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bookmaker kumagawa Syrians at home and abroad were still reeling Monday that what long seemed impossible – the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime – took place in just a matter of hours this weekend. After years of sectarian massacres, intercommunal conflicts, and jihadist violence, Syrian opposition forces that swept into Damascus early Sunday and chased Mr. Assad into exile in Russia are now in control of much of the still-fragmented country. It’s an inflection point after 53 years of ruthless, repressive Assad family rule. Syrians who exchanged greetings and congratulations as strategic cities fell to the rebels quickly started dreaming of returning to their homes and reuniting with loved ones. “I am sleepless and so happy,” says longtime Syrian dissident and former political prisoner Anwar al-Bunni in Berlin. “The goal that Syrians gave their blood and life for is achieved,” he says. For the Syrians who rose up in protest in 2011 and thereafter, Sunday was a triumph that left them wishing for deceased loved ones to be able to witness the moment. “I can see the joy in people’s faces,” says Radwan, a medical engineer based in Damascus. “The thing we all have now is hope,” he says. Syrians at home and abroad were still reeling Monday because what long seemed impossible – the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime – took place in just a matter of hours this weekend. After years of civil war that featured sectarian massacres, intercommunal conflicts, and jihadist violence, Syrian opposition forces that swept into Damascus early Sunday and chased Mr. Assad into exile in Russia are now in control of much of the still-fragmented country. It’s an inflection point after 53 years of ruthless, repressive Assad family rule, in which people were detained at the slightest hint of dissent. Syrians displaced by the conflict within the country and abroad exchanged greetings and congratulations as strategic city after strategic city – Aleppo, Hama, and Homs – fell as rebels dashed to the capital. People quickly started dreaming of returning to their homes and reuniting with loved ones. It will take time to decode the local and international dealmaking that helped make some of this possible. “I am sleepless and so happy,” says longtime Syrian dissident Anwar al-Bunni. The former political prisoner has been observing events from Berlin, one of the rare European cities that opened its arms to welcome Syrian refugees when they came by the hundreds of thousands from Turkey in 2015 and 2016. “The goal that Syrians gave their blood and life for is achieved,” he says. Overthrowing the Assad regime was far from simple and took over a decade at the cost of nearly half a million Syrian lives lost to multifaceted violence. On the regime side, that included the use of crushing military force against protesters; airstrikes by Syria and its key ally, Russia; chemical weapons attacks; the siege and starvation of opposition hubs; and industrial-scale torture. “I can see the joy in people’s faces,” says Radwan, a medical engineer based in Damascus, who asked that his full name not be used. He adds that the streets are choked with traffic as more and more people venture out. “The thing we all have now is hope,” he says. Events Sunday were swift and historic. In the hours before dawn, rebels took Damascus with breathtaking speed and without opposition. The once-feared forces of the president’s brother, Maher al-Assad, made no grand last stand. The president fled to Russia, where he was swiftly granted asylum, on “humanitarian grounds.” Prisoners were released from infamous jails turned into death camps and slaughter houses, such as the notorious Saydnaya. “This is a victory my brothers for the Islamic nation, a new history for the region,” declared Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant insurgent faction, in his victory speech Sunday at the Omayyed Mosque in Damascus. He condemned Mr. Assad for giving Iran free rein in the region, spreading sectarianism, and turning Syria into a hotbed for drug trafficking. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said Sunday he was taking on the role of temporary caretaker of state institutions. “The prime minister said they will work with the new army,” says Radwan, adding that he has been positively impressed by the rebel forces in town, although their celebratory gunfire terrified everybody. “That needs to be reflected in reality, because they have a lot of things to do.” The swift rebel advance was testament in part, analysts say, to the weakness of the government. It had been abandoned by its traditional allies – Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah – as well as by Arab nations that in recent years had changed course from their repudiation of the regime’s brutal suppression of dissent and pursued normalization. But the success “was also the result of careful planning and preparation by HTS,” says Broderick McDonald, associate fellow at the London-based International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. Mr. McDonald has conducted field work on the evolution of HTS, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Nations, and European Union, due to its past links with Al Qaeda. “Over the past five years, HTS has consolidated its control over rival rebel groups and professionalized its military force,” he says. It did so by investing heavily in training and the establishment of a military academy in Idlib, where it standardized its operations. It also set up statelike institutions in northwest Syria, including the opposition Syrian Salvation Government, which enabled it to rapidly assume civil administration and deliver services to territories it took over. In Aleppo, HTS deployed the Syrian Salvation Government within hours of capturing the city. “Through these institutions, HTS hopes to portray itself as a well-organized, responsible actor to both the international community and Syrians,” notes Mr. McDonald. Born in Saudi Arabia in 1982, Mr. Jolani began his charm offensive in 2021 with a PBS interview. And he granted CNN an interview last week after capturing Aleppo. He says he has moderated, and indeed has kept more radical elements in check, according to analysts, but not everyone trusts that. His speech Sunday was steeped in the language of Islamic holy war. There have been protests over his autocratic style of rule in Idlib, as well. HTS forces alone are estimated to be 30,000-strong, without counting allied factions. In the north, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army factions supported the HTS-led offensive on Hama and Homs, while also pursuing their own campaign in eastern Aleppo and Manbij. In Syria’s south, smaller local groups also launched an offensive after the HTS-led offensive in the north began to capture major cities. “These local groups from the south are not as well organized as HTS but they rapidly captured Daraa and Suwayda and reached the southern outskirts of Damascus before any other group,” notes Mr. McDonald. The relationship between these groups is fractious at best, he says, and all of them will want to play a role in shaping the future of Syria. Nadim Houry, executive of the Arab Reform Initiative, says HTS reached out to minority communities to reassure them, and credits the group’s success to a mix of strong communication, discipline, and the effective use of locally produced drones. For the Syrians who rose up in protest in 2011 and thereafter, Sunday was a triumph that left them wishing for deceased loved ones to be able to witness the moment. The revolution that began with peaceful protests will likely go down in history as one of the bravest of the Arab Spring, so tight was the grip of Syrian security services over people’s lives. Initial slogans at the time called for regime change. It was a calculated gesture that sought to give the autocratic Mr. Assad a chance to clean house and change course. Despite coming to power with promises of political reform and economic liberation, he did the exact opposite. He responded to protests with brutality and fanned sectarian conflict. As soldiers fired and tanks rolled, people chanted “One, one, one – the Syrian people are one” and “Peaceful, peaceful – the Syrian revolution is peaceful,” before the taboo-breaking “Get out, Doctor.” Many of those who dared to have that dream and eventually fought for it are dead or are now refugees. “This victory stirs up joy, yes, but it also rips open my wounds,” says Umm Tamer in the city of Raqqa, who sat out the celebrations due to her emotions and advanced age. Two of her sons were among citizens in opposition hubs who took up arms to defend themselves and died in action. Parts of Syria, like Iraq before it, became a magnet and bastion for Sunni jihadis. Today Syria is awash with weapons and armed groups with different geographical and ideological priorities. And in many ways, the force that took power in Damascus is exactly what Mr. Assad, who tried to style himself as a protector of religious minorities, taught supporters to fear. Sami, the owner of a software company who asked to withhold his surname, shares footage of his office ransacked in an apparently abandoned looting effort. His anxiety was compounded by airstrikes on weapons depots and government installations carried out by Israel, to prevent munitions and sensitive information from falling into the hands of armed groups it does not trust. “Assad is out now, but we are losing our country, a historical country,” he says. “I will stay here until the airport will open. [Mr. Jolani] looks like a good guy, but I am afraid of the Islamic side. On the media they may look like angels, but on the ground the situation may be different. I hope this is the end [of war], but I know this is the start of a new one” with Israel. “There is no clear view now on what will happen, but that does not mean we are afraid,” says Mr. Bunni in Berlin. “What’s needed now is a lot of effort for sure. Our battle to build democracy and rebuild the country starts now. ... There is a new dawn, and I hope it will be sunny and shiny for all generations.”Government to block incinerators that do not contribute to green plansDeluxe Corp CEO Barry McCarthy purchases $53,975 in stock

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Lisa Kudrow blasts Tom Hanks’ de-aging movie ‘Here’ as ‘endorsement for AI’: ‘What work will there be for human beings?’S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: From Legacy to Legend

Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night at Toyota Center to close its three-game trip at 2-1 and reach the 30-game mark at 16-14. The Heat now returns to Miami to begin a three-game homestand on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans: The Heat, short-handed and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, earned a gutsy road win over a quality Rockets team behind another excellent performance from Tyler Herro. But the game ended with an unfortunate moment for both teams. The Heat and Rockets went back and forth in a first half that included seven lead changes and five ties before Miami entered halftime with a narrow 53-50 lead. The second half was also a battle, even after the Rockets opened the third quarter on a 23-8 run to turn a three-point deficit into a 12-point lead midway through the period. That’s because the Heat responded with a run of its own, closing the third quarter on a 20-9 spurt to trim the deficit to one point by the end of the period. That set up for a tight finish, with the game decided in the final seconds. The Rockets led by one point with 2:47 to play, but the Heat won the game behind a strong finish just one day after wilting at the end of Saturday’s loss to the Hawks in Atlanta. Herro hit a contested midrange jumper to give the Heat a one-point advantage with 1:56 left. Then after two defensive stops, the Heat pulled ahead by four points on a clutch three-pointer from Nikola Jovic 47.4 seconds to play. The Rockets, which entered with the third-best record in the Western Conference, never regained their footing or composure. Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was ejected from the game for arguing with an official after committing a five-second violation on an side out-of-bounds situation. Then with the Heat ahead by five points and with possession of the ball in the final seconds of the game, Herro and Rockets forward Amen Thompson exchanged words before Thompson grabbed Herro’s jersey and threw him down to the court. Players and coaches from the Heat and Rockets immediately rushed over, as a brief skirmish unfolded before officials took control and separated the two teams. After a review of the incident, six were ejected with 35.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. For the Heat, Terry Rozier and Herro were ejected. For the Rockets, Jalen Green and Thompson were ejected. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan were also ejected. Despite being thrown out of the game after being thrown to the court in the final seconds, Herro was the star of the night. Herro led the Heat to the win with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range, six rebounds and nine assists. Heat center Bam Adebayo contributed another double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The Heat’s defense was also impressive down the stretch, limiting the Rockets to 18 points on 6-of-25 (24 percent) shooting from the field in the fourth quarter. The Heat improved to 9-0 this season when holding its opponent to 100 points or fewer. There’s a new Heat injury to monitor, but the hope is it’s not a long-term issue. After scoring 16 points in 38 minutes during Saturday’s loss in Atlanta, Robinson missed Sunday’s game against the Rockets because of right foot inflammation. It marked just the second game that Robinson has missed this season, as he also was unavailable for the Heat’s Nov. 2 win over the Wizards in Mexico City because of personal reasons. Robinson hurt his foot during Saturday’s game loss to the Hawks, but kept playing to finish the contest. After Robinson underwent treatment on the injury Sunday, the determination was made to hold him out against the Rockets. “I don’t have a timeline,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday when asked about Robinson’s status. “But he really wanted to try to go today, just didn’t really pass his protocols. So we don’t think it would be a long-term thing.” The Heat also remained without Jimmy Butler (return to competition reconditioning), Josh Richardson (right heel inflammation) and Dru Smith (left Achilles surgery) on Sunday. Butler, who has been at the center of trade speculation this month, missed his fifth straight game after battling a flu-like illness over the last 10 days. The Heat expects Butler to return for its next game — Wednesday against the Pelicans at Kaseya Center. The Rockets were without two rotation players on Sunday, as Tari Eason (left leg injury management) and Jae’Sean Tate (illness) did not play against the Heat. With Butler and Robinson out, the Heat moved Rozier and Kevin Love back into the starting lineup. The Heat opened Sunday’s game with a lineup of Rozier, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Love and Bam Adebayo. It marked the fifth game that this group has started this season, but the first one since Nov. 17. Sunday also marked Rozier’s first start since Nov. 17. Rozier opened the season in a starting role, but moved to the bench to play as a reserve in 14 straight games before the team’s injury issues pushed him back into the starting lineup on Sunday. For Love, Sunday’s start represented his first game action of any kind since playing three minutes in the Heat’s Dec. 20 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had not played in four straight games — missing the first one because of personal reasons and then receiving three straight DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) with rookie Kel’el Ware taking over as the Heat’s backup center. Rozier was strong at the start, scoring 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field in the first half. But he cooled off, totaling just two points on 0-of-8 shooting from the field in the second half. Love ended the night with five points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field, six rebounds and one assist 14 minutes. The Rockets grabbed plenty of offensive rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their inefficient shooting. The Rockets are the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA, entering Sunday with the league’s top offensive rebounding percentage (the percentage of available offensive rebounds a team grabs) for the season. Early on, the Rockets’ dominance on the offensive glass was on display. Houston totaled six second-chance points on six offensive rebounds in the first quarter. The Rockets went on to finish the game 19 offensive rebounds. But all those second-chance opportunities didn’t matter because the Rockets only scored nine second-chance points. That’s because the Rockets struggled to make shots for most of the night, shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 13 of 40 (32.5 percent) on threes in the loss. The Heat, which entered the game with the NBA’s 22nd-ranked offensive rebounding percentage this season, actually finished with more second-chance points than the Rockets. Miami totaled 15 second-chance points on 15 offensive rebounds Sunday. Jovic provided an important spark and Ware continued to contribute quality off the bench for the short-handed Heat. Jovic made his presence felt from the start, recording eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 15 first-half minutes on Sunday. Jovic ended the night with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. Ware recorded seven points, seven rebounds and two asssits in 14 minutes. The Heat outscored the Rockets by five points with Ware on the court, and he now holds a plus/minus of plus 34 while playing in each of the Heat’s last five games. Jovic and Ware were part of a four-man Heat bench rotation that also included Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Alec Burks. The only available Heat players who did not get into Sunday’s game were Pelle Larsson, Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Isaiah Stevens. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency’s plans to cut spending. Republicans have big plans for spending cuts next year, but some GOP lawmakers are doubting Congress can muster the momentum for significant changes. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, whom President-elect Trump tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory panel on cutting spending and the national debt, were on Capitol Hill Thursday for a series of meetings with lawmakers on how Congress and the White House can work together to achieve that goal. And while that advisory panel is chiefly aimed at what executive actions Trump could take, lawmakers are conceding that significant, lasting change must be achieved through legislation. And some Republicans are skeptical they can get there. "The problem’s in that room," said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., referring to other GOP lawmakers who met with Musk and Ramaswamy. GOP SENATORS ‘VERY IMPRESSED’ WITH MUSK, RAMASWAMY DOGE FRAMEWORK AMID MEETINGS ON CAPITOL HILL Trump announced Nov. 12, 2024, that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would be leading the Department of Government Efficiency. (Getty Images) "These guys, you know, they talk real tough," but they did not vote in ways he believed showed they were serious about cutting spending. "You don’t see a lot of that. Now, when is that going to start? Is it going to start just because Elon and Vivek [address us]?" Burchett asked. "I just worry about us losing steam. ... We’ve got to get some guts, and people have got to hold us accountable." REP. JARED MOSKOWITZ FIRST DEMOCRAT TO JOIN CONGRESSIONAL DOGE CAUCUS Retiring Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., told Fox News "a lot of members" stood up to suggest ways to "save money" during Thursday afternoon’s brainstorming session with Republicans and the DOGE duo. "One would think more of them would have been willing to vote, cast votes on the floor of the House in order to do those things early," Bishop added. The DOGE discussions have opened up longstanding wounds within the House GOP, whose members spent a significant amount of the 118th Congress battling among themselves over how to navigate government funding and other fiscal issues. The national debt recently surpassed $36 trillion. Rep. Chip Roy questioned whether fellow Republicans have the "spine" to pass spending overhauls. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) A senior House GOP aide expressed optimism about the new goal but added that Musk and Ramaswamy were "swinging for the fences." "The hard part is once they find the stuff to cut, I think it’s Congress who has to do the actual cutting, right?" the aide said. Another senior GOP aide said, "The mission of DOGE is worthy and absolutely necessary, but nothing is going to change . We aren’t going to cut spending like we [have to] to get our fiscal house in order, and we aren’t going to slash waste at any significant level." US NATIONAL DEBT HITS A NEW RECORD: $36 TRILLION Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, also skeptical, told Republicans at Thursday's meeting they needed to "grow a spine" to actually move meaningful spending cuts. "I've said to my colleagues, ‘If you can't print money, if, literally, it was banned today, what would you do?’ You would do what you do for your home budget. You would say, 'Well, we can't take a vacation here. I can't get a fancy new car because I need to get braces for my child,'" Roy told WMAL radio host Larry O’Connor. "We don't ever do that, and, until we do, all of the DOGE waste-cutting in the world won't help. We’ve got to do both. We need the waste-cutting, but we need Congress to grow a spine." MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN AFTER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT President-elect Trump tapped Musk and Ramaswamy to lead DOGE. (Brandon Bell) Some Republicans are skeptical of having Musk and Ramaswamy lead the charge. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "They had no game plan — a wish list that they’re giving to Santa and the American people that will never be even remotely accomplished," one GOP lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital of Thursday's meeting. The GOP lawmaker called DOGE a "magical department that has been erected out of thin air," and pointed out its logo was heavily inspired by a cryptocurrency known as "dogecoin" that Musk has backed. "They’re going to run into a brick wall called ‘members of Congress who know how to do our job,’" the lawmaker said. Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News. Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.comNone

Deluxe Corp CEO Barry McCarthy purchases $53,975 in stockBuddhist monks and nuns who live in eastern Prince Edward Island say they were disappointed to hear some of the concerns expressed at a planning meeting this past week in the Town of Three Rivers. The monks and nuns say their organizations own slightly more than 500 hectares (1,247 acres) of land in eastern P.E.I. Some residents have long been unhappy about that and speculate that the Buddhists — or interests close to them — actually control much more property. Tensions were evident at Wednesday's planning board meeting, for which the town hired security guards after someone posted on social media that it was "time to get the guns out and sharpen those knives" with regard to land ownership in the municipality. "It was actually quite disheartening," said Sabrina Chiang, a frequent spokesperson for the 600 Buddhist nuns, who are mainly from Taiwan. Tensions between Three Rivers councillors and some residents spill over at planning meeting Three Rivers councillor feels unjustly targeted by some residents, but won't be bullied into leaving She also referenced negative comments on Facebook about the groups, some of which urge the Buddhists to be sent "back overseas" and allege they are tools of the Chinese Communist Party. "It's a really strong allegation. And we are not part of the communist party, we are just students of the Buddha," Chiang said. "We have no political ties with any group." 'Words can make people pick up sticks and stones, and this we really need to avoid,' says Eli Kingston, who was born and raised on P.E.I. and has been a Buddhist monk for 12 years. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC) "It's surprising, I think, to see some of the comments we've been seeing," added nun Joanna Ho. She said they've been "grateful" for P.E.I. to give them a safe, stable place to study, offering freedom of religion and respect for individual human rights. 'Baseless accusations' Eli Kingston, who was born and raised on the Island, has been a Buddhist monk for 12 years. "I'm from P.E.I. so I understand it, I get it," Kingston said. "But anytime there's acts of violence, lashing out, personal attacks, that kind of disheartens me. A document the Buddhist nuns produced to detail their 670 acres of land holdings on Prince Edward Island. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC) "There's fear, and genuine concern is good, but we all know now with social media how information can spread... baseless accusations, misinformation." This isn't just verbal attacks anymore. This is actually escalating into encroaching on someone's privacy, and people aren't feeling maybe as safe. — Eli Kingston, Buddhist monk He said that with online rhetoric heating up recently, more people have stopped at the monks' properties in Little Sands and Heatherdale, where 700 monks live and study. Some take photos from the road, he said, but some are actually driving onto the property and "snooping around." "We've had a monk pulled over on the side of the road and kind of harassed," Kingston said. "This isn't just verbal attacks anymore. This is actually escalating into encroaching on someone's privacy, and people aren't feeling maybe as safe." 'We have no political ties with any group,' says Buddhist nun Sabrina Chiang. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC) Both the nuns and monks say rumours and misinformation abound about what they are doing in the area, and they welcome dialogue with anyone who has concerns. The nuns say they are not worried about their safety, as long as the threatening comments stay in the online realm. "The kind people and the kindness in P.E.I. makes P.E.I. the beautiful place that it is," Chiang said. "Even though there is this negativity going on on social media, I do not feel it represents Prince Edward Island." Buddhist nuns hope open house will dispel misconceptions Land ownership questions draw a big crowd in Kings County 'Gated communities' At the planning meeting Wednesday, Victoria Cross resident Janice MacBeth rose to speak about zoning issues — in particular, concerns about institutional zoning in areas where the Buddhist and nuns are living in communal settings. There has been widespread talk online of this allowing groups to build their own hospitals and police stations in the future. Janice MacBeth from Victoria Cross spoke at the Three Rivers planning board meeting and raised concerns about institutional zoning leading to 'gated communities not open to the general public.' (CBC) "Our provincial government and our municipality is supporting the development of gated communities not open to the general public," MacBeth told planning board members. "The divide between rich newcomers and poor Islanders has never been as wide, as homes and property values continue to rise and undermine our young families' ability to live in Three Rivers in the future." Atlantic Voice How Buddhist nuns are building bridges in wake of monastery controversy How P.E.I. monks are continuing free food box campaign despite rising inflation Ho said the nuns' organization owns 670 acres of land in Vernon Bridge and Brudenell, while about 10 individual nuns and their families have purchased a total of about 270 acres. Kingston said GEBIS owns 577 acres of land in the area, plus an unknown amount purchased by individual monks and their families or followers. Three Buddhist nuns enter their monastery building in Brudenell, P.E.I. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC) "There's accusations that there's one entity controlling all this land. There isn't," Kingston said. He said they are within provincial land limits and "do not feel we have done anything wrong." 'We don't want to create any discord' The organizations say they chose rural P.E.I. because it is quiet and peaceful, a good place to try to keep alive the fading heritage of Tibetan Buddhism. As for the "gated communities" comment, Ho said there is a fence around the nuns' residence — for the women's safety. "I don't know what they are referring to with these closed gates, and they'll never be able to come in," Kingston said. "I look at it as like UPEI." This past July, the nuns held an open house at their new monastery to try to dispel any misconceptions about what they do, and Chiang said about 1,600 people attended. The nuns' plan is to eventually have a multimillion-dollar monastery complex that could accommodate up to 1,400 nuns. As Buddhists, we don't want to create any discord. We definitely wouldn't want our presence to bring any negativity to the community. — Sabrina Chiang, Buddhist nun The nuns and monks say they want to preserve the serenity and beauty of the rural landscape. They are doing some organic farming and plan lots of green space, and say they don't intend to build infrastructure for police or fire as the online critics fear. Both groups say their funds come from donations — from their members' parents, followers and supporters — and not political parties or organizations. "As Buddhists, we don't want to create any discord," Chiang said. "We definitely wouldn't want our presence to bring any negativity to the community." She said she is optimistic the rumours will pass and the nuns' presence will eventually "bring goodness to the people and to the world."

People engage in gaming through a variety of formats , from consoles to mobile devices, driven by factors like convenience, cost, and immersive experiences. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Kayla Zhu, visualizes the share of U.S. consumers that reported gaming on a specific device within the past month, using data from a Circana online survey of 5,100 active U.S. gamers conducted in May through June 2024. The categories of gaming devices are as follows: Mobile: iPhone, Android smartphone, iPad, and other smartphone or tablet devices Computer: Desktop, laptop, Steam Deck, or other portable PC devices Console: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Wii Other: Virtual reality (VR) headsets, plug-and-play devices, child-oriented devices Below, we show the share of U.S. consumers ages two and up that played on a qualifying device within the previous month of Circana’s survey. About 71% of U.S. consumers played some form of video game in the month prior to Circana’s survey, with mobile gaming being the largest platform with 65% of U.S. consumers gaming on a mobile device in 2024. Over half of gamers’ weekly playtime takes place on their phones, according to Circana. The main draw is convenience, as players already have their devices with them, along with the low cost and easy accessibility of mobile games. PC and console gaming are almost evenly tied, with 36% and 35% of respondents gaming on these platforms respectively. When looking these formats’ market shares , console gaming held a slight lead over PC gaming with 57% of the 2023 market share, or $53.1 billion revenue compared to PC’s $40.4 billion. The “Other” gaming category grew by 2% since 2022 due to increased adoption of virtual reality (VR) gaming. VR usage and ownership among U.S. teens is on the rise, with weekly VR use increasing from 10% to 13% and headset ownership growing from 31% to 33% over the past six months, according to a survey by Piper . Gaming preferences are also dependent on generation. Younger generations like Gen Alpha, Gen Z, and Millennials tend to play on PCs or console more often than older generations, according to Newzoo . In terms of gaming genres, older generations like Gen X and Boomers tend to gravitate towards puzzle games , usually played on mobile devices. To learn more about the video game industry, check out this graphic that visualizes console launch prices, adjusted for inflation.Australia’s sharemarket is likely to open lower after a sell-off in the world’s largest technology companies hit US stocks in the final stretch of a stellar year. Futures are pointing to a drop of 0.35 per cent, or 29 points, on Monday morning across the local bourse, to 8228, as traders take stock of a pullback in the US last week. Nasdaq, one of the “Magnificent Seven” companies, bore the brunt of last week’s selling. Credit: Bloomberg In the US, during a session of slim trading volume – which tends to amplify moves – the S&P 500 lost 1.1 per cent and the Nasdaq 100 slipped 1.4 per cent. While every major industry succumbed to Friday’s slide, tech megacaps bore the brunt of the selling. That’s after a torrid surge in which the group of companies dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” accounted for more than half of the US equity benchmark’s gains in 2024. “I think Santa has already come. Have you seen the performance this year?” said Kenny Polcari from financial advising firm SlateStone Wealth. “[This] week is another holiday-shortened week, volumes will be light, moves will be exaggerated. Don’t make any major investing decisions this week.” Steve Sosnick, from Interactive Brokers said while the market was in holiday season, he had fielded more inquiries than expected. “The best I can figure out is that there are large accounts, pension funds and the like, who need to rebalance their holdings before year-end,” he said. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 trimmed last week’s gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.8 per cent on Friday. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” sank 2 per cent, led by losses in Tesla and Nvidia. The Russell 2000 index of small caps dropped 1.6 per cent. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose 4 basis points to 4.62 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index wavered. Funds tied to several of the major themes that have driven markets and fund flows over the past three years stumbled during the week ending Christmas Day, according to data compiled by EPFR. Redemptions from cryptocurrency funds hit a record high while technology sector funds extended their longest outflow streak since the first week of 2023, the firm said. This year’s rally in US equities has driven the expectations for stocks so high that it may turn out to be the biggest hurdle for further gains in the new year. And the bar is even higher for tech stocks, given their massive surge in 2024. A Bloomberg Intelligence analysis recently found that analysts estimate a nearly 30 per cent earnings growth for the sector next year, but tech’s market-cap share of the S&P 500 index implies closer to 40 per cent growth expectations may be embedded in the stocks. “The market’s largest companies and other related technology darlings are still being awarded significant premiums,” said Jason Pride and Michael Reynolds at Glenmede. “Excessive valuations leave room for downside if earnings fail to meet expectations. Market concentration should reward efforts to regularly diversify portfolios.” Bloomberg The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon .

Why GitLab (GTLB) Stock Is Up TodaySaudi Gazette report RIYADH — A high-level meeting of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom on Monday explored their plans to further strengthen economic ties and expand investment opportunities between the two countries. The Saudi – UK Business Roundtable 2024 was held in the presence of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi and high ranking British officials, in addition to business leaders and senior executives from both countries. The meeting discussed bilateral opportunities in several areas, most notably: financial services, clean energy, healthcare, innovation, education, and major projects; which in turn are in line with the goals of Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and enable promising investment sectors. The meeting also highlighted the main sectors targeted for enhancing investments, including sustainable financing such as cross-border financing, and improving access to capital markets. Saudi bond issuers have raised more than SR268.7 billion in London since 2022, half of which is for green, social and sustainable financing. The two sides explored opportunities in the energy sector to advance efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, with key projects in this area including Al Fanar Green Fuels in the UK, which will become the largest sustainable aviation fuel project of its kind in Europe. On the healthcare front, the two sides discussed prospects for further joint studies and investments, as well as the potential role of British companies in Saudi Arabia’s drive to establish 4,000 new primary health clinics. Academic exchange was also a key area ripe for investment, with seven British schools currently in Riyadh, which will increase to 10. There are also 14,000 Saudi students who are pursuing higher studies in Britain. Saudi Arabia and Britain are strengthening their cooperation in technology and innovation through several initiatives, such as the Saudi-British Technology Centre, which was established in 2022. Saudi mega-projects also provide global investors with the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge innovations, including the NEOM project, which opened its first international office in Britain last year. Trade between the two countries reached a record high of SR78.9 billion in 2023, and the planned comprehensive free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries. It is noteworthy that the total Saudi investments in Britain amounted to SR40 billion until 2022, while British foreign direct investments in the Kingdom amounted to SR18 billion until 2023. More than 60 British companies have launched regional headquarters in the Kingdom, and approximately 30,000 British employees are part of the Saudi workforce. < Previous Page Next Page >

SPCA recommending cruelty charges after seizing 59 dogs, 14 birds from B.C. breederA new study compiled a list of countries best for early-age entrepreneurs , and Canada ranks first having the youngest entrepreneurs, fast business setup time of 2 days, and highest ease of doing business index of 98. The survey also indicates that Portugal and South Africa stand out for having incredibly low costs to start a business—$0 and $13, respectively—making them financially accessible for new entrepreneurs. Furthermore, Israel ranks the highest in terms of the ‘Country Startup Friendliness Index’, making it a very favourable location for new businesses. These findings are based on research by Hostinger . The company analysed the best countries for early-age entrepreneurs by examining multiple factors. First, data on the average age of startup founders in each country was collected to identify which nations have younger entrepreneurs. The countries were then ranked from youngest to oldest based on founder age. To further assess startup friendliness, the researchers gathered data on additional factors, including the cost to start a business, the ease of doing business index, the time required to start a business, and the Country Startup Friendliness Index. Finally, the countries were ranked based on their overall startup environment, focusing on those offering the most supportive conditions for young entrepreneurs. This produced the following ranking: Canada tops the list and its strong business environment offers both ease of entry and moderate startup costs, making it an ideal destination for young entrepreneurs. Israel ranks second, offering a highly supportive environment for startups, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors. With an average age of 25 for startup founders, Israel combines youthful energy with strong business networks, fostering a dynamic startup culture. India ranks third with a composite score of 94. It boasts the fastest time required to start a business at just 1.5 days, though the cost to start a business is moderate at $1,036. Germany secures fourth place and has numerous business hubs like Berlin and Munich. Nigeria comes in fifth and Singapore ranks sixth. Portugal ranks seventh, positioning as one of the most financially accessible countries for entrepreneurs. The United Arab Emirates ranks eighth and The Netherlands secures ninth place offering one of the lowest costs to start a business at just $51. South Africa rounds up the ranking list. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Social media’s youthful glow is going up in smoke

US Defense Department Unveils Initiatives To Expedite Adoption Of AI TechnologiesBaltimore is all Mariah Carey wants for Christmas during holiday visit

Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.NoneCLEVELAND, Ohio — A single ticket sold in California matched the winning numbers from the Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, Mega Millions drawing, winning a $1.22 billion jackpot. The ticket was sold at Sunshine Food and Gas in Cottonwood, which is located in northern California, according to the California Lottery . A ticket sold in Ohio matched five numbers and is worth $1 million. The winning numbers are 3-7-37-49-55 Mega Ball 6 Megaplier 3X. The jackpot is $20 million for the drawing on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Ishar Gill, a son of the owner of Sunshine Food and Gas, said the winning ticket was “a blessing” for the small rural town of roughly 6,000 people. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. “We don’t have the slightest clue of who may have won it or who may have sold it,” Gill told The Associated Press. “But congratulations to the winner.” There was no winner in the Saturday, Dec. 28 Powerball drawing, so the jackpot increases to an estimated $163 million for the drawing on Monday, Dec. 30. Saturday’s numbers are 6-31-51-54-55 Powerball 12 Power Play 2x. Saturday’s Classic Lotto numbers are 6-8-11-15-17-23 Kicker 796745. The jackpot is $1.3 million for Monday’s drawing. Sunday’s winning Ohio Lottery numbers are: Pick 3 evening : 982 (midday, 701) Pick 4 evening : 0996 (midday, 9250) Pick 5 evening : 11393 (midday, 56766) Rolling Cash 5 : 4-10-11-20-23 Lucky for Life : 7-18-26-35-38 Lucky Ball 1 Pick 3 winners receive $500 for a $1 straight bet and the odds of winning are 1-in-1,000. Pick 4 winners receive $5,000 for a $1 straight bet and the odds of winning are 1-in-10,000. The Rolling Cash 5 jackpot for the next drawing is $209,000 for hitting all five numbers and the odds of winning are 1-in-575,757. Drawings for Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 are twice daily, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m. The drawing for the Rolling Cash 5 is each night at 7:35 p.m. Classic Lotto draws at 7:05 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $1 ticket are 1-in-13,983,816. Lucky for Life draws at 10:30 p.m. each night. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $2 ticket are 1 in 30,821,472. Powerball draws on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $2 ticket are 1 in 292,201,338. Mega Millions draws on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $2 ticket are 1-in-302,575,350. The official Ohio Lottery site offers more information on instant tickets, raffles & other lottery games.Bills cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram eager for his shot to start if Rasul Douglas can't play vs. Lions