By Dr. Colin Michie FRCPCH University of Central Lancashire Our eyes send about 60 picture frames a second to the brain, working at about the same speed as an Ethernet connection. This digital messaging is created by our retinas. Images of what we are looking at, our vision, is focused onto the retinas by the corneas and lenses. Lenses are dynamic, biconvex, elastic, crystalline discs, about a centimetre across, suspended at the front of the eye, just behind the pupils – those keyholes to our souls! You have more protein per weight of tissue in your lenses that anywhere else in the body – 70% is made up of clear, crysallin proteins. These are particularly long-lived molecules, specially layered so that the lens can focus effectively and rapidly. Cells in the lens centre, behind the pupil, move their nuclei and other structures to the sides so the lens works like a disc of biological glass. For an object close to you, the lens is thicker: it is thinner for distance vision. These changes can take place rapidly – imagine how it all works in sports, for instance a ball game, or racing a boat! The optical power of the eye is approximately 60 dioptres, a measure of how the curved cornea and lens focus images onto the retina. About two thirds of this power comes from the cornea. The lens is more powerful when we are young, but after the age of 50 it contributes less to this process of focusing or accommodation. Cataracts are a common cause of loss of vision in older people. An estimated 30% of those over 65 years of age will develop them, usually in both eyes. It is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment. It is estimated that for every million population in Latin America and the Caribbean, 5,000 are blind and 20,000 are visually impaired. At least 66% of the blindness is attributable to treatable conditions such as cataract. Visual impairment was noted to be a common disability in the health review in St. Maarten in 2017. Cataracts cause the lenses to become cloudy, usually slowly. This will influence your quality of life, typically causing a change in colour perception, making the world a little more yellow or brown, possibly blurry too. Double vision, reduced night vision and glare around light sources can also become troublesome. Early treatment is more effective, so if you or someone you know has these changes to their vision, please seek an eye check. Those over the age of 55 are recommended to have one every 1-3 years. Lens deterioration and damage may be delayed by protecting those crystallins! Stopping smoking, reducing blood sugars and protecting the eyes from ultraviolet light are all useful measures – these conditions all damage the lenses. Hats and sunglasses are in! Diet may well be influential too: the intake of blueberries or other sources of anthocyanins are beneficial for many aspects of eye health. However no medications cure cataracts: surgery is the recommended way to bring back vision. While awaiting operation, adaptations help, such as improved lighting and using a magnifying glass to read. Avoiding falls, along with providing social supports become particularly important – a white cane will be helpful. Removing cataracts surgically is a safe, standardised, rapid procedure that does not need a general anaesthetic. 95% of operations take 10-15 minutes. The clouded lens is broken up and extracted through a tiny incision in the side of cornea. A replacement plastic lens sits in the same position. In some situations, both eyes may be operated on at the same time. Complication rates are very low. Most patients find the world looks particularly blue for the first weeks of recovery. Colour sight resolves as the retina adjusts and provides a better image. Implanting a plastic lens was first used in 1949 by the surgeon Ridley, operating on fighter pilots in the United Kingdom (UK). He had observed that his patients sometimes had areas of clear vision when they had plastic embedded in the front of an injured eye. His first trial lens was made of Perspex: a range of different products have since been employed. Historically an operation called “couching” was performed by some community surgeons or healers. This involved dislocating the lens and pushing it into the cavity at the back of the eye. However this was a risky and often unsuccessful way of solving a problem that now can be more reasonably managed. Those with cataracts often require help and support with daily tasks; waits for cataract surgery can be long and challenging. Communities in St. Maarten should continue to check that citizens wear sunglasses, and guide and care for those with visual impairment. Useful resources: “Making a decision about Cataracts” and “Overview-Cataract surgery”, both on the National Health Service (UK) website: www.nhs.uk. Dr. Colin Michie is currently the Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the School of Medicine in the University of Central Lancashire. He specialises in paediatrics, nutrition, and immunology. Michie has worked in the UK, southern Africa and Gaza as a paediatrician and educator and was the a ssociate Academic Dean for the American University of the Caribbean Medical School in St. Maarten a few years ago.Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
Children may soon be better educated to prevent and report sexual abuse, after a local politician helped sponsor a new Ontario law that drew support from politicians of all stripes. The Ontario legislature approved Erin’s Law on Wednesday. It requires school boards to develop policies to engage students annually in the prevention and reporting of child sexual abuse, in a manner appropriate to their development. This includes age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult. The law mandates teacher and staff training, and provides resources for parents and guardians to recognize and address abuse. All three politicians who stood in the legislature to speak for the new law on its final vote are from this region, representing three political parties. Jess Dixon, Progressive Conservative MPP for Kitchener South—Hespeler, helped co-sponsor the law. She’s a former prosecutor who is drawing on her justice background to seek more support for children who are victimized. “Most victims of child sexual abuse know their abuser. And it can be very easy for (abusers) to manipulate them and scare them into silence,” Dixon said in an interview. Erin’s Law is about confronting that silence, she said, by helping children learn how to recognize and report an unsafe situation. Aislinn Clancy, Green MPP for Kitchener Centre, and Catherine Fife, New Democrat MPP for Waterloo, united in the legislature to speak in support of the new law alongside Dixon. “It’s always nice when we can agree on something,” Dixon said. Erin’s Law comes into effect when it receives royal assent. It is named after Erin Merryn, a survivor of child sexual abuse who has shared her story widely and whose advocacy has led 38 U.S. states to adopt legislation on prevention education. Reports to police of sexual crimes against children are soaring in Waterloo Region, from 83 crimes reported in 2013 to 541 crimes reported in 2023. This includes sexual violations against children as well as possessing, making or distributing child sexual abuse material.Broncos quietly find secret new job for Ezra Mam in 'reality check' for $4 million NRL star
The reigning Super Bowl champions saw their run of 15 straight wins ended by the Buffalo Bills last week, but got back to winning ways thanks to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After a late Chuba Hubbard touchdown and two-point conversion had made it 27-27, the Chiefs got the ball back with less than two minutes on the clock and a 33-yard run from Mahomes helped set up Spencer Shrader for a game-winning field goal. THE CHIEFS SURVIVE AGAIN. 🔥 Patrick Mahomes comes up CLUTCH with a 33-yard run late, before Spencer Shrader wins it as time expires! Get your #NFL action on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/POt57HQYig — ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 24, 2024 Mahomes finished the game with 269 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Noah Gray in the first half. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored two touchdowns as the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts 24-6 to improve their record to 10-1, matching that of the Chiefs. David Montgomery also ran for a score before having to leave the game with a shoulder injury. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended a four-game losing streak with a 30-7 win over the New York Giants, who “mutually agreed” to terminate the contract of quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this week. Jones’ replacement Tommy DeVito was sacked four times while opposite number Baker Mayfield ran for a touchdown and completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 294 yards. Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker also ran for touchdowns in a one-sided contest. The Dallas Cowboys ended their five-game losing streak with a remarkable 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, with 30 points scored in the final three minutes. KaVontae Turpin’s 99-yard kick-off return for a touchdown looked to have sealed victory for the Cowboys, only for the Commanders to respond with a field goal before getting the ball back with 33 seconds remaining. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin sprinted 86 yards through the Dallas defence for a touchdown, only for Austin Seibert to miss the extra point. 99 YARDS TO THE 🏡 @KaVontaeTurpin was gone!! 📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/4ckMWDEDPL — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 24, 2024 The Commanders tried an onside kick and Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes as the Miami Dolphins cruised to a 34-15 win over the New England Patriots, while the Tennessee Titans pulled off a surprise 32-27 victory at the Houston Texans. The Minnesota Vikings improved to 9-2 thanks to a 30-27 overtime win against the Chicago Bears, Parker Romo kicking the decisive field goal from 29 yards.
This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets. European stocks are expected to open higher Monday as global market sentiment rises. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 22 points higher at 8,290, Germany's DAX up 127 points at 19,435, France's CAC up 55 points at 7,305 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 275 points at 33,912, according to data from IG. Data releases include the Ifo business climate index in Germany. There are no major earnings releases. Global market sentiment has been boosted by President-Elect Donald Trump signaling his intention to nominate Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent as U.S. Treasury secretary. Investors have generally viewed the pick favorably and see the hedge fund manager as someone who will be supportive of the equity market. However, Trump stated that Bessent would help him implement protectionist trade policies, which could affect the market. U.S. stock futures climbed Sunday night as Wall Street kicked off a shortened Thanksgiving trading week. Markets are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving Day and end early on Friday. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Monday, with investors awaiting a slew of economic data this week, including China industrial data and India's third-quarter gross domestic product numbers. Money Report China's central bank keeps medium-term loan rate unchanged amid yuan weakness Six travelers in Laos died from suspected tainted alcohol. Here's where incidents happen the most CNBC Pro: How to invest $500,000 for the year ahead, according to 2 wealth managers As investors position their portfolios for 2025, wealth managers are advocating for a diversified approach with selective bets on undervalued sectors. CNBC Pro spoke to Ollie Clark, deputy head of research at WH Ireland, and Mark Preskett, senior portfolio manager at Morningstar Wealth, about how investors with roughly $500,000 could look to allocate their portfolio. One of them also suggested how investors could capitalize on President-elect Donald Trump's policies. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Ganesh Rao CNBC Pro: Want to buy the dip in renewables? Morgan Stanley names 2 top picks with 60% upside The sustainability theme faces an uncertain future under President-elect Donald Trump, but Morgan Stanley has named a number stocks with major upside. The Wall Street bank identified its top overweight-rated stocks with over $2 billion in market cap and a revenue or capital expenditure exposure to sustainability themes. Among its list of top stocks to buy are two renewable energy companies with over 60% upside potential. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Amala Balakrishner European markets: Here are the opening calls European markets are expected to open higher Monday. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 22 points higher at 8,290, Germany's DAX up 127 points at 19,435, France's CAC up 55 points at 7,305 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 275 points at 33,912, according to data from IG. Data releases include the Ifo business climate index in Germany. There are no major earnings releases. — Holly Ellyatt Also on CNBC The mullet market: Steady benchmarks in the front, crypto party in the back Donald Trump chooses hedge fund executive Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary Investor focus shifts to rate cut outlook on Thanksgiving week
Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” MA9 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXwtdSQWYE — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 9, 2024 West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. "He was here since I came and he's really my favourite" Tomáš Souček on dedicating his goal to Michail Antonio ❤️ pic.twitter.com/smNy26wmuX — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024 “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”
Dynatrace executive sells $646,749 in stockPNB to leverage high capital ratios for consumer lending expansionhttps://arab.news/n4cm5 RIYADH: Investment strategies must be compatible with sustainable development goals to ensure economically viable and environmentally responsible global growth, a top official said at the World Investment Conference. Speaking on the first day of the Riyad-based event, James Zhan, chair of the WIC executive board, said reforming the global financial system should be a priority alongside helping to deliver social and environmental reform. The 28th WIC is being held from Nov. 25 to 27, and will see global stakeholders gather to explore investment trends and how best to foster sustainable development. During a panel discussion titled “Impact Maximization: Leveraging Trade and Investment for Growth and Development,” Zhan said: “We need to embed investment strategies into the SDG implementation plans. We need to transform these international investment regimes into a kind of SDG promotion instrument.” The SDGs are a set of 17 global objectives established by the UN to address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, aiming to achieve a sustainable and equitable future by 2030. Zhan also called for transforming international investment: “We need to be practicing incentives for investment on the ground.” Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, assistant minister of investment and CEO of the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, outlined the Kingdom’s focused approach to investment. “Our investment strategy focuses on quality, FDI. That’s a very big word. So, what I like to call it is smart capital,” he said. Al-Mubarak also emphasized Saudi Arabia’s reform journey under Vision 2030, saying: “Since the launch of Vision 2030, we have set a very ambitious reform agenda. That reform agenda comes in various ways, be it in the reform of existing laws, launching new laws, removing subsidies.” These reforms aim to bolster the Kingdom’s investment environment, which has already been recognized as the 16th most competitive economy globally, according to the IMD’s World Competitiveness Index. Al-Mubarak highlighted the significance of comprehensive and consistent regulatory reforms in enhancing investment appeal. One measure of this is the success of Saudi Arabia’s Regional Headquarters Program, which came into effect in January and encouraged multinational companies to set up regional offices in Riyadh. “We already have exceeded our target by having 550 regional headquarters companies here. Our location, our infrastructure, our youth are enabling us to achieve those (goals), but they have to be clubbed with positive, unified, consistent regulatory reform agenda,” Al-Mubarak said. The assistant minister highlighted that attracting investments requires groundwork, adding: “The promotion piece of investment is one thing, but the attraction is a much tougher one because it requires a lot more reforms and work on the ground, on the infrastructure, on the policies, on the procedures.” Chairman of the Berlin Global Dialogue and Professor of Economics at the European School of Management and Technology Lars-Hendrik Roller called for a broader perspective on global investments. “The world is changing, and now I think we need to look eye level (at) Africa and other continents as well,” he said. He also cautioned about the interplay of foreign policy and national security with economic agendas, adding: “What is now overarching more and more (is) foreign policy and economic policy, national security issues. And I think we have to be very careful with that.” Roller pointed out the distorting effects of subsidies on global markets and stressed the urgency of private investments in the green economy, saying: “We’re not going to solve the climate crisis unless we generate a lot more private investment in the green economy.”
Creative Global Technology Holdings Ltd Prices 1.25M Share IPO at $4/shNone
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”Over 20,000 jobs for working families are at risk in California’s Inland Empire. The reason? Fallout from a regulation raising concerns amongst businesses, labor groups, government officials, and even environmental advocates . Let’s take a step back. Founded over 50 years ago, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been a world leader in air pollution control, smog reduction, and climate science. And the air across Southern California is better for it. However, CARB’s new “In-Use Locomotive Regulation,” mandating railroads like Union Pacific and BNSF set aside hundreds of millions of dollars today for the technology of the future, risks undermining this precarious balance. While the goal of reducing emissions is commendable, the technology required to meet this mandate is not yet commercially viable to move freight across the country. BNSF has said that its planned $1.5 billion investment in the Barstow International Gateway (BIG) is in jeopardy if the regulation moves forward. As a result, this regulation could jeopardize over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in the high desert. BNSF plans to develop the 4,500-acre Barstow rail yard, intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight project in the next few years, creating thousands of jobs and reducing truck miles traveled from the 130-mile trip from the ports to the Inland Empire along the Interstate 15 corridor. The project would also reduce vehicle miles traveled up and down the Cajon Pass from high desert residents who would have job opportunities closer to home. However, the costs of complying with the regulation and transitioning to non-existent technology would divert capital and resources from railroads, threatening the viability of significant investments like BIG. The potential loss of the BIG project would deal a significant blow to the local economy, particularly to the working families in the region. Moreover, over 86,000 businesses and one in nine jobs in Southern California connected to the San Pedro Bay Port Complex depend on efficient rail connections. Maintaining these connections is essential for the region’s growth and stability and we cannot afford increased traffic congestion and carbon emissions from continuing to force freight onto highways. Related Articles Commentary | A roadmap for healthcare reform in the Trump era Commentary | Californians deserve real solutions, not yet another Newsom vanity project Commentary | Biden wanted to be a transformative historical figure. Instead, he will be a footnote. Commentary | As Los Angeles prepares for Olympics, transportation money gets shuffled toward fiber network Commentary | Democrats welcome Trump ‘the fascist’ with open arms Freight rail, which is responsible for 40 percent of U.S. long-distance freight but only 1.7% of transportation emissions, is one of our most efficient means of moving goods. BIG is also touted to be a state-of-the-art answer to many of the regional and national supply chain issues we’ve all felt over the last several years as our ports have been winning back trade from importers because they are rail connected. While the goals of CARB’s locomotive rule are aligned with our shared commitment to addressing climate change, the regulation’s timing and feasibility are out of step with current technological realities. Our organizations agree with CARB on this: we see a path forward for zero emissions locomotives; we need to convene to align timing, technology, and transition. As Californians, we understand the urgency of transitioning to a zero-emission future, but we must also ensure that our policies support both environmental and economic sustainability. By aligning climate goals with technological capabilities, we can protect jobs, support economic growth, and continue to lead in the fight against climate change while maintaining good jobs for working families in our region. Jon Switalski is the executive director of the Rebuild SoCal Partnership. Sarah Wiltfong is the chief public policy and advocacy officer at the Supply Chain Council
Borno Government says it has approved ₦1.6 billion for the rehabilitation of 33 educational institutions affected by the recent floods in the state. The affected schools cut across Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Chibok, and Damboa local government areas of the state. Alhaji Lawan Abba-Wakilbe, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation announced this on Saturday in Maiduguri. He said that the rehabilitation was to restore educational infrastructure and to provide safe and conducive learning environments for affected students. Abbah-Wakilbe expressed gratitude to Gov. Babagana Zulum for his unwavering commitment to the education sector. He commended school managers for their resilience in the wake of the disaster and assured stakeholders of a transparent implementation processes. According to Abba-Wakilbe, the funds will be distributed directly to the accounts of affected schools under the management of School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs). “These committees, known for their effective execution of past projects, will implement the School Improvement Plan (SIP) in the affected institutions. “The funds will be allocated based on the extent of damage suffered by each school,” Wakilbe said. He added that the rehabilitation effort would also extend to the state Library Board and the Scholarship Board. “To ensure accountability, the ministry has established a monitoring team, and plans are underway to engage an auditor and a financial consultant to supervise the proper utilization of the funds, ” he said. The Commissioner urged schools without operational accounts to open one immediately to facilitate the process. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative has received widespread commendation from key stakeholders across the state. Representatives of various educational bodies, including SBMC Chairman Abba Bukar, ANCOPS Chairman Abba Ali Ladan, and Dr Mala Kulloma of the Education Secretaries Forum, lauded the initiative. They described the move as a significant step towards restoring normalcy in education across the state.
Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member When the political cartoon from which the film Join or Die draws its title was first printed by Benjamin Franklin, it was a call to unite American colonists in the dual purpose of self-protection and the bloody seizure of Indigenous land. It was 1754, the beginning of the French and Indian War, which Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz describes in her book An Indigenous People’s History of the United States as “mainly a British war against the Indigenous peoples, some of whom formed alliances with the French.” The cartoon is a potent but highly malleable visual symbol that was later adopted by those fighting the British during the American Revolutionary War and, decades on, by both sides of the American Civil War. The apparent contradiction of a cartoon calling for unity being used by both sides gets at a key point in Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor’s 2024 book Solidarity . Early on, Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor are careful to note that the idea they’re exploring is a two-sided coin: “reactionary or counter-solidarity emphasizes given identities (usually racial, religious, class-based, or national identities) and aims to benefit a small group by excluding those who are different, transformative solidarity aspires to create systems that benefit everyone.” This book and the above documentary pair well, especially at this moment. Both explore critical aspects of what it means to come together at a time when ever more people are feeling deeply isolated and national politics have become fearsomely polarized. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Join or Die is exactly what its tagline promises: “a film about why you should join a club.” But, of course, it’s about much more than that. It’s part of a cresting wave of cultural production circling around the deeply intertwined issues of loneliness, isolation, shame, divisiveness, political intransigence, staggering inequality, mis/disinformation, and the expansion and emboldening of far-right groups motivated by baldly racist, sexist, heteronormative, and xenophobic ideals. The “die” in the film’s title is not a metaphor. It is a literal invocation of statistics showing that people living in social isolation die earlier than those with stronger social bonds. The film’s pitch is straightforward: get out there and get involved in some kind of club or group. It’s the American way, they tell us using copious historical examples, and it may be the only thing that saves democracy, in addition to saving your life. The film’s protagonists are two White men who come across as middle or upper class: an elder, bearded professor (Robert Putnam, author of the incredibly influential book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community , published in 2000) and his former student, Pete Davis (who directed the film with his sister, Rebecca Davis). The film feels very self-conscious in its attempt to present itself as well-meaning, trying hard to strike a note of apolitical affability whose tone is one of assuring audiences that these men’s earnest desire to be helpful can cause no harm. I bring up this point not because I think the protagonists’ race or class negates the message, but because there really is no such thing as an apolitical approach to talking about politics. The fact that they believed this strategy was necessary is, in my opinion, tied to the contemporary push for documentary filmmakers tackling difficult topics to be more “approachable” or lighter, to please funders and/or streamers by presenting their work as having a “broad appeal,” which often translates to content that centers White audiences while skewing generic and politically muted in tone. I also raise this point because packaging matters in our consumer-driven culture. It indicates who the filmmakers and their funders consider to be their most important audience, a notable detail when the subject matter is bringing people together. The tactics used to advance these discussions are just as significant as the discussions themselves. Tactics are, in fact, a huge piece of the interlocked issues this book and film explore. How we talk to each other about thorny topics, and what approaches we do or don’t take, have everything to do with our capacity to successfully form bonds and resolve our problems. A relevant essay on that very subject is Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba’s “ How Much Discomfort Is the Whole World Worth? ” While ostensibly about political organizing, the essay touches on something the Right seems to be better at publicly acknowledging than the Left: People are afraid to speak, afraid to risk presenting their ideas and feelings publicly, for fear of saying the wrong thing. The Right wraps this point in diatribes against political correctness or “wokeness,” exploiting fears to further divide everyone, but in my experience people on the Left carry their own fears of speaking and sense of isolation. When I facilitated a consciousness-raising group at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in New York earlier this year, which was intentionally multiracial, intergenerational, and trans-inclusive, I chose Hayes and Kaba’s text as our initial reading precisely because I worried about how fears and judgment might prevent us from being present and open with one another. Many expressed gratitude that it was our first shared text, a possible indication that they felt some of those anxieties themselves. We humans are primates after all. Our programming is basic — we have deeply held fears about being ostracized, so much so that when we feel we have been rejected socially, it disrupts our overall brain function . But fears around speaking are not all that keep us apart. Join or Die proves to be a useful update to Putnam’s famous book Bowling Alone because it looks more broadly at the problem. Employing extensive data, the book showed a precipitous decline in community bonds, but it focused primarily on the period from the 1960s to the late 1990s. As the film reveals, if you stretch the period of analysis back to the late 1800s, the so-called “Gilded Age” in the US, when wealth inequality had reached what was then believed to be a peak (hello soon-to-be trillionaires of the 21st century), and thousands upon thousands of immigrants were arriving in the country, you can see the beginning of a massive, decades-long increase in civic and community participation. That dramatic growth precedes the later decline discussed in the original book. A subtle but notable overlap between Join or Die and Solidarity is the work of the late Jane McAlevey. She appears as an occasional commentator in the film and Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor quote her and dedicate their book to her. A union organizer, scholar, and writer who died just this summer, McAlevey is widely respected for her practice of and writing on “ whole-worker organizing ,” which acknowledges that workers are also members of communities outside the workplace, and the realities facing those communities need to play a role in union organizing. McAlevey’s commentary in the film is most salient when the filmmakers explore critiques of Bowling Alone , particularly that Putnam neglected to acknowledge that Americans have been intentionally divided from one another. As McAlevey says in the film: “I believe a deliberate strategy of cultivating individualism begins in the early 1970s, to roll back the gains [of] the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Movement, and the Trade Union Movement, with a strategy of downgrading the concept of the communal and the collective, and elevating the idea that the individual is supreme. People do have less connections. What I try to argue is, it wasn’t accidental.” Following up on this point, scholar of religion Eddie S. Glaude Jr. notes the ways in which public spaces where people would be inclined to meet new connections have faced deliberate disinvestment and disregard: “After Brown v. Board of Education , and after efforts to desegregate public recreation facilities like pools and parks, you see communities actually abdicate those spaces, they leave them, and then they complain about their tax dollars being used to pay for them.” Heather McGhee’s 2021 book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together , clearly articulates how racism and racist policies not only have divided Americans but are actually disadvantaging far more people than just the intended targets — in other words, racism is costing people of all races dearly, from student debt to limited access to decent healthcare; from attacks on voting to limited housing options, and more. One point that neither the film nor the book acknowledges is how the push toward the individual and away from solidarity among people facing similar issues is intertwined with people feeling personally responsible for their own isolation and loneliness, a painful byproduct of the false idea of meritocracies in which a person is solely responsible for their successes and failures. Our hyper-individualized society propagates the fiction that it’s an individual’s own fault that they’re alone and, accordingly, something is wrong with them. I know this because I’ve felt it, and I know others who have as well. As I’ve written elsewhere , even with all the structural analysis in the world, the feeling of being alone is tough to contend with when our society teaches us that the solution is to either turn inward or to buy stuff, neither of which will solve the problem. One secret to the success of the Right’s current message in the US is the recognition of people’s fears and isolation, offering up countless boogeymen as the cause and solution, rather than attending to the systems that are failing us all. Meanwhile, the Left hasn’t done a great job of offering a collective vision of a path out. At screenings of my own documentary about US spaces that center LGBTQ+ women, I am often asked by audience members: What groups can I join? Where can I go? The most honest answer is that you have many options, and also very few. In Join or Die , we meet a few men who we later learn are members of an Odd Fellows lodge in Waxahachie, Texas. At the end of the film, we see them laughing, hugging, and working together to improve themselves and their town. It’s precisely the kind of benevolent civic organization that Putnam boosts in his book. But the group has a few assets that a lot of other groups lack: access to a dedicated private space that they own (I cannot overemphasize the importance of this); a stated ethic of mutuality, along with a politic of nonviolence and non-discrimination; and a set of bonding rituals and traditions to embrace and carry on. It’s the kind of group that Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor might define as being engaged in transformative rather than reactionary solidarity. Many people I meet who are seeking spaces of their own are hoping for communities similar in some ways to the Odd Fellows lodge. The trouble is they often look to consumer-reliant businesses like bars and bookstores to fulfill desires that have little to do with consumption. I recently came across a series of reading events organized by Reading Rhythms , where people are asked to pay $20 to sit together and read books individually while music plays, and they can later engage in optional conversations. I’m sure these events are well-intentioned, but they illustrate how we often replicate systems that reinforce individualism over collectivity. Ultimately, participants are asked to pay a pretty high price to sit in a room and read on their own, with the possibility but no guarantee of connecting with others. To state the obvious, these events could easily be hosted for free or a nominal cost at venues like public libraries, parks, or community centers. So why aren’t they? My impression from the Reading Rhythms website is that, in addition to the practical need to pay for spaces and labor, they feel the need to brand themselves and their events in order to garner attention, sponsorships, and additional funding. Branding and an online following may also allow them to offer more desirable “experiences,” but all of this ultimately cultivates a consumer model more than it satisfies a desire for meaningful, sustained connection. So why aren’t we all pushing for more publicly controlled spaces where events can happen without the high cost and need to “sell” something? Resource- and info-sharing across loosely aligned groups, along with using and advocating for more and better local public spaces, could create avenues for meaningful involvement, civic engagement, and connection beyond handing over some cash and showing up. (An event series similar to the above called Quiet Reading seems to do some of this.) In the last essay of her collection Belonging: A Culture of Place , bell hooks writes about her rootedness in Kentucky, her family, and the models they provided for her. At one point, hooks says, “Communities of care are sustained by rituals of regard.” I think a lot about that when I’m attending yet another Zoom or in-person event where individuals lack the chance to be present with one another in any meaningful way. A few years ago I was teaching a workshop about artists and payment where I foregrounded the need for information sharing and solidarity, and an attendee asked why he should spend his limited time helping others (a genuine if telling question). Before I could stop myself I said something like: Why should anyone care about you and your work if you don’t care about them? Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor present a more tactical perspective in Solidarity : “...the twenty-first century has witnessed the biggest protests, and the most popular petitions, in history, yet they have produced comparatively small effects. ... What might have happened had a larger fraction of the tens of millions who demonstrated been channeled into member-based organizations to work toward common goals?” This is where that malleability of the Benjamin Franklin cartoon that inspired the film’s title comes back in. If so many of the events that promise collectivity are consumer-oriented or are protests without clear, ongoing organizing, there really aren’t ways for people to join these efforts beyond showing up, which, on its own, is not enough. And we know well enough at this point that groups engaged in reactionary solidarity are all too ready and willing to provide longterm connection and involvement. Invitations into and ways in which people can find a place for themselves in a group are hugely important, and anyone interested in creating a more livable and welcoming world should be considering them. Whenever I spend time thinking about this topic, the words of bell hooks echo for me: New rituals of regard are needed. Join or Die is currently streaming on Netflix. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook
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AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:11 p.m. ESTIt seems everyone except champion Joey Logano is eager to see to a change to the NASCAR playoff format. How to fix it remains up for debate. Logano won his third Cup Series championship earlier this month, re-igniting the conversation about whether the current playoff format is the best way to determine a worthy champion. Logano wound up winning four races this season, but only had 13 top 10 finishes in 37 races and clearly didn't have one of the best cars over the course of the season. Logano, it seemed, did just enough to get by. He got his share of breaks, too, using what amounted to a Hail Mary win in Nashville — stretching his empty fuel tank through five overtimes — to qualify for the postseason. He was actually eliminated from playoff contention in the second round, only to be reinstated after a competitor's car was ruled to be illegal. People are also reading... Logano's run to the title has left some drivers wanting to see the system altered, with suggestions ranging from minor tweaks to major changes. "I think the message we are trying to send is: Make the regular season matter more," said Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing and a co-owner of the 23XI Racing team. He suggested increasing the bonus points a driver gets during the regular season. "The (Christopher) Bells, (Kyle) Larsons, they deserve to have a really good buffer there to make it through the (playoff) rounds," Hamlin said. "We're in a sport where you can get caught up in so many wrecks and different things that can happen. ... There are 26 (regular season) races and they are proving to be not that substantial to winning a championship and that's not something you want." Hamlin suggested that over the past three years the Team Penske champions — Logano twice and Ryan Blaney once — "didn't have to do much" during the regular season. "And that's probably not good," Hamlin added. NASCAR likes the current playoff system because of the emphasis it places on each race heading down the final stretch of the season in its never-ending quest for Game 7 moments. Stock car racing's governing body remains open to tweaking the format — if it improves the sport. "I love that aspect of it," Bell said of the emphasis on the playoff races, "but maybe adjusting the points systems to make sure we get the right cars into the championship event would be awesome." Blaney said it's up to drivers to adapt the rules in place. But he said in his "ideal world" he'd like to see the top 16 drivers on points in the regular season qualify for the playoffs. He said race winners should get 10 or 15 points instead of five, and that the regular-season champion should get an additional 30 points. Blaney's final suggestion involves fewer elimination races. He suggested the 16-car field should be cut to eight after five playoff races, with the remaining eight drivers competing over the final five races for the championship. "I would like to see a group of races to end the year where you are not going to have anyone run away with it and you're going to have three to five races and you're still going to have some really good competition going on," Blaney said. Logano just shakes his head and offers a sarcastic smile at all the tweak talk. He was emphatic about the system not needing to be changed after his clinching win at Phoenix and didn't stray from that conviction at last Friday's annual awards ceremony in Charlotte. When asked if there are any changes that need to be made, Logano replied, "Nothing, personally. I wouldn't change a thing," adding that he thinks the format is "super entertaining." Of course, if you've won three championships since 2018, why would you want to change? "I think we all need to understand why we changed it in the first place, it's because the fans said they didn't like the way it was, so we changed it," Logano said. "And then everybody loved it. And it was great. And now, oh, we're going to complain about it again? C'mon, guys. Geez." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Get local news delivered to your inbox!