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Papastergiou at EU Telecommunications Council: National strategy on youth screen addiction to be presented soonWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. military should stay out of the escalating conflict in Syria as a shock opposition offensive closes in on the capital, declaring in a social media post, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” With world leaders watching the rapid rebel advance against Syria's Russian- and Iranian-backed president, Bashar Assad, President Joe Biden's national security adviser separately stressed that the Biden administration had no intention of intervening. “The United States is not going to ... militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war," Jake Sullivan told an audience in California. He said the U.S. would keep acting as necessary to keep the Islamic State — a violently anti-Western extremist group not known to be involved in the offensive but with sleeper cells in Syria's deserts — from exploiting openings presented by the fighting. Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria sped faster Saturday, reaching the gates of Damascus and government forces abandoning the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that Assad had fled the country. Trump's comments on the dramatic rebel push were his first since Syrian rebels launched their advance late last month. They came while he was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral . In his post, Trump said Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. Assad's government has been propped up by the Russian and Iranian military, along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias, in a now 13-year-old war against opposition groups seeking his overthrow. The war, which began as a mostly peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad family's rule, has killed a half-million people, fractured Syria and drawn in a more than a half-dozen foreign militaries and militias. The insurgents are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist group and says has links to al-Qaida, although the group has since broken ties with al-Qaida. The insurgents have met little resistance so far from the Syrian army, the Russian and Iranian militaries or allied militias in the country. The Biden administration says Syrian opposition forces' capture of government-held cities demonstrates just how diminished those countries are by wars in Ukraine , Gaza and Lebanon. “Assad’s backers — Iran, Russia and Hezbollah — have all been weakened and distracted," Sullivan said Saturday at an annual gathering of national security officials, defense companies and lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. “None of them are prepared to provide the kind of support to Assad that they provided in the past,” he later added. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, including U.S. forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, said he would not want to speculate on how the upheaval in Syria would affect the U.S. military’s footprint in the country. “It’s still too early to tell,” he said. What would not change is the focus on disrupting IS operations in Syria and protecting U.S. troops, Fenton said during a panel at the Reagan event. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from the incoming Trump administration, in particular on how the U.S. would respond to the rebel advances against Assad. Robert Wilkie, Trump's defense transition chief and a former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said during the same panel that the collapse of the “murderous Assad regime” would be a major blow to Iran's power. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition” in Syria. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power. The president-elect condemned the overall U.S. handling of the war but said the routing of Assad and Russian forces might be for the best. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote in Saturday's post. An influential Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a briefing to reporters to read Trump’s post and appeared to choke up. He said Trump’s declaration that the U.S. should stay out of the fight was the best outcome that the the Syrians aligned against Assad could hope for. Rebels have been freeing political detainees of the Assad government from prisons as they advance across Syria, taking cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters Saturday that opposition forces would be alert for any U.S. detainees among them and do their utmost to protect them. Moustafa said that includes Austin Tice , an American journalist missing for more than a decade and suspected to be held by Assad. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham renounced al-Qaida in 2016 and has worked to rebrand itself, including cracking down on some Islamic extremist groups and fighters in its territory and portraying itself as a protector of Christians and other religious minorities. While the U.S. and United Nations still designate it as a terrorist organization, Trump's first administration told lawmakers that the U.S. was no longer targeting the group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. ___ Copp reported from Simi Valley, California. Ellen Knickmeyer, Will Weissert And Tara Copp, The Associated Press
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Rachel Reeves to wield ‘iron fist against waste’ by examining departments’ expenditure line by lineThe Hundreds and Pokémon are no strangers to collaboration, having delivered their first dual-minded delivery of graphics and cut-and-sew garments back at the end of 2022. The duo is back once again to catch ‘em all in another solid selection of apparel imbued with imagery of Pikachu , Charizard , Mew and more. However, leading the pair’s sophomore presentation is a colorful Togepi-inspired mohair cardigan, doused in hues of red, blue and white. Other standout cut-and-sew pieces include the long-sleeve shirt adorned with the Team Rocket logo and a wool version of Ash Ketchum ’s iconic hat. On the graphics front, The Hundreds pays homage to Meowth, Pikachu, Charizard Psyduck, Eevee and Mew across a range of tees and crewnecks. Take a closer look at the imagery in the carousel below. A post shared by The Hundreds (@thehundreds) “Pokémon was a big part of my childhood—from the games, shows, and card collecting it sparked my creativity early on,” explained The Hundreds Creative Director David Rivera. “Sketching Pokémon and creating my own stories and battles gave me an outlet. Now, being part of Pokémon’s history as an official collaborator with a collection that honors the artistry that helped shape my path feels like a full-circle moment.” Peep the full collection in the lookbook above and catch it when it releases at The Hundreds’ official webstore come December 13.Rams offense is humming with good health, and it gave a stellar performance to upset Buffalo
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2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada borderAlthough she was just in her mid-20s, Tulsi Gabbard's hair had already started turning white shortly before she first set foot in the U.S. Senate as a legislative aide in 2006. Coming from her native Hawaii, she had landed a job with longtime Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who would become her mentor. Now, almost 20 years later, the former Democratic congresswoman returns to the Senate to meet with lawmakers, including members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence after appearing with him a number of times on the campaign trail and serving as an honorary co-chair of his transition team. Gabbard spent the past week in Oklahoma on Army National Guard duty. She currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel, something supporters argue qualifies her for the job as critics cite her lack of experience. She's also facing renewed scrutiny over her past comments on Syria and her meeting with now-overthrown dictator Bashar Assad. From Hawaii to Kuwait to Congress By the time she came to the Senate, Gabbard had already made history in Hawaii as one of the youngest lawmakers elected to a state legislature at age 21. Serving alongside her father, Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard, she became part of the first father-daughter combination in a legislature in the country. As a Senate staffer, Gabbard remained in Hawaii's National Guard, drilling on the weekends. During her first yearlong deployment at Joint Base Balad in Iraq, nicknamed "Mortaritaville" for being hit with daily attacks, she's said fumes from a nearby burn pit would regularly sicken her fellow service members, causing flu-like symptoms they called the "crud." In 2007, she attended the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy, graduating at the top of her class as its first distinguished woman honor graduate. After two years working in the Senate, Gabbard volunteered for a deployment to Kuwait. As a military police platoon leader and trainer for the Kuwait National Guard's counterterrorism unit, Gabbard achieved another milestone in 2009, becoming one of the first women to set foot in a Kuwaiti military facility and the first woman to be honored by the Kuwait National Guard. In her limited free time, Gabbard continued working on her bachelor's degree from Hawaii Pacific University, taking online classes in an education tent. Although her hair returned to its natural color, she told ABC News in 2019 she eventually kept a distinctive streak of white. "It's a reminder, every single day of the cost of war of those we lost and my mission in life to to seek peace and to fight for peace," Gabbard said. Gabbard later returned to Hawaii and ran for Honolulu City Council, serving from 2010 until 2012, before being elected to Congress as the then-youngest female member. Bipartisan outreach As a new member of Congress, Gabbard worked to forge relationships with members on both sides of the aisle. She arrived armed with 434 boxes of macadamia nut toffee, homemade by her mother, for every member of Congress and an additional 435 boxes for staffers. Each box came with a handwritten letter, a form of diplomacy as a Democrat facing a Republican-controlled House. During her freshman year in Congress in 2013, Gabbard was appointed vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, but stepped down from that position to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential bid. She co-chaired the Future Caucus, a bipartisan effort to engage members of Congress under 40 years old. Gabbard also bonded with lawmakers over sports, playing on the Congressional Softball Team with New York Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and joining early morning workouts with colleagues such as Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin. She and Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul co-sponsored legislation, including the Stop Arming Terrorists Act. After an unsuccessful bid for the party's 2020 presidential nomination, she left the Democratic Party and became an independent and campaigned for Republicans, including Sens. Mike Lee and Chuck Grassley. She told Trump on a rally stage in October that she was registering as a Republican. Controversial views on Russia, Syria Gabbard was one of the first to enter the crowded Democratic 2020 primary and was one of the last three remaining candidates. One of her rivals in that race, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, announced she would oppose Trump's choice of Gabbard, alleging she had suggested NATO had provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine. "Do you really want her to have all the secrets of the United States and our defense intelligence agencies when she has so clearly has been in Putin's pocket? That just has to be a hard no," Warren said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" in November. However, Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri defended Gabbard in November on NBC's "Meet The Press," taking aim at accusations that Gabbard was a "Russian asset." "It's a slur, quite frankly. You know, there's no evidence that she is an asset of another country. She served this country honorably," Schmitt said. Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who entered the Senate as the first female combat veteran while Gabbard was doing the same in the House, has opposed her pick for DNI, alleging she's been compromised. "The U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America's foes. And so my worry is that she couldn't pass a background check," Duckworth said on CNN's "State of the Union" in November. Mullin struck back at Duckworth's comments, saying "That's the most dangerous thing she could say -- is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States is compromised and is an asset of Russia." "If she was compromised, if she wasn't able to pass a background check, if she wasn't able to do her job, she still wouldn't be in the Army," he said. Now, with the rebel takeover of Syria and the fall of Assad, Gabbard is drawing renewed attention to her controversial visit to Syria in 2017 -- what she called a fact-finding mission -- and sympathy she expressed after meeting with the Syrian dictator, saying the U.S. should stop aiding the "terrorists" trying to overthrow him. Gabbard noted in 2019 that a CIA program "was directly and indirectly helping to equip and train and provide support to different armed groups, including those who are allied with and affiliated with al-Qaeda, to overthrow the Syrian government." The "Stop Arming Terrorist Act" she worked on with Paul in the Senate said the U.S. should stop aiding the "terrorists" trying to overthrow Assad. Assad has been accused of war crimes against his own people during the Syrian civil war, in which hundreds of thousands have been killed. A few months after meeting with Assad, Gabbard said she was skeptical he had used chemical weapons against his own people, despite evidence from the U.S. government that he had, to argue against military intervention during Trump's first administration. Gabbard warned in June of 2019 that she was concerned that the toppling of Assad's regime could lead to terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda to step in to fill the void and "completely massacre all religious minorities there in Syria." In a 2019 interview on ABC's "The View" while running for president, she called Assad a "brutal dictator," but said the U.S. regime-change strategy had not improved the lives of the Syrian people.None
Drivers urged to store three items in car before SaturdayWhy Beyond Meat Lost 18% in NovemberPolice are appealing for the public's help as they search for a woman who was last seen in Stream Hill near Kembla Grange. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading Thersea Purdy was last seen on Sheaffes Road about 7.30am on Sunday, December 8. When no one could find or contact the 73-year-old, officers with Lake Illawarra Police District were notified and they began an investigation into her whereabouts. Theresa's family and police are concerned for her welfare because she has a medical condition for which she needs medication. Theresa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160 centimetres tall, of thin build, with blonde hair and grey eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey top and grey pants. Anyone with information on Theresa's location should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Lake Illawarra Police District on 4232 5599. More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
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