Earlier today, Bloomberg detailed Apple’s multi-year plan to ditch Qualcomm and debut its own modem technology in the iPhone and iPad. In a follow-up report this afternoon, Bloomberg says that Apple is also “investigating the idea of bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac for the first time” as part of these efforts. Apple is expected to debut the first version of its cellular modem next year in the iPhone SE 4, the iPhone 17 Air, and the base model iPad. The following year, it will debut a higher-end version of the chip with faster 5G connectivity for the iPhone 18 Pro. As part of this transition, Apple is also investigating bringing cellular to the Mac as soon as 2026: With its own modem in the pipeline, Apple is investigating the idea of bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac for the first time. That means users wouldn’t need Wi-Fi to get online. To date, that capability has been reserved for the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. But cellular connections are unlikely to come to the Mac before 2026, when Apple is planning a second-generation modem that includes support for faster speeds. Also in consideration is a cellular-equipped version of the Vision Pro: The company is also discussing bringing cellular support to headsets, including future models of the Vision Pro. Someday, the technology may also be used in lightweight augmented reality glasses, though such a device is years away. Check out our coverage from earlier today for more details on Apple’s modem plans. My favorite Mac accessories : Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C) OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt 4 Dock Magic Trackpad (USB-C) Satechi 200W 6-Port Charging Station Twelve South HiRise 3 DeluxeWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. From left, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., gather after Senate Democratic leadership elections for the next session of Congress on Tuesday in Washington. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. In a statement, Schumer, of New York, said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” “Our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families,” Schumer said. “However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.” While Schumer remains popular with his colleagues, it is a bleak moment for Senate Democrats, who were hopeful that they could hold the majority for the third election in a row. Instead they lost four seats and will be in the minority, 53-47, as Trump takes office and pressures the Senate to quickly confirm his Cabinet nominees. Unlike eight years ago, when opposition to Trump’s narrow election win fueled enthusiasm in their party, Democratic lawmakers and many of their voters are exhausted and looking for answers. So far, Democrats have stayed relatively quiet on Trump’s nominees and plans for office – a stark contrast from the loud opposition to Trump when he was elected eight years ago. Schumer has declined to comment on specifics of any nominees, instead allowing Republican reaction to dominate the conversation. On Monday, Schumer wrote a public letter to South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the incoming Republican majority leader, asking him to resist Trump’s pressure to allow him to appoint some of his nominees without a Senate vote and to insist on full FBI background checks for all nominees. But he has said little else about Trump’s upcoming presidency. While some have been more aggressive — Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a former chairwoman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, said that Trump’s nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department is “dangerous” and “nothing short of disaster” — several Democratic senators say they are saving their strength and figuring out a focus. “Everybody’s in kind of a wait-and-see mode right now,” said Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who is part of Schumer’s leadership team. “Under the previous Trump administration, there was chaos all the time, all the time. And I do think it is important to pick your battles.” It’s still unclear which battles they will pick. And Democrats have differing opinions on how to fight them. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who is also in Democratic leadership, says that “anyone who has a grand strategy is full of crap,” but thinks that Democrats, for now, “need to keep things simple.” “We need to talk about people, protect people, advocate for people,” Schatz said. “Do not talk about protecting institutions. Do not talk about advocating for institutions. It’s a not just a rhetorical shift, but an attitudinal shift. We have to remind ourselves, that we’re not fighting for programs and projects and line items and agencies or norms. We’re fighting for people.” Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said that he’s spent a lot of time reflecting, and “I don’t think anyone can claim this was a policy election,” and Democrats need to look at cultural issues. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman says Democrats just need to “pace ourselves” and avoid the “massive freakout” of Trump's last term. Democrats should be preparing, says Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal. He says Schumer is picking his battles “very thoughtfully and strategically.” “We’re thinking about how we protect against using the FBI, or the prosecutorial authority of the Justice Department for retribution against critics,” said Blumenthal. “How we elevate these issues in a way that American people understand them.” Democrats know better now, after eight years, “the extraordinary challenges we’re going to face,” Blumenthal said. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. compete in the ice dance rhythm dance program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competition in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A discarded plastic bag floats in the waters of Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) China's President Xi Jinping, left center, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, walk into the Alvorada palace after attending a welcoming ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova competes against Great Britain's Katie Boulter during a Billie Jean King Cup semi-final match at Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) A surfer rides on an artificial wave in the river 'Eisbach' at the 'Englischer Garten' (English Garden) downtown in Munich, Germany, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) A woman carries a gift basket as she arrives at a park to attend a friend's birthday party, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris looks at a monitor backstage, just before taking the stage for her final campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President-elect Donald Trump listens during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) A resident returns to his burned village, Monday Nov. 25, 2024, one day after a fire broke out leaving about 2,000 families homeless at a slum area in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Isaac Young rests his cheek on the family horse Rusty's forehead during farm chores before homeschooling, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Sunbury, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Students from anti-discrimination movements attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) A young girl holds a "Black Voters for Harris-Walz" sign outside of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) A man looks from a damaged building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Ramat Gan, central Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Venezuelan migrant Alvaro Calderini carries his niece across a river near Bajo Chiquito, Panama, after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia on their way north to the United States, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) An aerial view shows a packed parking lot at Citadel Outlets in Commerce, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, as early Black Friday shoppers arrive at the mall. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Israeli soldiers holding their weapons bathe with residents in a hot water pool coming from a drilling project which exposed a subterranean hydrothermal spring near Mount Bental in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Voters stand in line outside a polling place at Madison Church, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Molten lava flows on the road to the Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, after the volcanic eruption that started Wednesday, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco) Firefighters and sheriff's deputies push a vintage car away from a burning home as the Mountain Fire burns in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Supporters of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) celebrate the victory of candidate Yamandú Orsi in the presidential run-off election in Montevideo, Uruguay, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) People gather at the site where former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israeli airstrikes late September during a memorial ceremony in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Katia, 11, with her grandmother and mother sit in an armored minivan during en evacuation by the "White Angels" police unit in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Anton Shtuka) People clean mud from a house affected by floods, in Algemesi, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Cattle stand on a heap of textile waste at the Old Fadama settlement of Accra, Ghana, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu) Family members accompany the coffin that contain the remains of Mexican actress Silvia Pinal, during a memorial service at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Pinal, an actress from Mexico's Golden Age of cinema in the 1940s and 50s, died Thursday. She was 93. (AP Photo/Aurea Del Rosario) A family arrive to cross into Lebanon through the Jousieh border crossing, between Syria and Lebanon, Nov. 28, 2024, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Trump’s tariff wars To be fair to American president-elect, Trump is not first one to implement tariffs US President Donald Trump's reliance on tariffs as a key policy tool took centre stage during his first presidential term. Initially framed as a way to safeguard American industries and correct trade imbalances, tariffs soon became a cornerstone of his broader geopolitical strategy. Now, poised for a potential return to the global stage, Trump’s recent declarations about imposing sweeping tariffs on major trading partners indicate not just a continuation but an escalation of this approach – one that could have far-reaching domestic and international consequences. To be fair to the American president-elect, Trump is not the first one to implement tariffs. Historically, the US, like many other nations, has used tariffs to protect emerging industries and generate revenue. However, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act 1930 of the US is a stark reminder of the risks associated with tariffs. This law raised duties on numerous imports and is widely believed to have worsened the Great Depression by curbing global trade. During his first term, Trump's tariff policies echoed those earlier measures but had unique political implications. He imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, citing national security concerns. These actions aimed to revitalise US domestic production but also increased costs for manufacturers reliant on imported materials, leading to higher prices for consumers. Trump also targeted countries that had substantial trade surpluses with the US, particularly China, imposing 10 per cent tariffs on key sectors associated with China's ‘Made in China 2025’ initiative. The latter initiative sought to position China as a leader in advanced technology industries, making it a focal point of US concerns over global competition. In response, Beijing retaliated by imposing tariffs on American agricultural products and diversifying trade partnerships to reduce reliance on US markets. The tit-for-tat moves between the US and China over trade relations did not stop there. The European Union was a key target of Donald Trump’s trade policies during his first presidency. Threats of tariffs on automotive exports provoked sharp criticism, leading the EU to retaliate with tariffs on iconic American goods like bourbon and motorcycles. By targeting products linked to Trump’s political base, the EU aimed to exert maximum leverage. These trade skirmishes, compounded by legal challenges at the World Trade Organization (WTO), significantly strained US-EU economic relations during Trump’s tenure. Adding to the tension, the WTO’s trade dispute settlement mechanism became dysfunctional under Trump. His administration blocked the appointment of new judges to the WTO Appellate Body (WAB), effectively rendering it inoperative. Justifying the move, the administration accused the WTO of bias against American interests. This paralysis has persisted in Biden’s presidency, with the US continuing to obstruct new appointments. As a result, countries have increasingly turned to unilateral, often retaliatory, measures like tariffs, further destabilising the global trade system. The issue extends beyond the continued dysfunction of the WTO Appellate Body under a potential second Trump administration; the more troubling development lies in his declared plans to dramatically escalate his tariff strategy. Trump appears intent on wielding tariffs not only as economic tools but also as instruments of geopolitical leverage. A striking example is his proposal to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations if they pursue alternatives to the US dollar. While the emergence of alternatives to the dollar is widely seen as vital for fostering a multipolar world, BRICS is unlikely to establish its own reserve currency in the near term. However, such aggressive tariff threats from Trump are certain to intensify the bloc's resolve to accelerate efforts toward this objective. Even if blanket tariffs on BRICS member countries are not imposed, the potential tariff hike specifically targeting China will still have significant repercussions on global markets. For example, China accounts for 20 per cent of the global aeronautics market. Any retaliatory tariffs from Beijing on US Boeing jets would severely impact Boeing's profitability and further destabilize the industry. Trump's tariff threats are not limited to adversaries; they extend to America's closest allies and partners too. He proposed a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with calls for dialogue, stressing the importance of maintaining economic cooperation, while also hinting at the possibility of excluding Mexico from North America’s free trade agreement if deemed necessary. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in contrast, cautioned that such measures would lead to inflation and job losses on both sides of the border, remarking, “To one tariff will come another, and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk.” The mere announcement of Trump’s tariff threat, effectively jeopardising the US-Mexico free trade agreement, sent the Mexican peso tumbling against the dollar. Brussels, too, is preparing to face Trump’s anticipated tariffs. It is determined to open new markets for its car makers and other industrial companies. A practical step forward in this regard is the long-awaited trade deal (which was under negotiation for the last 25 years) that was signed between the EU and MERCOSUR (a customs union made up of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) few days ago. Once enforced the EU companies will save $4.2 annually on export duties. Trump’s renewed focus on tariffs coincides with the ongoing retreat of globalisation, often described as ‘slobalisation’. The once-thriving era of seamless international trade and interconnected supply chains is steadily giving way to fragmented trade blocs, regional alliances, and rising protectionism. By imposing sweeping tariffs and undermining multilateral trade norms, Trump risks accelerating this shift. His tariffs could erect additional barriers that dampen cross-border investment, restrict market access, and stifle the innovation fueled by global collaboration. Developing nations, which depend heavily on the efficiencies of global trade, are likely to bear the greatest burden, facing reduced export opportunities and deepening economic fragmentation. Meanwhile, the absence of a functional WTO Appellate Body deprives countries of a neutral forum for resolving trade disputes, encouraging unilateral actions and retaliatory measures. This prolonged paralysis has left the global trading system in disarray, exacerbating uncertainties in international trade and straining economic partnerships worldwide. The effect of Trump’s tariff policy could not have been explained better than South Korea’s Central Bank Governor Rhee Changyong. Commenting on the South Korean president’s failed attempt to impose martial law he said that South Korea’s export-oriented economy is in greater jeopardy from Donald Trump’s trade policies than from the political crisis at home. The world is watching intently to see whether Trump's renewed tariff strategy will achieve its geopolitical aims or worsen economic divisions and global tensions. With US businesses and consumers facing increased costs, and developing countries, allies, and rivals dealing with the destabilising effects of these policies, the future of the global trade system hangs in the balance in an era already marked by ‘slobalisation’. The writer heads the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and is a member of the COP29 International Advisory Committee. He tweets/posts @abidsuleriNoneWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden faces a stark choice as he contemplates broad preemptive pardons to protect aides and allies from potential retribution by Donald Trump: Does he hew to the institutional norms he’s spent decades defending or flex the powers of the presidency in untested ways? The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But the president has discussed the topic with senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Biden is taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to another person familiar with the president’s discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes –- and usually to those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for some who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. RELATED COVERAGE NYC’s mayor warms to Trump and doesn’t rule out becoming a Republican Ex-police officer denies leaking confidential information to Proud Boys leader Mother of Austin Tice, journalist missing in Syria, says new information proves her son is alive The president could, if he chooses, issue blanket pardons to specific people whom Trump and his allies have threatened to punish. Or he could pardon a broad class of people — not unlike pardons issued to those convicted of federal marijuana offenses or those ensnared in the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policies. Either way, he’d be using the powers of the presidency in a new way. Some worry that Trump and his allies, who have talked of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for targeted people even if they don’t result in prosecutions. The door has already been opened, given that Biden has extended a broad pardon to his son, Hunter , who was convicted and pleaded guilty in tax and gun cases. Biden explained that decision by saying he believed the prosecution of his son had been poisoned by politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden plans additional pardons before leaving office though she would not elaborate on the process. She repeatedly referenced “changing factors” that motivated the president to pardon his son despite promising he wouldn’t. She said Republicans have continued to try to see Hunter Biden investigated for an array of alleged offenses, a rationale that could support additional pardons for Biden aides and allies. It was two weeks ago that one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, Rep, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, encouraged Biden to pardon his son Hunter. The morning after that conversation, Clyburn told Biden’s staff that he believed the president should also pardon those being targeted by Trump. “I was very forceful in my discussions with him about what I thought he ought to do regarding his son,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I also told them that I thought he ought to go even further, because all the noise about Jack Smith and Liz Cheney and Doctor Fauci and all of that.” Special Counsel Jack Smith has been investigating Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for accusations he hoarded classified documents at his home. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican , was the vice chairwoman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. Fauci, an infectious disease expert, was instrumental in the government’s response to the coronavirus. All have raised the ire of Trump. Clyburn said he told Biden’s team, only half jokingly, that because the Supreme Court has already said that the president has certain immunities, “let’s give that same immunity to Jack Smith for carrying out his duties and to, Doctor Fauci, Liz Cheney, they were carrying out their duties.” Among those mentioned publicly for possible presidential pardons, there are different sentiments on whether pardons would even be wanted. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the president’s move to pardon his son, but has been silent on the speculation that Biden is considering additional pardons for her or others. A top Pelosi ally, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s first impeachment, has panned the idea of pardoning Biden’s allies. He says “the courts are strong enough to withstand” the worst of Trump’s threats. “I don’t think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” the incoming senator told NPR recently. “I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary,” Schiff said. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was the lead manager on Trump’s second impeachment, on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, said members of Congress already are protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution, which protects them prosecution for participating in their legislative duties. Raskin said figures like Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly , Trump’s former White House chief of staff, would similarly be protected by the First Amendment. But Raskin said the question is, “Should they go through the criminal investigation and prosecution for not doing anything wrong? I think that’s why this whole issue has erupted.” Raksin added that with Trump promising to pardon hundreds of people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6th, “I can hardly fault President Biden for exploring the use of the pardon to protect people from a fraudulent and unjust prosecution.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s had no conversations with the White House regarding any preemptive pardons for current or former members of Congress. ___ Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.Top NYC Correction Department investigator reinstated after claim
Iowa QB Cade McNamara slams 'ridiculous' rumors
Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Israel releases images of work on a new barrier with Syria The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East.” Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border with Syria. Russian news agency reporting that Assad has arrived in Moscow Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. Arab League condemns Israel for seizing territory in Golan Heights CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” United Nations secretary-general marks the ‘fall of the dictatorial regime’ in Syria UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” Top Ukraine diplomat says Assad is a ‘dictator’ who relied on Russia to prop up his rule KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Israeli military issues warning to residents of five villages in southern Syria JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. Head of Syria’s biggest rebel faction in first appearance since Assad’s fall calls it “a victory to the Islamic nation.” BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. Many Jordanian people welcome the fall of Assad's regime AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” The International Committee of the Red Cross calls for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” Iraqi government supports efforts seeking to open a dialogue for Syria's future BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. Yemen's leader welcomes the fall of Syria's government CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. Families wander through the presidential palace in Damascus, taking pictures DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after Syrian unrest TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. Airstrikes reported in the area of the Mezzeh military airport DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest.
House Democrat to force floor vote this week to release Matt Gaetz ethics reportAn Italian renewable energy giant and Japan’s largest oil and gas company are plugging into Australia’s clean energy resources under the banner of a new company. Potentia Energy will be launched at the Sydney Opera House on Monday as an Australian renewable energy firm co-owned by Rome-headquartered Enel Green Power and INPEX. With rights in place for a development pipeline of over seven gigawatts across the country, Potentia is most focused on developing and acquiring assets in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, chief executive Werther Esposito told AAP. The company is not deterred by the risk of political change, with opinion polls favouring the coalition ahead of the 2025 federal election. “The energy transition will go ahead in any case. There could be an acceleration or slowing down in the process,” Mr Esposito said. “Renewables represent, from a technical and economic perspective, the solution for climate change,” he said. “I don’t think any government could deny that today wind and solar are cheaper than other technologies, and are faster in reaching the phase of deployment and construction and then supply of renewable energy.” NSW had suffered some planning delays that had hit investment but there had been a “strong improvement” in the past 12 to 18 months, he said. The company also has a stake in Queensland, particularly in the north’s Copperstring area, where the recently elected LNP government has pledged to stick by a massive transmission project begun under Labor. Enel won the bidding in 2024 to develop renewable energy to power a vanadium mining and processing project, which is one of a number of giant resources projects intended to be connected to the $9 billion Copperstring transmission line from Townsville to Mt Isa. WA offered a “huge opportunity” for the deployment of wind farms and battery energy storage systems, Mr Esposito said. With a decades-long footprint in Australia’s north and west, INPEX is Japan’s largest fossil fuel exploration and production company. Under pressure to reduce its global contribution to climate change, INPEX is already developing the production of liquid hydrogen and ammonia. “They elected Australia as the market to start diversification of the energy mix and huge investment in renewables,” Mr Esposito said. “Of course in this regard, Australia is the place to be,” he said. Enel and INPEX joined forces in a share purchase agreement in 2023, with the renewables business operating plants comprising 310 megawatts of solar capacity across South Australia and Victoria and a 75MW wind farm in Western Australia. A 93MW solar farm is under commissioning in Victoria and financial close was recently announced for a hybrid 98MW solar and 20MW battery project in NSW. But with international firms lining up to exploit clean energy resources, Australians living alongside projects are demanding a share of future profits through community funds, power bill rebates and other benefits. “The energy transition should be just. To be just it means that you need to support the communities and involve the communities in a proper way,” Mr Esposito said. He said Enel was proud of its legacy in providing support to areas facing a changing landscape and the impact of new infrastructure, including community funds, a focus on local hiring and providing training to support new jobs. “It’s an approach that is, for us, absolutely a pillar of our strategy,” he said. “We are still facing some regulatory ambiguity in what a social licence means, and we are trying to be a leader in the industry in helping and supporting all the key stakeholders in determining and defining what it is.”
Pop sensation Ed Sheeran has taken to social media to apologise after accidentally gatecrashing a live interview with new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim. Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Amorim was being interviewed on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich, who Sheeran owns a minority stake in. Sheeran interrupted the interview to speak with analyst Jamie Redknapp, who initially greeted the singer before quickly suggesting he could “come and say hello in a minute”. Sheeran, clearly oblivious to the fact Amorim was being interviewed on live TV, posted an apology on his Instagram story on Monday morning, writing he felt like “a bit of a bell***”. “Apologies if I offended Amorim yesterday, didn’t actually realise he was being interviewed at the time, was popping to say hi and bye to Jamie,” Sheeran wrote on his Instagram story. “Obv feel a bit of a bell*** but life goes on. Great game though, congrats on all involved x”. Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich supporter and has been a shirt sponsor for both the men’s and women’s teams since 2021. The 33-year-old bought a 1.4 percent minority stake in the club in August following their promotion to the English top flight for the first time in 22 years. Singer-songwriter Sheeran, a four-time Grammy award winner, has also found a new role at Ipswich. The club’s chairman Mark Ashton previously revealed he was even instrumental in the recruitment of one player after joining a video call with the potential signing. “A local man, global superstar, sponsor of the football club, now a shareholder and now officially part of our recruitment team,” Ashton said at a Soccerex event on Thursday. “In the summer we were trying to persuade one particular player to join the football club and realised very quickly that he was an Ed Sheeran fan. “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift, hopefully that was a key part of getting the player across the line. “We’ve gone from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, but we haven’t forgotten our roots and Ed’s a key part of that, the work that we do in our local communities is central to us.” Sheeran watched Ipswich’s first game of the season against Liverpool at Portman Road and was also at Tottenham when Kieran McKenna’s team secured their first Premier League win of the campaign in November. “I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and, while I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected,” Sheeran said earlier this year. “It’s such a joy to be a fan of Ipswich Town. There are ups and downs but football is all about taking the highs and the lows.”Top 3 Crypto Picks to Buy Now: Don’t Miss These High-Potential Coins as the New Year Begins
Bangchak Sriracha Refinery Plc (BSRC), a subsidiary of Bangchak Corporation, is being cautious with budget spending to develop its oil refinery in Chon Buri's Sri Racha district as the refinery business slumps. The facility, previously owned by Esso (Thailand), is operated by Bangchak after its 2023 buyout of Esso Thailand, whose name was later changed to Bangchak Sriracha Refinery. "We must be more careful about budget allocation, only approving necessary projects of BSRC, such as operation efficiency improvement and cost optimisation," said Bundit Hansapaiboon, chief executive of BSRC. The company is preparing to implement a new capital spending plan from 2025 to 2030, seeking to improve refinery production and manufacture high value-added products after the synergised businesses of Bangchack and Esso earned 4.4 billion baht in revenue during the first nine months of this year. The new investment value was not disclosed, but BSRC revealed it plans to spend 3 billion baht in the first year, mostly to improve refinery machinery and oil trade. "This is our clearest budget allocation plan," said Mattana Sutatham, chief financial officer of BSRC. The company has been renovating and rebranding 746 petrol stations previously operated by Esso. Up to 95% of the project is completed, with the remainder expected to serve customers under the Bangchak brand by the end of this year, she said. In the third quarter this year, BSRC posted a loss of 1.73 billion baht, attributed to oil stock loss, according to the website of the Stock Exchange of Thailand. During the first nine months this year, the company reported a loss of 659 million baht. Mr Bundit said he expects the profit margin of BSRC's oil refinery business in 2025 to be on par with this year as oil demand slows from large consumers, especially China as economic growth sags in that nation. In 2025, Bangchak plans to build 100 new filling stations. For non-oil businesses, the company wants to increase touchpoints and interactions with customers, seeking opportunities to sell its products and services. Touchpoints are projected to increase to 400 by year-end, rising to 500-700 next year.Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna said he supports captain Sam Morsy's decision not to wear a rainbow armband over the last two fixtures. Morsy is the only captain across the 20 Premier League clubs not to have worn the special armband as part of the 'Rainbow Laces' campaign - designed to show of support for the LGBTQ+ community. McKenna said: "As the club statement said, we want to be an inclusive club. We are working really, really hard on that. Within the club, within the playing group, there has been a lot of good work and want to continue that. "But at the same time the club has respected Samy's individual decision based on his religious beliefs. I think that's a fair assessment." On Saturday, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi wrote 'I love Jesus ' on his rainbow armband. He was reportedly reminded by The FA that religious messaging is banned from equipment, but wore it again in tonight's game at Portman Road. Eagles boss Oliver Glasner said: "Everybody who knows Marc knows he's a great guy and very humble. I don't think we should make this bigger than it is. He's an adult, he has an opinion and we respect that. This campaign is about being tolerant and Marc is very tolerant."