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jili golden bank Scottsdale police have released surveillance video of a brawl involving former NHL player Paul Bissonnette and six men at a Houston’s restaurant on Nov. 24, which resulted in him being hospitalized. In the footage, posted to social media by 12News, Bissonnette is shirtless and chased through a parking lot while several men pursue him — eventually ganging up to punch and kick him multiple times on the ground before he’s able to escape. “This is the worst of it I took after I knock out that inbred William Carroll f–k before we pass the dumpster,” the Barstool Sports podcaster wrote on X . “It was never going to be a fair fight. Let the games begin. Ate some boot f–ks to the head & jaw but wouldn’t change a thing. F–k the Scottsdale Six. This ain’t over.” The Scottsdale Police Department arrested the six men — Henry Mesker, John Carroll, William Carroll, Danny Bradley, Edward Jennings and Sean Daley — and released their mugshots on Nov. 26. Some of the men were seen with bruises on their face in the mugshot photos. All six men were hit with assault charges, and some received an additional charge of disorderly conduct, according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports. Daley, 29, was charged with a felony count of possession of a forged instrument after police said he admitted he had a fraudulent military ID on his person at the time of his arrest. Daley is due back in court for another hearing sometime this month. A day after the incident, Bissonnette, 39, posted a video on social media alleging he was attacked by a bunch of “drunk golfers” while at Houston’s, and the brawl spilled into a CVS parking lot nearby. The “NHL on TNT” analyst explained he “felt the need to step in” when he saw the men getting physical with the restaurant staff at that Houston’s location, which he visits three or four times a week. “I ate three kicks, one in the neck and two in the head,” he said on Barstool Sports’ “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, in the aftermath, adding that his shirt was ripped off and he lost his shoes. The six men were involved in another altercation at the nearby Raven Golf Club just hours earlier, according to a separate video shared on social media by Shea Stevens. Bissonnette previously said the altercation was captured on camera and that he was waiting for the footage to come out. The ex- NHLer vowed to seek vengeance on the six men. “It was a bunch of drunk golfers, things obviously continued to escalate,” he said in a video on X last month. “They asked one guy to leave. And then one guy kept getting in the manager’s face and put his hands on him. “... I went over I just grabbed the guy’s arm that was on him and I said, ‘Sir if you continue to harass and assault this staff, we’re going to have problems,’ and then they just started chucking.”LOS ANGELES — Kiki Iriafen had 24 points and 12 rebounds, JuJu Watkins added 21 points and No. 5 Southern California defeated Fresno State 89-40 on Tuesday night for the Trojans’ fifth win in a row. Iriafen and Watkins combined for 18 of USC’s 22 free throws. Rayah Marshall had 13 rebounds in helping the Trojans (9-1) control the boards, 48-20. Mia Jacobs and Holly Griffiths had 11 points each for the Bulldogs (7-4), who scored the third-fewest points by a USC opponent this season. Takeaways Fresno St.: The Bulldogs' only lead was four points early in the game. They were held to just eight points in the second quarter when they were held scoreless over the final 4:51, and six in the third in losing to their second ranked opponent. No. 1 UCLA routed them 97-41 last month in Hawaii. USC: The Trojans have been cruising past opponents since their lone loss, 74-61 to then-No. 6 Notre Dame on Nov. 23. They won their Big Ten debut by 13 points at Oregon. Key moment USC used a 16-0 run, including six by Watkins, over the end of the first and start of the second quarter to lead by 18 points. The Trojans ran off 22 points in a row over the end of the second and start of the third quarter to lead by 36 points. Iriafen had 11 points as five players scored in the spurt. Key stat The Bulldogs didn't get to the free throw line for the first time until there was 7:24 remaining in the game. They were outscored 23-0 in fastbreak points. Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots a free throw during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Fresno State Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Jessie Alcheh Up next Fresno State hosts Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. USC hosts Elon on Sunday .Social meetups in Fuengirola: New in Fuengirola?

Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rival

'Worst day of my life': baby recovers in Newcastle hospital after funnel-web biteA Norwegian student in his 20s has been arrested on allegations of espionage for Russia and Iran while working as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo . The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was detained at his home on Wednesday. He has been ordered to remain in custody for four weeks, according to Norway's domestic intelligence agency, PST . PST spokesman Thomas Blom said during a Thursday news conference that it is too early to talk about the details of the man's activity. Court records cited by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK indicate that the man admitted to collecting and sharing information with Russian and Iranian authorities. However, his attorney, John Christian Elden, said his client admitted that he worked on behalf of a foreign country but denies the charge of espionage . "He is charged with having obtained information that could harm the security situation of third countries," Elden told NRK. What We Know So Far The suspect reportedly co-owns a security company with a dual citizen of Norway and an unspecified Eastern European country. Police said they will review the company's operating license. Officials revealed that the man is pursuing a bachelor's degree in security and preparedness at Norway's Arctic University, the University of Tromsø . The university has been linked to another espionage case in recent years. In 2022, a University of Tromsø guest researcher––initially claiming to be a Brazilian citizen named José Assis Giammaria––was arrested on spying charges. He was later identified as Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, a Russian national. Norway's Shared Border with Russia Norway has become increasingly wary of potential espionage threats since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The country shares a 123-mile border with Russia in the Arctic and has introduced stricter entry regulations for Russian nationals. In September, Norwegian authorities announced they were considering constructing a fence along the border to enhance security. The proposal includes integrating advanced surveillance technologies , such as sensors, to ensure more effective border control . A 2017 poll indicated that 58 percent of Norwegians viewed Russia as a security threat . "We do not comment on allegations related to intelligence or personnel matters, but as always appreciate our close coordination and cooperation with the Norwegian police on a range of critical issues," the U.S. Embassy in Oslo told Newsweek . Recent Death of Alleged Russian 'Spy Whale' In September, Hvaldimir, a beluga whale suspected of being used to spy for Russian was found dead off Norway's southwestern coast. Animal rights groups, including OneWhale and NOAH, alleged that Hvaldimir died from gunshot wounds and called for a police investigation. "We want justice for Hvaldimir, for his killing and whoever killed him," OneWhale founder Regina Haug said. A necropsy revealed no evidence of gunshot injuries, suggesting the whale's death was from natural causes. When first spotted near Norway in 2019, Hvaldimir was wearing a harness that could hold a camera or other equipment. Onlookers alleged that the harness had markings suggesting it was Russian-made, fueling speculation about spying. The whale was also remarkably comfortable around humans, suggesting it had been trained in captivity. That level of human interaction raised suspicions that it might have been part of a military program , especially as it was discovered near Norway's coast, a location with strategic military importance. Russia has a history of training marine mammals , including belugas, dolphins and seals, for military purposes, such as detecting underwater mines, guarding naval bases or carrying equipment. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

PM Modi, Kharge Extend Warm Wishes On Christmas, Highlight Peace, UnityWhen the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines:With Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block. More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. That’s because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls. The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. The 2010 Affordable Care Act encouraged states to expand Medicaid programs to cover more low-income Americans who didn’t get health insurance through their jobs. Forty states and the District of Columbia agreed, extending health insurance since 2014 to an estimated 21 million people and helping drive the U.S. uninsured rate to record lows. In exchange, the federal government pays 90 percent of the cost to cover the expanded population. That’s far higher than the federal match for other Medicaid beneficiaries, which averages about 57 percent nationwide. Conservative policy groups, which generally have opposed the ACA, say the program costs too much and covers too many people. Democrats say the Medicaid expansion has saved lives and helped communities by widening coverage to people who could not afford private insurance. If Congress cuts federal funding, Medicaid expansion would be at risk in all states that have opted into it — even those without trigger laws — because state legislatures would be forced to make up the difference, said Renuka Tipirneni, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Decisions to keep or roll back the expansion “would depend on the politics at the state level,” Tipirneni said. For instance, Michigan approved a trigger as part of its Medicaid expansion in 2013, when it was controlled by a Republican governor and legislature. Last year, with the government controlled by Democrats, the state eliminated its funding trigger. Six of the nine states with trigger laws — Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah — went for Trump in the 2024 election. Most of the nine states’ triggers kick in if federal funding falls below the 90-percent threshold. Arizona’s trigger would eliminate its expansion if funding falls below 80 percent. Montana’s law rolls back expansion below 90-percent funding but allows it to continue if lawmakers identify additional funding. Under state law, Montana lawmakers must reauthorize its Medicaid expansion in 2025 or the expansion will end. Across the states with triggers, between 3.1 million and 3.7 million people would swiftly lose their coverage, researchers at KFF and the Georgetown center estimate. The difference depends on how states treat people who were added to Medicaid before the ACA expansion; they may continue to qualify even if the expansion ends. Three other states — Iowa, Idaho, and New Mexico— have laws that require their governments to mitigate the financial impact of losing federal Medicaid expansion funding but would not automatically end expansions. With those three states included, about 4.3 million Medicaid expansion enrollees would be at risk of losing coverage, according to KFF. The ACA allowed Medicaid expansions to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $20,783 for an individual in 2024. Nearly a quarter of the 81 million people enrolled in Medicaid nationally are in the program due to expansions. “With a reduction in the expansion match rate, it is likely that all states would need to evaluate whether to continue expansion coverage because it would require a significant increase in state spending,” said Robin Rudowitz, vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF. “If states drop coverage, it is likely that there would be an increase in the number of uninsured, and that would limit access to care across red and blue states that have adopted expansion.” States rarely cut eligibility for social programs such as Medicaid once it’s been granted. The triggers make it politically easier for state lawmakers to end Medicaid expansion because they would not have to take any new action to cut coverage, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. To see the impact of trigger laws, consider what happened after the Supreme Court in 2022 struck down Roe v. Wade and, with it, the constitutional right to an abortion. Conservative lawmakers in 13 states had crafted trigger laws that would automatically implement bans in the event a national right to abortion were struck down. Those state laws resulted in restrictions taking effect immediately after the court ruling, or shortly thereafter. States adopted triggers as part of Medicaid expansion to win over lawmakers skeptical of putting state dollars on the hook for a federal program unpopular with most Republicans. It’s unclear what Trump and congressional Republicans will do with Medicaid after he takes office in January, but one indicator could be a recent recommendation from the Paragon Health Institute, a leading conservative policy organization led by former Trump health adviser Brian Blase. Paragon has proposed that starting in 2026 the federal government would phase down the 90 percent federal match for expansion until 2034, when it would reach parity with each state’s federal match for its traditional enrollees. Under that plan, states could still get ACA Medicaid expansion funding but restrict coverage to enrollees with incomes up to the federal poverty level. Currently, to receive expansion funding, states must offer coverage to everyone up to 138 percent of the poverty level. Daniel Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, said it’s unlikely Arizona would move to eliminate its trigger and make up for lost federal funds. “It would be a tough sell right now as it would put a big strain on the budget,” he said. Medicaid has been in the crosshairs of Republicans in Washington before. Republican congressional leaders in 2017 proposed legislation to cut federal expansion funding, a move that would have shifted billions in costs to states. That plan, part of a strategy to repeal Obamacare, ultimately failed.The Chinese communist regime has replaced its political commissar for its ground forces amid a purge in the country’s defense sector that has raised questions about the military’s modernization efforts. Gen. Chen Hui has been appointed as the political commissar of the Army of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to a statement released by China’s defense ministry on Dec. 23. In the hierarchical structure of the PLA, an army force controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the political commissar is responsible for ensuring political loyalty among service members and overseeing personnel issue. Chen succeeds Gen. Qin Shutong, who had held this position since at least January 2022. As of the time of publication, no official explanation has been provided regarding Qin’s removal, leaving his current role and whereabouts shrouded in mystery. Qin, 61, was absent from the Dec. 23 ceremony where Chen was promoted to the rank of general, according to footage aired by China Central Television (CCTV). Defying customary practice, also missing from the event was the commander of the PLA’s ground forces, Gen. Li Qiaoming, fueling speculation among outside observers amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign. For example, as the authorities look into corruption in a particular sector in the defense industry, it “can have the effect of slowing them down as they try to conduct thorough investigations and try to understand the depth and the extent of corruption in a particular case,” the official said. Nonetheless, Beijing is unlikely to scale back its anti-graft campaign, the officials said, as Xi has made such a drive a “hallmark of his tenure.” Ely Ratner, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, has cautioned that the anti-corruption campaign could lead to “paralysis” within lower levels of the military who may fear attracting scrutiny.

Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg says he is battling cancer again and is prepared to fight the disease

Legendary St. John's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca has died at the age of 99, News 4 sports reporter Bruce Beck has confirmed Saturday. Carnesecca, a two-time National Coach of the Year and three-time Big East Coach of the Year, was enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. In addition to his tenure at St. John's, he also coached the New York Nets of the ABA. The legendary coach own more than 500 games in his 24 seasons at St. John's, taking the team to the Final Four in 1985. He also helped pave the way for the BIG EAST as it is now known. "A founding father of the BIG EAST Conference and an international ambassador for the game worldwide, Coach Carnesecca was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. In addition to his legendary coaching career, he has touched the lives of countless individuals and has made a positive impact on the St. John’s University community for the last eight decades," the school posted in September. Beck posted a tribute to Carnesecca on social media: "With tears in my eyes - I say goodbye to Lou Carnesecca. What a run - 99 years of living life to its fullest. What a coach. What a man. What a friend. I was so honored to host his TV show for 7 years on @msgnetworks & so blessed to have him in my life for 46 years. RIP Louie. I have lost a second father - the world has lost a Saint. 💙💜 @StJohnsBBall @StJohnsU @naismith_hall ."Call to exempt listed firms from tax on M&As

ASML Stockholders with Large Losses Should Contact Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP for Information About the ASML Holding N.V. Class ActionMohamed Salah extended Liverpool’s perfect Champions League record as they won 1-0 at Girona to claim a sixth victory out of six. Salah nervelessly converted a 63rd-minute penalty, his 16th goal of the season, after French referee Benoit Bastien had been advised to take another look at Donny van de Beek’s clumsy challenge on Luis Diaz. In the process, he became just the 11th man to score 50 goals in the competition – Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe later also joined that exclusive club – on a night when victory at the Estadi Montilivi meant the six-time European champions will enter 2025 sitting proudly at the top of the table. France international Michael Olise produced a moment of magic to set the seal on Bayern Munich’s demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk and ease them towards the knockout stage. Olise’s brilliant stoppage-time run and finish capped a 5-1 victory for the Germans, in which he had early scored from the penalty spot, in Gelsenkirchen. Kevin’s fifth-minute strike had given the home side the perfect start, but Konrad Laimer levelled before Thomas Muller’s 55th goal in the competition sent the visitors in ahead at the break and set the stage for Olise’s double either side of Jamal Musiala’s strike. Jude Bellingham breathed life back into Real Madrid’s campaign as they held off Atalanta to earn a 3-2 victory in Bergamo. After Charles De Ketelaere had cancelled out Mbappe’s opener from the penalty spot, second-half goals from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham in quick succession put the visitors in charge, although Ademola Lookman’s 65th-minute strike meant the contest was alive until the final whistle. Ross Barkley took Aston Villa a step closer to automatic qualification with a late winner against RB Leipzig in Germany. Villa had led twice through John McGinn and Jhon Duran, but equalisers from Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner kept Leipzig in it until substitute Barkley struck five minutes from time to snatch a 3-2 victory. Goals from Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and substitute Desire Doue – his first in the competition – handed French champions Paris St Germain a much-needed three points after a comfortable 3-0 win at RB Salzburg. Nordi Mukiele left it late to end Inter Milan’s unbeaten Champions League record as Bayer Leverkusen claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory at the BayArena. Mukiele struck in the 90th minute to inflict a first defeat across six games in this season’s competition on the Serie A champions – it was also the first goal they have conceded. Casper Nielsen came off the bench to fire Club Brugge to a 2-1 home victory over Sporting Lisbon after Eduardo Quaresma’s own goal had handed them a way back into the game following Geny Catamo’s early opener. Julien Le Cardinal’s first-half strike was enough to handed Brest a 1-0 victory over Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, while Kasper Schmeichel’s save from Marko Pjaca’s close-range 80th-minute header ensured Celtic returned from Dinamo Zagreb with a 0-0 draw.

From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know. Camden officials have called the abandoned U.S. Petroleum gas station in the 2300-block of Admiral Wilson Blvd. a target for graffiti, illegal dumping and other criminal activities. On Tuesday, Camden County Police highlighted one suspect who was arrested twice at the property on the same day, hours apart, for creating graffiti to the side of the building. It happened around 4 p.m. Friday. City-installed surveillance cameras caught Donald Park III, of Cherry Hill, spray painting the building. Christina Wilson, of Palmyra, was also on the scene recording him on her phone for social media, according to police. A post shared by P. Kenneth Burns (@pkbnews) Officers arrived at the gas station within minutes after being alerted by the department’s real-time crime center. They arrested Park and Wilson and charged them with defiant trespassing and other charges. After 8 p.m., police said Park was again seen at the gas station, back at work on his graffiti. He was arrested and charged again with criminal mischief and defiant trespassing. A surveillance camera operated by the Camden County Police Department catches someone in the act of spray painting graffiti on an abandoned gas station. A bystander is recording the artists’ work for social media. (P. Kenneth Burns/WHYY) According to Camden County Police Lt. Gordon Harvey, Park allegedly told the arresting officer he returned to “make sure he highlighted it properly.” Park was remanded to the Camden County Jail and his vehicle impounded. 7 indicted in connection with 2 human trafficking rings in Bridgeton and North Jersey In the Bridgeton case, a new group of victims were allegedly brought to a house on a weekly basis and instructed not to leave. 1 week ago Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen described feeling “two faced” about discussing incidents such as this. “I’m glad to be able to highlight this dumbass stuff,” he said, while also acknowledging that he didn’t like to talk about people who vandalize properties in Camden. “It shouldn’t happen,” Carstarphen added. “We’re working hard to turn that area right there, into a nice area.” The mayor has made quality-of-life issues , such as graffiti on buildings and illegal dumping a top priority in his administration. Carstarphen said the camera that caught Park in the act was not just for big crimes, but for incidents such as the one that got Park into trouble with the law. “This is for illegal dumping. This is for defacing property,” he said. “Blighted properties that we’re trying to change to a brighter property in our community to continue the progress that’s happened in the city of Camden.” The penalty for tagging any building in Camden is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 or by imprisonment for up to 90 days, or by up to 90 days of community service. Carstarphen said if anyone wants to showcase their art skills, “ we have murals .” “You want to be a part of a mural and showcase your talents to help a community, step up in that way,” he said. “But not this.” Get daily updates from WHYY News! The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

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Actor Keanu Reeves has said he joined the cast of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 as he is “a big fan” of the series. Reeves, 60, plays Shadow in the latest film adaption of the Sega video game, which will see Sonic, Knuckles and Tails battle him to protect the planet. Speaking at the movie’s London premiere on Tuesday, the Canadian star said: “I’m a big fan, I mean, I really enjoyed the first two films. “I really liked the character of Shadow, so I was really excited to try to be a part of it.” The Matrix actor went on to speak about the differences between voice acting and appearing on screen. He added: “It’s fun to play pretend, I love acting, so it’s fun to try and inhabit another character. “There’s an intensity to doing voice work and specificity, it’s kind of more like doing, it’s its own thing, because it’s kind of like theatre, but no audience. “So it’s like doing radio, and it’s just fun.” Canadian-American actor Jim Carrey co-stars as villain Doctor Eggman, a role he told the PA news agency it was “great” to be playing again. Carrey told PA: “I do like to play a character filled with disdain here and there, the Grinch was that. “But there were other characters like The Truman Show, he’s somebody who loves the world and believes in the world, and believes in the people in his life, and believes in his neighbours, and he’s just a good-hearted soul that finds out there’s something more in the world than what he knows and something beyond his own neighbourhood. “So it’s a lovely story, but they’re all different characters, they all have different desires, and you have to do something special with each one.” He added: “I just let it rip when they say action, it’s just a perfect excuse to be an obstreperous bloviating bag of ill will. “And then of course they say cut, and all of that horrible politeness and needing to be loved seeps back in.” Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released in UK cinemas on Friday December 20.SEOUL, South Korea — Who is running South Korea? In the week since President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law, setting off widespread calls for his removal from office, that question has become a national puzzle. Yoon hasn’t appeared in public since Saturday, when he delivered a two-minute address apologizing for “inconveniencing” the South Korean people and promising not to declare martial law again. He also said he would leave the “stabilization of state affairs” to his conservative People Power Party, which has refused to go along with impeachment efforts, instead opting to pursue what its leader called an “orderly resignation.” Party chief Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo appeared side-by-side over the weekend to assure the country that Yoon — who is also facing multiple investigations on possible charges of insurrection — is no longer at the helm. Yoon “will not be participating in state governance even before his resignation, including diplomatic affairs,” the party leader said without offering a timeline for when the president would leave office. “The party and the prime minister will cooperate closely to make sure there are no setbacks in the lives of citizens and the governance of the country,” he continued. All of which has raised the question of who is in charge. Legal experts and politicians point out that there is no legal basis for either the party leader or the prime minister — neither of whom is a publicly elected official — to take over the president’s job. “These are two people who have absolutely no authority,” said Lee Kuk-woon, a constitutional law expert at Handong University. “Presenting themselves in this way with no other justification than the president asked them to is unequivocally a violation of the constitution.” Liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung put it even more bluntly: “This is a second coup that destroys the constitutional order.” Even some members of Yoon’s own party have said as much. In a social media post, Hong Joon-pyo, the conservative mayor of the southeastern city of Daegu, accused the party chief of “blackmailing” his way into “insolently playing president.” “The South Korean public never entrusted you to govern the country,” he wrote. “Given that we’ve come to the point of impeachment, you should also take responsibility as party leader and resign.” Following the backlash against what many have described as his “self-appointment,” Han clarified that he meant that the prime minister would take the lead but in “close discussion with the party.” One open question is who now controls the military. Han initially suggested to reporters that Yoon would no longer be the commander but then refused to specify who would be. The defense ministry has also said that control of the armed forces legally remains with Yoon. But when asked by The Times whether the ministry had received any official orders from the president since Saturday, a spokesperson said: “We cannot answer that.” On Sunday, Yoon accepted the resignation of interior minister Lee Sang-min, a sign that he is at least nominally performing some of his presidential duties. In the meantime, public pressure is mounting for Yoon’s removal from office. One survey conducted last week by polling company Realmeter found that 74 percent of South Koreans supported impeachment. Lawmakers voted on an impeachment motion Saturday, but it failed to get the 200 votes — or two-thirds of the National Assembly — needed to oust him. Yoon’s party holds 108 seats, meaning impeachment will require eight or more of them to break ranks. Opposition lawmakers have pledged to put the motion to a vote every Saturday until it passes. If they manage to get the votes, the matter goes to the constitutional court, which has 180 days to ratify or reject it. Separately, Yoon could also face arrest if investigators determine that his six-hour declaration of martial law last Tuesday constitutes insurrection — one of the only crimes not covered by presidential immunity. On Monday, a special agency called the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials barred Yoon from leaving the country, the first such move for a sitting president. South Korea’s constitution stipulates that the prime minister, then a descending order of Cabinet officials, can take over if the president vacates his position or is otherwise unable to carry out his duties. But whether an arrest qualifies as an incident that renders Yoon unable to carry out his duties has never been answered. “The country has never been in this situation before so this is something where opinion may be divided among experts,” said Lee, the law professor. That may not even be the most pressing legal question. When asked by The Times who will lead the military in the event that Yoon is arrested, a defense ministry spokesperson said: “This is not something the defense ministry can answer.”