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top.646 LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams insisted he hasn't lost faith in General Manager Ryan Poles. Even with the team on a seven-game losing streak, he believes the franchise has the right person in place to build a winner. "The amount that he cares about us, the Chicago Bears and wanting to win is why my faith is in him and believing in him and making sure that we get it right," Williams said Thursday. "That's my short answer to it." The Bears (4-9) sure didn't think they would be in a position like this heading into their game at Minnesota (11-2) on Monday night. They came into the season expecting to contend for a playoff spot after making a series of high-profile moves, none bigger than drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. But a team that rolled into its bye with three straight wins and a 4-2 record has since done nothing but lose. Chicago fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in the wake of a 19-3 loss to New England in Week 10 at Soldier Field and promoted Thomas Brown from passing game coordinator. While Williams seemed to regain his footing after several rough outings, the losses continued to mount. The Bears fired a head coach in season for the first time when they let Matt Eberflus go the day after a Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit, when they ran out of time for a potential tying field goal despite having one timeout remaining. It was just the latest in a string of bad late-game decisions. With Brown debuting as interim coach, the Bears got blown out 38-13 at San Francisco last week. Williams threw for just 134 yards with two late touchdowns and was sacked seven times in that game, a big drop in production from his first three games with Brown calling the plays, and the schedule sure doesn't get easier. The Vikings have won six in a row, including an overtime victory in Week 12 at Soldier Field in which Chicago scored 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. In one season at Oklahoma and two at Southern California, Williams' teams lost a total of 10 games. The Bears could equal that this week. "There's belief — belief, hope and faith — that we're going to get this right and however it may happen, that's how it's going to happen," Williams said. "That's kind of where I'm at with it. They drafted me here to go win games." Williams insisted his relationship with Poles has only gotten stronger and his faith in the general manager hasn't wavered. He pointed toward the acquisitions in the offseason, a list that included two wide receivers in six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and No. 9 overall draft pick Rome Odunze as well as running back D'Andre Swift. "Keep going on with a list of people. He's done a good job," Williams said. Running backs Roschon Johnson (concussion) and D'Andre Swift (groin), guard Ryan Bates (concussion) and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter (knee) would not have participated had the team held practice rather than a walk-through. Safety Elijah Hicks (ankle) would have been limited. Johnson sat out last week's game, while Bates and Hicks have missed the past three. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian state news agencies are reporting that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but has contacted the Kremlin for comment. RIA also cited an anonymous Kremlin source that Moscow had received guarantees from Syrian insurgents of the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. The report did not give further details. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday. Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule but raising questions about the future of the country and the wider region. Joyful crowds gathered in squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. Others gleefully ransacked the presidential palace and residence after President Bashar Assad and other top officials vanished, their whereabouts unknown. Russia, a close ally, said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance, leads the biggest rebel faction and is poised to chart the country's future. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the sprawling Umayyad Mosque and called Assad's fall “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he told hundreds of people that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and still split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in some remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement early Sunday saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They called on people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The rebels later announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. The rebels said they freed people held at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed . A video circulating online purported to show rebels breaking open cell doors and freeing dozens of female prisoners, many of whom appeared shocked. At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi later appeared on state TV and sought to reassure Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Celebrations in the capital Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Revelers filled Umayyad Square, where the Defense Ministry is located. Some waved the three-starred Syrian flag that predates the Assad government and was adopted by the revolutionaries. Elsewhere, many parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. Soldiers and police left their posts and fled, and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Videos showed families wandering the presidential palace, some carrying stacks of plates and other household items. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” At the Justice Ministry, where rebels stood guard, Judge Khitam Haddad said they were protecting documents from the chaos. Outside, some residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s al-Watan newspaper, which was historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements, saying it “only carried out the instructions.” A statement from the Alawite sect that has formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. Assad's whereabouts are unknown Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video shared on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office and to the Four Seasons hotel on Sunday. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Associated Press that Assad, 59, took a flight early Sunday from Damascus. A senior diplomat from the United Arab Emirates, which had sought to rehabilitate Assad's image and has welcomed high-profile exiles in recent years, declined to comment on his whereabouts. Anwar Gargash said Assad's destination at this point is a “footnote in history,” comparing it to the long exile of German Kaiser Wilhelm II after World War I. Calls for an orderly transition The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which provided crucial support to Assad throughout the uprising, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its allies, already weakened by conflict with Israel . Iran, which had strongly backed him throughout the civil war, said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel's military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall occupy more territory. The rebels are led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS , which has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. Al-Golani, has sought to recast the group as a moderate and tolerant force. “Golani has made history and sparked hope among millions of Syrians," said Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group. "But he and the rebels now face a formidable challenge ahead.” The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday. They included Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” ___ Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed. Abdulrahman Shaheen And Abby Sewell, The Associated PressGriezmann's late brace leads Atletico to 4-3 comeback win over Sevilla

By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. Related Articles An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Vallourec S.A. ( OTCMKTS:VLOWY – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,800 shares, a growth of 55.6% from the November 30th total of 1,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.8 days. Vallourec Price Performance OTCMKTS VLOWY opened at $3.50 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $3.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.25. Vallourec has a 12-month low of $2.80 and a 12-month high of $4.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.03 billion, a PE ratio of 9.99 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Vallourec Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vallourec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vallourec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

League leaders Bayern Munich will aim to solidify their position at the summit of the Bundesliga table when they travel to Mewa Arena on Saturday where they take on Mainz 05 in their 14th league game of 2024-25. Mainz have 19 points and are ninth in the table after losing 4-3 against Wolfsburg on December 8, while the Bavarians beat Heidenheim 4-2 on December 7 and their tally of 33 points is six more than second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Mainz had won the three games prior to their defeat against Wolfsburg, a match in which they lost despite taking 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads against the Wolves. Manager Bo Henriksen said that he was largely pleased with his side's performance against Wolfsburg, saying: "It was a crazy game. We're obviously disappointed because we produced a really good performance today –- against a really good team. We played good football in the half-spaces, but obviously we also need to defend a bit better in the last 10 minutes." Henriksen's team's defensive frailty last Sunday was perhaps unexpected given they had kept three clean sheets in their previous four games, conceding just once. At the other end of the pitch, Karnevalsverein's record of 23 goals scored in the Bundesliga is the division's seventh best offensive return, with the club scoring 11 times in their last four top-flight matches. Mainz' record at home in the league is mixed, as while they have won two and drawn one of their three most recent fixtures at Mewa Arena, they did lose the previous three. As for Vincent Kompany 's side, they come into Saturday's clash having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League, and the game was the ninth time that they have scored four of more goals in a single match this season. If there was one negative to take from their victory on Tuesday, it was that they failed to keep a clean sheet for a fourth consecutive fixture. Kompany noted in the aftermath of his team's win against Shakhtar that his players still have room to improve, telling reporters: "Sometimes you can be vulnerable [to counters] when you're so dominant. We'll continue to work in detail about these moments. But we could've won 5-0 and I'd still say that we have to improve." Bayern also boast the league's best offensive and defensive records having netted 41 times and conceded on 10 occasions, with their goal difference of 31 significantly better than Eintracht Frankfurt's goal difference of 15. The Bavarians are in excellent form considering they have triumphed in nine of their past 11 matches, with their only defeat being a 1-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on December 3. The visitors' away record is also strong given they have achieved victory in four of their last five outings, scoring 16 goals while conceding just twice. Mainz midfielder Danny da Costa is not scheduled to return from a groin injury until January 2025, so expect regulars Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri to form a partnership in the middle of the park. Winger Gabriel Vidovic 's ankle injury could see him miss out on action until late February 2025, and his absence could mean that Henriksen selects Paul Nebel , Jae-sung Lee and Jonathan Burkardt in the forward line. In defence, Dominik Kohr , Stefan Bell and Maxim Leitsch are likely to appear in a back three in front of goalkeeper Robin Zentner . The away side are likely to start a back four featuring Konrad Laimer , Dayot Upamecano , Kim Min-jae and Raphael Guerreiro considering Alphonso Davies , Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic have been ruled out. Daniel Peretz is likely to appear in goal in light of Manuel Neuer 's rib injury, as well as the fact Sven Ulreich could be absent due to personal reasons. Kingsley Coman and Harry Kane are both dealing with hamstring issues, and this could mean that Kompany starts Michael Olise , Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane behind Thomas Muller in attack. Joshua Kimmich is almost certain to be partnered by Aleksandar Pavlovic in midfield given Joao Palhinha 's groin injury could keep the Portuguese out until the middle of January. Mainz 05 possible starting lineup: Zentner; Kohr, Bell, Leitsch; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt Bayern Munich possible starting lineup: Peretz; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Muller Bayern have been rampant in front of goal all season, and it is plausible that they could score multiple times on Saturday. However, given the injuries in defence and to Neuer, Mainz will likely have opportunities of their own, and they may at least prevent the visitors from keeping a clean sheet. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .2025 will be a crucial year for Indian creator economy as the industry is expecting to see some stark trends. While some of these trends will be inspired by the current waves in western social media, the others would address the critical challenges in the Indian creator ecosystem. Here is a list of the top 10 upcoming trends in the Indian creator economy, curated by : 1. Growth in meme marketing: With memes breaking all barriers and running the show as the marketing strategy for so many brands, in the coming year, analysts tracking the industry believe it will grow further. According to a report, meme marketing will become a 3000 crore ($360 million) industry next year. 2024 was the year of memes and meme marketing. hit 4.5 billion views in 2024 according to YouTube. Ganji chudail featured in so many ads for brands like YouTube, Netflix, Nykaa . 2. Growth in channel membership revenues: Channel memberships have grown significantly for , he told . Posting viral exclusive content on memberships for example his show India’s got latent, is a great strategy to monetise content and YouTube and creators are expecting for this model to grow further next year. 3. Growth in creator led startups: This year, creator led startups like Flying beast's Rosier Foods and Tech burner's Layers have made their mark in their respective markets. Analysts expect this trend to continue further as creators look at diversification of investments and income streams and starting their businesses. Not just that, creators Flying beast and Tech burner told that they will look for fundings after scaling up next year. 4. Rise of long form content: After intellectual properties like Samay Raina's "India's got latent" blew up, brands have started showing interest in sponsoring long form content like never before. This is incentivising creators to make more original long form content. Viewers showing interest and buying subscriptions for watching creators' long form content further heightens the demand for it. Coming year, Ashish Solanki's pretty good roast show will come back with its second season that would be sponsored, along with Samay Raina planning to upload a web series for his channel members, both, told . Comedian Harsh Gujral and his team have rolled out a unique intellectual property, The Escape Room for confessions, meanwhile Samay Raina, Rohan Cariappa and Seedhe Maut have announced a rap show called The SoundCheck in the coming year. 5. More creators moving into the entertainment sector: Creator talent management agencies have started strengthening their ties with broadcasters and production houses promising talent a ticket to big screens. Some have already started offering roles in advertisements and web series. 6. Brands hiring in-house content creators for strong social media presence: Realizing the power and importance of social media and content creation, many brands have started investing in and hiring in-house for their social media pages. This trend is set to grow with more brands joining next year. 7. Indian content creators collaborating with other creators globally: After Carryminati's collaboration with Mr Beast's, followed by the world's biggest creator and his "gang" flying into India and launching their brands, a gateway for global collaborations has been opened. During their visit, Mr Beast, KSI and Logan Paul have shot content with a bunch of Indian creators which is yet to be released. Heads of companies believe there will be a rise in global collaborations for content creators creating high budget content together going forward. 8. Rise of AI influencers: After the launch of AI influencers like Influencer Marketing Firm Collective Artist Network’s Kavya Mehra and AI firm Avtr’s Naina and Virat, India is witnessing a revolution in content creation and influencer marketing. Brands like Ajio, Joyalluka’s etc have already started using ai to generate models for their advertisements. This is poised to increase further. 9. More financial products for creators: After the launch of financial services like prepaid cards by fintech Wyld and Giga by HDFC, next year, creators are expecting more from the BFSI sector. Looking at the threats, social media insurance is one of the most anticipated services for creators. Dedicated professional management is also one of the financial services creators are looking to subscribe to next year. 10. Rise of tier II-III influencers: As smartphones have penetrated to over 50% of India according to data from consumer firm IDC, the participation of “Bharat" in India’s creator economy is poised to rise. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are anticipating this and working in this direction, .

Putin apologizes for 'tragic incident' but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. He stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The Kremlin also says Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Israel detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals during a raid DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s military alleges the hospital director is a suspected Hamas operative and says it detained over 240 others. It acknowledges it ordered people outside and that special forces entered the hospital. It says it “eliminated” militants who fired at its forces. Kamal Adwan officials have denied that Hamas operates in the hospital. Abortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel Even with abortion bans in place in most Republican-controlled states, the number of people obtaining them has grown slightly. That's part of a complicated picture of the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago. Abortion pills are more common now. So is traveling to other states for care, often on journeys hundreds of miles long. Public support for the right to abortion has also increased since before the ruling. That's been reflected in most ballot measures to add the right to abortion to state constitutions being adopted. Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Amazon rainforest staggered through another difficult year in 2024. A second year of record drought contributed to wildfires that worsened deforestation across the massive forest, which spans Brazil, Peru, Colombia and other Latin American nations and is a critical counterweight to climate change. There were some bright spots. Both Brazil and Colombia reported lower levels of deforestation compared to prior years. Experts say Amazon countries need to do more to strengthen cross-border collaboration and that the global community who reap the benefits of commodities from the rainforest also need to pitch in. Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more than 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. Afghan forces target Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says its forces hit several points inside Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes. Pakistan last Tuesday launched an operation to destroy a training facility and kill insurgents in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. The strikes killed dozens of people. The ministry said Saturday that its forces hit points “serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan.” Pakistan accuses the Taliban of not doing enough to combat cross-border militant activity, a charge the Taliban government denies. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Sweden embarks on a sober search for more cemetery space in case of war GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Burial associations in Sweden are looking to acquire enough land for something they hope they’ll never have to do. And that's to bury thousands of people in the event of war. The search follows new crisis preparedness guidelines from the country's civil defense agency and the military. The issue is seen in a new light after Russia's invasion of Ukraine led formerly neutral Sweden to join NATO. Sweden and Finland sent out updated civil preparedness guides in November with instructions on how to survive in war. The guides are similar to those in Denmark and Norway, though they don't mention Russia by name. Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73 LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media. She was 73. Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy. “Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting. Decades later, the pair brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over nude scenes in the film they said they were coerced to perform. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions.Victoria PLC (OTCMKTS:VCCTF) Short Interest Up 4,943.6% in December

Principal Financial Group Inc. Trims Stock Position in Genpact Limited (NYSE:G)

Trudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister saysTrump's biggest challenge: Will he confront China, or cut a deal?

Ravens QB Jackson leads first NFL Pro Bowl fan voting resultsTORONTO, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: CBLU) the Smart Off-GridTM Company, today announced that it will provide a corporate update and also report financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2024 on Friday, November 29, 2024, before the market opens. Clear Blue will host a conference call that same day, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to review the Company's performance and answer questions. Those interested can register at: Registration Link https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_id0a_9DmTVWw-GEFlxl7Sg About Clear Blue Technologies International Clear Blue Technologies International, the Smart Off-GridTM company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, “wireless power” to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today, Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 37 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. (TSXV: CBLU) (FRA: 0YA) (OTCQB: CBUTF) Legal Disclaimer: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, contact: Miriam Tuerk, Co-Founder and CEO +1 416 433 3952 miriam@clearbluetechnologies.com www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en/investors