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NoneThe global political landscape is currently dominated by four key events: The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, The Israel-Hamas conflict, end of the Assad regime in Syria and the implications of Donald Trump’s potential victory in the 2024 US Presidential elections. These interconnected crises are reshaping international relations, with each issue having profound implications for global peace, security, and political alliances. The recent toppling of the Assad regime also has its own significance because after all it was a five-decade-old regime which was backed by Russia and Iran. However, suddenly we saw that both the states stepped back from there and in a week rebels captured Damascus and announced their authority over the entire country. West and Israel are calling it a positive effort by the rebels toward peace and stability. Iran has also given a statement in which authorities have stated that they respect the will of Syria and its people and are looking forward to working collectively in the future. Donald Trump also gave a statement in an X post that the USA must stay out of the entire scenario which is taking place in Syria as he emphasized on letting both parties decide their future while the USA remains neutral. Escalation and Diplomacy Challenges: Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has evolved into a protracted war with significant consequences. While the battlefield has witnessed fluctuating territorial changes, with Ukraine making significant gains in the north and south, Russia continues to hold a strong position in eastern and southern Ukraine. The West, led by the USA and the European Union, has maintained strong support for Ukraine, providing military aid, economic sanctions on Russia, and political backing. The possibility of a negotiated peace remains uncertain, as both sides have entrenched positions, and Russia’s demands including Ukraine’s neutral status and demilitarization are seen as non-negotiable by Kyiv. The international community remains divided, with countries like China and India calling for peaceful resolution while maintaining economic ties with Russia, further complicating global diplomatic efforts. A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis: The Israel-Hamas war has escalated dramatically since October 2023, following a brutal Hamas-led attack on Israel that led to widespread casualties. The violence has drawn in numerous countries, and the humanitarian toll is catastrophic. While Israel maintains that it has the right to defend itself, international calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance have been mounting. The USA has stood by Israel, pledging continued military aid and political support, but the Biden Administration has also been pressured to take a more balanced approach due to the growing public outcry over the humanitarian disaster. The conflict has exacerbated divisions in the Arab world, with some nations supporting Palestine and others maintaining ties with Israel. As the 2024 US Presidential election resulted in the victory of Donald Trump, who secured the presidency once again, the international scenario is more likely to be shifted dramatically, especially concerning the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East. Trump’s “America First” policy, which centered on reducing US involvement in global conflicts and focusing on domestic interests, would likely lead to a reevaluation of US support for Ukraine. During his previous presidency, Trump questioned the extent of US aid to NATO allies and was often critical of foreign entanglements. A return to office could signal a reduction in military support for Ukraine, potentially weakening its position in the face of Russian aggression. This shift would have significant consequences for NATO, as European countries might need to take on more responsibility in supporting Ukraine, potentially leading to more regional tensions. On the Middle East front, Trump’s presidency was marked by strong support for Israel, especially with the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. A second Trump term would likely intensify US-Israel relations, while potentially undermining efforts to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump’s foreign policy could also take a more isolationist turn, with more focus on diplomacy and less on military intervention in regions deemed critical to US interests. The international situation in late 2024 presents a volatile combination of conflicts and shifting alliances. The Russia-Ukraine war continues to dominate Europe’s security concerns, with little indication of a peaceful resolution in the near future. In the Middle East, the Israel-Hamas conflict shows no sign of de-escalating, with the humanitarian crisis threatening to destabilize the region further. Also, the recent sudden toppling of the Assad family has opened up a new platform as it is early to say where all of this will take turn either stability or another chaos. Meanwhile, the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency may lead to significant changes in US foreign policy, particularly with regard to its support for Ukraine, Israel and involvement of the USA in the Middle East. These events are interconnected by the complex interplay of power, diplomacy, and humanitarian concerns. The world stands at a precarious crossroads, and the actions taken by global powers in the coming months will determine whether a more stable international order is achievable or if tensions will continue to escalate. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
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RAWALPINDI: Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Tuesday reiterated the resolve to further enhance the existing bilateral ties between Pakistani and Azerbaijan armed forces and particularly cooperation with Pakistan Air Force in operational and training domains. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu was talking with a high level defence delegation of Azerbaijan who called on him at Air Headquarters, Islamabad. The delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan-Director General Mr Agil Gurbanov, along with Lt-Gen Namig Islamzade, Deputy Minister of Defence-Commander of the Azerbaijan Air Force. During the meeting, the Chief of the Air Staff shared the recent achievements of Pakistan Air Force, symbolizing his vision of operational excellence in the realm of contemporary warfare domains. He also highlighted the importance of training cooperation; wherein, a large contingent of Azeri air and ground crew is currently undergoing training at an operational PAF base. He noted that the training program is on schedule, with over 50% of the training objectives successfully achieved. He further emphasized that the initiative is expected to culminate within one-month timeframe, reflecting the commitment of PAF to enhance the operational capabilities of Azerbaijan Air Force. The visiting dignitaries lauded the historic & exemplary professionalism demonstrated by the personnel of Pakistan Air Force and praised PAF’s notable progress in developing a thriving domestic capability in the aviation industry in a short timeframe. The dignitaries expressed satisfaction on the training imparted to 70 aircrew & technicians getting trained in PAF and expressed their desire for enhanced Air Force to Air Force collaboration between the two sides. Emphasizing on the need for adapting to the evolving landscape of modern warfare, the Azerbaijan military leadership also proposed the establishment of a more comprehensive training regimen focusing on niche and disruptive technologies, as well as cyber and electronic warfare capabilities. Later the delegation visited PAF Cyber Command, established at Air Headquarters, where it was briefed about the operational capabilities and ongoing projects of PAF’s modernization drive. The visit of this high level defence delegation from Azerbaijan to Air Headquarters Islamabad signifies a resolute commitment of both countries to reinforce their military partnership, fostering collaboration and promoting robust relations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
How to start investing in cryptocurrency: A guide for beginnersNone
Sophie Hediger, a member of Switzerland's snowboard cross team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort, the country's skiing federation said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday at the Arosa resort in Switzerland. Hediger, 26, competed at the Beijing Games in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event. Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season. Her best result was a second place in St. Moritz in January. “We are shocked and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences,” said Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser in a statement. “(She lost her life) tragically, brutally and far too soon.” AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsIn rare move, House of Commons Speaker pauses lengthy Parliament standoff
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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting him to hold an all-party meeting regarding the proliferation of illegal banners and posters, especially political ones, in Mumbai. “This peurile race for posters must be set aside and political parties must take a decision not to have illegal posters, banners and hoardings. As a result, cities will be cleaner and political workers will save some expenses,” Thackeray stated in the letter. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will firmly back any action on the issue and can work with the BJP despite being opponents, the Worli MLA said. When political parties make a resolve to serve people in the new year, they must set aside differences and provide relief to citizens by removing political posters, banners and hoardings. “In the last two years, there has been a lot of political confusion and every city has thousands of political posters erected legally and illegally,” Thackeray stated in the letter. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been selectively removing posters of opposition parties while posters of ruling parties can be seen all around, he alleged. The BMC had removed over 7,000 illegal hoardings and posters when the code of conduct was enforced before the assembly polls. Another 2,000 illegal hoardings and posters were removed after the Mahayuti government was sworn in and posters congratulating winners from the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP appeared across the city. Uddhav to meet office-bearers In anticipation of local body polls, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is holding area-wise meetings of office bearers in Mumbai and preparing for party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s meetings with respective vibhag pramukhs, up-vibhag pramukhs and shakha pramukhs in January 2025. Shiv Sena (UBT) has been controlling BMC for over 25 years, barring the past two years after the expiry of terms of previous corporators. Elections to the BMC are likely to be held in 2025 when all litigations are disposed.None
( MENAFN - Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – The Palestinian Minister of Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, told ANBA on Monday (2) that Brazil plays an influential role on the global stage and that this influence can be leveraged to garner more support for the Arab country's causes. Al-Habbash, along with the Palestinian ambassador and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben; Al-Habbash's advisor, Hamza Daana; Judge Maher Khudeir; and the embassy's minister-counselor, Ahmed Al Assad, visited the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC ) on Monday morning. They were welcomed by the institution's president, Osmar Chohfi, and secretary-general and vice president of international relations, Mohamad Mourad. Al-Habbash reiterated that Palestine seeks to join the BRICS group of developing countries, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. “Palestine has good relations with all the countries in the group. China, South Africa, and Russia are historically friendly nations to the Palestinian people. We have requested membership in the group and submitted a request to join the NDB (New Development Bank, the BRICS bank),” he said, noting that while BRICS is an economic cooperation bloc, economics and politics cannot be separated. The minister also said that Palestine seeks a“just peace” in the Middle East and advocated for the existence of two states: Israel and Palestine. He added that the president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to visit Brazil in the second half of 2025, noting that Abbas and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva share a good personal relationship. During his visit to Brazil to attend the 37th Annual Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Muslims, held from November 29 to last Sunday (1), Al-Habbash was scheduled to meet with São Paulo authorities on Monday as well. In the afternoon, he was set to meet with the State Secretary of Government and Institutional Relations of São Paulo Gilberto Kassab, along with State Representative Maurici Morais, who chairs the International Relations Committee at the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly. Read more: Brazil joins humanitarian conference on Gaza Translated by Guilherme Miranda The post Palestinian minister: Country seeks to join BRICS appeared first on ANBA News Agency . MENAFN02122024000213011057ID1108948999 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.World News | UAE Condemns Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli Minister of National Security
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Squid Game Season 3: Release timeline for the final chapter, what to expect & moreIsrael’s siege of Northern Gaza and its violation of the recently-signed ceasefire deal in Lebanon were the people’s focus at Australia-wide rallies for Palestine in the 60th consecutive week of protests, including the United Nation’s declared International Day of Solidarity with Palestine on November 29. As the outgoing lame-duck United States President Joe Biden repeats that Israel has a “right to defend itself” and the White House is “working on a ceasefire deal”, former Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya’alon said . Pressed to retract by Israel’s Channel 12, Ya’alon refused. he said, adding, “It’s hard for me to say that”. He blamed “politicians” who, he says, are instructing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to “carry out what are defined as war crimes”. He said they include “evacuate[ing] the population for [ostensible] operational activities” but which are really aimed at reviving Jewish settlement in the strip. reported Ya’alon’s interview in which he also said the arrest warrant put out against Benjamin Netanyahu was justified. He said the International Criminal Court has a list of other officials from defense and politics who will be investigated for war crimes. If it was up to him, Ya’alon said, far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir would have been arrested “some time ago”. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates the death toll at more than 44,000, including 13,000 children. But in July that it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza — around 8% of the total population. Israel targeted and killed three more World Central Kitchen aid workers in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on November 29. Consequently, aid deliveries there have been stopped and in the rest of the Strip have “ ”. In October an average of just 37 trucks per day entered Gaza, and in the first week of November that had only lifted to an average of 69 a day, well below the average of the already insufficient 500 a day entering Gaza before October 7, 2023, reported the . Protesters in marked International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with a lively march of more than 800 people, reports Alex Bainbridge. The chant "While you are shopping, bombs are dropping" was given visceral meaning when the protesters held a sit-down and heard speeches in the Queen Street mall. The local Healthcare Workers for Palestine group began by putting faces and names to those being killed in Gaza in a series of presentations. Greens candidate Remah Naji and Socialist Alliance Senate candidate Jonathan Strauss, who both say stopping Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza is a critical election issue, spoke to protesters. Jim McIlroy reports that the 60th weekly rally in at Hyde Park on December 1, organised by the Palestine Action Group, focussed on the theme: “Stop the genocide, stop the war and lock up Netanyahu!” A sudden heavy storm did not deter protesters from continuing their march through the CBD. A few days earlier, about 70 people rallied near the Prime Minister’s residence in Kirribilli, marking the partition of Palestine in 1947, Rachel Evans reports. The protest was led by anti-genocide organising group “The People” and was chaired by Wollongong Friends of Palestine activist Labiba Abdellatif. Speakers included Nour Salman, Naarm/Melbourne-based Palestine activist and expert on South-West Asia and North Africa affairs; Ihab Abu Ibrahim, Naarm-based Palestinian activist; Markela Panegyres, University of Sydney academic and National Tertiary Education Union for Palestine activist; Elizabeth Jarrett, Gumabynggirr, Bundjalung, Dunghutti woman, who recently established the Sydney Basin Tent Embassy at Victoria Park. Activists in organised a vigil to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29, reports Jordan Ellis. Healthcare workers organised a rally to highlight that more than 1000 doctors and nurses have been killed by Israel in one year. Israeli forces have arrested, tortured and executed more than 300 healthcare workers in prisons. Highly regarded Gazan surgeon Dr Adnan al Bursh was tortured to death while held in Israeli military custody in October. Dr John Guy, from HealthWorkers for Palestine Adelaide, said: “We must come together as health workers. Israel’s attacks on hospitals and health care workers are uniquely iniquitous, and a war crime. We have a responsibility to call it out.” The protest was part of a by healthcare workers from November 29 to December 1, with rallies in seven cities. A few days before, pro-Palestine activists occupied the office of weapons manufacturer BAE Systems in Kaurna Yerta to protest the company’s complicity in Israel’s genocide. BAE Systems manufacturers military weapons and equipment, including parts for F-35 fighter jets, military drones and M109 Howitzer long range artillery. These weapons have been used to kill thousands of Palestinians, including 17,000 children. Protesters called on BAE Systems and other weapons manufacturers to stop supplying arms and parts to Israel, and called on the Australian government to cancel all agreements with weapons manufacturers. “These companies have shown that their priority is corporate profits at all costs, even if that cost is ethnic cleansing ... Stop arming Israel,” organiser said. A vigil for scholasticide in Gaza was held outside the South Australian Department of Education on December 2. Scholasticide refers to the intended mass destruction of education. "In the last year, Israel has killed thousands of students and teachers, more than 600,000 students have been deprived of schooling, at least 90% of schools have been damaged or destroyed and all universities and higher education institutions have been destroyed." Thousands marched in on December 1, reports Jordan AK on the 60th week of continuous protest. Margaret Beavis, Vice-President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War and co-chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, expressed dismay over the relentless attacks on health infrastructure and workers in Palestine. Beavis praised Palestinian healthcare workers for their dedication, professionalism and courage and expressed horror for the hundreds of Palestinian healthcare workers who have been disappeared, or imprisoned in abject conditions of "overcrowding, neglect, malnutrition, violence, torture, humiliation and abuse". She said this should be a wake up call to health practitioners across the globe. Rally Chair Mai Saif thanked rally-goers for their enduring dedication and commitment in taking to the streets in protest: “The media creates it own propaganda, we know our government is complicit in genocide ... but it is our actions every week that is making a change.” She pointed to the Victorian government’s announcement that it was cutting ties with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems. “This would never have happened [without the rallies].” December 1 also coincides with the annual flag-raising ceremony of the West Papuan Morning Star flag. West Papuan activist Cyndi Makabory spoke about its significance in the context of Indonesian colonialism. “Every year on December 1, the Morning Star rises again. No matter the repression, no matter the threat, this symbol of defiance cannot be repressed,” he explained. “Like Palestinians, for Papuans, the Morning Star is more than a flag; it is our people; it is our pulse; it is our breath; our unbreakable will to be free; and in the hearts of those who raise it is the same unshakable cry for justice from the forest of West Papua to the river and sea of Palestine, and to the coast of so-called Australia and beyond." Other speakers included Uncle Robbie Thorpe, medical scientist Ola Aladassi from the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, medical worker and unionist Eleana Ni Mhurchu and Aviva Tuffield, who helped organise . Protesters were urged to turn out in numbers for the December 8 rally.
The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing . But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball’s Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year’s spurt of 24.2%. The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the 1.5 percentage points that many traders were forecasting for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It’s been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump’s election. He’s turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he’s named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing someone who critics said was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Gold’s rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It’s also benefited from the Fed’s cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. It’s a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it’s also a threshold that Tesla’s stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk’s close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. That’s how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia’s chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia’s worth to more than $3 trillion in total. GameStop’s gain on May 13 after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ meme stock craze ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he sold all of his holdings by late October . That’s how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody’s. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. That’s the total number of previously occupied homes sold nationally through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024’s home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers.Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”