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EuroMillions results and numbers: National Lottery draw tonight, November 22Despite starting the season 2-8, the Milwaukee Bucks have started to turn things around. Now with a 6-9 record, the Bucks own the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo , the league’s current leading scorer, looks primed for another MVP campaign. Additionally, though he is still ways away from his season debut, Khris Middleton has been medically cleared. Middleton has missed the entire season so far as he recovers from his ankle injury. However, though they are starting to right the ship, the Bucks reportedly have interest in making a trade. More specifically, the Bucks have interest in acquiring Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig in a trade. Per NBA reporter Brett Siegel , the Bucks are interested in acquiring the 33-year-old. Additionally, according to Siegel, the Bucks have made Pat Connaughton and MarJon Beauchamp available for trade. “No team has shown interest in making a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks at this time. MarJon Beauchamp ($2.7 million) and Pat Connaughton ($9.4 million) are the two players the Bucks have made available in trade discussions in order to try and add talent on the wing. Veteran forward Torrey Craig from the Chicago Bulls is a player Milwaukee has shown interest in, sources said.” Milwaukee Bucks Interested in Trade For Torrey Craig How Torrey Craig Can Help the Bucks During the 2020-21 season, Craig played 18 games for the Bucks. In that time, he averaged 2.5 points and 24 rebounds over 11.2 minutes. Craig is a solid 3-and-D player and would help the Bucks tremendously on the defensive side of the ball. So far, the Bucks rank 15th-best in the NBA with a 113 DRTG. Additionally, they are allowing 112.2 points per game, which is just 14th-best in the league. The Bulls forward is in the final year of his two-year, $5.3 million contract, making him a popular trade candidate. Furthermore, he fits the Bucks’ timeline more than Chicago’s as they are in a better spot to contend for a championship right away, even given their slow start to the season. It is unclear how willing Chicago is to move on from Craig. However, given his contract situation and the Bulls’ 6-10 record, trading him is not an unrealistic possibility. The Last Word Earlier this month, Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic wrote that the Bucks are unlikely to make any blockbuster moves. This report is in the wake of numerous trade rumors involving Antetokounpo. Amic and Nehm also wrote that the Bucks could make a trade before the deadline. Trading for Craig could be a move the Bucks make to improve the roster. “I could certainly see the Bucks doing some kind of deal, if not more than one, before the Feb. 6 deadline,” Amick and Nehm wrote. “But in terms of the big stuff that comes with their team’s calculus — Giannis, [ Damian Lillard ], Doc and Khris [Middleton] — I don’t see anything changing.” Regardless of whether a trade happens or not, the Bucks are starting to turn things around. Fortunately for them, they are in the Eastern Conference, which is much more forgiving than the West. As the season progresses, they should continue to climb the standings. Whether Craig becomes a part of this remains unknown. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
RACHEL Reeves will today call for a “businesslike” reset with Europe as she seeks to rebuild post-Brexit ties with the bloc. The Chancellor will slam the Tories’ “division and chaos” on Europe, vowing: “It will not define us.” In the first visit by a UK Chancellor to EU finance ministers’ talks since Brexit , Ms Reeves will promise a new era of “trust, mutual respect, and pragmatism.” She will urge leaders in Brussels to “put behind us the low ambitions of the past” and focus on shared goals like boosting trade, tackling global challenges like Ukraine , and strengthening economic links. The Chancellor will say: “We want a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and pragmatism. "A mature, businesslike relationship where we can put behind us the low ambitions of the past and move forward, focused instead on all that we have in common. Read More on Politics “And all that we might achieve together to keep our countries safe, secure and prosperous.”
Washington Huskies entering crucial stretch that will shape futureCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaving his hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov 30, a day after his meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. OTTAWA - US President-elect Donald Trump said on Nov 30 he had a "very productive" meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which they discussed border-related issues and other topics including trade, energy, and the Arctic. Mr Trudeau flew to Florida on the evening of Nov 29 and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, days after Republican Trump had pledged to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports after he is sworn in as president in January. That pledge has raised fears of a trade war between the US and two of its biggest trading partners. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum warned this week Trump's tariff plan would have dire consequences for both countries and suggested possible retaliation following his threat of across-the-board 25 per cent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports. Trump wants to use tariffs as a tool to get Mexico and Canada to help stem the flow of illegal drugs into the US, particularly the deadly opioid fentanyl, and also migrants crossing illegally into the US. "We discussed many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address, like the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration, Fair Trade Deals that do not jeopardize American Workers, and the massive Trade Deficit the US has with Canada," Trump said, in a post on Truth Social. "Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of US Families," he added. Mr Trudeau's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his meeting with Trump. In a separate post, Trump called on the so-called Brics countries to commit to not creating a new currency or supporting another currency over the US dollar. If those countries do so they will face "100% tariffs", Trump said. Brics refers to original members of the intergovernmental group of economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It also includes Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. "We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy," Trump wrote. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s online media association said two reporters were killed and several others were wounded in a gang attack on Tuesday on the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas Eve attack. Robest Dimanche, a spokesman for the Online Media Collective, identified the dead journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. Dimanche said an unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which he blamed on the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs. Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said, pledging “this crime is not going to go unpunished.” A video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year during violence that also targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire. Video posted online earlier showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor, apparently wounded. That video could also not be immediately verified. Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of a gang known as Viv Ansanm, which that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince, posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. Haiti has seen journalists targeted before. In 2023, two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks — radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in mid-April that year, while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that month. In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, more widely known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control of it from gangs. The hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris. Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs. The hospital is across the street from the national palace, the scene of several battles in recent months. Gang attacks have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse with looting, setting fires, and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital. The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat them. Haiti’s health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season, which is likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases. Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to UNICEF.NEW YORK (AP) — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses, she said. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations ; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general ; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Labor , and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump's transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely," Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Police swept Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices, New York State Police said. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had also been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X . “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe." In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area" Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations ended with no charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot , with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting' incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump," he wrote on X . “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” ___ Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.Indiana aims to limit turnovers vs. Minnesota
Oregon 78, San Diego St. 68Darius 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. Related Articles National Politics | Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump National Politics | Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for ‘Peach’ and ‘Blossom’ National Politics | Donald Trump Jr. emerges as a political force of his own as he helps his father launch a second term National Politics | The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump’s promises on growth and inflation National Politics | What to know about Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary Oz may gain or lose financially from other Trump administration proposals. For example, as of 2022, Oz held investments worth as much as $6 million in fertility treatment providers. To counter fears that politicians who oppose abortion would ban in vitro fertilization, Trump floated during his campaign making in vitro fertilization treatment free. It’s unclear whether the government would pay for the services. 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.
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley knew the Eagles season rushing record could be his on Sunday with the type of stellar performance that has become the standard during his first season in Philadelphia. As for the exact moment Barkley hit the milestone, he wasn't sure — until the “MVP!” chants echoed throughout the Linc after a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter . “The records are great, they put a smile on your face,” Barkley said, “but the season is far from over.” Needing 109 yards to break LeSean McCoy's record, Barkley rushed for 124 yards and pushed his season total to 1,623 in a 22-16 victory over Carolina . Barkley needed just 13 games to pass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. He also overtook Wilbert Montgomery, who had 1,512 yards in 1978. “I never wrote the goal down to break it,” Barkley said. “You're always aware of it. That's how I train. That's how I operate in the offseason. I want to be great.” Barkley also maintained his pace to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. “That would be extremely cool to do,” Barkley said. “If it happens, it happens, and not with the mindset of, I'm scared to go try to do it. Whatever it takes to win football games.” Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. He averaged 6.2 yards on 20 carries against the Panthers to help the Eagles win their ninth straight game. McCoy, who was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame this season, remains the franchise’s rushing leader with 6,792 yards. Referencing his old uniform number, McCoy congratulated Barkley on social media with “a lot of love, coming from 2-5." “Being a fan of Shady's growing up, and seeing the spectacular things he was able to do with the ball in his hand, to be able to have my name mentioned with him definitely means a lot,” Barkley said. Barkley left the New York Giants in the offseason and signed a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed to join the Eagles, who made him the highest-paid running back in franchise history. The 27-year-old has been worth every dollar. Barkley is among the favorites for league MVP, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the only player with better MVP odds entering Sunday. Barkley has a franchise-record nine 100-yard rushing games in a season. Although he was held out of the end zone Sunday, he began the day leading the league with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards. Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, topped 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons with the Giants. He finished with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 scores as a rookie. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who had been unwilling to spend on elite running backs, pounced on Barkley and the decision was celebrated as a success in Philly from the first game of the season. Barkley rushed for two scores and caught a TD pass in the opener against Green Bay. His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004. Barkley only soared in production and popularity from there, his highlight reel stamped by a reverse leap over the head of a Jacksonville defender last month. He's since vaulted over every running back ahead of him on the Eagles rushing list — and has a chance at NFL history. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLIndia’s successful test of its newly inducted nuclear-powered INS Arighaat, equipped with a K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), marks a significant milestone in its defence capabilities. The K-4 missile boasts an impressive range of 3,500 kilometres, significantly enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence strategy and bolstering its second-strike capability (SSC). This achievement, achieved just months after INS Arighaat’s commissioning in August 2024, underscores India’s growing military prowess in general and naval strength in particular in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indo-Pacific and IOR are becoming increasingly important in the global geopolitical arena, with competing interests from the international powers. India’s growing naval capabilities, particularly in the domain of nuclear-powered submarines and SLBMs, offer significant leverage in the ongoing balancing act between these powers while enhancing India’s deterrence capability and ensuring strategic stability in the region. The K-4 Test and Its Strategic Significance India’s nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat, which carries the K-4 missiles (developed by DRDO), is now the second vessel in India’s fleet to be equipped with these advanced ballistic missiles, following INS Arihant (commissioned in 2016). The successful test of the K-4 missile off the Visakhapatnam coast is crucial because it demonstrates India’s ability to conduct full-range tests of its strategic weapons from operational submarines, not just from submersible pontoons or other platforms. The missile, capable of striking targets up to 3,500 kilometres away, significantly enhances India’s nuclear triad , which comprises land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), air-launched weapons, and now, sea-based SLBMs. The K-4 missile system is key in India’s strategic deterrence doctrine. By providing India with a credible SSC, the K-4 ensures that the country can maintain a nuclear deterrent even in the face of a first strike by an adversary. This is crucial for India’s no-first-use (NFU) policy, which commits the country to using nuclear weapons only in retaliation to a nuclear attack. With a more extended range and the ability to be launched from a submerged submarine, the K-4 increases India’s atomic deterrent’s survivability and operational flexibility. It allows Indian nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs) to remain in secure waters, such as the northern Bay of Bengal, far from potential adversaries’ detection and counter-strike capabilities. The K-4’s range expands India’s strike potential across large parts of both China and Pakistan, ensuring that the country can target high-value assets in these nuclear-armed neighbours while maintaining the operational advantage of its sea-based assets. By boosting the reach of its SSBN fleet, India significantly improves its ability to respond in the event of a nuclear conflict, reinforcing the credibility of its deterrence. Global Peers As India builds and refines its nuclear deterrence capabilities, its growing strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and IOR intersects with the interests of other global powers, particularly the United States, China, and Russia. Each nation maintains a unique approach to its respective defence postures and regional influence (Russia has zero or less influence in this region). Still, they also share some common objectives, such as ensuring regional stability and maintaining a robust naval presence in the strategically critical maritime routes that pass through the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea (SCS). The United States, as a global superpower with extensive naval capabilities, has long maintained a strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific. It views the region as critical to its broader geopolitical objectives, particularly in countering China’s increasing influence. The US Navy’s fleet is heavily deployed in this region, and its focus on freedom of navigation and the preservation of regional security has often put it in direct competition with China’s growing maritime assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea. India and the US share common interests in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, particularly as both nations seek to counterbalance China’s rising power. The US has been a vital partner in India’s defence modernisation efforts, with increased cooperation in naval exercises, arms sales, and technology sharing. The US recognises India’s burgeoning nuclear deterrence as a pivotal stabilising force in the region, serving as a counterbalance to China’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Nevertheless, the development of India’s K-4 missile and expanding submarine fleet underscores India’s growing independence in defence matters, even as it fortifies its security ties with the US. On the other hand, China perceives India’s advancements in submarine-launched missile systems as a direct challenge to its regional and global ambitions. China has invested heavily in its naval and missile capabilities, including developing its SSBN fleet equipped with long-range SLBMs capable of reaching deep into Indian sea territory. The K-4 missile’s range of 3,500 kilometres is especially significant because it extends India’s reach into China, including critical sites like Beijing , which are within striking distance from secure positions in the Bay of Bengal. This operational advantage significantly alters the security calculus in the region. China’s naval activities in the Indian Ocean have grown in recent years, driven partly by its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and increasing presence in crucial maritime chokepoints. With Chinese naval vessels frequently operating in the Indian Ocean, India views its growing nuclear capabilities as essential for ensuring its strategic autonomy and maintaining a balance of power in the region. India’s successful test of the K-4 missile from INS Arighaat has solidified its position as a critical player in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. The test not only strengthens India’s nuclear deterrent but also enhances its ability to project power and influence in an area where the interests of the major powers, such as the US and China, are intertwined. By ensuring its ability to launch nuclear strikes from the sea, India has bolstered its second-strike capability, making it a formidable force in regional security dynamics. As the security environment in the Indo-Pacific continues to evolve, India’s strategic autonomy, coupled with its growing defence capabilities, will ensure that the country remains an important and influential actor in the region. The K-4 missile test is just one of many steps India takes to safeguard its position as a regional power capable of deterring any adversary and maintaining peace and stability in the face of emerging challenges from global powers like China and the US. The author is a PhD candidate at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
EXCLUSIVE Haunting diary entries reveal the heartbreaking truth about John Wayne Gacy's forgotten victims READ MORE: Killer clown was a 'narcissist' with 'no conscience', expert says By RUTH WALKER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 12:12 GMT, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 12:12 GMT, 30 November 2024 e-mail View comments The phone rings in Kim Byers’ kitchen. It’s 7.30am on May 10, 1994, and she’s making breakfast for the family before school - a regular busy Tuesday morning. But today is not like other days. Today, Kim's father is calling to give her the news she’s been waiting 14 years to hear. ‘He’s gone,' her dad says. 'Gacy’s dead.’ Kim was just 16 when John Wayne Gacy lured her friend Rob Piest from the Illinois pharmacy where they both worked, before murdering him, then dumping him in the Des Plaines River. Kim was the last person to see Rob alive and, aged just 17, was a key witness in the case against Gacy She was the last person to see Rob, 15, alive, and the evidence Kim provided, as key witness at his trial, was enough to secure the death penalty. The notorious serial killer spent 14 years on Death Row. When, finally, he was dead, it felt like the closing of a huge book. Kim turned her back to the living room where her daughters were watching Sesame Street, and melted to the floor, sobbing quietly: ‘He’s gone.’ ‘Why are you crying, Mommy?’ Little Courtney had wandered from her spot in front of the TV and crawled on to her lap, and was now dabbing at her mom's tears. Courtney Lund O'Neil remembers the moment clearly, as Kim repeated a lesson that was drilled into her for as long as she could remember: this world is not safe; danger lurks around every corner. ‘In life, always be careful,' she told her daughter. 'There are bad men out there. If a man pulls up in a van and offers you a ride or a popsicle or to see his puppies, you do not go. Never go. If he takes you anyway, you fight. You scream. You never give up. If he says he will kill your parents if you scream out, scream.’ Gacy raped, tortured, and killed at least 33 young men , burying many of them underneath his ranch-style house in Norwood Park township, near Chicago. Rob Piest was just 15 when he was lured to his death by John Wayne Gacy The film receipt from Nisson Pharmacy placed Rob at Gacy's house, and helped convict the killer Gacy's grinning mugshot - he was found guilty of murdering 33 boys and young men Kim’s proximity to the case - she had accidentally bumped up against Gacy in the pharmacy, looked into his dark eyes before he drove her friend to his death - changed her forever. In her new book, Postmortem: What Survives the John Wayne Gacy Murders , Courtney says: ‘What haunts my mother will also come to haunt me.’ As she grew up, she was increasingly curious about her mom’s remarkable link to this case that made headlines around the world: the ‘Killer Clown’ who would regularly dress as ‘Pogo’ at local parties, and gained infamy for his sinister clown paintings. So, when Courtney herself became a mother, Kim presented her with the diaries she wrote as a teenager and young woman. ‘I read it and was changed,’ she writes. ‘When I think about the mothers, I think about my own motherhood. All the unknowns, both beautiful and painful, I’m yet to hold... I wonder how any of the parents survived the experience of losing a son. I don’t know how anyone truly could.’ The day after Rob disappeared, Kim wrote in her diary: 'He never came back to the store and he never went home. Rob would never run away, he had no reason to' 'I can just imagine Rob lying out in some empty forest — alive but unable to move — crying for help with no one answering him' Kim wanted to know about her mom’s remarkable link to this case that made headlines around the world: the ‘Killer Clown’ who would regularly dress as ‘Pogo’ at local parties When Gacy finally gave a statement to police, he denied even talking to Rob The diary entries - while irregularly written - reveal in haunting detail a teenage Kim's innermost thoughts and fears, starting the day after her friend's disappearance December 12, 1978 'Today was an absolutely miserable day. It started out good. I got up at 9.00 and took a bath. Then I got a phone call from a youth officer — he [Rob] never came back to the store and he never went home. Rob would never run away, he had no reason to. And this guy Gacy claims he never talked to Rob. I can’t believe Rob would have lied to us. But someone is obviously lying. 'I held my cool for the whole day. But right before we were supposed to leave for the meet — I was talking to Mr Tanner (school counselor) and I just started crying. I feel so scared, worried and helpless. I can just imagine Rob lying out in some empty forest — alive but unable to move — crying for help with no one answering him. It is just not fair — Rob never did anything wrong to anyone. 'I pray he has just run off somewhere and is at least safe! Kerry will call me and let me know any new news. I can’t talk about it anymore — my heart is being ripped apart. By the way we lost our meet.' Read More EXCLUSIVE Nancy Grace reveals new evidence in Ellen Greenberg 'suicide' case December 13, 1978 'Well, no word about Rob yet. I feel worse and worse as time goes on. It’s the not knowing that’s ripping me apart. I called Ken [Rob's brother] at 2.30. He said they have Gacy under surveillance. Tailed him and then lost him after 2 blocks — I could do better than that. I had a really morbid dream last night — (had it twice). We found Rob in a trunk of a beat-up old gold car. Any significance?????' Early that morning, Gacy had reluctantly given a statement to the police. Unaware that Kim had seen him talking with Rob, he denied he'd had anything to do with him. Strangely, he was covered in thick mud - which cops would eventually learn was a result of pushing his car out of sludge near the river after dumping Rob's body. Kim didn't know any of this at the time, of course, but perhaps her dream did have some significance after all? The next day, she went to school as usual, but was chilled to learn of her growing role in the case against the prime suspect. Cops had obtained a search warrant for Gacy's house, and placed an officer outside the Byers' home as protection. 'If she witnessed what she said she witnessed, she could be in danger,' writes Courtney. 'Someone working with Gacy could potentially cause her harm. Come after her.' December 14, 1978 'Well, still no sign of Rob... I was still depressed. Cried twice... They (police) have a theory! I hope they find him soon. Also, they put the case up to the Grand Jury — he says I’m the key witness. I’m scared, say they come after me?!! Yuck.' The moment cops entered Gacy's house, the were hit with the smell of decay. They left that first search with no body, but with enough evidence to ensure Gacy remained in their sights. 'Authorities found creepy oddities: the strange Tiki-style bar, the gallery wall of clown paintings, a hallway that looked like it was out of a haunted house, with bizarre yellow and brown zigzag lines on the walls, and then, a trap door that accessed a crawl space,' writes Courtney. Kim’s (left) proximity to the case changed her forever. Her daughter Courtney (right) was similarly haunted by the murders 'Still no sign of Rob,' Kim wrote in her diary. 'I was still depressed. Cried twice... They (police) have a theory! I hope they find him soon' Gacy covers his face as he's led into the courtroom in December 1978 As police searched below his house, they recovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men 'They found startling mementos — a Maine West High School class ring; a 6mm pistol; handcuffs and keys; an identification card that was not Gacy’s. A film receipt.' That film receipt was from Nisson Pharmacy, with the serial number 36119. Kim had put it in the pocket of Rob's blue puffer jacket when she borrowed it on the day he went missing. December 18, 1978 'Mondays, yuck. Got up, took a shower, Mom took me to school. Was called into the office to speak with Mr Adams [the youth officer assigned to the case] and another detective. They found a pendant — I can’t remember if Rob had one on. I wish Rob would show up. I have a strange feeling something will happen tomorrow — call it women’s intuition — But first of all, the film stub I put in Rob’s coat pocket Monday is number 36119, the 19th (the film is not back yet) is tomorrow.' December 19, 1978 'Well, I guess my hunches were right. I came home after school to get something to eat before I went shopping, The phone rang. They asked me questions about the film slip. My guess is that they found it. Will pray for Rob.' The receipt proved Rob was at Gacy's house - and was enough to justify a second search warrant. With Gacy under arrest for weed possession, police descended on the property - focusing their attention on that eerie crawl space that smelled of death. December 22, 1978 'Mom came in and told me they found lots of bodies in Gacy’s house — and he is now leading them on a search for Rob’s... Gacy has confessed to 20 murders. They have not yet found Rob’s body. He said he dumped it into the Des Plaines River over the Kankakee Bridge — that’s far and wide. What sent them back for the 2nd search of the house was my film slip. They found it in Gacy’s garbage can — and did not realize that it came from Rob.' Christmas came and went, but there was little to celebrate. By December 28, the body count had hit 21 at Gacy’s house, and there were still more places to search. Rob was not recovered until the river started to unfreeze in the spring. As bluebells emerged from the hard ground along the bank of the Des Plaines River, a crane operator spotted a body floating by Dresden Lock. April 9, 1979 'They found Rob today — in Morris where the Des Plaines River meets the Illinois... Autopsy will be tomorrow (Tues). Dental something will be Thursday. Funeral is not planned yet but will be soon. Will stay home part of the day tomorrow. I need some time for myself.' The following year, Gacy stood trial for the murder of 33 young men and boys. His youngest victims were 14, the eldest just 21. As expected, Kim was a key witness. As she stood in the courtroom, willing the man who had cold-bloodedly raped and murdered her friend, to meet her eyes, Gacy refused to look up. 'Kim thought he was a coward for not looking.' On March 12, 1980, it took a jury less than two hours to find him guilty. He was sentenced to death, but remained on Death Row for 14 years. 'Just as an earthquake destroys a town or city or small country,' writes Courtney, 'murder has an epicenter, where and when the devastation took place, and its aftershocks reverberate. 'With murder, the aftershocks don’t ever go away. Over the next decade, American media — tabloids, YouTubers, streaming services, sensational cable television, literature, film, documentaries — would aid in making Gacy a cult killer. 'The victims’ stories surfaced rarely; those whose lives were forever altered by the murders; the mothers and fathers who mourned; the ones who loved the young men Gacy killed for his pleasure. For decades, these “other” stories became buried by the buzz and loudness of Gacy — still so very alive, even after his final breath.' After multiple appeals, he was eventually executed by lethal injection early on May 10, 1994. 'Gacy, now in his fifties, and no longer the thirtysomething-year-old murderer posing as an ambitious businessman, was set to be executed after midnight,' writes Courtney. 'In his final hours he didn’t seem worried; he still proclaimed his innocence; and he also talked about the Chicago Cubs to the guards. His last meal was fried shrimp, fried chicken, French fries, and strawberries.' Outside demonstrators sang the song by Steam, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, while others chanted 'Strap down the clown!' 'Gacy was first injected with sodium thiopental, which put him to sleep,' writes Courtney. Some of Gacy's victims. As of 2023, five or six of the young men he murdered are still unidentified 'But an error occurred: a clog in the IV line delayed the second injection. Gacy lay there, about to enter the in between, while technicians prepared his execution. 'About ten to 20 minutes later, the clog was cleared and the second drug, pancuronium bromide, entered Gacy’s bloodstream. 'The third and final drug, potassium chloride, stopped the beating of Gacy’s heart. In the first hour of May 10, 1994, at 12.58am, the monster was dead.' For Kim, her overwhelming sense was one of relief. 'Finally, that guy is dead.' But for other families, there would be no peace. At the time of his death, eight of Gacy's victims remained unidentified. As DNA technology advanced, authorities reopened the case and, on November 29, 2011, the first unknown victim was given a name: William George Bundy, a 19-year-old diver and gymnast. 'Some victims are still unnamed,' writes Courtney. 'The most recent one identified was Francis Wayne Alexander in 2021. In 2023, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, five remain unidentified, after being buried on June 12, 1981. 'However, as of 2023, there is still current debate around Michael Marino’s identification as Victim No 14. According to his mother, still living, there was not a positive DNA match after his body was exhumed. So perhaps that number is six. 'Either way, those mothers lived most of their lives without ever knowing what happened to their children.' Postmortem: What Survives the John Wayne Gacy Murders by Courtney Lund O'Neil is published by Citadel on December 24 Illinois Share or comment on this article: Haunting diary entries reveal the heartbreaking truth about John Wayne Gacy's forgotten victims e-mail Add comment
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflConcord Police and the U.S. Marshals collaborated to apprehend a fugitive involved in a domestic violence incident. According to a social media post by the Concord Police Department , on December 9, officers dispatched to a domestic disturbance discovered more than just discord behind closed doors. Upon arriving at the residence for the domestic violence call, a protective sweep unveiled an illegally modified short-barrel rifle, complete with a high-capacity magazine. The weapon found loaded added a menacing layer to the already volatile situation, especially since the suspect, identified as having previous felony convictions, was nowhere to be found. He had fled, turning the domestic response into a manhunt. Detectives promptly secured a warrant and joined forces with the United States Marshals Service to track down the accused. The fugitive was spotted in another city, where, officials report, he was apprehended without incident. The coordinated effort showcased the synergy between local police forces and federal agencies when confronting the specter of domestic violence intertwined with illegal firearms possession.
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Middle East. Biden spoke at the White House hours after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country following more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family . Biden said the United States was monitoring reports of the whereabouts of Assad, with Russian state media saying he had fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration said it had no intention of intervening. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended for those troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted “precision air strikes" on IS camps and operations in Syria. U.S. Central Command said the operation hit more than 75 targets. “We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try and take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its credibility, and create a safe haven," Biden said, using a different acronym for the group. "We will not let that happen.” The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which the U.S. says is a terrorist organization with links to al-Qaida, although the group says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. “We will remain vigilant,” Biden said. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.” He added that the groups are “saying the right things now.” “But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions,” Biden said. A senior Biden administration official, when asked about contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders after Assad's departure, said Washington was in contact with Syrian groups of all kinds. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the U.S. has focused over the past several days on chemical weapons that had been controlled by the Assad government, aiming to ensure they were secured. Still, Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts — including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Like Biden, Trump, who takes office in five-plus weeks, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine , noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” Vice President-elect JD Vance , a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. The president-elect wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and Trump called for an immediate ceasefire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders . Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record, to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro also said “no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime.” As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition forces freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus as the civil war was intensifying. "We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” Biden said at the White House. "We believe he’s alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.” The president added: “We have to identify where he is." The U.S. has no new evidence that Tice is alive but continues to operate under the assumption that he is, according to a U.S. official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, added that the U.S. will continue to work to identify Tice's whereabouts and to try to bring him home. Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter TodayWorld’s oldest surviving market running for 1,000 YEARS holds its final Christmas meat auction before it CLOSES
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From Magnus Eze , Enugu The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, has alleged that security was being politicised in some parts of the country. He called on Nigeria politicians and leaders at various levels to begin to make things easier for the people including bringing permanent solutions to insecurity. Onaga also appealed to Nigerians to stop adding suffering to fellow Nigerians with the outrageous price hikes on food and household items. In his 2024 Christmas press briefing in Enugu, Onaga lamented that prices of food stuff and other items were skyrocketing because of the manner Nigerians were fixing prices. He lamented that most Nigerians were suffering to the extent that a tuber of yam sold for far less than N1,000 now goes for over N5,000. “And what worsens it is that the same system that is making things difficult for fellow Nigerians made it even difficult for them to go to their farms – insecurity. Let us note that very clearly it becomes obvious for us Nigerians that the issue of insecurity is not only being politicised but even ethnicised. We are doing a little bit of ethnic cleansing in some areas and then we are blaming the foreigners. No, we are the one doing it. “Here in the South East, we started killing ourselves saying that we are killing those who are supposed to be killing us. We are destroying ourselves. We have done it for the past three years since 2021. We become cowards of our own actions here in the South East. “Let’s go over to the NorthEast and all other parts of the North, go down to Benue, you saw politics, you saw ethnic cleansing. Why will we sit down and plan our own destruction and few people will be profiting from that? “That is what the Israelite were suffering. Southern Judah was against Northern Judea. They were against one another and they were destroying themselves. Then foreigners will come – Assyrians and Babylonians – came in. So, the people were in trouble. I thank whatever government that thinks it is thinking right for us but let them think correctly. If you are trying to improve the economic situation of the country you don’t do everything at the same time. “We have kept quiet for some time now. You cannot be making it difficult for people to get money because you said you are doing the so-called cashless restructure that is not there and you gave the same money they are getting to go and buy again. What kind of economy are we copying? Where has it ever been done in the world?” He expressed hope that things would get better during this Christmas. Continuing, he said: “Can our politicians think otherwise and begin to make things easier? Will our politicians begin to really believe that we have some measure of intelligence? My dear fellow Nigerians, let us not add to the sufferings that are coming onto us by making things more difficult. At this Christmas, try to help everybody celebrate by bringing down your prices, bring down whatever you are doing. Yes, even in the church you should do something to bring down whatever levies so that people can really feel the impact of the celebration of love and celebration of joy at Christmas.”
DAMATURU – Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC) Borno South has distributed 25 bulls to all Army formations in his constituency to enable them celebrate the 2024 Christmas and the New Year 2025. The Senator in his usual gesture has also distributed food and non-food items to Christian Communities across the constituency, even as he visited the office of the Theatre Commander, North East ‘Operation Hadin KAI’, Major General Waihid Shauibu on Tuesday where he appealed for reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road and other roads to enable easy movement of good and services. Flagging off the distribution of the Christmas largesse to leaders and representative of various groups, clubs and associations irrespective of political consideration, Ndume said, “This is a routine gesture to enable my people celebrate the Christmas without hitches. “The military have been doing wonderfully well in the fight against insurgency, especially in Southern Borno which is now very peaceful compared to the past. “We will continue to give the military the desired support and cooperation to fulfil their mandate or rules of engagement for peace to reign forever not only in our constituency, or Borno, but the country as a whole. I visited the Theatre Commander today who is a very good and dedicated Army General in the fight against Boko Haram. “I also used the opportunity and appealed to his noble office to intensify efforts in degrading remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists still hibernating around the Mandara Mountains and other hideouts. “I want to also pray that God will grant us successful Christmas celebrations and the new year in advance”. Ndume stated. He also enjoined all and sundry, especially people from the constituency to continue pray for peace and give their maximum support to the present administration of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in their quest to better the lives of the citizenry.None
Bringing Simon Ekpa to Justice