by the growth in performance of young talents or the rankings of on-rushing prospects and the arrival of another top-seven draft pick? The Post-Dispatch asked Marmol how 2025 should be graded if it’s not playoff/fail. “I will say the mindset is still winning baseball,” Marmol said. “Like you talk to any of our players — have a conversation with (Brendan) Donovan and (Masyn) Winn — and those guys, they’re hungry to win. What I’m excited about is that there’s going to be runway for some of these guys. I think some of the pressure is going to be lifted off their shoulders in understanding, man, whether this week goes well for you or doesn’t, you’re going to be in there. And knowing that they have a longer runway than they’re used to having. I think that may lead to more production, to be quite honest with you.” That sounds like the measure of taking two steps back from the usual expectations to go three steps forward in an attempt to gain lost ground on rivals. The same question on how to view and review the upcoming season was asked of John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, in the team suite during Major League Baseball’s winter meetings. “This is going to be a big test,” he said. “It is about getting young guys an opportunity and we’ll see what they do with it.” A new look Opportunity can be measured in innings pitched, starts, and at-bats. This winter, the Cardinals relocated Willson Contreras to first base and designated hitter to free up playing time for young catchers Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages. There’s still time at first or DH for Alec Burleson and playing him in those spots clears the corner outfield positions for Lars Nootbaar in left and Jordan Walker in right. Michael Siani is going to get a long look at center. If the Cardinals find a trade Arenado will approve, they’ll position Nolan Gorman at third, turn to Brendan Donovan at second, and get rookie Thomas Saggese ample playing time in utility role. It’s an attempt by the Cardinals to do for their young players now what they were too impatient to do previously because of slow starts or poor performances — and opportunity gap proved costly as players, such as Randy Arozarena and Lane Thomas, thrived elsewhere. But it’s also an approach best measured in hindsight, looking back on the opportunities that helped a young player surge forward. “Yeah, if I were to sit here and ask you, ‘What is Herrera?,’ I think we would all have varying responses,” Marmol said. “That’s the whole point of it. At the end of this year, we’ll know what we have in Herrera, in — gosh — Walker, in Nootbaar. You go down the list. Just get them at-bats. Let them pitch. Let them play. And there’s more clarity as to what we have on our hands rather than guessing. So that’s a big part of how we’ll measure this as well.” Other measures will happen beyond the big leagues, below in the minors, where spending, rankings, and comparisons will be the metrics. JJ Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick last summer, already is the Cardinals’ top prospect and could headline a group of three or four who crack Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects. The rise of a fifth, such as shortstop Yairo Padilla, slugger Chase Davis or pitchers Tekoah Roby and Cooper Hjerpe, would be a measure of a farm system on the rise and no longer idling. Cardinals ownership has “given us the green light to make real investments across the department,” special advisor Chaim Bloom said in November. One executive estimated an increase of 8% to 12% in spending on player development — some of that money coming off the major-league payroll and into the minor-league infrastructure. The Cardinals have hired an assistant general manager, Rob Cerfolio, to oversee and unify development and performance departments. Involving the major-league staff in the interviewing and vetting of candidates, the Cardinals also are expanding the pitching development staff and adding or refilling coordinator roles for specific positions. There are areas in which they’ll still have a smaller staff than competitors. The Cardinals are updating and expanding the facilities at their academy in the Dominican Republic. They already added advanced technology in the majors and spring training (such as two cutting-edge Trajekt pitching robots), and are increasing the tech for pitcher development. They’re discussing where to place a lab-like setup for this spring before the Cardinals’ complete, $100-million overhaul of their Jupiter, Florida, campus begins. They don’t track infrastructure stats, but teams are keeping score. “Saying how can we do this best? How can we win at this? How can we be better than our competition?” listed Bloom, who is charged with building out the development for the team he’ll inherit as president of baseball operations next fall. “And if you really want to do that, you have to do that in every area.” The goal: October That is all to get them back to one area that used to be their metric. October. The real measure of this coming season might not be in wins, but it will be in days — as in how many it takes before the autumn expectations that defined the past two decades are repeated each spring. “For me, it’s still winning baseball, (and) we’re going to continue to instill that,” Marmol said. “That’s what we’ve always done. We’ve got expectations. That part doesn’t change, for me. I can tell you in speaking to our guys, it doesn’t change for them, They’re not going into this year just looking at development. “Sure, our approach will signal toward that more than anything as far as when we talk about runway and letting guys play. But the mentality remains the same.”Champai vows to fight ‘B’deshi immigration’GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the group-stage draw in Miami for the revamped 32-team club event . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and Budweiser brewer AB InBev in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after Saudi Arabia is confirmed next week as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or posting consistently good results across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who FIFA gave the entry reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will host the World Cup final one year later. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerStock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000
Major US stock indices are closing near the lows for the day. Recall from yesterday, the NASDAQ index closed at a new record high. The S&P index traded above its all-time close but ended the day below that level. Today both indices moved away from those record levels Dow industrial average fell -234.44 points or -0.53% at 43914.12 S&P index fell -32.94 points or -0.54% at 6051.25 NASDAQ index fell -132.05 points or -0.66% at 19902.84. Yesterday the index closed above 20,000 for the first time on record. Russell 2000 fell -33.07 points or -1.38% and 2361.08 After the close, Costco and Broadcom have reported earnings. For Costco EPS $4.04 versus $3.78 estimate Revenues $62.2B versus $62.52 billion estimate Shares closed at $992 and are trading at $1002.00 up 1.38% For Broadcom: EPS $1.42 versus $1.39 estimate Revenue $14.05B versus $14.07 billion Shares closed at $181.20 and are trading at $190 up 5.35%
Artificial intelligence is fueling an unprecedented hike in holiday travel scams. As this technology progresses, so do the ways scammers can take your money, as their methods span the entire travel industry. According to Booking.com, AI-related scams spiked in 2023, stealing over $265,000 from travel scam victims. Nearly 1 in 4 travelers found themselves scammed out of at least $1,000. AI helps scammers create realistic-looking phishing emails, generate compelling fake websites, and even produce chatbots that impersonate customer service professionals. The better AI gets, the harder it is to decipher scams from reality. Experts at AI prompt-generator AIPRM compiled a list of the top AI-driven threats to holiday travelers in 2024. When it comes to travel scams, AI renders the need to be a tech expert nearly obsolete. Scammers easily build fake websites and travel booking platforms offering low prices for flights and accommodations. Limited-time sales and other messages of urgency draw in would-be travelers. Once potential travelers enter their details, scammers can access users’ personal information and money. Avoid falling for these types of scams by looking for the finer details. Look closely at URLs, notice even the smallest spelling errors, and always verify the website or platform you use is legitimate before entering any details. According to Forbes, rental scams play a big part in AI-related theft. Scammers place AI-generated ads for rental properties, adding stunning photos of rentals that don’t exist. These scammers do their best to get would-be travelers off their fake app and convince them to hand over financial details directly. Humanlike AI chatbots can seamlessly swindle unknowing travelers. Chatbots easily impersonate customer service representatives and offer hard-to-turn-down discounts. They will ask for personal information and try to get travelers to pay up-front for trips that do not exist. Thankfully, avoiding fake chatbots and travel deals is not as complicated as other scams. The first line of defense is to verify any deals you come across through trusted platforms and websites. Do not click or follow any suspicious links offered through these systems. Instead, pull up trusted sources and verify trip details, phone numbers, addresses, images, and other information before entering personal data. According to AIPRM, 1 in 5 people will click on an AI-generated phishing email. These persuasive ads and emails will convince consumers to click a link inside the email. These emails often leverage fake emergencies, such as sudden flight cancellations.
†̃Govt doesn't take it seriously', says Tarar on PTI's deadline for talks
An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said an airstrike targeted Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, without saying if the strike was in Khiam. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.
Travis Hunter named AP player of the year
The City of Greater Bendigo has assured residents there will be "no change" to how communities throughout the region celebrate or signup to continue reading The and its staff are negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement, but after a recent breakdown, both sides will return to the table in 2025. Under the EBA, Australia Day has been referred to as '26 January Public Holiday', raising questions about how the city planned to mark the day - if at all. The city no longer holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. Australian Services Union members have rejected the EBA plan put forward to them, and industrial action from city staff in the new year has not been ruled out. Some of the improved benefits offered by the COGB to its staff included parental leave, superannuation, increases in allowances and emergency services leave. Proposed pay increases also included a year-on-year increase for the next three years including a 3.5 per cent bump in year one, three per cent in year two and 2.75 per cent in year three. Staff were also offered a one-off $500 payment for singing on to the EBA. However, city staff have rejected the proposals. A spokesperson for the COGB said "the sign-on payment of $500 is not unusual and very common practice for local and state government bodies". The spokesperson said the pay bumps would have seen a minimum of $8000 increase for staff in the coming years. "After a detailed benchmarking process the city is confident that the proposed salary increases over three years are in line with other recently approved Local Government Enterprise Agreements," they said. "The city offered significantly improved conditions to the current agreement with a focus to ensure enhanced working conditions for staff, but also a continued high quality of services to our community. "The city will reconvene with the unions and their delegates in the new year to discuss any concerns which remain on the table for both parties." Part of the EBA also referenced a shift from labelling Australia Day to the January 26 public holiday. The spokesperson said the use of the term "January 26" during negotiations between the city and unions representing COGB staff was to ensure transparency. The city spokesperson said there would be no impeding on individuals and communities celebrating January 26 however they saw fit. "Through recent ongoing bargaining negotiations with unions and the city, the use of January 26 was referenced through the log of claims and shared drafted documents to ensure a high level of transparency during discussions," the spokesperson said. "Australia Day events continue to be staged by service clubs and volunteer groups across the community. "There has been no change to these celebrations." Going forward the COGB will not hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26. "The Australian government gave the option to hold citizenship ceremonies between January 23 and 29," they said. The city has elected to hold its January citizenship ceremonies within that date range going forward but not on January 26. The Australian Services Union Victorian acting secretary Ty Lockwood said the organisation was ready to continue negotiations in "good faith". "A clear majority of people working at City of Greater Bendigo voted down the sub-standard offer put to a vote by council executives," he said. "It's disappointing that highly paid management preferred to try and force through an agreement that would take wages backwards, rather than negotiating fair pay for local people in Bendigo during a cost-of-living crisis." Mr Lockwood said a mass member meeting was scheduled for January 17, 2025 following the decision to vote down the COGB's proposals. He said the meeting will be at midday to discuss actions going forward, including potential protected industrial action. The ASU outlined some of its members top priorities for the new EBA, including improved 'flex leave' provisions, fair compensation for working weekends and a wage offer that met rising cost-of-living pressures. Other priorities also included health and wellbeing days for Bendigo Animal Relief Centre staff and an introduction of an end-of-band bonus. WA boy in Bendigo, happy to be in Central Victoria. WA boy in Bendigo, happy to be in Central Victoria. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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