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online games.io Letter: Single Political Party SystemTweet Facebook Mail Half a century of rule by the Assad family in Syria crumbled with astonishing speed after insurgents burst out of a rebel-held enclave and converged on the capital, Damascus, taking city after city in a matter of days. Opposition forces swept across the country and entered Damascus with little or no resistance as the Syrian army melted away. President Bashar Assad, Syria's ruler for 24 years — succeeding his father, Hafez Assad — fled the country. Russian state media reported that he was in Moscow. It's a stunning development in Syria's devastating 13-year conflict. Anti-government protests in 2011 met with a brutal crackdown, escalating into a civil war that has killed more than half a million people and displaced half of Syria's prewar population of 23 million. READ MORE: US could 'absolutely' leave NATO, Trump says  Syrians celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad's government in the town of Bar Elias, Lebanon. (AP) Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, gradually regained control of more than two-thirds of Syria, leaving the rebels with one stronghold in the north-west of the country. And there the conflict remained, largely frozen, for years until late November. Here's a look at a seismic two weeks for the Middle East. Wednesday, November 27: Rebel offensive begins Armed opposition groups launch a large-scale attack on areas controlled by government forces in northwestern Syria and claim to have wrested control of over 15 villages from government forces in northwestern Aleppo province. The government and its allies respond with airstrikes and shelling in an attempt to halt the insurgent advances. The offensive is led by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaida and known as the Nusra Front, HTS later distanced itself from al-Qaida, seeking to market itself as a more moderate group. It is classed as a terrorist group by Australia , the United Nations, and the US. The attack on Aleppo follows weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, says the rebels began a limited offensive to stop the attacks, but it expanded as government forces began to retreat. READ MORE: FBI offers $50k reward in hunt for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Government soldiers and allies sit on the ground as they are taken into custody by opposition fighters. (AP) Thursday, November 28: The offensive expands The offensive expands to reach the countryside of Idlib province amid reports government troops are retreating. Friday, November 29: Rebels enter Aleppo The insurgents enter Aleppo, Syria's largest city, for the first time since they were pushed out in 2016 after a grueling military campaign by Syrian government forces backed by Russia and Iran. They meet with little resistance. Saturday, November 30: Aleppo falls under insurgent control The rebels say they control Aleppo, raising a flag over the city's citadel and occupying the international airport. The Syrian armed forces claim to have redeployed troops and equipment in preparation for a counterattack. By evening, the insurgents have seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claim to have entered the provincial capital. READ MORE: At least three killed in Netherlands apartment explosion An opposition fighter steps on a broken bust of the late Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus. (AP) Sunday, December 1: The government fights back The Syrian military launches a counterattack with troops and airstrikes on Idlib and Aleppo. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Damascus, telling Assad that Tehran will support the counteroffensive. But Assad receives little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular airstrikes. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a year-long conflict with Israel. Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) Monday, December 2-Wednesday, December 4: Fighting rages near Hama The insurgents push south, advancing to within 10km of Hama, the country's fourth-largest city and a key crossroads in central Syria, about 200km north of Damascus. State media reports fierce fighting in the province, and both state media and a UK-based observer group say government forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, have recaptured some territory. Turkey urges Assad to hold talks with the opposition. READ MORE: South Korean president apologises for martial law attempt A group of people take a family photo while sitting on a couch in a hall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's presidential palace in Damascus. (AP) Thursday, December 5: Insurgents capture Hama After several days of fighting the rebels sweep into Hama. Dozens of jubilant fighters are seen firing into the air in celebration in Assi Square, the site of massive anti-government protests in the early days of the uprising in 2011. The Syrian army says it has redeployed to positions outside the city to protect civilians. Friday, December 6: Rebels advance on Homs Rapidly advancing now, the rebels seize two towns on the outskirts of Homs, Syria's third-largest city. About 40km south of Hama, Homs is the gateway to Damascus and the location of one of Syria's two state-owned oil refineries. Capturing it would cut the link between Damascus, Assad's seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. The government denies reports that its military has withdrawn from the city. Top diplomats from countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Russia, hold talks on Syria in the Qatari capital, Doha. Abu Mohammed al-Golani speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. (AP) Saturday, December 7: Homs falls and Assad's grip weakens Opposition forces take Homs after government forces abandon it. The insurgents say they have encircled Damascus and are carrying out the "final stage" of their offensive. The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an "orderly political transition," as Syrian state media denies Assad has fled the country. Sunday, December 8: Assad is toppled Syrian state television airs a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all prisoners have been set free. How an iconic TV show unlocked a 60-year-old mystery View Gallery HTS commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani visits the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and calls Assad's fall a victory for "the Islamic nation." Russian officials and Iranian state TV say Assad has left Syria. Russian state news agencies later report he and his family are in Moscow and were granted asylum. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali says Syria's government is ready to "extend its hand" to the opposition and hand over its functions to a transitional government. The Russian agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source on Assad and his family being given asylum in Moscow, his longtime ally and protector. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but contacted the Kremlin for comment. RIA also said Moscow had received guarantees from Syrian insurgents of the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule . DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .None

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After a thrilling double-overtime win over Fresno State, California Baptist makes the nearly 2,500-mile trip to Orlando to face Central Florida on Sunday. The Lancers (5-3) capped their time at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., with an 86-81 victory over the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That followed a last-second, 79-77 loss to SMU the day before. Dominique Daniels Jr. played 45 minutes against Fresno State and led California Baptist with 29 points. He paces the Lancers with 20.3 points per game, while Kendal Coleman averages 15.1 points and is shooting 59.7 percent form the floor. However, coach Rick Croy's team has struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 30.7 percent entering its first true road game this season. UCF (5-2) is coming off of an 84-76 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday despite being outrebounded 41-31. The Knights were helped by the heroics of senior guard Darius Johnson, who had 28 points as he shot a career-best 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. "Darius was terrific," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. "He's so comfortable in his leadership role now, he's leading our team and running the show, and our new players are becoming more comfortable playing with him. He's been a rock for us this season, and you love to see it out of a senior point guard." "I had an extraordinary night shooting the ball from three," Johnson said. "I rarely think that would happen again, but it's great. I know my teammates are going to have nights like that as well." Johnson is among the nation's leaders in minutes per game (36.6) and is shooting a team-high 50 percent from 3-point range (23 of 46). He, along with his fellow guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, are each averaging 16.9 points to lead UCF. The Knights opened the season with an impressive win over Texas A&M, now No. 20 in the AP poll, but lost both games at last weekend's Greenbrier Tip-Off, including a triple-overtime defeat against LSU on Sunday. UCF has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018-19. This will be the first meeting between the Knights and the Lancers, who will each have time off afterwards. UCF won't play until Dec. 8 against Tarleton State, while California Baptist is idle until its Dec. 11 game at San Diego State. --Field Level MediaASML Lead Plaintiff Deadline Approaching – Contact Robbins LLP for Information About the Class Action Against ASML Holding N.V.

Neighbors Urge Mayor To Delay Or Deny Permit To Pilsen Metal ScrapperThe home of the Sounders may now officially become the home for a country during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. FIFA announced an updated list of potential base camps for countries participating in the World Cup on Thursday that included the Sounders new training center at the former Longacres site in Renton. Adding the Sounders training center is an announcement that’s long been expected and was probably amplified by the visit last month from FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the area that also included a reception and tour of the facility. Seattle is set to host six matches during the tournament beginning in June 2026 – four in the group stage, one in the round of 32 and one in the round of 16. But cities can often serve as both host venues and base camps for various countries. For example, during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the city of Sochi hosted matches while also being the base camp for Brazil and Poland at a couple of venues around the area. The Sounders facility was one of 26 new options added by FIFA that also included a couple of other potential sites in the Pacific Northwest. Across the state, Gonzaga University in Spokane is listed as a possible base camp. The Bulldogs’ Luger Field is a grass soccer stadium on the bank of the Spokane River. Another site in the region listed was Boise State University where the Broncos play at the Boas Soccer Complex. Any of the three Pacific Northwest locations would seem likely options for a country that ends up with the majority of its group stage games on the West Coast. Other cities are expected to be added as potential base camps for the 48 participating countries throughout 2025. Portland is not currently listed as a possible base camp but would seem a likely candidate with a few options in the area. The final decisions on what cities each country will call home for the tournament are expected a little over a year from now, shortly after the draw. The draw to set the groups and schedule for the tournament is expected to take place in December 2025.

Waves in a California storm cause havoc in coastal communities and turn deadly. When a pier collapsed in Santa Cruz, California, a strong storm that was pounding the West Coast whipped up waves as high as sixty feet, killing one man, carrying another out to sea, and requiring numerous rescues, according to authorities. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America On Tuesday, a string of storms that will continue into Christmas are predicted to batter the West Coast with massive ocean waves, strong winds, and a lot of rain, as quoted in a report by ABC News. As per the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, a man was trapped beneath debris at a beach on Monday after being struck by a large wave, turning the wild weather in Santa Cruz deadly. The death occurred at Sunset State Beach in Santa Cruz, approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco , at 11:30 a.m. local time. The man was pulled from the water by first responders, but the sheriff's office reported that he was later declared dead at a hospital. The name of the man was not made public right away. The sheriff's office also reported that the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf pier partially collapsed as a result of the storm. According to the sheriff's office, three men who were all part of a city crew that was working on the pier at the time were thrown into the ocean. 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Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said none of the men were seriously hurt. At the end of the pier, which was being restored for $4 million, a 150-foot section was cut off in the incident. The pier was left floating in the water in large pieces. Video showed a first responder on a jet ski rescuing a worker who was stranded on a section of the pier that was floating in the water. Due to high tides and significant swells, the sheriff's office also ordered residents living along a roughly 3-mile stretch of shoreline just south of Santa Cruz to evacuate Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service in the Bay Area warned that dangerous and life-threatening beach conditions are forecast for along the Pacific Coast through Tuesday, including rough seas and breaking waves up to 60 feet. FAQs What caused the pier collapse in Santa Cruz ? Massive waves from a powerful storm crashed into the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, collapsing a 150-foot section and tossing workers into the ocean. Fortunately, all workers were safely rescued. How deadly is the storm in California? The storm has claimed one life in Santa Cruz, left another man missing near Monterey, and caused severe destruction along the coast, with 60-foot waves and dangerous conditions. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.None73% of small business owners optimistic about 2025 economy

Shopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystick-controlled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse. A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon. Rotating captions warn that a less than $2 camouflage print balaclava and a $1.23 skeleton hand back scratcher are “Almost sold out.” A flame symbol indicates a $9.69 plush cat print hoodie is selling fast. A timed-down selection of discounted items adds to the sense of urgency. Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right. Welcome to the new online world of impulse buying, a place of guilty pleasures where the selection is vast, every day is Cyber Monday, and an instant dopamine hit is always just a click away. By all accounts, we’re living in an accelerating age for consumerism, one that Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, its fierce rival , supercharged with social media savvy and an interminable assortment of cheap goods, most shipped directly from merchants in China based on real-time demand. The business models of the two platforms, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising, have enabled them to give Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season. A Christmas tree ornament purchased on Temu. Software company Salesforce said it expects roughly one in five online purchases in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to be made through four online marketplaces based or founded in Asia: Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop — the e-commerce arm of video-sharing platform TikTok — and AliExpress. Analysts with Salesforce said they are expected to pull in roughly $160 billion in global sales outside of China. Most of the sales will go to Temu and Shein, a privately held company which is thought to lead the worldwide fast fashion market in revenue. Lisa Xiaoli Neville, a nonprofit manager who lives in Los Angeles, is sold on Shein. The bedroom of her home is stocked with jeans, shoes, press-on nails and other items from the ultra-fast fashion retailer, all of which she amassed after getting on the platform to buy a $2 pair of earrings she saw in a Facebook ad. Neville, 46, estimates she spends at least $75 a month on products from Shein. A $2 eggshell opener, a portable apple peeler and an apple corer, both costing less than $5, are among the quirky, single-use kitchen tools taking up drawer space. She acknowledges she doesn’t need them because she “doesn’t even cook like that.” Plus, she’s allergic to apples. “I won’t eat apples. It will kill me,” Neville said, laughing. “But I still want the coring thing.” Shein, now based in Singapore, uses some of the same web design features as Temu’s, such as pop-up coupons and ads, to persuade shoppers to keep clicking, but it appears a bit more restrained in its approach. Shein primarily targets young women through partnerships with social media influencers. Searching the company's name on video platforms turns up creators promoting Shein's Black Friday sales event and displaying the dozens of of trendy clothes and accessories they got for comparatively little money. But the Shein-focused content also includes videos of TikTokers saying they're embarrassed to admit they shopped there and critics lashing out at fans for not taking into account the environmental harms or potential labor abuses associated with products that are churned out and shipped worldwide at a speedy pace. Neville has already picked out holiday gifts for family and friends from the site. Most of the products in her online cart cost under $10, including graphic T-shirts she intends to buy for her son and jeans and loafers for her daughter. All told, she plans to spend about $200 on gifts, significantly less than $500 she used to shell out at other stores in prior years. “The visuals just make you want to spend more money,” she said, referring to the clothes on Shein's site. “They're very cheap and everything is just so cute.” Unlike Shein, Temu's appeal cuts across age groups and gender. The platform is the world’s second most-visited online shopping site, software company Similarweb reported in September. Customers go there looking for practical items like doormats and silly products like a whiskey flask shaped like a vintage cellphone from the 1990s. Temu advertised Black Friday bargains for some items at upwards of 70% off the recommended retail price. Making a purchase can quickly result in receiving dozens of emails offering free giveaways. The caveat: customers have to buy more products. Despite their rise, Temu and Shein have proven particularly ripe for pushback. Last year, a coalition of unnamed brands and organizations launched a campaign to oppose Shein in Washington. U.S. lawmakers also have raised the possibility that Temu is allowing goods made with forced labor to enter the country. More recently, the Biden administration put forward rules that would crack down on a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which has allowed a lot of cheap products to come into the U.S. duty-free. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to slap high tariffs on goods from China, a move that would likely raise prices across the retail world. Both Shein and Temu have set up warehouses in the U.S. to speed up delivery times and help them better compete with Amazon, which is trying to erode their price advantage through a new storefront that also ships products directly from China. 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The New Orleans Pelicans (4-12) will be monitoring eight players on the injury report, including Brandon Ingram, ahead of their Friday, November 22 game against the Golden State Warriors (11-3) at Smoothie King Center. The Warriors have listed two injured players. The game starts at 7:30 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. In their most recent game on Wednesday, the Pelicans suffered a 128-100 loss to the Cavaliers. Antonio Reeves scored a team-leading 34 points for the Pelicans in the loss. The Warriors took care of business in their last matchup 120-97 against the Hawks on Wednesday. Andrew Wiggins recorded 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Warriors. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .The 118th session of Congress was one of the most chaotic and partisan-plagued sessions of Congress in recent political history, particularly among Republicans in the lower chamber. The House witnessed the historic ousting of a speaker; chaos within House Republicans almost caused the government to shut down twice and brought three failed attempts to remove members of the Biden administration, including the president himself; two representatives were also indicted while in office, and one was actually removed. And that was hardly the extent of the drama and dysfunction. READ: As the current session draws to a close, here’s a look back at the 118th Congress by the numbers: 3: The number of speakers of the House. The session began in January 2023 with Kevin McCarthy of California winning the gavel in a contentious vote. After his historic ousting in October 2023 led by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina was named speaker pro tempore and served for 22 days. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was then elected in late October by the caucus as the new speaker. 2: The number of attempts to oust a speaker. For the first time in history, McCarthy was removed from the speakership after Gaetz led the movement to put forth a “motion to vacate.” McCarthy’s removal sparked a scramble to replace him, with Johnson taking over. Johnson himself then faced the same attempt in May , but it ended up failing during votes. 9: The number of failed impeachment attempts against Biden administration officials. Biden has been the target of five impeachment resolutions. McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Biden on Sept. 12, 2023, that the House Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means committees conducted, but the attempt went nowhere. Republicans filed impeachment articles against Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Most failed to gain traction, but House Republicans voted in February to impeach Mayorkas – despite opposition from all Democrats and four GOP members. The charges were quickly dismissed by the Senate. 1: The number of failed contempt of Congress charges filed against a Biden administration official. House Republicans voted 216 to 207 on June 13 to hold Garland in contempt for refusing to hand over audio records of President Joe Biden to the House Oversight Committee. Garland said he viewed the request as politically motivated. 4: The number of continuing resolutions passed. The House in September of 2023 passed a stopgap bill to avert a shutdown. The House then voted and passed another stopgap bill in November. The first stopgap bill of this year was passed in September to avert a partial government shutdown . The bill was passed 78-18 and maintained the current funding levels through Dec. 20. A second stopgap bill passed days before Christmas, despite last-minute drama when President-elect Donald Trump and his allies scuttled a bipartisan deal in favor of a pared-down version of the funding bill. 1: The number of lawmakers removed from office. The House voted 311 to 114 on Dec. 1 to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York from Congress. He was indicted by the federal government for financial crimes and it was discovered he lied about key details, including his ancestry, his college degree and previous employment. 2: The number of lawmakers indicted while in office. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife were indicted by the federal prosecutors in May and accused of taking an estimated $600,000 from a company tied to the Azerbaijan government and a bank based in Mexico City. The bribes were then said to have been laundered through shell companies owned by Cuellar’s wife. Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Dec. 23, 2024 Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted in September 2023 and accused of using his position to benefit three businessmen and the government of Egypt in exchange for bribes that included gold bars and cash. His wife was indicted alongside him in addition to the businessmen. After a lengthy trial, Menendez was found guilty on all 16 charges. 1: The number of lawmakers who changed their party affiliation while in office. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia disclosed in May 2024 that he would change his party affiliation to independent. Such moves are rare, yet Manchin’s decision came after Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona similarly changed her registration from Democrat to independent. While technically her decision, announced in December 2022, was part of the 117th Congress, its effects would be felt when the 118th Congress convened in January 2023. 4: The number of independents in the Senate. Manchin’s switch brought the total from three to four , the highest number in a single Congress since the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913 that allowed for the direct election of senators by voters. 19,297: The number of bills and resolutions introduced into the House 994: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House 1,029: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the Senate 315: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House and Senate

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar , while speaking on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, stressed that the primary concern is to stop the mounting death toll, and stressed the need for achieving an "immediate ceasefire," paving more humanitarian assistance, and facilitating the return of hostages. He further reiterated India's continuous contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and asserted that the country will continue to do so. Jaishankar was speaking at the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue panel on 'Whither Regional Strategic Cooperation', alongside Bahrainian Foreign Minister, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Czech Republic National Security Advisor, Tomas Pojar in Bahrain. READ | Iran, Israel tensions source of concern, says Jaishankar "Right now I think the issue is of the ceasefire, the issue is of humanitarian assistance, return of the hostages. The issue is the stopping of deaths. We have been contributing to UNRWA. We will continue to do so," he said. "In recent years we have increased our contribution. We have supplied relief material, particularly medicines because we are a prolific producer of medicines. We have provided medicines to Gaza through Egypt, through the Palestinian authorities, separately to Lebanon, to the government of Lebanon," he added. Jaishankar also highlighted the impending demographic crunch that will impact numerous societies worldwide in the next decade and emphasised that India is addressing this reality through migration and mobility partnerships established with several countries "Yes, I do think that, in the next decade, the demographic crunch is really going to impact a lot of societies, some very unexpected ones. Today, when we look at power projection, you know, which country is going to be where a lot of this is a business in itself? The demographic variable is going to be increasingly critical because many societies are going to see a very, very sharp dip as early as the beginning of the next decade," he said. "So, we feel it's a reality that needs to be addressed. Some countries like to do it as part of a formal multilateral or bilateral understanding. We have something called migration and mobility partnerships, which we have established, I think, with several countries now, many of them in Europe, Japan, and Australia," he added. Further, the Foreign Minister noted that India is a supporter of the Abraham Accords, and affirmed hope that the 'I2U2' grouping will grow in the coming days. 'I2U2' is a strategic partnership group between four nations -- India, Israel, the US and the UAE. "For us, when we speak about the region, the region is important itself, the society, the culture, the history, the civilization, the people. The 60 million who live in the Gulf, the 500 million who live in the MENA region beyond. And most of all, I think this region has had in history a great ideational impact on the wider world. And I think even today, a lot of what happens here and around here, I think resonates around the world," he said. READ | ‘No interest in weakening dollar', says Jaishankar "There is a second aspect, which is, in a sense, the economic one, the resources, especially, but not only energy, including, I should say when we look a little bit beyond the horizon, non-fossil energy as well. I mean, this is going to be a crucial region(for green hydrogen, for green ammonia. It's going to be part of green corridors," he added. External Affairs Minister called the Gulf region crucial for India and the wider world, stating that it has always been a 'bridge' between Europe and Asia. He talked about the region's importance in today's scenario. Notably, the I2U2 Grouping was conceptualized during the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the four countries held on 18 October 2021. Each country also has Sherpa-level interactions regularly to discuss the possible areas of cooperation. I2U2 is aimed to encourage joint investments in six mutually identified areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It intends to mobilize private sector capital and expertise to help modernize the infrastructure, low carbon development pathways for our industries, improve public health, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar offered prayers at Shreenath Ji temple in Manama, describing it as a "true symbol of the longstanding friendship" between India and Bahrain. Sharing the experience on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Started the day by visiting the 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple in Manama. A true symbol of the longstanding India - Bahrain friendship." EAM Jaishankar arrived in Manama on Saturday to participate in the Manama Dialogue. He was received by Bahrain's Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Qatar and Bahrain from December 6-9.

Olivia Olson scored 18 points, including eight straight to open the fourth quarter, as the No. 23 Michigan Wolverines survived a 60-54 scare from the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten opener for each team in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern (4-4, 0-1 Big Ten) led throughout the third quarter and took a four-point lead into the fourth, but Olson capped her 8-0 burst with a 3-pointer, and Syla Swords also nailed a trey to put the Wolverines (8-1, 1-0) ahead 50-44. Michigan has won eight straight games since opening the season with a six-point loss to then-No. 1 South Carolina. Caileigh Walsh's 3-pointer put the Wildcats back in front 53-52 with 3:36 to go. Michigan responded by scoring eight of the game's last nine points, six by Jordan Hobbs. Hobbs finished with 16 points and teammate Mila Holloway had 10. Kyla Jones led Northwestern with 14 points and Walsh notched 10 before fouling out. No. 4 Texas 93, James Madison 62 Madison Booker, Jordan Lee and Rori Harmon dominated the first half as the Longhorns clobbered the host Dukes in Harrisonburg, Va. Booker scored 21 points, Lee added 20 and Harmon 19 by combining on 25-of-33 shooting. They had 49 of their points in the first half as Texas (7-1) piled up a 58-29 halftime lead. The Longhorns, who entered seventh in the nation in scoring at 90 points per game, shot 54 percent for the game to 40 percent for the Dukes. Roshala Scott led James Madison (7-3) with 22 points and Peyton McDaniel and Ashanti Barnes had 12 apiece. McDaniel added eight rebounds for the Dukes, who had 24 turnovers. No. 10 Notre Dame 93, Syracuse 62 The Fighting Irish pulled away from a seven-point halftime lead to demolish the host Orange in the ACC opener for both schools. The trio of Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles led Notre Dame's win with double-doubles. Citron had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Hidalgo racked up 24 and 10, respectively, and Miles shone with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo, third in Division I in scoring (24.6 ppg), netted nine points and Citron had eight in the third quarter, as Notre Dame (7-2, 1-0 ACC) outscored Syracuse (4-6, 0-1) 29-13 to pull away. Keira Scott posted 16 points and Sophie Burrows tacked on 13 for the Orange, who shot only 32.5 percent. The Irish shot 50 percent and thrived despite 20 turnovers. No. 16 North Carolina 72, Coppin State 46 The Tar Heels built a comfortable halftime lead and used its bench players freely in devouring the Eagles in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina (9-1) entered second-best in the nation in scoring defense at 49.1 points per game and excelled again, holding Coppin State to 27.3 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels shot 44.4 percent while having 12 players enter the scoring column, led by Maria Gakdeng's 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Reniya Kelly scored six of her eight points in the first quarter as North Carolina took a 23-13 lead. The Tar Heels grew the lead to 46-27 by intermission. Tiffany Hammond and Angel Jones scored 12 points apiece for Coppin State (6-5), and Laila Lawrence added 10 points with 10 rebounds. No. 18 Ole Miss 85, Tennessee State 38 The Rebels had more points by halftime than the Lady Tigers scored in the game after jumping out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and 44-19 by intermission. Kennedy Todd-Williams led Ole Miss (6-3) with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Sira Thienou added 12 and six, respectively. The Rebels shot 46 percent for the game. Ole Miss began the day seventh in the nation in scoring defense at 49.8 points allowed per game, and it punished Tennessee State to the tune of 23.6 percent shooting and 22 forced turnovers. XaiOnna Whitfield led the Lady Tigers (4-6) with 10 points. No. 20 Iowa State 82, Central Michigan 56 Audi Crooks scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added 10 rebounds as the Cyclones slammed the Chippewas in Ames, Iowa. Emily Ryan netted 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter and Crooks scored nine in the period as Iowa State (8-2) jumped out to a 31-13 lead and enjoyed a cushion of at least 18 points the rest of the way. Addy Brown added 18 points for the Cyclones, who shot 52.5 percent and rolled despite having 20 turnovers. Jayda Mosley led Central Michigan (3-6) with 11 points and Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added 10 apiece. The Chippewas shot only 33.3 percent from the floor and had 26 turnovers. No. 24 Michigan State 89, DePaul 61 The unbeaten Spartans put four scorers in double figures as they systematically disposed of the Blue Demons in East Lansing, Mich. Jaddan Simmons finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Julia Ayrault stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Michigan State (9-0). Emma Shumate and Jocelyn Tate had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jorie Allen put up 15 points, 11 boards, seven assists and three steals and Grace Carstensen also notched 15 points for DePaul (3-7), which shot just 28.8 percent despite hitting 9 of 18 of its 3-point attempts. The Spartans led by seven after one quarter and 17 at halftime before coasting through the second half. No. 25 Nebraska 84, Minnesota 65 Strong first quarters by Callin Hake and Amiah Hargrove sent the Cornhuskers on their way to pinning the first loss on the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference opener for each team. Hake scored eight of her 11 points in the first period and Hargrove eight of her 10 as Nebraska (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) seized a 27-11 lead and never looked back. Hargrove scored eight of the Cornhuskers' 10 straight points to end the quarter. Alberte Rimdal led the winners with 12 points and Alexis Markowski added 11 with nine rebounds. Mallory Heyer collected 12 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-1, 0-1). Tori McKinney scored 11 points and Grace Crocholski and Alexsia Rose 10 apiece, but the Golden Gophers hit just 35.2 percent of their shots. --Field Level MediaWhat to consider when exchanging currency

Djokovic takes part in the ceremony before the Copa Libertadores finalNoneRetailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau says he had an 'excellent conversation' with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump in Florida after the president-elect’s threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City. It's unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada on Saturday, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. Trump’s transition team hasn't responded to questions about what the leaders had discussed at their dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he said was the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Asked if there was any special meaning to playing on Christmas for a second straight season, Lamar Jackson paused for several seconds before answering. That said it all. “I mean, it is,” he finally replied, trying to be diplomatic. “That means we're good, but at the same time, I do want to celebrate at home sometimes with my family now. I don't want to be playing on Christmas all the time — not all the time.” That sentiment seemed common among the Baltimore Ravens players this week as they prepared for their second consecutive Christmas road game. Jackson and his teammates will face the Houston Texans on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Kansas City Chiefs play at Pittsburgh. Games on Christmas aren't new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL's longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately, however, the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. There were three last year on a Monday, and this week there are two. The four teams in action this Wednesday all played this past Saturday, giving them a little more time to prepare. But each is still wrapping up a stretch of three games in 11 games. And for Baltimore and Kansas City — the teams spending the holiday on the road — this means a bit of a scramble to find time to celebrate with loved ones. “Santa hasn’t come yet, but as far as my family, we traded gifts (over the weekend),” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “(His wife) Brittany’s a champ because I’m not there to help build the toys my family got, and the kids have opened up every single one of them.” The Chiefs are playing on Christmas for a second year in a row, although they were at home last season. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley said there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum's house. Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. “I already celebrated Christmas with my family this past week," Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. "It’s more about the thought of calling people Christmas morning and just going out there and being able to go out in front of my whole family and do what I love. That’s how I’ll celebrate.” The Ravens also have celebrated a bit as a group already. “We actually had a team dinner last night here, which was really neat. And our chefs were incredible (with) what they put out there, so that was fun,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "And we are going to have the ability for family members from the Houston area to come over for the team snack after we do a walkthrough (Tuesday) night.” Don't expect Christmas games to go away any time soon. Netflix agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Playing on the holiday certainly gives teams a chance to be in the spotlight, although the Chiefs and Ravens already get plenty of that. The Ravens-Texans game features a halftime performance by Beyoncé. “Wasn't there a time when somebody was out peeking outside the locker room door during the Super Bowl or something like that? Was there some story on that?” Harbaugh said. “He got in trouble for it? There will be big trouble. I like Beyoncé, though. I can't say I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, but I think I like her.” (Harbaugh was referring to Bengals kicker Evan McPherson during the Super Bowl in 2022 when he watched Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar perform at halftime in Los Angeles.) Jackson, seemingly unaware of Harbaugh's attempt to lay down the law about the halftime show, arrived at the microphone immediately after the coach. “I'm going to go out there and watch,” the star quarterback said. “First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it's at our game — that's dope. I'm going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Noah Trister, The Associated PressMADRID- In its November 25 editorial, The Washington Post questions the arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, describing them as measures that "undermine the credibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and strengthen accusations of hypocrisy and selective persecution." The article argues that the ICC is designed to intervene in countries that lack the means or mechanisms to investigate themselves, which, according to the newspaper, "is not the case with Israel." It maintains that, as a democracy, Israel has the necessary tools to internally process potential abuses. In this regard, the editorial states: “Israel must be held accountable for its military conduct in Gaza. After the long-awaited end of the conflict, there will surely be judicial, parliamentary, and military investigative commissions in Israel. Its dynamic and independent press will carry out its own investigations. Some Israeli reserve soldiers have already been arrested on charges of abuse against detained Palestinians, and further investigations are expected.” The International Criminal Court (ICC) was created as a pillar of the international criminal justice system, with the aim of ensuring impartiality in the selection of cases and ensuring that the most egregious violations of human rights do not go unpunished. However, by explicitly calling for Israel to be excluded from the jurisdiction of the ICC, The Washington Post essentially argues that the court should limit its focus to non-Western countries, regarded as chaotic, undemocratic, and lacking the strong institutions needed to “investigate themselves.” The Post’s stance, suggesting that the ICC should focus almost exclusively on poor and weak nations while sidelining others such as the United States or Israel, not only undermines the credibility of the institution but also reveals an agenda rooted in a liberal worldview. From this perspective, Western nations would be the only ones capable of fully accessing the benefits of democracy and, should any correction be necessary, they would have the democratic tools to self-correct without the need for external interventions. Meanwhile, the rest of the world would remain subject to international scrutiny under the presumption of institutional incapacity. In this context, the constant pressures from the United States, under President Joe Biden, to prevent the ICC from prosecuting Israeli political leaders for war crimes committed in Gaza, confirm that the supposed Western universalism of human rights and the application of international law has always been nothing more than an ideological tool. This stance reinforces the illusion that, in the division between the West and the rest of the world, it is the former that possesses inherent values that allow it to be democratic by nature. This approach not only perpetuates a hierarchical view among nations but also undermines the legitimacy of the universal principles that international justice claims to uphold. To date, most of the charges issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been directed at individuals who are Black and/or Arab-African. This pattern reflects a clearly racialized, inappropriate, and deeply political process. As a "selective political tool," the ICC faces serious doubts about its ability to withstand the test of time. If the recommendation of The Washington Post’s editorial is followed, crimes committed in other parts of the world, particularly in the West, would remain hidden and beyond the Court’s jurisdiction. As Professor Mahmood Mamdani argues, this would mean allowing the ICC to continue enforcing an international criminal legal order that perpetuates power and wealth asymmetries. Meanwhile, international law expert Costas Douzinas contends that, in the hands of Western governments, human rights have lost their true purpose, becoming the latest version of the "civilizing mission." This is precisely what The Washington Post editorial calls for without any reservation: to apply international law in places inhabited by the "barbarians," while, in the domains of democracy, international law would have no jurisdiction. In other words, if all human beings and nations have equal rights, then the kind of unequal system that the West has always desired cannot be maintained.

Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death rowNone