WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.US Offers $10 Mn Reward For Wanted Chinese Hacker
Republican U.S. Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy this week claimed a firework-ignited grass fire set near his campaign sign west of Livingston was a politically motivated arson. A Park County sheriff’s deputy on Dec. 21 notified dispatchers of a fire near Interstate 90 and West End Road. On social media, the sheriff’s office said winds that night were clocked at 50-to-60 mph and helped push the fire out to 26 acres. Image of the area west of Livingston burned by someone discharging fireworks into the grass on Dec. 21, 2024. (courtesy Park County Sheriff's Office) Authorities issued evacuations for the nearby residents and firefighters knocked the blaze down in roughly an hour and a half, according to the sheriff’s office post. The fire "definitely" started near a Sheehy campaign sign, the rural fire district chief told the Livingston Enterprise . And while law enforcement has obtained video of the suspect's vehicle fleeing the area after starting the fire, it appeared Friday that no one had been charged yet. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy addresses supporters early Wednesday morning at the Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman. On Tuesday Sheehy appeared near the scorched scene and issued a social media post of appreciation for the responders, which, according to the Enterprise , included neighbors to the threatened properties. He also posted a picture with two Montana Department of Transportation employees, whose facility was adjacent to the burned area, as well as a photo of a blackened building. Initial reports from the sheriff’s office did say the incident was being investigated as a criminal act but did not imply political motivations, although Sheehy appeared certain of it in a video posted to his social media. "We just visited with the Jensen family here, four beautiful young kids, it was actually their third daughter’s birthday the night that these arsonists started the fire to burn down our sign and started about a 30-acre wildfire, burned their grazing land, harmed their property and its just sad that would happen here," Sheehy said. "We can still disagree, we can still respect each other in this country. We don't have to do things like this." Grateful to the Montanans who helped respond to this fire on Saturday before it did even more damage. While the investigation remains underway, this type of dangerous, reckless violence has no place in Montana. Terrible way for these folks to start the Christmas week, but they... pic.twitter.com/djsWv013TT The Park County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook on Monday it had obtained video evidence of a person shooting a firework out of a moving vehicle and igniting the dry grass before heading west on I-190. "It was definitely someone setting off fireworks at the sign," Park County Rural Fire District Chief Dann Babcox told the Enterprise , referencing law enforcement reports. A call to the sheriff's office on Friday seeking any update or arrest information was not immediately returned. "Very disappointing, really tough way for these families to enter the Christmas week," Sheehy continued in his video. "It's effected several families here, including some structures, its a tough way for these people to have to start the holiday season." Seaborn Larson has worked for the Montana State News Bureau since 2020. His past work includes local crime and courts reporting at the Missoulian and Great Falls Tribune, and daily news reporting at the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell. 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. State Bureau Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
None
GTA 6 Moon Theory Debunked, Fans Devastated - IGN Daily Fix In today's Daily Fix:Leave it to Grand Theft Auto fans to come up with the craziest theories. The popular "moon theory" was recently debunked, however, as no new GTA 6 trailer has dropped. The theory suggests that Rockstar Games has been leaving hints as to when new trailers will drop via lunar clues in screenshots. One image released last year featured the moon in a particular lunar phase, and (likely coincidentally) the GTA 6 trailer dropped the day the real life moon was in the same phase. Didn't work this time, however. In other news, Black Ops 6 was a huge seller...on PlayStation. PS5 sales made up a whopping 82% of the game's sales, but it did move the needle on Game Pass subscriptions on Xbox and PC. And finally, Black Myth: Wukong developer Game Science is teasing something for the end of the year.RJ Thompson scored 23 points -- including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 56 seconds left -- as Charleston Southern shocked host Miami 83-79 on Saturday afternoon. Miami entered the game as a 23.5-point favorite. Charleston (2-7) won its first game of the season away from home after losing its previous six road or neutral-court contests. The Buccaneers also got 21 points from Thompson Camara and 20 points and 11 rebounds from Taje' Kelly. Camara match his previous career point total. Miami (3-4), playing at home for the first time in two weeks, lost its fourth straight game. Brandon Johnson led Miami with 23 points and freshman Austin Swartz scored a career-high 15. Swartz entered the game averaging just 2.3 points For the first time this season, Miami was without Nijel Pack, who has a lower-body injury. Pack leads the team in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.7). With Pack out, five-star freshman Jalil Bethea made his first start and had six points. The game featured quite a contrast in coaches. Miami's Jim Larranaga, 75, has won 743 games in 41-plus seasons. Charleston Southern's Saah Nimley, 31, is in his full first season as a head coach. He was named interim coach in November 2023. In the first half, Miami raced to a 17-10 lead. However, Charleston Southern posted an 11-0 run to grab a 21-17 advantage. The Hurricanes lost control late in the first half as Miami's Johnson hit a 3-pointer and was hit with a technical foul for taunting. Later in the first half, Larranaga was also hit with a technical. By the end of the half, the Buccaneers led 45-37. Camara led Charleston Southern with 16 first-half points on 6-for-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. Johnson scored 12 for Miami in the opening half, all on 3-pointers. In the second half, Charleston Southern stretched its lead to 13. Miami rallied as the clock wound down. With 38 seconds left, Miami called a timeout while trailing 81-79. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers got the rebound. Daylen Berry made two free throws with 11 seconds left to ice the game. Up next, Miami will host No. 19 Arkansas on Tuesday night as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Charleston Southern will return home to face Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday night. --Field Level MediaZebo and Ferris question officiating for Leinster try against Munster
The basketball world cannot afford to see LeBron James go out sad, and that’s exactly what will happen if he doesn’t work a trade away from the Los Angeles Lakers. On Wednesday afternoon, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that James wasn’t with the team for personal reasons. "LeBron is not with the team right now," Redick said after practice . "He's out for personal reasons, excused absence." James missed Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a foot injury. It was the first game he had missed all season. But now he’s away from the team for personal reasons, and with the Lakers just two games above .500, holding onto the eighth seed in the Western Conference, it could be time for a change. Remember, despite drafting his son, Bronny James, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, James was frustrated with the Lakers this offseason because of their inability to add a third superstar to pair alongside himself and Anthony Davis. He signed an extension but really only committed to the Lakers for one more season. James has played 22 years in the league. At the end of the month, he will turn 40 years old. There’s no denying that his days playing in the NBA are numbered. There’s also no denying that he understands the inner workings of the NBA unlike any player before him. He’s oftentimes criticized for popularizing the superteam when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. He has to know this Lakers squad is not going anywhere, especially in a Western Conference loaded with young talent. He’s been known to force a thing or two, and now it’s time for him to force his way out of Los Angeles and chase another championship before he calls it a career. When the news dropped about his absence from practice, NBA rumor mills immediately started cranking out trade rumors. Where could his fourth team be? The Golden State Warriors are a west coast destination that would allow him to stay close to his family based in Los Angeles. They’re currently the No. 5 seed in the West and could allow James to actually contend for a championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers are another option, as James has already returned home and played the role of hero once already, delivering a championship in 2016. He’s much older now, but so are the Cavs, who have the best record in the NBA. This reunion might just make all the sense in the world. Nobody knows for sure why James is away from the Lakers right now. But it would undoubtedly be in his best interest to move on from the Lakers. This is his seventh year donning the purple and gold and has just one championship to show for it with a bunch of early playoff exits, or worse, not making the postseason at all. Still averaging 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds per game, James has more to give to the game of basketball. He has accomplished everything there is to accomplish, including suiting up with his son. That's pretty damn special. It’s time to win that last championship ring and ride off into the sunset as the greatest ever.
Acting Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's health took a sudden turn on Saturday, as he experienced a fever shortly after arriving in his native village in Satara, a report said. According to Dr Parte, the family physician, Shinde had a mild fever of 99 degrees Celsius and was administered saline. The doctor confirmed that Shinde's condition is improving and attributed the symptoms to a viral infection, noting that he is also experiencing mild cough and cold. In light of his illness, the acting CM cancelled all his scheduled meetings in Mumbai and chose to return to his village to rest, sparking speculation about his future role in the Mahayuti government. Maharashtra Chief Minister Swearing-In Ceremony To Be Held on December 5 at Mumbai's Azad Maidan . Maharashtra News : Eknath Shinde की तबियत खराब हुई #maharashtra #eknathshinde pic.twitter.com/1GLxM3BtJJ — News18 India (@News18India) November 30, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Believe in Christmas star John Reardon announced he is currently recovering from tonsil cancer in an emotional social media post thanking his loved ones for their support. The Hallmark star shared a photo from the hospital on Instagram , where he detailed his “long road” to recovery. “Last night was my first night out after my recovery from tonsil cancer. Has been a long road between these two pictures and the difference is from the love and support I received from my people in my life,” Reardon wrote in the caption of his post. He thanked his partner, actress Meghan Ohry, for “taking on our whole world to help me get better,” as well as his “brave kids who inspired” him. The real-life partners recently starred opposite each other in the Hallmark Christmas romance, Believe in Christmas . Reardon did not disclose when he was diagnosed, but he went on to thank his family members and friends for stepping in to help during his recovery. Reardon’s statement continued, “My Dad who took me for a walk everyday even when it was hard for me to get out of bed – and I’m sure hard for him to see his son in pain. My Mom @ocean__cottage who made me soups and ginger honey tea and green juices so I could get calories into my body.” The Hallmark actor concluded his message with the statement, “Kindness is an under appreciated quality in people. We should never under value it. Celebrate it and distribute it as much as possible. It is free and life changing. Happy Holidays.” Supporters flooded the comments of Reardon’s social media post with kind words. Once Upon A Time actress Rebecca Mader commented, “So happy to hear you’re on the other side. Congratulations! Lots of love to you and yours!” The actor, who made his Hallmark debut in 2014 in the series When Calls the Heart , has also appeared in I’ll Be Home For Christmas , Van Helsing and Continuum . Reardon currently stars in the Citytv series Hudson & Rex . He is next set to appear in the miniseries Disrepair .