These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and moreEmirati authorities said Monday three suspects from Uzbekistan were in custody over the murder of a rabbi, a rare violent incident involving an Israeli citizen in the UAE, as his body was flown to Israel for burial. The United Arab Emirates signed a peace agreement with Israel in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords. Tzvi Koganâs death was a blow to the tiny Jewish and Israeli communities in the Muslim-majority UAE, which has kept a lower profile since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023. The 28-year-old UAE-based rabbi was found dead by security services last week, following what Israeli officials and an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group he was affiliated with called an anti-Semitic attack. The three suspects were arrested on Sunday, and after âpreliminary investigationsâ the interior ministry identified them in a statement. âThe authorities revealed the identities of the three perpetrators, all of whom are Uzbek nationals,â said the statement published Monday by the official WAM news agency. It named them as Olimboy Tohirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33. The ministry said authorities were taking âthe necessary actions to uncover the details, circumstances and motives of the crimeâ. â âCrime against the UAEâ â Kogan was in the UAE as a representative of the Chabad Hasidic movement, which is known for its outreach efforts worldwide. A spokeswoman for Israelâs airport authority confirmed to AFP that his body had been flown home. Koganâs funeral will take place late Monday on the Mount of Olives in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned âthe murder of an Israeli citizen and a Chabad emissaryâ, calling it âan abhorrent anti-Semitic terrorist attackâ. In Washington, the White House urged accountability for the âhorrific crimeâ. Neither Emirati nor Israeli officials provided any details about the circumstances of Koganâs murder. In 2020, the year Israel normalised relations with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, Kogan joined his older brother Reuven and a team of rabbis in the UAE, according to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Chabad said on its website Kogan had managed a kosher supermarket in Dubai, which an AFP photographer said was closed Monday with its window blinds down. There is no figure for the number of Jews in the UAE, but an Israeli official has told AFP there were about 2,000 Israelis in the Gulf country, with the Jewish community estimated to be up to twice that figure. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash insisted Sunday the country remained âa society of tolerance and coexistenceâ, in a post on social media platform X that made no direct reference to Kogan. â Low profile â Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAEâs ambassador to the United States, said that âKoganâs murder was more than a crime in the UAE â it was a crime against the UAEâ. âWe reject extremism and fanaticism of every kind,â he posted on X. The oil-rich Gulf state, whose population is made up mainly of expatriates, opened its first official synagogue within an interfaith centre in its capital Abu Dhabi last year to cater to the small but active Jewish community that had previously prayed in private. A senior UAE rabbi, Elie Abadie, condemned Koganâs death as a âtragic and terrorist actâ and eulogised him as âan exemplary human beingâ. âThis tragic and terrorist act of murdering an innocent Jew is an affront to the entire Jewish community and the peaceful coexistence in the UAE,â Abadie told AFP. Israel renewed a warning for Israelis to avoid any non-essential travel to the UAE, and advised citizens already there to take extra precautions. Moldovaâs President Maia Sandu said in a statement on X that âwe mourn the tragic lossâ of Kogan and âstrongly condemn this hateful actâ. âOur thoughts are with his family, the Jewish community, and all who grieve,â she said.
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to end their away day blues in the Champions League by beating Sporting Lisbon . The Gunners have struggled away from home in Europeâs elite club competition under Arteta, winning just one of seven games on the road. Arsenal have lost all of their last four away games in the Champions League and failed to find the net in that time, too. A trip to Sporting is next up on Tuesday and Arteta believes it is a good moment for his side to make a statement. âItâs certainly something we have to improve,â he said. âWe have the right steps, and looking back at the way we played against Inter, against a team that has been so dominant in the league, were in the Champions League final and should have won it. âWe played and dominated the game we should have won. But the reality is you have to make it happen, and we didnât. âThose steps are what we have to take next, be ruthless and be much more efficient in the opposition box, and when we get there do what we have to do to take the three points away from here. âNot all of the games have been the same. Itâs true that some of those games were when weâd already qualified. âBut itâs true we have to improve the results and we have to find the ways to understand what has been missing. âSometimes itâs been performance to be fair, and sometimes itâs been different aspects, and thatâs the next step we have to make as a team.â Arsenalâs lack of goals has been a particular worry and the last player to score for them away from home in the Champions League was Eddie Nketiah in December of last year. âThe efficiency we have shown inside the box, at this level, with the number of chances you are normally able to generate in the Champions League, has not been at the level that is required to win consistently,â he said. âI always say the Champions League is about the boxes, small margins and details, and you have to get all those right to win, especially away from home.âNone
ENGLEWOOD â The Broncos moved on from a struggling player and signaled more opportunity for a rookie. Denver waived cornerback Levi Wallace and promoted rookie running back Blake Watson to the active roster, the team announced on Tuesday. The Broncos benched Wallace after poor outing in Week 13 against the Browns that he called âthe worst game I played in the league.â Rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri/fifth round) replaced Wallace with starter snaps opposite of Pat Surtain in the Broncos secondary. Abrams-Draine has recorded two pass deflections and one interception over his past two games. Watson, a high-priority undrafted rookie signing (Memphis), made his first NFL impact Thursday night in a road loss to the Chargers. He ran 10 yards on four carries. Watson also caught one pass for 13 yards. âItâs never an easy decision. Hopefully, weâll see how it goes and weâre able to get (Wallace) back (on the practice squad),â coach Sean Payton said after practice at Broncos Park. âBasically, youâre trying to protect your roster at certain positions. "I would say with the way that Kris Abrams-Draine (has played), some of those guys have been really stepping up. Again, keeping a young player like Blake Watson that others are trying to (sign). This is the time of the year where some of the teams that are maybe out of it or are trying to improve look into the future. âItâs always difficult roster management, though, and thatâs hard.â The Broncos (9-6) travel to face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Saturday with a chance to clinch a postseason berth . Denver Broncos playoff odds drop to 76% after road loss to Chargers Injury report: CB Moss, RB Badie full participants Injured cornerback Riley Moss (knee) was listed as a full practice participant. Running back Tyler Badie returned to practice from injured reserve (back) as a full participant. Moss has not played since Week 12 against the Raiders. He is on track to return with a strong week of practice. Badie last played in Week 4 at the Jets. â(Badieâs) clock began today. Heâs doing really well,â Payton said. âHeâs smart and he knows the system, and thatâs a big plus.â Wide receiver Troy Franklin was listed as a full practice participant while dealing with an ankle injury. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin was limited due to a quad injury after missing the Chargers loss. Former Broncos who scored just one NFL touchdown relish at least being 'in the books' Weather impact Expect weather to potentially influence the Broncos-Bengals game. 9News meteorologist Chris Bianchi reported on social media that the forecast in Cincinnati âlooks pretty soggyâ on Saturday afternoon for the 2:30 pm (MST) kickoff at Paycor Stadium. âHeavy rain possible, though some modeling keeps the heaviest rain post-game Saturday night,â Bianchi posted on X (formerly Twitter). â15-25 mph gusts possible also. Looks like weather will be a factor on Saturday.â The Broncos played in one rain-soaked game previously this season. They defeated the Jets, 10-9, with driving rain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. "We've got to be cautious and play smarter," running back Audric EstimeÌ said. "Coach Payton said he's going to have extra gloves with us on our sideline. We've got to be able to take advantage of that opportunity he's giving us." Payton added: âWet ball drills, all of that stuff, weâve got to be prepared for any kind of weather.â Heads up @Broncos : Saturday game in Cincy looks pretty soggy. Heavy rain possible, though some modeling keeps the heaviest rain post-game Saturday night. 15-25 mph gusts possible also. Looks like weather will be a factor on Saturday. Updates as the week continues. #OHwx pic.twitter.com/k968jmHBSL Broncos/Bengals postseason paths The Bengals (7-8) have a narrow path to reaching the NFL playoffs. Cincinnati must close the season with victories over Denver and Pittsburgh. The Broncos would need to lose in their regular-season finale against Kansas City, too. The Bengals also require the Dolphins and Colts to lose at least one more game. Miami travels to face the Browns and Jets. Indianapolis travels to the Giants and hosts the Jaguars. There is just one scenario where Denver clinches a playoff spot in Week 17: A win or tie against the Bengals. âAll of our focus is on Cincinnati. Even with that tough loss that took, weâve got to stay positive and keep moving forward," outside linebacker Johnathon Cooper said. "Weâve got to realize that everything we want is still ahead of us. We just have to go get it.âBEREA, Ohio â Browns safety Juan Thornhill heard the criticism of his effort against the Saints. âI had no choice but to hear it, if Iâm being honest,â Thornhill said on Monday. âIf you have social media, youâre going to see it. But I definitely heard it.â Thornhill felt the wrath of Browns Twitter â or Browns X, formerly Browns Twitter â on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Saints quarterback Derek Carr to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling with 12:40 left in the second quarter to put the Saints ahead, 14-6, in Week 11. More Cleveland Browns coverage âLet it snow some touchdowns!â Hear the best moments of Jameis Winston micâd up during Brownsâ win over Steelers Browns safety Juan Thornhill responds to criticism; the latest on George Pickens-Greg Newsome fight: Berea Report (Video) Whatâs next for the Browns after beating the Steelers? Mondayâs Sports 4 CLE Week 12 NFL Preview: Find everything you need to know with our Week 12 NFL preview. Valdes-Scantling caught the ball at the Saints 37 and sprinted down the right sideline . When he caught the ball, Thornhill was at the Saints 43 on the opposite numbers and started chasing the play. Except it didnât look like he was chasing the play as hard as he could have, especially as Valdes-Scantling maneuvered his way around Browns defenders to sneak into the end zone. MVS! MVS! 71 yards đ„ đș: #CLEvsNO on FOX đ±: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gSFM2nlcCg âI know that one play, it wasnât me, thatâs just not me as a player,â Thornhill said. âI never give up on plays.â Thornhill said playing with Valdes-Scantling in Kansas City made him believe he wouldnât be able to catch the speedy wideout. âI knew his speed, if Iâm being honest,â Thornhill said. âHe caught it, broke away, I was like, thereâs no way Iâm catching this guy. But then he got to the point where he started weaving and I probably could have caught him maybe at the 1- or 2-yard line if I wouldâve went all out. But that wonât happen again.â His mistake was amplified, not just because of social media but because the eye in the sky doesnât lie. Browns coaches noticed and talked to him about it, too. âWe talked about it and they were saying I need to give more effort on that play and I know it, they know it, everybody knows that I need to give more effort, so itâs nothing I can hide from,â he said. âItâs obvious I didnât try as hard as I possibly could.â Stories by Dan Labbe Browns safety Juan Thornhill responds to criticism; the latest on George Pickens-Greg Newsome fight: Berea Report (Video) Why Browns right tackle Jack Conklin deserves to be singled out, even if it costs him some money Is Jameis Winston a real quarterback option for the Browns next year? Postgame podcast He responded against the Steelers, living up to an Instagram story he posted earlier in the week, writing âMe Thursdayâ over a clip from the movie âForrest Gumpâ of Tom Hanksâ character running as fast as he can. Thornhill had seven tackles, his most since the opener against Dallas and, according to data from Pro Football Focus , allowed one catch in coverage for six yards. âI thought all the safeties played well, tackled well, but Juan in particular I thought was good,â head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday. âI felt like I was a part of a lot of plays, a lot of run plays,â Thornhill said. âNot a whole lot of passing action, but definitely a part of a lot of the run plays.â Thornhillâs role is evolving in the second half of the season. Last year, Thornhill rarely left the field when he was healthy, playing every defensive snap in five games and more than 96% of the defensive snaps in three others. He missed five games while dealing with calf injuries and a sixth when he sat out the finale in Cincinnati. This year, after playing 95% of the defensive snaps against the Cowboys Week 1, he went on injured reserve with a calf injury. He returned and played about half the defensive snaps in Week seven against Cincinnati and then more than three-quarters of the teamâs defensive snaps against Baltimore and the Chargers. Coming out of the bye, however, he started splitting time with second-year safety Ronnie Hickman, an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State who started four games as a rookie. Hickman played 28 snaps to Thornhillâs 23 in New Orleans and the two again split time against Pittsburgh, with Thornhill playing 33 snaps and Hickman 22. âRonnie earned the opportunity to be on the field,â Thornhill said. âHeâs a really good player. He makes a lot of plays, so when they came down to me and told me that they wanted to see Ronnie play a little bit more, I mean, I understand. The guy, heâs made plays, so why would you have him sitting on the sideline when you know he can get on the field and make plays?â The Browns signed Thornhill to a 3-year, $21 million deal in 2023, bringing him in from Kansas City to replace John Johnson III, banking on the two-time Super Bowl champion to add experience and play-making on the backend of Jim Schwartzâs scheme. He has become an easy target during the Brownsâ struggles this season as he has been unable to replicate the production he had with the Chiefs, where he had eight interceptions and 20 passes defensed in 65 games. In two years with the Browns, he has just two passes defensed and no interceptions. âAs a (defensive back), everybody wants to get an interception,â Thornhill said. âAll of us want it, but you canât start doing extra things, like going chasing plays. When you chase plays, thatâs when bad things happen. Itâs a little frustrating. I canât even lie to you. I feel like any DB would be frustrated, but I think those opportunities will start coming soon.â As far as fingers pointing at him outside the building whenever thereâs a blown coverage or a big play, heâs not fazed by it. âIf youâre watching it on TV and you see me chasing the ball down and no one next to the ball carrier, you automatically assume itâs on me,â he said. âBut I mean, thatâs part of the game. Iâm a free safety. Iâm the last line of defense, so if something bad goes wrong, Iâm there to make it up. If I donât make the tackle, itâs similar to the quarterback. A lot of people are going to point fingers at you, but itâs fine. Iâm able to take the heat and Iâm cool with that.â It doesnât lessen the sting, however, from having his effort called out inside the building. âIt definitely hurt,â he said. âWhen youâre a competitor, a guy that takes pride in his effort, playing hard at all times. and then someone calls you out on the play, meaning you didnât give enough effort, it hurts. It stings, for sure.â Which is why he repeated three separate times in his media scrum some form of, âit just wonât happen again.â Thursday night against the Steelers was a good start. Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.Kurdish-led forces push back Turkish-backed Syrian rebels in tense offensive
Students surprised with Christmas cheer; Salvation Army receives donations