Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online.Rosen Law Firm Encourages Macy's, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - M

South Korea Arrests Ex-Defense Minister Over Martial Law, Yonhap News SaysSports on TV for Wednesday, Dec. 11

Kate Middleton knows †̃life is short' as she gets reviews Prince Harry fateAs a former teacher, coach, principal in the Newark school system, I have always made education a top priority in my political life as a councilman and now as Newark mayor. In all those roles, and as a parent, I see the academic performance of our children as the imperative foundation for every measure of success we hope to achieve. We began the Newark Street Academy for disengaged former students to get GED diplomas in the first years of my administration. Most recently, we launched an ambitious 10-point, community-based literacy program for children in their developmental years, so they are reading proficient by third grade, a key marker for academic success. In between, we’ve added many educational programs from the Mayor’s Book Club to our Guaranteed Education Program, which sends 40 students a year to St. Elizabeth University for free. A recent Star-Ledger editorial titled “Newark schools get spanked over waste,” suggested I have been silent over the Newark Board of Education’s performance, but my actions say otherwise. My focus has been and will always remain on addressing the core challenges that affect student achievement in Newark — not on public admonishments or squabbles over territory, egos, or issues that do little to advance our children’s education. We must bring our charter and public schools together for staff enrichment and data sharing in order to identify best educational practices. I share the frustrations of many Newarkers when time and money are wasted for non-educational, petty turf battles. That is why we bring the entire education community together as often as we can, because we believe strongly that everything we do together, we do well. The real losers in these fights are our children — the very people we should be prioritizing above all else. Every dollar spent and every decision made must put our students first. Anything less is a disservice to the children and families of Newark, and a distraction from our ultimate goal of ensuring their success. Ras J. Baraka, Mayor of Newark Editor’s note: The Editorial Board sent questions to the mayor’s office requesting comment for the editorial in question, and did not receive a reply. Take mystery drones more seriously The mysterious drones flying over New Jersey are a legitimate news story. It’s not a supermarket tabloid story about aliens. NJ Advance Media is guilty of insufficient reporting on this. We should see daily updates. These are not the typical drones of hobbyists. They have been described by observers as being as big as a dining room table or a small car. They are only seen flying at night. Local governments have no idea what they are. The state government claims to know nothing about them. The federal government, including the FBI, is asking the public for information about them. Isn’t this an obvious problem? “See something, say something?” We’re saying something!! To be almost a month into these sightings and still have no answers is unacceptable. And, despite this lack of knowledge, the message to the public is that these drones should not be seen as a threat. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but with zero information from our government, such theories are ripening on the vine. Among them are terrorism, or that the government itself is flying the drones. How else can they say, “Nothing to see here, move along”? There are too many questions. At this point, we need answers. The drones have been seen in clusters and hovering near military facilities, water reservoirs and other critical infrastructure. I don’t like to sound paranoid, but my imagination is beginning to get active. I can’t be the only one who wants this taken more seriously. Pressure needs to be brought to find out what’s going on. As journalists, this is your job. Gene Domowicz, Hillsborough Soto and Steinbrenner Regarding Bob Klapisch’s recent article, “ The two reasons why Juan Soto said ‘no thanks’ to Yankees”: I am a big fan of Klapisch, but I have a completely different take on Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and his attempt to keep the star outfielder Juan Soto. I am not ready to admit I am wrong on whether or not Steinbrenner is cheap, but I do feel Steinbrenner offered just enough money ($760 million over 16 years) to ensure that the Yankees would come in second to the Mets in a free-agent battle. The Mets grabbed Soto with a 15-year pact worth at least $765 million. I say this because Steinbrenner has passed on mega-star free agents such as Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Corey Seager. Steinbrenner has shown a propensity to pursue older, washed up veterans on the cheap, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Plus, in light of the fact that the Yankees are the most valuable baseball franchise, worth an estimated $7 billion, it is a huge mistake to not spend the money necessary to attract stars and maintain the highest quality product. Steinbrenner has failed to accept the fact that the cost of the highest quality stars has risen exponentially. It is no longer feasible to rely on the Yankees’ history and tradition to woo star free agents, and I don’t agree with Klapisch’s observation that " You can count on the Bombers looking radically different — and better — by spring training. " I hope I am wrong and Klapisch is right. Bill Gottdenker, Mountainside Fake ID from N.J. raises question in CEO murder The State Police and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission need to investigate how Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, obtained a fake New Jersey driver’s license. Mangione allegedly presented the New Jersey identification ( with a different name on it ) to Altoona, Pennsylvania, police who captured him. Is New Jersey’s license/ID system secure enough so that potential bad actors will be stopped from getting fake ones for criminal purposes? Will the TSA honor New Jersey’s version of Real ID for boarding planes in the future? The Legislature and the governor’s office need to demand answers. Maybe NJ Advance Media can do some investigative reporting on how easy is it to get fake ID in this state. Stan Gurski, Clark Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion . Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion . Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion . Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters .

House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsLOS ANGELES — Until he sustained a season-ending knee injury last week in the Western Conference final, Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig was having a tremendous season. So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL will consider expanding replay assist to include facemask penalties and other plays. Officials have missed several obvious facemask penalties this season, including two in a three-week span during Thursday night games. “When we see it, because I see it like yourselves and the fans, I have an opportunity to see it from a different angle and see it from a slow-mo,” NFL executive Troy Vincent said Wednesday at the league’s winter meetings. “When you think about the position of where the officials are, things are happening so fast. Sometimes the facemask can be the same color as the gloves. There’s a lot happening. Concerning? Yes, because that’s a big miss. That’s a big foul. That’s why we would like to consider putting that for the membership to consider putting that foul category that we can see, putting that (penalty flag) on the field to help. There is a frustration, and we believe that is one category we can potentially get right." Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was grabbed by his facemask and brought down in the end zone to end Minnesota’s comeback attempt against the Rams on Oct. 24. But there was no call. On Oct. 3, officials missed a facemask on Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving while he ran for 7 yards late in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay instead was called for holding on the play, got forced out of field-goal range and Kirk Cousins rallied the Falcons to an overtime victory. “That is one this year, the facemask seems like it was the obvious one” Vincent said. “That keeps showing up.” Vincent also cited hits on a defenseless player, tripping, the fair catch, an illegal batted ball, an illegal double-team block, illegal formations on kickoffs and taunting as other areas that warrant consideration for replay assist. Current rules only allow replay assist to help officials pick up a flag incorrectly thrown on the field, or in assisting proper enforcement of a foul called on the field. The NFL’s Competition Committee will review potential recommendations for owners to vote on for expanding replay assist. Vincent was emphatic about the league’s desire to eliminate low blocks that could lead to serious injuries. “The low block below the knee needs to be removed from the game,” Vincent said. “You look at high school, you look at college, too. Every block should be above the knee, but below the neck. All the work that we’ve done for the head and neck area, all the things that we’ve taken out of the game, this is the right time for us to remove the low block out of the game. Be consistent with high school. Be consistent with college. Every block should be above the knee and below the neck.” The league will consider changes to the onside kick after dramatically overhauling the kickoff rule on a one-year basis. “We need to look at that. That’s a dead play,” Vincent said of the onside kick’s low success rate. “That is a ceremonial play. Very low recovery rate. When we look at the kickoff and maybe where the touchback area should be during the offseason, we need to revisit the onside kick.” Options include giving the team an opportunity to run one play to gain a certain number of yards to keep possession. The Washington Commanders’ search for a new stadium site includes options in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and work has escalated on one in particular. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and controlling owner Josh Harris met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week about the RFK Stadium site in Washington, which requires a bill getting through Congress to transfer the land to the District government before anything else can happen. “I think there’s a bipartisan support for this,” Goodell said, adding he’d like to see it get to a vote soon. “We hope that it will be addressed and approved so that it’s at least an alternative for the Commanders if we go forward. I grew up in Washington, and I know would be exciting for a lot of fans.” The NFL continues to discuss a potential 18-game season, but would need approval from the players’ union. “We are doing analysis I would say, but we are not finalizing any plans at this point,” Goodell said. “They’ll share that analysis with the players’ union, which would need to agree to any change.” AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Pure Storage Inc. (PSTG) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $63.6 million. The Santa Clara, California-based company said it had profit of 19 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and non-recurring costs, came to 50 cents per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 43 cents per share. The data storage company posted revenue of $831.1 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Ten analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $814.8 million. For the current quarter ending in January, Pure Storage said it expects revenue in the range of $867 million. The company expects full-year revenue of $3.15 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PSTG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PSTGAlex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staffHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors

With Syrian rebels edging ever-closer to the capital, President Bashar Assad is making a last-ditch attempt to remain in power, including indirect diplomatic overtures to the U.S. and President-elect Donald Trump, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. Assad is ordering his army to fall back to defend Damascus, essentially ceding much of the country to insurgents, who seized the major cities of Aleppo and Hama in a lightning offensive over the past week. They’re now on the outskirts of Homs, less than 100 miles to the north. As his remaining troops dig in, Syria’s longtime ruler is signaling his willingness to reach a deal that would allow him to hold on to the rump territory his army controls, or guarantee his safe passage into exile if needed, said the people. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret meetings. One offer Assad made to the U.S. via the United Arab Emirates is for Syria to cut all involvement with Iran-backed militant groups, such as Hezbollah, if Western powers wield influence to stem the fighting, the people said. Another initiative saw Assad dispatch a senior Christian leader to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to relay what he sees as an existential threat to Syria’s Christian minority if Islamist rebels prevail, according to other people familiar with the plan. The intention was that Orban, a Trump ally, would convey this danger to the incoming U.S. president, they said. Trump, who finds himself in Paris, has responded to events on the ground. He took to X to say: “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid. In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” It’s a dramatic turn of events for a dynasty that’s ruled Syria with an iron fist for half a century, crushed peaceful protests in 2011 and clung to power through years of civil war that spurred one of the worst humanitarian crises of modern times. Iranian and Russian military support was crucial to the survival of the 59-year-old president, but both are now distracted and stretched thin by other conflicts. “Assad is in huge danger — it’s almost like in 2015 when the insurgents were at the gates of Damascus,” said Sergei Markov, a political consultant close to the Kremlin, referring to the year Russia intervened to save him. Western nations were equally surprised, including the US, which had largely relinquished much of its influence in Syria to Iran, Russia and Turkey but has reacted to protect its interests, according to senior officials. Multiple Western officials said it was difficult to see Assad remaining in power. The fall of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, could cut the highway linking Damascus and the country’s west and Mediterranean coast — the stronghold of the Assads and loyalists from their Alawite sect. South of Damascus, rebels have seized parts of Daraa province bordering Jordan and in the capital residents of some districts took to the streets and tore down billboards of Assad. In one area people destroyed a statue of Assad’s father Hafez. The president’s whereabouts are unclear, although he’s believed to be in Damascus or his hometown of Qardaha, close to Russia’s Khmeimim air base. It’s also possible he’s in the Iranian capital, Tehran, a person familiar with U.S. policy said Saturday. Assad’s office issued a statement condemning “rumors and fake news,” saying the president remains in the capital. Assad has ordered the bulk of Syria’s remaining army — estimated at between 30,000 to 40,000 fighters — to rush to defend Damascus, according to two people familiar with the matter. An army spokesman said in a TV address on Saturday that it was strengthening its defenses in the countryside around the city. The main rebel offensive has been led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a former al-Qaida affiliate, and various armed groups backed by Turkey. Other fighters have joined in, including army defectors who’d fought the regime and laid down arms in previous ceasefires, said the people. As rebels converge on Damascus from the north and south, Iran has drawn back its presence in Syria, leaving its military advisers concentrated around the capital, according to the people. Some Tehran-backed Iraqi militias have also returned to their country after the government ceded the eastern city of Deir Ezzor to U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, they said. Russian personnel now remain mainly around the capital and at the Khmeimim air base and Tartous naval base, they said. After a meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Doha on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is “trying to do everything not to allow terrorists to prevail.” “We don’t want them to follow the fate of Iraqis, Libyans and other nations who were disturbed by the people desiring to keep their domination,” he said. Trump said Saturday a withdrawal from Syria might “be the best thing that can happen” to Russia and that troops shouldn’t get involved in the fighting. Back channels Russia has launched airstrikes around Homs to try and stall the rebel advance. But with signs the Kremlin’s help may not be enough, Assad is pressing on with back-channel negotiations. A key goal would be retaining control of a portion of the country and addressing Turkey’s demands for a political transition and the potential return of millions of Syrian refugees, a major issue for Ankara. Assad is also proposing a new constitution and talks with the mostly exiled political opposition, according to the people familiar with the outreach. It’s unclear if the efforts will bear fruit. Events on the battlefield have their own momentum, and even countries such as Turkey that have influence over the rebels may not be able to fully control events. “I don’t think any of these outside powers have the leverage over their proxies to change the course of what is happening on the ground,” said Andreas Krieg, director of London-based MENA Analytica Ltd. “At this moment most bets are that the Assad regime may not be able to hold out.” Patriarch visit It was against that backdrop that Assad sent Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II to Hungary on Monday to relay his fears. Syria’s Christian community makes up about 10% of the country’s 24 million population. The plan to have Orban relate this message to Trump was described by an aide to the patriarch and another person with knowledge of the encounter. People close to Trump couldn’t immediately comment, but said he had dispatched his in-law and Middle East adviser, Massad Boulos, to the UAE on Saturday to discuss the situation in the region. Assad has pursued similar tactics before. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani and other rebels have in recent days attempted to allay the fears of Christians and Syria’s other minorities that they envision a form of Islamic rule. Assad’s own Alawite community, which has stuck by him since 2011 and paid a heavy price to defend the regime, also appears to sense the end may be near. Nariman, an Alawite woman reached by phone in Damascus on Friday said she, her husband who’s in the security forces and their 23-year-old son were fleeing to their ancestral village near Jableh in western Syria. She said there were many families like hers. Nobody is going to fight for Assad this time, she said, asking not to be identified by her last name for reasons of safety. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Cupertino: Iconic Flint Center undergoes demolition five years after closing

CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy finished 26th in the 29-team Major League Soccer standings just one season ago, and their biggest supporters boycotted certain matches to protest a decade of poor performance. The most successful club in league history seemed light years away from its luminous prime. When the Galaxy raised the MLS Cup again Saturday amid confetti and fireworks, their spectacular transformation was complete. In only one year, a team that was profoundly lost had rediscovered its peerless championship pedigree. "We won this trophy, and it's finally back where it belongs," striker Dejan Joveljic said. Joseph Paintsil and Joveljic scored in the first half, and the Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. People are also reading... MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing years, but everything changed after LA spent smartly in the offseason to build a high-scoring new lineup topped by Paintsil, Joveljic and Gabriel Pec. The Galaxy finished second in the Western Conference and streaked through the postseason with an MLS playoff-record 18 goals in five games to win another crown. "I'm just so proud of this group after the challenges that we (had) and the way they bounced back and competed as a group," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "We spent a lot of energy at the start, but I'm just so proud of these guys. They've cemented themselves as legends in this club." The Galaxy even won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the conference final. Puig watched this game in a suit, but the Catalan catalyst's teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass in the ninth minute, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their roaring fans during the celebration. "I was really waiting for this moment," said Paintsil, who scored his 14th goal of an impressive season. "I'm much more, 10 times faster than them, and Gaston saw the space. ... It was really a good thing. We did it for Riqui, and we did it for our family that came, and our supporters." Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home his 21st goal. Brugman was named the MLS Cup MVP after a commanding performance in midfield. The Uruguayan hadn't started a match for the Galaxy since Oct. 5 after an injury-slowed season, playing only as a postseason substitute before the final. "I dreamed of that yesterday, of something I could give to the team," Brugman said of his pass to Paintsil. "Today, it happened." Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable postseason charge ended one win shy of their first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win the tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. "I love these guys," Schwarz said. "Some guys, they are crying. In the big picture, that's a start. Sometimes when you lose the final, it's tough, but you use this experience to create the next energy, the next intensity." Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons, but Nealis beat the 2022 MLS Cup MVP in the 28th minute when he volleyed from the penalty area. The second half was lively: Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. After Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz received the MLS Cup that bears his name because of his steady financial support of the league during its shaky years, Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida carried the trophy to his teammates for the celebration. The Galaxy extended their lead over DC United (4) for the most MLS Cup championships in league history. The Red Bulls remain one of three original MLS franchises never to win the title, along with FC Dallas and the New England Revolution. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough. But this season was about the Galaxy's rebirth. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández swiftly turned itself into a contender again by acquiring young talents without international fame. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and grabbed Paintsil, a Ghanaian playing in Belgium. The duo combined with Joveljic to form a potent attack with orchestration from Puig, one of MLS' best players. "Losing a guy like Riqui after the performance he put in all season was devastating," McCarthy said. "Even if he wasn't on the field, we did it for him." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Rosen Law Firm Encourages Macy's, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - MIt's almost time to trade in Santa hats for sparkly 2025 tiaras, and so you should start locking down plans for New Year's Eve — otherwise you could be left sitting alone watching Times Square celebrations from your couch or standing in line outside a crowded bar as the clock strikes midnight. If your pals aren't game to host a house party or you've been blocked from reveling at a rental by Airbnb's anti-party technology , there are tons of options at venues across Philadelphia where you can throw down. In case your wallet is looking a bit thin after Christmas shopping, we've rounded up some of the soirées with admission prices that won't break the bank. MORE: Museum of the American Revolution to offer family-friendly activities throughout winter break Here are 10 bars, restaurants and venues across Philadelphia hosting New Year's Eve bashes with admission that costs less than $100. Be sure to grab your tickets in advance because some events could sell out and others may increase ticket prices as the date gets closer. Brooklyn Bowl | 1009 Canal St. Snacktime, Philly's seven-piece band that will soon be featured on Jason Kelce's talk show, is playing at a New Year's Eve celebration at Brooklyn Bowl in Fishtown. The party, called "Snacktime 2025: A Spaceluv Odyssey," will include "intergalactic" performances, themed drink specials, a special guest DJ and limited-edition merchandise. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $43 on Ticketmaster . Brü Craft & Wurst | 1318 Chestnut St. The festivities at the German-style beer hall in Center City run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and feature music by a DJ. General admission starts at $70, which includes an open bar and champagne toast at midnight. Event company Joonbug is hosting the Brü party, as well as parties at other Philly bars like U-Bahn and Tradesman's, both located next door. Bank & Bourbon | 1200 Market St. Located in the Loews hotel in Center City, Bank & Bourbon is hosting its own NYE party from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring DJ music. Tickets start at $75 and include a half-bottle of champagne and champagne toast at midnight, plus fancy hors d’oeuvres like caviar sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, truffle burger sliders and spicy tuna tartare wontons. Concourse Dance Bar | 1635 Market St. (back entrance) The festivities at the Center City dance bar, which has ball pits and a room dedicated to ice sculptures, run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets start at $95 and include an open bar and champagne toast at midnight. Craft Hall | 901 N. Delaware Ave. To ring in 2025, Northern Liberties' Craft Hall is teaming up with Morgan's Pier, the Penn's Landing waterfront bar that's closed for the season, on their fourth-annual collaborative bash. The party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and includes live music on the bar's lower level, and DJ music at the upstairs dance floor. Tickets start at $95, and include an open bar, party favors and hot dogs all night long. Khyber Pass Pub | 56 S. 2nd St. At Khyber Pass Pub in Old City, the event company Riot Nerd is hosting a "Goth New Year's Eve Dance Party" from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be three DJs on hand spinning all types of "dark tunes," plus there will be themed drink specials. General admission starts at $21.71 and includes a champagne toast at midnight. If goth vibes aren't your thing, Riot Nerd is hosting other NYE parties in Philly, including a "Y2K NYE Party" at World Cafe Live; an "80s/90s/00s Dance Party" at The 700; and a "Charli XCX & Chappell Roan Dance Party" at Underground Arts. Lucy's | 1720 Chestnut St. Located near Rittenhouse Square, Lucy's is celebrating its first year in business with a NYE bash from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. complete with a DJ and dance floor. Tickets start at $95 and include an open bar. NOTO Philadelphia | 1209 Vine St. The nightclub on Vine Street will host its year-end party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with DJ music and a dance floor. Tickets start at $70 and include an open bar and champagne toast at midnight. The Twisted Tail | 509 S. 2nd St. The Society Hill eatery that serves Southern-style cuisine is hosting a "Burlesque & Blues" New Year's Eve event complete with live music and burlesque performances. General admission to the party starts at $30 and includes a champagne toast at midnight. There are also prix fixe dinner packages available in the restaurant. Wicked Wolf | 1214-1216 Chestnut St. The party runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Center City sports bar, which will have a DJ spinning music all night. Tickets to Wicked Wolf's NYE bash start at $99 and include snacks early in the night and a champagne toast at midnight. Follow Franki & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @wordsbyfranki | @thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Have a news tip ? Let us know.NEW YORK , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, Monport Laser is redefining the spirit of giving with its highly anticipated "Christmas Laser Bonanza" . Known for its industry-leading laser engraving machines, Monport Laser is offering a spectacular lineup of deals, rewards, and giveaways designed to spark creativity and make every creator's holiday truly magical. 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