ISTANBUL – In the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ouster, Syria remains territorially fractured as the rebels who defeated Assad work to consolidate power. The country's uncertain future has raised questions about the fate of the U.S.-backed Kurdish coalition known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This week, Syria's new leadership took steps to dissolve the different rebel factions and unite them under the new Syrian army. But the SDF did not join in. In a statement, SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami said the group wasn't opposed to joining the Syrian military in principle, but that the matter required negotiations with Damascus. The realities of the new Syria, however, have left the SDF with few options to maintain its status quo. The SDF controls a third of Syria's territory In 2014, the Islamic State extremist group began taking large pieces of territory in northeast Syria as the country was embroiled in a civil war. With the help of the United States, a coalition was formed of Kurdish militia groups to help fight ISIS and take back the territory. That's how the coalition came to control about a third of Syria, from the Euphrates River and eastward along the borders with Iraq and Turkey, according to Yerevan Saeed, director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace at American University. "The Kurdish control of these areas really came in a time when there was a vacuum of power. All of these areas were taken over by ISIS, and the local population was very happy to have the SDF clear ISIS elements from all of these areas," Saeed says. After the territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria in the spring of 2019, the SDF continued to guard the prisons and camps holding thousands of ISIS fighters and their families, something it still does now. A majority of the population living under SDF control are Arabs The Kurds are one of the world's largest ethnic groups without their own state. They are a minority spread mainly across several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. For a long time, some Kurds and their allies had hoped that the area the SDF carved out in northeastern Syria would eventually turn into an autonomous Kurdish zone, similar to the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. But that goal was unrealistic, according to Denise Natali, the director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and expert on U.S.–Kurdish relations. "This was not in any part of the trajectory of Syrian history," Natali said. "And not sustainable from a perspective of local power dynamics, not from an economic perspective, not from a security perspective." Unlike in northern Iraq, a majority of the population in northeast Syria isn't Kurdish. They are Arabs. And while Kurds are living in the area, not all support the SDF, which follows a secular, libertarian socialist ideology that local Sunni Syrian Kurds do not share. The Kurdish towns and villages are also scattered and not contiguous, making it even more challenging to form a cohesive, autonomous region. Since the fall of Assad on Dec. 8, some Arab residents under SDF control in cities like Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa have been demonstrating and demanding to be governed by the rebels in Damascus instead. "With Assad out of the scene, local Arab communities in eastern Syria are uncomfortable with a sort of Kurdish militia group having ultimate authority in their areas," said Nicholas Heras, a senior director with New Lines Institute. "They have an alternative, another choice." NATO ally Turkey sees the Kurdish militia groups as a threat An even bigger challenge to the Kurdish coalition comes from Turkey – Syria's neighbor to the north. The rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) who toppled Assad were supported by Turkey, giving the country significant influence over Syria and its new leaders. Turkey says the main militia force in the U.S.-backed Kurdish coalition is the Syrian arm of the Kurdistan Workers Party – an insurgent group better known as the PKK which it has been fighting in Turkey for decades. Both Turkey and the U.S. designate the PKK as a terrorist organization. The U.S. decision to arm the Syrian branch of the PKK – which is known as the YPG – in the fight against ISIS has been a sticking point in U.S.–Turkish relations for years, according to James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for the mission to defeat ISIS. "Because of the huge role the PKK has played since I was first in Turkey in 1984, the Turks can never formally accept what the U.S. is doing with the SDF," Jeffrey says, referring to Washington's support of the Syrian Kurdish coalition. Turkish officials made it clear soon after the fall of Assad that one of their strategic priorities in Syria is to see the YPG dismantled, either by the new Syrian leaders in Damascus taking control of all of Syria and uniting it, or by a major Turkish military offensive targeted on areas controlled by the YPG in Syria's northeast. In a speech to the Turkish parliament this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the Kurdish militia groups "will either lay down their arms or will be buried with their arms in the lands of Syria." U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, have threatened sanctions against Turkey in case of a military offensive against the Kurdish fighters in Syria. Syria's new administration seeks to unite the country Last Sunday, during a press conference in Damascus with the Turkish foreign minister, Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said he would not allow any existing weapons in Syria to be outside state control, "whether from the revolutionary factions or from the factions present in the SDF region." As the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition is already due to be disbanded in Iraq , Turkish officials have been encouraging Syria's new leadership also to eventually take control of ISIS prisons and camps in Syria from the SDF. "The Syrian administration told us it is ready to take the necessary initiative to take over these prisoners," Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said in the press conference with Sharaa. Analysts expect a diplomatic agreement will eventually be reached between Damascus and the SDF, without a Turkish military offensive into SDF areas. "I think a more realistic prospect is some form of decentralized administration in which the Kurdish cities have local self-administration," Natali said. U.S. officials are concerned about ISIS resurgence, but Syria is not a strategic priority Natali, who served as assistant secretary of state for conflict and stabilization operations during President-elect Donald Trump's first term, says the United States' yearslong arrangement in Syria with the Kurdish coalition is no longer strategically viable, due to changes both in Syria and in Washington. "We are in a different situation," she says. "We have a new administration that has clearly identified what their priorities are, and Syria is not a priority." Instead, she says Trump's priorities are ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza . "And these types of priorities are going to need strategic partners, such as Turkey," Natali says. In his first term, Trump pushed but failed to bring back home the 900 U.S. troops on the ground in Syria. During his campaign this year, he made ending wars and not getting involved in other conflicts a big part of his message, and he is expected to want to withdraw troops from Syria again. But given the scale of destruction during Assad's violent reign on Syria's physical infrastructure and the fraying of social dynamics, many experts remain skeptical that Syria won't end up a fractured state. And U.S. officials are concerned about ISIS taking advantage of a vacuum and reemerging, making it all the more challenging for a full U.S. withdrawal from Syria. In an interview on Sunday with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, Trump's pick for National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that while the U.S. did not need to have troops on the ground in Syria, it won't be able to turn away from what's going on there. "Tens of thousands of fighters and families that are sitting in prison camps guarded by our friends the Kurds, supported by us, and we can't have that unleash again," Waltz said.El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes trueSignaling shift in internet policy, Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play
LA Galaxy wins record 6th MLS Cup
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has stated that his party's founder, Imran Khan, is hopeful of swift progress in the ongoing negotiations with the government. "During the second round of talks, the party will present its demands to the government in writing," he declared. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after meeting Khan on Tuesday, Barrister Gohar revealed that he had informed Khan about initiating the negotiation process. However, Imran emphasised the need for a defined timeframe and urged prompt progress on the party's legitimate demands. He clarified that no international matters were discussed during the meeting. "The PTI founder directed that issues related to foreign policy should only be addressed by the party chairman, secretary, and information secretary." Barrister Gohar mentioned that four team members could not participate in the negotiations, and the National Assembly speaker was informed in advance. In the next round, the party plans to present a formal "charter of demands" to the government. Efforts are underway to arrange a meeting between the negotiation committee and the PTI founder before the official start of the discussions. Gohar clarified that the committee was formed by Imran Khan, but he and several others are not part of it. He expressed optimism about the negotiation process and stressed the importance of finding solutions to all issues. Regarding the cases against the PTI founder, Barrister Gohar said that all of them were politically motivated, and bail had been granted. "Only one reference remains, for which a decision is expected next month." The PTI chairman hoped that if a fair trial was conducted, the PTI founder would also be acquitted in that case and granted bail. He added that Ali Amin Gandapur could not participate in the negotiations as he was attending the Apex Committee meeting. Alvi urges probe Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi has called for investigations against all military officers involved in politics. He remarked that change is on the horizon, and the public is hopeful. Meanwhile, National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub stated that PTI has been compelled to engage in negotiations, but cannot comment on talks with the "establishment" or "invisible forces." PTI leader Asad Qaiser emphasised that there is no guarantor for the negotiations. "Parliament is everything." He criticised the Supreme Court's decision to allow civilians' cases to be tried in military courts. After appearing at the Peshawar High Court, former president Alvi spoke to the media. "We are wasting time chasing after arrests and negotiations. The country's time is being squandered." He urged the government to drop charges before proceeding with talks, lamenting the billions of losses incurred by the country. Alvi also criticised the judicial system, claiming it has been destroyed. "The country has suffered immensely by imprisoning Imran Khan." Speaking about the Supreme Court's decision, Alvi said that civilians should not be tried in military courts. "They were already hearing cases before Imran Khan's government, but during our tenure, they were inactive." Asad Qaiser echoed similar sentiments. "We want an independent judiciary and the rule of law in this country. Allowing civilians' cases to be tried in military courts is regrettable." He highlighted concerns over the treatment of party workers, the release of detained individuals, and the demand for judicial inquiries into the May 9 and November 26 incidents. Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, addressing the media, clarified that PTI is committed to negotiations. "Contrary to claims, we are interested in dialogue. Yesterday, I was at the high court, and today I am here, which is why I couldn't attend the talks," he said. Ayub reiterated the party's demands, including the release of detainees, an investigation into the incidents of May 9 and November 26, and a transparent inquiry into general elections. "Our people were shot at, arrested, and injured. Why were unarmed citizens targeted, and on whose orders? These questions must be answered," he said. He criticised the military courts' decisions and vowed to challenge them in higher courts. "The military court verdicts are being condemned globally. We will challenge them in the Supreme Court." Omar Ayub further added that PTI must be allowed to meet with Imran Khan. "There should be no restrictions on meeting our leader. Cases have been registered against the former president under terrorism charges. This dual approach of registering cases and conducting negotiations is unacceptable." He called for an end to the filing of baseless cases, questioning why inquiries were not conducted against Maryam Nawaz and Asif Zardari for acquiring vehicles. "We are not part of the government nor its spokespersons. This is a government of Form 47. We want to negotiate to assess their intentions. If the government acts unfairly, we will respond accordingly," Ayub concluded. Meanwhile, PTI Central Information Secretary (CIS) Sheikh Waqas Akram lashed out at the central government for the alarming rise in terrorism across the country. He said the uptick was due to misguided and self-centered policies that were designed to crush PTI and eliminate Imran Khan, "the country's top leader, from the political landscape". "The clique of thieves, who fraudulently seized powers, were too busy implicating PTI's leaders and workers in fake, bogus, and concocted politically-motivated cases. They were consolidating power and eliminating political rivals rather than tackling the escalating security concerns." Waqas lamented that Pakistan was grappling with a dual crisis. "An unrepresentative government is unleashing a reign of terror, while terrorists roam freely, perpetrating daily attacks that claimed the lives of innocent civilians and brave soldiers." COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourEngland to begin Champions Trophy campaign with mouth-watering clash against rivals Australia - as full fixtures for the Pakistan tournament are released Jos Buttler's team then take on Afghanistan four days later, also at Lahore All India's fixtures will be held in Dubai, including the final should they make it Lahore's Gadaffi Stadium is slated to host the final on March 9 unless India in it By RICHARD GIBSON Published: 11:38 EST, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 11:38 EST, 24 December 2024 e-mail View comments England will begin their quest to win a maiden Champions Trophy next year with a showdown against Ashes rivals Australia in Lahore on February 22. Jos Buttler 's team then take on Afghanistan at the same venue four days later before completing their Group A fixtures in Karachi, where South Africa will be their opponents, on March 1. Publishing the full fixture list on Christmas Eve, the ICC confirmed that although the tournament is being held in Pakistan, all India 's fixtures will be played in Dubai including the final on March 9 should they reach it. It also means that defending champions Pakistan will take on their Asian neighbours in the Emirate, the day after the England-Australia clash. Lahore's Gadaffi Stadium is slated to host the final on March 9, unless Rohit Sharma's India team qualifies. England will begin their quest to win a maiden Champions Trophy next year with a huge tie They face a showdown against Ashes rivals Australia in Lahore on February 22 All India's fixtures will be played in Dubai including the final on March 9 should they reach it The hybrid nature of the tournament came about after India refused to travel to Pakistan because of ongoing political tension between the two countries. In a statement that did not address the issue directly, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said: 'We are pleased that an agreement has been reached based on the principles of equality and respect, showcasing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that defines our sport. 'Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the ICC members who played a constructive role in helping us achieve a mutually beneficial solution. 'Their efforts have been invaluable in promoting the interests of international cricket. 'Hosting the Champions Trophy is a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting our commitment to promoting cricket at the highest level and showcasing our capabilities as a premier event organizer.' ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 schedule 19 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi 20 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 21 Feb – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi 22 Feb – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 23 Feb – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 24 Feb - Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 25 Feb – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 26 Feb – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 27 Feb – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 28 Feb – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 1 Mar – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi 2 Mar – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 4 Mar – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai* 5 Mar – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore** 9 Mar – Final - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore*** All matches start at 14h00 Pakistan Standard Time * Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify **Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify *** If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Pakistan England Cricket Australia Cricket Share or comment on this article: England to begin Champions Trophy campaign with mouth-watering clash against rivals Australia - as full fixtures for the Pakistan tournament are released e-mail Add comment
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta, stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The justices heard arguments in November in Meta’s bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. The high court dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Investors allege that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users’ personal information would be misused by Cambridge Analytica, a firm that supported Donald Trump’s first successful Republican presidential campaign in 2016. Inadequacy of the disclosures led to two significant price drops in the price of the company’s shares in 2018, after the public learned about the extent of the privacy scandal, the investors say. Related Story: Meta’s Previous Settlements Meta already has paid a $5.1 billion fine and reached a $725 million privacy settlement with users. Cambridge Analytica had ties to Trump political strategist Steve Bannon. It had paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users. That data was then used to target U.S. voters during the 2016 campaign. The lawsuit is one of two high court cases involving class-action lawsuits against tech companies. The justices also are wrestling with whether to shut down a class action against Nvidia. Investors say the company misled them about its dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency.RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose will hope to keep up his side's winning momentum and save his job on Saturday when his team travel to face Holstein Kiel at Holstein-Stadion in their 13th Bundesliga match of their 2024-25 campaign. The hosts are second last in 17th place with just five points and were beaten 3-1 by St Pauli in the league on November 29, while Rose's team are fourth with 21 points but are in dire form despite their 3-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. © Imago Holstein Kiel will perhaps feel they should have taken at least a point against St Pauli considering they missed a 45th-minute penalty in the first half when St Pauli were only winning 1-0. The Storks' position in the table is alarming, with the club occupying one of two automatic relegation spots and they are already five points from 15th-placed St Pauli, who are the first team outside both the automatic relegation zone and relegation playoff spot. Though boss Marcel Rapp 's team are not among the three worst offensive side's in the top flight having scored 13 times, they still hold the division's second worst defensive record having conceded on 31 occasions. Rapp's team are in poor form, with the club losing their last three games, as well as three of the prior four. While Holstein Kiel have at least won one of their three most recent home matches, they have been beaten in five of their six home fixtures this season. © Imago Meanwhile, the visitors' victory against Eintracht Frankfurt would have come as welcome relief to Rose, who experienced a win in the dugout for the first time in seven games. Rose has come under significant pressure in recent weeks, with the club having lost five and drawn one of the prior six matches to the win against the Eagles. Die Roten Bullen have been especially poor defensively in that period considering they conceded 15 times in that winless streak, including five against Wolfsburg in a 5-1 Bundesliga defeat on November 30. Following the win against the Eagles, Rose was defiant, saying: "Maybe no one believed that we could still do it. If your back is against the wall, then there's only one direction. And luckily we found it today." Leipzig have lost their four most recent away outings by a cumulative score of 10-5, although while they have lost their last two Bundesliga matches on the road, they were unbeaten in the previous 10 having won seven and drawn three. © Imago Holstein Kiel will be without defenders Timo Becker , Patrick Erras and Colin Kleine-Bekel . Expect centre-backs Marko Ivezic , Carl Johansson and Max Geschwill to shield goalkeeper Timon Weiner . Midfielder Marvin Schulz is a doubt due to illness, while forward Alexander Bernhardsson is likely to miss out, and this could mean Lewis Holtby , Magnus Knudsen and Nicolai Remberg start in a midfield three behind strikers Steven Skrzybski and Phil Harres . As for Leipzig, they will have to contend with the absences of centre-backs El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Castello Lukeba , as well as full-back David Raum . Rose will almost certainly select a back four consisting of Lutsharel Geertruida , Willi Orban , Lukas Klostermann and Benjamin Henrichs . Elsewhere, midfielders Eljif Elmas and Forzan Assan Ouedraogo are also ruled out, while attackers Xavi Simons and Yussuf Poulsen will not be in the matchday squad. Leipzig could select a double pivot featuring Arthur Vermeeren and Kevin Kampl , with the pair playing behind strikers Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda . Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup: Weiner; Ivezic, Johansson, Geschwill; Rosenboom, Holtby, Knudsen, Remberg, Puchacz; Skrzybski, Harres RB Leipzig possible starting lineup: Gulacsi; Geertruida, Klostermann, Orban, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Vermeeren, Kampl, Nusa; Sesko, Openda Though Leipzig have been in poor form, it is difficult to see them failing to achieve victory given the struggles of their hosts. Leipzig could start the game nervously given they will head into the clash as favourites, but their quality should be enough to take home all three points. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in northern Gaza on Friday, forcing many staff and patients outside to strip in winter weather, the territory’s health ministry said. The army denied claims it had entered or set fire to the complex and accused Hamas of using the facility for cover. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods, according to staff. The ministry said a strike on the hospital a day earlier killed five medical staff. Israel’s military said it was conducting operations against Hamas infrastructure and militants in the area and had ordered people out of the hospital, but said it had not entered the complex as of Friday night. It repeated claims that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan but provided no evidence. Hospital officials have denied that. The Health Ministry said troops forced medical personnel and patients to assemble in the yard and remove their clothes. Some were led to an unknown location, while some patients were sent to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was knocked out of operation after an Israel raid this week. Israeli troops during raids frequently carry out mass detentions, stripping men to their underwear for questioning in what the military says is a security measure as they search for Hamas fighters. The Associated Press doesn’t have access to Kamal Adwan, but armed plainclothes members of the Hamas-led police forces have been seen in other hospitals, maintaining security but also controlling access to parts of the facilities. The Health Ministry said Israeli troops also set fires in several parts of Kamal Adwan, including the lab and surgery department. It said 25 patients and 60 health workers remained in the hospital. The account could not be independently confirmed, and attempts to reach hospital staff were unsuccessful. “Fire is ablaze everywhere in the hospital,” an unidentified staff member said in an audio message posted on social media accounts of hospital director Hossam Abu Safiya. The staffer said some evacuated patients had been unhooked from oxygen. “There are currently patients who could die at any moment,” she said. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, denied the accusations. “While IDF troops were not in the hospital, a small fire broke out in an empty building inside the hospital that is under control,” he said Friday night. He said a preliminary investigation found “no connection” between military activity and the fire. The Israeli military heavily restricts the movements of Palestinians in Gaza and has barred foreign journalists from entering the territory throughout the war, making it difficult to verify information. “These actions put the lives of all of these people in even more danger than what they faced before,” U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay told journalists, and noted colleagues’ reports of “significant damage” to the hospital. It should be protected as international law requires, she added. A largely isolated north Since October, Israel’s offensive has virtually sealed off the northern Gaza areas of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and leveled large parts of them. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were forced out but thousands are believed to remain in the area, where Kamal Adwan and two other hospitals are located. Troops raided Kamal Adwan in October, and on Tuesday troops stormed and evacuated the Indonesian Hospital. The area has been cut off from food and other aid for months , raising fears of famine. The United Nations says Israeli troops allowed just four humanitarian deliveries to the area from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. The Israeli rights group Physicians for Human Rights-Israel this week petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking a halt to military attacks on Kamal Adwan. It warned that forcibly evacuating the hospital would “abandon thousands of residents in northern Gaza.” Before the latest deaths Thursday, the group documented five other staffers killed by Israeli fire since October. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza vowing to destroy Hamas after the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted some 250 others. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead. Israel’s nearly 15-month-old campaign of bombardment and offensives has devastated the territory’s health sector. A year ago, it carried out raids on hospitals in northern Gaza, including Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and al-Awda Hospital, saying they served as bases for Hamas, though it presented little evidence. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,400 Palestinians, more than half women and children, and wounded more than 108,000 others, according to the Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Deaths from the cold in Gaza More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been driven from their homes, most now sheltering in sprawling tent camps in south and central Gaza. Children and adults, many barefoot, huddled Friday on the cold sand in tents whose plastic and cloth sheets whipped in the wind. Overnight temperatures can dip into the 40s Fahrenheit (below 10 Celsius), and sea spray from the Mediterranean can dampen tents just steps away. "I swear to God, their mother and I cover ourselves with one blanket and we cover (their five children) with three blankets that we got from neighbors. Sea waters drowned everything that was ours,” said Muhammad al-Sous, displaced from Beit Lahiya in the north. The children collect plastic bottles to make fires, and pile under the blankets when their only set of clothes is washed and dried in the wind. At least three babies in Gaza have died from exposure to cold in recent days, doctors there have said, and the Health Ministry said an adult — a nurse who worked at the European Hospital — also died this week. Khaled and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Luke Humphries stormed into the fourth round of the World Darts Championship with a straight-sets win over Nick Kenny, on the same night Gerwyn Price triumphed in a thrilling final-leg decider against Joe Cullen. World No 1 Humphries won nine of the last 10 legs and averaged 98.59 in powering to a 4-0 victory over Kenny, setting up a corker of a last-16 clash between the defending champion and two-time winner Peter Wright. Wright, despite visibly battling illness, put in arguably his best performance of a difficult 2024 when beating Jermaine Wattimena 4-2. World Darts Championship: Day 10 Evening Results Price overcomes Cullen despite 'Big Fish' in epic finish Earlier, Price came through a remarkable opening match against Cullen in which he coughed up a 3-0 lead in sets and spurned three match darts while being broken three times when throwing for the match. Two of those missed match darts preceded an incredible 170 ' Big Fish ' finish from Cullen - only a second for the tournament - that levelled the final set at 5-5 and forced a sudden-death leg. Trending It was 2021 winner Price, however, who would finally secure his spot in the fourth round with a seventh-straight break of throw as he finally found tops with his fourth match dart, setting up a meeting with fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton next. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "The crowd were well behind him, and I actually thought I was going to lose that game," Price said afterwards. Also See: Full schedule: World Darts Championship Stream the World Darts Championship with no contract Bunting cruises into fourth round at Alexandra Palace Heta's spectacular nine-darts | Best Darts videos "I put myself in that position, but I got myself out of it. I kept in it right till the end and thankfully got the win. "I've got a lot more in the tank and I'll play a lot better than I played tonight. I did enough to win - and I'm just happy with that." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player In the evening's second match, Wright produced a performance that belied his health struggles, 'Snakebite' apologetically denying the crowd his trademark walk-on dance moves before coughing his way through his win over Wattimena. The 2020 and 2022 champion averaged an impressive 96.19, and while Wattimena himself was up at 96.50, it was Wright who delivered in the key moments to keep the Dutchman at bay. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player He will now face Humphries in the next round who, despite not producing his very best darts, made light work of Kenny in the final contest of Friday night. The reigning champion stole the first set with a final-leg break of throw after a costly Kenny missed dart at double 16, while he was broken to start the second but any thoughts of a closely-contested battle were swiftly put to bed as Humphries reeled off nine of the next 10 legs - including a 145 checkout in the fourth set. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Humphries relishing Wright clash | 'So much more to give' "It was one of those games where I didn't want to take it for granted," Humphries said. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "I wasn't firing. I felt there was so much more to give, it just wasn't coming out of me, but a solid performance. As long as I can keep winning every set, no sets lost, is all that matters. "I'm not going to give up this world title without a fight. It's not my best, but when someone pushes me I know I can provide the goods." Looking ahead to his meeting with Wright, Humphries added: "He said a few things in the last round. He said Barney [Raymond van Barneveld] was going to smash me and that he was going to smash Jermaine [Wattimena]. "He said he don't fear me and Luke Littler, so we'll see when we play again." Bunting cruises into fourth round after Heta hits nine-darter in defeat In the afternoon session, Stephen Bunting cruised into the fourth round with victory over Latvia's Madars Razma, while Damon Heta threw a sensational nine-darter in defeat to Luke Woodhouse. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Bunting is one of the dark horses for the tournament, particularly as half of the original 32 seeds are already out, and he saw off Razma 4-1 despite not being at his best. World Darts Championship: Day 10 Afternoon Results The former Lakeside champion - whose previous best run at Alexandra Palace came in 2021 when reaching the semi-finals - will play Woodhouse next after he roared back from 3-1 down, rattling off nine legs on the spin to beat Heta 4-3 and reach the last 16 for the first time in his career. The first match after the short Christmas break saw Heta produce the second perfect leg at this year's tournament, sending the Ally Pally crowd into raptures during the second set - Woodhouse also celebrating wildly in a special moment. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Dutchman Christian Kist made the first perfect leg in the opening round last week and also lost his match. The record for the most nine-darters at the World Championship is three in 2022, so one more would equal that feat. PDC World Darts Championship nine-darters Heta does win £60,000 for his nine-darter though, as did a lucky fan in the Ally Pally crowd, with tournament sponsors Paddy Power also donating £60,000 to Prostate Cancer to mark the moment. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The other match of the afternoon was won by Clayton as he held off a fightback from Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney to win 4-3. Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until Friday, January 3 on Sky Sports' dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW
SAN SALVADOR – As bitcoin reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 for the first tim e, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele was triumphant on Thursday about his big bet on the cryptocurrency. The adoption of bitcoin — which has been legal tender in the Central American nation since 2021 — never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm, but the value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Recommended Videos Bitcoin has rallied mightily since Donald Trump’s election victory last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Just two years ago, bitcoin’s volatile value fell below $17,000. Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting just above $99,000 by 3 p.m. E.T. Bukele on Thursday blamed his beleaguered political opposition for causing many Salvadorans to miss out on the bonanza. There were street protests when the Congress made bitcoin legal tender in June 2021, though that move was not the only motivation for the protesters. The tiny Central American country has long used the dollar as currency, but Bukele promised bitcoin would provide new opportunities for El Salvador’s unbanked and cut out money transfer services from the remittances Salvadorans abroad send home. The government offered $30 in bitcoin to those who signed up for digital wallets. Many did so, but quickly cashed out the cryptocurrency. “It’s important to emphasize that not only did the opposition err resoundingly with bitcoin, but rather, differently from other issues (where they have also been wrong), this time their opposition affected many,” Bukele wrote on Facebook. Bukele drew an "impressive” comment from Elon Musk on the social media platform X Thursday. El Salvador’s former Central Bank President Carlos Acevedo pointed out on Thursday that while there has been a gain, it remains an unrealized one until the government’s bitcoin is sold. That said, he credited Bukele’s administration with doing well on the bitcoin move, especially in light of Trump’s election. Acevedo said “the markets’ optimism that a Trump administration will be friendly with the markets and particularly with bitcoin” explained its sustained rally over the past month. But the cryptocurrency’s volatility was a persistent risk, he said. “The average Salvadoran doesn’t use bitcoin, but obviously there are Salvadorans with economic resources who even before had already invested in bitcoin, but it is a small group,” Acevedo said. Esteban Escamilla, a worker in a clothing store in Santa Tecla, outside the capital San Salvador, said he had cashed out the original $30 of bitcoin offered in 2021. “I don’t use bitcoin because I don’t have (money) to invest and speculate with, but I know it has gone up a lot,” he said, recognizing that he would have more money now if he had kept it in bitcoin. Josefa Torres, 45, said as she was doing her grocery shopping that she didn’t have any bitcoin either. “I took out the money and used it for household expenses,” she said. At the conclusion of meetings between the International Monetary Fund and El Salvador’s government in August, the IMF issued a statement that mentioned the country’s bitcoin holdings. “While many of the risks have not yet materialized, there is joint recognition that further efforts are needed to enhance transparency and mitigate potential fiscal and financial stability risks from the Bitcoin project,” the IMf said.
Magnifica Unveils the Future of Luxury Living at December 9th Launch Event Orlando, FL - December 2024NEW YORK >> Health insurance companies are reassessing the risks for their top executives after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday in Manhattan, with both UnitedHealth and rival CVS Health removing photos of their leadership teams from their websites after the shooting. UnitedHealthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, is the biggest U.S. insurer. CVS operates Aetna, another top insurer. Thompson was killed in an attack police called targeted as he was about to enter the Hilton hotel for the company’s annual investor conference. The gunman, whose crime was recorded on video, is at large and the New York City Police Department said there was no known motive for the murder. Robert D’Amico, founder of Sierra One Consulting, who previously worked with the FBI, said the removal of photos showed, “These companies are hearing what experts like me have been saying about how easy it is to identify and then find their executives.” UnitedHealth took down Thompson’s and other executives’ photos from its website on Wednesday. A spokesperson did not respond to a query asking what the motivation was. CVS removed pictures of all its top executives on Thursday. The company declined to comment. D’Amico and a second security expert, who said they are constantly assessing risk for top executives based on news events or the business their companies conduct, expect companies to ramp up physical security for executives. The healthcare sector in the last 18 months has explored new security measures as they encountered increasing conflict and the potential for violent crime, said Glen Kucera, president of Enhanced Protection Services at security firm Allied Universal. Before the shooting, most risk assessment efforts were conducted for medical practices and other healthcare providers, which have faced increasing hostility from the public since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising demand for protection in hospitals and healthcare facilities is in line with most customer-facing industries, said Garett Seivold, chief content and communications officer at the International Security Ligue. Assessing risk involves searching social media and trying to determine whether threats have been made, circumstances which have not been made public regarding Thompson, Kucera said. Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News on Wednesday that he had been receiving some threats related to his job and “coverage” but said she did not know the details. A spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare did not have an immediate comment on possible threats against Thompson. “I think there’s going to be a lot of executives that are going to say, ‘Hey, you know, this could happen to me and we should really consider our security protocol going forward,’” Kucera said. D’Amico said he expects corporate boards of directors to reassess their security plans for executives. That would include asking for assessments on how big a security detail to deploy while weighing the cost. Someone like billionaire Elon Musk has 20 people around them every day, he said. He pointed to angry social media posts which appeared to show people verbally attacking health insurance companies and employees in the immediate aftermath of Thompson’s murder. “I think the healthcare companies are going to see that and realize that there’s more hate out there for them and their executives,” D’Amico said. Consumer frustration with health insurance in the U.S. has been high for years and led to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare. This year, insurance companies have struggled to hold down costs and have talked about their increased use of medical management, which includes making it more difficult to quickly receive coverage for services like surgery or medicines. It is not known whether Thompson’s job played any role in his death, but the shooting has brought attention to increasing tension with the healthcare industry. Cigna, Elevance, Centene and Molina did not respond to requests for comment about whether they were making any security changes now or had done so. Health insurers do not provide details on their spending on security for executives in financial regulatory filings.North Dakota State erases 14-point deficit, beats Abilene Christian 51-31 in FCS second round
