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slots help NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached more records after tech companies talked up how much artificial intelligence is boosting their results. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Wednesday to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce pulled the market higher after highlighting its artificial-intelligence offering for customers. Marvell Technology jumped even more after saying it’s seeing strong demand from AI. Treasury yields eased, while bitcoin climbed after President-elect Donald Trump nominated a crypto advocate to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are rising toward more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they're getting from . The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s on track to set an all-time high for the 56th time this year after coming off . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 252 points, or 0.6%, with an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was adding 1.2% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, rose 9.3%. Marvell Technology jumped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. They helped offset a 9.8% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of and other key selling periods. overall have offered about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the that earlier because of high interest rates brought by the Federal Reserve to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released on Wednesday morning may have offered a preview of it. The report from ADP suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for and could lead to higher economic growth and , which could alter the . Fed Chair that the central bank can afford to cut its benchmark rate cautiously because inflation has slowed significantly from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts have not pulled down as much as hoped yet. Plus “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s fell 6% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s as its team president. Campbell’s said Mick Beekhuizen, its president of meals and beverages, will become its 15th CEO following Clouse’s departure. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It said it’s also benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 2.8%. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing after he suddenly on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. Yoon accused pro-North Korean forces of plotting to overthrow one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. The martial law declaration was revoked about six hours later. Samsung Electronics fell 0.9% in Seoul. The country’s financial regulator said it was prepared to deploy 10 trillion won ($7.07 billion) into a stock market stabilization fund at any time, the Yonhap news agency reported. In , bitcoin climbed back above $97,000 after Trump said he would , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.

Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at EvertonGlobal stocks mostly rose Tuesday, with US and German indices posting records, as markets weighed Chinese stimulus hopes, political tensions in France and the US interest-rate outlook. Germany's blue-chip DAX stock index jumped above 20,000 points for the first time and Paris rebounded even as France braced for new political turmoil. In New York, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq narrowly rose to finish at records, while the Dow pulled back. Oil prices jumped more than two percent following reports that crude exporters were near an agreement to extend production limits. A closely-watched labor market report showed an increase in US job openings in October, but also a decline in new job postings during the month, a less upbeat sign. Samuel Tombs, chief US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the data overall provides "good grounds" for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates again this month. Still, the choppiness of Tuesday's trading session in New York points to reticence among US investors following a series of post-election records that many pundits believe have left stocks overvalued. "There wasn't a lot of conviction behind the upside moves," said Briefing.com . "The overall vibe in the market was more negative." Stocks in Paris edged higher even as France headed into a new political crisis as opposition lawmakers vowed to topple the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote after just three months in office. Germany's DAX, meanwhile, scored a fresh milestone, defying multiple headwinds battering Europe's biggest economy. The German economy, hit hard by a manufacturing slowdown and weak demand for its exports, has struggled in 2024. Yet the DAX has advanced in large part because companies in the index do heavy business abroad. In addition, the euro's recent weakness has boosted Germany's export-oriented companies, while easing interest rates both in the eurozone and the United States have also helped sentiment. Investors greeted a Bloomberg report that China's top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, would hold a two-day economic work conference next week to outline their targets and stimulus plans for next year. The report followed manufacturing activity data on Monday that suggested China's economic struggles may be coming to an end, but investors are looking for Beijing to step up support for the economy. The news helped push Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets higher despite Washington announcing new export restrictions taking aim at Beijing's ability to make advanced semiconductors. The moves step up existing US efforts to tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. Beijing hit back by saying it would restrict exports to the United States of some key components in making semiconductors. Oil prices jumped ahead of a meeting Thursday of members of the OPEC oil cartel and its allies "The forecast is that they will announce an extension until the end of the first quarter of 2025, and this should help put a floor under prices," said Trade Nation analyst David Morrison. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,705.53 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.1 percent at 6,049.88 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 19,480.91 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,359.41 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 7,255.42 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 20,016.75 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.9 percent at 39,248.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.0 percent at 19,746.32 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,378.81 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0511 from $1.0498 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2673 from $1.2655 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.53 yen from 149.60 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.94 from 82.95 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.5 percent at $73.62 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.7 percent at $69.94 per barrel burs-jmb/dw

Looking for cheap ways to keep the kids entertained over school break? For travelers in the know, there’s a free vacation activity that’s hiding in plain sight. I don’t know about you, but anytime I get an inside view to a destination without the customized tour price, I gleefully take the wander win. A year or two ago, I was introduced to a new avocation I can enjoy anywhere in the world. It’s called geocaching, and it’s just about the most affordable way to enhance any travel outing I’ve ever seen. If you need a hobby the entire family can get behind, at any time of year and in any climate, look no further. From Antarctica to Ann Arbor, you’ve got options. All you need is a pen, a talent for finding hidden containers, and possibly a trinket or two to trade if you so choose. After that, it’s lather, rinse and repeat for affordable family fun on tap. Exploration With containers hidden around the world at historical locations, famous landmarks, scenic vistas and more, exploration is built into the geocaching equation. Game participants can explore their immediate local area, a bucket list destination, and nearly anywhere in between. The metaphorical magic behind this modern treasure hunt is provided by a company called Groundspeak, which manages score totals, event calendars, and container location data for members worldwide. Their headquarters in Seattle is a popular pit stop for long-time players. At the visitor center, you can find a cache, earn a souvenir, tour the geocaching museum and more. Economy As travel activities go, the affordability of geocaching is tough to beat. While premium accounts and paid apps are certainly available for more hard-core enthusiasts, the basic membership and smartphone software are free. Also, though exchanging inexpensive trinkets can be part of the cache-finding fun, it isn’t mandatory. You can simply search out a cache, and log the find. The economy of geocaching can apply to travelers of any budget. On the pricier end, certain caches can only be accessed with a passport and a trip abroad. Even then, I find it more affordable and fun to explore on foot while caching. On a recent extended trip to Europe, my logged locations included a castle, a Roman bridge and a quaint mountain village. The money I saved on packaged tours paid for two high-speed train tickets to Paris. If your vacation fund dictates a more modest getaway, there is plenty of adventure for you as well. Simply pull up the app on your phone to see what hides are available in your local area. These hidden stashes can be found on hiking trails, during an afternoon road trip or even at places you walk past on a regular basis. Efficiency Those who travel with hobby supplies in tow know firsthand that every bit of luggage space counts. Geocaching can be done with nothing more than a pen and a mobile phone. I try to find purse room for a small plastic bag stocked with a few extra log sheets, a small pair of tweezers and a couple of tiny trade items such as stickers, charms or mini erasers. It takes up less space than a pack of gum and lets me participate at a deeper level. Another way this game is incredibly space efficient? Souvenirs. In addition to trip memories and the electronic record of your overall game score, geocaching allows you to earn free digital souvenirs designed to represent the way in which they’re won. There are fun ones for completing specific challenges, visiting different states and countries, and attending special gatherings. There’s even one for finding a hidden code in some of NASA’s equipment footage from Mars! Since you can view these souvenirs from your phone, there’s no need to worry about finding room in your bag or lugging around extra weight. Events Whether you’re traveling alone or with a partner, long-term life on the road can feel isolating. This is especially true when you are only in a place for a short time, making it a challenge to form connections through traditional means. As geocaching has evolved, it has come to include not just physical caches, but events where members get together for any number of activities. Travelers can search out preplanned event caches at their selected destination, or schedule their own pop-up adventure for locals to attend. These meet-ups can focus on a range of interests from kayaking to a picnic spot, to poetry writing at a coffee shop, or going to a museum. I’ve even hosted a postcard making experience at one of my favorite beer joints. Attending and logging in at these social sessions counts as a cache find in your overall game total. Extras Events aren’t your only option for thinking outside the traditional container box. Adventure Lab caches are a great way to experience a new city as a geocacher. As with traditional and event caches, these vary widely. Expect anything from self-directed public art tours and searching out historical markers, to tips for finding favorite local swimming holes and suggested selfie spots. Other options include virtual and Earth caches, which are designed to help you learn specific things about the area. Typically, I’ve been required to submit photos or question answers as proof of completion. If you have a tiny bit of room in your trip bag, travel bugs are another neat geocaching extra. Typically a small novelty item attached to a coded tracking tag, a travel bug is registered in the app to a member, and placed in a cache. From there, another player can pick it up and take it to another hidden container for the next player to move along. All locations are documented in the system, so it’s a nifty way for folks to follow the journey of their item. Containers with room to house these trackable items tend to be a bit larger, and are often categorized as travel bug hotels. These are some of the more unique container caches out there. Hidden in locked urban junction boxes that require a code, secret compartments of little free libraries or even large containers in the woods, they can be a significant memory maker, especially for youngsters. If all this sounds like something you’d like to try, information for finding, making and hiding caches is available online. Geocaching.com , Groundspeak’s main user website for the hobby, offers a deep dive into everything a new player needs to know. Bottom line? Geocaching’s worldwide reach and affordability make it a budget travel win. Whether you want to see and save in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, or search out local options for family fun, this international scavenger-style hunt has something to offer. ________ (Lifestyle and travel expert @MyschaTheriault blends thrift and luxury to live well for less around the world.) ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Liverpoo l fans are incredibly frustrated with Darwin Nunez following his performance during the side's 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Wednesday night. The two sides met in a Premier League clash at St. James' Park and the Reds fell behind twice before pulling it back on both occasions. They took the lead in the 83rd minute through Mohamed Salah and likely thought they'd won it, but Fabian Schar had other ideas and bagged an equaliser in the 90th minute for the Magpies. It was an electric game for casual fans, but marked just the third time this season that Liverpool have dropped points in the league. The side have been near faultless so far under Arne Slot, but one player who has failed to impress supporters so far is Nunez. The forward had a disappointing showing against Newcastle, but it's not his first poor game this season. Fans are growing tired of it. In an instant classic at St James' Park, Mohamed Salah's three goal involvements proved insufficient to secure a win for Liverpool. Liverpool Fans Have Had Enough of Nunez While Salah was in top form for Liverpool once again during the Newcastle game, Nunez was anything but. The Uruguayan never looked like creating anything for his side and had a game-worst 5.9 player rating on SofaScore. Fans of the Merseyside club were quick to make their feelings known about the striker on social media too. One fan took to X (Twitter) and blasted the forward before he added that Liverpool need a new forward, saying: "Nunez can't be trusted. Striker needed in 2025." Another said Nunez, along with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, needed to apologise for letting Salah down on the night. He posted: "Kelleher and Nunez owe Salah a massive apology there. Absolutely disgraceful performance from the pair of them. One of those that feels like a loss." What likely made Nunez's performance harder for Liverpool fans to swallow was the dazzling display from Alexander Isak on the other side of the pitch. The Newcastle striker is one of the best strikers in England right now and has had an excellent campaign so far. He gave his side the lead in the first half through a scorching effort from distance. It was his sixth strike of the season and Reds fans were quick to compare him with their own man. One posted: "Watching Isak play and then seeing Nunez up top for us is quite infuriating I’ll tell you that," while another shared that sentiment, saying: "Look at Isak man. How am I supposed to continue to accept Nunez." All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt & SofaScore and accurate as of 04/12/24

Seneca Foods Corp (B) stock soars to all-time high of $74.45

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.LinkedIn pauses training AI models on Canadian user data: privacy commissioner

Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil insists he is happy to look fans in the face and take the criticism which comes his way after his team were jeered off after losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”Revolutionary Cat ASX! The Future of Gaming?

LEVERETT — Leverett residents are asking town officials to be skeptical of plans for turning the sprawling, 60-acre estate of Yankee Candle founder Michael J. Kittredge II into a 400-home development reserved for people 55-and-over, even if a portion of the dwellings are set aside for low- and moderate-income individuals. “Definitely people in town would love to see affordable housing, and more housing in general,” said Nancy Grossman, vice chairwoman of the Leverett Finance Committee. “But the bigger issue is one of trust, and a perception that Kittredge has always been a negative influence on town.” For Carol Heim, whose Amherst Road home sits across from the compound that was developed by absorbing numerous residential properties beginning in the 1990s, there have been no market studies indicating a demand for such housing, and whether such a project is financially viable. “I haven’t seen anything establishing that kind of demand,” Heim said in an interview, adding that it’s unclear if the plans, as shown by Josh Wallack, the development manager working on behalf of Kittredge’s son, Mick Kittredge, are realistic. “He’s presenting this as a project for downsizing, but it’s not clear to me that this can happen.” Both Grossman and Heim were on hand for a listening session following a November special Town Meeting that packed the Leverett Elementary School gymnasium with more than 100 residents, as was the case at Wallack’s first presentation on the development in December 2023. The concern for residents is whether Leverett will move forward with a Local Initiative Project under the state’s Chapter 40B affordable housing law, which would give the town more control and lead to a “friendly” process, as opposed to a “hostile” process. Because the town doesn’t meet the state’s 10% requirement of affordable housing under the subsidized housing inventory, such a project, with some affordable homes, could be exempted from the town’s various zoning rules. Select Board member Jed Proujnaky has been among those at the forefront of conversations about what should happen at the property if no buyer is found for the estate which has been on the market for $23 million for more than two years. “The town is not opposed to low-income housing and senior housing, and considers that desirable,” Proujansky said. “I’m not sure that in the long run, though, there will be a viable place where the town and developer will come into alignment.” Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess The plans currently call for 48 affordable homes in Leverett, the maximum that could be built based on affordable rules that limit to 6% of the existing housing stock in town, with the remaining 352 homes in Amherst. Wallack said in an interview that he is waiting for a project eligibility letter from the Department of Housing and Community Development. Once this is in hand, the local process would be initiated with the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, likely within 50 to 90 days of receiving the letter. He wants to get buy-in from both Leverett and Amherst officials, as well as Leverett residents. “Everyone has an opinion, and we want to hear from everybody,” Wallack said. “We have an open mind and open ears to both stakeholders in Leverett and Amherst.” Already, using the feedback at the first presentation a year ago, plans have been scaled back, reducing overall density and pushing more into Amherst, as well as limiting the homes to those 55-and-over to reduce the school-age children who might populate the local schools. “We’ve kept an open mind and an open heart,” Wallack said. “The project is now less than half of the density that had been proposed.” Wallack is also promoting the development as a place for people to downsize and open up existing housing stock for young families, especially in Amherst. “At the end of the day, we’d like to build these homes, which will free up and ease some of the region’s supply crunch,” Wallack said. Many residents are observing the proposals closely. Phil Carter, a member of the Finance Committee who lives on Amherst Road across from the estate, has advised the Select Board against making it a Local Initative Project and undertaking any negotiations as just three residents who would be making decisions for the entire town. “The thing most worrying is the Select Board negotiating with Josh Wallack and coming up with a Local Initiative Project,” Carter said. He also questions whether it’s even doable. “It seems impossible to me,” Carter said. “It’s a long way from the nearest water and sewer lines, it’s not near any stores. It seems it’s not a good place to put a dense development like that.” Heim characterizes much of what has been presented to townspeople and officials so far as misinformation and incomplete information. But Heim said she, like many in Leverett, support the development of affordable housing. The mistrust for Grossman comes from hearing before the state’s Tax Appellate Board in 2019 that successfully reduced the Kittredge estate assessment from $9.9 million to $6.5 million in both fiscal years 2014 and 2015, meaning that the town both years lost out on more than $67,000, money that had to be paid from other property owners, or by cuts in town and school operations. Jacob Park, a Planning Board member and Juggler Meadow Road resident near the estate, said Wallack has no track record of developing affordable housing. “At both meetings, there was overwhelming opposition to Josh Wallack and his vision for the property,” Park said. Some of the skepticism focuses on Wallack saying that $1.5 million to $2 million is needed each year to maintain the existing estate’s amenities, including an indoor water park, a bowling alley and tennis courts and a video arcade. Even if 400 total housing units are built, that would mean up to $5,000 a year for each one in association fees for the amenities. “It seems like a dubious model from a business perspective,” Park said. “It’s hard to see how the finances work out,” Grossman said. Heim said there are questions about whether those in the affordable homes would be denied access to the on-site amenities if they had lower association fees. Proujansky said the Select Board would have concerns about unloading the costs of maintenance onto tenants. Park said that Wallack undertook two rollercoaster and associated projects in Orlando, Florida and in Atlantic City, New Jersey that never got off the ground “There is a lot of very significant red flags about his track record and business model,” Park said. “He has no record of doing this kind of development,” Heim said. One of Wallack’s successes was a 14-story, mixed-use parking garage in Orlando, but the scale of the Kittredge redevelopment would dwarf that. Any development will likely depend on whether Amherst officials are willing to provide the water and sewer such a large project would need. Wallack has admitted as much. “It all comes down to what Amherst wants to do,” Park said. But he noted Amherst’s master plan, as a guiding document, strongly encourages in-fill development in already developed areas, with the bulk of new housing and commercial for downtown and village centers. Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the hope is to have a meeting with Leverett officials at some point in the near future. Previously, Bockelman said any extension of sewer and water lines would only come at the appeal of Leverett officials, much as Amherst extended the town’s water to Teawaddle Hill Road in East Leverett to help residents with water contaminated by a capped landfill. The impact on roads and infrastructure also is unknown. Proojansky said that access to the estate includes using a narrow and low bridge on Juggler Meadow Road, a gravel road on Teawaddle Hill and a two-lane paved Amherst Road, though that has no shoulders. Wallack said while he has been based in Florida, he is familiar with the region and his parents have lived in the Berkshires. With the state’s housing department, he believes that the favorable project eligibility letter will come and that more defined plans can be presented. “In the end of the day, they’re mandated to get housing,” Wallack said. He is already working with experts on 40B. SEB Housing of Needham is the 40B consultant. “We’re here to build a project that everybody can be proud of and which will bring a lot of tax revenue,” Wallack said.SC Technology & Aviation CenterIt was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”

It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”Syria's new transitional prime minister on Tuesday said it was time for "stability and calm" in the country, two days after longtime president Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in a lightning offensive. The rebels appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as the transitional head of government to run the country until March 1, a statement said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged all nations to support an "inclusive" political process in Syria, saying the United States would eventually recognise a government if it meets such standards. "Now it is time for this people to enjoy stability and calm," Bashir told Qatar's Al Jazeera television in his first interview since being appointed. A senior official told US broadcaster NBC that Assad was in Moscow, after he fled Syria as an Islamist-led rebel alliance swept into Damascus on Sunday, ending five decades of brutal rule by his clan. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist leader who headed the rebel offensive, had announced talks on a transfer of power and vowed to pursue former senior officials responsible for torture and war crimes. Jolani on Tuesday sought to allay fears over how Syria would be ruled, telling British broadcaster Sky News that Syria was "exhausted" by war and would not be heading back into one. "Syria will be rebuilt... The country is moving towards development and reconstruction. It's going towards stability," he said. "People are exhausted from war. So the country isn't ready for another one and it's not going to get into another one." His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is rooted in Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is proscribed by many Western governments as a terrorist organisation, though it has sought to moderate its image. Blinken said the future government of Syria should be "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian". Laying out US priorities, Blinken said the new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities" and allow the flow of humanitarian assistance. The United States wanted the next government to "prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism", he added. Although they no longer hold any territory in Syria, the jihadists of the Islamic State group remain active. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said IS fighters killed 54 government troops after capturing them as they fled across the vast Syrian desert. The UN envoy for Syria said the groups that forced Assad to flee must transform their "good messages" into actions on the ground. "They have been sending messages of unity, of inclusiveness," Geir Pedersen said. "What we need not to see is... that this is not followed up in practice in the days and the weeks ahead of us," he added. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned of the risks of sectarian violence and a resurgence of extremism. "We must avoid a repeat of the horrific scenarios in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan." Syria's nearly 14-year civil war killed 500,000 people and forced half the country to flee their homes, millions of them finding refuge abroad. Jolani, who now uses his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed: "We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people." The fall of Assad has sparked a frantic search by families of the tens of thousands of people held in his security services' jails and detention centres. As they advanced towards Damascus, the rebels released thousands of detainees, but many more remain missing. Syria's White Helmet rescuers on Tuesday called on Russia to pressure Assad into providing maps of secret jails and lists of detainees as they race against time to release prisoners. A large crowd gathered Monday outside Saydnaya jail, synonymous with the worst atrocities of Assad's rule, to search for relatives, many of whom had spent years in captivity, AFP correspondents reported. "I'm looking for my brother, who has been missing since 2013. We've looked everywhere for him, we think he's here, in Saydnaya," said 52-year-old Umm Walid. Crowds of freed prisoners wandered the streets of Damascus, many maimed by torture, weakened by illness and emaciated by hunger. The United Nations said whoever ended up in power in Syria must hold Assad and his lieutenants to account. UN investigators who for years have been gathering evidence of horrific crimes called Assad's ouster a "game-changer" because they will now be able to access "the crime scene". While Syrians were celebrating Assad's ouster, the country now faces enormous uncertainty, and it is unclear whether the dreams of democracy so many sacrificed their lives for will be realised. Further complicating prospects, the Israeli military said it had conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria over the past two days. Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, called on Israel to stop. "We are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop," he said. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Syria's new rulers that he would respond "forcefully" if they allow "Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or permits the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah". Lebanon's Hezbollah meanwhile said it hoped that Syria's new rulers would "take a firm stand against Israeli occupation, while preventing foreign interference in its affairs". The Britain-based Observatory said Israeli strikes had "destroyed the most important military sites in Syria". The monitor said the strikes targeted weapons depots, naval vessels and a research centre that Western governments suspected of having links to chemical weapons production. Israel, which borders Syria, also sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone east of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Israel backer the United States said the incursion must be "temporary", after the United Nations said Israel was violating the 1974 armistice. The Israeli defence minister said the military had orders to "establish a sterile defence zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence." bur-ser/jsa/Latest Health Updates: Obesity Drug Trials and Record Dengue Outbreak

On Wednesday, South Koreans woke up to the unbelievable news that, overnight, . The act was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly. , institutional guardrails against authoritarianism held firm and democracy prevailed, at least for now. Nevertheless, this quasi-coup attempt has baffled most experts. Despite some , this had been widely considered unthinkable in South Korea. The opposition parties hold an absolute majority in parliament, and citizens — though often leaning conservative — are known for their staunch resistance to authoritarian rule. There are still details to untangle, but trying to understand this unexpected political upheaval may offer some valuable implications for other countries with a presidential system, including the United States. One clear factor in this week’s events is Yoon’s deep unpopularity. The president has been mired in a series of corruption and abuse-of-power allegations since he was narrowly elected in 2022. Calls for special prosecutors have been widespread, both to investigate Yoon and his wife, first lady Kim Keon-hee. Combined with catastrophic economic conditions and numerous diplomatic missteps, these allegations have steadily eroded his support. In recent months, his approval ratings have generally . By early 2024, talks of impeachment had already begun simmering in political podcasts frequented by opposition lawmakers. A more immediate blow to Yoon’s presidency came with the revelation that a behind the scenes had allegedly tampered with various public opinion polls, possibly influencing the outcomes of primaries leading up to the latest parliamentary elections and calling into question the very foundation of the Yoon government’s legitimacy. Many Koreans also drew a parallel between Yoon and former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached for — ironically — involving the undue influence of a confidante. It seems reasonable to assume — though far from certain — that a politically cornered Yoon decided to gamble on declaring martial law. A long shot, such a move also carried enormous risks. Indeed, 190 members of the National Assembly — including 18 from Yoon’s own ruling People’s Power Party — convened almost immediately after the announcement to unanimously pass a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law, precisely as inscribed in the Constitution. Thus the power grab lasted barely three hours before democratic institutions crushed it, functioning as they were designed. Thankfully, both the military and the protesters demonstrated remarkable self-restraint. Troops were dispatched to the National Assembly, reportedly to prevent the vote and arrest key lawmakers. Yet, opposition party members and groups of citizens effectively resisted these efforts by physically blocking soldiers from entering the building. Any bloodshed could have escalated the crisis uncontrollably. Instead, the most notable act of violence involved spraying troops with fire extinguishers. In some video footage, soldiers appeared to Reports suggest that many of the rank-and-file officers on the ground were not even fully aware of the specifics of the orders. Most in the presidential office were kept in the dark. are mounted with this level of preparedness and competence. The fallout is sure to continue. The president’s interference in the party’s operations during the latest election fractured its cohesion, marginalizing several high-profile figures, including party leader Han Dong Hoon. These members openly expressed their dissatisfaction with Yoon following the election. To be clear, the opposition Democratic Party, with its absolute majority, could have annulled the martial law on its own. But instead, the ruling party joined forces with the opposition. At that point, the writing was very clearly on the wall. And in the likely event of an impeachment vote — which requires 200 to pass — these anti-Yoon members within the ruling party will undoubtedly play a pivotal role. U.S. politicians should be following along closely. No matter how unlikely it might seem, a politically cornered president can resort to martial law with surprisingly little initial resistance. Presidents have broad discretion over military matters, underscoring the need for constant vigilance and a swift and decisive course of correction action. Bipartisan initiatives — especially those led by the president’s own party — can serve as a catalyst for this preparedness. At the same time, institutional arrangements are no panacea. The professionalism and political neutrality of the military are indispensable in safeguarding against such abuses of power. South Korea’s experience this week highlights the importance of preserving this independence at all levels. Finally, self-restraint is not limited to the military. While organized citizens have acted as the ultimate bulwark against autocratizing governments, their effectiveness often hinges on their own discipline in avoiding violence. South Korea’s ability to overcome this unprecedented attempt represents its democratic resilience. But the details reveal that it was a terrifyingly close call — and multiple factors had to go right. The event serves as a powerful reminder that democracy is never guaranteed, and why it demands unwavering vigilance and deliberate efforts to preserve it.The Gunners took two points out of Liverpool’s lead at the summit of the Premier League after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba struck in the second half – both from corners – to condemn Amorim to his first defeat as United boss. The hosts’ second-half strikes took their goals-from-corners tally to 22 since the start of last season – a statistic that is unmatched by any other team in the division. Asked if Arsenal are one of the best teams he has come up against on corners, Amorim replied: “If you follow the Premier League for a long time you can see that. “They are also big players and you see every occasion when (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka have one-on-ones, a lot of times they go outside and they cross, and they know that if the cross goes well, they can score, and if it is a corner they can score, too, so we have to be better on that. “You have seen in all Arsenal games that every team have had problems with that (corners). And the difference today was the set-pieces. “You see a goal and then the momentum changed, and it is really hard for us to take the full control of the game after that.” Timber leaned into Rasmus Hojlund at the front post before diverting Declan Rice’s set-piece into the back of Andre Onana’s net after 54 minutes to send Arsenal into the lead. Thomas Partey’s header from Saka’s corner then deflected in off Saliba’s shoulder with 17 minutes left. Arteta and the club’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover embraced on the touchline as Amorim was left with his head in his hands. The Arsenal supporters cheered raucously every time they won a corner – landing 13 in all without reply. However, Arteta moved to play down the significance of Arsenal’s set-piece threat. “We need that, but we want to be very dangerous and very effective from every angle and every phase of play,” said Arteta. “Today we could have scored from open play like we did against West Ham and Sporting. Last year we scored the most goals in the history of this football club. Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League matches against Man Utd for the first time ever! 💫 pic.twitter.com/biv1kvsJEP — Premier League (@premierleague) December 4, 2024 “Not because of only set-pieces, but because of a lot of things that we have. We want to create individual and magic moments, too.” Arsenal’s win against United – the first time they have recorded four victories in a row against the Red Devils in the league – was their fourth in succession since the international break. They will head to Fulham on Sunday bidding to keep the momentum going. Arteta continued: “The will to win is there. We try our best to do that. We won four in a row, but it doesn’t matter. We have to go to Fulham now, try to be better than them and try win the game. “It’s every three days that we play. It’s a crazy schedule. We’re going to need everybody and to mentally be very strong.”

'Sleigh the season' with holiday deals on NJ Transit

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