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SOUTHERN PINES — On Friday, Dec. 13, Sunrise Theater, 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines, will be taken over by the Girl Scouts N.C. Coastal Pines Moore County Service Unit. The Girl Scouts will volunteer in concessions, at the box office and in setup and cleanup. Starting at 6 p.m., they will fill the green space with games and badge-earning opportunities. Then they will take over the screen to show "Princess Diaries" at 7 p.m. General-admission tickets are $8 and may be purchased through www.SunriseTheater.com . Girl Scouts who come in uniform may get in for $4. Half of the net profit from ticket sales will go to the Girl Scouts.President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentences of around 1,500 people convicted of crimes and pardoned 39 people. This follows his pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden, earlier this month. The White House stated that those pardoned “have shown successful rehabilitation and a strong commitment to making their communities safer,” adding that they have “successfully reintegrated into their families and communities” since the pandemic release. Those 1,500 people have been serving out home sentences for at least one year under the CARES Act, which was passed in 2020 during the pandemic. They include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters, a church deacon who works as a counselor, and a military veteran. The president had previously issued 122 commutations and 21 other pardons. He’s also broadly pardoned those convicted of the use and possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia and pardoned former U.S. service members convicted of violating a now-repealed military ban. Earlier this month, the president pardoned Hunter Biden for two federal tax and gun convictions, which were scheduled for sentencing in the coming weeks. Biden also pardoned his son for any other crime he may have committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who, along with Biden and other White House officials, had previously said that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. It’s customary for a president to grant pardons or commutations at the end of his term, using the power of the office to wipe away records or end prison terms. The power of clemency has its roots in English law. It made it across the ocean to the American colonies and stuck around. The U.S. Supreme Court has found the presidential pardon authority to be very broad. In his first term, President Donald Trump granted 237 acts of clemency, while President Barack Obama granted clemency 1,927 times in his eight years. Presidents have forgiven drug offenses, fraud convictions, Vietnam-era draft dodgers, fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and many other things. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and 34 other lawmakers are urging the president to pardon environmental and human rights lawyer Steven Donziger, who was imprisoned or under house arrest for three years because of a contempt of court charge related to his work representing farmers in a lawsuit against Chevron. Others have called on Biden to commute the sentences of federal death row prisoners. Some Democratic lawmakers have publicly said Biden should issue preemptive pardons for certain people. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the former House Democratic majority whip, responded to a question during an MSNBC interview about whether Biden should pardon Trump. “Yes, I do think so,” the longtime congressman responded. “And I think he should pardon all of those people that have been accused and have been targeted so we can clean the slate and have an air of possibilities for the future.” “If we keep digging up things of the past, I’m not too sure the country would not lose its way,” Clyburn said while also defending Biden’s decision this month to pardon his son for two federal convictions. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday that Trump should be pardoned for the New York case earlier this year in which he was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Only the governor of New York can issue that pardon because it was a state crime.

Nashville Predators (7-11-3, in the Central Division) vs. New Jersey Devils (14-7-2, in the Metropolitan Division) Newark, New Jersey; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators visit the New Jersey Devils after Roman Josi scored two goals in the Predators' 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. New Jersey has a 5-3-2 record in home games and a 14-7-2 record overall. The Devils have a 14-2-2 record in games they score three or more goals. Nashville is 7-11-3 overall and 2-5-3 on the road. The Predators are 7-2-0 in games they score at least three goals. The teams meet Monday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hischier has 10 goals and 11 assists for the Devils. Luke Hughes has over the last 10 games. Filip Forsberg has eight goals and eight assists for the Predators. Adam Wilsby has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Devils: 7-3-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.2 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Devils: None listed. Predators: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressSan Jose brings losing streak into game against Los Angeles

Inspired by Bukayo Saka, Arsenal scored five goals in a wild first half at West Ham before settling for a 5-2 win that lifted the team into second place in the English Premier League in its bid to chase down Liverpool. Saka was one of five different scorers for Arsenal at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday and also had a hand in three goals, by Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard. Kai Havertz netted the other goal for Arsenal in its biggest league victory this season. Since returning from the international break, Arsenal has beaten Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the Premier League, Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League and put another five goals past West Ham. The prolific run has coincided with the return to fitness of Odegaard, Arsenal’s playmaker and captain who missed two months with an ankle injury. Arsenal trimmed the gap to Liverpool to six points ahead of the leader’s home match against beleaguered Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal has been beaten to the title by City in each of the last two seasons but might be wanting Pep Guardiola‘s team to pull off a victory at Anfield. Saka, especially, is benefitting from Odegaard’s presence. The England winger already has 10 assists for the campaign — having played 12 of Arsenal’s 13 games — along with five goals. “I am taking a lot of pleasure from creating and scoring but the greatest pleasure is to win,” Saka said. “Let’s keep this form going. Definitely the last three games we have been back.” All of the goals in the match were in the first half. It’s just the fourth time since the Premier League began in 1992 that seven goals were scored in a game before halftime. A day after being hired as Leicester’s manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy witnessed at first-hand the scale of his task to keep the team in the Premier League. Leicester was beaten at Brentford 4-1 on Saturday, with Van Nistelrooy sitting in the stands rather than in the dugout. He officially takes over as coach on Sunday after arriving as the replacement for the fired Steve Cooper. Kevin Schade scored a hat trick and Yoane Wissa also netted for Brentford, which had to come from behind after Facunda Buonanotte’s 21st-minute opener. Van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, will begin his first full-time managerial role in English soccer with Leicester in 16th place in the 20-team league and just one point above the relegation zone. “We just had the messages last night (from Van Nistelrooy) when the appointment was made,” said Leicester first-team coach Ben Dawson, who took charge of the team against Brentford. “He wished everyone good luck and the plan is to catch up tomorrow at the training ground.” Some history was made when Justin Kluivert converted a trio of penalties — in the third, 18th and 74th minutes — for Bournemouth in its 4-2 win at Wolverhampton. That had never been achieved before in a league game. Kluivert said it was “amazing” to go into the history books but he was almost denied the opportunity. “I was not completely sure I should allow him to take the third one,” Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said. “It is difficult I suppose, every time you shoot the first one, you give information to the keeper.” Evanilson won each of the three penalties converted by Kluivert — and that was also a first in the Premier League. Newcastle lost Sweden striker Alexander Isak to a hip injury midway through the first half and then its lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Daniel Munoz scored the late equalizer to lift Palace out of the bottom three on goal difference. “It’s an absolutely devastating blow for us,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said of giving up the late goal. On Isak, Howe added: “It was a contact injury and not a muscle pull, which is good news for us. We hope he will recover quickly.” Chris Wood smashed a penalty down the middle for his ninth goal of the season to earn Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win at home to Ipswich. Source: APDonald Trump transfers £3 billion of Trump Media shares to trustNoneKinkead Dent and diverse ground game powers UT Martin past New Hampshire, 41-10 in FCS 1st round

Kosovo arrested several suspects Saturday after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, while neighbouring Serbia rejected accusations of staging the blast. The explosion Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, which sits in an ethnic Serb-dominated area in Kosovo's troubled north, damaged a canal that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people and cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo's electricity. As security forces swarmed the area around the canal, whose concrete walls were left with a gaping hole gushing water, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the site and announced authorities had arrested several people. Law enforcement "carried out searches" and "collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law," he said. The arrests follow a security meeting late Friday, when Kurti pointed the finger at Serbia. "The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he told a press conference, without providing evidence. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hit back Saturday, denying the "irresponsible" and "baseless accusations". "Such unfounded claims are aimed to tarnish Serbia's reputation, as well as to undermine efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," he said in a statement to AFP. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric had earlier suggested on X that the Kosovar "regime" could itself be behind the blast, calling for an international investigation. The main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo, Serb List, also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms". AFP journalists at the scene saw water leaking heavily from one side of the reinforced canal, which runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital, Pristina. However, electricity supplies to consumers were running smoothly on Saturday morning, with authorities having found an alternative method to cool the plants, said Kosovo's Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli. Repair work was ongoing, authorities said, while Kurti confirmed workers had managed to restore water flows to 25 percent capacity. More from this section The European Union denounced the explosion as a "terrorist attack". "It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo's critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water for considerable part of Kosovo's population and is a vital component of Kosovo's energy system," the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement. The United States, France and Turkey joined the international condemnation of the attack. "We call on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation in the region," Turkey's foreign ministry said. The NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission for Kosovo likewise called for restraint. "It is important that facts are established and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice," it said in a statement. The force is providing security in the surrounding area and has offered logistical, explosives removal and engineering support to the Kosovo authorities, it added. Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge. Kurti's government has for months sought to dismantle a parallel system of social services and political offices backed by Belgrade to serve Kosovo's Serbs. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday denounced "the act of sabotage on the critical water supply infrastructure in the Iber-Lepenc Canal" in comments on X, calling it "a serious crime that endangers the lives of Kosovo's citizens and undermines the process of normalizing relations in our region." Friday's attack came after a series of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, including the hurling of hand grenades at a municipal building and a police station earlier this week. Kosovo is due to hold parliamentary elections on February 9. ih/ach/giv/jhb/sbk

Justin Kluivert became the first player to score a hat trick of penalties in a Premier League match in Bournemouth 's 4-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Editor's Picks How clubs got their colors: a history of soccer's most iconic jerseys 10d From Bruno Fernandes to Man City: Who are the worst shooters in the Premier League? 11d Ryan O'Hanlon How VAR decisions have affected every Premier League club in 2024-25 5d Dale Johnson Bournemouth forward Evanilson also became the first player to win three penalties in a single Premier League fixture. Kluivert, who is the son of former Netherlands , Ajax and Barcelona legend Patrick , converted from the spot in the third, 18th and 74th minute of what was his 50th appearance for Bournemouth to help earn Andoni Iraola's side all three points at Molineux. "To go in the history books is amazing. Super happy with it," Kluivert said. The win provisionally moved Bournemouth up to 11th in the table, while Wolves dropped into the relegation zone. The 25-year-old joined Bournemouth from Roma in 2023. Meanwhile, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil expressed his "full support" for José Sá after the goalkeeper confronted angry fans at halftime of the team's defeat. Sá gave away two of the record three penalties converted by Kluivert after being tackled receiving back-passes. The Portuguese goalkeeper went to argue with irate fans who were subsequently removed from the stadium. O'Neil said he did not see the incident but offered his backing to Sá. "Situations like this that we're in has heightened emotions and responses," said O'Neil, who is under pressure with his team in 18th place. "José Sá has my full support. Whatever he needs from me he will get. The passes he received today he shouldn't have received. The first one he can clear much quicker, of course he can. None of the players have anything but my full support. We tackle this difficult situation together." Information from the Associated Press contributed to this reportThe Boston Fleet allowed two goals in the final two minutes to fall 3-1 to the Toronto Sceptres to kick off the second Professional Women’s Hockey League’s season Saturday afternoon at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. The Fleet played for the inaugural PWHL title last season, falling in the final game to Minnesota. In the 2024-25 season opener, the Fleet were outshot 41-19, including 32-7 over the final two periods. Former Northeastern University goaltender Aerin Frankel was superb in stopping 38 of 40 shots. Hannah Miller scored a power-play goal with 1:38 left for the game-winner. Emma Maltais scored into an open net with 12 seconds left to account for the final. Boston took a 1-0 lead at 3:00 of the opening period thanks to a goal by captain Hilary Knight. Megan Keller and Hannah Bilka earned assists.

Stocks closed higher on Tuesday, even as a single biotech slid as much as 12% and dragged on the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average. Yields were up too after President-elect Donald Trump said he'll impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on day one of his new administration. "On Friday, the President-elect used his Truth Social platform to announce hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his Treasury Secretary, cheering markets with a relatively conventional pick to steer the world's No. 1 economy," writes Bloomberg's Alan Crawford . "But any vague hopes that Trump was going mainstream were short-lived," Crawford continues. "He sent investors into a flap with another post yesterday pledging to hit Mexico and Canada with tariffs of 25% on 'ALL products' entering the US, plus levies of 10% on China." Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Investors seemed to shrug off the president-elect's after-hours post, reverting to the cautious optimism generated by the Bessent nomination . In an October interview with Matt Peterson of Barron's, Bessent expressed his belief that Trump "won't do anything to take the economy off the cliff." Noting that Alexander Hamilton, America's first Treasury secretary, "also happened to be America's original proponent of tariffs," Bessent in a November 15 Fox News op-ed suggests Trump will deploy them "as a negotiating tool with our trading partners." As Peterson frames it in a follow-up filed today, "The new tariffs plan raises this question: How far Trump can push his attempts at an international economic reordering without upsetting the markets?" Following Monday's sharp declines as investors priced in their initial reaction to the Bessent nomination, yields on both the 10-year U.S. Treasury note and the 2-year U.S. Treasury bill rose again early on Tuesday. The yield on the 10-year was up 3 basis points to 4.30% as of 4 pm Eastern time, while the 2-year yield gave back most of the 5 basis points it added intraday and closed flat at 4.25%. The S&P 500 was up 0.6% at 6,021 – its second-ever close above the 6K level. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.6% to 19,174. And the Dow rallied off its intraday low and closed higher by 0.3% at 44,860. Amgen weighs on the Dow Amgen ( AMGN ) traded down as much as 12.3% Tuesday after the company reported Phase 2 trial data for its weight-loss drug that came up short of Wall Street expectations for its efficacy. The biotech stock closed down 4.8% at $280.01, dragging on the Dow. The drugmaker said non-diabetic overweight or obese patients lost an average of 20% of their body weight after a year on its MariTide therapy, with no plateau. Those results are in line with data for Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound, but they're also at the low end of Wall Street expectations. Mizuho Securities America healthcare strategist Jared Holz told CNBC that "investors remain even more confident" that LLY and Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) will lead the weight loss drug market. Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug is called Wegovy. William Blair analyst Matt Phipps said AMGN still offers "a differentiated product profile versus currently approved GLP-1 therapies" and that MariTide has "potential for meaningful market share." Amgen said it will test MariTide in a Phase 3 clinical trial. Stocks on the move Kohl's ( KSS ) stock plunged 17% after the retailer came up short of top- and bottom-line expectations for its third quarter and slashed its full-year outlook due to softness in its apparel and footwear businesses. "We are not satisfied with our performance in 2024 and are taking aggressive action to reverse the sales declines," said CEO Tom Kingsbury in what is his last statement on the retailer's quarterly results as its chief executive. On Monday, Kohl's announced that Kingsbury will step down on January 15, 2025. Ashley Buchanan, the former CEO of Michael's, will become Kohl's third CEO since 2018. Best Buy ( BBY ) stock fell 4.9% after the electronics retailer missed top- and bottom-line expectations for its fiscal third quarter. Management also trimmed Best Buy's full-year outlook. Citing "a combination of the ongoing macro uncertainty, customers waiting for deals and sales events, and distraction during the run-up to the election," CEO Corie Barry said Best Buy "delivered an in-line non-GAAP operating income rate" even though sales "were a little softer than expected." The consumer discretionary stock has enjoyed a solid 2024, rising more than 20% even accounting for Tuesday's decline. But Best Buy is among the companies most exposed to potential new tariffs on imported products. Rivian Automotive ( RIVN ) stock rose as much as 5.7% after the electric vehicle (EV) maker announced it had secured a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $6.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy. RIVN closed lower by 0.4%. Proceeds from the loan, should it close, will fund construction of a new EV plant in Georgia and will allow Rivian "to more aggressively scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint for our competitively priced R2 and R3 vehicles that emphasize both capability and affordability," said CEO RJ Scaringe. "Although we still remain confident in the long-term Rivian vision," wrote Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives in a November 8 note, "it will take some serious strides for the company to regain trust in the short-term vision in the eyes of the Street." Incoming economic data The backward-looking minutes from the November FOMC meeting show monetary policymakers continue to focus on incoming data and to prioritize the health of the labor market amid signs of progress in their fight against inflation . "In discussing the outlook for monetary policy, participants anticipated that if the data came in about as expected, with inflation continuing to move down sustainably to 2 percent and the economy remaining near maximum employment," the November FOMC minutes read, "it would likely be appropriate to move gradually toward a more neutral stance of policy over time." According to the CME FedWatch tool , the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut at the next Fed meeting in December is now 59.6%, down from 74.6% on October 25. As for fresh economic data, home price growth in the 20 largest U.S. cities slowed to 4.6% in September from the year-ago period. That's down from a 5.2% increase in the prior month, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices . "Home price growth stalled in the third quarter, after a steady start to 2024," notes Brian D. Luke , head of commodities, real estate and digital assets at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Bright MLS Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant notes that the home-price index usually "has shown an increase in home price growth between August and September. This year, the September data could be indicative of a slowdown in home price appreciation in the months ahead." New home sales declined 17.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000 in October from the prior month, according to the Census Bureau . The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 111.7 in November, an increase of 2.1 points from its 109.6 reading in October. "November's increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market," said Dana M. Peterson , chief economist at The Conference Board. Wednesday's economic calendar is packed. Fresh data on initial jobless claims, durable goods orders, the U.S. trade balance, retail and wholesale inventories, and GDP will be released at 8:30 am Eastern time. Personal Consumption and Expenditures Price Index (PCE) data for October will follow at 10 am. The PCE is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge. Based on data compiled by FactSet, analysts expect the PCE to show a 0.20% month-over-month increase in October vs 0.18% in September. The forecast for the year-over-year rate is 2.3% vs 2.1% in September. The consensus sees core PCE rising 0.29% in October vs 0.25% in September. Year-over-year core PCE is forecast at 2.8% vs 2.7%. Related content Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for Dependable Dividend Growth The Best Large-Cap Stocks to Buy Four Ways to Maximize Your 401(k) Contributions Before the Year EndsPresident Joe Biden's administration said Friday that it has cemented deals for billions in funding to South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics and Texas Instruments to boost their chipmaking facilities in the United States. US officials have been working to solidify Biden's legacy to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's White House return -- and these agreements are among the latest efforts to do so. The United States has been trying to reduce its dependence on other countries for semiconductors, while also seeking to maintain its scientific and technological edge as competition with China intensifies. Samsung's award of up to $4.7 billion in direct funding goes towards its effort to grow its Texas presence into a full-fledged operation for developing and producing leading-edge chips, said the US Commerce Department. The funding will supplement the company's investment of more than $37 billion in the coming years, the department added. Samsung's expansion will help "ensure we have a steady, domestic supply of the most advanced semiconductors that are essential to AI and national security, while also creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard added that Samsung is "the only semiconductor company that is a leader in both advanced memory and advanced logic chips." In a separate notice, the Commerce Department said it also had finalized an award of up to $1.6 billion for Texas Instruments, supporting its efforts to build new facilities. Raimondo noted that shortages of current-generation semiconductors were a problem during the supply chain disruptions sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that TI now plans to grow its US capacity in making these devices. The Biden administration has unveiled billions in grants through the CHIPS and Science Act, a major law passed during the veteran Democrat's term aimed at strengthening the US semiconductor industry. Officials have managed to get many deals across the finish line before Trump returns to the Oval Office, awarding the vast majority of more than $36 billion in proposed incentives that have been allocated. The finalized deals mean funds can be disbursed as companies hit project milestones. bys/sstEditorial: Let’s not let political chaos distract us from the unfolding climate catastrophe

Collaboration with China key to Pakistan's green energy future: study

The world’s highest solar + storage project is online in TibetUS confirms billions in chips funds to Samsung, Texas Instruments

ANC MPs broke the law when they voted against holding President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable for failing to report the theft of millions of rand in undeclared foreign currency in his Phala Phala farm. This is among the arguments made by the EFF at the Constitutional Court in the party's bid to force the National Assembly (NA) to take action on the recommendations of the Section 89 (of the Constitution) independent panel chaired by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. In November 2022, the panel told Parliament that Ramaphosa had a prima facie case to answer for failing to report the theft of the undeclared US$580 000 (nearly R8.8 million at the time the money was stolen in February 2020) at his Limpopo farm. However, in December 2022, the panel's report came before the NA to debate whether to proceed with an inquiry that could ultimately lead to the establishment of an impeachment committee, but the proposal was voted down by a majority of 214 MPs to 149. In its Constitutional Court application, the EFF wants the NA's decision not to adopt and refer Justice Ngcobo's panel report to an impeachment committee in December 2022 declared irrational. The party has asked the country's highest court to further and/or alternatively declare that the NA's failure and decision infringes the Constitution and substitute the decision with one stating that the report was adopted or alternatively referring the matter back to the house to vote on the report de novo (afresh). In addition, the EFF wants the NA's presidential impeachment rules declared inconsistent with the Constitution as they allow MPs to vote against any possible impeachment proceedings in circumstances where a prima facie case has been made against a sitting president by the panel or on the basis that it is impermissibly vague. Speaker Thoko Didiza, the EFF pleads, must be directed to amend the presidential impeachment rules to allow for a prima facie finding to be automatically referred to an impeachment committee so that a full investigation can take place or provide suitable guidelines as to how the NA's discretion in terms of the rule is to be exercised. The rules' declaration of invalidity should be suspended for 12 months to allow the NA to effect the amendments. The motion for Ramaphosa's removal from office was brought by African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula, whose party has asked to be joined as a co-applicant with the EFF in the matter. In its court papers, the EFF said Parliament, through its decision, allowed Ramaphosa to remain as president. "Had Parliament acted lawfully, and the impeachment process permitted to continue, he may not have been eligible to do so; having regard to the panel's findings, he would be impeached. But given the impeachment process was preemptively terminated, he ran for re-election as an MP on the ANC's list and later was re-elected president," read the party's written submissions. According to the EFF, the decision has the ongoing legal effect of permitting someone who may be ineligible to occupy an office from which he may be disqualified and is also an ongoing wrong. "The then ANC majority in the NA cannot contend that they acted rationally when the evidence shows they voted along party lines. Whatever loyalty ANC MPs have to the president, the proper exercise of their decision-making power to consider the panel's report is limited. It is about a prima facie case. Anything else would be unlawful," the country's fourth biggest political party said. It further said that the ANC's (and, by extension, the NA's) reasons for voting against the adoption of the report were unlawful. "ANC members were instructed to vote against the adoption of the report because the ANC had decided that was politically appropriate. The ANC concedes this. That is the true reason," stated the EFF, describing this as not a legally cognisable answer. The party also believes that the NA should not have the power to decide on whether impeachment proceedings should be instituted where the panel finds that the requirements to do so have been met. According to the EFF, the ANC's suggestion that because the term of the sixth Parliament (2019-2024) has lapsed, the decision cannot be referred to the seventh Parliament (2024-2029) is specious and unsupported, as well as that the majority party's contention that the relief sought by the EFF is moot because a new NA was sworn in June this year lacks merit. The EFF wants the apex court, as the ultimate guardian of the country's constitutional democracy, to intervene and ensure that Ramaphosa is held accountable. In response to the EFF's application, Ramaphosa explained that the Constitutional Court has already decided the issue. "The EFF's first application, launched in January 2023, sought substantially the same relief as its current application. This court dismissed its application because it ‘has concluded that no case has been made out for direct access' ... The matter is res judicata (a matter already judged)," the president noted. He said the Constitution does not confer any power on the apex court to act instead of the NA. "There are no exceptional circumstances that can ever justify this or any other court stepping into the shoes of and acting instead of the NA," Ramaphosa said. The ANC accused the EFF of inferring from the vote's outcome that the governing party must have imposed its will on its members who otherwise would have voted in line with the EFF's wishes and that the panel's report is not binding on the NA. The governing party added that the panel's report was riddled with legal and factual errors and clearly founded on conjecture and speculation as there were pending investigations, and its view was that it would be unconstitutional to proceed with the inquiry and was entitled to persuade its MPs to vote against the motion. In addition, according to the ANC, it commissioned an independent legal opinion, which also stated that it would be inappropriate and premature for the NA to proceed with the impeachment process, given that there were so many pending and outstanding investigations. The NA said the expiry of its 2019-2024 term of the sixth Parliament in May this year means an impeachment committee cannot validly conduct a Section 89 inquiry into Zungula's motion. It warned that should the EFF succeed, this would shift from the National Assembly to the panel, the power to decide whether a motion for the president's impeachment should be referred to an impeachment committee, resulting in non-MPs (the panel) being conferred the power to direct a parliamentary committee to conduct a presidential impeachment trial or not to do so. The NA cautioned against this as it is inconsistent with the principle of the separation of powers. According to the ATM, the apex court has the power to protect minority parties in circumstances where the majority abuses its power by exercising it for an improper purpose. "Although members of the NA are selected from the political parties they represent, once they have taken the oath in terms of Section 48 of the Constitution, they owe their loyalty to the Constitution and not their political parties," the party said. The ATM stated that the NA failed to act with an open and enquiring mind and give adequate consideration to the panel's report and its findings that Ramaphosa had a prima facie case to answer but instead acted as the ANC's rubberstamp in the face of its constitutional obligation to hold him to account. "The circumstances of this case, mindful of the doctrine of separation of powers, require this court to interfere and intervene in instances where the NA, by majority vote, abuses its majority power and acts unconstitutionally," state the party's written submissions. The matter will be heard on Tuesday, the same day three suspects – Imanuwela David, siblings Ndilinasho and Froliana Joseph, who was a housekeeper at Phala Phala – are expected back at the Modimolle Regional Court for a pre-trial conference for charges of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal, and money laundering.

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ) by 4.6% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 63,660 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,081 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Capri were worth $2,702,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Capri by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 6,362 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Capri by 14.7% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,734 shares of the company’s stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. EMC Capital Management raised its position in shares of Capri by 32.7% in the first quarter. EMC Capital Management now owns 2,421 shares of the company’s stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 596 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Capri by 82.4% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,330 shares of the company’s stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 601 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its position in Capri by 35.2% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,452 shares of the company’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 638 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.34% of the company’s stock. Capri Trading Up 4.0 % Shares of CPRI stock opened at $20.48 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Capri Holdings Limited has a fifty-two week low of $18.70 and a fifty-two week high of $51.23. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $32.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.55. The stock has a market cap of $2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 2.05. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Get Our Latest Research Report on Capri About Capri ( Free Report ) Capri Holdings Limited designs, markets, distributes, and retails branded women's and men's apparel, footwear, and accessories in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through three segments: Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors. The company offers ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear, handbags, scarves and belts, small leather goods, eyewear, watches, jewelry, fragrances, and home furnishings through a distribution network, including boutiques, department, and specialty stores, as well as through e-commerce sites. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CPRI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capri Holdings Limited ( NYSE:CPRI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Capri Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capri and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Video Live Streaming Software Market 2024: A Decade of Phenomenal Growth AheadGretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PITTSBURGH — Many Americans consider social media a scourge, but for a home cook, it can be a fun and informative place to get help deciding what to eat. Sure, some of the recipes would-be influencers recommend are in fact pretty abominable — check out @chefreactions on TikTok, Instagram or X for many, many examples — but I have stumbled across some pretty good recipes on many occasions, too. Related Articles Restaurants, Food and Drink | In season: The universal joy of carrots Restaurants, Food and Drink | Don’t shun pinot grigio! The good versions of wines you think are bad Restaurants, Food and Drink | Quick Fix: Horseradish Crusted Snapper with Arugula Pasta Restaurants, Food and Drink | 3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season Restaurants, Food and Drink | Roasted orange delivers big flavor in this smoky chicken traybake One that’s been going viral for a while and but only recently caught my eye shines a spotlight on the creamy, tomatoey dish known as Marry Me chicken. There are probably as many recipes for Marry Me chicken on social media as there are cooks. (Delish claims to have created the video recipe for the original dish, also known as Tuscan chicken, in 2016.) But in my opinion, the best variations hang their chef’s hat on a sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and cream. Yum! This rich and luxurious entree is a definite step above the “engagement” chicken that caused a similar stir when it made its debut in Glamour magazine in 2004. That proposal-worthy recipe — saved for posterity in the 2011 cookbook “100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken and 99 Other Fabulous Dishes to Get You Everything You Want in Life” — featured a whole chicken roasted with lemon and herbs. Awesome for sure, but not nearly as swoon worthy. I’ve been married for a very long time, so I’m not looking for a dish that will get me engaged. But who wouldn’t want applause when they put dinner on the table? That’s how Delish’s original recipe made it into the latest installment of “Dinner for Four for $25.” Usually when I’m building these economical meals, I do all my shopping in one store. This time, I shopped over the course of a weekend at some of my favorite haunts to see if that made a difference. (And no, I didn’t factor in the cost of gas, but maybe should have!) First stop after downing my Saturday morning latte and Nutella mele at a street-side table at Colangelo’s in the Strip District: Wholey’s Market, where I found boneless chicken breast at the bargain price of $3.89 per pound. I then crossed the street and headed down the block to Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., where I found several varieties of sun-dried tomatoes to chose from. I went with a jar of Ponti sun-dried cherry tomatoes for $5.09 — a definite splurge when your budget is only $25, but an ingredient I knew would deliver plenty of flavor. At Aldi, I found a bag of five huge lemons for $3.89, or 78 cents apiece, and a nice package of fresh broccoli for $2.28. A bargain, considering I would only use about two-thirds of it. The German supermarket chain known for its low prices and no-frills shopping experience (you have to deposit a quarter to get a shopping cart) also had butter — a main ingredient in my sandwich cookie dessert — on sale for $3.99 a pound. A bag of powdered sugar was pretty cheap, too, at just $2.09 for a two-pound bag. “Shopping” my pantry for ingredients I always have on hand, including garlic, olive oil, spices, rice, molasses and vanilla, once again helped keep costs down. Total bill: $24.38, or 62 cents under budget. Not bad when you consider the homemade dessert recipe makes more oatmeal sandwich cookies than a family can/should eat at one sitting. PG tested Sun-dried tomatoes could be considered a splurge item because even a tiny jar is expensive, but their concentrated, sweet and tangy tomato goodness add so much flavor to a dish! They are certainly the star of this chicken dish that has been making the rounds on social media platforms. Some say the entree is so good, you’ll get a marriage proposal out of it. At any rate, the Parmesan cream sauce that gets spooned on top of the chicken and rice will certainly make your diners swoon. This original recipe from Delish.com is a pretty easy dish to get on the table in quick fashion. Just remember to use a dry pot holder to take the pan out of the oven because it will be very hot; I very stupidly used a damp dish towel and now have another cooking scar. 4 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 3/4 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan Fresh basil, torn, for serving, optional Cooked rice, for serving Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper and cook, turning halfway through, until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate. In same skillet over medium heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan; season with salt. Bring to a simmer, then return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven. Bake chicken until cooked through and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 10-12 minutes. Arrange chicken on a platter. Spoon sauce over. Top with basil, if using, and serve with cooked rice. Serves 4. — delish.com PG tested Broccoli is a reliable veggie when you need a little something extra to round out a meal and don’t want to spend a fortune. Here, it’s blanched until crisp-tender and then tossed with lemon juice and zest and a pinch of red pepper flakes. I used lemon olive oil (already on hand) for an extra burst of citrus flavor. 1 large bunch broccoli, separated into florets 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter 1 clove garlic, minced Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon 1 pinch (or two) red pepper flakes Flaky salt and freshly ground ground black pepper, to taste Place broccolini in a large skillet with about 2 inches of water; bring to a boil and cook until bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain. Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until golden and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add broccoli; cook and stir until heated through, 2-3 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice and zest over broccoli and season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Serves 4. — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette PG tested Remember how if you were lucky when you were a kid you got an individually wrapped Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie in your lunchbox? These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiched with vanilla buttercream taste exactly the same. Actually, they’re better because they’re not made with corn syrup and artificial flavorings, but rather real butter and brown sugar. It’s important to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a rack. Otherwise they will fall apart. The icing is very sweet, so you might want to reduce the amount of powdered sugar. For cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 1 large egg, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt For filling 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla Pinch of salt Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two sheet pans with parchment paper. In stand mixer outfitted with whisk attachment add butter, brown sugar and molasses and beat on low speed until combined. Gradually increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with spatula, then add egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until combined. Add flour, oats, baking soda and salt and beat on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Use a 1/2 -ounce cookie scoop tor tablespoon measure to portion out equal amounts of dough. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth the edges, then place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. Bake until cookies have puffed up and are set and firm around the edges but still somewhat soft in the middle, 9-11 minutes. Remove sheet pans from oven and allow cookies to rest on the pans for 5 minutes, then use a metal spatula to transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cookies have cooled, make filling. In stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla and salt. Beat on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to high, until creamy and fully incorporated, about 45 seconds. If filling is dry, add a small splash or two of cream. Assemble cookies. Using a small offset spatula or butter knife to spread about 2 tablespoons of filling onto the bottom side of one cookie, then place second cookie on top to sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and serve. Makes 16 sandwich cookies. —”Sweet Tooth” by Sarah Fennel (Clarkson Potter, $35) ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . “The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish,” he said through a translator. “The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I’m in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger.” When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? “That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do,” Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?”Political interest vs. interest ratesStay Ahead in Ophthalmology: Strategic Market Insights for Myopia Assessment & Forecasting | DelveInsight

UK watchdog flags concerns in $35 billion Synopsys-Ansys deal

Storage News Ticker – 26 NovemberTrauma Fixation Devices Market to See Rapid Expansion Over the Next Decade 2024-2032Proposed India-EU FTA negotiations need political directions: Goyal NEW DELHI: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Thursday said the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) need political directions to reach a commercially meaningful deal while understanding each other’s sensitivities. The pact came up for discussion during an interaction between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Ambassadors of the European Commission delegation. Talking about growing proximity and rising trade between India and the EU, the minister said that both sides are aiming for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial FTA. Minister Goyal said the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7-8 per cent annually to become the third largest economy in the world over the next few years. Thereafter, rapid and exponential growth would help India’s GDP to reach the milestone of USD 35 Trillion by 2047. The Minister further underlined that any sustainability discussions must appreciate the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility(CBDR) and implementation of such measures should take into account differing paths of development. Further, acknowledging the large and untapped economic potential, the European side underscored that both sides would gain tremendously by integrating the two economies and building resilience in their supply chains. The interaction also accorded an opportunity to discuss progress in the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. India is the only country, other than the United States, with which the EU has such a mechanism. It is to be noted that EU is the largest trading partner of India for goods as its bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 137.41 billion in 2023-24. In addition, the bilateral trade in services, in 2023, between India and the EU was estimated at USD 51.45 billion. The trade agreement with the EU would help India in further expanding and diversifying its exports of goods and services while securing the value chains. India is seeking to forge balanced agreements with major world economies to increase its market share in global trade. Agencies

Bashar al-Assad's government has been accused of carrying out torture, rape, summary executions and other abuses since since Syria's civil war started in 2011. UN investigators have said that accountability must be taken at the highest level after the downfall of the hardline ruler on Sunday. Here is what we know about the extent of the abuses committed: In 2013 a former Syrian army photographer known by the codename "Caesar" fled the country, taking with him some 55,000 graphic images taken between 2011 and 2013. The photos, authenticated by experts, show corpses tortured and starved to death in Syrian prisons. Some people had their eyes gouged out. The photos showed emaciated bodies, people with wounds on the back or stomach, and also a picture of hundreds of corpses in a shed surrounded by plastic bags used for burials. Assad's Syrian government said only that the pictures were "political". But Caesar testified to a US Congress committee and his photographs inspired a 2020 US law which imposed economic sanctions on Syria and judicial proceedings in Europe against Assad's entourage. In Germany and Sweden eight people suspected of crime against humanity were arrested in July in an operation codenamed "Caesar". Germany, the Netherlands and France have since 2022 convicted several top officials from the Syrian intelligence service and militias. UN investigators say they have lists with the names of 4,000 government officials and operatives responsible for abuses. Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 2012 spoke of a "torture archipelago" in which the "use of electricity, burning with car battery acid, sexual assault and humiliation, the pulling of fingernails, and mock execution" were practised in government prisons. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in 2022 more than 100,000 people had died in the prisons since 2011. In 2023, the UN's top court, the International Court of Justice, ordered Syria to stop "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". In 2020, seven Syrian refugees filed a complaint in Germany saying that they had been victims of torture and sexual violence, including rape, electric shocks on the genitals, forced nudity or forced abortion between 2011 and 2013. The UN said in 2018 there had been systmatic rape and sexual violence against civilians by soldiers or pro-Assad militias. It said an investigation had found rebels had committed similar crimes, but fewer. On November 25, 2024, the Syrian Human Rights Network (SNHR) said there had been at least 11,553 incidents of sexual violence against women, including girls aged under 18, by the warring parties since March 2011. Some 8,024 could be blamed on the Assad government and the others mainly on the jihadist Islamic State. In 2016 UN investigators said Syrian authorities were responsible for acts which came down to "extermination" and could be compared to "crimes against humanity". It pointed to the Saydnaya prison outside Damascus, which was described in 2017 by Amnesty International as a human slaughter house carrying out a "policy of extermination". The United States said there was a "crematorium" at the prison which was used to dispose of the bodies of thousands of inmates. In 2022 the Syrian Observatory for Human Righs said around 30,000 people had been killed at Saydnaya, some of them after being tortured. In April 2020, the chemical weapons watchdog OPCW accused the Syrian army of chemical weapons attacks in Latamne in northern Syria in 2017. In November 2023 France issued international arrest warrants against Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and two generals on suspicion of complicity in the chemical attacks in August 2013 near Damascus, which according to US intelligence left 1,000 dead. Assad's forces have also been accused of using sarin gas on the rebel town of Khan Sheikhun in April 2017, and also of chlorine gas attacks. Assad's government denied using chemical weapons. Israel says it has staged strikes on some chemical weapons sites this week to stop supplies falling into the hands of extremists. acm-lc/jmy/twStock market today: Wall Street rises to records despite tariff talk