Farmers call for 'Punjab Bandh' today, emergency services to remain openBeirut, Dec 9 (AP) Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule. Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country's future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital's sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad's fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation”. The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Israel releases images of work on a new barrier with Syria The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East”. Satellite images analysed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria. The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarised zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel's presence along the border with Syria. Russian news agency reporting that Assad has arrived in Moscow Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. Arab League condemns Israel for seizing territory in Golan Heights CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad's overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position”. United Nations secretary-general marks the fall of the dictatorial regime' in Syria UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine”. A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions”, and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity”. Top Ukraine diplomat says Assad is a dictator' who relied on Russia to prop up his rule KYIV -- Ukraine's top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad's ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad's government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia's full-scale invasion of the neighbouring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognised Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Israeli military issues warning to residents of five villages in southern Syria JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF's Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn't respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defence Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side”. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. Head of Syria's biggest rebel faction in first appearance since Assad's fall calls it “a victory to the Islamic nation". BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital's sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation”. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran's greed”. He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad's circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said on Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs”. He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. Many Jordanian people welcome the fall of Assad's regime AMMAN — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it”. Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” The International Committee of the Red Cross calls for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad's government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC's head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement on Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance”, he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law". Iraqi government supports efforts seeking to open a dialogue for Syria's future BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity”. The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region”. It cautioned against “interfering in Syria's internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another”. Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. Yemen's leader welcomes the fall of Syria's government CAIRO — The head of Yemen's internationally recognised government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It's a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad's downfall. “It's time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran's support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen's internationally recognised government for a decade. Families wander through the presidential palace in Damascus, taking picture DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus' Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after Syrian unrest TEL AVIV – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad's rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position”. Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria. The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarised zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarised zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the UN Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. Airstrikes reported in the area of the Mezzeh military airport DAMASCUS — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital on Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army's Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus on Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel's presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Sims Limited ( OTCMKTS:SMSMY – Get Free Report ) saw a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,900 shares, an increase of 58.3% from the November 30th total of 1,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.1 days. Sims Stock Performance SMSMY opened at $7.36 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $8.29 and a 200-day moving average of $7.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.06. Sims has a 1-year low of $6.34 and a 1-year high of $10.20. Sims Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sims Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sims and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Latest: Police search for man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO, new photos of suspect released
Jimmy Carter, 100, gained Nebraska admirers during and after his presidency
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Jon Coupal: The Gann Limit is back in the newsJim Lutzweiler had traveled to Plains, Ga., to find the grave of Jimmy Carter's colorful brother, Billy, whose shenanigans he had followed, and came across the epitaph for the former president's sister, Gloria. It read: "She rides in Harley Heaven." So, Lutzweiler, a 78-year-old singer, songwriter and former archivist for the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, wrote the song "Harleys, Hondas and Heaven" in her honor and sent the former president a copy. Carter wrote back that he took the CD to her grave and played it. Lutzweiler still has that letter. Actually, the Jamestown resident has 73 letters and notes from Carter — always signed "Jimmy C" — that range from theology to their mutual love of poetry. People are also reading... Something to know about Lutzweiler is that he's a natural storyteller with a divinity degree and refers to himself tongue-in-cheek as a "magnificent concert pianist trapped helplessly in the broken body of a crusty, old librarian.'" Like Carter, he's also an old Sunday school teacher with a sharp wit and recall of theology and culture. While Lutzweiler couldn't help but follow the antics of the former first brother — "I liked Billy because of my own inner redneck" — he had a lot of respect for the country's 39th president, who seemed to not let it distract him. And before Carter announced he was entering hospice care in February of 2023, Lutzweiler, who has self-published numerous books, was working on one based on his correspondence with Carter, the former peanut farmer and expert in nuclear physics. Their first correspondences date back to Oct. 31, 2000. Carter was planning to leave the Southern Baptist Convention because the organization didn't recognize women as pastors of churches. Carter accused the group of reading the Bible out of context. Lutzweiler, who was not a part of the Southern Baptist Convention at the time but had voted for Carter in 1976, wrote an essay asking him to stay — a plea to deal with differences for the greater mission of the Gospel. He started with these four words:" I like Jimmy Carter." He would go on to give four reasons — none of them politically correct, but all of them good ones, he would write — starting with Carter's smile, being that a smile could lift someone else out of a bad day. He would go on to "hit him hard," according to Lutzweiler. It is with reluctance that I characterize his departure from the SBC as unjustifiable and juvenile. If, however, he really does believe in the moderate mush, the slippery slope, that some mystical, intangible, Disneyesque Jesus is more real than the Jesus of the Scriptures, then I guess he should go, or perhaps even stay and learn. Carter had no idea who Lutzweiler was at the time, although the two had shook hands before. When Lutzweiler saw a photo of Carter and wife Rosalynn in the audience during a Statesmen Quartet concert that was later used for the gospel group's album cover, he stopped at a nearby book signing the president was holding in Minneapolis. He got the former Georgia governor to sign his album, though with slight drama. "When I pulled out my record jacket for his signature, he fairly jumped in surprise as if I had pulled out a loaded gun his Secret Service had missed," Lutzweiler said. The essay would delve deeply into theology and he would use the analogy of football teams competing for four quarters, lifting each other up when they fall and then finding themselves the best of friends off the field. "Thus it is that I am loathe to watch Jimmy depart from the SBC without protest," Lutzweiler wrote. The article was published in "The Watchmen," which was edited by a friend of Lutzweiler's and by his account might have had 600 people on the mailing list. But somebody sent it to Carter. Actually, that somebody was Lutzweiler, who used his stationary at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which he suspects caught Carter's eye. The conservative seminary was led by Paige Patterson, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention. "It was probably not any brilliance in my essay, which I say with forced and false humility," Lutzweiler said, "but because of my seminary stationary that President Carter replied at all." He also thinks Carter responded because he referred to him as "Brother Carter," which was not political and spoke of fellowship. "I put myself in his shoes as a brother," Lutzweiler said. Carter responded with a letter saying he enjoyed the essay but ended with references to women's roles and the governing minds of the convention. I presume that you must let your (Southern Baptist Convention) president interpret the scriptures. I agree with Texas Baptists and others that it should be Jesus. That was November 2000. Carter had written his comments on the pages of the letter Lutzweiler had written, and then sent it back to him. "It was a short note but it opened the dialogue," Lutzweiler said. Lutzweiler responded with more thoughts and challenged some of the arguments Carter made about leaving. Lutzweiler, who has been described as "every Sunday school teacher's nightmare — witty, probing, opinionated, unpredictable, skeptical, questioning and, above all, challenging," by Jonathan Addleton, a former U.S. ambassador — was unrelenting. But Carter was yielding no ground. "I enjoyed your entertaining letter," he wrote back. He would go on to say: I've been concerned as an individual who wanted to heal differences between SBC factions and have given up on this effort. ... I don't recall picking on Paige Patterson, although he and I disagree on some things ... something not possible for you and others at Southeastern. — Best wishes, Jimmy C While always friendly exchanges, they were also frank. Lutzweiler's next letter to Carter, by then the longest-living former president, came about the time the statesman had written a book of poetry. Upon reading a poem from Lutzweiler called "A Toast to God," Carter told his pen pal it was “remarkable.” "A review I dearly savored," Lutzweiler said. "I asked if I could use his review on the dust jacket of a book of my poems. He replied, 'Yes — with guilt and trepidation!'” Their wide-ranging conversations continued about theology, current events and those critical of Carter's beliefs. When Carter was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, Lutzweiler thought the handwritten letters and messages would stop. But they didn't. Lutzweiler sent Carter a CD of Southern gospel songs he recorded on his back porch while wishing him the best with his fight and recovery. Carter invited Lutzweiler to sing at his church, Maranatha Baptist, in Plains, Georgia. Afterward, Lutzweiler and his wife, Shelly, were invited over for lunch, with Rosalynn Carter later serving them coffee and chocolates with the Secret Service outside. Lutzweiler would return to hear Carter teach Sunday school. And he continued writing to him. In 2019, Carter had tripped and fallen several times in the same year and his handwriting wasn't as clear. The last letter, written July 13 of that year, mentioned a story he had read about Bill Clinton's relationship with his pastor. He did not hear from Carter right away and wrote him again. "He said, 'I have been partially incapacitated by a broken hip,'" Lutzweiler said of the late response. Lutzweiler would later receive a letter from the former president's assistant at The Carter Center, a nonprofit think tank for national and international public policy issues, saying that he would no longer be able to correspond. "He was getting older and I understood that there were many people who wanted to talk to him and visit with him," Lutzweiler said. Lutzweiler has continued to send articles and thoughts that would interest him without the expectation that Carter would reply. Over 20 years, "we had a pretty good run," Lutzweiler said. In early 2023, Lutzweiler was calling Jimmy Carter his friend, and he believed Carter felt the same way. Lutzweiler recalls asking Carter for three signed copies of that poetry book in December 2000, which was one of more than 30 books on faith, politics and insights of the 39th president. He would pay for them, of course. It was Christmas and he wanted to send one of them to Patterson, a Texas judge and Randall Lolley, Patterson's predecesor at the Southern Baptist Convention and the former pastor of First Baptist Church in Greensboro. All had strong ties to the convention. "If you can't," Lutzweiler said he wrote, "I'm going to buy three copies of the book and forge your autograph and you won't believe how much you love these people." Instead, Lutzweiler received four autographed books with a note from Carter, who he suspects got a smile out of the retired archivist's merriment. He included one for Lutzweiler. "A note that said, 'Compliments of the poet, no charge," Lutzweiler recalled. Carter would go on to write: In fact, I've spent several hours with Paige and found him to be an interesting and delightful companion. In addition to the poems, I hope you will give him my best personal regards. I feel that he and I would get along fine as fellow deacons in a small church. Lutzweiler wrote to Carter in December asking for permission to produce the book of letters. He hadn't sent it when it became known that Carter, 98, was in hospice care. Lutzweizer sent what he thought might be their last correspondence on Feb. 22, 2023: Dear Brother/President and Rosalynn, While you live and breathe and can still hear, Shelly and I wish to add our voices to the millions now honoring your life well spent. Nancy.McLaughlin@greensboro.com 336-373-7049 @nmclaughlinNR Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Commanders get by Falcons in OT for long-awaited playoff berthJHVEPhoto Shares of BP ( NYSE: BP ) have become unreasonably cheap in the last several weeks which creates an opportunity, especially for dividend investors. BP announced that it repurchased $1.75B worth of its shares in the fourth quarter which is something that makes a Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BP, XOM, CVX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Former blogger Marnie Dashwood built a brand around a mint sweater. She recently opened her first storefront in Newport News' Hilton Village that includes her own designs. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Let it burn: Days-old underground fire at Williamsburg outlet mall could smolder for a week Let it burn: Days-old underground fire at Williamsburg outlet mall could smolder for a week Neighbors get into argument before fatal shooting, Hampton police say Neighbors get into argument before fatal shooting, Hampton police say Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution Teel: Return as columnist at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press is a privilege Teel: Return as columnist at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press is a privilege One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? Newport News council to consider banning guns from government buildings Newport News council to consider banning guns from government buildings Corey Hairston retires as Warwick football coach; defensive coordinator Thomas Sykes is named successor Corey Hairston retires as Warwick football coach; defensive coordinator Thomas Sykes is named successor Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Vinyl records comeback continues: 2 stores open in Newport News, Hampton Vinyl records comeback continues: 2 stores open in Newport News, Hampton Special counsel moves to abandon election interference, classified documents cases against Trump Special counsel moves to abandon election interference, classified documents cases against Trump Trending Nationally Parachute ‘D.B. Cooper’ hijacker used in 1971 may have been found Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Florida. Here’s why Health providers dropping Medicare Advantage could affect coverage for 60,000 Minnesotans Transgender player on San Jose State women’s volleyball team can play at Mountain West tournament, judge rules Say hello to prison: Boston man convicted of attacking woman for not saying ‘good morning’German politicians have criticised Elon Musk for an opinion piece he wrote backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), claiming his support for the party was “intrusive”. The support of the AfD from Musk, who is set to serve in US President-elect Donald Trump's administration, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23. The vote was triggered after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed in a dispute over how to revitalise Germany’s stagnant economy. Mr Musk wrote an op-ed in German in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper claiming that “only the AfD can save Germany" and praised the party's approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation. He went on to say the party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The editor of the newspaper’s opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, resigned after the publication of the article. She wrote on X: “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.” Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and current favourite to succeed Scholz as chancellor, said in an interview with the Funke Media Group: "I cannot recall a comparable case of interference, in the history of Western democracies, in the election campaign of a friendly country." Mr Merz described the commentary as "intrusive and pretentious". Saskia Esken, co-leader of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), vowed fierce resistance to attempts by state actors as well as the rich and influential to influence Germany's elections. “In Elon Musk's world, democracy and workers' rights are obstacles to more profit,” she told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Welt's editor-in-chief designate defended the decision to publish the commentary, saying that democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of opinion, including polarising positions. The AfD is currently second in the opinion polls and might be able to thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority. However, the party has no realistic possibility of entering power because other parties refuse to work with them.
You have to admit, that really is very funny. After all the scribbling over the summer about how sporting directors are now arguably even more valued and sought after than head coaches, and after weeks of waiting for Dan Ashworth’s transformative move to Manchester United, he has ended up on the Old Trafford scrap heap in almost record time. Manchester United spent about as long waiting for Ashworth to be able to make the switch from Newcastle as he actually spent in the job itself, with the club mutually consenting Ashworth just five months after his arrival at the club. There are always significant missteps in the early days of any new ownership’s regime, and Ashworth has apparently quickly been seen as one of them by INEOS. Is that a kneejerk of immense proportions, or a swift, decisive action to correct an obvious mistake? Details are sketchy at the moment, which makes it difficult to say, but only time can bear out the truth in any case. Just look at United’s summer business, which was generally regarded as appropriate and sensible as the new Premier League season approached, but was quickly exposed as woefully deficient. READ: Ranking Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s mistakes at Man Utd: Disability budget cuts in at five The folly of their decision to hold onto Erik ten Hag was certainly pressed home by United’s poor early-season form. Ashworth has been on record to say he played no role at all in the decision to keep the Dutchman, and nor is it clear what his stance was on his dismissal at this stage. Nor is it clear at what point United had made up their minds that Ashworth would be given the heave-ho. It’s not uncommon for everyone at a club to be aware of an impending departure like that but to keep it closely under wraps; it does neither party any good to leak it. But the lack of Ashworth quotes on the club statement that announced Ruben Amorim’s arrival feels significant. This isn’t a ‘they can’t sell him because he’s on the club calendar’ kind of thing: such omissions are rarely done by accident. It’s a moment’s work to include them. Press officers often base those kinds of quotes off a quick one-minute phone call, or just write them on the quoted party’s behalf and get the sign-off by text or email. That makes their omission more likely to be purposeful than not. The club may have wanted Ashworth’s name nowhere near Amorim’s appointment, or Ashworth himself may not have wished to be associated with it; the early reporting suggests it may have been a little of both . Either way, both parties would have known there was an issue. Whatever that problem was, it is an undeniable setback for United that screams of their indecision about what they actually want to be. Ashworth’s appointment was meant to set them up for the longer-term future by giving them a level of certainty and cohesion that has been demonstrably lacking at the top of the club for years. United may see it differently, arguing that their decision to wield the axe so quickly is the clear and decisive act of a club that still knows the direction they want to go in and had found that Ashworth was not that. Amorim’s arrival may only have compounded that feeling and it’s possible they have an appointment in mind who they feel better aligns with his vision. Still...the whole point of hiring a sporting director is that they are meant to be more of a constant than the head coach, ensuring a cohesive through-line to the club’s thinking. It should not ideally work the other way round. INEOS might also argue that sticking with Ashworth despite feeling it was not working was the best thing to do, and that fear of embarrassment should be last on their list of priorities when they’re trying to rebuild themselves. United, as an institution, have been embarrassing enough for ten years without adding more to that by going down the wrong path just because of the optics of it – and god knows that club has held itself back because it has been more concerned with saving face and rarely admitting to a mistake than actually doing what is in their own best interest. Even then, you have to ask what had happened in those five months to lower his stock so considerably; they did not go through a protracted HR wrangle with Newcastle by accident. To effectively go with Amorim over Ashworth is a vote of enormous confidence in their new manager, but the wisdom of that will only become clear over time. Quite possibly, Ashworth’s face simply didn’t fit at United. It happens sometimes. Their weight is now well and truly behind the Ruben Amorim machine – and it has to pay off for them. MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365... 👉 Man Utd: Neville tells Amorim to copy Maresca’s strategy at Chelsea after Forest ‘mess’ 👉 Hargreaves names only Man Utd player who is now ‘undroppable’ after Forest defeat 👉 Ten of the greatest backheel goals, including Cristiano Ronaldo and iconic Arsenal pair
President Jimmy Carter surprised a Pennsylvania family of three in 1979 with a visit to their Carnegie home. The Fishers were not sure why they were picked to entertain the president. They said they weren’t very political and neither had voted for Carter in the previous election. The family was joined by five others at their house where Carter asked for a frank appraisal of his administration. WATCH the video to see what tough opinions the Fishers said Carter had to face. Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100.Monday, December 30, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be... Personal Finance New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be implemented from January 1, it will affect every pocket By Shyamu Maurya December 30, 2024 0 11 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram New Rule 2025: From LPG to PF, these big changes will be implemented from January 1, it will affect every pocket Rule Change From 1st January: There are only two days left for the year 2024 to end and preparations have begun to welcome the new year 2025. At the same time, from January 1, 2025, there are going to be important changes in many rules in the country. This includes rules ranging from LPG prices to EPFO. Let us know what will change this time from January 1 and what will affect you. Rule Change From 1st January: Usually, the government changes the price of LPG on the first of every month. In the past few days, there have been many changes in the prices of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder. However, the prices of 14 kg kitchen cylinder have remained stable in the country for a long time. In such a situation, a change in the price of LPG cylinder is expected this time too. PF account holders may get a special gift in the beginning of the year 2025, through which withdrawal of PF money will be possible from ATM machine. The Labor Ministry is working on this. Recently, Labor Secretary Sumita Dawra said that the Ministry of Labor and Employment is upgrading its IT system to streamline PF withdrawal and improve service. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given great news for feature phone users. Now UPI payment of up to Rs 10,000 can be made using UPI 123Pay. This facility will start from January 1, 2025. Earlier this limit used to be Rs 5,000. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India has given a big relief news for farmers. RBI has increased the limit of loan available to farmers without guarantee to Rs 2 lakh. The new rules will come into effect from January 1, 2025. Earlier this limit was Rs 1.60 lakh. The National Stock Exchange has announced a change in the expiry day of its contracts. This will come into effect from January 1, 2025. NSE had issued a circular in this regard on November 29. Now the monthly contracts of FinNifty, MidCPNifty and NiftyNext50 will expire on the last Thursday of the respective month. The monthly and quarterly contracts of BankNifty will expire on the last Thursday of the expiry month. Tags epfo Rule Change Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here Next article School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @informalnewz@gmail.com RELATED ARTICLES Personal Finance School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Personal Finance Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 Personal Finance TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 - Advertisment - Most Popular School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 New recharge plan: BSNL launches new 425 day plan; Jio-Airtel and Vi’s problems increase December 30, 2024 Load more Recent Comments Gul Mohiudin on Kavita sister-in-law wore a sari without a blouse, seeing the pictures you will also be... Venkatesh on Urfi Javed crossed all limits, wore a front open hoodie top without inner, see photos and videos Gul Mohiudin on Malaika Arora came out in a backless strappy dress late at night, someone had to handle the gown and someone held her hand Gul Mohiudin on Priyanka Chopra reached award function without bra, shame had to be saved repeatedly in open jacket Venkatesh on Disha Patani shared a bo*ld picture while taking a bath, seeing Tiger Shroff’s heart beat will increase EDITOR PICKS School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 POPULAR POSTS School Closed: Big relief for school students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, timings of these schools changed December 30, 2024 Bank license canceled: RBI canceled license of these 11 banks, see the full list here December 30, 2024 TDS deduction new rule: Now more money will remain in the bank account even after paying income tax? check complete details December 30, 2024 POPULAR CATEGORY Personal Finance 18153 Entertainment 17065 India 4565 News 3786 Technology 2271 Jobs Alert 794 Travel 652 Education 451 ABOUT US INFORMALNEWZ brings the Latest News & Top Breaking headlines on Politics and Current Affairs. Up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by informal Newz. Find latest news coverage of breaking news events, trending topics, and compelling articles. Contact us: informalnewz@gmail.com FOLLOW US Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube © - 2024 - informalnewz | Izon web Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us - Izon Web Pvt. Ltd. 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(The Center Square) – Paula Scanlan is hopeful the narrative around gender ideology is shifting, especially as Republicans prepare for majorities in both chambers of the 119th Congress and a seat in the White House. “I am hopeful that with the majorities now that we will be able to get across the finish line,” Scanlan told The Center Square on Thursday, speaking of more legislation on the way to protect women's spaces. “Obviously, this goes beyond sports ... So ideally, I think that the biggest thing would be to federally pass something that says this is what a woman is.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. The collection In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Withheld files Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”
In this episode of , Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab dive into the fallout from every game of Week 17 NFL action, from a looming monster matchup to a coaching decision that could change the landscape of the 2024 season. Fitz and Frank agree: next week’s showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions is one of the most high-stakes regular season games of all time, and Campbell has a huge decision to make about whether or not to sit players on Monday night. As the duo breaks down the week’s key matchups, they touch on Sam Darnold’s explosive performance for the Vikings, why the Green Bay Packers still haven't proven they can beat top teams and how the Los Angeles Chargers are shaping up for a playoff run. The Denver Broncos suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Cincinnati Bengals with playoff hopes on the line, while the New York Jets’ disastrous performance against the Buffalo Bills raised even more questions about their future. Fitz and Schwab also dig into Brock Bowers breaking records and the Indianapolis Colts’ playoff chances crumbling with a disastrous performance. Fitz and Schwab also weigh in on the fate of Mike McCarthy after the Dallas Cowboys’ embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and the rest of the Sunday slate before giving their uncertain predictions for an awkward Monday night matchup between the Detroit Lions & San Francisco 49ers. (1:50) - Week 18 battle for home field advantage (11:00) - Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (22:00) - Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Commanders (31:00) - Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots (35:00) - Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (39:00) - Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (40:50) - New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (44:30) - Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles (47:50) - Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints (52:00) - Indianapolis Colts @ New York Giants (57:20) - Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (58:20) - Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns (59:40) - Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:02:50) - MNF previewDAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule . Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," President Joe Biden said , crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions. Russia requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria, according to Dmitry Polyansky, its deputy ambassador to the U.N., in a post on Telegram. The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. A spokesman there didn't immediately respond to questions. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. Earlier, Russia said Assad left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. The leader of Syria's biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani , is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the Umayyad Mosque and described Assad's fall as “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he said Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They urged people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state,” and announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. An online video purported to show rebels freeing dozens of women at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed . At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi appeared on state TV and sought to reassure religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Soldiers and police fled their posts and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Families wandered the presidential palace, walking by damaged portraits of Assad. Other parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” Rebels stood guard at the Justice Ministry, where Judge Khitam Haddad said he and colleagues were protecting documents. Outside, residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s historically pro-government newspaper al-Watan called it “a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements ordered from above. A statement from the Alawite sect that formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. The road to Damascus from the Lebanese border was littered with military uniforms and charred armored vehicles. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, which provided crucial support to Assad, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its proxies, already weakened by conflict with Israel . Iran said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador to Syria, said it was “effectively impossible” to help the Syrian government after it admitted the insurgents' military superiority. Speaking on Iranian state media from an undisclosed location, he said Syria's government decided Saturday night to hand over power peacefully. “When the army and the people could not resist, it was a good decision to let go to prevent bloodshed and destruction,” Akbari said, adding that some of his colleagues left Syria before sunrise. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on state TV, said there were concerns about the “possibility of civil war, disintegration of Syria, total collapse and turning Syria into a shelter for terrorists.” Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali has said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office to a hotel. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel’s military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the U.S., views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall to occupy more territory. Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed.
Robert Lewandowski fired Barcelona to another three points in the Champions League as his Barca side emerged as 3-0 victors against Brest on Tuesday night, continuing their march toward the round of 16. Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 10th minute from the penalty spot, finding the back of the net for the 100th time in the Champions League, and he joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to score a century of goals in the competition. Dani Olmo scored the Spanish side's second of the game in the 66th minute after receiving the ball inside the penalty area after a square cross from Gerard Martin , and the goalscorer's danced past centre-back Brendan Chardonnet before firing his shot off of Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot and into the net. Lewandowski scored his side's third of the match in second-half stoppage time when he collected a driven pass into the penalty area from Alex Balde with one touch, before stroking the ball into the bottom-right corner with his second touch. The result means that Barca are now second with 12 points from their five outings in the Champions League and are just one point from first-placed Inter Milan. Meanwhile, Brest are ninth with 10 points but have the same amount of points as every team above them up until fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Barca's Polish striker was awarded a penalty in the opening stages of the game when he was clattered by Brest goalkeeper Bizot after Dani Olmo crossed into the box, and Lewandowski calmly converted following a stuttered run up. While Martin's low delivery was excellent for Olmo's goal, the attacker deserves most of the credit given his close control inside the penalty area, though Bizot should have done better given the ball bounced off him and into the back of the net. Lewandowski demonstrated his immense composure in the box when he scored his second of the game, with the striker shielding the ball before swivelling his body and striking home. Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot bizarrely fouls Robert Lewandowski when trying to claim a cross, and the Barca striker calmly converts the resulting penalty, slotting the ball to the right side of the net! Gerard Martin fires a low cross to Dani Olmo, who takes the ball while charging into the box, and his close control allows him to beat centre-back Brendan Chardonnet before he shoots at goal, scoring despite his effort striking goalkeeper Bizot! Alex Balde picks up the ball on the left of Brest's penalty area and finds Lewandowski in the box, and the striker controls the ball on his right foot in a central position before he swivels his hips and gently guides the ball into the bottom-right corner! Robert Lewandowski might be into his mid thirties, but the legendary striker proved once again that he still has so much to offer, scoring his 100th Champions League goal. Perhaps more impressive was the Polish striker's general play, with the forward always presenting himself as an option for teammates. The 36-year-old might no longer be the quickest, but he displayed his intelligence in and around the box against Brest, and the veteran was still able to contribute positively to Hansi Flick 's intense out of possession system. Possession: Barcelona 76%-24% Brest Shots: Barcelona 19-2 Brest Shots on target: Barcelona 8-0 Brest Corners: Barcelona 4-0 Brest Fouls: Barcelona 8-19 Brest Barcelona are set to take on Las Palmas on Saturday in La Liga, before playing Mallorca away from home in early December. As for Brest, they will host Strasbourg on November 30 in Ligue 1, with their subsequent match against Lille in the French top flight to come on December 6.
Fifty years ago | Ban on company donations to parties to go
