James Gunn 's Creature Commandos animated streaming series has officially been renewed for a second season according to Gunn himself, who shared the good news on social media just in time for Christmas, along with a holiday card featuring the show's unlikely mascot Weasel. "You wanted monsters? Well, you’re getting even more," Gunn says. "We’re coming back for season two! But don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty left this season for you. Catch new episodes of Creature Commandos every Thursday, with the season one finale dropping January 9 exclusively on Max." Creature Commandos has proved to be a worthy first entry in the new DC Studios cinematic universe as well as a pitch-perfect continuation of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, two previous DC properties that are making the jump to the new continuity. Still, there's a long way to go before the end of the first season, which, as Gunn points out, is still in the middle of airing. And considering how tragic the last couple episodes have been, who knows what the team will even look like by the time the season ends. In fact, episode 4, 'Chasing Squirrels,' was so deeply heartbreaking (and emotionally affecting) that I took time out to explore what makes the episode, and its central character Weasel, so special , and so reflective of the larger themes of what the "Monsters" side of the so-called "Gods and Monsters" era of the burgeoning cinematic DC Universe is all about so far. Up next, kinda more on the "Gods" side of the equation, is Gunn's Superman reboot movie, which just got a gorgeous first trailer that's setting hopes for the film quite high. New episodes of Creature Commandos will premiere Thursdays on Max through early January. For more, check out our Creature Commandos review or our guide to the other best shows on HBO Max to add to your watchlist.Australian couple stranded in the Outback were stalked by giant crocodile for days after their car was washed away in a flood Couple in their 50s got caught in flood waters in Queensland The pair spent three days in the bush before being rescued READ MORE: Wild footage of rapid floods rocking Australia's east coast By ZAK WHEELER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AAP Published: 12:48, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 12:50, 7 December 2024 e-mail View comments A missing couple were followed by a giant crocodile for days in Australia's remote north after their vehicle was swept in a flood leaving them stranded. The pair, aged in their 50s, spent three days exposed to the elements in the Gulf Country northwest of Staaten River National Park in Queensland after their four-wheel-drive was washed away in raging flood waters. The couple were airlifted to safety on Saturday and told rescuers the beast stalked them while they endured 40C heat with no food during the days and freezing temperatures over two nights. The only drinking water they had was from the crocodile-infested river. The couple first became stranded when they had tried to drive through a river crossing in their vehicle but it was washed away by a large wave of floodwater. They told rescuers they had to scramble out the passenger window to escape, with the male driver swimming back into the vehicle to free their two dogs. Without phones, the couple wrote two large SOS signs in the dirt and hoped someone would find them. A couple in their 50s have been rescued from remote Queensland bushland after becoming stranded when their car was caught in flood waters on Thursday The pair spent three days without food drinking only river water in the 40C heat while being stalked by a giant crocodile before rescue teams found them thanks to their large SOS signs A friend reported them missing on Saturday after they failed to arrive in Kowanyama, on the central west coast of Cape York, after setting off from Normanton on Thursday. A LifeFlight rescue crew took off from Mount Isa base on Saturday morning and located the couple and their dogs after seeing the SOS sign. The pilot was able to land the chopper on the road beside the river before Queensland Ambulance Service flight paramedics assessed the patients. They were treated for dehydration and exposure and loaded onto the rescue helicopter, with their two dogs, and airlifted to the Normanton Hospital for further treatment. The couple said the only drinking water they had was from a river that was infest with crocodiles (stock image) A LifeFlight helicopter spotted the couple and their two dogs on Saturday and rushed them to hospital where they are being treated for dehydration Share or comment on this article: Australian couple stranded in the Outback were stalked by giant crocodile for days after their car was washed away in a flood e-mail Add comment

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NoneRELIEF SUPPLIES Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) load relief supplies onto BRP Teresa Magbuana at Pier 13 in Manila on Wednesday as the government prepares to deliver 12,000 packs of relief goods to families displaced by Supertyphoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) in Catanduanes province. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA LEGAZPI CITY — Supertyphoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) has left a trail of destruction in the island province of Catanduanes, ravaging over 23,000 hectares (ha) of abaca plantations which have been sustaining the livelihood of thousands of farmers in the Bicol region. In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Director Mary Anne Molina of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) said the onslaught of Pepito in Catanduanes would disrupt the local economy and severely impact the supply of abaca fiber in both domestic and international markets. “Catanduanes, the capital of abaca production and a major supplier of abaca fiber—a key material used in various products such as ropes, textiles, and specialty paper—will definitely suffer. Farmers will need to wait for two to three years for the abaca plantations to recover,” Molina said. READ: After Kristine, Bicol folk brace for Pepito Based on ground assessments by government teams, 8,234 ha of plantations in the province had moderate damage, while 15,212 ha had extensive damage. “With the damage incurred, the market is greatly affected. Catanduanes supplies 27 percent of the country’s total fiber production and contributes 81 percent to the entire Bicol region’s output,” Molina added. “We have bulk stocks, but for sure, they will not sustain the demand of the market,” she said. She warned farmers that the recovery process would be slow, as abaca plants take 24 months or more to regenerate. BENT AND BROKEN This abaca plantation in Gigmoto, Catanduanes, is among the more than 23,000 hectares of farms damaged by Supertyphoon Pepito (Man-yi) as it pummeled the Bicol region last week. Catanduanes supplies 27 percent of the country’s total fiber production. —PHOTO COURTESY OF CATANDUANES GOV. JOSEPH CUA Government records showed that 13,777 farmers were displaced by the typhoon in Catanduanes, which pounded the province on Sunday following two successive typhoons that also crossed Bicol on their way to northern Luzon. “They will receive financial assistance depending on the severity of the damage [to their plantation],” Molina said. She said farmers whose plantations sustained slight damage would receive P5,000 in assistance, while those with moderate to severe damage would get P6,000 to P10,000. Despite the devastation, Molina said farmers could still earn from toppled abaca plants by stripping them and converting them into fiber. “The best way to save the plants is to cut the damaged parts so they can sprout and have a chance to survive,” she said, noting that prices are expected to increase due to the limited supply and high demand. Businesswoman Medi Villanueva, executive vice president of Shelmed Cottage Treasures, said the destruction of plantations would not only affect production but would also displace farmers and their families who lost their sources of livelihood and their houses. “What we need to address first is providing them with construction supplies so they can fix their homes and workplaces,” Villanueva told Inquirer in a separate telephone interview. The devastation would significantly impact the industry since most suppliers depend on processed materials sourced from Bicol. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “My concern is how we can sustain production to meet the demand of exporters,” she added.DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Kwara Govt Graduates 3MTT Cohort 2, Splashes Cash On Young Techs

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump's unusual nominees . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump's America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect's choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump's foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees' qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump's team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, Nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump's allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president's Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump's first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will "prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies" — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump's 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump's first inauguration during the country's bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it's important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family's five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It's one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.The Hinterland Scholarship Dormitory (HSD) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown is home to a diverse population of hinterland scholars, and will soon undergo a major facelift, to cater to students’ specific needs. President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali unveiled this crucial initiative, during a dinner with scores of hinterland scholarship students, at his official residence, on Friday evening. According to the head of state, plans are afoot to enhance dormitory facilities, including the founding of essential amenities that will foster sport and artistic development. General enhancements will also be undertaken, ensuring students’ comfort and well-being. “We can development of cricket, maybe a hard tarmac, so that you can play other forms of sport, even during the rainy season... we will put in a facility, preferably a prefab building in there so you can have your art room,” he elaborated for students at the dinner. While students travel home for the Christmas holidays, the head of state and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand along with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai will be working to concretise the plans. Already, an assessment of the general enhancements has been completed, and “We’re going to invest in those upgrades so that we can make your life as easy and comfortable as possible and we can give you a feeling of home,” President Ali emphasised. Furthermore, as the dormitory Liliendaal Dormitory is home to diverse backgrounds, the head of state affirmed the government’s commitment to investing and expanding opportunities for them. He also expressed pride in their achievements and encouraged them to exploit the opportunities available, foster a sense of mutual understanding and support for each other, an important asset in life. “You’re living as a family, and as family, you’re getting to share experiences, build new friendships, and this is what is going to ensure that the Guyana we are building, the One Guyana, is made up of every single community,” he further underlined. These improvements are part of the government’s broader commitment to investing in human capital, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities, so they can have the best futures. Since 2020, investments have been made in improving educational facilities, to ensure equal access to quality education. A massive training programme for hinterland teachers is also being rolled out. Modern schools are being established in every part of Guyana, and are being equipped with technology, including internet access that will integrate the hinterland to broader learning resources. As a result, there is an increasing number of students shining in academics, and joining programmes such as nursing, technical and military training. “Today we celebrate .... the largest intake to the army officers programme came from the hinterland and riverine communities...and we could have only achieved that because for the first time, our young people in the hinterland and riverine communities are having access to secondary education,” Guyana’s president expressed. Ministers Manickchand and Sukhai also delivered brief remarks, in which they underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to hinterland youths. Since 2020, the government would have invested over $300 million to support high achievers from the hinterland, signalling their staunch commitment. (DPI)

AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:56 p.m. EST