
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North's nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea's support for Russia's war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression." “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim's speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn't elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more UN sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.
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. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans NEW YORK (AP) — The International Chess Federation says top ranked player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition. The federation said Friday that its regulations include a dress code that bars participants from wearing jeans at the event. The Norwegian chess grandmaster says he accepted a $200 fine but refused to change his pants out of principle before leaving the competition in New York. The federation said the dress code is designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants. Trailblazing model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — A trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found 76-year-old Dayle Haddon, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man who was also in the home was hospitalized in critical condition. As a model, Haddon appeared on dozens of magazine coverage in the 1970s and 1980s. She then reentered the industry in the 1990s after landing contracts with cosmetic companies to promote their anti-aging products. 2 Oregon men die from exposure in a forest after they went out to look for Sasquatch STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — Officials say two Oregon men have died in a Washington state forest after they failed to return from a trip to look for Sasquatch. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says the 59-year-old and 37-year-old appear to have died from exposure. The sheriff's office says it based that conclusion on the weather and their lack of preparedness. Both men were from Portland. They were found in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest northeast of that city. Family reported them missing after they failed to return from a Christmas Eve outing. Sasquatch is a folkloric beast thought by some to roam the forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.M/I Homes CEO Robert Schottenstein sells $2 million in stock
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans ' playoff hopes are over earlier than at any point since 2015 when a coach was fired midseason . The franchise's third different coach since then is busy trying to build for the future in his debut year. It certainly doesn't help that team officials are busy trying to sell pricey tickets for the Titans' enclosed stadium scheduled to open in 2027. Brian Callahan said Monday he knows the NFL is a results-based business, but doesn't feel as if he's coaching for his job. The Titans (3-10) were eliminated by a 10-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars , a week earlier than their postseason hopes ended in 2023 and helped cost Mike Vrabel his coaching job . “I’m not naive and I don’t like stick my head in the sand,” Callahan said. "I understand how all of it works, but that’s not anything I’ve focused on that.” Callahan said he was honest with the Titans, who now sit at the bottom of the AFC South. What's left is building a foundation for the future . “How we finish the season matters,” Callahan said. What’s working The defense. After one of the Titans' worst showings all season and with three starters out with injuries, the Titans defense held an opponent to a season low in points even if facing a backup quarterback. They also came up with two interceptions to help Tennessee win the turnover battle for a team that came in next to last in the NFL in turnover margin. The problem? All 10 points were allowed in the fourth quarter. Safety Amani Hooker said the defense can only focus on mowing their own grass, now more than ever with only four games left. Now the Titans must look themselves in the mirror because all of the NFL will see how they play. What needs help The offense couldn't find the end zone and finished with a season low in points. The Titans turned it over on downs twice inside the Jaguars 9 and managed only two Nick Folk field goals against what had been the NFL’s worst defense in yards allowed per game and next to last in points allowed. Callahan's decision to try a pass after a takeaway on the final play of the first half left Will Levis needing a shot in his right, throwing shoulder for the pain from a hard sack where rookie left tackle JC Latham was beaten. It's the same shoulder that sidelined Levis for three games with a sprained AC joint. Levis missed a wide-open Chig Okonkwo in the end zone. Late in the game, Levis could've thrown a quicker ball to Calvin Ridley, who also had room to run for the first down only to go out of bounds. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine couldn't haul in a pass on fourth down in the end zone where Ridley also was open. Stock up Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. A key free agent signee in March, Awuzie had been out since Sept. 22 and on injured reserve with a groin injury. He returned and got the first interception for the Titans' defense — also his first this season. Stock down RT Nicholas Petit-Frere. The third-year lineman out of Ohio State is tied for the team lead with nine penalties, eight that have stopped drives. Two of those came against the Jaguars, the second on the Titans' final play turning a fourth-and-10 into fourth-and-15 before Levis's last-gasp incompletion. Injuries Callahan said he expects Levis will be OK after being able to finish the game, though he said they will know more Wednesday. CB Roger McCreary (shoulder) might be able to return after not practicing last week. Key number 1 — Two home games remain. Right now, the Titans are flirting with matching the franchise low for home wins at Nissan Stadium set in 2014 and 2015 during a 5-27 stretch where three of those wins came on the road. Next steps Show signs of life on offense. Only New England (17) and the Giants (14.9) are scoring fewer than Tennessee's 17.5 points a game this season. More points will be needed to beat Cincinnati in a rematch against Callahan's old boss Zac Taylor on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Tagovailoa carves up Pats with 4 TDs, Dolphins win 3rd straight game with 34-15 rout of New England
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?S Dinajpur Kali temple stops public animal sacrifice
Coleen Rooney set to become new Holly Willoughby as she’s poised to sign big money ITV deal cashing in on I’m a CelebDec. 29—The Eagles had every excuse to lose Sunday. They were playing their archrivals, the Cowboys, for the second time this season. The Cowboys were out of playoff contention but they had won four of five games, including a win at Washington, the site of the Eagles' latest disaster, and they were playing with abandon, visiting a team haunted by collapses both distant and recent. The week before, the Birds blew a 14-point lead at Washington, where they lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion that lingered through Sunday, Hurts' first missed game of the season. Worse, the Eagles' top-ranked defense had lost its composure, and the game, at Washington. Finally, on Sunday, not only was the offense's quarterback absent, so was the defense's quarterback: Middle linebacker Nakobe Dean missed Sunday's game due to an abdominal strain. They had every excuse to lose. They didn't lose. Nick Sirianni wouldn't have it. Several players said afterward that Sirianni this past week reiterated this axiom: "You can't be great without the greatness of others." It's that sort of saying that has been the hallmark of Sirianni's astounding success. He's 47-20 in the regular season, has the best winning percentage among active coaches, and secured a fourth straight playoff appearance Sunday. From Monday to Sunday, no one in the Eagles Nation was greater than Sirianni. In a 13-win campaign that saw the Birds clinch the NFC East with a week left, it was, in many ways, Sirianni's finest hour of the season. "Amazing," said tackle Jordan Mailata. "In many ways, I think that was our best complementary football of the season." It was a ticklish spot for Sirianni, who's had a hell of a season. He'd been questioned after a 2-2 start, which followed a 1-5 collapse in 2023 and a blowout loss in the playoffs. He'd been pilloried after Game 5, when he taunted Eagles fans after a home win. Game 5 was the start of a franchise-record 10-game winning streak, in which a more composed, mature Sirianni guided the team to blowout wins in Cincinnati and Dallas as well as decisive victories over the Commanders, Rams, Ravens, and Steelers. A pass-first coach, Sirianni had leaned on Saquon Barkley, who, in the fourth quarter, became the ninth player to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season; at 2,005, he passed O.J. Simpson's best season, in 1973 with the Bills, but remains 100 yards behind Eric Dickerson's 1984 record, set with the Rams. Sirianni's next big decision: Will he let Barkley play in a probably meaningless finale against the Giants next week? "We'll see." "If it's in God's plan," Barkley said, "then it is. I didn't come here just to rush for 2,000 or break a record. It's up to Nick." It's a nice decision to have to make, especially considering the more pressing problems he dealt with this past week and the weight carried by Sunday's game against the Cowboys. Last week's messy loss, combined with Hurts' injury, added to a postgame dustup with former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, put the focus on Sirianni again. He'd been a Coach of the Year candidate for a month. He'd seemingly earned a contract extension; his expires after next season. But a loss to the Cowboys and a win by the Commanders on Sunday night would have put the division title in jeopardy, and, perhaps, Sirianni's future. Sirianni proved equal to the task. "We had a great atmosphere, you know?" cornerback Quinyon Mitchell said. "Coach came in and said, 'We have to look ourselves in the mirror. Clean up some mistakes.' So, in practice, we honed in. This week was executed, mentally, really well." Sirianni prepared backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, whose style of play is entirely opposite to that Hurts'. He prepared third-string rookie Tanner McKee, who threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown for a dagger late in the third quarter, then added a 25-yarder to DeVonta Smith in the fourth. He controlled Jalen Carter, who led the league with four unnecessary roughness penalties, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was ejected at Washington for two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Carter's disappearance and Gardner-Johnson's absence led to 22 fourth-quarter points in the Commanders' comeback win. Carter was outstanding on Sunday. Gardner-Johnson? Amazing. Two interceptions. A pick-six on the first Commanders' possession. With Hurts out of action, he even broke down the pregame huddle. "He responded awesome," Sirianni said, and said it was a manifestation of Sirianni's "dog mentality" philosophy: "Learning from your mistakes, but putting them in the past, and being able to focus completely on where you're at right now. That won't only serve him well in football, it will serve him well in life." It served Sirianni well on Sunday. Really, he was never better. He featured Smith, knowing the Cowboys would sell out to stop Brown. Smith had six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Brown had three catches for 36 yards and a score. Nothing mattered more than preparing Pickett. Pickett recognized a six-man blitz and hit Smith for a 22-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead. He was part of four short-yardage Tush Pushes, three of which worked, the fourth for a touchdown as the first half expired with the Eagles leading, 24-7. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and the touchdown before a hit from Micah Parsons aggravated a rib injury Pickett suffered at Washington and knocked him from the game. "It's very much a college-team feel," Pickett said afterward. "Everyone cares about each other. That's incredibly special." With Pickett hobbled and with McKee an unknown entity, Sirianni knew the Birds would have to ride Barkley. They did: They gave the ball to Barkley on six of the first seven plays of the third quarter, and he gained 30 yards as the Eagles made four first downs, used almost seven minutes, and came away with a 26-yard field goal for a 20-point lead. Barkley finished with 167 yards, the fifth-highest rushing total of his career, the third-highest total of this season, and his 11th 100-yard rushing game this season. He did it on 31 rushes, which tied for the third-highest total of his career. This was not the Cowboys team that began the season as a playoff favorite. It lacked quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Zack Martin, and cornerback Trevon Diggs, five of Dallas' six best players, excepting Parsons. Also, Mike McCarthy remains their coach. So no, the Cowboys weren't good. But, since Sirianni was hired in 2021, the Eagles have lost to plenty of teams that weren't good. Occasionally, Sirianni has been the problem. On Sunday, he was the solution. (c)2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
M/I Homes CEO Robert Schottenstein sells $2 million in stockTEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption . Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel's longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being. Netanyahu, 75, is among older world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, 82 , President-elect Donald Trump, 78 , Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , 79, and Pope Francis , 88, who have come under scrutiny for their age and health issues. Netanyahu's latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout. The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.” Jerusalem's Hadassah Medical Center announced late Sunday that the procedure had been “completed successfully.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. A turbulent time in the region As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East . With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky. Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies . Prostate issues are common and in many cases easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses. Previous health issues, including a heart condition Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets. But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition , a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public. A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats. The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests. The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel. Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration . He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed. Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery , during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious. Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation. Recovery can be quick According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection on Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case. Complications from prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology urology service at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke in general terms and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment. He said an enlarged prostate can block proper emptying of the bladder, leading to a build-up of urine that can lead to an infection or other complications. After medicinal treatment, doctors can recommend a procedure to remove the prostate to prevent future blockages, Golan said. In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors were likely performing an endoscopic surgery, carried out by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical cuts in the abdomen to reach the prostate. The procedure lasts about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. He said that aside from catheter use for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activity without significant limitations. ___ AP correspondent Isaac Scharf contributed reporting. Tia Goldenberg, The Associated PressArea sports roundup for Sunday, Dec. 29
Everything Coming to Netflix, Disney+ & Other Major Streaming Services in December 2024
Giants stars Malik Nabers, Dexter Lawrence label team 'soft' after blowout loss to Bucs