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Tulane QB Mensah transfers to DukeBaroness Owen of Alderley Edge became the youngest person to receive a life peerage when she entered the House of Lords at the age of 30. She was elevated to parliament’s upper chamber in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list 18 months ago after working as a special adviser to the former prime minister. She is now seeking to make her mark in the Lords with a private member’s bill to criminalise the non-consensual creation and solicitation of digitally altered sexually explicit images — known as deepfakes. • Kathleen Stock: We’re not ready for the voodoo of deepfakes Owen, 31, said women have “lost their ability to choose who owns sexually explicit images of them”. “Anyone can walk into the pub, take a picture of a
NoneUN General Assembly calls for 'unconditional' ceasefire in Gaza
Gujarat's First OSAT Plant: A Key Step in India's Semiconductor Ambitions
‘Stay out of the area’: 2 sent to hospital after reported gunfire in St. Catharines
Winter adventures away from the lift linesSTANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. Cardinal alum Andrew Luck, left, watches a Feb. 2 game between Stanford and Southern California on Feb. 2 in Stanford, Calif. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Supreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who is not authorized to comment publicly. Trump has said he’s recently spoken with Cook about the company’s long-running tax battles with the European Union. The Republican said in October that he had spoken to Cook weeks after Apple lost its last appeal to avoid paying 13 billion euros ($14.34 billion) in back taxes to Ireland. The Trump transition team and Apple did not respond to a requests for comment about Trump's meeting with Cook. Flight takes kids to visit Santa at North Pole scene in transformed Denver airport hangar DENVER (AP) — More than 100 kids have been treated to an airplane flight and visit to a hangar at Denver International Airport that was transformed into the North Pole. Streamers, paper snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. The children, including some with serious health issues, were asked before the final approach to draw the shades on their windows. When they opened, the kids were greeted by a waiting Santa and Mrs. Claus and a host of elves. Saturday's event was part of United Airlines’ annual holiday-season “fantasy flights” at airports around the world to bring cheer to children and their families. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review A federal appeals court has left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejecting a request made by the company to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute. Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. It’s unclear if the nation’s highest court will take up the case. But some experts say they expect the justices to weigh in. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to “save” the short-form video platform during the presidential campaign. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts. But in the US, native ones are almost gone Right now chestnut enthusiasts are cozying up next to their open fires (or toaster ovens) to roast a holiday snack that has long roots in North America. But the chestnuts they're roasting aren't native, because the American variety has been mostly wiped out by an invasive fungal blight since the 1930s. Researchers are laboring to bring them back, even as they have hit roadblocks and setbacks in attempts to breed or genetically modify a version that can withstand the blight. If and when they succeed, they'll still need to figure out how to plant it and help it thrive in forests that are already under pressure from climate change, globalization and development. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
AP News Summary at 6:13 p.m. EST
SAN DIEGO , Dec. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announced that a lawsuit was filed for certain investors in DMC Global Inc. ( NASDAQ : BOOM) shares Investors who purchased more than $100,000 in shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) between May and November 2024 have certain options and there are short and strict deadlines running. Deadline: February 04, 2025 . Those DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. On October 21, 2024 , DMC Global Inc. disclosed that it was "revising its guidance" for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 , stating that the Company's adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be approximately $5 million , down from prior guidance for $15 -18 million, and that the third quarter financial results "will include inventory and bad debt charges at DynaEnergetics totaling approximately $5 million , as well as lower fixed overhead absorption on reduced sales at both Arcadia and DynaEnergetics." The Company also revealed that the financial results will include an approximate $142 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge "associated with DMC's December 2021 acquisition of a controlling interest in Arcadia ." On November 4, 2024 , DMC Global Inc released its third-quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2024 . Among other results, the Company reported third quarter sales of $152.4 million , down 11% sequentially and year-over-year, as well as the previously disclosed non-cash goodwill impairment charge. Shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) declined from $15.98 per share on May 3, 2024 , to as low as $7.16 per share on November 21 , 2024. On December 06, 2024 , an investor in NASDAQ: BOOM shares filed a lawsuit against DMC Global Inc. The plaintiff alleges that between May 3, 2024 and November 4, 2024 , the defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose the following adverse facts about DMC Global's business, operations, and prospects which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them: (i) the goodwill associated with the company's principal business segment, Acadia Products, was overstated due to the adverse events and circumstances affecting that reporting segment; (ii) DMC Global's materially inadequate internal systems and processes were adversely affecting its operations; (iii) the company's inadequate systems and processes prevented it from ensuring reasonably accurate guidance and that its public disclosures were timely, accurate, and complete; (iv) as a result, defendants misrepresented DMC Global's operations and financial results; and/or (v) as a result, the company's public statements were materially false, misleading, or lacked a reasonable basis when made. Those who purchased shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc. CONTACT: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels +1 (858) 779-1554 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com 3111 Camino Del Rio North Suite 423 San Diego, CA 92108 The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawsuit-for-investors-who-lost-over-100-000-in-shares-of-dmc-global-inc-nasdaq-boom-between-may-and-nov-2024-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-302325435.html SOURCE Shareholders Foundation, Inc.World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture rejected by the United States and Israel. The resolution -- adopted by a vote of 158-9, with 13 abstentions -- urges "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire," and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages" -- wording similar to a text vetoed by Washington in the Security Council last month. At that time, Washington used its veto power on the Council -- as it has before -- to protect its ally Israel, which has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack. It has insisted on the idea of making a ceasefire conditional on the release of all hostages in Gaza, saying otherwise that Hamas has no incentive to free those in captivity. Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood repeated that position Wednesday, saying it would be "shameful and wrong" to adopt the text. Ahead of the vote, Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said: "The resolutions before the assembly today are beyond logic. (...) The vote today is not a vote for compassion. It is a vote for complicity." The General Assembly often finds itself taking up measures that cannot get through the Security Council, which has been largely paralyzed on hot-button issues such as Gaza and Ukraine due to internal politics, and this time is no different. The resolution, which is non-binding, demands "immediate access" to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, especially in the besieged north of the territory. Dozens of representatives of UN member states addressed the Assembly before the vote to offer their support to the Palestinians. "Gaza doesn't exist anymore. It is destroyed," said Slovenia's UN envoy Samuel Zbogar. "History is the harshest critic of inaction." That criticism was echoed by Algeria's deputy UN ambassador Nacim Gaouaoui, who said: "The price of silence and failure in the face of the Palestinian tragedy is a very heavy price, and it will be heavier tomorrow." Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. That count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza. Militants abducted 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,805 people, a majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the United Nations. "Gaza today is the bleeding heart of Palestine," Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said last week during the first day of debate in the Assembly's special session on the issue. "The images of our children burning in tents, with no food in their bellies and no hopes and no horizon for the future, and after having endured pain and loss for more than a year, should haunt the conscience of the world and prompt action to end this nightmare," he said, calling for an end to the "impunity." After Wednesday's vote, he said "we will keep knocking on the doors of the Security Council and the General Assembly until we see an immediate and unconditional ceasefire put in place." The Gaza resolution calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present "proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability" by using existing mechanisms or creating new ones based on past experience. The Assembly, for example, created an international mechanism to gather evidence of crimes committed in Syria starting from the outbreak of civil war in 2011. A second resolution calling on Israel to respect the mandate of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and allow it to continue its operations was passed Wednesday by a vote of 159-9 with 11 abstentions. Israel has voted to ban the organization starting January 28, after accusing some UNRWA employees of taking part in Hamas's devastating attack. abd/sst/jgc/nro/des
‘Stay out of the area’: 2 sent to hospital after reported gunfire in St. CatharinesSupreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who is not authorized to comment publicly. Trump has said he’s recently spoken with Cook about the company’s long-running tax battles with the European Union. The Republican said in October that he had spoken to Cook weeks after Apple lost its last appeal to avoid paying 13 billion euros ($14.34 billion) in back taxes to Ireland. The Trump transition team and Apple did not respond to a requests for comment about Trump's meeting with Cook. Flight takes kids to visit Santa at North Pole scene in transformed Denver airport hangar DENVER (AP) — More than 100 kids have been treated to an airplane flight and visit to a hangar at Denver International Airport that was transformed into the North Pole. Streamers, paper snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. The children, including some with serious health issues, were asked before the final approach to draw the shades on their windows. When they opened, the kids were greeted by a waiting Santa and Mrs. Claus and a host of elves. Saturday's event was part of United Airlines’ annual holiday-season “fantasy flights” at airports around the world to bring cheer to children and their families. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review A federal appeals court has left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejecting a request made by the company to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute. Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. It’s unclear if the nation’s highest court will take up the case. But some experts say they expect the justices to weigh in. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to “save” the short-form video platform during the presidential campaign. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts. But in the US, native ones are almost gone Right now chestnut enthusiasts are cozying up next to their open fires (or toaster ovens) to roast a holiday snack that has long roots in North America. But the chestnuts they're roasting aren't native, because the American variety has been mostly wiped out by an invasive fungal blight since the 1930s. Researchers are laboring to bring them back, even as they have hit roadblocks and setbacks in attempts to breed or genetically modify a version that can withstand the blight. If and when they succeed, they'll still need to figure out how to plant it and help it thrive in forests that are already under pressure from climate change, globalization and development. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.
Tulane QB Mensah transfers to Duke
A Russian oil tanker damaged by a heavy storm is spilling oil into the Kerch Strait, Russian authorities said on December 15. The Volgoneft 212, with 13 people on board, was carrying around 4,300 tons of oil products when it was damaged. A second tanker, Volgoneft 239, was also damaged but did not break apart. There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities about the extent of the oil spill. Rescue efforts are under way but at least one sailor is reported to have died. To read the original story by Current Time, click here . Ukraine on December 14 carried out a complex operation targeting fuel supply routes from the Russian-annexed Crimea to occupied areas of Zaporizhzhya, an informed source has told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. The operation involved a sabotage mission to detonate railway tracks near Oleksyivka in the Bilmak district, derailing a train carrying fuel tanks. As the fire spread to the tanks, U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets struck the locomotive and key railcars to prevent salvage efforts. The attack destroyed the locomotive and 40 tankers, crippling a critical rail line supplying Russian forces, the source said. The operation was carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service in collaboration with military intelligence, special operations forces, and drone units. Moscow has not commented on the attack. Meanwhile, Russia launched over 100 suicide drones against Ukraine and struck the Kharkiv region with a missile attack overnight, Ukrainian authorities said on December 15. Air defenses downed 56 Shahed-type drones while 49 were "locationally lost," according to the Ukrainian military. Apartment buildings, houses, and an unspecified piece of infrastructure were damaged due to falling debris in several regions. Two people were injured in Mykolayiv, according to local authorities. Separately, Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a Russian missile struck the Kyivsky district, injuring a 48-year-old woman. Local media in Russia's Chechen Republic reported that suspected Ukrainian drones had targeted a military camp and a base in the capital, Grozny, on December 15. Iranian police released singer Parastoo Ahmadi in the early hours of December 15 following a brief detention after she performed without the mandatory head scarf, her lawyer has confirmed. Ahmadi caused a stir on social media earlier this week after recording a performance with her hair uncovered and wearing a dress. The performance, recorded with a crew of male musicians, was uploaded to YouTube. The police on December 14 claimed she was released after a "briefing session" but a source close to the family told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that she remained in custody. Her lawyer Milad Panahipur also denied the police claim, writing on X that the authorities were "lying" about her release. The following day, Panahipur confirmed Ahmadi, who had been detained in her home province of Mazandaran, was released at 3 in the morning. Two of her bandmates, Soheil Faqih-Nasri and Ehsan Beyraqdar, were also detained briefly. Ahmadi’s Instagram account is no longer accessible, but her YouTube account remains active. The video of her performance, dubbed "an imaginary concert" because female performers cannot sing solo in front of an audience, has received around 1.6 million views on YouTube since it was uploaded on December 11. On December 12, the authorities said legal proceedings had been launched against Ahmadi and her bandmates for the "illegal concert." Ahmadi, who gained prominence during the 2022 nationwide protests after singing a song in support of demonstrators, has been widely praised for her performance. On social media, many have hailed her for fighting "gender apartheid" and showing "bravery, resilience, and love." A rising number of women have been flouting the mandatory hijab in public since the 2022 protests, which gave rise to the Women, Life, Freedom movement. The authorities have tried to crack down and recently passed a law enhancing the enforcement of the hijab by introducing hefty fines, restricting access to basic services, and lengthy prison sentences. The new hijab and chastity law, which has been widely criticized by even conservative figures, is scheduled to go into effect this month, but at least two lawmakers have said its implementation has been postponed by the Supreme National Security Council. Authorities in Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of orchestrating deadly bombings over the past week. Dnipro regional police on December 14 arrested a suspect in connection with an explosion that occurred in the city center earlier that day. The blast killed a man and injured four others, including two police officers, who remain hospitalized in critical condition. According to authorities, the suspect, a 37-year-old local resident, allegedly acted under orders from the Russian intelligence service. The suspect was arrested within hours following a joint operation by the police and Ukraine's Security Service (SBU). The SBU has classified the incident as a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on December 15 announced the arrest of a suspect in a car bombing in Russian-occupied Donetsk that reportedly killed a former prison warden and injured his wife on December 9. Russian state media say the suspect is a local resident. The FSB alleges the suspect planted a homemade explosive device under the vehicle and detonated it remotely, acting on orders from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate. Russian authorities have not disclosed the identity of the man killed in the explosion, describing him only as an officer. Social media reports, however, have identified him as Sergei Yevsyukov, a former head of a prison where dozens of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces were killed in 2022. No one has claimed responsibility for either explosion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on December 14 that Moscow has started involving more North Korean troops in its efforts to drive Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region. "Today there are already preliminary data that the Russians have begun using soldiers from North Korea in the assaults -- a noticeable number," Zelenskiy said. "The Russians include them in consolidated units and use them in operations in the Kursk region. For now, it is only there." Zelenskiy’s comments came after the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian military (HUR) issued a statement saying that North Korean troops probably will begin assaulting Ukrainian military positions in the Kursk region in the near future. The HUR said it was "likely" that Russia will soon involve North Korean soldiers in direct assault operations, noting that in recent days the troops "received additional food supplies." The North Korean units on December 13 were put on alert and ordered to wait for further instructions, the HUR said. Some of the troops have been covertly transferred to the front line by civilian trucks that outwardly resemble water-delivery vehicles, the statement said. It was not possible to verify the information, and the Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on it. Ukrainian troops began their incursion into the Kursk region in August and still control some areas. Russia began deploying thousands of North Korean troops in the region in October. The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said on December 14 that 45 clashes had taken place since the beginning of the day in the Kursk region, and 26 of them were still ongoing. "In addition, the enemy carried out seven air strikes, dropping 10 guided bombs and carrying out 212 artillery attacks on Russian settlements and the positions of our defenders," the General Staff said in its daily summary. The summary added that the most tense situations on the battlefield were taking place in areas near Pokrovsk, Kurakhivsk, and Vremivsk. The Russian military "improved the tactical position" in the Pokrovsk direction, the press service of the Khortytsia Military District reported . Russian forces also tried to improve their tactical position in the Blahodatne area, but were not successful, suffered losses, and withdrew. Ukrainian forces mounted their own attacks on facilities that supply petroleum products to the Russian Army, the General Staff said. An attack on a Russian oil depot in Orel overnight on December 13 started a "powerful fire," according to a statement from the General Staff, which described the depot as one of the largest oil terminals in the suburbs of Orel. Reports of explosions in Orel appeared earlier on Russian Telegram channels. The city was reportedly hit by drone strikes, and some of the channels reported an attack on a local oil depot. Photos published by the General Staff and on Russian Telegram news channels showed plumes of smoke engulfing the oil terminal. Local authorities and Russian state media did not comment on the reports. Russia's Orel region borders the Kursk and Bryansk regions. In the border region of Belgorod, Ukrainian drone strikes killed a 9-year-old boy and set fire to a major oil terminal there, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. The boy died when a drone struck his family's home outside Belgorod, Gladkov said, adding that his mother and 7-month-old sister were hospitalized. He posted photos of what he said was the aftermath of the attack, showing a house with gaping holes in its roof and front wall flanked by mounds of rubble. Orel Governor Andrei Klychkov confirmed on Telegram that a Ukrainian drone strike set fire to a fuel depot. He said later that the blaze had been contained and that there were no casualties. A Russian cargo plane took off early on December 14 from the Hmeimim air base in western Syria and was reportedly destined for Libya as Moscow continued its departure from its key regional ally. Citing a Syrian official who monitors the base, Reuters reported that several more Russian transport planes were expected to depart from the base in the coming days as part of an evacuation following the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar appeared to show Russia preparing for the withdrawal of military equipment from the Hmeimim air base. The images showed what appear to be at least two Antonov An-124 cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open. The source cited by Reuters did not specify the make or model of the aircraft that departed on December 14. Reuters further reported that on the morning of December 14 an Il-76 cargo plane was seen at the base, while helicopters were flying within the perimeter of facility that was essential to Russia’s strategy of providing air support for Assad’s forces and allies in the Syrian civil war. Russia's intervention in the war in 2015 had helped keep Assad in power, but the strongman leader fled Syria last week as the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- overran government forces in a blitz offensive. Russia helped Assad leave the country as the rebel forces approached Damascus and granted him asylum. RFE/RL determined earlier this week based on satellite images that a Russian Il-76 had landed in Libya at the Al-Jufra air base on December 10. There is no information regarding where the plane came from or where it subsequently went. It is unknown if the Il-76 was the same plane reported by Reuters as being at the Hmeimim air base. Previous analysis of satellite imagery by RFE/RL revealed that Russia's largest cargo aircraft, the An-124, had been spotted at the base, along with Il-76s, an An-32, and an An-72. Russian military personnel are stationed at the Al-Jufra air base in Libya. A number of Western media outlets have reported that Russia has been withdrawing military forces and assets from Syria in the face of Assad's fall, which experts say was a "slap in the face" to Russia. Moscow leveraged its image as a key supporter of Assad capable of keeping him in power to expand its influence throughout the Middle East and beyond as a counterweight to the West. Now, Assad's fall and the Russian departure threatens Moscow's influence not only in Syria but across the region. Earlier reports suggested that Russia was negotiating with the new authorities in charge in Damascus to maintain its bases in Syria. Aside from Hmeimim, Russia operates a naval base in Tartus, its only warm-water naval base outside the former Soviet Union. The foreign ministers of the Arab League and Turkey met in Jordan on December 14 to discuss how to assist Syria's transition after the fall of Assad's government. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference after the meeting that the United States had made "direct contact" with the HTS and other parties. He declined to discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the United States to convey messages to the group about its conduct and how it intends to govern in a transition period. Blinken said a joint communique had been agreed at the meeting that sets out the principles that other countries want to see in Syria's political transition, including inclusivity and respect for minorities. An Iranian court has sentenced Reza Valizadeh , a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and former journalist for RFE/RL's Radio Farda, to 10 years in prison on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government." According to court documents sent to the journalist’s lawyer on December 10 and subsequently reviewed by RFE/RL, Valizadeh was sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 26. In addition to the prison term, Valizadeh was banned for two years following the completion of his sentence from living in Tehran and adjacent provinces, from leaving the country, and from joining political or social organizations. Valizadeh resigned from Radio Farda in November 2022 after a decade of work. He returned to Iran in early 2024 to visit his family but was arrested on September 22 . His two court sessions, held on November 20 and December 7, reportedly lacked a prosecution representative, with the judge assuming that role. Sources close to the journalist claim he fell into a "security trap" despite receiving unofficial assurances from Iranian security officials that he would not face legal troubles upon returning to Iran. The U.S. State Department earlier condemned Valizadeh’s detention, calling it "unjust" and inconsistent with international legal standards. Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged Iranian authorities to release Valizadeh immediately. RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus also called for Valizadeh to be released, saying the charges against him, his conviction, and sentence were unjust. "Time and again, the Iranian regime has attempted to spread its malign influence around the world, trampling on human rights at every opportunity," Capus said in a staetment. "Clearly, this regime feels threatened by the forces of freedom, including independent journalism." Valizadeh remains in Tehran’s Evin prison under severe restrictions, with limited access to legal representation and family. Iran is routinely accused of arresting dual nationals and Western citizens on false charges to use them to pressure Western countries. In September 2023, Iran released five Americans jailed in Iran in a prisoner swap. Valizadeh is the first U.S. citizen known to have been arrested since that deal. Iran is also among the most repressive countries in terms of freedom of the press. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 176th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The Paris-based media watchdog says Iran is now also one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists. TBILISI -- The mayor of Tbilisi postponed a Christmas tree lighting, citing concerns that anti-government protests would turn violent after an electoral college dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party appointed far-right politician and former soccer star Mikheil Kavelashvili as president. Police have clashed with protesters for over two weeks, detaining dozens and injuring scores of people who accuse the government of moving Georgia away from the EU and closer to Russia. Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced the postponement on December 14 at a briefing at the government administration building a few minutes before the event was scheduled to begin. About an hour earlier, hundreds of police were deployed and New Year's lights were turned on on the facade of the parliament building, but they were switched off after Kaladze announced the postponement of the tree lighting. The decision came after Kavelashvili was declared by Georgia's Central Election Commission as the winner of a contentious indirect election after receiving 224 votes out of 225 delegates in attendance. There are a total of 300 delegates in Georgia's electoral college, but opposition members did not attend the vote, which came as demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi for the 17th straight day to protest parliamentary elections held on October 26 that the country's current president and opposition have refused to accept and say were rigged . Areas near the parliament building were cordoned off and traffic halted ahead of the vote that chose Kavelashvili, 53, for the largely ceremonial post. Kavelashvili, known for his vehement anti-Western diatribes and opposition to LGBT rights, is now set to replace President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with pro-EU protesters . Zurabishvili, who has been a thorn in the ruling party's side and has criticized Georgian Dream for its increasingly authoritarian stance, has said she will refuse to leave office after her successor is inaugurated on December 29. She told a press conference on December 13 that the election of a new president "will be an event entirely devoid of legitimacy, unconstitutional, and illegitimate." The 72-year-old has previously said the elections in October were manipulated with the help of Russia. The political crisis erupted after Georgian Dream claimed victory in the elections and intensified after its decision last month to delay negotiations on Georgia joining the European Union. The authorities have responded violently to the large demonstrations, arresting hundreds of people over the past two weeks and closely watching participants with Chinese-made surveillance cameras with facial-recognition capabilities. Protesters gathered early on December 14 near the Philharmonic Hall and began marching toward the parliament building as traffic on central Rustaveli Avenue, which links the two sites, was halted and police were mobilized. Zurabishvili made a brief appearance on Rustaveli Avenue but told gathered journalists only that "I've said everything, I am going to work now." WATCH: Georgian protester Anamaria Tavartkiladze has volunteered to decorate the country's main Christmas tree with images of people beaten during recent demonstrations. The protesters chanted "Salome! Salome!" and displayed their diplomas in keeping with calls for them to "show your diploma to Kavelashvili," who reportedly does not have higher education. They also mockingly held up "red cards" against the former soccer star in a nod to penalties handed out for infractions in the sport. The recent violence against the opposition and journalists has drawn condemnation from the United States and the European Union. Michael Roth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Germany's Bundestag, said on X that the "election" of Kavelishvili "is another step towards the 'Gleichschaltung' of all constitutional institutions in Georgia." "Gleichschaltung" was a word used by the Nazis to describe their consolidation of power in Germany. He added that the election of Kavelishvili "deepens the division of Georgia," and that Zurabishvili remains the legitimate president of the country. In power since 2012, Georgian Dream was founded by Russian-friendly billionaire and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. After the announcement of Kavelashvili's victory, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated him and said his election would mark a turning point for the country. "For more than 20 years, Georgia has not had a patriotic, morally, and psychologically balanced person as president," Kobakhidze said in a statement. Kavelashvili's win "will make a significant contribution to strengthening Georgia's statehood and our sovereignty, as well as reducing radicalism and so-called polarization." Kobakhidze referred to the opposition as "radical" and claimed that the protests during the election process had been poorly attended. He also alluded to dramatic pro-EU protests in Ukraine in 2014 on Kyiv's central square, the Maidan, which succeeded in toppling the country's pro-Russian president. "In Georgia, the 'Maidan' has failed and will never succeed," Kobakhidze vowed. Russia appears to be continuing to withdraw military equipment from its Hmeimim air base in Syria, according to satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar. The images show what appear to be at least two Antonov AN-124s cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open. Maxar said the two heavy transport aircraft were prepared to load equipment, while a nearby Ka-52 attack helicopter was being dismantled and likely prepared for transport. It added that parts of an S-400 air defense unit were similarly being prepared to depart from the air base. Russia has an estimated 7,500 troops and multiple military sites in Syria, including at Hmeimim along with the strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which have been used to support the Kremlin's actions in North and sub-Saharan Africa. Satellite imagery published earlier this week showed that Russian naval ships left the base at Tartus following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad last weekend by rebels led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist militant group. Imagery showed at least three vessels -- including two guided missile frigates – located about 13 kilometers off the coast. The Tartus naval base, Russia's only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, "remains largely unchanged since our December 10 imagery coverage with two frigates continuing to be observed offshore of Tartus," Maxar said on December 13. The Kremlin has said its focus since Assad's fall was to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria and of its diplomatic missions. According to open-source intelligence (OSINT), there are more and more signs that Moscow is removing at least some of its equipment. A drone video of the Hmeimim air base published on December 12 showed people with suitcases preparing to board a plane. A 91N6E radar system was also visible in the video and appeared ready to be transported by military aircraft. The system is used in the operation of S-300 and S-400 missile systems. The missile systems themselves appeared to be still in their usual place at the air base, but their launchers appeared not to be in combat-readiness mode. In all satellite images taken before the fall of Assad's regime, the S-300 and S-400 were in a state of full combat readiness. Also on December 13, a correspondent for The Times published a video on X purporting to show Russian equipment arriving at the Hmeimim air base and an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said with Russian ships on the way and increased air traffic at the Hmeimim, the Russian troop withdrawal is gaining momentum. "Whether it will be partial or complete remains to be seen," Dara Massicot, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the U.S. think tank, said on X. The husband of prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been detained by security forces, according to their daughter. Mehraveh Khandan said on Instagram that her father, Reza Khandan, was arrested on December 13 at her home in Tehran. The circumstances of Khandan's arrest and the charges against him were not known. Mohammad Moghimi, a lawyer, said on X that the reason for the arrest was likely related to a six-year prison sentence in a case in which he represented Reza Khandan and activist Farhad Meysami. The sentence against Reza Khandan was handed down in February 2019 by Tehran's Revolutionary Court. Meysami also faced a similar sentence in the case. Reza Khandan had been charged with "assembly and collusion against national security," "propaganda against the state," and "spreading and promoting unveiling in society." The sentence against Reza Khandan also banned him from membership in political parties and groups, leaving the country, and using the Internet and other media and press activities. Sotoudeh, a vocal advocate for numerous activists, has been arrested several times since 2010. Her detention has included periods of solitary confinement, highlighting the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Iran. Sotoudeh was arrested last year during the funeral of 17-year-old Armita Garavand, who died of injuries suffered in an alleged confrontation with Iran's morality police in the Tehran subway over a violation of Iran’s compulsory head scarf law. Reza Khandan said at the time of his wife's arrest in October 2023 that she started a hunger and medication strike after she was severely beaten when she was taken into custody. Sotoudeh was released about two weeks later. A Romanian appeals court has ruled to fully release a former mercenary and chief bodyguard of far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. Horatiu Potra was detained on December 8 for violating the law on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement after he and a group of armed associates were detained by police while heading toward Bucharest, where Georgescu and dozens of his supporters were gathering. Georgescu was protesting a decision by the Constitutional Court to cancel a runoff presidential vote scheduled for December 8 following claims that his shock first-round victory had been aided by a Moscow-orchestrated influence campaign using Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok. Police officers who stopped Potra and about 20 of his associates found guns, machetes, axes, and knives in their cars that, officials said, could have been used to "disrupt public order and peace." Media reports said Potra and his companions had booked hotels in downtown Bucharest close to University Square, where anti-Georgescu protesters had gathered in previous days. Prosecutors had asked judges to hold Potra in preventive custody but a court in the southern city of Ploiesti on December 8 only ordered him placed under judiciary control for 60 days -- a measure that provided for him to show up at a police station on a regular basis for the duration of the investigation into the accusations. One of his associates, Andrei Florin Filip, 22, was also placed under judiciary control. On December 13, an appeals court in Ploiești canceled the judiciary control for both men following appeals filed by their lawyers. The ruling is definitive and cannot be appealed. Romania's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by a "state actor" which was not named, prompting the Constitutional Court to cancel the runoff between Georgescu and pro-European center-right candidate Elena Lasconi. A former fighter in France's Foreign Legion, Potra is reported to have led a 900-strong contingent of Romanian military contractors who fought in the African country of Congo. He is said to have had ties to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which fought in Ukraine and was established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin who died in a plane crash last year after staging a short-lived revolt against Russia's military leadership. Potra, who has denied having any links to Wagner, appears in a photo last year in the company of Russian Ambassador to Romania Valery Kuzmin at a ceremony at the embassy marking Russia's national day. Searches of Potra's residence turned up some 2 million euros ($2.1 million) inside safes as well as weapons and about 15 kilograms of gold bars worth an estimated $1.27 million. Former RFE/RL correspondent Ihar Karney, currently serving a three-year prison sentence for "cooperating" with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), has been handed an additional eight-month term for "disobedience" inside the prison where he is incarcerated . Karney, who has written extensively on the history and local history of Belarus and is also known as a travel blogger, was sentenced on December 13, two days after his trial began. It was not clear how he disobeyed authorities, a charge that the United Nations in October said is often laid for "the pettiest misbehavior." In March, Karney, 56, was sentenced to three years on a charge of taking part in an "extremist" group because of his association with the BAJ, an advocacy and press trade group. The BAJ was forced to begin operating from exile after it was deemed an "extremist" group by the government in February 2023 as part of a brutal crackdown on dissent and civil society following mass unrest over a 2020 presidential election that the opposition and Western governments say was rigged to keep Alyaksandr Lukashenka in power. A new wave of journalist detentions has been seen in the country in recent weeks as Lukashenka seeks a seventh term in office in a January election. Karney's sentencing comes a day after Belarusian authorities arrested seven journalists from the independent regional news outlet Intex-Press, located in the western city of Baranavichy. Among the seven was Uladzimir Yanukevich, the media outlet's founder. Meanwhile, another independent journalist, Volha Radzivonava, was sentenced to four years in prison for authoring critical reports about Lukashenka. “This marks the arrest of the largest group of journalists from one media outlet in a year, signaling an escalation of repression,” BAJ leader Andrey Bastunets said. “It looks like the authorities have decided to arrest all journalists they suspect of being disloyal ahead of January's presidential vote.” In its latest report on journalists killed, detained, held hostage, and missing, the watchdog Reporters Without Borders said Belarus ranked fourth in the world in terms of the number of journalists it currently holds, 40, including RFE/RL journalists Andrey Kuznechyk and Ihar Losik. In an October 31 report , UN experts said that, despite some recent amnesties and presidential pardons, many individuals convicted "without fair trial for the legitimate exercise of their civil and political rights remain in detention." “The situation of some inmates belonging to the political opposition, of human rights defenders and political activists, many of whom have been convicted on extremism and terrorism-related charges, is extremely alarming,” the experts said. “According to allegations received, such inmates are subjected to various forms of ill-treatment, including denial of medical care and the prolonged incommunicado detentions, which in some cases could amount to enforced disappearances.” The Belarusian human rights community has recognized Karney as a political prisoner. Since July, Karney is reported to have been living in an isolation cell, where he is banned from almost all contact with the outside world. Russia has launched massive air strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities using dozens of cruise missiles and drones in a move that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called an "act of terror." Western and southwestern Ukraine appeared to have borne the brunt of the attack. Critical infrastructure facilities were hit in the Transcarpathian region of Ivano-Frankivsk, regional Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk reported. Onyshchuk said the attack on the region was the largest since the start of the war. The western region of Ternopil reported "negative consequences" of the Russian strikes, without giving details. In the Lviv region, also in the west of the country, Russia attacked energy facilities, regional Governor Maksym Kozytskiy said on Telegram. Multiple explosions were reported in the southern city of Odesa, while regional authorities in Kyiv said air defense systems were operating on December 13. Explosions were also reported in the Cherkasy, Khmelnytskiy, and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskiy said the attack showed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, "won't be stopped by empty talk." Zelenskiy said that, according to preliminary reports, 93 missiles were launched, including at least one North Korean missile, 81 of which were shot down. In addition some 200 drones were also launched in the attack, he said . Ukraine's national power-grid operator, Ukrenerho, reported earlier that the strikes forced restrictions on electricity consumption throughout the country. Zelenskiy said late on December 13 that Russia attempted to overload Ukraine's air defenses during the massive attack. "This time, they deliberately waited for freezing weather to strike, aiming to make life even harder for people," he said , adding that every missile was directed at energy infrastructure. Zelenskiy in an earlier post on X accused Putin of terrorizing millions of people. "He is neither limited in long-range capabilities nor in acquiring the necessary components to produce missiles. Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in his impunity. A strong reaction is needed from the world: a massive attack must be met with a massive reaction. This is the only way terror can be stopped." Zelenskiy made the comments amid reports that he will attend a meeting with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, as well as NATO and the European Union in Brussels on December 18 to discuss support for his country. The meeting will be hosted by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and will take place the same the day that leaders were due to meet for an EU-Western Balkans summit. Russia has been ratcheting up its attacks across Ukraine, while making slow but steady gains in the east in recent weeks. The intensification of fighting comes as both sides look to strengthen their positions amid signs of a potential cease-fire and peace talks in the coming months. "Putin won’t be stopped by empty talk -- strength is what is needed to bring peace. Strength that is not afraid of its ability to confront and stop evil," Zelenskiy said. Russia's Defense Ministry said in a message on Telegram that the attacks were in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on an airfield in southwestern Russia that used long-range, U.S.-supplied missiles. "On December 11, 2024, a missile attack was launched from the territory of Ukraine by six American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles at a military airfield near the city of Taganrog," the ministry said. "In response to the use of American long-range weapons," Russia launched "a massive strike with high-precision long-range air- and sea-based weapons and drones on critical facilities of the fuel and energy infrastructure of Ukraine," the statement said, adding that "all objectives had been fulfilled." Rutte said on December 12 that the Russian leader wants to "wipe Ukraine off the map" and could come after other parts of Europe next. Putin "is trying to crush our freedom and way of life," Rutte said, adding it is "time to shift to a wartime mindset." "How many more wake-up calls do we need? We should be profoundly concerned. I know I am," he said. "Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation. With Ukraine, and with us." The scale of the damage of the December 13 attacks was not immediately known. "Once again, the energy sector throughout Ukraine has come under massive attack. Energy professionals are taking all necessary measures to minimize the negative consequences for the country's energy system," Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on Facebook. Echoing Zelenskiy's words, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on Kyiv's allies to rapidly provide more air defense systems to counter the Russian attacks. "Russia aims to deprive us of energy. Instead, we must deprive it of the means of terror. I reiterate my call for the urgent delivery of 20 NASAMS, HAWK, or IRIS-T air defense systems," Sybiha wrote . A similar large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure took place on November 28, causing serious damage and energy shortages. Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure since the start of the war, stepping up attacks especially at the onset of the cold season, causing maximum difficulties and lengthy power cuts for Ukrainians for the third winter in a row. According to Ukraine's Energy Ministry, Russia has launched more than 1,000 strikes on energy infrastructure facilities since October 2022. Ukraine's energy grid has already been subjected to 11 Russian attacks this year. In 2024 alone, 9 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity has been lost due to strikes, the ministry said. It is estimated that 1 GW is enough to power a medium-sized city. The United States has imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" amid ongoing popular protests against a move by the ruling Georgian Dream party to delay the Caucasus country's negotiations to join the European Union. Protesters have also called for fresh elections following allegations of electoral fraud during the October parliamentary poll whose results the opposition has refused to recognize, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power. Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, has said the elections were manipulated with the help of Russia. Authorities have responded violently to the latest wave of protests, arresting hundreds of people over the past two weeks. In response, the U.S. State Department said on December 12 that it will "prohibit visa issuance to those who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia." The move will affect some 20 individuals, "including individuals serving as government ministers and in Parliament, law enforcement and security officials, and private citizens," it said in a statement , without naming the individuals. "We are committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions," the statement said. Since the start of the protests at the end of November, violence against the opposition and journalists has escalated, drawing condemnation from the United States and the European Union. On December 4, Georgian security forces conducted raids on the offices of several opposition parties, protest leaders, and rights activists. The U.S. statement reiterated that Washington "strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party’s ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures." In power since 2012, Georgian Dream, the power founded by Russia-friendly billionaire and ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been accused by critics of becoming increasingly more authoritarian. Earlier this year, Georgian Dream pushed through parliament, which it controlled, a so-called foreign-agent law modeled on a similar Russian piece of legislation used by the Kremlin to stifle political opposition and repress critics. "Georgian Dream has turned away from Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, which the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution envisions," the U.S. statement said. Separately, President Emmanuel Macron on December 12 reiterated France's backing for Georgia's EU aspirations and voiced solidarity with protesters. "I would like to reiterate our full support for Georgia's European path and for the defenders of democracy," Macron said at a press briefing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. "I would also like to express my deep concern about the repression of young people, the disturbing statements of the head of government and, in essence, the betrayal of the European path so quickly after the elections," Macron said. On December 11, Macron held an hourlong phone call with Ivanishvili. The Elysee Palace later said that Macron “demanded the release of all illegally detained people and respect for freedom of expression and assembly." A senior official from a Russian company that develops cruise missiles used by Moscow in its war with Ukraine has reportedly been shot and killed just outside the capital. Ukrainian media reported on December 12 that Mikhail Shatsky, a deputy chief designer at the Mars Design Bureau -- which develops and manufactures onboard guidance systems for the Russian military and aerospace industries -- was shot dead two days earlier near the town of Kotelniki in the Moscow region. Police have not commented on the news, but reports on social media and local news outlets, which have not been independently verified, identified Shatsky as the victim. News outlets in Ukraine reported Shatsky was involved in the modernization of the Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles, as well as helping in the development of develop unmanned aerial vehicles. All of those weapons have been used by Russia to strike at targets in Ukraine. The reports came three days after a car bomb killed Sergei Yevsyukov, who led a prison in Russian-occupied Olenivka in the Donetsk region during the time that more than 50 Ukrainian POWs were killed in a controversial explosion in July 2022. While no one has taken credit for either incident, Russian military personnel and Russian-installed officials have been targeted several times in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. In many cases, the attacks have been deadly. Ukrainian officials usually say "guerilla forces" are behind such attacks. Russia accuses Ukraine's secret services of masterminding and implementing the attacks. Noted Russian journalist and staunch Kremlin critic Aleksandr Nevzorov first reported Shatsky's death on Telegram, publishing photos of what he said was Shatsky's body. The independent investigative outlet IStories geolocated the images to a site near Shatsky's home, but the claims remain unverified. WASHINGTON -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the Biden administration for giving Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with powerful U.S. missiles, claiming it is intensifying the war. "I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done," Trump said in an interview with Time magazine published on December 12. After more than a year of hesitation, the Biden administration last month finally gave Ukraine the green light to strike military assets inside Russia with U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). The powerful, precision missiles can strike targets as far away as 300 kilometers. The Biden administration justified the decision saying Russia had escalated the conflict by deploying about 11,000 North Korean troops to the front. John Kirby, U.S. national-security spokesman, declined to respond to Trump's comments regarding ATACMS, saying only that President Joe Biden will continue to support Ukraine until his term ends next month. Kirby announced a new military package for Ukraine without stating its size. Just days after Ukraine fired its first ATACMS into Russia, the Kremlin responded by striking Ukraine with a new, intermediate ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The use of the intermediate missile was meant to serve as a message to the West, the Kremlin said. Trump did not say whether he would unilaterally withdraw Ukraine's permission to use ATACMS inside Russia upon entering the White House on January 20 or use it as a bargaining chip with the Kremlin. Trump has said he could end the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine in "24 hours," raising concern he could force Kyiv to cede land currently occupied by Moscow's forces. The United States is Ukraine's largest supplier of weapons, giving Washington significant influence over peace negotiations. When asked if he would throw Ukraine under the bus to get a peace deal, Trump said, “The only way you're going to reach an agreement is not to abandon." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has demanded Western security commitments to his country be part of any negotiated settlement. Zelenskiy -- and most Ukrainians -- want NATO membership, saying only that will prevent Russia from invading their country again. Trump was not asked about NATO membership for Ukraine but has been critical of the U.S.-led military organization in the past, saying it is a drain on U.S. finances. The United States accounts for about 60 percent of NATO military spending. During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 7 in Paris, Trump said he did not back NATO membership for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported. However, Trump did say he wanted European peacekeeping forces to monitor the cease-fire, the paper reported. The United States would support the effort but not with U.S. troops, he told the two leaders, the Wall Street Journal reported. Separately, in a speech on December 12, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on European members of NATO to step up spending, warning the threat emanating from Moscow will not dissipate anytime soon. "Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Rutte said in a speech in Brussels. "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defense production and defense spending." Russian forces continue to creep closer to the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk amid a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades. According to the Deep State online war-mapping platform, Russian troops on December 12 were as close as 3 kilometers from the southern part of Pokrovsk, a key logistical junction for Ukraine as well as home to the country's only domestic coking-coal supplier. "Unconventional decisions must be made to enhance the resilience of our defense and ensure more effective destruction of the occupiers," General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraine's top commander, wrote in a post on Facebook. "The battles are exceptionally fierce. The Russians are throwing all available forces forward, attempting to break through our defenses." For months the area has seen some of the fiercest battles in Russia's 33-month-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who visited the front lines in the Zaporizhzhya region on December 12, has called for reinforcements amid signs of Ukrainian positions being overwhelmed by Russia's advantage in manpower. Speaking to RFE/RL , Serhiy Filimonov, the commander of the 108th battalion Da Vinci Wolves, warned the main reason for losses as Russia heads in the direction of Pokrovsk was "unrealistic tasks" for troops in the region given the current numbers. The intensification of fighting on the battlefield comes as both sides look to strengthen their positions amid signs of a potential ceasefire and peace talks in the coming months. Flurry Of Diplomacy Foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland met in Berlin on December 12 to discusses aid to Ukraine while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country has been a staunch supporter of neighboring Ukraine, hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for talks in Warsaw about postwar steps. Leaders from across Europe are looking to show U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, that they are willing to assume their share of the burden to end the almost three-year war in Ukraine. Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU security. In a so-called Berlin Declaration, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as the EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, outlined their continued support for Kyiv. "We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support," the declaration said. The meeting in Berlin was organized by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. "Convinced that peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inseparable, we are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security," the declaration added. Baerbock and Kallas did not answer questions about the participation of German or European soldiers in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Following his meeting with Macron, Tusk said Poland has no plans to send troops to Ukraine. A Polish media outlet reported on the eve of the meeting that Tusk and Macron would discuss the possibility of sending a 40,000-strong peacekeeping force to Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported on December 12 that Trump told Macron and Zelenskiy during a meeting in Paris last weekend that he wants Europe to shoulder the burden of peace in Ukraine, including supplying the peacekeepers. Trump told the leaders he would offer support for the Europe-led cease-fire effort but would not put U.S. troops in Ukraine. Nor does he support Ukraine in NATO, he told them, the paper reported. Zelenskiy has repeatedly called for strong security guarantees, including NATO membership, saying Russia would otherwise not be deterred from invading again. Tusk and Macron, who met before the EU ministers gathered, reiterated that any peace deal in Ukraine must include the Ukrainians. "We will work with France on a solution that will, above all, protect Europe and Ukraine," Tusk said. The Polish prime minister said two days earlier that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1. EU justice and interior ministers have agreed on Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Europe's Schengen visa-free travel area from January 1. The decision, announced on December 12 by the European Council, comes nearly 18 years after the two southeast European countries became members of the bloc and 15 years since they fulfilled the technical criteria for entering the Schengen Area. "It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania," said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move in a message on X. "Fully in Schengen -- where you belong," von der Leyen wrote. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated the two countries, saying they had "worked hard and long" to achieve membership. "It’s done. It’s decided. It’s deserved. Romania & Bulgaria will fully join Schengen on 1 January 2025," Metsola wrote on X. "A stronger Schengen signifies a safer & more united Europe." Romanian President Klaus Iohannis hailed the decision, which he said "had been expected for too long" by Romanians and Bulgarians. "I have good news today," Iohannis said in a video message on December 12. "We can finally enjoy a well-deserved right obtained in a legitimate way," Iohannis said. He also took a swipe at Romania's Moscow-friendly far-right parties that had made substantial gains in the December 1 parliamentary polls, saying that "those who blame the European Union for their discontent do not want the best for Romania." Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu told journalists that for the first six months, random checks would still be performed based on risk assessment. The agreement also foresees the joint deployment of border guards to the Bulgarian-Turkish border. The move comes after Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner earlier this week announced that Vienna was finally dropping its opposition to the two countries' joining the 29-member zone, which encompasses more than 450 million people and covers 4,6 million square kilometers. Romania and Bulgaria were partially admitted into Schengen on March 31, when air and sea border controls were dropped, but Vienna continued its veto on the two countries' being allowed to scrap land-border checks over fears that more illegal migrants could reach Austria. Karner said on December 9 that Vienna's decision to lift its veto was based on a significant drop of migrant arrivals in Austria via Bulgaria and Romania. Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Schengen comes after Croatia became the most recent member in January 2023. Despite Bucharest and Sofia's meeting the technical criteria for membership since 2010, their admission into Schengen was opposed constantly by Austria and the Netherlands, but the latter eventually dropped its veto, leaving only Vienna in opposition. Both Romania and Bulgaria constantly argued that the decision to keep them on the outside was purely political. Eliminating border controls is expected to further boost the two countries' economies as trucks won't have to wait for days in kilometers-long lines at the border, which substantially increased the cost of transported goods. The measure has also long been anticipated by the diasporas of both countries, whose members have been spending long hours at the border during the summer and winter holiday seasons. With Romania and Bulgaria's full accession, 25 of the 27 EU countries will be full Schengen members. Two EU countries -- Cyprus and Ireland are not members. Non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland have also joined the free-travel agreement, which was initially signed in June 1985 in the small Luxembourg village of Schengen by five countries -- Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In recent years, several countries, including Germany, reintroduced random border checks with neighboring EU countries intended to fight illegal migration and people smuggling. French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will discuss the deployment of a postwar peacekeeping force in Ukraine when the two meet in Warsaw on December 12, according to two media outlets, the latest sign of a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades. Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita, citing unidentified sources, reported that the two EU leaders are considering a 40,000-strong peacekeeping force that would be made up of troops from various countries. Donald Trump's victory in the November 5 U.S. presidential election has set about a flurry of diplomacy in Europe to find an acceptable compromise on ending the war in Ukraine before he takes office on January 20. Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24-hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU national security. The United States plays a big role as it is Ukraine's largest supplier of military aid. Trump has threatened to curtail it if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refuses to negotiate in good faith. Tusk, a vocal supporter of Kyiv, said on December 10 that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1. Zelenskiy has demanded concrete Western security guarantees be part of any peace deal, arguing that Russia could invade again once it has rebuilt its forces. The United States and Britain gave Ukraine vague security assurances in 1994 to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons. However, neither nation came to Ukraine's defense when Russia invaded for the first time in 2014. A 40,000-strong Western peacekeeping force would serve as a meaningful security guarantee while Ukraine waits to join NATO. Diplomacy Overdrive Diplomacy to end the nearly three-year Russian invasion has been in overdrive this month with Trump, Macron and Zelenskiy meeting in Paris on December 7 to discuss peace options. Trump then met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been the loudest critic of Western support for Ukraine and the main spoiler of a united EU voice against the Kremlin. Zelenskiy and Orban, took jabs at each other on social media on December 11 over negotiations and peace. In a tweet , Orban said he had an hourlong phone call with Putin about the conditions for a cease-fire and peace talks with Ukraine. Zelenskiy shot back, accusing Orban of putting self-promotion over European unity. "Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving [success]. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in a reply to Orban's tweet. The Hungarian leader punched back, calling it "sad" that Zelenskiy allegedly rejected a Christmas cease-fire and large-scale prisoner exchange. Orban appeared to be referring to Zelenskiy's recent decree officially prohibiting Ukraine from engaging in peace talks with Russia. Significant differences remain among Western diplomats over what a deal would look like, including whether to allow Russia to temporarily occupy Ukrainian territory, end sanctions on Russia, and offer Ukraine security guarantees. Fighting Rages Both Ukraine and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their negotiating position ahead of Trump's return to the White House in January. Russia has stepped up its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure at the onset of winter to cause maximum discomfort, as outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces struggle to halt a grinding but steady Russian offensive in the east. Russian troops destroyed or captured several Ukrainian positions near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian military said on December 11. The city is a key logistics hub and its fall would be a heavy blow to Ukraine. Separately, at least eight Ukrainians were killed when a Russian missile struck a clinic in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya. At least 22 others, including a child, were injured. Rescue operations were still under way. Zaporizhzhya has been regularly targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes. On December 6, 10 people were killed in a strike on the city. Zelenskiy yesterday called on Kyiv's allies to provide 10-12 more Patriot air defense systems that he said are needed to fully protect Ukraine's skies. The United States has demanded that the government of Azerbaijan immediately release a group of detained human rights activists, journalists, and civil society figures being held in what is seen as an "escalating crackdown" on civil society and press freedom in Azerbaijan. The U.S. State Department on December 11 said it was " deeply concerned" over the detentions of individuals, including Rufat Safarov, Sevinc Vaqifqizi, Azer Qasimli, Farid Mehralizada, Baxtiyar Haciyev, Qubad Ibadoglu, and several associates of the independent outlet Meydan TV. "We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to release those unjustly detained for their advocacy on behalf of human rights, cease its crackdown on civil society, respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, and fulfill the commitments it made when it joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the statement. The timing of the detentions has already drawn significant criticism from governments and rights groups abroad. Two of the detainees -- Safarov and Vaqifqizi -- were to receive awards in Washington, D.C., this week for their work advancing human rights and fighting corruption. Safarov, a co-founder of Defense Line, one of Azerbaijan's leading civil society organizations, has actively promoted documenting politically motivated arrests, corruption in government structures, and digging up evidence of torture. He was arrested on December 3, just days before he was set to travel to the United States to receive the Secretary of State's Human Rights Defender Award. His detention is widely seen as a deliberate move by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence one of the few remaining full-time human rights defenders in the country. Vaqifqizi, editor in chief of Abzas Media, has played a critical role in uncovering corruption and government mismanagement in Azerbaijan. Her team has reported on illegal tender awards to companies linked to government officials and exposed the large-scale embezzlement of public funds. Vaqifqizi was detained in November 2023. On December 9, she was awarded the Secretary of State's 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions Award in absentia. Detentions such as those of Safarov, Vaqifqizi, and many others are part of a broader trend of repression in Azerbaijan. The government has increased pressure on activists, journalists, and independent organizations alike, leading to a significant decline in civil liberties. Human rights organizations estimate that at least 300 political prisoners are currently being held in Azerbaijani jails, underscoring ongoing criticism of President Ilham Aliyev's administration. Since taking power following the death of his predecessor and father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003, Ilham Aliyev has faced accusations of suppressing dissent by detaining journalists, opposition figures, and civil society activists. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the powerful billionaire behind the ruling Georgian Dream party, to express his urgent concerns over the deteriorating state of democracy in the country. The December 11 call was initiated by Macron and comes amid a violent crackdown on protesters following disputed elections in October that Georgian Dream won. In a statement published by his office, Macron condemned law enforcement for the use of excessive force against nonviolent protesters and journalists in general. He called for the immediate release of those arrested without grounds, respect for freedom of expression and demonstration, and inclusive dialogue. Macron has repeatedly expressed concerns about Georgian Dream's drift away from European values and toward authoritarianism. The most recent wave of protests was sparked by allegations of electoral fraud during the October 2024 parliamentary elections. The opposition has refused to recognize the result, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power. The protests escalated after law enforcement resorted to excessive force in dispersing peaceful rallies, sparking outrage both domestically and internationally. Georgian Dream confirmed the conversation with the French leader, saying that Ivanishvili told Macron that Georgia was a "legal state" and that most detainees were held on administrative charges and would be released soon. Ivanishvili claimed that any arrests on criminal charges were "based on a high standard of evidence" and that "police actions were in line with European standards." Georgian Dream also added that investigations into alleged police misconduct were under way. Paris Meeting A day earlier, Macron hosted Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Paris during celebrations for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Zurabishvili, who has been estranged from the Georgian Dream and Ivanishvili, joined the opposition in rejecting the election results. During her trip to France, she also met with other western leaders, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Macron appears to be spearheading a Western attempt to find a resolution that aligns with EU values, experts said. Bidzina Ivanishvili, who holds dual citizenship in Georgia and France, is a significant figure in Georgian politics despite his official retirement from active political leadership. His vast wealth and political connections have allowed him to maintain influence, and his role in the ruling Georgian Dream party is crucial. Romania's four pro-Western parties have agreed on forming a parliamentary majority to prevent far-right groups from joining the government amid political turmoil prompted by revelations about Russia's malign influence that led to the annulment of the first round of presidential elections won by a Moscow-friendly outsider. The four parties that together won the most votes in parliamentary elections on December 1 -- the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), reformist Save Romania Union (USR), and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR -- reached an agreement late on December 10 in Bucharest. "Today, the pro-European parties PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR plus the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities express their firm commitment to form a pro-European majority in the Romanian parliament, a pro-European government, and possibly backing a joint pro-European candidate in the presidential elections," the four parties said in a joint statement published late on December 10. The agreement comes after the four parties last week threw their support behind USR presidential candidate Elena Lasconi ahead of a December 8 scheduled runoff against the pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won a shock victory in the first round on November 24. However, Romania's Constitutional Court on December 6 canceled the results of the first round and ordered a rerun of the presidential polls after the EU and NATO member's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by an unnamed "state actor" with the help of China-owned TikTok social media platform. Lasconi on December 11 said the agreement was reached because "Romania is going through a very difficult" period. The PSD and the PNL, the two parties that have dominated Romania's politics since the fall of communism, formed an unlikely left-right alliance in 2021. The alliance became increasingly unpopular while also eroding both parties' support among voters, and allowed the shock rise of pro-Russian, far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which finished a close second in parliamentary elections with more than 18 percent to PSD's 23 percent. Adding to the current instability, no presidential polls are likely until sometime early next year while it remains unclear if parties would have to propose new candidates or if Georgescu will be allowed to run again. Khalil Haqqani, the refugee minister in Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration, has been killed in an explosion in the capital, Kabul, two sources from inside the government told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on December 11. The sources said the blast, which occurred inside the ministry's compound, killed others as well, though no details were given. Haqqani, the uncle of the Taliban's acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is the first senior cabinet member to be killed in an explosion since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as international forces withdrew from the war-torn country. The United States designated Khalil Haqqani as a global terrorist on February 9, 2011 and had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.Reynolds puts up 22 for St. Joseph’s in 76-58 victory over Delaware State
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — John Buggs III's 15 points helped East Tennessee State defeat Austin Peay 79-57 on Saturday night. Buggs shot 4 for 7 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Buccaneers (6-2). Jaden Seymour scored 13 points and added 11 rebounds. Quimari Peterson had 13 points and went 6 of 11 from the field. The Governors (4-4) were led in scoring by LJ Thomas, who finished with 15 points. Austin Peay also got 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Tate McCubbin. Tekao Carpenter also had eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
NoneCan Timothee Chalamet actually predict the future? We shall see. The Hollywood actor, known for roles like Paul Atreides in the “Dune” franchise and Willy Wonka in “Wonka”, was the guest picker for ESPN’s “College Gameday” show on Saturday morning. When it came time to pick between No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State , Chalamet went with the Ducks. “I want to go 6-0. I’m going Oregon. Number one team in the country for a reason,” he said. “Strong defense. Not as sharp as 2023 at times, but great showing this year.” Fans all over social media were praising him for his knowledge of the college football landscape. Big Ten championship: No. 1 Oregon (12-0) vs. No. 3 Penn State (11-1) When: Saturday, Dec. 7 Time: 5 p.m. PT Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis TV channel: CBS Stream: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a cable provider, use your login information to watch this game on cbssports.com . Oregon Ducks football 2024 season schedule, scores Sign up for The Ducks Beat newsletter