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Ireland's 22 help Nicholls State take down New Orleans 73-70Longest-lived US president was always happy to speak his mind
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El fundador de Xsolla, Shurick Agapitov presenta Once Upon Tomorrow Fortnite Island: Una experiencia innovadora e inmersiva que le da vida al universo de la novelaPresident-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak
Students target energy efficiency on global stage
BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.
Columbia defeats Merchant Marine 98-49By CLAIRE RUSH President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska’s Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Related Articles National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one” or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley’s home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama’s action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska’s senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump’s suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.
Permuta Technologies Marks 25 Years of Innovation in Government and Defense Technology SolutionsAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay woman $250K in sexual assault case, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman more than $250,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.Ray Hadley’s emotional moment during last day on air
It's the trial that all of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! campmates want to do and this year's Celebrity Cyclone was no exception. Viewers tuning in on Saturday. December 7 saw the four remaining contestants battling the water-based obstacle course for stars for their last supper. And as well as praising the challenge, they were quick to make a plea - they would love to do it themselves. The I'm A Celeb fans rushed to social media as they watched Danny Jones, Reverend Richard Coles, Coleen Rooney and Oti Mabuse don their capes and dive right in. On X, one said: "The one sole purpose of watching I'm A Celeb is finally here: Come on Cyclone." A second said: "Celeb Cyclone is my favourite every year.". While a third wished the fans: "Happy Celebrity Cyclone day all!" A fourth added: "Celeb Cyclone is my favourite every year." While another added: "Every celebrity who missed out on the I'm A Celebrity cyclone trial is unlucky. It looks so much fun and bloody exciting." And: "Celebrity Cyclone is the funniest trial and you can’t tell me otherwise." But there was a bit of disappointment that the public can't have a go. One suggested: "They need to open a Celebrity Cyclone experience where the public can pay to do this..." Another fan said: "If I had one wish in life or something to do on my bucket list it would definitely be Celebrity Cyclone." And a third simply added: "I’d bloody love to play Celebrity Cyclone." Ahead of the trial, as the campmates met I'm A Celeb hosts Ant and Dec, they told them: “You all look pretty fabulous!” Ant and Dec also revealed Oti was dressed in gold as she won the golden ticket to be at the iconic trial when she won Ticket to Cyclone. As she told the boys: “This is the dream, this is why I hit the gold buzzer, for this!” Dec took the opportunity to apologise to Richard, who has done plenty of food and drink trials, saying: “I feel like we haven’t got anything for you to eat or drink! I feel really rude!” Richard replied: “I’m gonna eat the Cyclone, that’s what I’m gonna do!” After they succeeded in getting their four stars and Ant and Dec asked if they really enjoyed the trial, Danny said: “Every minute! I wanna do it again.” Coleen said of the challenge: “It reminded me of a sunny day in the Rooney back garden! Slip and slide.” As Danny asked her: “Can we come?” Asking about their tactics, Danny revealed: “The Purple Python is only comfortable slithering on his tummy!” I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! is on ITV and ITVXIn the days following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , people online have discussed the state of American health care, particularly its high costs. In a handwritten document expressing his views, the suspected shooter, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, claimed that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world, but ranks number 42 in life expectancy, multiple media outlets reported. Some on social media repeated the claim or made posts comparing the high costs of the U.S. healthcare system to the nation’s lower life expectancy. THE QUESTION Does the U.S. have the most expensive health care system in the world? THE SOURCES World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Expenditure data Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker THE ANSWER Yes, the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world. WHAT WE FOUND A country’s health care costs are typically measured by adding up all health care spending for people, governments, organizations and businesses, and dividing that by the total number of people in the country. The figure includes spending on personal health care, such as drugs and hospital visits, as well as collective care, such as public health services and health administration. The U.S. health care system is more expensive per person than any other country’s health care system, both in raw dollar amounts and when spending is adjusted to account for the cost of living in each country. This finding is consistent across data from multiple international organizations. In 2021, the most recent year for which the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Expenditure database published numbers for all countries, the U.S. spent just over $12,000 on health care per person. The only other country that spent more than $10,000 was Switzerland, which spent nearly $10,900 per person. However, when adjusted for the cost of goods in each country, the spending gap is even larger. Switzerland, which still spent the second most, spent about $9,000 on health care per person in 2021. The U.S., on the other hand, spent about $12,000 per person. Looking at another dataset, in 2022, the U.S. spent nearly $12,600 on health care per person, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) , an international organization made up of about 40 wealthy member countries. The OECD collects data on its member countries. The OECD country that spent the next most on health care per person, when adjusted for the cost of goods in that country, was still Switzerland. It spent just over $8,000 per person, according to the OECD’s data. Wealthy countries do tend to spend more money on health care per person than lower income countries, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , a partnership between two public health non-profit organizations. But Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Norway are all wealthier per person than the U.S. is and spend significantly less on health care per person, according to the Health System Tracker. Ireland spends less than half of what the U.S. does on health care per person. Life expectancy and health outcomes When it comes to how the U.S. ranks for life expectancy and health outcomes, it’s true that the U.S. is behind dozens of other countries, although several international organizations don’t place the U.S. exactly at number 42. A CIA World Factbook estimate for 2024 ranked the U.S. 35th in life expectancy once territories are excluded. The WHO ranked the U.S. 45th in the world, excluding territories, in life expectancy in 2021, the most recent year for which the WHO has data for all countries. WHO data from 2019 shows that the U.S. was 40th in life expectancy prior to the pandemic. The U.S. experienced a bigger drop in life expectancy than other similarly wealthy countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Health System Tracker , which is run by the nonprofits The Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF. The Health System Tracker explains this is because the pandemic increased mortality and premature death rates in the U.S. by more than it did in most peer countries, making the U.S. fall further behind in life expectancy.
Another one! The Container Store files for bankruptcy; this is what we know
Colorado is gearing up for the rugged Big 12 schedule, but first the Buffaloes wrap up their nonconference slate with two more games, starting Friday night when they host South Dakota State in Boulder, Colo. Colorado (7-2) has won two straight after competing in the Maui Invitational, most recently a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State. Now the focus turns to South Dakota State and shoring up issues before conference play. "Defensively, we're understanding what our jobs are. Now, we're not where we need to be for sure," coach Tad Boyle said. "But we're making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other." The Buffaloes lost a lot of talent from last year's NCAA Tournament team but boast some quality players. Andrej Jakimovski (13.0 points per game), Julian Hammond III (12.3 ppg) and Elijah Moore (12.0 ppg) lead the team in scoring. Sophomore big man Bangot Dak has shown he can be a force after scoring a career-high 16 points in the win over Colorado State. The Jackrabbits (8-4) are coming off a 77-63 loss at Nevada on Wednesday night and complete a two-game trip in Boulder. South Dakota State is led by senior center Oscar Cluff, who tops the team in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (11.0) but had a subpar night against Nevada when he scored a season-low six points while battling an ankle injury. "I wish he was feeling a little better," coach Eric Henderson said of Cluff. "He's going to be fine, but he's still nursing that ankle a little bit." Freshman Joe Sayler is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and has reached double figures in each of the last three games. Sophomore Kalen Garry is third on the Jackrabbits in scoring at 9.6 per contest, an average that has been hurt by his last three games when he has averaged just 5.3 points. --Field Level MediaPresident Bola Tinubu has emphasized the need to tackle the root causes of corruption in Nigeria, advocating for systemic solutions that address the socio-economic factors driving the menace. Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! During his first presidential media chat, Tinubu underscored the importance of improving living conditions, ensuring access to social amenities, and providing fair wages to reduce corruption in all its forms. He believes that creating an environment where citizens have access to basic necessities and opportunities will significantly reduce the temptation to engage in corrupt activities. Tinubu identified a lack of social amenities and inadequate funding for education as key factors that push people toward corrupt practices. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that workers receive a living wage, citing his increase in the minimum wage as a step in the right direction. The President stressed that his administration is focused on making tough but necessary decisions to stabilize the economy , including tackling corruption at its roots. He also reiterated his belief in the power of free market forces to address economic challenges, emphasizing that price control is not the solution to soaring prices of goods and services. Read also Tax reform bills: Tinubu declares readiness to make concessions According to the president, one of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) responsibilities was to block all loopholes in government ministries, agencies, and parastatals. The president reiterated that corruption can not be eradicated but can be brought to the lowest level. See the video of the media chat here: PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! Source: Legit.ng