John Healey said that the Government’s “interest” in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is “that they live up to their promises to protect” rights, when he spoke to reporters after a Cobra meeting on Thursday. HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden. But its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, cut ties with al Qaida years ago and has sought to present his group as a more moderate and inclusive organisation, leading some to suggest the group should no longer be proscribed. When asked whether the Government was considering the status of the group, Mr Healey said: “Proscription is not a matter for now. “It doesn’t stop us talking to all the parties, and our interest in HTS is that they live up to their promises to protect the rights of all individuals and all groups, to respect international law and to prevent Syria becoming a base for a fresh terrorist threat.” Mr Healey said that Thursday’s meeting was “about making sure we have, as a Government, a laser focus on the role that we can play with allies to see a stable, peaceful transition. “So that the Syrians get the government they need for the future, and the region can see the stability in the future that it also needs.” Cobra meetings are called when ministers or officials need to respond to urgent matters. Following the toppling of the Bashar Assad regime over the weekend, the UK has paused decisions on asylum applications from Syria. Thousands of Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK but, earlier this week, the Home Office said decisions on applications would be paused while events unfold in Damascus. When asked how long the system would be paused for, and whether the move was fair, Mr Healey said on Thursday: “This is early days. “It’s a measure in response to rapidly changing developments, and the most important thing for us now is that the UK plays and will continue to play a full role with allies to see a stable, peaceful, orderly transition and that requires a political process. “It requires dialogue at the heart of it, and today’s ministerial meeting, the Cobra meeting, was about making sure that we do just that.” Earlier on Thursday, G7 leaders said that they “stand with the people of Syria” and “denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms”. In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer and his counterparts said: “The G7 will work with and fully support a future Syrian government that abides by those standards and results from that process.” It went on: “After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria. We denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms. “We are hopeful that anyone seeking a role in governing Syria will demonstrate a commitment to the rights of all Syrians, prevent the collapse of state institutions, work on the recovery and rehabilitation of the country, and ensure the conditions for safe and dignified voluntary return to Syria of all those who were forced to flee the country.”Will the "Fateful Eight" Stocks Outperform the "Magnificent Seven" in 2025?Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgenderSANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy pulled off his grey 49ers sweatshirt Friday and, as he headed for the locker room showers, his sore right shoulder was exposed. There was no noticeable swelling or lump, aside from minor marks via treatment he received since last Sunday’s once-subtle injury. His muscular 24-year-old build appeared stout as ever. Looks can be deceiving. So can words, in any NFL team’s injury descriptions, any Instagram doctors’ prognosis, or any reporters’ déjà vu feelings. “I don’t want to say there’s long-term concern,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, referring to Purdy’s MRI exam and indicating the quarterback will miss Sunday’s game at Green Bay. Brandon Allen will make the spot start. For how long, though? Exercising caution is wise to protect a bona fide franchise quarterback who threw for a 49ers-record 4,280 yards last season on a surgically repaired elbow and is due for a 49ers-record contract extension at this season’s likely bitter end. Shanahan and general manager John Lynch indicated that Purdy’s MRI on Monday did not reveal a dire, franchise-altering ailment. “We thought he just needed some rest and really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week,” Shanahan said. “But when he started up Thursday, (his shoulder) just surprised him, surprised us, how it felt.” It’s no surprise, however, how a shoulder injury can grow into a bigger firestorm. For now, public proclamations are minimizing any long-range ramifications. Purdy was not made available to reporters, but as he walked through the locker room Friday, he tried to exude a positive outlook, saying: “We’re all good.” His demeanor remained as upbeat and polite as ever in an ensuing conversation with a staff member. Neither of Purdy’s understudies, Allen and Josh Dobbs, has a history of shoulder injuries, so they were hesitant to speak about how fear-inducing those must be for a quarterback. “I’m not too worried about it, I don’t think any of our guys are,” Allen said. “He’ll rehab and get back as fast as he can. And as far as shoulders, it happens. I don’t think it’ll be anything lingering or long-term for him.” Three seasons ago, when the 49ers last visited Lambeau Field, Jimmy Garoppolo was a week removed from hurting his shoulder – a torn capsule, the 49ers said – in a wild-card playoff win at Dallas. Garoppolo played through the injury, the 49ers won without scoring an offensive touchdown. Two months after losing in the NFC Championship Game, Garoppolo surprised the 49ers by electing to have surgery on his shoulder, complicating a potential trade or release and keeping him on the roster. That made for an awkward but necessary comeback in 2022 as he served as a helpful bridge between Trey Lance’s two-start cameo and Purdy’s late-season emergence for another playoff run. Go back nine years and there is another 49ers quarterback quandary. Colin Kaepernick was listed as probable to play at Seattle, but a day before kickoff, the 49ers surprisingly put him on injured reserve. He headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Benched three weeks before that IR move, Kaepernick spent the ensuing offseason rehabilitating for what would be one final season with the 49ers and the NFL. An even messier shoulder story unfolded with Kaepernick’s predecessor, Alex Smith. A 2007 feud ensued between Smith and third-year coach Mike Nolan, who publicly dismissed Smith’s shoulder pain that traced back to a Sept. 30 separation. Smith played hurt a few games, then confessed to the nagging pain in his shoulder, after the 49ers had listed him out of practice with a forearm strain. Smith rallied and rebuilt his career, albeit under other coaches. Now it’s Purdy stepping aside for an unknown length of time. Allen relayed their Friday conversation: “He believes in me, says ‘You’re here for a reason. Go in, step up, play well.’ He’ll be back. So I’m not worried about it.” “He’s doing well. He’s in good spirits,” Dobbs added. “Obviously, I don’t want to speak for him, but he wants to be out there. So he will work his butt off to get back out there, and we’ll hold it down for him until he gets back.”1 m 0 nya berapa 。

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LENS, France (AP) — Pierre-Emile Højbjerg scored after VAR came to the rescue for Marseille to beat Lens 3-1 in the French league on Saturday. The Denmark midfielder struck in the 89th minute with a free kick awarded when Rémy Labeau-Lascary had what would have been a late equalizer ruled out for a foul by Angelo Fulgini in the buildup. The decision prompted a chorus of whistles from the home fans, who were further riled to see former Lens player Elye Wahi go on for the visitors. Valentin Rongier fired Marseille ahead early in the second half, set up by Neal Maupay, who had been played into the danger area by a good ball from Mason Greenwood. Brazilian forward Luis Henrique made it 2-0 on a counterattack in the 57th. Fulgini pulled one back from close range in the 80th after M’Bala Nzola had two efforts blocked on the line, and Labeau-Lascary thought he’d equalized in the 86th, only for Fulgini’s shove to prove decisive at the other end. The win helped Marseille consolidate third place after its third successive win away from home. Roberto De Zerbi’s team has failed to win any of its last three home games. Following a serious illness, former Lens president Gervais Martel kicked the ball in a symbolic gesture ahead of the actual kickoff. The 70-year-old was visibly moved by the reception he received from fans who displayed a giant banner thanking him for his leadership, and from players who lined up with his name on their jerseys. Fifth-place Lyon was held 1-1 at Reims in the late game. Rayan Cherki headed Lyon in front before the break, but Reims improved after it and Ivory Coast forward Oumar Diakité slid in to equalize in the 55th, keeping Reims a point behind the visitors. Benjamin Bouchouari’s strike from distance after a botched clearance was enough for Saint-Etienne to beat last-place Montpellier 1-0 at home. It was the visitors’ ninth defeat from 12 games, and sixth consecutive on the road. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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BOSTON — Payton Pritchard scored 27 points, and the Boston Celtics used a big second half to post their 20th victory and roll past the Detroit Pistons 123-99 on Thursday night. Pritchard finished with seven 3-pointers to continue to build his early case for Sixth Man of the Year honors. Derrick White added 23 points and also had seven 3s help the Celtics win for the fourth time in five games. Pritchard made his 500th career 3-pointer, becoming the 10th Celtic to reach that mark. Boston connected on 20 3s for the night and led by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter. Six Celtics reached double figures. Cade Cunningham had 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pistons. Boston played without All-Star Jayson Tatum, who rested with a sore right knee. Sam Hauser also sat out with a strained abdominal muscle. Coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum's knee issue isn't serious. Takeaways Pistons: Coach J.B. Bickerstaff hoped his team would carry over the momentum from its previous win over the Knicks. Consistency remains elusive for a young team that has only posted back-to-back victories twice this season. Celtics: After a slow start, Boston settled in during the second half and had a relatively easy outing. With Tatum resting, the offense was balanced, a positive sign for a team coming off its longest break between games this season. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Boston. Credit: AP/Charles Krupa Key moment Boston outscored Detroit 34-24 in the third quarter to increase a 15-point halftime lead to 93-68 entering the fourth. Key stat The Pistons went 2 of 19 from the 3-point line in the first half and 7 of 37 for the game. Up next The Pistons host the Miami Heat on Monday. The Celtics visit the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

I am moving through my 60s at the rate of nots. Not as smart as I thought I was, not as fascinating, not as groovy. To be honest, on the spectrum from gravy to groovy, I was always at the Sunday roast end. I am not as energetic as I used to be, not as likely to sleep through the night, not able to drink coffee after lunch. Not as easily flustered. I am not so sure of my doubts either. A challenge for people in my boat is to gracefully make way for a younger generation. It is hard to allow others to have their voice when you like talking as much as I do. But the time has come. People aged over 65 should be given the option of not voting. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto There is one small change that might help people in my age group to relinquish control. Like most Australians, I am a firm believer in compulsory voting. To me, democracy does not mean that you may choose your government if you want to. It means that you do choose. When you consider local, state and federal elections, we are required to sacrifice on average half an hour a year. This is a small level of engagement for all the benefits we get. Voting is usually a pleasant experience with innocuous banter about dogs, which often accompany voters, possibly as political advisers. Those who hail the democracy sausage often overlook the democracy cake stall. Nevertheless, I believe voting should be optional for people over the age of 65. This is not because we are too old for sausages and cake. I know people in their 80s who still play tennis and one in their 90s who is contemplating marriage, admittedly not for the first time. I think he has even lost track of which number wedding this will be, but good luck to him. This time, he wants to marry an older person, something he hasn’t tried before. My argument is unlike the one that applies to those who must take a driver’s test after a certain age to make sure they can still remember the location of the brake. This is not about competence. There are plenty of people, even in their 20s, who are scarcely what you might call conscientious voters. That has always been the great risk of democracy. Knuckleheads have as much say as you do. My point is simply that some older people might be prepared not to vote so that younger people have a proportionately greater voice. After all, they are going to have to live with the consequences of the election far longer than us. When you think about climate change, housing, energy, economic innovation and a list of other issues, short-term thinking doesn’t help. Yet we are trapped in a culture of short-term politics in which policy and marketing are seldom out of each other’s pockets. Of course, everyone has the right to vote. Yet perhaps those over 65 might be forgiven the fine if they elect not to. They might be permitted to graciously sit the dance out and leave the floor to others. Would this change the outcome of elections? Maybe not as drastically as you might suppose. People tend to vote according to class, tribe and economic interest far more than their age. Much has been made of the fact that more older voters in England supported Brexit leaving younger ones to sort out the chaos over the generations that followed. Older voters may have been hankering after a past that can never be restored. On the other hand, it was striking in the recent US presidential election to see how Trump won the youth vote, especially among young men. To my surprise, young women also voted for him in impressive numbers. Trump and Harris appear to have been more evenly matched among voters aged over 65. I am sure the experts will pore over these statistics for years to come. It is a myth that young voters favour more progressive or younger candidates. After all, the youth vote favoured the left-wing Bernie Sanders, who was born in 1941. My suggestion does not benefit one side over another, or one type of leader over another. It simply makes it more likely that those who must carry the weight of a decision get to make that decision. A dear friend, the poet Peter Steele, referred to the later stage of life as “the shedding years”. It is a beautiful image because it goes two ways: it means both keeping and letting go. Shedding can describe putting things in a shed, in other words storing them. It can also describe relinquishing excess baggage, a bit like a dog sheds its hair. Wisdom knows how to choose. It does not need to hang on to everything. Older people can offer an example of trust. Michael McGirr’s most recent book is Ideas to Save Your Life (Text). The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here .Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, listed as questionable due to a shoulder issue, is expected to play Monday night against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network reported. McConkey missed practice on Thursday and was limited on Friday and Saturday. Star linebacker Khalil Mack, who was questionable because of a groin injury and was a limited participant, also is expected to play, according to the report. The Chargers (7-3) made several moves Monday ahead of the game against the Ravens (7-4), placing tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) on injured reserve, activating cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring) off IR, signing cornerback Eli Apple from the practice to the active squad, and elevating linebacker Caleb Murphy and safety Tony Jefferson for game day. McConkey, 23, has started nine of 10 games and has 43 receptions on 63 targets for 615 yards and four touchdowns. The Chargers drafted the 6-foot, 185-pound McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Georgia. Mack, 33, is a three-time first-team All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He has started the nine games he has played and has 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. For his career, Mack has 617 tackles, 106 sacks, 141 tackles for loss, 178 quarterback hits, three interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns -- 32 forced fumbles and 13 fumble recoveries in 160 games (159 starts). He has played for the Raiders (2014-17), Chicago Bears (2018-21) and Chargers. Hurst, 31, has started two of seven games in his first season with the Chargers. He has seven receptions on 12 targets for 65 yards. A first-round pick (25th overall) by Baltimore in the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Hurst has 202 receptions for 1,967 yards and 15 TDs in 86 games (41 starts) for the Ravens (2018-19), Atlanta Falcons (2020-21), Cincinnati Bengals (2022), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Chargers. Apple, 29, has two tackles in three games this season, his first with the Chargers. The 10th overall selection in the 2016 draft, Apple has 383 career tackles and six interceptions in 101 games (82 starts) for the New York Giants (2016-18), New Orleans Saints (2018-19), Panthers (2020), Bengals (2021-22), Miami Dolphins (2023) and Chargers. Leonard, who turned 25 last Tuesday, has four tackles in four games this season. His 21-day practice window on IR opened Wednesday. --Field Level Media

No. 25 Illinois 87, Md.-Eastern Shore 40GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Princely Umanmielen's return to the Swamp ended with a police escort . Umanmielen, who spent three years at Florida before transferring to Ole Miss, left the stadium with a number of officers surrounding him. And the defensive end still tried to get at heckling fans. It started when Umanmielen left the sideline in the waning seconds of a 24-17 loss to the Gators . He was walking toward the visiting locker room when at least one fan yelled at him from the stands. Umanmielen clearly didn't like what he heard and made his way toward the seats. Officers quickly stepped in and escorted Umanmielen back toward the locker room. They then walked him directly to the team's waiting busses, but more fans were in the path and shouted at him again. Umanmielen turned and started toward the fans before officers stepped in and stopped him. It was the latest bit of oddness for Umanmielen, who wore an orange Gators ski mask through Ole Miss' practice facility late in the week. He finished the game with seven tackles, including a sack. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Conversational artificial intelligence tools may soon "covertly influence" users' decision making in a new commercial frontier called the "intention economy", University of Cambridge researchers warned in a paper published Monday. The research argues the potentially "lucrative yet troubling" marketplace emerging for "digital signals of intent" could, in the near future, influence everything from buying movie tickets to voting for political candidates. Our increasing familiarity with chatbots, digital tutors and other so-called "anthropomorphic" AI agents is helping enable this new array of "persuasive technologies", it added. It will see AI combine knowledge of our online habits with a growing ability to know the user and anticipate his or her desires and build "new levels of trust and understanding", the paper's two co-authors noted. Left unchecked, that could allow for "social manipulation on an industrial scale", the pair, from Cambridge's Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence , argued in the paper published in the Harvard Data Science Review. It characterises how this emergent sector dubbed the "intention economy" will profile users' attention and communicative styles and connect them to patterns of behaviour and choices they make. "AI tools are already being developed to elicit, infer, collect, record, understand, forecast, and ultimately manipulate and commodify human plans and purposes," co-author Yaqub Chaudhary said. The new AI will rely on so-called Large Language Models or LLMs to target a user's cadence, politics, vocabulary, age, gender, online history, and even preferences for flattery and ingratiation, according to the research. That would be linked with other emerging AI tech that bids to achieve a given aim, such as selling a cinema trip, or steer conversations towards particular platforms, advertisers, businesses and even political organisations. Co-author Jonnie Penn warned: "Unless regulated, the intention economy will treat your motivations as the new currency." "It will be a gold rush for those who target, steer, and sell human intentions," he added. "We should start to consider the likely impact such a marketplace would have on human aspirations, including free and fair elections, a free press, and fair market competition, before we become victims of its unintended consequences." Penn noted that public awareness of the issue is "the key to ensuring we don't go down the wrong path". jj/gil Nvidia Meta Apple This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials on Monday requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court. They plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It’s not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.How Jimmy Carter's long feud with Donald Trump started on Stephen Colbert Carter and Trump had simmering feud that started on chat show Carter's funeral will happen shortly before Trump's inauguration By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 02:11 GMT, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 02:11 GMT, 30 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Jimmy Carter may have been a longtime Sunday school teacher but he also knew how to dish it out to a political rival - with a smile on his face. Nearly seven years ago, at the age of 93, Carter launched some memorable shots at Donald Trump in an interview on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert . It came at a time when Democrats were in an uproar during Trump's first term. Trump hit back against Carter, repeatedly trashing him in campaign speeches until as recently as this fall – including on his 100th birthday. Now, Carter's death on Sunday is set to cut into some of the build-up to Trump's inauguration on January 20th. Trump has been rolling out cabinet announcements and firing out policy ideas as he prepares to take the oath for the second time after his historic comeback. Democrats have been on the back foot. But Carter is set to be memorialized in Washington, D.C. and Georgia just days before the inauguration. Following Carter's death Trump issued a statement saying the nation owed the 39th president a 'debt of gratitude' for his service. It was very different to the swipes and counter-swipes the two had previously taken at each other during a long feud. 'Does America want kind of a jerk as president?,' Colbert asked Carter during the 2018 interview, wondering if the Georgian was 'too nice.' 'Apparently, from this recent election , yes. I never knew it before,' Carter quipped with a smile, earning a big laugh from the crowd. The host also asked him what it took to be president. 'I used to think it was to tell the truth,' Carter said, building in a dramatic pause. 'But I've changed my mind lately.' Jimmy Carter delivered several shots at Donald Trump during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert In the interview Carter also said that he prays for Trump. Read More Jimmy Carter swore he saw a UFO and vowed to reveal the TRUTH... but never did. So what happened? Trump regularly went after Carter, whose Gallup approval rating was at 34 percent when he left office. Carter came in 26th place when historians were asked to rank U.S. presidents in 2021. Trump mocked Carter's administration during an October 1 campaign event in Waunakee, Wisconsin, comparing him to President Joe Biden, who Trump regularly casts as feckless and unaware. 'Jimmy Carter is the happiest man because Jimmy Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison, (to Joe Biden),' Trump said. Carter made other comments on Trump, which included telling told CBS that Trump was 'very careless with the truth, 'I think he’s a disaster...In human rights and in treating people equal,' Carter said. Host Stephen Colbert asked Carter what it took to be president Carter attended Trump's inauguration in 2017. Trump did not attend Rosalyn Carter's memorial service, although he issued a statement upon Jimmy Carter's death saying the nation owed him 'a debt of gratitude' Donald Trump repeatedly attacked Jimmy Carter at rallies by saying Biden's administration was even worse than his Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023, added at the time: 'The worst is that he is not telling the truth, and that just hurts everything.' Trump did not attend Rosalynn Carter's memorial service in Carter's hometown of Plains, Georgia, although neither did Barack Obama or George W. Bush. In 2019, speaking at the Carter Center, the 39th president indicated that he believed Trump was an illegitimate president. He pointed to allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. when asked about Russia's role, Carter said: 'Well, the president himself should condemn it, admit that it happened, which I think 16 [of the] intelligence agencies have already agreed to say. 'And there's no doubt that the Russians did interfere in the election. And I think the interference although not yet quantified, if fully investigated would show that Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016. 'He lost the election, and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf.' When presidential biographer Jon Meacham, a favorite of Biden's, asked if he believed Trump was an illegitimate president, Carter quipped: 'Based on what I said, which I can't retract...', then cast a wide grin. Democrats Politics Georgia Donald Trump Share or comment on this article: How Jimmy Carter's long feud with Donald Trump started on Stephen Colbert e-mail Add comment

The Carolina Hurricanes have high-level producers on the offensive side, making the team a threat in many situations. In the big picture, it might be offensive contributions coming from defensemen that determine how the season plays out. "We need it from everyone," coach Rod Brind'Amour said. The Hurricanes will see if they can generate widespread production again when the Ottawa Senators visit for Friday night's game in Raleigh, N.C. Carolina has won just two of its last six games, and the 3-2 comeback against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night was far from smooth. Yet all three of the Hurricanes' goals in the Sharks game came from blueliners: Shayne Gostisbehere, Brent Burns and Jalen Chatfield. "There's not a team in the league that's not looking for their D to join the rush or to be part of the offense," Senators coach Travis Green said. "It's no secret that if your D are scoring and being part of it, you're going to create more." The Carolina defensemen want to be part of any solutions necessary on the offensive end. "We're going to dig deep. We're going to get in the trenches," Chatfield said. "Scoring a late goal, I think that's part of our team, part of our identity and we're going to keep pushing." It's unclear if the Hurricanes have really snapped out of a slide, but winning two of their last three games is encouraging. "Hopefully, we get on the right track and keep pushing," Chatfield said. "We have the group in here to do it. It's just being consistent. It's a long year. We're not going to be able to win them all." Gostisbehere and forwards Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas all have four-game points streaks for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes will be playing the second of a four-game homestand Friday night. Carolina's 59 goals on home ice were an NHL-high total at midweek. Ottawa completed a 3-1-0 homestand with Wednesday night's 5-1 romp past the Anaheim Ducks, keyed by Drake Batherson's hat trick. It has taken time for the Senators to gear up their offense. "We've got to get a little greasier around the net," Green said. "We've got a few guys who have been snakebitten a little bit." Center Tim Stutzle is Ottawa's points leader (36), but he has gone five games without a goal, though he has seven assists in that stretch. Carolina will adjust its line combinations after losing forward Jack Drury to a broken hand during the San Jose game. He underwent surgery on Thursday and is expected to miss significant time. "It's not looking good," Brind'Amour said. "I'm assuming he's going to be out for a while." The Hurricanes recalled forward Tyson Jost from AHL affiliate Chicago. Jost has played in seven games with Carolina this season, with one goal. The Senators are making their second trip of the season to Raleigh, where they lost 4-0 on Nov. 16. Ottawa is 1-1-1 in road games since that matchup. Goalie Spencer Martin, who logged the shutout for the Hurricanes on Nov. 16, is back in the minor leagues. Pyotr Kochetkov has played the past four games in net for Carolina. --Field Level Media2O24: Nigerians Lament High Food Prices, Cost of Medication, Hopeful for 2025

Heavy fog impacts dozens of flights at Melbourne Airport

With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." On Sunday, Panamanian President Jose Mulino praised Carter for helping his country achieve "full sovereignty." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" Cubans "will remember with gratitude his efforts to improve relations," the island's current leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday. In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk/nro/acbSmart Glasses 2.0: Why Google Thinks This Time It’s Different

Companies tighten security after a health care CEO's killing leads to a surge of threatsI’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng. But there’s something the two had in common this year: Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes, we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. After a year where much changed but some things held steady — Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept breaking records and making history — here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” one milder reply said. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . LILY GLADSTONE , the first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. People are also reading... February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ‘s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about everything. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance, try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. March “What was I made for?” BILLI E EILISH sings at the OSCARS , channeling BARBIE, while RYAN GOSLING’S singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan’s “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE, as presenters, make a reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” People are obsessed with a bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. April Tennis is having a cultural moment, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA , MIKE FAIST and JOSH O’CONNOR . At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. May It’s MET GALA time — an early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who’s released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW” — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album, with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. Across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time in Paris! The opening ceremony on the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK . And MOO DENG is born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” August BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON’S “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch.” September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran was announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup, along with rugby player Maher, Pommel Horse Guy and ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom is shaken when X (formerly Twitter) is temporarily suspended in Brazil, revealing many favorite fan accounts are run by Brazilians. October Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, where Chalamet himself shows up. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE , ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who gathered a following with interesting social media posts. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? It’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot! November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Bravo announces “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that survived countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . Our favorite pygmy hippo, MOO DENG , is generating plenty of merch. December “WICKED” : Director JON M. CHU’S emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and Disney’s “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!