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DALLAS — Juan Soto was half of MLB’s top 1-2 offensive punch last season with the Yankees. Aaron Judge won the American League MVP award after hitting 58 homers and posting a ridiculous 1.159 OPS. Soto was third in the voting following a season in which he hit a career-high 41 homers and produced a .989 OPS. Soto reached an agreement with the Mets on Sunday — the deal is still pending a physical — on a record contract worth $765 million over 15 years. It left the Mets with not only a superstar player who, at 26 years old, is still in the middle of his prime, but with a chance to form their own dynamic duo. The other component is Francisco Lindor , who finished second to Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP vote after a season in which he posted an .844 OPS and stole 29 bases (just missing a second straight year in the 30-30 club). Here’s a look at Soto/Lindor’s competition for top current MLB tandems, and within the context of Mets history. Current tandems The Dodgers are so loaded that you could easily substitute Freddie Freeman for Betts and still have the top 1-2 combo in MLB . Ohtani, in his first season with the Dodgers, won a second straight MVP award by becoming the first 50-50 player (homers and stolen bases) in MLB history. Betts finished with an .863 OPS and 16 stolen bases in an injury-shortened season in which he played only 116 games. If you substitute Freeman for Betts, you get the World Series MVP, who posted an .854 OPS during the regular season. The Phillies tandem has been terrorizing opponents for the last three seasons. Harper has averaged an .890 OPS during the stretch with his low homers total (he’s averaged 23) a product of missed games due to injuries. But Harper played 145 games last season and hit 30 homers. Schwarber has averaged 44 homers since arriving to the Phillies while maintaining an OPS that hasn’t fallen below .817 in any season. Acuña won the MVP in 2023, but never got a chance to follow it up last season, after a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his season in May. There’s no reason to believe the 27-year-old Acuña won’t return strong for the Braves and resume as a threat (he won the MVP a season after tearing the ACL in his other knee). Ozuna finished fourth in the MVP voting last season after producing a .925 OPS with 39 homers. The 34-year-old Ozuna has two straight seasons with an OPS above .900. In Mets history The best lineup in Mets history was the group assembled from 2006-08 that included Beltran, Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado. But Beltran (a likely Hall of Famer based on his vote trajectory) and Wright (whose career was on a Hall of Fame course before injuries curtailed it) were the ringleaders of the group . Beltran averaged 36 homers in his first four seasons with the club and peaked with a .982 OPS in 2006. Wright had three straight top-10 finishes in the MVP voting following Beltran’s arrival. Wright also had four straight seasons with an OPS above .900. The Mets traded for Piazza during the 1998 season, reshaping a lineup in need of a power surge. Piazza didn’t disappoint, averaging 37 homers in his first four full seasons with the club. Piazza had five straight seasons with an OPS above .900 to begin his Mets career. Alfonzo was a steady threat for the Mets throughout his eight seasons with the team, but peaked during the team’s consecutive playoff appearances in 1999 and 2000, when he averaged 26 homers and an OPS above .900. Lindor, after a subpar first season in Queens (at least by his standards) has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting the last three years. He’s averaged 30 homers over this stretch. Alonso had seasons in which he hit at least 40 homers in 2022-23. Last season he dipped to 34 — his lowest total in a full season since arriving to the major leagues — and finished with an OPS below .800 for the first time in his career. It’s a dynamic tandem that was short-lived, as Carter’s offense dropped precipitously following strong 1985-86 seasons (his first two years with the club) in which he averaged 28 homers and finished sixth and third, respectively, in the MVP voting. Strawberry, the franchise’s all-time home run leader with 252, posted a .947 OPS (the second-highest in his career) in his first season following Carter’s arrival. Strawberry averaged 28 homers in the two seasons Carter was at his peak with the Mets.
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Shares of Nvidia fell Monday after China said it is investigating the high-flying U.S. microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. In a brief news release with few details, Chinese regulators appear to be focusing on Nvidia's $6.9 billion acquisition of network and data transmission company Mellanox in 2019. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Daily Post Nigeria NNL: Sarduana disappointed with Saraki FC defeat to Kun Khalifat Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Sport NNL: Sarduana disappointed with Saraki FC defeat to Kun Khalifat Published on December 7, 2024 By Taiwo Adesanya Head coach of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, Ahmed Sardauna, has expressed disappointment with the outcome of their Nigeria National League, NNL, matchday one clash with Kun Khalifa. The Ilorin-based club fell 1-0 to Kun Khalifat FC at the Awka City Stadium on Saturday. Sarduana said that his team was unlucky to lose the game. “We were the better side, we were just not lucky enough to get a decent result,” Sardauna stated in a post-match interview. “We will come back home and correct those lapses and wait for our visitors (Abakiliki FC) next week.” Related Topics: Kun Khalifat NNL Saraki FC Sarduana Don't Miss EPL: ‘We started badly’ – Amorim on Man Utd’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest You may like NNL: Babangida remains modest despite Kada Warriors winning start NNL: ABS coach, Sarduana targets positive start to new season Six NNL week-one matches to be transmitted live NNL: Kada Warriors ready for maiden campaign NNL: Edel FC appoint Ndah new head coach NNL reschedules Basira FC, Yobe Desert matchday one clash Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdWith Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight's campmates are facing another double eviction tonight as two more contestants are given their marching orders ahead of Sunday's final. Oti Mabuse is immune from eviction as she won the challenge to go straight through to the Celebrity Cyclone trial, meaning the choice to be sent home is between Alan Halsall, Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones, GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles. Last night, became the fifth and sixth campmates to leave the 2024 ITV1 series in a double eviction. Before we see who has had their last night in camp, there's a disgusting trial to get through as Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles take on drinking game Dreaded Dregs. A preview shows Rooney gagging at the smell as the pair are presented with a large glass of grey liquid and two straws, as Ant and Dec tell them: "This is a fishbowl - well, it's more of a sick bowl, actually." The grey drink is blended giant mealworms, crocodile anus and vomit fruit which Rooney says smells of "every dirty thing going", but will the pair manage to hold down their drinks for long enough to win meals for their campmates? For all the live updates from Friday's show, keep an eye on our live blog running from 9pm. GK Barry, Reverend Richard Coles and Danny Jones have had a surprise visit from their loved ones, prompting a few tears in camp. McFly's Danny Jones even got to see his little boy and couldn't have looked more delighted. He said: "This place makes you realise how much you love people and it puts things into perspective." He added he was looking forward to spending some "cool times" with his son after his exit. Here are some more scenes from that disgusting Dreaded Dregs trial... It was all chug and no chunder as Richard and Coleen win 6 Stars and a bonus 7th Star for a tasty tipple in Camp! 🍻 — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) It's always one of the most emotional moments of the series, as the friends and family of the campmates make a surprise visit to camp. Harry Redknapp's visit from wife Sandra in 2018 was the iconic moment of the visits, but can anyone top that this year? Prepare for tears at the emotional reunions, coming after the break. Reverend Richard Coles is first to have to down drinks in the beer pong round, choking down blended sheep's penis followed by pig's brain. Now they're steaming into the last round for the fishbowl, which we've seen a sneak peek of - the grey mixture is blended giant mealworms, crocodile anus and vomit fruit. Coleen Rooney has finally met her match as she has to step away while gagging, leaving the Reverend to finish it. She rubs his back and tells him: "I feel like I'm standing in the toilet of a nightclub with my friend." Somehow, Richard Coles has managed it as Ant says: "The man's a machine!" They've won a slap-up meal and drinks for the camp tonight, although whether they can face any more drinks is another matter. Coleen Rooney managed the pig's testicle drink with zero fuss, and now she and Reverend Richard Coles are knocking back blended cockroaches while flipping cups in a drinking race. It started off with Coleen Rooney well ahead of the game, but Richard Coles just beat her at the last minute, complaining the drink "smelled of arse death". Unfortunately, she now has to face the next round as the loser, which involves six shots including cow's anus and nipples. As Dec points out, she's "still ladylike" and is "even helping tidy up". As Ant says, no one's been sick yet... If you're enjoying a Friday night tipple, this next Bushtucker Trial might just put you off your drink. Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles are taking on drinking game Dreaded Dregs, and as regular viewers know, it's unlikely to be a refreshing glass of chardonnay. Up first is Coleen Rooney, who'll have to down Boars Light...a blended pig's testicle. Will she be able to stomach it? We'll find out after the break. Ant and Dec have enjoyed harking back to their Byker Grove days with "he cannit see man" jokes about Barry McGuigan this series. But now the boxer has left, the joke is over...apart from one last laugh as Dec tells Ant: "Turns out he can see, he had eye surgery!" Who'll be the butt of the lads' jokes for the final two days? Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins are eking out a last little bit of screen time as we get to see what their final day in camp looked like ahead of last night's eviction. Maura Higgins says "I don't want to go!" and Barry McGuigan adds "I'd rather stay to the end now because I've made it this far", while GK Barry and Danny Jones both feel it would be nice to see their families now. Of course, we all know now the way the vote went...goodbye, Barry and Maura 💔 Friday's episode has kicked off with Ant and Dec reminding us that the vote is still open - so you've still got a little while longer to save your favourite. Remember, two celebs will leave the jungle again tonight - but it won't be Oti Mabuse who is immune from eviction until Celebrity Cyclone. The final might be on the horizon, but there are still some daunting trials to take on for the remaining campmates. In tonight's episode, it's the turn of Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles, who'll be playing drinking game Dreaded Dregs. As you can see from this preview, it's not your average Friday night down the pub...will they manage to hold down their drinks for long enough to win stars? ‘It smells like every dirty thing going.’ 🤢 Can Coleen and Richard stomach the stench in this vile drinking Trial? returns at 9pm! — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) The are-they-aren't-they romance has grabbed reality TV headlines over recent weeks as Maura Higgins took part in I'm A Celebrity while her rumoured date Pete Wicks strutted his stuff on the Strictly dance floor. Both stars had refused to confirm or deny a romance, but Maura Higgins after talking to GK Barry about their kiss and then forgetting the cameras as she admitted to missing him. Speaking to This Morning after her jungle exit, the former Love Islander said: "You do forget about the cameras and I do like to keep things private but let's be real, I've said the words I miss him. I do miss him, like I missed all my friends and family, but honestly he's been so supportive." Host Alison Hammond cheekily asked whether she could be a bridesmaid for Higgins and Wicks, and she laughed: "You can be a bridesmaid Alison, ok, for gods sake." She added: "I didn't know of he was still in Strictly, I'm so proud of him, he's proud of me and I can't wait to see him when I get back." Barry McGuigan when he shared his grief over daughter Danika's death from bowel cancer, crying in an emotional chat with campmates. He gave a moving interview to Good Morning Britain on Friday after his exit, where he broke down in tears again talking about , just five weeks after being diagnosed with cancer in 2019. He said: "It's the most devastating thing that's ever happened to me. Losing my daughter five years ago was dreadful. I'll never recover from it, me and my wife, but I'm getting better as time goes on. I used to not be able to talk about it at all. I know it's important that I do chat about it and I know she's there somewhere." The boxer continued: "It's just, her life was so sad and it all happened at the most important time in her life when things were looking great, and she got cancer and she died. Sandy and I, my wife, have never really recovered from it, I don't think we ever will. But time teaches us how to deal with it and Danny (Jones) has had similar issues in his life." He cried as he added: "I find I choke up every time I talk about her and people say, oh, get over it, but when you love somebody as much as I loved her it's almost impossible. So I try my best and I know in time it'll get better, but her passing and how terribly sad it was and how terribly painful it was, it's just hard to cope with." It's the second day in a row that the camp will face a double eviction after on Thursday. Boxer Barry McGuigan became the fifth campmate to be voted out, swiftly followed by late addition Maura Higgins. Barry McGuigan admitted he was "gutted" to be missing out on Celebrity Cyclone, while Maura Higgins said she had a "gut feeling" she was going home on Thursday. Who will follow them out in tonight's double eviction as we inch closer to the final? It won't be Oti Mabuse, as she's still immune from the vote. The final is days away on Sunday. But TV bosses still have some more surprises in store before the ITV jungle series comes to an end. Usually there are three campmates in the I'm a Celebrity final. It's a stark difference to exactly three weeks ago when 10 of the 12 stars headed into camp for the first time. In the past two years, controversial political figures Nigel Farage and Matt Hancock made the final, coming in third place, but this year to film the show. The remaining three all take on a trial which sees them win stars for the final meal. One person will win stars for their starters, the second person will get them for their main and finally the last person has the chance to get their desserts.Albany (NY) 93, Tarzans 50
Nvidia's stock dips after China opens probe of the AI chip company for violating anti-monopoly lawsShares of Nvidia fell Monday after China said it is investigating the high-flying U.S. microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. In a brief news release with few details, Chinese regulators appear to be focusing on Nvidia's $6.9 billion acquisition of network and data transmission company Mellanox in 2019. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
It has taken new Michigan coach Dusty May just nine games to guide the Wolverines into the Top 25. May and the Wolverines enter the poll at No. 14 and strive to continue their strong start when they face Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night in New York. Michigan (8-1) has reeled off seven straight wins to crack the rankings for the first time in nearly 25 months. "All this stuff doesn't matter to me," May said of the rankings. "It does change the complexion of what we think about and things like that. Overall, I like where we are. We have guys who work well together and they put in the time." The Wolverines look to remain hot against the Razorbacks (7-2). John Calipari's first Arkansas squad has won its past two games. Calipari spent the previous 15 seasons as coach of Kentucky and claims he's excited to be in Arkansas. "I'm not bitter about anything. I'm not," Calipari said. "This is the first page of the first chapter of a new book. The timing for me and my career and my life, this is perfect. And I appreciate the fans and everybody giving me the opportunity to do that." The Razorbacks will be searching for their initial milestone victory under Calipari during their first visit to Madison Square Garden since 1997. Their losses this season are to then-No. 8 Baylor and Illinois on neutral courts. Calipari grabbed several players out of the transfer portal in the offseason, including guard Johnell Davis, one of the stars of the Florida Atlantic team that reached the 2023 Final Four. That squad was coached by May. One of the other Florida Atlantic starters was center Vladislav Goldin, who followed May to Michigan after the coach was hired in the offseason. Goldin has strung together three straight solid games, including a season-best 24 points in a 67-64 road win over then-No. 11 Wisconsin on Dec. 3. He followed that up with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in Saturday's 85-83 home win over Iowa. "He's just been a guy that you can see when he's really locked in and focused there's a different level of play," said May, "and I think now he's finding that level of play." Goldin is part of a balanced attack. Roddy Gayle Jr. averages a team-best 12.2 points per game, followed by Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf at 12.1 and Goldin at 12.0. Wolf averages a team-best 10 rebounds per game. Arkansas is coming off a 75-60 home victory over UTSA on Saturday. Adou Thiero excelled by matching his career high of 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Thiero scored 17 points in the second half when the Razorbacks overcame a five-point halftime deficit to outscore the Roadrunners by 20. "We've been seeing that the whole summer," Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile said of Thiero's strong play. "Him dominating. Dominating in practice and (Calipari) pushing him. This is just a reflection of the work he's done this summer and him trusting the coaches." Thiero leads the Razorbacks with averages of 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. Boogie Fland is averaging 15 points and Zvonimir Ivisic is scoring 12 per game. Davis (9.3) started slow with just two double-digit outings in the first seven games before averaging 12.5 over the last two games. Michigan holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines recorded an 80-67 home victory on Dec. 8, 2012 in the most recent meeting. --Field Level Media
NORTH CAROLINA — If you live in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee and have damage to your home or personal property related to Hurricane Helene, FEMA may be able to help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs or other essential disaster-related needs that are not covered by insurance. What happens after I apply for FEMA assistance? Registered survivors will be contacted by a FEMA-contracted inspector within about ten days of applying to schedule an appointment for an inspection, which generally takes about 30-40 minutes. The inspector’s call may come from an out-of-state or “unknown” number, and they may ask you to verify personally identifiable information by phone. FEMA inspectors make several attempts to contact you through phone call or text to schedule an appointment. If FEMA is unable to get in touch, you will be sent a letter indicating your application cannot be processed further – to proceed, you must call FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 to confirm your contact information and need for assistance. There is no fee for the inspection. Why do I need a FEMA home inspection? FEMA home inspections help determine whether a home is safe, sanitary, and livable, and to verify disaster-caused damage. Specifically, the FEMA inspector will: Verify your name, address, contact information, and insurance; Confirm the individuals living in your disaster-damaged residence; bedrooms occupied; clothing, medical, dental, transportation, or miscellaneous losses; and items you purchased as a result of the disaster (e.g., chainsaw, dehumidifier); Assess your pre-disaster residence’s structure, furniture, and appliances for damage caused by the disaster, as well as undamaged items; Document your pre-disaster residence’s square footage, foundation, and structural type (e.g., one or multiple stories). Record the cause of damage, applicable water levels, impacted utilities, and accessibility features; and Confirm with you that all damage has been viewed, and describe next steps in the FEMA process. Not all losses require an inspection. You should also monitor your mail or your FEMA Online Account (www.disasterassistance.gov) and respond to any requests from FEMA for additional information quickly. How do I know if the person at my door is a legitimate FEMA inspector? Always ask an inspector for identification and never give out your personal information like your social security number. If you are not shown photo identification, then do not allow the inspection. Disasters often bring out scam artists who prey on the needs of disaster survivors. Government officials will never ask for money or other forms of compensation for the inspection. What do I need to be prepared to show my FEMA inspector? Have the following ready for your inspection: § Photo identification. If you lost your id in the disaster, let the inspector know. FEMA has other ways to verify your identification. § Proof of ownership/occupancy of damaged residence (structural insurance, tax bill, mortgage payment book/utility bill). § Insurance documents: home and/or auto (structural insurance/auto declaration sheet). § List of household occupants living in residence at time of disaster. § All disaster-related damages to both real and personal property. I won’t be home during the time of my scheduled inspection. Can someone be there in my place? Yes. You can have anyone like a trusted neighbor, family member or friend that is 18 years of age or older handle the inspection if you are unavailable. What happens after the inspector visits? Once the inspection process is complete, your case will be reviewed by FEMA, and you will receive a letter outlining the decision about your claim. If you qualify for FEMA assistance, FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it directly into your bank account, depending on the method of payment you chose on your application. If you receive money for rental assistance, be sure to keep documentation and receipts of payments. If you pay to stay somewhere, you should have a written landlord/tenant agreement for the time frame you use the assistance. If you do not qualify for a FEMA grant, you will receive a letter explaining why you may not be eligible and will be given a chance to appeal the decision. Your appeal rights will be described in the letter. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of FEMA’s decision. Can I appeal a decision? You have the right to appeal any FEMA decision or award amount by sending documents that show you qualify and need more help, like estimates for repairs, receipts, bills, etc. Each decision letter you receive from FEMA explains types of documents that may help you appeal your FEMA’s decision or award amount for that type of assistance. Many times, an application is determined “not approved” because of missing documentation like proof of identity, proof of occupancy, proof the damaged property was your primary residence and others. For more information, visit: How to Appeal a FEMA Decision | FEMA.gov How can I submit documentation? You can visit DisasterAssistance.gov to upload your documentation online and check the status of your application online. You can also call 800-621-3362 for assistance or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. What If I applied for FEMA assistance and was later evicted? If you have already applied for FEMA assistance but were later evicted due to damage to other parts of your home, you should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), if available. You can contact FEMA even if you were previously not approved for FEMA assistance and FEMA may still be able to help. Check the FEMA App or visit the FEMA DRC Locator to find the locations and hours of operation. You will need to provide FEMA with documentation demonstrating your eviction was due to the disaster. Do I need to pay FEMA back for any financial assistance I received? No. In most cases, FEMA grants do not have to be paid back. If you have insurance that covers your temporary housing costs but ask FEMA to advance you some money to help you pay for those costs while your insurance is delayed, you will need to pay that money back to FEMA after you receive your insurance settlement. FEMA assistance is not taxable income and won’t affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or other federal benefits. What if I can’t rebuild my house with the money FEMA is offering me? FEMA Home Repair Assistance is limited and is intended to provide funds for basic repairs to make the home livable. It is not the same as insurance and in most cases, it cannot restore your home to its pre-disaster condition. To find more information for other resources, visit the Voluntary and Community-Based Organizations page. For a full list of questions and answers, visit: fema.gov.Romania's far-right candidate Calin Georgescu on Saturday urged voters to go to polling stations despite the country's top court having scrapped the presidential elections over alleged irregularities amid claims of Russian interference. The court's shock ruling, coming just before the presidential run-off which had been due Sunday, opens the way for a new electoral process starting from scratch in the EU and NATO member state bordering war-torn Ukraine. The annulment follows a spate of intelligence documents declassified by the presidency this week detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including claims of "massive" social media promotion and cyberattacks. Georgescu -- who unexpectedly topped last month's first round of voting -- called for voters on Sunday "to wait to be welcomed, to wait for democracy to win through their power", said a statement from his team. "Mr. Calin Georgescu believes that voting is an earned right," said the statement. "That is why he believes that Romanians have the right to be in front of the polling stations tomorrow." Georgescu himself would go to a polling station near Bucharest at 0600 GMT, said his team. Earlier Saturday, police raided three houses in Brasov city in central Romania as part of the investigation "in connection with crimes of voter corruption, money laundering, computer forgery". Among the houses searched was that of businessman Bogdan Peschir, a TikTok user who according to the declassified documents allegedly paid $381,000 to those involved in the promotion of Georgescu, Romanian media reported. Peschir has compared his support for Georgescu to the world's richest man Elon Musk's backing of US president-elect Donald Trump. Little-known outsider Georgescu, a 62-year-old former senior civil servant, was favourite to win the second round on Sunday against centrist pro-EU mayor Elena Lasconi, 52, according to several polls. But the constitutional court on Friday unanimously decided to annul the entire electoral process as it was "marred... by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation". President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday that he had discussed with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, and they agreed on the "need to strengthen the security of social media". The European Commission announced earlier this week that it had stepped up monitoring TikTok after Romania's authorities alleged "preferential treatment" of Georgescu on the platform -- a claim the company has denied. Following the court's decision, the United States said it had faith in Romania's institutions and called for a "peaceful democratic process". Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., on X branded the vote's cancellation an "attempt at rigging the outcome" and "denying the will of the people". Georgescu called it "a formalised coup d'etat" and said democracy was "under attack". His team on Saturday declined to comment on the raids, saying they "will not comment or provide answers until we have exact data". Georgescu and another far-right party, the AUR, have said they plan to appeal the decision to stop the voting to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. A past admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Georgescu, an EU and NATO sceptic, in recent days had reframed himself as "ultra pro-Trump," vowing to put Romania "on the world map" and cut aid for neighbouring Ukraine. In an interview with US broadcaster Sky News on Saturday, Georgescu said there were no links between him and Russia. Political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP that the annulment has "further polarised Romanian society". With trust in institutions and the ruling class already low, the vote's cancellation poses a "major danger that Romanians will think that it doesn't matter how they vote", Ciobanu added. Elsewhere in the EU, Austria annulled presidential elections in 2016 because of procedural irregularities. In Romania, a new government is expected to set another date for the presidential vote. In last weekend's legislative elections, the ruling Social Democrats came top. But far-right parties made big gains, securing an unprecedented third of the ballots on mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia's war in Ukraine. In a joint appeal on Wednesday, the Social Democrats and three other pro-EU parties -- together making up an absolute majority in parliament -- signed an agreement to form a coalition, promising "stability". bur-jza/jj
For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, Notre Dame has opened. The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, the Prince of Wales and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon.
Updated December 07, 2024 at 18:43 PM ET BEIRUT — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an "orderly political transition." Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels "sorry for the Syrian people." In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. "The situation is very strange. We are not used to that," the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. "People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not." It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis "that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians." They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the "final stage" of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a "salvation government" to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by "terrorists." The army said it was setting up a "strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area," apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. "Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people," he said. Copyright 2024 NPR
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