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With Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) march on Damascus, there has been a strong difference in opinion among the supporters of Palestine’s resistance against Israeli barbarism. Some view the developments as foreshadowing the complete “liberation” of Syria from the oppressive Baath rule, others regard them as simply serving the interests of the empire and Israel, taking advantage of the difficulties that the chief allies of Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad, namely Russia and Iran, have recently been facing elsewhere. Both perspectives enjoy some evidential support. Syria under the Baath rule has certainly not been a country where everyone could live in peace and tranquillity. Its form of government has been indistinguishable from that of the monarchies of the region, which seem to attract frequent universal criticism and condemnation. On the other hand, merely by looking at the statements put out recently by the most fanatic Zionists regarding what is happening in Syria today, one could justifiably get the impression that it indeed serves the interests of Israel, if not only by diverting global attention from the genocide in Gaza but also by materially diminishing the abilities and effectiveness of those in the broader region who have been challenging Israel. Visegrad 24, a Polish media publisher that has been consistently cheerleading Israel’s genocidal conduct for the last year, posted on X, almost in a tone of flattery, that, “Turkey has defeated Russia and Iran in Syria,” emphasizing, “it (had) to be said clearly.” Attached to the post was a picture of Turkish soldiers with a massive Turkish flag, clearly suggesting praise. The enthusiasm was odd, as the same Visegrad 24, not long ago, was trying to brand President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the devil himself and passionately encouraging Kurdish separatism in Türkiye. In this connection, the critical view revolves around the truism that one cannot be both friends and foes with Israel. Supporting Palestine’s resistance in other ways but disrupting the abilities and effectiveness of the “axis of resistance” at the same time is taken to be a contradictory position if we think rationally. The latter is allied with, and provides significant support to, Palestine, and this is why the empire, guided by Israel, has been so determined to destroy it. The worry is understandable, but what is curious is that for many of those who have entertained these considerations, the YPG’s role, as the PKK terrorist group's Syrian wing, in the Syrian civil war seems to remain immune to similar criticisms. How is it that the PKK/YPG, the empire’s main military and political apparatus in Syria, is not subjected to the same level of scrutiny on exactly the same grounds? How is it that the PKK/YPG is spared criticism in this regard when it is really another challenger to the Syrian government? The terrorist group is provided weapons and training by the empire itself so that it could be used later on to reshape the region in the interests of Israel. In fact, some have already started sharing partition plans for Syria, which makes the case. Eli David, a psychopathic champion of Israeli barbarism, posted on X a map of Syria partitioned by a “three-state solution” between separate Shiite, Sunni and Kurd/Druze states, the latter of which he specified as the “allies of America and Israel, to border Iraq, Jordan and Israel.” Of course, this is in complete opposition to Türkiye’s official position , which was reiterated recently: Syria’s territorial integrity is essential for any future settlement. It is interesting that some of the excellent critics of the empire, who recently drew attention to a disturbing article in The Times of Israel reporting that “opposition figures speaking to Israeli TV say they love Jewish state and want to forge a relationship,” refuse to acknowledge that the loving relationship between the PKK/YPG and the misnamed “Jewish state” would be at least as, if not more, intimate. And the plausible criticism of the religious sectarianism of the Islamist factions in Syria could be applied equally to the PKK/YPG’s ethnic sectarianism. It is also worth noting in this connection that Assad had refused to negotiate with Erdoğan unless Türkiye completely withdrew from northern Syria, where its military presence was established mainly against the threat of the PKK/YPG. However, right after the HTS’s march on Damascus had begun, Assad’s government left some territories for the PKK/YPG to come and take over. Then the question is this: How can Assad, who is supposed to defend the territorial integrity of Syria, cooperate better with the PKK/YPG, which overtly works with the empire but pursues ethnic sectarianism and possibly separatism, than with Türkiye, which has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the territorial integrity of Syria?Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the cost of living, backing the Coalition to deliver more help to households over the next three years. In a rebuff to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the latest Resolve Political Monitor shows that 56 per cent of voters have rejected his – “we have your back” – after years of pressure on family budgets. The survey also reveals that 59 per cent of voters believe they are worse off than when Labor came to power at the last election, with only 13 per cent feeling better off. Asked to name the party and leader most likely to make them better off over the next three years, Australians backed Dutton and the Coalition over Albanese and Labor by 36 to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll published by , also spelled trouble for Labor, with Albanese found to be the weakest prime minister Australia has seen in the 16 years the poll has tracked the “strong and decisive” rating. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is considered to be the stronger and more decisive leader, according to the poll. However, Albanese was still ranked as less arrogant than Dutton and remains the preferred prime minister. An emergency declaration was made in the centre of the Gold Coast’s busy tourist strip after a suspected underground explosion sparked chaos. Fire investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast in Surfers Paradise on Sunday afternoon. A woman in her 20s was left with lower leg injuries and remained in a stable condition. Police declared an emergency around Cavill Avenue, Elkhorn Avenue, The Esplanade and Surfers Paradise Boulevard about 6.15pm. An exclusion zone was put in place, which was later revoked about 8.15pm. Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the cost of living, backing the Coalition to deliver more help to households over the next three years. In a rebuff to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the latest Resolve Political Monitor shows that 56 per cent of voters have rejected his – “we have your back” – after years of pressure on family budgets. The survey also reveals that 59 per cent of voters believe they are worse off than when Labor came to power at the last election, with only 13 per cent feeling better off. Asked to name the party and leader most likely to make them better off over the next three years, Australians backed Dutton and the Coalition over Albanese and Labor by 36 to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll published by , also spelled trouble for Labor, with Albanese found to be the weakest prime minister Australia has seen in the 16 years the poll has tracked the “strong and decisive” rating. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is considered to be the stronger and more decisive leader, according to the poll. However, Albanese was still ranked as less arrogant than Dutton and remains the preferred prime minister. After sweating through a sweltering Sunday, we’re back to a muggy Monday in Brisbane today. The outlook is for a cloudy day with a top of 30 degrees, and a 60 per cent chance of showers. The weather bureau is also suggesting a storm might blow up this evening. Here’s the forecast for the warm week ahead: Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning include: Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the The Coalition told the CSIRO to re-do its nuclear report. It’s . ‘The net is tightening’: Police have . , ending 50 years of iron rule by Assad family. Opinion: ‘Fatty’ Vautin was a TV trailblazer. says a lot. Good morning, thanks for joining us for live news blog. It’s Monday, December 9, and we’re expecting a cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Premier David Crisafulli has after his own attorney-general conceded they would be a violation of human rights. Queensland’s Housing Minister Sam O’Connor after a change to rules that had previously meant doing so would cost them grants and concessions. Two unique Brisbane fashion brands, which aim to empower women, both had modest beginnings – Thirty years ago, Peter and Carolyn Hoffman faced the worst day of their lives. with impressive Christmas light and displays. And NBA legend George Gervin has revealed his hopes of creating a “feeder” system between Australian and American basketball,
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Maresca led the Foxes to the Sky Bet Championship title last season before joining Chelsea over the summer. Leicester famously toasted their improbable Premier League success in 2016 with an impromptu bash at Vardy’s house. But the venue for last April’s party was not at the striker’s abode, but at Maresca’s house when the players turned up unannounced at 2am. Maresca recalled: “The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team. “This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them. “I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o’clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together. Last night at Enzo’s 🏡 💙 pic.twitter.com/dqP8BFsDn3 — Leicester City (@LCFC) April 27, 2024 “When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager’s home. That shows the connection.” Similarly to when they clinched the Premier League crown, Leicester were not actually playing when they found out they were promoted after Leeds lost at QPR. “To be honest I was at home watching the game and when it finished all the staff came over – and later the players,” added the Italian. “They didn’t knock on the door, they were in the garden and knocked on the window. What time did they leave? I don’t remember.” Vardy might not be having a party at the end of this season but he is still banging in the goals at 37 and Maresca rates the striker even more highly than England’s two top goalscorers – Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney. “People don’t realise how good he is,” added Maresca. “I know England have been quite lucky because of Kane and Rooney, this type of striker, they are fantastic. “But Jamie is, if you ask me, the best one.” Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time with Chelsea on Saturday, but he will be without captain Reece James due to a hamstring problem.Budget Blinds Announces Strategic Changes to Executive Leadership Team‘Only losers on their books’: How gambling giants are blacklisting winners
NORMAL – When Addison Martin scored the game’s first basket just 20 seconds in Thursday, the CEFCU Arena crowd erupted. It was not the first eruption of the day, and it certainly would not be the last. With an Illinois State women’s basketball program record Education Day gathering of 8,027 comprised mainly of elementary school children roaring from beginning to end, the Redbirds dismantled NAIA program St. Francis early and cruised to a 110-60 nonconference triumph. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) celebrates after a 3-pointer by Caroline Waite in the second quarter against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. “It was awesome. It was just a fun atmosphere to play in front of a bunch of little kids. It gets us going on the court,” Martin said. “It was fun to hear them scream and have a great time. And of course they were out of school so that’s even better.” Before scoring an arena-record 110 points, ISU players were instructed by Coach Kristen Gillespie to harken back to their youth. “This is our favorite game of the year,” Gillespie said after her team improved to 5-3. “My message to our players was we were all third or fourth graders with dreams of being a college athlete one day, and we’re getting to live out our childhood dreams so let’s put on a great show. "Play with immense joy and passion and have fun out there. I think that’s what you saw from us.” Illinois State forward Savannah McGowan (52) scores against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. The measurables from that immense joy revealed 11 3-pointers in 24 attempts, a 30-0 margin in fast-break points and 59.4 percent overall shooting. ISU enjoyed a 30-5 bulge late in the first quarter and carried a healthy 67-19 advantage into halftime. “It’s fun being out there with all of our team. We get along so well and have such good chemistry,” guard Caroline Waite said. “The environment when you have 8,000 kids yelling at you, it makes it so much better.” No more Waiteing Waite misfired badly on her first 3-point attempt of the day, but her aim would soon improve. Waite “The first one was a brick. Honestly, I just forgot about it and laughed it off,” she said. “After that, I felt good.” Waite, in her second season at ISU after transferring from Bradley, had scored just nine points in five games thus far. But one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s top 3-point shooters in her days with the Braves rediscovered that form and buried seven straight 3-pointers before bookending that streak with another miss. Waite was 9 of 11 shooting and 7 of 9 from beyond the arc for a career-high 25 points. “Coach challenged me before the game to not feel so much pressure. Just go out and have fun, really lean on other people and focus on the fundamentals,” said Waite. “That really helped me this game. The hoops gets bigger after you make a few.” “It just takes one game to see the ball go in and get that confidence,” Gillespie said. “Everyone on our team knows that’s what Caroline Waite is all about. She’s one of the best shooters in the country, and she put on a show today. I can’t tell you how happy I am for her. I know this is a long time coming.” Washington emerging ISU’s Doneelah Washington, the reigning MVC Freshman of the Week, scored 11 points for her third double figure scoring production in four games. Washington “I’m getting pretty comfortable,” said the 6-foot-1 Washington. “I have a supporting crew around me. I can always go talk to anybody if I need to talk. It’s like an eye opener. You have to have confidence coming in as a freshman, but I think I’m doing pretty well.” “She’s just a competitor. She has no idea how good she’s going to be. Her ceiling is so high,” Gillespie said. “She’s extremely coachable. She listens to our staff. "She’s lucky she’s got some upperclassmen in the post who have taken her under their wing. She’s done a great job with her confidence. She has a knack for the ball. She’s just getting started.” Washington is known as "Neebay" around the team, a nickname that begs for an origin story. "I don’t really know the whole background, but my aunt made it when I was a kid because I was a bad kid," she said. "Like a be bad then they changed it to Neebay somehow." Happy totals Neveah Thomas chipped in 13 points for ISU, Martin 12, freshman Trista Fayta a career-high 12 and Shannon Dowell 11. Illinois State guard Lauren Cohen (4) passes to a teammate against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Fayta had four steals and six assists, and Maya Wong handed out a game-high seven assists. Thomas grabbed eight rebounds and Martin, Elyce Knudsen and Lauren Cohen six apiece. ISU also sank 23 of 25 free throws for 92 percent. Tykara Harrison led St. Francis (7-2) with 15 points. Illinois State forward Nevaeh Thomas (21) heads to the basket against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Savannah McGowan (52) scores against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) celebrates after a 3-pointer by Caroline Waite in the second quarter against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) goes up to block a shot by St. Francis Tykara Harrison (2) in the second quarter against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen, left, and other teammates huddle after a foul by Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen shoots a three against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen (1) brings the ball up the court against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie talks with Illinois State guard Maya Wong (12) and Elyce Knudsen (1) Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie cheers on the team against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Lauren Cohen (4) passes to a teammate against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State Maya Wong (12) guards St. Francis Tykara Harrison (2) in the first quarter on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Maya Wong (12) looks to pass in the first quarter against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Follow Randy Reinhardt on Twitter: @Pg_Reinhardt Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose stunning insurgency toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image, renouncing longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. As he entered Damascus behind his victorious fighters Sunday, he even dropped his nom de guerre and referred to himself with his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. Insurgents control Damascus, Assad has fled into hiding, and for the first time after 50 years of his family’s iron hand, it is an open question how Syria will be governed. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Syria is home to multiple ethnic and religious communities, often pitted against each other by Assad’s state and years of war. Many of them fear the possibility that Sunni Islamist extremists will take over. The country is also fragmented among disparate armed factions, and foreign powers from Russia and Iran to the United States, Turkey and Israel all have their hands in the mix. Hours after Damascus' capture, the 42-year-old al-Sharaa made his first appearance in the city's landmark Umayyad Mosque, declaring Assad's fall “a victory for the Islamic nation.” A senior rebel commander, Anas Salkhadi, appeared on state TV to declare, “Our message to all the sects of Syria, is that we tell them that Syria is for everyone.” Al-Sharaa, who has been labeled a terrorist by the United States, and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – many of whose fighters are jihadis -- now stand to be a major player. For years, al-Sharaa worked to consolidate power, while bottled up in the province of Idlib in Syria’s northwest corner as Assad’s Iranian- and Russian-backed rule over much of the country appeared solid. He maneuvered among extremist organizations while eliminating competitors and former allies. He sought to polish the image of his de-facto “salvation government” that has been running Idlib to win over international governments and reassure Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. And he built ties with various tribes and other groups. Along the way, he shed his garb as a hard-line Islamist guerrilla and put on suits for press interviews, talking of building state institutions and decentralizing power to reflect Syria’s diversity. “Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, no one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” he said in an interview with CNN last week, offering the possibility HTS would eventually be dissolved after Assad falls. “Don’t judge by words, but by actions,” he said. Syrian opposition fighters seize ammunition abandoned by the army in the town of Khan Assubul, Syria, southwest of Aleppo, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Al-Golani’s beginnings in Iraq Throughout his rise through extremist ranks, al-Sharaa was only known by the jihadi nickname he adopted, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. His ties to al-Qaida stretch back to 2003, when he joined insurgents battling U.S. troops in Iraq. The Syrian native was detained by the U.S. military but remained in Iraq. During that time, al-Qaida usurped like-minded groups and formed the extremist Islamic State of Iraq, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In 2011, a popular uprising in Syria against Assad triggered a brutal government crackdown and led to all-out war. Al-Golani’s prominence grew when al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to establish a branch of al-Qaida called the Nusra Front. The United States labeled the new group as a terrorist organization. That designation still remains in place and the U.S. government has put a US$10 million bounty on him. The Nusra Front and the Syrian conflict As Syria’s civil war intensified in 2013, so did al-Golani’s ambitions. He defied al-Baghdadi’s calls to dissolve the Nusra Front and merge it with al-Qaida’s operation in Iraq, to form the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Al-Golani nonetheless pledged his allegiance to al-Qaida, which later disassociated itself from ISIS. The Nusra Front battled ISIS and eliminated much of its competition among the Syrian armed opposition to Assad. If you're on Telegram, subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on top stories In his first interview in 2014, al-Golani kept his face covered, telling a reporter for Qatari network Al-Jazeera that he rejected political talks in Geneva to end the conflict. He said his goal was to see Syria ruled under Islamic law and made clear that there was no room for the country’s Alawite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities. Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized military armored vehicle on the outskirts of Hama, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Consolidating power and rebranding In 2016, al-Golani revealed his face to the public for the first time in a video message that announced his group was renaming itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham -– the Syria Conquest Front -- and cutting its ties to al-Qaida. “This new organization has no affiliation to any external entity,” he said in the video, filmed wearing military garb and a turban. The move paved the way for al-Golani to assert full control over fracturing militant groups. A year later, his alliance rebranded again as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -– meaning Organization for Liberating Syria -- as the groups merged, consolidating al-Golani’s power in northwest Syria’s Idlib province. HTS later clashed with independent Islamist militants who opposed the merger, further emboldening al-Golani and his group as the leading power in northwestern Syria, able to rule with an iron fist. With his power consolidated, al-Golani set in motion a transformation that few could have imagined. Replacing his military garb with shirt and trousers, he began calling for religious tolerance and pluralism. Complete coverage of conflicts in the Mideast He appealed to the Druze community in Idlib, which the Nusra Front had previously targeted, and visited the families of Kurds who were killed by Turkish-backed militias. In 2021, he had his first interview with an American journalist on PBS. Wearing a blazer, with his short hair gelled back, the now more soft-spoken HTS leader said that his group posed no threat to the West and that sanctions imposed against it were unjust. “Yes, we have criticized Western policies,” he said. “But to wage a war against the United States or Europe from Syria, that’s not true. We didn’t say we wanted to fight.”
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House rejects Democratic efforts to force release of Matt Gaetz ethics reportThe US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on Friday the constitutionality of a law requiring social media giant TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the United States. In its , the court rejected challenges from TikTok and its users who the law violated various constitutional protections, including their rights to free speech. The court’s decision means TikTok must complete a qualified divestiture from ByteDance by January 19, 2025, or its platform will effectively become unavailable to US users. The court found that the government presented compelling national security justifications for the law, specifically citing concerns about the Chinese government’s ability to collect data on Americans and manipulate content through the platform. While acknowledging the significant impact on TikTok and its estimated 170 million US users, the court determined that these security concerns justified the strict measures. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” the opinion stated. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” The court emphasized that TikTok has options to continue operating in the US through divestiture, though the company has argued such a separation would be impractical due to Chinese export restrictions. The ruling also noted that the President can grant a 90-day extension if progress is being made toward divestiture. As described in the opinion, TikTok’s previous to resolve these concerns through a national security agreement with the US government were deemed insufficient by both Congress and the Executive branch, leading to the passage of this more stringent legislation. 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States On December 6, 1865, the to the United States Constitution was ratified, formally ending slavery in the US. Spain adopts modern constitution On December 6, 1978, Spain adopted its by referendum. It laid the foundation for democratic government in the country after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The event is celebrated annually in Spain as Constitution Day.
Chargers clinch playoff berth with dominating win over Patriots2026: Alhassan Doguwa echoes voice of Osun people — Adeleke’s aideAfter the strong November payrolls data , released last week, boosted hopes for an interest rate cut in December,the focus of investors in the week ahead will be on the consumer price inflation. The retail inflation data could provide clues on the US Federal Reserve’s last monetary policy of 2024. In addition, the market participants will also have the Producer Price Index (PPI) data. On earnings front, the Wall Street will see quarter results of some big names including Oracle, Adobe and Broadcom. Economic calendar On December 9 (Monday), a report on wholesale inventories for October will be released. On December 10 (Tuesday), separate reports on NFIB Optimism Index for November and US productivity (revision) for Q3 will be released. On December 11 (Wednesday), data on Consumer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 12 (Thursday), data on Producer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 13 (Friday), a report on Import Price Index for November will be released. Earnings Following companies are due to report third quarter earnings in the week ahead — Oracle, Toll Brothers, Casey’s General Stores, AutoZone, Ferguson Enterprises, GameStop, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Adobe, Broadcom, Costco Wholesale, and Ciena. Events The Goldman Sachs US Financial Services Conference will start on December 10 and the Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology Conference will begin on December 11. Markets last week The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose to record closing high on Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 123.19 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 44,642.52, the S&P 500 gained 15.16 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 6,090.27 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 159.05 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 19,859.77. For the week, the Nasdaq gained 3.3 per cent, the S&P 500 rose about 1 per cent and the Dow fell 0.6 per cent. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15 per cent from 4.18 per cent.
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With Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) march on Damascus, there has been a strong difference in opinion among the supporters of Palestine’s resistance against Israeli barbarism. Some view the developments as foreshadowing the complete “liberation” of Syria from the oppressive Baath rule, others regard them as simply serving the interests of the empire and Israel, taking advantage of the difficulties that the chief allies of Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad, namely Russia and Iran, have recently been facing elsewhere. Both perspectives enjoy some evidential support. Syria under the Baath rule has certainly not been a country where everyone could live in peace and tranquillity. Its form of government has been indistinguishable from that of the monarchies of the region, which seem to attract frequent universal criticism and condemnation. On the other hand, merely by looking at the statements put out recently by the most fanatic Zionists regarding what is happening in Syria today, one could justifiably get the impression that it indeed serves the interests of Israel, if not only by diverting global attention from the genocide in Gaza but also by materially diminishing the abilities and effectiveness of those in the broader region who have been challenging Israel. Visegrad 24, a Polish media publisher that has been consistently cheerleading Israel’s genocidal conduct for the last year, posted on X, almost in a tone of flattery, that, “Turkey has defeated Russia and Iran in Syria,” emphasizing, “it (had) to be said clearly.” Attached to the post was a picture of Turkish soldiers with a massive Turkish flag, clearly suggesting praise. The enthusiasm was odd, as the same Visegrad 24, not long ago, was trying to brand President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the devil himself and passionately encouraging Kurdish separatism in Türkiye. In this connection, the critical view revolves around the truism that one cannot be both friends and foes with Israel. Supporting Palestine’s resistance in other ways but disrupting the abilities and effectiveness of the “axis of resistance” at the same time is taken to be a contradictory position if we think rationally. The latter is allied with, and provides significant support to, Palestine, and this is why the empire, guided by Israel, has been so determined to destroy it. The worry is understandable, but what is curious is that for many of those who have entertained these considerations, the YPG’s role, as the PKK terrorist group's Syrian wing, in the Syrian civil war seems to remain immune to similar criticisms. How is it that the PKK/YPG, the empire’s main military and political apparatus in Syria, is not subjected to the same level of scrutiny on exactly the same grounds? How is it that the PKK/YPG is spared criticism in this regard when it is really another challenger to the Syrian government? The terrorist group is provided weapons and training by the empire itself so that it could be used later on to reshape the region in the interests of Israel. In fact, some have already started sharing partition plans for Syria, which makes the case. Eli David, a psychopathic champion of Israeli barbarism, posted on X a map of Syria partitioned by a “three-state solution” between separate Shiite, Sunni and Kurd/Druze states, the latter of which he specified as the “allies of America and Israel, to border Iraq, Jordan and Israel.” Of course, this is in complete opposition to Türkiye’s official position , which was reiterated recently: Syria’s territorial integrity is essential for any future settlement. It is interesting that some of the excellent critics of the empire, who recently drew attention to a disturbing article in The Times of Israel reporting that “opposition figures speaking to Israeli TV say they love Jewish state and want to forge a relationship,” refuse to acknowledge that the loving relationship between the PKK/YPG and the misnamed “Jewish state” would be at least as, if not more, intimate. And the plausible criticism of the religious sectarianism of the Islamist factions in Syria could be applied equally to the PKK/YPG’s ethnic sectarianism. It is also worth noting in this connection that Assad had refused to negotiate with Erdoğan unless Türkiye completely withdrew from northern Syria, where its military presence was established mainly against the threat of the PKK/YPG. However, right after the HTS’s march on Damascus had begun, Assad’s government left some territories for the PKK/YPG to come and take over. Then the question is this: How can Assad, who is supposed to defend the territorial integrity of Syria, cooperate better with the PKK/YPG, which overtly works with the empire but pursues ethnic sectarianism and possibly separatism, than with Türkiye, which has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the territorial integrity of Syria?Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the cost of living, backing the Coalition to deliver more help to households over the next three years. In a rebuff to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the latest Resolve Political Monitor shows that 56 per cent of voters have rejected his – “we have your back” – after years of pressure on family budgets. The survey also reveals that 59 per cent of voters believe they are worse off than when Labor came to power at the last election, with only 13 per cent feeling better off. Asked to name the party and leader most likely to make them better off over the next three years, Australians backed Dutton and the Coalition over Albanese and Labor by 36 to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll published by , also spelled trouble for Labor, with Albanese found to be the weakest prime minister Australia has seen in the 16 years the poll has tracked the “strong and decisive” rating. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is considered to be the stronger and more decisive leader, according to the poll. However, Albanese was still ranked as less arrogant than Dutton and remains the preferred prime minister. An emergency declaration was made in the centre of the Gold Coast’s busy tourist strip after a suspected underground explosion sparked chaos. Fire investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast in Surfers Paradise on Sunday afternoon. A woman in her 20s was left with lower leg injuries and remained in a stable condition. Police declared an emergency around Cavill Avenue, Elkhorn Avenue, The Esplanade and Surfers Paradise Boulevard about 6.15pm. An exclusion zone was put in place, which was later revoked about 8.15pm. Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the cost of living, backing the Coalition to deliver more help to households over the next three years. In a rebuff to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the latest Resolve Political Monitor shows that 56 per cent of voters have rejected his – “we have your back” – after years of pressure on family budgets. The survey also reveals that 59 per cent of voters believe they are worse off than when Labor came to power at the last election, with only 13 per cent feeling better off. Asked to name the party and leader most likely to make them better off over the next three years, Australians backed Dutton and the Coalition over Albanese and Labor by 36 to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll published by , also spelled trouble for Labor, with Albanese found to be the weakest prime minister Australia has seen in the 16 years the poll has tracked the “strong and decisive” rating. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is considered to be the stronger and more decisive leader, according to the poll. However, Albanese was still ranked as less arrogant than Dutton and remains the preferred prime minister. After sweating through a sweltering Sunday, we’re back to a muggy Monday in Brisbane today. The outlook is for a cloudy day with a top of 30 degrees, and a 60 per cent chance of showers. The weather bureau is also suggesting a storm might blow up this evening. Here’s the forecast for the warm week ahead: Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning include: Voters have slashed their core support for federal Labor to a new low of 27 per cent amid a deepening dispute over the The Coalition told the CSIRO to re-do its nuclear report. It’s . ‘The net is tightening’: Police have . , ending 50 years of iron rule by Assad family. Opinion: ‘Fatty’ Vautin was a TV trailblazer. says a lot. Good morning, thanks for joining us for live news blog. It’s Monday, December 9, and we’re expecting a cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Premier David Crisafulli has after his own attorney-general conceded they would be a violation of human rights. Queensland’s Housing Minister Sam O’Connor after a change to rules that had previously meant doing so would cost them grants and concessions. Two unique Brisbane fashion brands, which aim to empower women, both had modest beginnings – Thirty years ago, Peter and Carolyn Hoffman faced the worst day of their lives. with impressive Christmas light and displays. And NBA legend George Gervin has revealed his hopes of creating a “feeder” system between Australian and American basketball,
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Maresca led the Foxes to the Sky Bet Championship title last season before joining Chelsea over the summer. Leicester famously toasted their improbable Premier League success in 2016 with an impromptu bash at Vardy’s house. But the venue for last April’s party was not at the striker’s abode, but at Maresca’s house when the players turned up unannounced at 2am. Maresca recalled: “The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team. “This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them. “I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o’clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together. Last night at Enzo’s 🏡 💙 pic.twitter.com/dqP8BFsDn3 — Leicester City (@LCFC) April 27, 2024 “When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager’s home. That shows the connection.” Similarly to when they clinched the Premier League crown, Leicester were not actually playing when they found out they were promoted after Leeds lost at QPR. “To be honest I was at home watching the game and when it finished all the staff came over – and later the players,” added the Italian. “They didn’t knock on the door, they were in the garden and knocked on the window. What time did they leave? I don’t remember.” Vardy might not be having a party at the end of this season but he is still banging in the goals at 37 and Maresca rates the striker even more highly than England’s two top goalscorers – Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney. “People don’t realise how good he is,” added Maresca. “I know England have been quite lucky because of Kane and Rooney, this type of striker, they are fantastic. “But Jamie is, if you ask me, the best one.” Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time with Chelsea on Saturday, but he will be without captain Reece James due to a hamstring problem.Budget Blinds Announces Strategic Changes to Executive Leadership Team‘Only losers on their books’: How gambling giants are blacklisting winners
NORMAL – When Addison Martin scored the game’s first basket just 20 seconds in Thursday, the CEFCU Arena crowd erupted. It was not the first eruption of the day, and it certainly would not be the last. With an Illinois State women’s basketball program record Education Day gathering of 8,027 comprised mainly of elementary school children roaring from beginning to end, the Redbirds dismantled NAIA program St. Francis early and cruised to a 110-60 nonconference triumph. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) celebrates after a 3-pointer by Caroline Waite in the second quarter against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. “It was awesome. It was just a fun atmosphere to play in front of a bunch of little kids. It gets us going on the court,” Martin said. “It was fun to hear them scream and have a great time. And of course they were out of school so that’s even better.” Before scoring an arena-record 110 points, ISU players were instructed by Coach Kristen Gillespie to harken back to their youth. “This is our favorite game of the year,” Gillespie said after her team improved to 5-3. “My message to our players was we were all third or fourth graders with dreams of being a college athlete one day, and we’re getting to live out our childhood dreams so let’s put on a great show. "Play with immense joy and passion and have fun out there. I think that’s what you saw from us.” Illinois State forward Savannah McGowan (52) scores against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. The measurables from that immense joy revealed 11 3-pointers in 24 attempts, a 30-0 margin in fast-break points and 59.4 percent overall shooting. ISU enjoyed a 30-5 bulge late in the first quarter and carried a healthy 67-19 advantage into halftime. “It’s fun being out there with all of our team. We get along so well and have such good chemistry,” guard Caroline Waite said. “The environment when you have 8,000 kids yelling at you, it makes it so much better.” No more Waiteing Waite misfired badly on her first 3-point attempt of the day, but her aim would soon improve. Waite “The first one was a brick. Honestly, I just forgot about it and laughed it off,” she said. “After that, I felt good.” Waite, in her second season at ISU after transferring from Bradley, had scored just nine points in five games thus far. But one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s top 3-point shooters in her days with the Braves rediscovered that form and buried seven straight 3-pointers before bookending that streak with another miss. Waite was 9 of 11 shooting and 7 of 9 from beyond the arc for a career-high 25 points. “Coach challenged me before the game to not feel so much pressure. Just go out and have fun, really lean on other people and focus on the fundamentals,” said Waite. “That really helped me this game. The hoops gets bigger after you make a few.” “It just takes one game to see the ball go in and get that confidence,” Gillespie said. “Everyone on our team knows that’s what Caroline Waite is all about. She’s one of the best shooters in the country, and she put on a show today. I can’t tell you how happy I am for her. I know this is a long time coming.” Washington emerging ISU’s Doneelah Washington, the reigning MVC Freshman of the Week, scored 11 points for her third double figure scoring production in four games. Washington “I’m getting pretty comfortable,” said the 6-foot-1 Washington. “I have a supporting crew around me. I can always go talk to anybody if I need to talk. It’s like an eye opener. You have to have confidence coming in as a freshman, but I think I’m doing pretty well.” “She’s just a competitor. She has no idea how good she’s going to be. Her ceiling is so high,” Gillespie said. “She’s extremely coachable. She listens to our staff. "She’s lucky she’s got some upperclassmen in the post who have taken her under their wing. She’s done a great job with her confidence. She has a knack for the ball. She’s just getting started.” Washington is known as "Neebay" around the team, a nickname that begs for an origin story. "I don’t really know the whole background, but my aunt made it when I was a kid because I was a bad kid," she said. "Like a be bad then they changed it to Neebay somehow." Happy totals Neveah Thomas chipped in 13 points for ISU, Martin 12, freshman Trista Fayta a career-high 12 and Shannon Dowell 11. Illinois State guard Lauren Cohen (4) passes to a teammate against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Fayta had four steals and six assists, and Maya Wong handed out a game-high seven assists. Thomas grabbed eight rebounds and Martin, Elyce Knudsen and Lauren Cohen six apiece. ISU also sank 23 of 25 free throws for 92 percent. Tykara Harrison led St. Francis (7-2) with 15 points. Illinois State forward Nevaeh Thomas (21) heads to the basket against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Savannah McGowan (52) scores against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) celebrates after a 3-pointer by Caroline Waite in the second quarter against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State forward Addison Martin (24) goes up to block a shot by St. Francis Tykara Harrison (2) in the second quarter against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen, left, and other teammates huddle after a foul by Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen shoots a three against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen (1) brings the ball up the court against St. Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie talks with Illinois State guard Maya Wong (12) and Elyce Knudsen (1) Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie cheers on the team against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Lauren Cohen (4) passes to a teammate against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State Maya Wong (12) guards St. Francis Tykara Harrison (2) in the first quarter on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Illinois State guard Maya Wong (12) looks to pass in the first quarter against Saint Francis on Thursday during Education Day at CEFCU Arena. Follow Randy Reinhardt on Twitter: @Pg_Reinhardt Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose stunning insurgency toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image, renouncing longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. As he entered Damascus behind his victorious fighters Sunday, he even dropped his nom de guerre and referred to himself with his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. Insurgents control Damascus, Assad has fled into hiding, and for the first time after 50 years of his family’s iron hand, it is an open question how Syria will be governed. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Syria is home to multiple ethnic and religious communities, often pitted against each other by Assad’s state and years of war. Many of them fear the possibility that Sunni Islamist extremists will take over. The country is also fragmented among disparate armed factions, and foreign powers from Russia and Iran to the United States, Turkey and Israel all have their hands in the mix. Hours after Damascus' capture, the 42-year-old al-Sharaa made his first appearance in the city's landmark Umayyad Mosque, declaring Assad's fall “a victory for the Islamic nation.” A senior rebel commander, Anas Salkhadi, appeared on state TV to declare, “Our message to all the sects of Syria, is that we tell them that Syria is for everyone.” Al-Sharaa, who has been labeled a terrorist by the United States, and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – many of whose fighters are jihadis -- now stand to be a major player. For years, al-Sharaa worked to consolidate power, while bottled up in the province of Idlib in Syria’s northwest corner as Assad’s Iranian- and Russian-backed rule over much of the country appeared solid. He maneuvered among extremist organizations while eliminating competitors and former allies. He sought to polish the image of his de-facto “salvation government” that has been running Idlib to win over international governments and reassure Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. And he built ties with various tribes and other groups. Along the way, he shed his garb as a hard-line Islamist guerrilla and put on suits for press interviews, talking of building state institutions and decentralizing power to reflect Syria’s diversity. “Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, no one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” he said in an interview with CNN last week, offering the possibility HTS would eventually be dissolved after Assad falls. “Don’t judge by words, but by actions,” he said. Syrian opposition fighters seize ammunition abandoned by the army in the town of Khan Assubul, Syria, southwest of Aleppo, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Al-Golani’s beginnings in Iraq Throughout his rise through extremist ranks, al-Sharaa was only known by the jihadi nickname he adopted, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. His ties to al-Qaida stretch back to 2003, when he joined insurgents battling U.S. troops in Iraq. The Syrian native was detained by the U.S. military but remained in Iraq. During that time, al-Qaida usurped like-minded groups and formed the extremist Islamic State of Iraq, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In 2011, a popular uprising in Syria against Assad triggered a brutal government crackdown and led to all-out war. Al-Golani’s prominence grew when al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to establish a branch of al-Qaida called the Nusra Front. The United States labeled the new group as a terrorist organization. That designation still remains in place and the U.S. government has put a US$10 million bounty on him. The Nusra Front and the Syrian conflict As Syria’s civil war intensified in 2013, so did al-Golani’s ambitions. He defied al-Baghdadi’s calls to dissolve the Nusra Front and merge it with al-Qaida’s operation in Iraq, to form the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Al-Golani nonetheless pledged his allegiance to al-Qaida, which later disassociated itself from ISIS. The Nusra Front battled ISIS and eliminated much of its competition among the Syrian armed opposition to Assad. If you're on Telegram, subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on top stories In his first interview in 2014, al-Golani kept his face covered, telling a reporter for Qatari network Al-Jazeera that he rejected political talks in Geneva to end the conflict. He said his goal was to see Syria ruled under Islamic law and made clear that there was no room for the country’s Alawite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities. Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized military armored vehicle on the outskirts of Hama, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Consolidating power and rebranding In 2016, al-Golani revealed his face to the public for the first time in a video message that announced his group was renaming itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham -– the Syria Conquest Front -- and cutting its ties to al-Qaida. “This new organization has no affiliation to any external entity,” he said in the video, filmed wearing military garb and a turban. The move paved the way for al-Golani to assert full control over fracturing militant groups. A year later, his alliance rebranded again as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -– meaning Organization for Liberating Syria -- as the groups merged, consolidating al-Golani’s power in northwest Syria’s Idlib province. HTS later clashed with independent Islamist militants who opposed the merger, further emboldening al-Golani and his group as the leading power in northwestern Syria, able to rule with an iron fist. With his power consolidated, al-Golani set in motion a transformation that few could have imagined. Replacing his military garb with shirt and trousers, he began calling for religious tolerance and pluralism. Complete coverage of conflicts in the Mideast He appealed to the Druze community in Idlib, which the Nusra Front had previously targeted, and visited the families of Kurds who were killed by Turkish-backed militias. In 2021, he had his first interview with an American journalist on PBS. Wearing a blazer, with his short hair gelled back, the now more soft-spoken HTS leader said that his group posed no threat to the West and that sanctions imposed against it were unjust. “Yes, we have criticized Western policies,” he said. “But to wage a war against the United States or Europe from Syria, that’s not true. We didn’t say we wanted to fight.”
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House rejects Democratic efforts to force release of Matt Gaetz ethics reportThe US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on Friday the constitutionality of a law requiring social media giant TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the United States. In its , the court rejected challenges from TikTok and its users who the law violated various constitutional protections, including their rights to free speech. The court’s decision means TikTok must complete a qualified divestiture from ByteDance by January 19, 2025, or its platform will effectively become unavailable to US users. The court found that the government presented compelling national security justifications for the law, specifically citing concerns about the Chinese government’s ability to collect data on Americans and manipulate content through the platform. While acknowledging the significant impact on TikTok and its estimated 170 million US users, the court determined that these security concerns justified the strict measures. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” the opinion stated. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” The court emphasized that TikTok has options to continue operating in the US through divestiture, though the company has argued such a separation would be impractical due to Chinese export restrictions. The ruling also noted that the President can grant a 90-day extension if progress is being made toward divestiture. As described in the opinion, TikTok’s previous to resolve these concerns through a national security agreement with the US government were deemed insufficient by both Congress and the Executive branch, leading to the passage of this more stringent legislation. 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States On December 6, 1865, the to the United States Constitution was ratified, formally ending slavery in the US. Spain adopts modern constitution On December 6, 1978, Spain adopted its by referendum. It laid the foundation for democratic government in the country after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The event is celebrated annually in Spain as Constitution Day.
Chargers clinch playoff berth with dominating win over Patriots2026: Alhassan Doguwa echoes voice of Osun people — Adeleke’s aideAfter the strong November payrolls data , released last week, boosted hopes for an interest rate cut in December,the focus of investors in the week ahead will be on the consumer price inflation. The retail inflation data could provide clues on the US Federal Reserve’s last monetary policy of 2024. In addition, the market participants will also have the Producer Price Index (PPI) data. On earnings front, the Wall Street will see quarter results of some big names including Oracle, Adobe and Broadcom. Economic calendar On December 9 (Monday), a report on wholesale inventories for October will be released. On December 10 (Tuesday), separate reports on NFIB Optimism Index for November and US productivity (revision) for Q3 will be released. On December 11 (Wednesday), data on Consumer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 12 (Thursday), data on Producer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 13 (Friday), a report on Import Price Index for November will be released. Earnings Following companies are due to report third quarter earnings in the week ahead — Oracle, Toll Brothers, Casey’s General Stores, AutoZone, Ferguson Enterprises, GameStop, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Adobe, Broadcom, Costco Wholesale, and Ciena. Events The Goldman Sachs US Financial Services Conference will start on December 10 and the Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology Conference will begin on December 11. Markets last week The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose to record closing high on Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 123.19 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 44,642.52, the S&P 500 gained 15.16 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 6,090.27 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 159.05 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 19,859.77. For the week, the Nasdaq gained 3.3 per cent, the S&P 500 rose about 1 per cent and the Dow fell 0.6 per cent. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15 per cent from 4.18 per cent.
How will Trump administration policies impact the TSMC stock?
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