Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country. Assad’s departure on Sunday brings to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Assad’s exit stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000, when many hoped he would be a young reformer after three decades of his father’s iron grip. But faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to his father's brutal tactics to crush dissent. A long stalemate was quickly broken when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a surprise offensive late last month. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors have detained a former defense minister who allegedly recommended last week’s brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol. Local media say that ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared on Sunday at a Seoul prosecutors’ office, where he had his mobile phone confiscated and was detained. A law enforcement official says Kim was later sent to a Seoul detention facility. Kim's detention came a day after Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most ruling party lawmakers boycotting a floor vote to prevent a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but one fewer loss. The first-of-its-kind 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Kailyn Gilbert scooped in a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining and then stole the ball on the last play of the game to give No. 7 LSU a 68-67 win over Washington in the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship first round on Monday. Flau’Jae Johnson had to save the ball from going into the backcourt during a scramble that ended in Gilbert's go-ahead basket. Gilbert corralled the loose ball over a diving Washington player, sliced through the defense and tossed up a shot that hung on the back of the rim before falling through. Gilbert's ensuing steal sealed it. Aneesah Morrow had her 80th career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Tigers (7-0). Johnson also had 19 points and Sa'Myah Smith added 16 with a career-high 15 rebounds. Sayvia Sellers had a career-high 24 points for the Huskies (6-2). Ellie Ladine had 14 points and nine rebounds. Washington, 16-15 last year, 6-12 in its final Pac-12 season, showed a lot of grit. LSU also showed a lot of grit in pulling out a win despite shooting a season-low 33%, going 3 of 19 from 3-point range. Sellers hit a tough step-back 3-pointer to bump the Washington lead to 62-57 with 4:31 to play and 18 seconds later she fouled out. The Husky reserves played 27 minutes and didn't score. LSU was 15 of 21 from the foul line as two Husky starters had four fouls in addition to Sellers fouling out. Washington shot 7 of 10 from the line. The Tigers also had 26 second-chance points off of 27 offensive rebounds. LSU plays N.C. State or Southern on Wednesday in the tournament's championship game. Washington will play before that game against the loser of N.C. State-Southern. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballTV’s Dr. Oz invested in businesses regulated by agency Trump wants him to lead
November 24, dawn of a new era for Pakistan: PTIRanjit Babu , head of consumer electronics at Amazon India and former chief executive of its largest seller–Cloudtail, has resigned, adding to the ongoing senior-level churn in the ecommerce marketplace, people said. Babu's resignation follows a restructuring in the company after the exit of its former India head Manish Tiwary recently. Babu has over the years emerged as one of the key executives at Amazon India, dabbling in various roles that oversaw top revenue-grossing categories. He has been associated with Amazon for more than a decade, including his stint at Cloudtail , which was key to the success of Amazon's India operations. “He has resigned and is moving on,” a person said. A spokesperson for Amazon did not comment on Babu’s departure. In December last year, Babu was given the additional role of taking over some of the responsibilities of senior executive Noor Patel, who had moved to Amazon US. In July this year, he was made head of consumer electronics, which includes smartphones–one of the biggest sales generators for the ecommerce firm. Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy By - Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Company veteran Samir Kumar has replaced Tiwary as India head at a time the local arm of the US etailer is trying to catch up on the core ecommerce business and enter the red-hot quick commerce sector. Other senior executives like Gaurav Arora and Suresh John have also left the company. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Tiwary’s departure–the most critical one–came at a time when industry executives and analysts indicated that Amazon India has further lost its grip on certain key markets and top categories in terms of market share gap with arch-rival Flipkart. The company is expected to launch its own quick commerce offering–codenamed Tez – by January, as reported by ET on November 25. Saurabh Srivastava, Harsh Goyal, Amit Nanda, Aastha Jain and Kishore Thota are among the senior executives in India currently reporting to Kumar and Amit Agarwal–SVP for emerging markets at Amazon. Nishanth Sardana is another prominent executive at Amazon India closely working on the quick commerce offering. Amazon Seller Services , the Indian marketplace entity, posted a 14% rise in operating revenue in the last financial year at Rs 25,406 crore. The company also narrowed its net loss by 28% during the year to Rs 3,469 crore. While revenue growth outpaced the 3% rise in FY23, it lagged growth rates seen during the pandemic period. Revenue grew by 32% and 49% in FY22 and FY21 respectively. Amazon Seller Services generates most of its revenue from third-party seller services, subscriptions including Amazon Prime, and other marketplace-related services such as advertising and marketing support to affiliates. It also earns royalty revenue from licensing digital content to related parties. Amazon Seller Services received a fund infusion of Rs 830 crore in FY24 from its parent company. An additional Rs 1,660 crore was infused in April FY25. Meanwhile, Amazon India’s other three units—logistics, payments, and wholesale—posted moderate revenue growth rates of about 7-11% in FY24, along with a slight reduction in losses.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Georgia's only president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at age 100. His death comes a year after the passing of his beloved wife Rosalynn Carter, prompting an outpouring of tributes from Georgia's political leaders and community figures. Why It Matters Carter's death marks the end of an era for Georgia and American politics. As the state's 76th governor and the nation's 39th president, the former president's legacy encompasses both his political achievements and his extensive humanitarian work through the Carter Center, significantly impacting Georgia's standing on the national and global stage. What To Know Carter, born in Plains, Georgia, in 1924, served as president from 1977 to 1981. His journey from a peanut farmer to the White House exemplified his commitment to public service. After his presidency, he established the Carter Center in Atlanta with his wife Rosalynn, focusing on human rights, democracy, and health initiatives worldwide. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian work. Following a series of hospital stays, Carter began hospice care at home, opting to spend his remaining time surrounded by family and friends. Rosalynn, who was also in hospice care at their Georgia home following a diagnosis of dementia, died in November 2023. What People Are Saying Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement: "Today, Atlanta mourns Georgia's only President. My heart goes out to the entire Carter family here in Atlanta, across Georgia and our nation. I am so proud that President Carter's legacy will continue to endure here in Atlanta through the Carter Center." Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said on X: "Simply put, President Jimmy Carter was a good man. He was the epitome of a servant leader, changing the world and setting the highest example of what it meant to honor God, family, and country." Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams said on X: "President Jimmy Carter lived a life of courage, fortitude, kindness and grace. He was a giant who never saw anyone as smaller than himself... Jimmy Carter built homes, saved lives and tended to souls." Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock said in a statement: "President Carter was one of my heroes. His leadership was driven by love, his life's project grounded in compassion and a commitment to human dignity... Well done, good and faithful servant, well done." Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff said in a statement: "President Carter's lifetime of work and dedication to public service changed the lives of many across our state, our country, and around the world... The State of Georgia and the United States are better places because of President Jimmy Carter." Georgia Tech posted this message on X : "The Georgia Tech community, the nation, and the world have lost a towering yet humble, hardworking man of faith who devoted decades to enhancing democracy and freedom, improving health, and preventing and resolving conflicts at home and across the globe." Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter said on X : "President Carter was an amazing Georgian and a firm believer in Christ. Today, he goes to be with his beloved wife, Rosalynn, in Heaven." Rapper and Atlanta activist Killer Mike said on X: "As a Georgian, Southerner and Advocate for who deserve the dignity of decent shelter i am honored to say I have known a 'Good Man' who truly made a difference in a wicked world." What Happens Next Public observances will be held in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center announced that final arrangements for President Carter's state funeral, including public events and motorcade routes, are pending and will be released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.NonePresident Biden provides remarks during a presser on the situation in Syria after rebels topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad. President Biden said during a Sunday afternoon press conference that the U.S. will support Syria's neighboring nations and help bolster stability in the region after dictator Bashar al-Assad fled the country amid an ongoing civil war. "At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. A fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty," Biden said Sunday during a press conference from the White House. Biden detailed that following Assad's departure in the face of rebel forces, the U.S. will support Syria's neighboring countries – such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel – "should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition." Biden said this effort will include senior administration officials meeting with world leaders, and the president also speaking directly with leaders in the neighboring nations. "Second, we will help stability, ensure stability in eastern Syria. Protecting any personnel, our personnel, against any threats, and will remain our mission against ISIS will be maintained, including security of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners," Biden continued of the U.S. plan of action after the collapse of the Assad regime. ".... Third, we will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward an independent sovereign" Syria. ASSAD ARRIVES IN MOSCOW, IS GRANTED ASYLUM BY RUSSIA President Biden speaks about the situation in Syria in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Dec. 8, 2024. (Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images) Bashar al-Assad fled Syria after rebels stormed the capital city of Damascus on Saturday. Assad, whose government used chemical weapons repeatedly on its residents, reportedly fled with his wife and children. Biden said the U.S. did not have confirmation on Assad's whereabouts, noting that "there's word that he's in Moscow." Syria has been in the midst of a nearly 14-year civil war as Islamist rebels attempted to overthrow Assad and his family's dynasty, which had ruled the country for the last 50 years. "The United States will do whatever we can to support [Syrians], including through humanitarian relief, to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of brutality by the Assad family," Biden said. "And finally, we will remain vigilant. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses. We've taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days. And they're saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions," Biden continued Sunday. Trump and Assad (Getty Images) The president noted that the U.S. will also continue efforts to secure American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for more than a decade. "We are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago. We remain committed to returning him to his family," Biden said. Ahead of reports of Assad fleeing, President-elect Trump warned that the U.S. should not get involved in the civil war. TRUMP RESPONDS AFTER REBELS OVERTAKE SYRIA, OUSTING LONGTIME DICTATOR: ‘ASSAD IS GONE’ "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!" he wrote. Trump added on Truth Social early Sunday morning: "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." President-elect Trump warned that the U.S. should not get involved in the Syrian civil war. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success," his post continued. "Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin." SYRIAN INSURGENTS REACH GATES OF DAMASCUS, THREATENING DECADES-LONG ASSAD REGIME President Bashar al-Assad on May 3, 2023, in Damascus, Syria. (Borna News/Matin Ghasemi/Aksonline ATPImages/Getty Images) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted the fall of Assad's regime on Sunday, saying it was a "direct result" of Israel's attacks on Iran and Hezbollah, while noting the situation overall is "fraught with significant dangers." Israel is in the midst of a more than year-long war after Hamas launched attacks on the nation on Oct. 7, 2023. TRUMP URGES US TO STAY OUT OF SYRIAN CIVIL WAR, BLAMING OBAMA FOR FAILURE AS ISLAMISTS CLOSE IN ON CAPITAL "This is a historic day for the Middle East. The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers. This collapse is the direct result of our forceful action against Hezbollah and Iran, Assad's main supporters. It set off a chain reaction of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and its oppression," Netanyahu said Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement on Nov. 26 in Jerusalem. (Israeli Government Press Office via AP) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "We send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in Syria: to the Druze, to the Kurds, to the Christians, and to the Muslims who want to live in peace with Israel. We're going to follow events very carefully. If we can establish neighborly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that's our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel," Netanyahu added. Fox News Digital's Michael Lee and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Spanish ResultsNoneKUWAIT: Zain recently launched Women in Tech, an initiative aimed at empowering women in technology by providing talented Kuwaiti women with essential skills related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program prepared participants to excel in an ever-evolving job market by focusing on career development, skill enhancement, and fostering opportunities for networking and mentorship. This effort aligns with Zain’s corporate sustainability strategy, which centers on key pillars such as investing in human capital, nurturing national talent, advancing gender equality, and fostering inclusion and diversity to support sustainable growth. Led by Zain’s specialized team in areas such as data management, quality assurance, business technology solutions, cloud systems, and network optimization, the Women in Tech program featured interactive sessions and workshops on topics like STEM education, data management, cloud computing, and 5G technology. Participants also honed crucial soft skills, including leadership, teamwork, overcoming challenges, and maintaining work-life balance. This initiative builds on many other programs that Zain has supported over the years to develop national female talent in technology fields. Zain remains committed to investing in youth and education as a cornerstone of its initiatives. With the economy rapidly advancing towards digital innovation, Zain prioritizes the development of digital and coding skills among Kuwaiti youth — especially women and girls — recognizing their vital role in shaping the community’s future.Prue Leith says MasterChef star Gregg Wallace shouldn't be sacked
This time, the start was not problematic. The rest of the game, however, was troublesome. And now, with one-quarter of the 2024-25 season completed, the worrying questions being asked about the Rangers are existential in nature: Who are they? And what are they? “Our whole goal here is to make sure that we’re a team that is hard to play against and hard to get stuff by,” defenseman Braden Schneider said after the Rangers dropped their third straight game in a 5-2 loss to the Blues on Monday night at the Garden. The Rangers fell to 12-7-1 overall and 5-4-1 at home, which prompted another question for Schneider: Are the Rangers still developing their identity or have they gotten away from it? “I’m not sure,” Schneider said. “I think we’re working toward something that we know we can achieve and I think we’re going to keep grinding away at that until we get there.” To be fair, there are 62 games remaining for the Rangers to find themselves. But the overarching issue is that the structure and style implemented last year appears to be missing. “We’re giving up too much,” Peter Laviolette said. The Rangers were outshot 43-29 by a Blues (10-12-1) squad that was playing its first game under coach Jim Montgomery, who was hired Sunday — five days after being fired by the Bruins. During his availability following the morning skate, Laviolette bemoaned the way the Rangers had started their last two games — the 3-2 loss to the Flames on Thursday night and Saturday night’s 6-2 blowout defeat in Edmonton. But truth be told, the Rangers did have a relatively quick start, as they had a 10-5 advantage in shots 6:25 into the game. But the final 53:35 proved to be vexing as the Blues outshot the Rangers 38-19. “We’re not going to win games giving up 40, 50 shots,” Laviolette said. “It’s got to be much tighter.” Brayden Schenn’s semi-breakaway goal 1:12 into the third period helped St. Louis break a 2-2 tie. The sequence leading to Schenn’s winner began with Justin Faulk stripping Mika Zibanejad of the puck behind the St. Louis net. With the teams skating four-on-four, Scott Perunovich jumped on the turnover and sprung Schenn, whose fourth of the season beat Igor Shesterkin (38 saves) to the stick side. Zack Bolduc scored his second of the game 7:13 later to put the game out of reach. Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-netter with 2:45 left ended the scoring. “Give up a goal to start the third period and I didn’t like the response after that,” Laviolette said. “We need more response because it’s not good enough.” The Rangers took a 1-0 lead 8:47 into the game on the first of Will Cuylle’s two goals. Twenty-nine seconds after the Rangers’ second power play of the first period came to an end, Cuylle was credited with his eighth goal of the season. The play began with Kaapo Kakko firing a shot from the half wall that deflected off Zac Jones’ stick before it ricocheted off Cuylle’s leg and in between Joel Hofer’s legs. The lead lasted for all of 2:58. Jordan Kyrou tied it at 1-1 with his seventh of the season at 11:45 off a behind-the-net feed from Schenn, who had intercepted Zibanejad’s pass behind the goal line intended for Jacob Trouba. Bolduc’s first of the season 4:30 into the second period put the Blues ahead, 2-1. The Rangers were unable to break out of their end of the ice due St. Louis’ heavy forecheck to start the period, and it was costly when Bolduc flipped a quick shot that eluded Shesterkin. “We weren’t able to get out of our own zone as cleanly as we would have liked,” Schneider said. The Rangers drew even nearly three minutes later when Cuylle slammed a one-timer past Hofer (27 saves). Rangers rookie Brett Berard recorded his first NHL point on the goal as he was credited with the secondary assist. “I don’t know if [there was] anything good,” Artemi Panarin said, when asked if there were any positives the Rangers could glean out of the loss.PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby will take the help. Make that the helper . But it was a victory, not staking claim to another of Mario Lemieux’s franchise records, that mattered most to Crosby on Sunday night. Thanks in no small part to his historic assist early in the second period, Crosby’s Penguins downed the New York Islanders 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena. This victory doesn’t undo a loss to the Islanders in New York on Saturday night, but it does allow the Penguins to finish the calendar year with momentum. Advertisement The Penguins are 10-4-1 dating to Thanksgiving Eve when they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Their winning ways have reinserted the Penguins into the Stanley Cup playoffs picture, and they’ll wrap up 2024 against the Red Wings , tied for last in the Eastern Conference, in Detroit on Tuesday night. Crosby’s top priority is returning his Penguins to the postseason after a two-year absence. He’s driven to win more than collect individual accolades. Still, it’s momentous when a Penguin does one better than Lemieux at anything. Crosby has made a career of doing exactly that. “Honestly, I don’t think about it a whole lot,” Crosby said on Sunday night. “I appreciate those moments probably more and more. But so far as looking at the lists and all that, it’s not something I think about. “I have a lot of appreciation for what the guys have done — especially Mario, what he means to the city, the organization. But all the guys who have played prior to me, it’s really nice to be part of that company.” SIDNEY STANDS ALONE! Congratulations on becoming the Penguins' all-time assist leader, Captain 👏 pic.twitter.com/TLRYFq70hH — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 29, 2024 Crosby joked on Sunday night that he needed “what, like, 500 more games” than Lemieux to establish a Penguins record for assists. Not quite that many, but point taken. Lemieux’s talent is perhaps unmatched. The same may be true of Crosby’s doggedness. The Penguins have retired only three numbers. Lemieux’s 66 is one. There is only one statue of a hockey player in Pittsburgh. It’s of Lemieux. Crosby’s No. 87 will one day hang from the rafters wherever the Penguins play their home games. At the outdoor plaza where Lemieux’s statue stands, a spot is reserved for one to honor Crosby. They are forever linked, with Crosby having succeeded Lemieux as Penguins captain a couple of seasons after playing alongside him. Yet they are not equals, even if Crosby has inched closer to Lemieux in terms of adoration in Pittsburgh than any reasonable person would have thought possible. Advertisement Unless he leads a group to buy the Penguins out of a third bankruptcy and becomes a player-owner after retiring for three-plus seasons, Crosby will never fully skate out of Lemieux’s Paul Bunyan-like shadow. However, Crosby is casting a wide shadow of his own for the Penguins — so large that supplanting Lemieux as the Penguins’ assists leader long ago seemed a foregone conclusion. Lemieux predicted Crosby would break each of his franchise records a few days after Crosby’s first assist — a primary helper on a Mark Recchi power-play goal against the Devils in New Jersey on Oct. 5, 2005. As if deemed serendipitous by the hockey gods, Crosby’s first and record assists for the Penguins were both the primary on a goal scored by a player wearing the No. 8. All these years later — seasons that delivered three Cup wins and an NHL Awards haul, but also a larger chunk of his prime wiped out because of injuries — Crosby’s 1,034th assist also came on a power play. On this one, he won a puck battle behind the net and quickly backhanded a pass to Michael Bunting , whose sure shot was never in danger of being denied by the Islanders’ Marcus Hogberg . Assist 1,034... a work of art. pic.twitter.com/on0qQTWiFp — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 30, 2024 Coach Mike Sullivan deadpanned “I think so” when pressed about whether he had seen similar setups by Crosby. “He’s one of the best players ever to play on his backhand,” Sullivan said. “He makes so many plays on his backhand. He’s just so creative.” It looked as though many among a holiday crowd began to stand in anticipation as the puck went from Crosby to Bunting. Few fans are more adept at celebrating individual greatness as those of the Penguins, one of only three non-Original Six franchises with four 1,000-point scorers — not to mention 15 individual scoring champions. In Pittsburgh, they know when something special is about to happen. They know because they’ve witnessed Lemieux and Crosby regularly make the extraordinary look ordinary. The two greatest players in franchise history have captivated generations in succession while rewriting the record books in Pittsburgh. Advertisement So when Bunting’s shot ended up behind Hogberg at 1:36 of the second period on Sunday night, fans recognized the significance of the moment. The same was true of those on the ice with Crosby, including Evgeni Malkin , who appeared to enjoy the milestone more than his close friend. Crosby often comes off as nonplussed after moving up the NHL scoring charts. The times when he’s topped something Lemieux accomplished for the Penguins have garnered less muted reactions, but Crosby has typically resisted getting caught up in a moment of his own. There are exceptions. He teared up during the pandemic during a pregame ceremony honoring his 1,000th game. There were no waterworks Sunday night, though a loud ovation that followed public address announcer Ryan Mill noting the achievement did not go unnoticed by Crosby. “Definitely appreciate it,” Crosby said. “I’ve had some special moments here at home over the years. To get that kind of reception ... it means a lot.” Sid gets a standing ovation from the Penguins faithful as they announce his record-breaking assist 🍎👏 pic.twitter.com/dD1cwf7AbA — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 29, 2024 The moment merited a statement from Lemieux, who chimes in on matters about as often as it snows in South Florida. “I want to congratulate Sid on setting the team’s assist record,” Lemieux said in a post on the Penguins’ social media accounts. “He’s an amazing player and we’re so fortunate to have him in Pittsburgh. I look forward to even more great things from him.” Crosby signed a two-year extension with the Penguins in September, only a few days before training camp opened. He has vowed to play only for the Penguins, and his contract should allow him to pass Lemieux’s marks for goals (690) and points (1,723). After Sunday night, Crosby needs 89 goals and 88 points to become the Penguins’ all-time leader in each category. Advertisement Despite a slow start to this season, Crosby has been no stranger to milestone moments. He recorded his 1,600th point and 600th goal in home games. Crosby’s pursuit of those marks has resulted in his parents, Troy and Trina, again becoming regulars at Penguins games. They were here for the assist record, and Crosby said he would give the puck to his father, who was a mainstay in Pittsburgh in his son’s early seasons. Crosby, of course, spent those seasons living in Lemieux’s guest house. The Kid who became The Man for a generation of hockey fans in and outside of Pittsburgh, Crosby’s intensity contrasts with Lemieux’s laissez-faire personality. Eddie Johnston, who drafted and coached Lemieux (and played with Bobby Orr), said Crosby “of course is right there with those guys.” “Mario, Orr, (Wayne) Gretzky, (Jean) Béliveau, and Sid,” Johnston said. “I don’t care what order if you’re talking about the greatest players, boy, it’s those five guys. “What’s special here in Pittsburgh is Mario and Sid are Penguins. They’re ours.” (Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
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Minnesota 30, Chicago 27, OTThe U.S. dollar was mixed on Friday after data showed the unemployment rate in the world’s largest economy edged higher in November, while gains in nonfarm payrolls were generally in line with expectations, keeping the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates later this month. Nonfarm payrolls expanded by 227,000 jobs last month after rising an upwardly revised 36,000 in October, from 12,000. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls accelerating by 200,000 jobs last month. Estimates ranged from 155,000 to 275,000 jobs. Bloomberg had forecasts of 225,000 jobs and some analysts cited that number to conclude that payrolls barely beat expectations, suggesting the Fed is not likely to pause in its easing cycle. The unemployment rate, however, inched higher to 4.2% as well, after holding at 4.1% for two straight months, data showed. “The jobs number is not particularly outrageously strong,” said Paul Christopher, head of global investment strategy, at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, in St. Louis, Missouri. “It’s more in line with averages. It probably cements the Fed with another quarter point cut in December.” In mid-morning trading, the dollar fell below 150 yen after the data and was last down 0.3% at 149.66 . The euro, on the other hand, climbed to a three-week peak following the report. It last traded slightly down at $1.0583 . The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six major currencies, was flat at 105.75 after slipping towards a three-week low in the previous session. The greenback also slipped against the Swiss franc, down 0.2% at 0.8762 franc . Post-payrolls, U.S. rate futures priced in an 87% chance the Fed will lower interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) at its policy meeting later this month, up from about 70% just before the data’s release, according to LSEG calculations. The odds of a pause, meanwhile, dropped to 13% from 30% ahead of the jobs report. In Asia, the dollar rose versus South Korea’s won after local media reported the nation’s main opposition Democratic Party said lawmakers were on standby after receiving reports of another martial law declaration. The won weakened, leaving the dollar up 0.3% at 1,421.6. The political upheaval has kept Korean markets on tenterhooks even as authorities pledged to provide “unlimited liquidity” to stabilize conditions. Elsewhere, China’s yuan was little changed against the dollar but headed for its 10th straight weekly loss amid concerns new tariffs threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will heighten strains on the struggling Chinese economy, The dollar last changed hands at 7.2779 yuan in the offshore market, up 0.2% . Source: Reuters (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Additional reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alexander Smith)
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John Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level MediaOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media sayGeorgia police fire water cannons at pro-EU protestersJohn Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level Media
Kansas City ChiefsDarius Tahir | (TNS) KFF Health News President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the sprawling government agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace — celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz — recently held broad investments in health care, tech, and food companies that would pose significant conflicts of interest. Oz’s holdings, some shared with family, included a stake in UnitedHealth Group worth as much as $600,000, as well as shares of pharmaceutical firms and tech companies with business in the health care sector, such as Amazon. Collectively, Oz’s investments total tens of millions of dollars, according to financial disclosures he filed during his failed 2022 run for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. Trump said Tuesday he would nominate Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency’s scope is huge: CMS oversees coverage for more than 160 million Americans, nearly half the population. Medicare alone accounts for approximately $1 trillion in annual spending, with over 67 million enrollees. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health care companies in the nation and arguably the most important business partner of CMS, through which it is the leading provider of commercial health plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealth also offers managed-care plans under Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for low-income people, and sells plans on government-run marketplaces set up via the Affordable Care Act. Oz also had smaller stakes in CVS Health, which now includes the insurer Aetna, and in the insurer Cigna. It’s not clear if Oz, a heart surgeon by training, still holds investments in health care companies, or if he would divest his shares or otherwise seek to mitigate conflicts of interest should he be confirmed by the Senate. Reached by phone on Wednesday, he said he was in a Zoom meeting and declined to comment. An assistant did not reply to an email message with detailed questions. “It’s obvious that over the years he’s cultivated an interest in the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry,” said Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group. “That raises a question of whether he can be trusted to act on behalf of the American people.” (The publisher of KFF Health News, David Rousseau, is on the CSPI board .) Oz used his TikTok page on multiple occasions in November to praise Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including their efforts to take on the “illness-industrial complex,” and he slammed “so-called experts like the big medical societies” for dishing out what he called bad nutritional advice. Oz’s positions on health policy have been chameleonic; in 2010, he cut an ad urging Californians to sign up for insurance under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, telling viewers they had a “historic opportunity.” Oz’s 2022 financial disclosures show that the television star invested a substantial part of his wealth in health care and food firms. Were he confirmed to run CMS, his job would involve interacting with giants of the industry that have contributed to his wealth. Given the breadth of his investments, it would be difficult for Oz to recuse himself from matters affecting his assets, if he still holds them. “He could spend his time in a rocking chair” if that happened, Lurie said. In the past, nominees for government positions with similar potential conflicts of interest have chosen to sell the assets or otherwise divest themselves. For instance, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed to divest their holdings in relevant, publicly traded companies when they joined the Biden administration. Trump, however, declined in his first term to relinquish control of his own companies and other assets while in office, and he isn’t expected to do so in his second term. He has not publicly indicated concern about his subordinates’ financial holdings. CMS’ main job is to administer Medicare. About half of new enrollees now choose Medicare Advantage, in which commercial insurers provide their health coverage, instead of the traditional, government-run program, according to an analysis from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Proponents of Medicare Advantage say the private plans offer more compelling services than the government and better manage the costs of care. Critics note that Medicare Advantage plans have a long history of costing taxpayers more than the traditional program. UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna are all substantial players in the Medicare Advantage market. It’s not always a good relationship with the government. The Department of Justice filed a 2017 complaint against UnitedHealth alleging the company used false information to inflate charges to the government. The case is ongoing. Oz is an enthusiastic proponent of Medicare Advantage. In 2020, he proposed offering Medicare Advantage to all; during his Senate run, he offered a more general pledge to expand those plans. After Trump announced Oz’s nomination for CMS, Jeffrey Singer, a senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, said he was “uncertain about Dr. Oz’s familiarity with health care financing and economics.” Singer said Oz’s Medicare Advantage proposal could require large new taxes — perhaps a 20% payroll tax — to implement. Oz has gotten a mixed reception from elsewhere in Washington. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the Democrat who defeated Oz in 2022, signaled he’d potentially support his appointment to CMS. “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude,” he said on the social platform X. Oz’s investments in companies doing business with the federal government don’t end with big insurers. He and his family also hold hospital stocks, according to his 2022 disclosure, as well as a stake in Amazon worth as much as nearly $2.4 million. (Candidates for federal office are required to disclose a broad range of values for their holdings, not a specific figure.) Amazon operates an internet pharmacy, and the company announced in June that its subscription service is available to Medicare enrollees. It also owns a primary care service , One Medical, that accepts Medicare and “select” Medicare Advantage plans. Oz was also directly invested in several large pharmaceutical companies and, through investments in venture capital funds, indirectly invested in other biotech and vaccine firms. Big Pharma has been a frequent target of criticism and sometimes conspiracy theories from Trump and his allies. Kennedy, whom Trump has said he’ll nominate to be Health and Human Services secretary, is a longtime anti-vaccine activist. During the Biden administration, Congress gave Medicare authority to negotiate with drug companies over their prices. CMS initially selected 10 drugs. Those drugs collectively accounted for $50.5 billion in spending between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, under Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit. At least four of those 10 medications are manufactured by companies in which Oz held stock, worth as much as about $50,000. 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In his TikTok videos from earlier in November, Oz echoed attacks on the food industry by Kennedy and other figures in his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They blame processed foods and underregulation of the industry for the poor health of many Americans, concerns shared by many Democrats and more mainstream experts. But in 2022, Oz owned stakes worth as much as $80,000 in Domino’s Pizza, Pepsi, and US Foods, as well as more substantial investments in other parts of the food chain, including cattle; Oz reported investments worth as much as $5.5 million in a farm and livestock, as well as a stake in a dairy-free milk startup. He was also indirectly invested in the restaurant chain Epic Burger. One of his largest investments was in the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa, which sells fast food and all manner of ultra-processed snacks. Oz and his wife reported a stake in the company, beloved by many Pennsylvanians, worth as much as $30 million. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North's nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea's support for Russia's war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression." “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim's speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn't elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.GivingTuesday estimates $3.6B was donated this year, an increase from 2023Biden says US hostage Austin Tice is alive in Syria
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ISTANBUL Manchester City confirmed Thursday that manager Pep Guardiola, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, signed a two-year extension. "Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said after the signing ceremony. "This is my ninth season here. We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons," he added. Under the helm of Guardiola, Manchester City became the first club to claim the English Premier League title four times in a row and the first to reach 100 points in one Premier League season. The 53-year-old led City to win 18 major trophies in his eight full seasons, including six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, and a historic treble in 2022/23.