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kb99 Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. RELATED COVERAGE Watchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise US prices and won’t rule out revenge prosecutions THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.” — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy week Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% in afternoon trading Friday and headed for a weekly loss. The benchmark index hit its latest in a string of records a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25 points. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets mostly fell. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday. African Union chairperson candidates advocate for permanent UN Security Council seats NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three African leaders seeking to head the African Union have detailed their plans for regional security amid conflicts and political coups while strongly advocating for inter-Africa trade. The race for chairperson debate was held Friday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato are seeking to be elected as chairperson for the 55-member state African Union. They had a two-hour debate Friday in which they all advocated for two permanent seats for African countries at the U.N. Security Council to effectively represent the continent with the youngest population. The three are seeking to convince most African countries before the February election to succeed the African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer.Fred Harris, former US senator from Oklahoma and presidential hopeful, dies at 94Discussion on the Management Strategy and Profit Model of Children's Playground 12-17-2024 12:14 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Children's playground is currently one of the most popular children's industries. Due to the increasing market demand in recent years, children's playground has ushered in a peak period and received a lot of attention. What methods are available to enhance one's competitiveness in the face of this situation? Here are some business strategies for children's playgrounds. Image: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/2123/image_other/2024-11/1-98.jpg Promotion methodsPromotion is a common means of operating children's playgrounds, and the public's preference for cheap and affordable things stems from the small mentality of most people who love to take advantage. And if the discount is strong enough, it will attract consumers' attention more, help to gather popularity and promote consumption. Diversified profitabilityA amusement park that needs to achieve high profit returns cannot rely solely on children's amusement park services. Its unilateral strength and ability are limited. Therefore, it is necessary to use our brains to develop and mobilize related children's peripheral industries and products. Image: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/2123/image_other/2024-11/2-78.jpgImage: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/2123/image_other/2024-11/3-82.jpg Profit from promotional activitiesPromotional activities can be said to be a means of fully ensuring the gathering effect of amusement park popularity. Conducting corresponding promotional theme activities at regular intervals can not only reactivate the potential of the amusement park, but also attract new customers. Cooperative profitCollaborate with various training institutions, such as English training classes, to enable children to learn other knowledge during the learning process; Collaborate with kindergartens to provide them with the necessary equipment for playing games; Collaborate with early childhood education institutions to conduct courses or provide commercial sponsorship to expand brand awareness and influence. Image: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/2123/image_other/2024-11/5-47.jpg Through the analysis of multiple successful children's amusement park cases, we found that parks with innovative designs and high-quality facilities usually achieve higher return on investment. For example, some parks not only enhance the fun of the park by introducing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, but also create new sources of income, further driving profit Media Contact Company Name: Dileni Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=discussion-on-the-management-strategy-and-profit-model-of-childrens-playground ] Country: China Website: https://www.diloniplayground.com/ This release was published on openPR.

CITY HALL — Following more than six weeks of bitter debate, delays and an about-face by Mayor Brandon Johnson on a controversial property tax hike, the City Council on Monday narrowly passed a $17.1 billion budget for 2025. Alderpeople voted 27-23 on the main budget ordinance around 5 p.m. Monday, ensuring its passage. In the end, the city’s property tax levy was not raised at all — a dramatic change from Johnson’s original proposal to increase it by $300 million, which was unanimously rejected by alderpeople in mid-November. Johnson then floated a potential $150 million property tax hike before reducing it further to $68.5 million. The Mayor’s Office repeatedly argued the increase was necessary to avoid mass layoffs at the police and fire departments as well as cuts to other vital city services. While the $68.5 million proposal and a slew of other fees and taxes did make it through the necessary City Council committees last week, a potential final vote on Friday was called off when it became clear the budget did not have the support to pass. The vote was then pushed to Monday afternoon, while over the weekend Johnson’s budget team briefed alderpeople on a new plan that scrapped a property tax hike entirely. Instead, the budget will fill that hole by delaying payments on $40 million in debt tied to the Michael Reese hospital site in Bronzeville and saving $2.8 million by cutting middle management jobs across city departments, according to materials distributed to alderpeople on Sunday. Other revenue will come from cutting 10 positions in the Mayor’s Office to save $1 million as well as hopefully bringing in $10 million by forcing organizers of large events to help reimburse the cost of police overtime, according to WTTW . Despite the last-minute changes and elimination of the property tax hike, the budget proposal still features numerous fee and tax increases that will impact the daily lives of Chicagoans. That includes a three-cent increase in the checkout bag tax from 7 cents to 10 cents, as well as a $5 price hike for residential parking permits for neighbors under 65 and the expansion of congestion fees for rideshare trips Downtown. A tax on streaming services will also go up 1.25 percent. The city’s personal property lease tax , which impacts car and equipment rentals as well as cloud computing services, will increase from 9 to 11 percent. That hike would yield $128 million, according to the Tribune . The budget also relies on a 3.25 percent increase on taxes paid by valet parking and parking garage businesses as well as the doubling of a license fee from $660 to $1,320 to establish a “wholesale food establishment,” among other increases. Just over $11 million in additional revenue is projected from adding more speed cameras, according to the Sun-Times. The mayor’s spending plan taps into a “record” $570 million surplus of tax increment financing dollars. That will send $131 million to the city, around $300 million to Chicago Public Schools and the rest split between taxing bodies like the Chicago Park District, City Colleges and others. The City Council had until Dec. 31 to pass a balanced budget or face a potential government shutdown, something that looked increasingly likely as a final budget vote was repeatedly pushed back. But while the budget did finally pass on Monday, many alderpeople — even those who voted in favor — remained critical of both the final spending plan as well as the extended and often contentious negotiations overseen by the Mayor’s Office this fall. Ald. Maria Hadden (49th), who was a “yes” vote, nevertheless had harsh words for Johnson over how he approached negotiating his spending plan — which was passed a month later than last year’s with last-minute add-ons to win support. “How we do things is just as important as what we do, and the way you’ve led this process has left the City Council fractured ... As we enter the next year with the promise of attacks from a new presidential administration, we are not prepared, and the fault lies squarely with you and your administration,” she said. “This budget may have some progressive outcomes, but the process to get here was anything but progressive,” Hadden said. Several alderpeople, including Alds. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th), Jessie Fuentes (26th) and Daniel La Spata (1st), did offer praise for the budget, especially the compromises made to eliminate the property tax hike and cut vacant positions. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) pointed to a $272 million advanced pension payment and a 3 percent cut of vacant positions across city departments as proof that the final budget was “fiscally responsible.” “This budget ... will deliver zero [increases to] property taxes, will deliver the things that our residents need,” he said. “[It] will help make sure that you have summer opportunities, will make sure that people have affordable and accessible mental health care.” Numerous alderpeople who voted against the budget plan warned that next year’s process would likely be just as difficult at this year’s — if not worse. “I wanted to see more structural stuff. And I’m very concerned that we don’t have a stronger structural fix in this budget,” Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) told reporters before Monday’s meeting. “I worry about what the ratings agencies are going to say about us not having this.” The Chinatown and Bridgeport alderperson, who voted “no” on the budget, urged Johnson to start next year’s budget process earlier than October, while describing this year’s process as “disorganized.” “It’s been rough. I think it’s been rough on everybody, I think no one, from any perspective, will tell you otherwise, that this has somehow been an easy process,” Lee said. Ald. Bill Conway (34th) also voted “no” and said he was not won over by the minimal amounts of cuts added over the weekend to the final budget plan — or the decision to delay payments on the $40 million in debt for the Walter Reese site. “In five years, the city budget has gone from about $11 billion to $17 billion, and that is not sustainable, and that’s something we need to be looking at,” he said. “Most of this budget is really being balanced with extra fees and taxes, and being balanced on the back of working families. And I don’t think that’s right. I think we can do much more in terms of finding efficiencies in this government.” Conway and Lee were joined in their “no” votes by a coalition of 15 alderpeople who released a letter on Sunday calling for an additional $823 million in spending reductions in 2025. The group is also advocating for additional funding to resume the use of gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter and fund a new Southwest Side police station, among other priorities. Ald. Marty Quinn (13th), who signed the letter, called out Johnson for not supporting the new police station, which could be located at a vacant National Guard armory near Midway Airport in his ward that the state of Illinois has agreed to sell to the city for $1 . The Johnson administration has so far refused to consider using the building as a police station. “I cannot support this budget because the residents of the 13th Ward feel we are working against them,” Quinn said during formal comments before the budget vote. “Mr. Mayor: Southwest Side residents cannot keep waiting for an answer as to why this critical project is not included in this budget.” One sticking point that emerged late in this year’s budget negotiations was over a pilot program known as Plow the Sidewalks that aims to use city dollars to shovel sidewalks in select areas across the city. La Spata vowed earlier this month that he would not vote for any spending plan that did not include $1 million to launch the program in 2025. Transportation and disability rights groups have pushed for the pilot for years, and a working group released a report in May recommending four pilot zones for the sidewalk-clearing operation. But the program has drawn the ire of Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th), who refused to vote for any budget that funded it. Until Monday, it wasn’t clear if the final budget would pay for the plan. At the last minute, $500,000 was allocated for the program, although a City Council vote will still be required to determine the parameters of the pilot’s future, which was part of the original ordinance, La Spata said. That apparently was enough to convince Sposato, who voted in favor of the overall budget. La Spata said the Plow the Sidewalks program will begin in December 2025, and that the city will seek grants and philanthropic funding to supplement the $500,000. In remarks after the vote, Johnson thanked the alderpeople who helped get the budget “over the finish line” and touted its funding of mental health resources, summer jobs for kids and other programs. “While this budget process may have been different than the past, it has truly been a collaborative process that included unprecedented levels of input not just from City Council members but from the people of this city,” Johnson said. Get a free print! Help us reach our goal of 900 subscribers by Dec. 31 to sustain and expand our coverage and you’ll get a free neighborhood print. There are three ways to qualify: Purchase a new subscription , upgrade your current subscription or gift a subscription . Don’t wait — support Block Club and we’ll send you a print of your choice! Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: Related

AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:15 p.m. ESTSaquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing as Eagles beat Cowboys 41-7 to clinch NFC East

FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setupAI Ease Unveils Free AI Background Generator for Effortless Image Enhancement 12-24-2024 06:34 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire In the digital world, great visuals are a must for standing out, be it for professional photographers, e-commerce sellers, or content creators. However, creating the perfect background for your images can be time-consuming and costly. Thankfully, with the power of AI, you can create stunning backgrounds without the hassle. The article explains how to make an AI background online using the ai background generator online [ https://www.aiease.ai/ai-background/ ]. This tool is 100% free, AI-powered, has no limit on usage and does not require any account creation. 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Media Contact Company Name: Aiease Contact Person: Mike Hasy Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ai-ease-unveils-free-ai-background-generator-for-effortless-image-enhancement ] State: New York Country: United States Website: https://www.aiease.ai/ This release was published on openPR.

Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That's false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau's informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day's events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office's counterterrorism division told the inspector general's office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D'Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report's findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!" reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray's resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray's announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI's involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.” — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .Maharashtra election results: With 'Sajag raho' campaign, Sangh Parivar drives BJP-led juggernaut

Baltimore (7-4) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), Monday The Chargers will host the Ravens in a showdown of two of the AFC’s top teams. The Chargers are back in prime time after beating Cincinnati 34-27 for their fourth straight win. The Ravens lost 18-16 to the Steelers, their second straight road defeat. Former Baltimore RB J.K. Dobbins has been excellent since joining the Chargers, rushing for 726 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson is 6-2 on “Monday Night Football” with 20 TD passes and no interceptions. Ravens K Justin Tucker missed two field goals last week and is 4 for 12 from 50-plus yards since the start of last season. Prior to its victory over the Bengals, Los Angeles had held each of its previous nine opponents to 20 points or fewer. San Francisco (5-5) at Green Bay (7-3) The Packers look to get even after losing 24-21 to the 49ers in the playoffs last season. Green Bay RB Josh Jacobs has at least 90 yards from scrimmage over his past six games. The Packers are tied for fourth in the league with 19 takeaways, but don’t have any over their past two games. Niners TE George Kittle is expected back after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. San Francisco has lost a league-worst three games after leading in the final two minutes of regulation. Arizona (6-4) at Seattle (5-5) Arizona is returning from its bye week with back-to-back road games against the Seahawks and the Vikings. The Cardinals are on a four-game winning streak and have won five of their past six. Arizona safety Budda Baker continues to play at a high level in his eighth season, with 100 tackles through 10 games and a team-high seven tackles for a loss. Seattle WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has two 100-yard receiving games the past two weeks, and will be facing the NFL’s 21st ranked passing defense. Philadelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) The Eagles visit the Rams seeking their seventh straight win. The Eagles are coming off a 26-18 victory over the Commanders. The Rams got back on track with a 28-22 win at the New England. Philadelphia has been supercharged by RB Saquon Barkley, who has 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games. Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, The Texans snapped a two-game skid with a Monday night win over the Cowboys where Joe Mixon ran for three TDs. Tennessee has lost two in a row and five of the past six. One of the key matchups will be the Texans’ pass rush against a Tennessee offensive line that has allowed 33 sacks, 27 with QB Will Levis in the game. Since returning from a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder two weeks ago, Levis has completed 64.8% of his passes (35 of 54) for 470 yards with three TD passes and only one interception. The upset-minded Panthers will need to rely heavily upon RBs Chuba Hubbard and rookie Jonathon Brooks, the team’s second-round draft pick who is expected to make his NFL debut. Hubbard is coming off a career-high 153-yard rushing performance against the Giants prior to the bye. The Chiefs suffered their first loss last week against Buffalo. So Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes should be plenty motivated when he faces a Carolina secondary that has allowed opposing QBs to complete 69% of their passes and 18 TD passes this season. The Dolphins will bring their first two-game win streak of the season into Sunday’s game. Miami beat the Patriots without QB Tua Tagovailoa in Week 5. The Patriots also did not have QB Drake Maye at that point. Tagovailoa, who is playing this time, has not lost to New England, going 6-0 in his career. The Dolphins are only allowing 199 yards passing per game and have not given up 100 yards rushing in four straight games. Miami struggles to contain mobile quarterbacks though, and Maye has rushed for at least 20 yards in each of his past four outings. The Giants will have a new quarterback when they play host to the Buccaneers. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Daniel Jones as the team returned from a bye week and will start Tommy DeVito, who has not played this season. The Giants have lost five straight and are winless in five games at home. The Baker Mayfield-led Bucs also are coming off a bye. They have lost four straight with the past two coming against the Chiefs and the 49ers. Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans returned to practice this week after sitting out three full games and much of a fourth because of a hamstring injury. Both teams are on a losing streak: The Commanders have dropped two in a row and the Cowboys have lost five straight. Washington is a double-digit favorite against Dallas for the first time since at least 2003. Commanders coach Dan Quinn faces the Cowboys for the first time since serving as their defensive coordinator the past three seasons. Dallas’ star pass rusher Micah Parsons has six of his 43 1/2 career sacks against Washington, more than any opponent. QB Anthony Richardson made a triumphant return to the Colts’ lineup last weekend against the Jets after being benched two games. The Lions are the third team in the Super Bowl era to win at least three of their first 10 games by 35 points or more. Detroit’s All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been nearly flawless of late, setting a franchise record with a TD catch in eight consecutive games. He caught all 11 passes thrown his direction last week and 24 of the 26 over the past three weeks. Denver ended an eight-game losing streak to the Raiders with its victory in October. The Broncos are 0-4 at Allegiant Stadium. Broncos QB Bo Nix is piling up the accolades, winning both AFC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week. And WR Courtland Sutton has four consecutive games with at least 70 receiving yards Raiders TE Brock Bowers is the main constant for an otherwise struggling offense, putting together one of the finest rookie seasons at his position. He has 70 receptions for 706 yards and three TDs for the season. QB Sam Darnold and the Vikings look to win their fourth straight game and at least keep pace with Detroit in the NFC North. The second-place Vikings trail the Lions by a game in the NFC North. Chicago has dropped four in a row after losing to Green Bay last week on a blocked field goal as time expired. Darnold already has career highs in wins and touchdown passes and is on pace for career bests in passer rating, yards per game and completion percentage. Caleb Williams looked more comfortable against Green Bay in the first game with Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron was fired. Williams threw for 231 yards and ran for a career-high 70. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Preorder the Trump Golden Driver, and prepare to experience the iconic and unrivaled Trump Golf championship courses. SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trump Golf: The Game has officially opened its presale, allowing fans to preorder exclusive in-game items ahead of the June 2025 launch. Developed by DTG LLC, a state-of-the-art gaming studio that delivers innovative technology, this multiplayer mobile golf game will bring the excitement of the world-renowned Trump Golf championship courses to the palm of your hand, delivering real-world experiences. Trump Golf: The Game, officially licensed by President Donald J. Trump , transports players to Trump Golf's iconic public and private courses, including the legendary Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral in Miami . 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This exciting game has been designed for players of all skill levels, and we are thrilled to give people the chance to experience Trump Golf's legendary golf courses, in addition to playing as President Trump himself, in an entirely new way." Visit TrumpGolf.Game to pre-order the game and purchase your exclusive digital Trump Golden Driver or Trump Signature Driver. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer before the game's official launch in June 2025 . Available on iOS and Android. About DTG LLC: DTG LLC is a gaming studio that specializes in blending distinct genres to create entirely new experiences. The company collaborates with celebrities and public figures to develop unique, interactive opportunities for their supporters. By harnessing the power of mobile gaming, DTG LLC enables fans to connect with their favorite icons in innovative ways, merging entertainment and engagement like never before. Website: TrumpGolf.Game Social Media: @TrumpGolfGame on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. "Trump" and the associated design are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of DTTM Operations LLC. Trump Golf The Game is not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump , The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals. DTG, LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement which may be terminated or revoked according to its terms. TrumpGolf.Game is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trump-golf-the-game-announces-exclusive-presale-for-mobile-game-launch-where-players-experience-the-award-winning-trump-golf-portfolio-through-their-mobile-devices-302332866.html SOURCE DTG, LLC

Toy ‘shop’ window has nothing for saleBill Belichick didn't wait around for a call that he might not get from an NFL team. With no guarantees that another opportunity might come his way — only the Atlanta Falcons interviewed Belichick last offseason — and unsure whether he could find the right fit in the NFL, the 72-year-old future Hall of Fame coach decided to go back to school. Belichick took his eight Super Bowl rings to North Carolina on a mission to build a college program the way he constructed two dynasties during 24 seasons with the New England Patriots. It starts with doing things his way. The Patriot Way is legendary. Perhaps it'll translate into the Tar Heel way. That's to be determined. But Belichick is back doing what he loves: coaching. And, he's going to run the show with his guys around him. An NFL team giving Belichick full control the way he had in New England seemed unlikely. People are also reading... Success at North Carolina could change that thinking. For now, Belichick's quest to break Don Shula's all-time record for most wins in the NFL is on hold. He's 15 victories short but the buyout clause in his college contract — a $10 million fee if done before June 2025 and $1 million after that date — leaves the window open for a return to the league. If Belichick stays in college or retires without returning to the NFL, his legacy is already cemented. Winning at North Carolina will only enhance his reputation. Losing won't impact his NFL resume. "He's one of the all-time great coaches. What he's done for the NFL and the game, we all know where he'll end up — in the Hall of Fame with a gold jacket," Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said Wednesday shortly before Belichick agreed on a five-year deal with North Carolina that pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary annually with up to $3.5 million in bonuses per year. Belichick has his detractors. There's no denying he couldn't win without Tom Brady. He was 29-39 and had no playoff wins without No. 12 in his final four seasons with the Patriots. Critics have labeled him a cheater because of the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. He overlooked Aaron Hernandez's issues. He was tough on players, even alienating Brady in the end and letting him walk him away in free agency in 2020 only to see him lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl in his first season there. But Belichick instilled in players the importance of doing their job and presided over an unprecedented two-decade run of dominance that withstood changing times, free agency, salary-cap restrictions and much more. Brady has always maintained how important Belichick was for his career, giving him credit for helping him become one of the best players in sports. Now, Belichick is onto Chapel Hill in a surprise twist after he spent most of the NFL season reinventing himself as an entertaining and engaging analyst. Belichick is a football genius and his knowledge came across on television. But he also displayed a fun personality, trading quips with the Mannings and cracking jokes with Pat McAffee. "College kind of came to me this year," Belichick said at his introductory news conference. "I didn't necessarily go and seek it out. I had many coaches, probably a couple dozen coaches, talk to me and say, 'Can we come down and talk to you about these things?' Let's call it the salary cap of pro football relative to college football. The headsets, the green dot, the two-minute warning, the tablets on the sideline. Those were all rules changes this year for college football that were either or the same or similar to what we had in the NFL. These coaches said, 'Hey coach can we talk to you about how you did this? How you did that? How did you use this?'. "As those conversations started and then the personnel conversations started relative to salary cap and how you spend whatever the allotment of money you have. I'd say that started to make me a lot more aware of it because the first thing I would have to do is learn about it. .... As you learn different things about different programs you start to put it all together. There is some common threads and there's some variables." How will he do as a college coach? Nobody knows yet. Three of Belichick's former players were skeptical before he took the job. "There's a lot of things he can do, and obviously he's tremendous, and even showing his personality. But getting out there on the recruiting trail and dealing with all these college kids, that would be ..." Brady said before trailing off during a conversation on Fox's NFL pregame show last Sunday. Fellow former Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman also wondered the same. "Can you imagine NIL, and all that nonsense?" Gronkowski said. Edelman added: "Can you imagine Bill on a couch recruiting an 18-year-old?" But Belichick doesn't have to recruit kids on visits. These are new times in college sports. The NIL has dramatically changed the landscape. Plus, Belichick's name is enough. Just like Deion Sanders at Colorado. "I think it could be great for this game, honestly, if he can find a way to make college football more like this in terms of what's being asked of the coaches, the recruiting staff, the personnel, the NIL, and all those different things," Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen said. "If he can make it a little bit less demanding on some of the coaches and create a great atmosphere and have success, I think it's great for our game. It's pretty cool to see, actually." Time for Belichick to do his job. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Critics say these are the 16 best Netflix original series of 2024; go watch them before they’re goneElon Musk has sparked significant controversy by supporting Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), ahead of crucial parliamentary elections. His endorsement came via an opinion piece in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, a publication owned by the Axel Springer Group. This act led to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor, who expressed her dissent on Musk’s social media platform, X. Germany is set to have early elections on February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government due to economic disputes. In his article, Musk hailed the AfD as “the last spark of hope” for Germany’s future, suggesting that the party could ensure economic prosperity, cultural integrity, and technological innovation. Despite AfD’s strong polling numbers, its leader Alice Weidel is unlikely to

Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsIsrael has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal , which Israel's Cabinet approved late Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike slammed into the Lebanese capital. Residents of Beirut and its southern suburbs have endured the most intense day of Israeli strikes since the war began nearly 14 months ago, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold. At least 24 people have killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, describing it as a crucial step toward stability, the return of displaced people to their homes and regional calm. Mikati made these comments in a statement issued just after U.S. President Joe announced the truce deal. Mikati said he discussed the ceasefire agreement with Biden by phone earlier Tuesday. The prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, and cooperating with the U.N. peacekeeping force. He also called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance the U.N. resolution. JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announced details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be national security adviser, credited Trump’s victory with helping bring the parties together toward a ceasefire in Lebanon. “Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.” He added: “But let’s be clear: The Iran Regime is the root cause of the chaos & terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.” BEIRUT — Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike on Hamra is around 400 meters (yards) from the country’s central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood in the country’s capital Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties from either strike, part of the biggest wave of attacks on the capital since the war started. Residents in central Beirut were seen fleeing after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for four targets in the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 people were injured in the strikes on the southern suburbs. BEIRUT — Hezbollah has said it accepts the ceasefire proposal with Israel, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Among the issues that may remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:40 p.m. EST

Bethune-Cookman 79, North Dakota 67Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing and moves within 100 of Dickerson's record PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season, reaching the milestone with a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. That rush gave Barkley 2,005 yards with one game left and left him exactly 100 yards from Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley could potentially top the record in next week’s finale against the New York Giants. However, that game will be mostly meaningless for the Eagles, who could opt to rest Barkley to protect him from injury ahead of the playoffs. Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the New York Jets. The Bills put the game away by capitalizing on two Jets turnovers and scoring three touchdowns over a 5:01 span in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways overall and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, including a 2-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills improved to 13-3 to match a franchise single-season record. Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing as Eagles beat Cowboys 41-7 to clinch NFC East PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 167 yards to top 2,000 on the season, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett ran and threw for scores before departing with injured ribs, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title by routing the Dallas Cowboys 41-7. Barkley has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in next week’s mostly meaningless regular-season finale to top Eric Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. The Eagles led 24-7 in the third quarter when Pickett was drilled by defensive end Micah Parsons, ending his first start in place of the concussed Jalen Hurts. Penn State coach James Franklin says Nick Saban should be college football's commissioner SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and he even has a candidate in mind: former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Franklin made the suggestion Sunday at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for their game against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday. The veteran coach was responding to a question about Penn State’s backup quarterback situation after Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri before the playoff. Pribula’s decision highlighted some of the frustrating aspects of a new college football world in the Name, Image and Likeness era and the transfer portal, forcing players to make tough decisions at inopportune times. Mayfield throws 5 TD passes and Bucs keep playoff, NFC South hopes alive with 48-14 rout of Panthers TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep their division and playoff hopes alive with a 48-14 rout of the Carolina Panthers. The team’s fifth win in the past six weeks nudged the first-place Bucs a half-game ahead of Atlanta for the best record in the NFC South at 9-7. The Falcons played on the road later Sunday night at Washington. Atlanta holds the tiebreaker in the division race and can end Tampa Bay’s three-year reign as NFC South champions by beating the Commanders and winning again next week at home against the last-place Panthers. Lakers send D'Angelo Russell to Nets in trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have traded guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton. The Lakers also sent forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks to Brooklyn. Russell averaged a career-low 12.4 points per game for the Lakers this season in a diminished role under new coach JJ Redick. Finney-Smith is a steady 3-and-D wing who fills an obvious need for the Lakers. Russell is being traded by the Lakers to the Nets for the second time in his career. He also made the move in 2017. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Rising Sun Devils: Arizona State looks to pull off another big surprise at the Peach Bowl ATLANTA (AP) — As they prepare for Arizona State’s biggest game in nearly three decades, the guys who made it happen aren’t the least bit surprised to be rated a nearly two-touchdown underdog in the College Football Playoff. That’s a familiar position for the Sun Devils. They've been an underdog most of the season. Of the eight teams still vying for a national championship, there’s no bigger surprise than 11-2 Arizona State. The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago and were picked to finish dead last in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Now, they're getting ready to face Texas in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day. Penn State's polarizing QB Drew Allar puts critics on mute and keeps winning games SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it’s usually a backhanded compliment. They say he’s a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn’t try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here’s the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that’s hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. The polarizing Allar has another chance to quiet his critics on Tuesday, when Penn State plays Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl. Feels like 1979: Nottingham Forest moves into 2nd place behind rampant Liverpool in Premier League The Premier League table is starting to have a 1979 kind of feel to it with Liverpool at the top of the standings and Nottingham Forest in second place as the closest challenger. Liverpool padded its lead with a 5-0 rout of West Ham on Sunday while upstart Nottingham Forest climbed into second place by beating Everton 2-0 to continue its surprising push for a Champions League place. Manchester City marked Pep Guardiola's 500th game in charge by beating Leicester 2-0 but is still 14 points behind Liverpool having played a game more.Dave Clawson of Wake Forest on Mack Brown: 'He's been good for college football'

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