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Right-wing crypto investor David Sacks to steer Trump’s policies on AI and cryptoWang Sicong, widely recognized as the son of one of China's wealthiest entrepreneurs, Wang Jianlin, is no stranger to a lavish lifestyle. His act of generosity in lending a Rolls-Royce for Li Xiang's daughter's driving practice raised eyebrows and sparked discussions among netizens. The image of a young novice driver maneuvering a luxury vehicle around the streets undoubtedly elicited a mix of envy, admiration, and skepticism from the public.By Jonathan Spicer and Maya Gebeily ISTANBUL/DAMASCUS (Reuters) - After 13 years of civil war, Syria's opposition militias sensed an opportunity to loosen President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power when, about six months ago, they communicated to Turkey plans for a major offensive and felt they had received its tacit approval, two sources with knowledge of the planning said. Launched barely two weeks ago, the operation's speedy success in achieving its initial goal - seizing Syria's second city, Aleppo - took almost everybody by surprise. From there, in a little more than a week, the rebel alliance reached Damascus and on Sunday put an end to five decades of Assad family rule. The lightning advance relied on an almost perfect alignment of stars for the forces opposed Assad: his army was demoralised and exhausted; his main allies, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, were severely weakened by conflict with Israel; and his other key military supporter, Russia, was distracted and losing interest. There was no way the rebels could go ahead without first notifying Turkey, which has been a main backer of the Syrian opposition from the war's earliest days, said the sources, a diplomat in the region and a member of the Syrian opposition. Turkey has troops on the ground in northwest Syria, and provides support to some of the rebels who were intending to take part, including the Syrian National Army (SNA) - though it considers the main faction in the alliance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to be a terror group. The rebels' bold plan was the brainchild of HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the diplomat said. Because of his former ties to al Qaeda, Golani is designated as a terrorist by Washington, Europe and Turkey. However, over the past decade, HTS, previously known as the Nusra Front, has tried to moderate its image, while running a quasi-state centered on Idlib, where, experts say, it levied taxes on commercial activities and the population. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's government, which struck a deal with Russia in 2020 to de-escalate fighting in northwestern Syria, has long opposed such a major rebel offensive, fearing it would lead to a new wave of refugees crossing its border. However, the rebels sensed a stiffening of Ankara's stance towards Assad earlier this year, the sources said, after he rebuffed repeated overtures from Erdogan aimed at advancing a political solution to the military stalemate, which has left Syria divided between the regime and a patchwork of rebel groups with an array of foreign backers. The Syrian opposition source said the rebels had shown Turkey details of the planning, after Ankara's attempts to engage Assad had failed. The message was: "That other path hasn't worked for years - so try ours. You don't have to do anything, just don't intervene." Reuters was unable to determine the exact nature of the communications. Hadi Al-Bahra, head of the internationally-recognized Syrian opposition abroad, told Reuters last week that HTS and SNA had had "limited" planning together ahead of the operation and agreed to "achieve cooperation and not clash with each other". He added that Turkey's military saw what the armed groups were doing and discussing. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking in Doha on Sunday, said Erdogan’s effort in recent months to reach out to Assad failed and Turkey "knew something was coming". However, Turkey's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Nuh Yilmaz, told a conference on Middle Eastern affairs in Bahrain on Sunday that Ankara was not behind the offensive, and did not provide its consent, saying it was concerned about instability. Turkey's foreign and defence ministries did not respond directly to Reuters questions about an HTS-Ankara understanding about the Aleppo operation. In reply to questions about Turkey's awareness of battlefield preparations, a Turkish official told Reuters that the HTS "does not receive orders or direction from us (and) does not coordinate its operations with us either." The official said that "in that sense" it would not be correct to say that the operation in Aleppo was carried out with Turkey's approval or green light. Turkish intelligence agency MIT did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters was unable to reach a representative for HTS. VULNERABLE The rebels struck when Assad was at his most vulnerable. Distracted by wars elsewhere, his military allies Russia, Iran, and Lebanon's Hezbollah failed to mobilise the kind of decisive firepower that had propped him up for years. Syria's weak armed forces were unable to resist. A regime source told Reuters that tanks and planes were left with no fuel because of corruption and looting - an illustration of just how hollowed out the Syrian state had become. Over the past two years morale had severely eroded in the army, said the source, who requested anonymity because of fear of retribution. Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International, a Middle-East focused think-tank, said the HTS-led coalition was stronger and more coherent than any previous rebel force during the war, "and a lot of that is Abu Mohammed al-Golani’s doing". But, he said, the regime's weakness was the deciding factor. "After they lost Aleppo like that, regime forces never recovered and the more the rebels advanced, the weaker Assad’s army got," he said. The pace of the rebel advances, with Hama being captured on Dec. 5 and Homs falling on or around Sunday at the same time government forces lost Damascus, exceeded expectations. "There was a window of opportunity but no one expected the regime to crumble this fast. Everyone expected some fight," said Bassam Al-Kuwatli, president of the Syrian Liberal Party, a small opposition group, who is based outside Syria. A U.S. official said on condition of anonymity that while Washington had been aware of Turkey’s overall support for the rebels, it was not informed of any tacit Turkish approval for the Aleppo offensive. The White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Turkey's role. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday said that Russia's abandonment of Assad led to his downfall, adding that Moscow never should have protected him in the first place and then lost interest because of a war in Ukraine that never should have started. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday noted his country's role in weakening Hezbollah, which sources told Reuters withdrew its remaining troops from Syria on Saturday. GAZA FALLOUT Sources familiar with Hezbollah deployments said the Iran-backed group, which propped up Assad early in the war, had already withdrawn many of its elite fighters from Syria over the last year to support the group as it waged hostilities with Israel - a conflict that spilled over from the Gaza war. Israel dealt Hezbollah heavy blows, particularly after launching an offensive in September, killing the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah and many of its commanders and fighters. The rebel offensive in Syria began the same day as a ceasefire came into effect in the Lebanon conflict on Nov. 27. The sources familiar with Hezbollah said it did not want to engage in big battles in Syria as the group focused on starting a long road to recovery from the heavy blows. For the rebel alliance, the withdrawal of Hezbollah presented a valuable opportunity. "We just wanted a fair fight between us and the regime," the Syrian opposition source said. Assad's fall marks a major blow to Iranian influence in the Middle East, coming so swiftly after the killing of Nasrallah and the damage done by Israel to Hezbollah. Turkey, on the other hand, now appears to be Syria's most powerful external player, with troops on the ground and access to the rebel leaders. In addition to securing the return of Syrian refugees, Turkey's objectives include curbing the power of Syrian Kurdish groups that control wide areas of northeast Syria and are backed by the United States. Ankara deems them to be terrorists. As part of the initial offensive, the Turkey-backed SNA seized swathes of territory, including the city of Tel Refaat, from U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. On Sunday, a Turkish security source said the rebels entered the northern city of Manbij after pushing the Kurds back again. "Turkey is the biggest outside winner here. Erdogan turned out to be on the right - or at least winning - side of history here because his proxies in Syria won the day," said Birol Baskan, Turkey-based political scientist and former non-resident scholar at Middle East Institute. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara; Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
In a shocking revelation that has sparked outrage among netizens, images and videos of an alleged physical abuse incident within a suspected scam call center have emerged online. The footage was captured by vigilant internet users from across the river, providing a glimpse into what appears to be a disturbing and illegal activity taking place within the confines of the facility.ByteDance Donates 25 Million RMB to Support Compilation and Digitization of "The Collection of Confucian Classics" at Peking UniversityAs the days passed and Lin Jing En's whereabouts remained unknown, the mystery and intrigue surrounding his fate continued to captivate the public. His story served as a sobering reminder of the fragility of fame and the importance of cherishing what we have before it slips through our fingers.Bukayo Saka, a product of Arsenal's youth academy, has been a revelation this season. The versatile 19-year-old has displayed exceptional skill, vision, and work rate, making him one of the standout performers for the Gunners. However, Saka's impact has been hindered by the lack of support and creativity from the left-hand side of the team.
Since its initial release, the ability to throw Poke Balls to summon creatures has been a signature feature of "Fantasy Beast Palu," allowing players to engage in exciting battles and capture new creatures to add to their collection. However, in a surprising turn of events, SoftArc Gaming has decided to do away with this mechanic in favor of a new approach.
The year-on-year growth of Taobao Global's GMV to over $20 billion reflects the platform's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. By continuously refining its services and expanding its product offerings, Taobao Global has been able to capture a larger share of the global e-commerce market, positioning itself as a key player in the industry.
Fans of the original book series and the acclaimed film adaptations by Peter Jackson will no doubt be thrilled to revisit familiar characters such as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gandalf in this new animated iteration. The talented voice cast brings these iconic roles to life with passion and authenticity, infusing the story with emotion and depth.
First 12-team CFP set: Oregon seeded No. 1, SMU edges Alabama for final spotNEW YORK — The Jets (3-9) have suffered from a horrific season, but the hits keep coming. On Friday afternoon, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced linebacker C.J. Mosley will be placed on injured reserve after being out the previous four weeks because of a herniated disk in his neck. With five games remaining, Mosley’s time with the Jets could be over. “A hard decision by a very (prideful) player, amazing player and leader,” Ulbrich said on Friday afternoon. “It was not an easy decision for him, but it is the best decision in our organization.” Mosley, 32, has been absent since the Jets’ Week 8 loss to the Patriots. The veteran linebacker injured his neck during pregame warmups ahead of the game and hasn’t played since. Before that, Mosley injured his big toe in Week 2 against the Titans and missed three games. With a new regime set to come in after coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas were fired during the season, Mosley’s time with the organization is likely over. He is under contract next year but has a $12.8 million cap number. If the Jets release Mosley with a June 1 designation, they would save $4 million. In 2019, Mosley signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets. However, he only played in two games that season due to a groin injury. He missed the entire 2020 season after opting out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, Mosley has been the Jets’ defensive leader. He has registered 495 tackles and 3.5 sacks during that span. He was also a 2022 second-team All-Pro and a 2022 Pro Bowler during that time. In addition to Mosley being out against the Dolphins, cornerback Sauce Gardner (hamstring) and running back Breece Hall (knee) are doubtful to play. Ulbrich told reporters that right tackle Morgan Moses (knee, shoulder) and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) are “trending in the right direction.” Hall’s injury dates back to the Jets’ loss to the Colts in Week 11 after a hyperextension of his knee, which according to Ulbrich, was “not feeling right.” Gardner injured his hamstring against the Seahawks during the second half. With Hall likely not able to play Sunday, rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis will likely receive more carries against Miami. “Two rookies and Kene [Nwangwu], all three,” Ulbrich said about his running back unit against the Dolphins. “So, we hate to overuse a word, but we are fortunate in that way from the running back depth minus Breece, who from my opinion is one of the best running backs in this league. “We still have one of the best running back rooms in the NFL without him.” Thomas nominated for Payton award All 32 teams announced their nominees for this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award on Thursday. For the third consecutive season, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas was the Jets’ nominee. The award will be handed out during the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 6 in New Orleans. “It’s a huge honor,” Thomas said on Thursday. “I think it’s one of the highest honors in the league and the highest honor from the team and your community for the work that you do, it means the world. I truly believe we are here to make a difference and influence other people and make an impact. “I think as NFL players and professional athletes, we have a platform that’s given to us like no other. We have to use this platform to take advantage of it. It is something that has been instilled in me from my peers, my veterans in my family, my loved ones, and my girlfriend. To take advantage of that and be recognized for it, it means the world. You never do it for the recognition, you never do it for the award, you do it to impact and to change lives. But to be recognized means a lot.” Thomas is a co-founder of The Defensive Line, which is dedicated to his sister, Ella Elizabeth Thomas, who died by suicide at 24 years old. The mission of Thomas’ charity is to end youth suicide and raise awareness about mental health. In addition, Thomas works with organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Crisis Text Line. Last month, Thomas partnered with the Interfaith Food Pantry Network to host a Thanksgiving event supporting needy families. He helped provide 5,600 meals to Morris County residents in New Jersey facing hunger. Thomas also donated $8,000 to the Interfaith Food Network. “I really just wish the NFL would let all 32 guys win. Every individual does a different job and it is amazing. All of these guys impact the community in a tremendous way. They give back in a tremendous way whether it’s money donations, time, their foundations, just their effort putting a smile on people’s faces, giving people hope, there’s so many guys that make a big difference. I wish every guy can come out winning because they all deserve a trophy and they all deserve to win.” Nwangwu wins special teams honor In his first game with the Jets, Kene Nwangwu was honored after his terrific play against the Seahawks. Nwangwu was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 13. After being called up from the practice squad Saturday and signed to the active roster Monday, Nwangwu registered a 99-yard kick-return touchdown and forced a fumble during the Jets’ 26-21 loss to the Seahawks. “It felt good making a play,” Nwangwu said. “Getting that award, I think they usually give it out to for explosive plays and consistent plays, so that felt good.” The Vikings initially selected Nwangwu out of Iowa State in the fourth round in 2021. He led the league with two return touchdowns as a rookie. Nwangwu’s four return touchdowns are the second most among active NFL players. The Vikings waived Nwangwu last August and he was signed to the Jets practice squad in September after failing a physical with the Saints. “Guy shows up and does everything that we ask him to do, he has a smile on his face all the time,” Jets special teams coach Brant Boyer said about Nwangwu. “When a veteran player is put on the practice squad like that, I think that’s a really good lesson for, and I told the guys this, that I think it’s a really good lesson for any young player, or any veteran player for that matter. The guy did nothing but keep his head down, and keep working, and good things happen to people like that, and you know, he wasn’t over there sulking about his lack of playing time, he wasn’t sulking about not being on the active roster, he was working his butt off, and then when you get your opportunity, you make the most of it. And he certainly did, and that’s a credit to the kid and the way he prepares, and we’re happy to have him for sure.” ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Syrian Prime Minister Agrees to Transfer Power to Opposition: Coordinated Power Transfer to Ensure Continued ServicesIn recent years, the real estate market in China has experienced rapid growth, bringing about both opportunities and challenges. The Central Government has recognized the importance of stabilizing the housing market to promote sustainable economic development and improve the quality of life for its citizens. As a result, the Central Government has set the tone for 2025: the real estate market must remain stable, with greater support to be provided to ensure this goal is achieved.
The introduction of the "lifesaving straw" has triggered a subtle shift in market sentiment. While some view it as a game-changer that could lead to a new era of corn production, others remain cautious and skeptical about its long-term implications. The potential impact of this technology on corn prices, market dynamics, and trade patterns has sparked debate among analysts and investors, leading to a sense of uncertainty and anticipation in the agricultural sector.
The controversy surrounding Liu Yang's resignation has raised important questions about the relationship between educators and educational institutions, and the growing trend of exclusive agreements in the field of education. Many have called for greater transparency and accountability in such agreements, and for a reevaluation of the role that they play in shaping the educational landscape.
Hong Myung-bo, who led South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, knows a thing or two about the demands of top-level football. In a recent interview, he praised Son Heung-min's work ethic, talent, and dedication to the game. Hong emphasized that Son's contributions to Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korean national team should not be underestimated.
Doctors point to factors such as age at diagnosis, screening take-up rates and access to care as possible reasons for the lower survival rate here. More than double the number of cancer patients in Singapore die of the disease compared with those in Australia and the United States. In Asia, Singapore also fares worse than South Korea and Japan in terms of cancer survival rate. Doctors say factors such as age at diagnosis, screening take-up rates and access to care are among possible reasons for the lower survival rate here. A paper published by the Asia-Pacific Medical Technology Association (ApacMed) in June showed that 51 out of 100 cancer patients in Singapore die, compared with 24 in Australia, 25 in the US, 38 in South Korea and 41 in Japan. The paper suggests that countries with higher cancer mortality rates are the ones with lower use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), a test that identifies biomarkers in cancers that can be targeted with specific treatments, resulting in better outcomes. ApacMed, which represents manufacturers and suppliers of medical equipment, devices and in-vitro diagnostics, clearly has an interest in pushing for NGS. The paper admits that “there is an absence of current studies establishing a causal relation between mortality-to-incidence ratio and variations in NGS access”. However, it points out that there have been several studies showing better patient outcomes in countries where there is reimbursement for NGS, such as in South Korea for colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer. Associate Professor Ravindran Kanesvaran, who chairs the division of medical oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), said: “While NGS has demonstrated potential as a tool that improves our understanding of a patient’s tumour characteristics, it is inaccurate to say that its widespread implementation will have any impact on a nation’s overall cancer mortality.” He added: “Many factors contribute to differing mortality rates across different countries, such as the overall age of the population at diagnosis; cancer screening take-up; genetic, environment and lifestyle factors; socio-economic status; access to care; the healthcare system and more.” He said more people in Australia screen for cancer than in Singapore. The screening rate does affect outcome, as cancer that is diagnosed early is usually more treatable. The 74-page paper said there are no guidelines on the use of NGS in Singapore, that reimbursement is insufficient, and that there is low familiarity among surgeons and oncologists, with knowledge limited to centres of excellence such as the NCCS and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS). It also said that in countries that do not have clinical guidelines on NGS use, there could be inconsistencies in clinical implementation of NGS testing in and across different types of cancers. In reply to questions from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said: “As part of the National Precision Medicine Strategy, the Ministry of Health is refining our overall approach to govern and facilitate the implementation of precision medicine on a sustainable basis.” An MOH spokesman said this includes working on the approach to govern the use of genetic and genomic test data. The ministry wants to ensure that new services and programmes that incorporate new technologies, such as NGS, are “evaluated for clinical and cost-effectiveness prior to mainstream adoption”. It is also investing in local capabilities and infrastructure to support the adoption of precision medicine technology. MOH said that while precision medicine technologies allow for a wider range of genetic conditions to be detected, “more work is needed to establish the appropriate follow-up on the genetic results and guide appropriate, meaningful and practical clinical actions”. Prof Kanesvaran said that small-panel NGS is already routinely done for patients at the NCCS for specific tumours prior to targeted therapies being offered to them. “For example, in advanced lung cancer, over a third of patients who undergo NGS are recommended for targeted treatments based on the findings.” He added: “We also use NGS to identify patients suitable for clinical trials for novel therapies targeting specific biomarkers.” But he warned that NGS is not indicated for use in all types of cancer and must be used judiciously because of cost and the stringent data analysis required for it to be useful. Prof Ravindran Kanesvaran says that many factors contribute to differing mortality rates across different countries. PHOTO: NATIONAL CANCER CENTRE SINGAPORE But his peers at the NCIS are more gung-ho about the use of NGS. Associate Professor David Tan of NCIS’ department of haematology-oncology said: “NGS has the potential to identify the Achilles heel in every tumour, which can, in turn, help to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy by facilitating the better selection of patients for the most appropriate treatments.” Among several examples he gave was one for lung cancer. Prof Tan said being able to identify specific mutations can mean totally different treatments for patients. One patient can simply be given tablets that can effectively shrink and control the disease for years, while another might require immunotherapy – or chemotherapy plus immunotherapy – to control the tumour. He said the NCIS has been using NGS to help doctors identify potential clinical trial options for patients under its precision oncology programme since 2014. Prof David Tan said being able to identify specific mutations can mean totally different treatments for patients. PHOTO: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CANCER INSTITUTE, SINGAPORE Prof Tan was one of the authors of a paper published in the Frontiers In Oncology journal in May 2024, comparing the outcomes for breast cancer patients who had undergone NGS at NCIS. Those who had targeted therapy experienced better progression-free and overall survival compared with patients who did not receive targeted therapy. “Our ability to identify patients with rare or common mutations, who may benefit from novel targeted treatments that can be matched to their tumour mutation profiles, has enabled us to initiate trials of novel therapies in Singapore and has led to direct patient benefit,” said Prof Tan. He added: “NGS is increasingly relevant across a broad spectrum of cancers, but its value extends beyond late-stage cancers and can benefit patients with early-stage cancer as well.” Patients with early-stage endometrial cancers with a particular mutation would be offered additional chemotherapy, as this has been shown to reduce disease relapse and improve survival. However, patients who have a different mutation which is associated with excellent outcomes would not need any additional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Knowing this would spare them the cost and toxicity of these treatments. Said Prof Kanesvaran: “While NGS has demonstrated potential as a tool that improves our understanding of a patient’s tumour characteristics, it is inaccurate to say that its widespread implementation will have any impact on a nation’s overall cancer mortality.” Prof Tan agrees that there are other reasons for the relatively high deaths among cancer patients here, such as lower cancer screening rates leading to later diagnosis. He added that there are also “lifestyle-related risk factors like obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, which can impact both the incidence of cancer and the patient’s fitness to receive treatment, as well as individual socio-economic factors that may present barriers to accessing cancer care”. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowJury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride has won a $310 million verdict against the attraction's Austrian builder. The Orlando jury on Thursday ordered Funtime to pay Tyre Sampson's parents $155 million each. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime never appeared in court to defend itself. Icon Park had already settled with Sampson’s family for an undisclosed amount. Sampson stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. He fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park because the harness did not fit him and he wasn't warned. Princess of Wales takes another step in return to public life after chemotherapy with carol service LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales is taking another step in her return to public life following cancer treatment as she hosts her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. This year’s concert is designed to celebrate the support people give to one another, especially as they struggle through difficult times, a theme that may have particular resonance for the princess after abdominal surgery and chemotherapy forced her to step back from public duties for much of 2024. The princess, often referred to simply as Kate, alluded to this in a letter thanking the 1,600 people invited to attend the event because of their efforts to help others in their communities. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. More than a million oven gloves are being recalled after consumers report 92 minor burns NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports. Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns. Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately — and contact QVC for a refund. Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during his workshop. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was sentenced Friday after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm in 2016. Prosecutors say she was howling in pain and frothing at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop. The California healer promoted paida lajin therapy that advocates slapping to release “poisonous waste” from the body. He was previously convicted of manslaughter in the death of a six-year-old boy in Australia. Stellantis recalling more than 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it’s unaware of any related injuries. The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The company is unaware of any injuries related to the defect. El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is triumphant about his big bet on bitcoin as the cryptocurrency reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 for the first time. Bitcoin has been legal tender in the country since 2021 but it never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm. The value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Bitcoin has rallied mightily since Donald Trump’s election victory last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later.Introduction:
How Syria rebels' stars aligned for Assad's ousterLooking ahead, Calhanoglu expressed his hope that Inter Milan can continue their strong form and advance further in the Champions League. With a talented squad and a winning mentality, the Italian club aims to make a deep run in the competition and challenge for European glory.The international community has condemned the airstrikes in Syria and called for a de-escalation of tensions in the region. The United Nations has urged all parties to respect international law and protect civilians from the violence. The ongoing conflict in Syria has already resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced and in need of urgent assistance.
UK Prime embarks on first Gulf visit to strengthen economic tiesMemorial service for former Premier John Horgan on Dec. 15
DSE turnover hits four-month lowtupungato Co-authored by Noah Cox and Brock Heilig. Investment Thesis Intel Corporation ( NASDAQ: INTC ) shares are up roughly 5.6% since the last time I covered the chipmaker over the summer, originally on the back of what the street thought was Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Noah Cox (main account author) is the managing partner of Noah’s Arc Capital Management. His views in this article are not necessarily reflective of the firms. Nothing contained in this note is intended as investment advice. It is solely for informational purposes. Invest at your own risk. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.