Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Silly season is nigh. Whether the prospect whips you into a flurry of festive cheer or has you gearing up for an annual round of “Bah, humbuggery” – and most of us are in between – there’s plenty to see and do between now and year’s end. Without further ado, here is a very Melbourne Christmas guide with something in the stocking for everyone. THEATRE A Christmas Carol Why did Ebenezer Scrooge become the ultimate grinch? Well, to his mind, life was nothing but a permanent cost-of-living crisis: “What’s Christmastime,” he sneers, “but a time for paying bills without money – a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer.” Relatable. Matthew Wharcus’ production of A Christmas Carol will set budding Scrooges to rights. Now in its third year, it has established itself as a Melbourne Christmas tradition and the charming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic parable from Jack Thorne ( Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ) is a bell-ringing, carol-singing delight. There’s a new celebrity Scrooge every year – in 2022 David Wenham, last year Owen Teale from Game of Thrones – and Erik Thomson steps into the role this time. The Packed to the Rafters and All Saints star first came to wider attention as Hades on Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess – with a larger-than-life mean streak that’ll be useful for playing Ebenezer before his de-Scroogification in this elegant and uplifting, family-friendly show. Comedy Theatre, November 22 to December 29. F Christmas is an all-inclusive Christmas special with comedy, circus and cabaret at the Malthouse. F Christmas There are plenty of good reasons for ambivalence about Christmas – it’s a capitalist holiday devoted to conspicuous consumption, and for those without families or rejected by them, it can be an isolating time of year. Malthouse Theatre throws open its doors to subversive festivities with F Christmas , a variety show that welcomes every Christmas orphan or misfit or malcontent to the party. Devised by talented rabble-rousers Sarah Ward and Bec Matthews, it promises to be an all-inclusive Christmas special with comedy, circus and cabaret galore. Director Susie Dee will be in Mrs Claus mode, getting the explosive and anarchic talents of the ensemble – which features aerial elves, tap-dancing turkeys and carollers from hell – to burn the house down on schedule. Forget stocking fillers and decorating the tree. Trade them for wild surprises and glitter bombs of perverse hilarity as this eccentric found family saunters towards a camp Yuletide apocalypse. Malthouse, November 27 to December 15. Grace Carroll and Marcus Morelli star in The Australian Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Credit: Simon Eeles BALLET Advertisement The Nutcracker This story first cast its spell on me when I was seven, and the enchantments of this Christmas ballet are an unforgettable introduction to the magic of live performance. As young Clara steps into a world where toys come to life on Christmas night, a colourful fantasia unfolds through spectacular and virtuosic dance. Tchaikovsky’s transporting score is most famed for the tinkling tintinnabulations of the Sugar Plum Fairy, though there’s a battle against armies of mice, too. There are two options for watching this fabulous story: The Australian Ballet’s livestream from the Sydney Opera House on December 12 at 7.15pm or the full-dress production at Hamer Hall on December 18 to 20. Carols by Candleight is an institution, so you can be sure the best and brightest stars will perform. CONCERTS Carols by Candlelight The 2024 line-up is still under wraps, but Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight is such an institution you can be sure the best and brightest stars regard it as an honour to sing at what has long been a premier carolling event. Its reach extends far beyond Melbourne and it is broadcast live on Nine (owner of this masthead) on Christmas Eve. Tickets sell quickly if you want to attend live, candle in hand, among the televised throng, so plan accordingly. Sidney Myer Music Bowl, December 24. Kevin McCallistergets the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra treatment. MSO Home Alone in Concert Film screenings with a live orchestra playing the score are popular year-round, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has chosen Christmas favourite Home Alone to celebrate the holidays. Composed by the master of Hollywood scores John Williams, this one features a choir, and carolling and should keep conductor Nicholas Buc’s baton twirling with comic menace as young Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) defends himself from a home invasion in this Christmas comedy classic. For children of a more classical bent, the MSO also has Classic Kids: A Symphonic Christmas , a 50-minute festival concert with familiar carols and festive music, on December 14, with a relaxed performance also available. Hamer Hall, December 5-7. Taylor Swift tribute concert Merry Swiftmas celebrates the singer and Christmas. Credit: Getty Images Advertisement Merry Swiftmas Are you a Swiftie who failed to catch Tay Tay when she played the MCG and stopped the city in its tracks? Fear not. Merry Swiftmas promises the ultimate Taylor Swift tribute concert, and singing along is encouraged. It’s part of a lively festive season at the Athenaeum that takes in a musical parody of Love, Actually (December 6-23), and Christmas with Silvie Paladino (recently seen in Sunset Boulevard ) backed by the Melbourne Opera Orchestra and choir (December 11). The Athenaeum, December 13-14. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens opens its gates over summer to al fresco films nightly by the lake at Moonlight Cinema . Outdoor productions of Shakespeare are also an annual event, with the Australian Shakespeare Company performing The Merry Wives of Windsor by night and the much-loved The Wind in the Willows by day (both from December 21). Take a picnic and enjoy. The Queen Vic’s Summer Night Market. Credit: Ewen Bell CHRISTMAS MARKETS Got stockings to fill? Christmas markets abound. The Queen Victoria Market is in full swing with its popular Summer Night Market (November 20 to March 12) every Wednesday, and Santa will be in attendance pre-Christmas. Over at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, you can pick up an array of Christmas delicacies at the Good Food and Wine Show Christmas Market (December 6-8) and if you’re feeling particularly nerdy, there’s a Christmas edition of the pop culture and gaming convention Oz Comic Con on at Jeff’s Shed that weekend, too. At Federation Square, there’s a Christmas edition of the Boho Luxe Market at the Atrium (December 8) and you can celebrate Koorie Krismas on December 14 in a day of workshops, live performance, a market with Koorie arts and crafts and, of course, Koorie Klaus – a jolly fellow in red, yellow and black trim (the colours of the Aboriginal flag much more in the spirit of goodwill to all than red and white), didgeridoo in hand. Everywhere from the Sunday craft market along St Kilda Esplanade to large weekly produce markets at Preston or South Melbourne will be gearing up for their busiest season, too, as well as tucked-away alternatives, such as the bespoke Artist Christmas Market at Life’s Too Short Bar (December 14, 21), where you can pick up unusual bargains and support local creators. A Muppet Christmas Carol starring Robin, Kermit and Miss Piggy. Advertisement FESTIVE CHEER IN THE CBD AND SURROUNDS The Yarra is a great place to wander, with a Christmas carnival along its banks offering rides and funfair games (December 6-24), or you can stroll down to the Crown Christmas River Show (until December 25) and its spectacular water fountains, lasers and light projections. Stadium Square at Marvel Stadium is transforming into the Nth Pole , a free event with a 360-degree cinema and 18 AFL club-themed Christmas trees. More relaxed options include the bubble artists at The Christmas Bubble Show (Capitol Theatre, December 23-24) or any of the special Christmas film screenings, such as The Muppet Christmas Carol , at that venue. And it wouldn’t be a Melbourne festive season without the Myer Christmas windows . This is the 69th year the department store has dressed its windows in the Bourke Street Mall. For 2024, it has teamed with Australia Zoo and the Irwin family to create a magical encounter with wildlife through puppetry, lighting and mechanical genius, and despite a low-key opening, the display looks fabulous and continues in style what has become a traditional suburban pilgrimage for many families with young kids. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday .

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted to President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations, stating that India has "no interest" in weakning the US dollar. Speaking at the Doha Forum on Saturday, Jaishankar reflected on the positive relationship India had with the first Trump administration, highlighting the restart of the QUAD under Trump's presidency. "We had a good relationship, a very solid relationship with the first Trump administration, yes there were some issues mostly trade related issues, but there were a whole lot of issues on which Trump was very international, and i remind people that it was actually under Trump that the QUAD was restarted," he said. ALSO READ: Hyderabad: Ambulance Hijacked And Stolen, Thief Arrested After 100 Km Chase; Police Officer Injured He also noted the personal connection between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President-elect Trump, which has contributed to the strong bilateral ties between the two countries. "There a personal relation between PM Modi and Trump...Where the BRICS remarks was concerened. We've always said that India has never been for de-dolarisation, right now there is no proposal to have a BRICS currency. The BRICS do discuss financial transrations...US is our largest trade partner, we have no interest in weakning the dollar at all," he added. Jaishankar was adressing the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum panel on 'Conflict Resolution in a New Era' where Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Norway Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide were also present. EAM Jaishankar is on a official visit to Qatar and Bahrain from December 6-9. In Bahrain, he will co-chair the 4th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) with Foreign Minister of Bahrain; Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. EAM will also participate in the 20th edition of IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on December 8. Earlier on September 9, EAM Jaishankar held a meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Saudi Arabia. The two leaders discussed taking forward bilateral ties. Sharing details regarding his meeting with Qatar PM, Jaishankar stated, "Began the day with a good meeting with PM & FM of Qatar @MBA_AlThani_. Discussed taking India-Qatar bilateral ties forward. Appreciated his insights and assessments on regional developments." The two leaders had earlier held a meeting in Doha in June. The two leaders had held talks on strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors and addressing key regional challenges. Jaishankar conveyed warm greetings and wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar Amir Amir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Qatar PM. ALSO READ: ‘Approach ECI Or Courts’: Ajit Pawar Hits Back At Aaditya Thackeray Over EVM Remarks Further, he underscored the robust nature of the India-Qatar relationship, emphasising cooperation in political, trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. (Except header, this copy has not been edited by Jagran English. Source: ANI)“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24 We are building a foundation in our life that will simply make us antifragile. Luke 2:52 tells us that Jesus grew physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Let us examine what this means physically for this week and we will move on to the others next time. Like all of growth, the real key is consistency. We can not simply exercise once a year and call it good. We must develop a rhythm in our life that will enable us to exercise this habit on a regular basis. The same is true with our mental growth. In many circles, when I ask if they are reading anything interesting, they look back at me in confusion. After a moment they come to their senses and inform me that when their formal education ended so did their reading practice. After reading a biography about Teddy Roosevelt where it mentioned how voracious of a reader he was, I resolved to read an average of a book a week for the rest of my life. I have kept that commitment. Because of modern technology that would not have been readily available to the Rough Rider, I can also listen to audio books. Teddy died with a book under his pillow. He never wanted to quit learning. We have other ways that we can strengthen the foundation of our minds. We can do puzzles; we can have interesting discussions. The best discussions often happen after some intense research. At the Gospel Rescue Mission several years ago now, we had a challenging decision to make. There were at least two directions we could follow. Even working through the puzzle of the problem was strengthening us mentally. A couple of staff members were tasked with doing research on the one option and another was tasked with the second main option. At an assigned time, they came together and debated the options. It was an amazing exercise. We were engaging with opposing sides of an issue and having an exciting and stimulating conversation. I could almost feel my brain cells growing. It was an amazing experience. Maybe instead of simply arguing we should take time to have discussions like that on our divisive topics. The key here would be that we would have to argue contrary to our preconceived ideas. Today there is no excuse not to learn and expand our thinking. It is easier than ever to explore ideas from around the world. We can listen to podcasts, read more articles and interact in classroom settings. Expanding our minds give us options. More options will reduce our stress. Imagine you are engaging with a problem that is a three (on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being easy and 10 being difficult.) If you only have the mind capacity of a two. This problem will be challenging. However, if you develop your brain to a seven or eight, the problem will be of no great challenge. Finally, to develop your mind you need to engage with the Scriptures. Read them, meditate on them and seek to apply them. Make sure you take time to ask the Holy Spirit to help you to develop your mind. Rich Schaus is the executive director of Gospel Rescue Mission.Partsol Secures Technology-Enabled Service Subscription with the US Army

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AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:06 p.m. ESTMiami developers have expanded the branding of their luxury condos from high-end cars and famous designers to include world-class chefs, and even posh wellness centers, to lure buyers, Side Dish has learned The city’s booming skyline, which features residential towers named for Porsche and Bentley as well as Armani/Casa, will soon be joined by a 48-story luxury building bearing the name of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Residences, slated to open in 2027 in the Design District, will offer condos starting at $1.6 million and feature the French legend’s renowned ABC Kitchen trilogy– ABCV, ABC Cucina and ABC Kitchen. While the restaurants will be open to the public, well-heeled residents can expect finely appointed apartments, Vongerichten has designed the kitchens — from the appliances to the pots and pans. He can even stock your fridge before you land. “A chef understands all the details that create quality, such as texture and color, so it’s natural for a chef to bring their experience into lifestyle,” Vongerichten told Side Dish during a recent visit to the Sunshine State. The property, with the motto “taste is everything, will be launched in partnership with developer David Martin of Terra and Lion Development. Before teaming with Vongerichten, Martin launched the Carbone residences , as Side Dish previously reported, in partnership with Carbone’s parent company, Major Food Group, and fellow developer One Thousand Group. The 58-story, steel-and-glass Carbone tower, known as Villa Miami, leans on celebrity chef Mario Carbone, who has also designed the kitchens and can stock the fridges and bars. The Cipriani brand is also well represented with Mr. C and the Cipriani Residences. Bringing in big-name restaurant brands to boost condo sales is nothing new. In New York, developers anchor elite buildings with private restaurants run by the likes of Daniel Boulud, and Vongerichten, who helms the kitchen at the exclusive 220 Central Park South on Billionaires’ Row. In Miami, however, partnering with chefs, restaurants and wellness centers has become the latest evolution in the residential branding revolution. This week, Martin will also launch The Well Coconut Grove Miami, Side Dish can reveal exclusively. The tower follows last December’s debut of The Well Bal Harbor Miami, which also features commercial space — some of which was recently leased by Tom Brady for his family office. An exclusive wellness club that features nutrition and medical programs, fitness classes and the latest in longevity spa treatments, the Well boasts celebrity clients including Brady, Emma Roberts,Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Priyanks Chopra and Nick Jonas. “I think the big idea is to create environments that enhance peoples’ lives,” Martin told Side Dish. “When we start out with an idea or project, we are trying to figure out how people can improve their lives. We try to go through pretty specific processes to understand who is the owner we are designing for — with demographics and psychographics and the data informs our decisions about who our partners are.” The health spa was co-founded by Rebecca Parekh, Sarrah Hallock and Kane Sarhan, who opened The Well New York near Union Square in 2019. Membership prices for classes start at $350 a month. “So many people who come to the club in New York said they wanted to live here,” said Sarhan, adding that expanding from private clubs to residences was a natural extension of the brand. “Wellness Is a macro trend. Everyone with money is interested in longevity, fitness and weight loss. That’s what they are spending their dollars on.” The new, eight-story Coconut Grove residence will also include a full market, along with ‘on demand’ juice and snack programs, family meal prep services, and a cafe and restaurant in the building, Sarhan said. The Well also has doctors and nutritionists, along with spa treatments focusing on health, like infrared saunas, cold plunges, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, PLT light beds, and more. Buyers can also customize wellness rooms in their homes, and the kitchens come with a “healthy butler pantry,” with “healthy cooking machinery, so cooking at home is easy,” Sarhan said. At Coconut Grove, 20% of the 200 units sold during the first 48 hours, Sarhan said, and they have deals to develop new branded residences in Mexico, London and Texas: “When I look at the sub market, whether it is Coconut Grove or Bal Harbor, it is for intellectual communities of empty nesters moving from homes to buildings because they want services,” Martin added. We hear ... there’s new culinary talent in Aspen off-the-slopes this season. Cederic Vongerichten, son of Michelin-starred top chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and his spouse, Ochi, launched Wayan Aspen this month. It’s an outpost of their popular, New York-based restaurant, Wayan , with innovative, award winning French-Indonesian cuisine, and its ‘little sister,’ Ma•dé . Wayan Aspen launched following a successful two-year pop-up at The LIttle Nell. Signature, shareable dishes include lobster noodles with black pepper butter and thai basil; Peekytoe crab fried rice with kerupuk and cilantro; along with regional favorites like Colorado lamb satay and local dry aged Ribeye served with Indonesian sauces; and desserts including pandan passion fruit custard. There’s also an Aprés Ski menu and handcrafted cocktails including the Calamansi Fizz with gin, calamansi, aquafaba and rosemary and the Devils Avocado with mezcal, avocado, cucumber and honey. In addition, Jayma Cardoso’s Snow Lodge — from the Surf Lodge in Montauk — has a new chef and culinary director: Preston Hix, who was previously at Vail’s La Tour, Miami’s Fountainebleau Hotel & Resort, La Gorce Country Club, Klaw; and Denver’s Le Bilboquet. Celebrity guests at Snow Lodge have included Anna Kendrick, Riley Keough, Heidi Klum, Ian Somerhalder, and Nacho Figueras. The “new American” menu comes with a strong Italian influence, and is already known for its salt-baked whole fish. There’s also live piano music during the week, as well as the Jade Room Caviar x Champagne lounge. Finally, top chef Sam Talbot , the original chef at Surf Lodge when Cardoso launched 16 years ago, is also the executive chef at ZigZag — from veteran New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas hospitality owner Romain Pavee and local partners/philanthropists Scott and Carly Weber. For years, Aspen cuisine was “Italian, Italian, Italian, with some sushi,” Pavee told Side Dish. “Now there’s some diversity — from Thai to French-Indonesian cuisine,” he added. Pavee describes ZigZag as a French-American bistro, “with classics from both sides of the ocean.” The name comes from Pavee’s five-year-old daughter, Juliette, who noticed that the Roaring Fork River ran ‘zig zag.’ “The name was so playful, innocent and pure, and the river couldn’t be more embedded in the community. It is also the shape of the tracks left from snowboarding. It was perfect,” Pavee said, adding that he “fell in love” with Aspen years ago, and it’s where his daughter saw her first snowfall. ZigZag has opened where Mezzaluna, an Aspen staple, stood for 37 years before closing last October. It comes with “the last, standing wood burning oven” in Aspen that was grandfathered in. “Mezzaluna was an institution, and we want to honor it. The food will be more elevated, ‘French chic,’ but it is also for everyone, in a place that is warm and gracious,” Pavee said, adding that there is a focus on local produce, which will be especially noticeable this summer — with an emphasis on the ‘garden’ section of the menu that reflects fare from places like Venice Beach, where Pavee lives, as well as a wood-fired section. “Now the land is frozen, but come summer, the bistro will be super produce-centric, and healthy. We’ll still have rich dishes, and comfort food, but we’ll also play more with farm to table,” Pavee added. All three eateries bring something new to the Aspen scene, which launched earlier than usual this year, said Cardoso, who opened Snow Lodge on Dec. 6. “The crowds have been non-stop since we opened. People want to be on the mountain early, before it gets super crowded,” Cardoso said, adding that there have also been a large number of full buy-outs from luxury brands. Snow Lodge has held exclusive invite-only dinners for brands including Gucci, Bottega Venetta, Vogue, and hotelier Steve Wynn’s newly launched Wynn Fine Art, which honored artist Connor Addison. The dinner was hosted by Winn’s stepson, Nick Hissom, director of Wynn Fine Art and partner Kameron Ramirez.Uber CFO to Participate in Fireside Chat Hosted by BarclaysBy LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s online media association said two reporters were killed and several others were wounded in a gang attack on Tuesday on the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas Eve attack. Robest Dimanche, a spokesman for the Online Media Collective, identified the dead journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. Dimanche said an unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which he blamed on the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs. Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said, pledging “this crime is not going to go unpunished.” A video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year during violence that also targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire. Video posted online earlier showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor, apparently wounded. That video could also not be immediately verified. Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of a gang known as Viv Ansanm, which that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince , posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. Haiti has seen journalists targeted before. In 2023, two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks — radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in mid-April that year, while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that month. In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, more widely known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control of it from gangs. The hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris. Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs. The hospital is across the street from the national palace, the scene of several battles in recent months. Gang attacks have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse with looting, setting fires, and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital. The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat them. Haiti’s health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season, which is likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases. Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to UNICEF. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-americaSecond-warmest November on record means that 2024 is likely to be Earth's hottest year

Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There's no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley's historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He's not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. People are also reading... Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP's first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren't QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn't. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP's new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. Clinching scenarios The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. Status quo in Dallas? It's not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. "I don't think that's crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left," Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven't reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team's struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. Be the first to know

NoneMozambique’s president-elect Daniel Chapo on Friday called for “non-violence” and “unity” after widespread rioting this week sparked by his ruling party’s contested election win. Chapo, who said he “regretted” the violence, promised that after his inauguration in mid-January, he would be “the president of all” in the southern African country, despite opposition claims of vote-rigging. Mozambique’s top court on Monday confirmed that Frelimo, Chapo’s party that has been in power for 50 years, won the October 9 vote, triggering four days of unrest that saw streets blocked, shops and businesses torched, and looting. Some 134 people were killed in the unrest, according to local NGO Plataforma Decide, taking the overall death toll since the elections to at least 261. Chapo said in his first public statement since the court decision that the worst affected cities were the capital Maputo, neighbouring Matola, the central city of Beira and Nampula in the north. “These acts only contribute to the decline of the country and the increase in the number of Mozambicans who are heading towards unemployment and poverty,” added the former provincial governor, who takes over an impoverished nation with glaring inequality in just a few weeks. Chapo thanked citizens who helped remove makeshift barricades to try to get life back to normal and praised security forces for “mitigating the harmful effects of political polarisation”. Several police officers died during the clashes, he added. He promised to turn around the country’s economy and to do “everything to renew” Mozambique. International observers also pointed to electoral irregularities in the disputed presidential poll, which the Constitutional Council said Chapo won with 65.17 percent of the vote. The country’s electoral commission had initially said Frelimo won nearly 71% of the vote. Before this week, Mozambique had seen a wave of demonstrations, strikes and blockades in protest at the election. Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, is limping back to normal but residents are still fearful because of widespread looting and vandalism sparked by confirmation that the ruling party won contested elections. Food, fuel and medicine are running low for the city’s inhabitants while the daring escape of more than 1,000 inmates from a maximum-security prison is fuelling wild rumours and prompted the creation of neighbourhood patrols. “My neighbour woke me up, telling me that men armed with machetes were walking around,” Maria Amelia, a 55-year-old cleaner who lives in Matola, near Maputo, told AFP. “When I went out, I saw my neighbours, armed with knives to defend themselves against these invaders. But I didn’t see anyone. I was terrified.” Maputo bank worker Armand Tembe, 40, was also dragged out of bed before dawn. “I haven’t seen any criminals outside. But it’s starting to get scary. I don’t know where the country is going,” he said dejectedly. “We stayed up until 4:30 in the morning and patrolled for something we only heard about and that no one saw,” said another woman who wanted to remain anonymous. “It was just hearsay, it makes it seem like a macabre plan.” Borges Nhamirre, a Pretoria-based Mozambican researcher, said that so far “there have been no verified reports of attacks of this kind”. But the fact that the police chief, speaking to the press on Wednesday evening, “announced that detainees could ‘visit’ houses has fuelled concern”, he added. “The prevailing sentiment in the conversations suggests that the government may have invented this crisis to control the ongoing social unrest,” he said. Venancio Mondlane, Mozambique’s main opposition leader, has denounced the October 9 election results as rigged. On Monday, the country’s highest court confirmed victory for the ruling Frelimo party, which has been in power for half a century. That set off riots that left more than 125 dead over several days, according to the local NGO Plataforma Decide. “We know who the real bandits are, it’s Frelimo,” Mondlane said on social networks on Friday. On the streets of Maputo, makeshift barricades were slowly being dismantled, while the army was clearing some roads, according to AFP reporters on the ground. Residents were cautiously leaving their homes to look for basic necessities. “I’m looking for bread,” explained Isabel Rocha, 29, in the Laulane district of the city, after a sleepless night because of security fears. “The bakeries have been closed for four days. In fact, we lack everything. Even the small grocery stores are closed.” Lina Chauque, 47, sat despondently on the pavement with a large bundle containing lettuces and cabbages next to her. She had been waiting for two hours with several other women for a bus to arrive to sell her products at market. “We tried to ask for help from some trucks that passed but the drivers did not want to take us,” she said. A short distance away, cars queued patiently outside a petrol station where only one pump still had fuel. “I am looking for medicine for me and my mother,” explained Tomas Panguene, 65, who suffers from knee pain. “Yesterday I went out to find a pharmacy but the streets were still barricaded. I found what I needed this morning.”Roland Palmer, whose uncle is the late Jaap Blokker, is a part of the with his uncle’s , . Palmer had been CEO of the company in the past and promised to lead the company for 30 years, but he was unable to fulfill his promise. Palmer’s cousin, Erwin Blokker, confirmed the reports on Monday that Palmer was a part of the group that is attempting to buy Blokker. Palmer was the CEO from 2011 to 2015 before he was fired for creative differences. The Blokker family still owns at least 35 properties with Blokker branches. People involved in the deal think that these businesses, along with 45 franchise stores, will be just about enough to establish a distribution network and operate a purchasing office. The bankruptcy administrator thinks it will take months before it is completely decided which stores will be able to continue as Blokker stores and which cannot. The proposed restart will be too late for 3,000 of Blokker’s employees. They will be fired at the end of the year. If they want to work at Blokker again, their years of service will be lost. The franchisees will also have to renegotiate the terms of a collaboration. Roland Palmer was trained to become the new boss of Blokker with stints at Unilever and Coca-Cola. He joined the board when his uncle Jaap passed away after a fight with cancer in 2011. But his time as CEO was filled with arguments with Jaap’s brother AB. The arguments were mainly about Palmer’s insistence on using technology more with AB being against the idea. Palmer worked for the Chinese web shop company Alibaba after leaving Blokker. It is unclear whether he will continue to work there or take charge at Blokker.