The Las Vegas Raiders made no mistake in drafting Brock Bowers last offseason. Did they need a quarterback? Yes. But, instead, they got a guy who is easily the best tight end in the league right now and a guy who looks like he could be for quite some time if all goes well. Bowers was a steal at pick No., 13, as the Raiders said. And, general manager Tom Telesco nailed it. Now, when the Raiders get their quarterback, they will be paired with Bowers, a tight end who just cannot stop showing the world what he is. And, he did that on Black Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brock Bowers continues to break, set, and tie records for rookies and tight ends. He did that during his stellar game on Friday. Here is everything the Raiders PR team tweeted out about Bowers' huge day vs. Kansas City. TE Brock Bowers ( @brockbowers17 ) now has two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season. He is just the second rookie tight end in #Raiders history with two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards, joining Raymond Chester in 1970 (also two). https://t.co/TmNp98ZaJx TE Brock Bowers has now surpassed 800 receiving yards, one of two tight ends in NFL history to reach 800+ receiving yards in the first 12 games of his rookie season - joining Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka (974). Bowers is also one of two players of any position in Raiders history to reach 800+ receiving yards in the first 12 games of his rookie season. TE Brock Bowers now has two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season. He is just the second rookie tight end in Raiders history with two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards, joining Raymond Chester in 1970 (also two). Bowers' four receiving touchdowns are tied for the third most in Raiders history by a tight end in their rookie season. TE Brock Bowers has now eclipsed 80 receptions this season. He is the only player of any position or experience level in Raiders history to reach 80 receptions through the first 12 games of a single season. The Raiders really struck gold. Bowers is on pace to break any and every rookie tight end and pass catcher record you can think of. And, imagine he was on a good team, in a good offense, with a good quarterback. He would be even better. The fact that this is probably his floor, and maybe the worst he will ever be during his NFL career, is crazy. And he's wearing silver and black. The Raiders will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons next. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.The failed governance that plagued Syria is not unique. It is a power model that has devastated the whole region. On December 8, after a rapid offensive that lasted less than two weeks, Syrian opposition forces entered Damascus and declared the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Syrian president and his family are believed to have flown out in an unknown direction just before the rebels entered the capital. The uprising against the Syrian government that ended the half-century of al-Assad family rule should be seen as among the most important political turning points in the modern Arab region since the end of World War II and the creation of Israel in 1948. It marks a definitive break with the legacy since the 1950s of military-anchored Arab autocrats who have long dominated and ravaged Arab societies. Many rightly celebrate the overthrow of al-Assad, and many others wonder what will happen next given the involvement of various local and external powers in Syria. The Syrian people know they want a decent life, to be treated with respect and to be heard. We should humbly watch them bring a new and stable order to their country and stop the Western silliness of analysing what the length of a beard means or entertaining conspiracy theories. It is critical now to reflect on what the devastating tale of Syrian governance and civil war mean. Syria under the Assads was neither unique nor the work of just a few local brutes. Rather, it is an example of the widespread legacy of heavy-handed, often vicious, Arab state power that has ravaged the region and demeaned its people for half a century, with the help of regional and great powers and assorted nongovernmental groups. The al-Assad regime was the longest-lasting military-based, foreign-backed, and family-anchored autocratic government to dominate the Arab region, which devastated its people, economy, and national integrity. The Syrian experience reveals all the debilitating hallmarks of shared Arab autocracy, which persist widely and must be systematically rooted out of our societies. These include a lack of genuine pluralism and accountability through credible participatory institutions; top-heavy rule anchored in military and police brutality, mass imprisonment, torture, and death; centralised economic planning that breeds corruption among the elite and deep quality-of-life disparities across the land; and no structural connections between the citizens and the state that could generate policies that reflect the consent and will of the governed. The 1952 Egyptian revolution of Gamal Abdel Nasser initiated the destructive legacy of military-run Arab governance, which expanded more quickly after Israel’s 1967 defeat of Arab armies. Bashar al-Assad’s father, Hafez, was among a cohort of Arab officers who seized power in the following two decades in various Arab countries and proceeded to drive them into the ground. These self-imposed officers could neither wage war nor govern effectively during their decades of rule. As a result, since the 1990s, most Arabs outside the few wealthy oil producers have suffered steady declines in their opportunities for decent education and healthcare, jobs, access to sufficient food, water, and electricity, and other basic necessities. Regional surveys reveal over and over again that a small percentage of Arabs (mostly in the oil-producing states and among small elites elsewhere) live comfortable lives, while the majority enjoy neither political rights nor a decent material life. Inequality and poverty within Arab societies continue to rise. Through repression, Arab governments have transformed their citizens into passive, voiceless, impotent consumers, many of whom seek to or do emigrate. Repression has generated intense anger, fear, and desperation among their citizens. They have responded by challenging the state, joining its corrupt system, or retreating from it into smaller tribal, religious, or ideological groups they form to protect themselves and survive in the face of dangers from their own state, Israel, or foreign powers. The most potent Arab movements that challenged the militarised power model were Islamist – both armed and peaceful. In Syria, when a peaceful protest movement was met with brutal military force, the uprising quickly transformed into a civil conflict, which undermined national cohesion, allowed the proliferation of armed groups and ushered in interference from foreign powers. What has happened in Syria should be a wake-up call for all Arab autocrats. The region cannot endure long the reality that not a single Arab state has been credibly validated by its own people through constitutional or electoral means. I’ve experienced and journalistically chronicled the conditions of Arab societies and citizens for over half a century, and I conclude that not a single Arab country has passed the four cardinal tests of stable statehood, genuine sovereignty, citizenship, and sustained and equitable human development. We would be fools to miss the signals that Syria sends the world about every ordinary citizen’s indomitable will to live in freedom and dignity. And we would be complicit in denying these to Arabs if we continue business as usual with the existing state and economic systems that have mostly failed their people. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

At the Gateway of India, Illac Diaz’s grassroots movement achieves new Guinness World Record on occasion of the Hindu festival of lights and the 75th anniversary of Philippines-India relations Liter of Light has achieved a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest display of solar-powered lamps. A global ambassador for UNESCO’s International Day of Light, t he grassroots movement empowers traditional pottery artisans to transition to green livelihoods through its hand-built solar lamps. The display, which was unveiled on Oct. 30 at the Gateway of India, is a pioneering event to green this year’s Diwali, one of the most significant festivals in the region. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India. The display consists of more than 2,000 solar lamps all built by hand using traditional ceramics crafted by hand by women cooperatives. The initiative is spearheaded by the united efforts of Liter of Light, through its India Chapter, Porsche India, and Porsche Middle East and Africa, in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bombay Juhu Beach. Despite rapid modernization in recent decades, many in India still partially rely on kerosene lamps, which are primarily dangerous and also pollute the air they breathe. “Diwali is a beautiful celebration of the power of light over darkness,” says Illac Diaz, founder and global director of Liter of Light. “This project represents a pioneering approach to green the Festival of Lights. By shifting to green technologies like solar energy, we are empowering rural women with the skills and tools to become green technology agents. Through this initiative, they can access new opportunities for livelihood and income while preserving their traditional artisan heritage.” The solar lamps built for the display will be distributed to families in India, where access to reliable electricity is limitedChattanooga wins 85-63 against Alabama A&M

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and FATIMA HUSSEIN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump, making the announcement on his Truth Social account, said, “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more before Biden leaves office in less than two months. The U.S. has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is designed to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump’s proposed national security adviser , U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg featured in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.Sherwin-Williams SVP sells $2.05 million in stock at $398.06 per share

As Donald Trump’s second term in the Oval Office looms, global markets are preparing for a seismic shift. With his economic playbook already well-known – tax cuts, deregulation, and a return to protectionist policies – the question is not if the markets will react, but how. The initial surge of optimism from Trump’s return will undoubtedly spark rallies in some sectors. But as investors have seen before, the long-term effects of his policies are often unpredictable, and the broader market could face serious turbulence. In this next phase, we’ll see both opportunities and risks that could significantly reshape financial landscapes from New York to Sydney and beyond. Trump’s first term saw corporate tax cuts that propelled markets higher, but that initial euphoria may give way to rising inflationary pressures in his second term. A massive infrastructure plan (US$1.5 trillion), which he’s promised to reinvest in, will undoubtedly stoke demand in the economy – creating jobs, driving up wages and putting more money into consumers’ pockets. On the surface, this should be good for business, right? Well, not so fast. Inflation will likely creep higher, probably reaching the 4-5% range by mid-2025, I believe. This will put upward pressure on prices, hitting consumers and businesses alike. Inflation isn't just a theoretical threat – it is a real concern that can weigh heavily on consumer spending and business operations, as costs rise across the board. And with the Federal Reserve already walking a fine line, rising prices are likely to prompt further rate hikes, making borrowing more expensive and increasing market volatility. For equities, the impact could be mixed. While industries like energy, infrastructure, and tech will benefit from deregulation and a tax-friendly environment, other sectors will face more immediate challenges. Rising inflation would push input costs higher, squeezing margins and making it more difficult for companies to meet their earnings targets. The result could be a more volatile stock market, particularly in the latter half of 2025. A key pillar of Trump’s economic strategy is likely to be a strengthening US dollar, thanks to the combination of fiscal stimulus, rising Treasury yields and global investors seeking safety. On paper, this sounds like a positive for the US economy, but the implications for the global market are much more complicated. While a stronger dollar may benefit American consumers by making imports cheaper, it’ll also create significant pain for US exporters. American products will become more expensive for foreign buyers, diminishing the international competitiveness of US companies. Exporters, especially in the manufacturing and tech sectors, will likely see profit margins squeezed. On the global stage, emerging markets will be hit hardest by a rising dollar, especially those with heavy dollar-denominated debt, such as Turkey and Argentina. As the dollar strengthens, these nations will face higher debt repayment costs, potentially leading to economic instability and market sell-offs. In fact, the global flow of capital could see a major shift as investors flock to US assets in search of safety, leaving emerging markets vulnerable to greater volatility. The president-elect’s commitment to protectionist trade policies, including a renewed focus on tariffs, could have an even more profound impact on global markets. Trade wars were a defining feature of his first term, and it’s unlikely that the second term will be any different. With Europe and China already on high alert, retaliatory tariffs could trigger a new round of disruptions to global supply chains. For US equities, this could be detrimental. Companies with significant international exposure, particularly in sectors like tech, automotive, and retail, will bear the brunt of increased trade tensions. Higher input costs from tariffs will eat into profits, and rising consumer prices will dampen demand, leading to slower growth. Industries like tech, which rely on global supply chains, could see stock prices suffer as production costs rise. The prospect of a protracted trade war has been largely underestimated by many market analysts, and the US market may not be prepared for the consequences. It’s not just foreign stocks that will suffer. The US companies that depend on European and Chinese markets are just as vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs, and their valuations, currently high, could quickly become a liability. In an environment of rising inflation and interest rates, bonds might seem like a safe bet, but they could face their own set of challenges. As yields rise in response to fiscal stimulus and potential rate hikes, bonds, particularly longer-duration ones, could lose some of their appeal. However, despite the volatility, US Treasuries remain a relatively safe asset, as demand for US government debt will continue to remain strong – especially as global capital looks for a place to weather economic storms. Bonds could also provide a cushion for investors during periods of heightened volatility. While they won’t offer the same high returns as equities or crypto, they may be a solid option for those seeking more stability as the market braces for the turbulence that comes with Trump’s economic agenda. If the stock market faces growing pains under Trump’s policies, there is one asset class that is likely to thrive: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. With his pro-crypto stance and the rising institutional interest in digital assets, cryptocurrencies are set to receive a boost. Trump’s presidency could be a major catalyst for Bitcoin, pushing it well beyond its current $96,000 price tag toward new all-time highs. Bitcoin has increasingly become a mainstream asset. His support for digital currencies and regulatory clarity will accelerate adoption. Investors seeking to diversify away from traditional assets can be expected to turn to the world’s largest digital asset as an alternative store of value, further propelling its value higher in 2025. Only time will tell exactly how it will react, but investors need to brace for a year defined by volatility, as the markets adjust to the realities of Trump’s re-election. Nigel Green is the CEO and founder of deVere Group. Originally published as Trump 2.0: The global market shake-up you can’t afford to ignore Stockhead Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Stockhead Rhythm raises $3.5m, eyes 2025 test launch Rhythm Biosciences has raised $3.5m and plans to commercialise the second generation of its bowel cancer blood test Colostat in 2025. Read more Stockhead Explorers Podcast: GT1 eyes resource upgrade at Root Green Technology Metals managing director Cameron Henry joins Host, Barry FitzGerald, on the Explorers Podcast, to discuss ongoing drilling at its 14.6Mt Root lithium project in Ontario, Canada. Read moreIf your holiday shopping experience feels like the same old grind year after year, consider this your cue to get creative — and is just the place to start. Minted offers what is quite possibly the most unique and customizable array of both holiday cards and gifts online, and they're currently hosting a shopping event that's bound to put Santa's workshop out of business. A good chunk of items on Minted's site are 20% off plus free shipping from now until November 29 when you use code BF2024 at checkout. Click over to Minted's section to select the festive greeting that rings true for you — cards of all kinds, with and without family photos. Get inspired with uniquely suited to everyone on your list, both naughty and nice. Pay homage to a beloved family with a custom portrait, immortalize a kid's drawing as a framed work of art, or please your favorite host and hostess with a for their mulled wine. The elves in the North Pole work hard to churn out holiday goodies, but Minted works harder. Here are our top 10 finds at — and there are so many more imaginative gift ideas where these came from. Christmas Candids 5" x 7" Cards, 50 Pack Bold and Bright 5" x 7" Card, 50 Pack Vintage North Pole 5" x 7" Card, 50 Pack House: Custom Print with Text Golden Boughs Personalizable Stocking Your Drawing As Foil Art Print Birds Of Paradise Insulated Coffee Mug Garden Club Weekender Linocut Nutcracker Coasters Custom Heart Puzzle, 12-Piece Why pick just one photo for your Christmas card when you can pick them all? This 'Christmas Candids' card displays your 10 favorite family pics around the border of a card embossed with metallic foil. The Poinsettia theme above uses red as the base color with glittery gold foil details, but there are 48 combinations to choose from! Upload the best photo you've got of the kids, grandkids, grandpups and so on. Then choose from countless combinations — size, orientation (portrait or landscape), and your choice of six color options and eight foil options. For the modern family, this holiday card is brilliant, and it comes as either a flat or folded card. Greetings from the North Pole! This vintage postcard-inspired holiday card is charming all on its own, but you can add foil detail if you choose. Choose from six themes, four sizes and four paper types. You can even opt for more Christmas-y messaging — or make it a New Year's card! Creativity abounds with this custom house print. Maybe your recipient just bought their first house or maybe they romanticize an old childhood home. Whatever structure is dear to their hearts, immortalize it in a letter-pressed or printed custom portrait. Simply upload a photo, then choose the ink and frame colors. The framed photo is just under 11" x 9". No chimney? No problem. This stocking is pretty enough to stand out anywhere, with its festive, artisan-designed pattern printed onto cotton with a customizable, foil-pressed leather tag for their name. The 7" x 20" leaves plenty of room for stocking stuffers, too. File this under: one of the one of most adorable things we've ever seen. This print transforms a little one's drawing into a bonafide work of art. Simply upload the doodle and choose a foil and frame color — Minted will do the rest. You can even order your masterpiece unframed if you'd like. Sizes range from 5" x 7" to a glorious 11" x 14". Someone on your list deserves a stainless steel, vacuum-insulated mug to enjoy their mulled wine this holiday season — and their on-the-go morning coffee year-round. This pretty avian-themed one has a flavor-preserving ceramic coating inside and is BPA-free, of course. Jet set in style with a floral weekender that brings cheer along for the ride on festive getaways, cozy hometown visits and beyond. It blends function and flair with its lightweight cotton construction, spacious main compartment and handy little pockets inside and out. But here's why it makes such a unique gift: you can customize its foil-pressed leather tag with your recipient's name. Groove to the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" alongside these embroidered Nutcracker coasters, a beautiful homage to a holiday classic for the traditional reveler on your gift list. This cotton-linen blend can be easily machine washed and tumble-dried. "I love you to pieces" takes on a whole new meaning with this heart-shaped puzzle made from your favorite photo. The sturdy puzzle comes in your choice of 12, 60 or 252 pieces, depending on age and stage. Gift it in an included muslin gift bag. See all of Shop the best expert-picked on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for . And find to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.3 Stock Market Mistakes Investors Should Avoid in 2025

The circumstances of Laken Riley's death are both shocking and depressingly familiar. A young woman going about her life, in this case jogging in broad daylight on a university campus, is overpowered and murdered by a male attacker apparently intent on raping her. An autopsy would later indicate the 22-year-old nursing student died from repeated blows to the head and asphyxiation. It's every woman's worst nightmare. And what does it say about the pervasive fear of violence against women that, within half an hour of trying to reach her daughter, Riley's mother appeared to be panicking? A chilling timeline It's early on February 22 when Laken Riley texts her mum. "Good morning, about to go for a run if you're free to talk," she writes at 8.55am. The two were in the habit of chatting when Riley was out pounding the trails. Riley's mother doesn't immediately answer the text, or a follow-up call at 9:03am. Around that time, CCTV captures Riley jogging along a paved walkway on a university campus in Athens, Georgia. She passes by several people out walking. Around 9:06am she's seen veering left into fields. Just minutes later, she's attacked. At 9:11am, the SOS function on her phone is activated, but the emergency dispatcher can't discern anyone on the line. Riley's mother, meanwhile, is trying to contact her daughter. "You're making me nervous, not answering when you're out running," she texts at 9:58am. "Are you OK?" Riley wasn't OK at 9:58am. Data retrieved from her phone indicated her heart had stopped beating exactly half an hour earlier. When Riley didn't return from her run, her roommates reported her missing. At 12:38pm, her body was found by a police officer searching a wooded area near the jogging trail. "Ma'am, ma'am", the officer, breathing heavily, can be heard saying in bodycam footage shown in court. "I need EMS immediately. Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am. She's down, she's not breathing!" The physical evidence suggests Riley endured a protracted struggle with her attacker. The man who would later be sentenced for her murder had multiple scratch marks on his arms when apprehended by police the next day. His DNA was found under Riley's fingernails. A Republican rallying cry The timeline of Riley's murder was established in court proceedings that were broadcast, in part, on live TV. The media attention was not just a result of the senseless, brutal murder of a young woman in a place she should have felt safe. It was also a result of who did it. The man now sentenced over the killing is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra. Ibarra entered the US illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas. He was detained by immigration authorities but allowed to go free as his case was processed. Ibarra headed for New York before moving to Georgia, where his brother was living. Ibarra's travel from New York to Georgia was paid for under a process known as re-ticketing. It saw the state, which at the time was dealing with a huge influx of migrants, fork out to move them elsewhere. When Ibarra killed Riley early this year, the presidential campaign was picking up pace. Georgia is a swing state which Joe Biden won by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020, and Republicans were hopeful of taking it back (they did). They campaigned heavily on the issue of illegal immigration, arguing the Biden administration had failed to control the southern border. Illegal immigrants, they argued, were taking jobs, receiving taxpayer funded benefits and committing crimes. There's no evidence that illegal immigrants are committing violent crimes at higher rates than the rest of the population , but the killing of Riley seemed tailor-made for this narrative. The student's death soon became a MAGA rallying cry. Two weeks after her death, Majorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congresswoman from Georgia and fierce Trump loyalist, goaded Biden into saying Riley's name during his State of the Union address . The president did say her name, but managed to mangle it, calling her Lincoln, not Laken. Biden also referred to the man who killed her as "an illegal", raising the ire of the progressive wing of his party. The botched moment would later seem like a bad omen for the Democrats' handling of the issue of illegal migration during the campaign. Political advertising Laken Riley's name, and those of other women and girls allegedly killed by illegal immigrants, featured prominently in Donald Trump's campaign. Relatives of the victims appeared with him at events, and in campaign ads. They included the mother of 12-year-old Joceyln Nungaray, whose body was dumped in a Texas creek, allegedly by two men who'd entered the US illegally. At a time when many Americans feel they're doing it tough, resentment and fear of immigrants proved relatively easy to stoke. The Democrats were seen by many voters as having done too little too late to address what they latterly accepted was a crisis at the border . When I interviewed a young woman in Georgia in September, she cited fear of an illegal immigrant harming any children she might have as a reason she'd decided, for the first time in her life, to vote for Trump. Coincidentally, we spoke the day after a high school shooting in Georgia. Not too far from where we met, a 14-year-old is alleged to have shot and killed two students and two teachers. It felt telling that, for this woman, the fear of an illegal immigrant murdering her future children was more prescient than the threat of them being impacted by the scourge of gun violence. Republicans were not alone in using emotive stories about women's deaths in their campaign. Democrats highlighted the cases of several women who died, or almost did, as a result of abortion restrictions implemented after the overturning of Roe v Wade. Reproductive rights had proved to be a winning issue for Democrats in the 2022 midterms. But while the majority of state initiatives to protect abortion have succeeded, the issue did not galvanise voters in the presidential election to nearly the extent the Democrats had hoped. Life sentence Jose Ibarra waived his right to a trial by jury. The defendant, who sat impassively through four days of evidence, listening on headphones via an interpreter, also chose not to take the stand in his defence. He was convicted on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping with bodily injury and aggravated assault with intent to rape. Donald Trump was following proceedings from afar. "JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY!", he posted from Florida after Ibarra was found guilty. "We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our country, so nothing like this can happen again!" Taylor Greene was also quick on the draw, saying Trump's election win amounted to a "decisive mandate" to carry out his plan to carry out mass deportations. "January 20th cannot come soon enough ... If you're in this country illegally: PACK. YOUR. BAGS." Before Ibarra was sentenced to life without parole, the court was shown harrowing bodycam footage of the moment her family was told she'd been found. Her mother, Allyson Phillips, could often be heard sobbing from the gallery as her daughter's last moments were relived in court. In her impact statement, she called Ibarra a "monster", who she said had robbed the family of their hopes and dreams for Riley. "There is no end to the pain, suffering and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure". ABCNone

Northeastern defeats Old Dominion 75-71

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Jacari White scored 19 points as North Dakota State beat Western Michigan 98-62 on Sunday. White had five rebounds and five assists for the Bison (10-4). Jacksen Moni added 16 points while shooting 7 for 10, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc while they also had seven assists. Masen Miller finished 5 of 9 from 3-point range to finish with 15 points. The Bison extended their winning streak to seven games. The Broncos (3-7) were led by Chansey Willis Jr., who recorded 22 points and five assists. Marquese Josephs added 12 points for Western Michigan. Markhi Strickland also put up eight points. North Dakota State took the lead with 19:23 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 49-28 at halftime, with White racking up 13 points. North Dakota State extended its lead to 73-38 during the second half, fueled by a 9-0 scoring run. Darik Dissette scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. North Dakota State next plays Monday against CSU Bakersfield at home, and Western Michigan will host Valparaiso on Friday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Tai'Reon Joseph scores 28 off the bench to help UTSA defeat North Dakota 95-85

PALM BEACH, USA – In his first news conference since his election victory six weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump covered the Ukraine war, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey, the future of TikTok, and lawsuits aimed at the media he often loves to hate. Trump displayed the loquaciousness and bravado of his 2017-2021 White House years as he held court in an ornate room at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, December 16, making an economic announcement and fielding questions for more than an hour. He bantered with reporters, a departure from the dark rhetoric and anger he often flashed on the campaign trail. He answered questions about Ukraine and Israel, but declined to say whether he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin or whether he would support military strikes on Iran. He seemed wiser to the ways of Washington and pleased, if a little bit puzzled, about his own new place in it, marveling at the steady procession of foreign leaders wanting to congratulate him and corporate CEOs rushing to meet with him. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” he said. “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend. I don’t know — my personality changed or something.” Trump’s return to the White House on January 20 comes at a time of deep polarization in the country and is likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad. Advisers say he has been focused on choosing members of his Cabinet and his broader team who are expected to carry out his plans to dramatically overhaul government and U.S. policy. Since his November 5 victory, Trump has not held one of his signature rallies or spoken at length to reporters, communicating instead through social media posts and the occasional speech. On Monday, however, he had good economic news to announce. With SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at his side, Trump said the Japanese technology company would invest $100 billion in the US over the next four years. But that was just the warm-up act for the main event. Standing in front of the Trump coat of arms, the president-elect outlined some of his priorities for his second term, criticized President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration and defended some of his own controversial cabinet picks. The lengthy back and forth marked a contrast with Biden, who rarely holds news conferences. ‘Gotta make a deal’ Trump predicted his choice for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would be “much less radical than you think” but waxed on about whether there is a link between vaccines and autism while saying he supports the polio vaccine. Studies have found no links between vaccines and autism. Trump said “it would be a tragedy” if his choice for defense secretary, former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, does not make it to Senate confirmation amid concerns about allegations of misconduct in his professional and personal life. He spoke about the possibility of issuing a pardon to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and said he thought it was possible to eliminate $2 trillion in government spending through the Elon Musk-led government efficiency project. He said his administration will “take a look” at whether the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok should be banned in the US and encouraged the US military to tell the American public more about the nature of the drone sightings that have plagued the East Coast over the last several weeks. Trump also veered into personal grievances, vowing to file lawsuits against multiple media companies that he felt have abused him. “Now you need fair elections, you need borders, and you need a fair press,” Trump said, touching on some of his favorite grievance-related topics. “Our press is very corrupt. Almost as corrupt as our elections.” That interlude aside, Trump spent most of his time talking about foreign policy and the economy. Of the world’s two biggest hotspots, he was blunt: Hamas needs to reach a deal with Israel releasing the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza, or face the consequences. If no ceasefire deal is reached by the time he takes office, Trump said, “it’s not going to be pleasant.” He also said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy should be prepared to make a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the nearly three-year-old Ukraine war. “Gotta make a deal,” Trump said. – Rappler.com'Deception and denial': Voter views reveal dark truth about Trump's 'mandate'

Bill Clinton discharged from hospital after 1-day stayRenn fund CEO Murray Stahl buys $3,307 in common stock