FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Republican senators pushed back on Sunday against criticism from Democrats that Tulsi Gabbard , Donald Trump's pick to lead U.S. intelligence services , is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and secret meetings , as a congresswoman, with Syria’s president, a close ally of the Kremlin and Iran. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence . “I think she’s compromised," Duckworth said on CNN’s “State of the Union," citing Gabbard's 2017 trip to Syria, where she held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gabbard was a Democratic House member from Hawaii at the time. “The U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America’s foes. And so my worry is that she couldn’t pass a background check,” Duckworth said. Gabbard, who said last month she is joining the Republican party, has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and, according to the Hawaii National Guard, received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III." Duckworth's comments drew immediate backlash from Republicans. “For her to say ridiculous and outright dangerous words like that is wrong," Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said on CNN, challenging Duckworth to retract her words. “That’s the most dangerous thing she could say — is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States Army is compromised and is an asset of Russia.” In recent days, other Democrats have accused Gabbard without evidence of being a “Russian asset.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin’s pocket.” Mullin and others say the criticism from Democrats is rooted in the fact that Gabbard left their party and has become a Trump ally. Democrats say they worry that Gabbard's selection as national intelligence chief endangers ties with allies and gives Russia a win. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat just elected to the Senate, said he would not describe Gabbard as a Russian asset, but said she had “very questionable judgment.” “The problem is if our foreign allies don’t trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they’ll stop sharing information with us,” Schiff said on NBC's “Meet the Press.” Gabbard in 2022 endorsed one of Russia’s justifications for invading Ukraine : the existence of dozens of U.S.-funded biolabs working on some of the world’s nastiest pathogens. The labs are part of an international effort to control outbreaks and stop bioweapons, but Moscow claimed Ukraine was using them to create deadly bioweapons. Gabbard said she just voiced concerns about protecting the labs. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he thought it was “totally ridiculous” that Gabbard was being cast as a Russian asset for having different political views. “It’s insulting. It’s a slur, quite frankly. There’s no evidence that she’s a asset of another country,” he said on NBC. Sen. James Lankford, another Oklahoma Republican, acknowledged having “lots of questions” for Gabbard as the Senate considers her nomination to lead the intelligence services. Lankford said on NBC that he wants to ask Gabbard about her meeting with Assad and some of her past comments about Russia. “We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was. As a member of Congress, we want to get a chance to talk about past comments that she’s made and get them into full context,” Lankford said.

It’s rare to experience a perfect blend of traditional culture, ancient buildings and spirituality alongside towering skyscrapers, ultra modern technology and lightning-fast trains, but Japan is a country of wonderful contrast, one that should be on everyone’s travel wish list. After our wedding back in September, my husband and I jetted off to Japan for our honeymoon. Wrecked from the journey and the celebrations, we arrived in Narita International Airport, which is an hour outside Tokyo, a tad dazed and confused. At the airport, we bought a pocket wifi, which is a little portable box that ensures you’ve internet access. Read more: Harry Potter fans can stay at the real Hogwarts this Christmas from under €85 Read more: I went to Europe’s number one Christmas market and I wouldn’t recommend it We then got Suica cards, which act as a Leap card and rechargeable bank card all in one. The subway system is very complicated so I advise booking the Limousine Bus (don’t be fooled by the fancy name, it’s a coach) to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT), which is a bus and train station in central Tokyo. Immediately we noticed how amazing the toilets are in Japan. Each one has a remote with various functions, from warming the seat, playing the sound of running water for privacy, to a bidet that shoots out water! After we emerged into the quiet part of Shinjuku, we were greeted by the sound of running water and relaxing music at our hotel, the Onsen Ryokan Yuen. Our room was small but cosy and afforded us an amazing view of the city’s skyscrapers. The hotel also offered a delicious traditional Japanese breakfast. For our first few days, we explored all of the glittering towers that made up Tokyo’s skyline. Shibuya Crossing is a must see, think Times Square except cleaner and less tacky. Flashing neon signs, glowing restaurants and the most amazing shops await tourists here. I recommend going to Uniqlo for some great basics and Don Quiote for souvenirs and Asian beauty products (it’s like Dealz on steroids). I also loved the Nintendo and Pokemon stores which are located in the Shibuya Parco shopping centre. Here they have an army of plushies, stickers and accessories, all exclusively available in Japan, so stock up! During our stay in Tokyo, we also visited the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. It showcases the creative processes of the famous Japanese animation studio and the building is straight out of the films. Afterwards, we visited the Corn Barley restaurant in Kichijoji for a Ghibli-themed six-course meal. I consider myself a spiritual person and one of my favourite parts of my trip was visiting the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Shintoism is an ancient religion involving the belief in the natural world and kami (spirits). The entrance to Shinto shrines are marked by giant Torii gates, and usually worshippers purify themselves with sacred water before ringing a large bell in front of the shrine (so the spirits are alerted to the worshipper’s presence), bowing twice, clapping twice, making their silent prayer, and bowing again. Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, was one of my favourites. This shrine was like a peaceful forest in the middle of the city. I also enjoyed the Gotokuji Temple, the birthplace of the lucky beckoning cat. Temples and shrines sell omamori, which are amulets promising various kinds of good luck, along with omikuji (fortune-telling slips), and original stamps known as goshuin. I purchased a goshuin book and got stamps at the majority of the temples and shrines I visited in Japan. The kannushi (priests) and monks also do calligraphy over the stamp and each one is unique, making my goshuin book a perfect memento of my honeymoon. After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we took a bullet train (which can be booked the night before) to the mountainous region of Hakone. This beautiful forested area was so peaceful and our hotel, which was a traditional Japanese inn called Hakone Onsen Guesthouse Tsutaya, was embedded into the mountain beside a gushing waterfall. We were instructed to take our shoes off at the door and were provided with slippers. Our bedroom boasted incredible views and traditional tatami flooring. Here, I enjoyed an onsen, which is a communal hot spring bath that is segregated by gender. A stipulation of using an onsen is getting completely naked, which I was a little shy about, but there was no one in the outdoor or indoor onsen when I used it, so I enjoyed a relaxing few minutes alone in the hot spring water. The best way of seeing Hakone is purchasing the Hakone Free Pass and doing the loop, which consists of bus journeys, trains, a funicular, cable cars and a pirate ship across Lake Ashinoko. On this journey, we saw the volcano Mount Hakone, Hakone Shrine with its famous red Torii gate that overlooks the lake, and on clear days you can see Mount Fuji. Traditional wooden Japanese architecture (minka) and some of the country’s finest temples and shrines are in Japan’s former capital. It’s well worth doing a walking tour to understand the city’s ties to the samurai and the history behind geishas. Our hotel, Gionkoh, was located in the historical Gion area and was complete with a koi pond, tatami flooring and futon beds. The city is famed for its many temples and shrines, and the Chion-in Temple with its massive front gate is worth seeing, as is the inside of the temple where you can see Buddhist monks chanting. My husband and I also went to the Kodaiji Temple, where newly-married couples can write a wish or a prayer on a wooden sign. This temple encompasses beautiful gardens and a bamboo forest. One of the most beautiful sites we visited while in Kyoto was the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which had a walkway of thousands of red Torii gates circling up a wooded mountain. While in Kyoto, we also enjoyed an amazing nine-course meal in Korin in the Higashiyama area. The owner of the restaurant correctly guessed we were honeymooners and gave us a little charm to wish us well. Arcades are still massive in Japan and Round 1 in Kyoto was filled with tourists as well as professional arcaders. They have hours of entertainment here, from karaoke, bowling, snooker, UFO (claw) machines, casinos and arcade games. After blowing our money on Dance Dance Revolution and Mario Kart Arcade, we got a bite to eat in a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. While in Japan, we did a short one-night trip to Hiroshima to pay our respects to the victims of the atomic bomb. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was hard-hitting but necessary to understand the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and why they must never be used again, and the surrounding Peace Park offers a quiet place for reflection.Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Doha has won the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for 2024, in recognition of its outstanding achievements in promoting lifelong learning. The award was received by Mansour bin Ajran Al Buainain, director-general of Doha Municipality, during an honouring ceremony held on the sidelines of the opening of the 6th International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC 6) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Maha Zayed Al Qaqa Al Ruwaili, assistant undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), said that Doha’s winning of the UNESCO Learning Cities Award for 2024 highlights Qatar’s commitment to enhancing lifelong learning opportunities and achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on comprehensive and sustainable education in order to build a knowledge-based society capable of adapting to emerging challenges. She explained that the ministry seeks, through many initiatives and programmes, to ensure that education is available and comprehensive to all, which enhances opportunities for continuous learning and motivates individuals to develop their skills and capabilities. She said, “This achievement embodies the national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the fourth goal to ensure quality education for all, and the 11th goal related to building sustainable and safe cities capable of adapting to future challenges. We are proud of this global recognition that reflects Qatar’s leadership in education and sustainability.” Mansour bin Ajran Al Buainain, director-general of Doha Municipality, said Doha’s winning of the UNESCO Learning Cities Award this year comes as a result of its efforts to enhance lifelong learning opportunities through partnerships with the public, private and civil society sectors, in addition to increasing 15 percent of its budget allocated to developing learning cities. He added that Doha has introduced a number of programmes dedicated to promoting sustainability, health and healthy practices for diverse groups, including students, workers, the elderly and food establishments, in addition to major initiatives such as establishing community learning platforms in cooperation with local educational institutions, which has led to an increase in the rate of adult learning to 25 percent over the past two years, which enhances inclusiveness in lifelong learning. For his part, Ali Abdul Razzaq Al Maarifi, secretary-general of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, stressed that Doha’s winning of the UNESCO Learning Cities Award is a global achievement that reflects Qatar’s commitment to promoting lifelong learning as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. He said, “The Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science affirms its role as an active partner in supporting these initiatives in cooperation with international organisations, in a way that enhances the position of Qatar and its leadership in achieving the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.” Isabelle Kempf, director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), said: “The UNESCO Learning Cities Award will promote lifelong learning through the ability of residents to adapt, innovate and collaborate in finding solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.” The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) consists of 356 cities from 79 countries. The ability to connect educational, training and cultural institutions while engaging diverse partners, including public sector representatives, civil society organisations and employers, is a hallmark of UNESCO Learning Cities. These cities mobilise resources across sectors to promote inclusive and quality learning at all levels, from basic to higher education. They also foster learning within families and communities, support workplace learning, and expand the use of modern learning technologies. Members meet every three years at the International Conference of Learning Cities (ICLC) to assess progress, address challenges, and formulate joint solutions for the future. Copy 03/12/2024 10Levis throws 2 TD passes to help Titans outlast Texans 32-27Texas' abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. It appears to be the first challenge in the U.S. to a state shield law that's intended to protect prescribers in Democratic-controlled states from being punished by states with abortion bans. Prescriptions like these, made online and over the phone, are a key reason that the number of abortions has increased across the U.S. even after state bans started taking effect. Most abortions in the U.S. involve pills rather than procedures. Anti-abortion groups are increasingly focusing on the rise of pills. Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital’s historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has brought an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to two U.S. officials, who said Friday that Travis Timmerman has been flown to Jordan on a U.S. military helicopter. The 29-year-old Timmerman told The Associated Press earlier Friday he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it 'absurd' NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers are again urging a judge to throw out his hush money conviction. In a court filing Friday, they balked at the prosecution’s “absurd” idea for preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies before sentencing. The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. Paula Abdul settles lawsuit alleging sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show. Abdul filed a notice of settlement in a Los Angeles court Thursday. The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on Lythgoe’s other show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Lythgoe said at the time that the allegations were “an appalling smear.” Both sides said in statements Friday that they were glad to put the case behind them.

Kaidon Salter is looking for a new home again. Salter, a former Tennessee quarterback, announced on Monday that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after spending the past 4 seasons at Liberty. His career numbers have him completing 59% of his passes for 5,887 yards and 56 touchdowns with 17 interceptions. Salter was most productive in 2023, going 177-of-290 passing (61% complete) for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions. In 2024, Salter was 147-of-261 for 1,886 yards, 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Salter also has 19 rushing scores over the past 2 seasons. Salter, from Cedar Hill, Texas, began his college career at Tennessee. He signed as part of the 2021 recruiting class, but was suspended during spring practice and dismissed for a second citation before taking a snap for the Volunteers. Upon leaving Tennessee, Salter elected to play for Hugh Freeze at Liberty. He redshirted in 2021, which makes him a redshirt senior for 2025. In 2022, under Freeze, Salter was 87-of-149 passing for 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, rushing 69 times for 284 yards and 2 scores. Jamey Chadwell succeeded Freeze after the coach returned to the SEC taking the Auburn job.Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Ruud's here for his first press conference as our Manager 😃 pic.twitter.com/A4Juixvorb — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 2, 2024 Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”Exact date Aldi’s bringing back Bluey toy range – and it’s just in time for Christmas shoppingAaron Judge wins second AL MVP in 3 seasons. Shohei Ohtani expected to win NL honor

Global stock index falls, bond yields rise ahead of rate decisions

Hassan: Minister for minor irrigation and science and technology, NS Boseraju, instructed officials to prioritise providing electricity connections to borewells drilled under the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) schemes for the benefit of the underprivileged. He directed the officials concerned that they should submit bills immediately after completing the works and monitor repairs to tank bunds to ensure they are stable. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads Officials were also instructed to expedite check dam projects. Boseraju emphasised completing old projects and paying attention to ongoing ones. He urged officials to address the reasons for work delays and take steps to complete projects. The minister directed officials to initiate tenders as soon as projects are approved and to start work promptly to benefit the public without delay. Despite widespread rainfall this time, some tanks have not filled up. He emphasised identifying the reasons and focusing on tank conservation. Karnataka State Housing Board chairman and MLA KM Shivalingegowda stated that many tanks are encroached upon and constructing check dams would benefit villages. Atal Bhujal Yojana director Kiran Masuti, chief engineer Prakash Shreehari, superintendent engineer Prashant, executive engineer TN Ramachandra, and other officials were present.