Police say searchers in Pennsylvania don’t expect to find woman in sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania is moving into a recovery effort after two days of searching produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The jury asked for a second look at videos captured by the body cameras of officers who responded to the subway car where Penny grabbed hold of Jordan Neely in May 2023. Neely's agitated behavior and remarks were frightening passengers. Jurors also asked to revisit Penny's interview with detectives and a bystander's video of much of the roughly six-minute restraint. And the jury also requested to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. Penny's lawyers say his actions were justified. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.Ian Garry's stock rises in defeat after pushing UFC star all the way in Las VegasThe NFL's security division is warning players to be aware of professional burglars targeting the homes of pro athletes. The Athletic reported Thursday that the NFL sent a memo to teams that outlines the threat. "The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," read the memo, which was obtained by The Athletic. "Law enforcement officials have noted these groups appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes' homes on game days." NBC News reported Wednesday that law enforcement is working to figure out whether an international crime syndicate is involved. The Athletic reported that the memo includes tips for home security and also gives recommendations about the use of social media, such as not posting photos of items that would attract thieves. Players also learned via the memo how homes are targeted and how burglars enter. Mahomes hasn't said much about the burglary, other than to call it "disappointing" and "frustrating." "I can't get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing," he said. "But obviously something that you don't want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself." It's not clear what was stolen from Mahomes' home in Belton, Mo., during the Oct. 6 incident. But Kelce apparently lost $20,000 in cash in the burglary at his home in Leawood, Kan., the following day when the Chiefs played the New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football," according to a police report. The burglary at the home of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis in River Hills, Wis., occurred Nov. 2 during the Bucks' home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said the perpetrators "took most of my prized possessions" and is offering a reward for the return of his property. "Any info that leads to the return of any of my belongings will be rewarded handsomely," Portis said. "Let me know, thank you." --Field Level Media
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was granted a reprieve complete with a second swing at hiring a head coach in Chicago. Poles will interview candidates and select a replacement for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday after the Bears' sixth consecutive loss and fourth of the season decided on a final play. "Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears," president and CEO Kevin Warren said Monday. "Ryan will serve as the point person of our upcoming search for a head football coach. We will closely, we will work together on a daily basis to make sure we have the right person as our head football coach." Warren said the McCaskey family provided "all the resources" to build a championship environment. He confirmed that Thomas Brown, who a month ago was passing game coordinator before replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and shift from the press box to the sideline starting this week. Warren did not say whether Brown would automatically receive an interview for the full-time coaching position, which he said "will be the most coveted head coaching job in the National Football League." Poles said consideration will be given to candidates with the plan to develop rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but there are no set plans to involve the quarterback in the interview process. He said the Bears showed great progress through two seasons but couldn't sustain growth. "At the end of the day, we just came up short too many times," Poles said of firing Eberflus, his pick to be the Bears' head coach in January 2022. Brown promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to interim offensive coordinator on Monday and announced that defensive coordinator Eric Washington will be the defensive play caller, a role Eberflus previously held. Trailing 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears were within field-goal range when quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked. With 32 seconds remaining, Eberflus elected not to use his final timeout as Williams heaved an incompletion down the right sideline as time expired. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, detailing to finish in some of those moments. We all know a lot of games come down to those critical moments where we weren't able to get over the hump," Poles said. Eberflus said after the game that everything was handled properly and held a press conference via Zoom on Friday voicing confidence he'd have the team ready to play the 49ers this week. But three hours later, he was fired. Warren admitted the franchise could've handled the timing better, but clarified there was no decision on Eberflus' status at the time of his media session. "The decision was made to terminate the employment of head coach Matt Eberflus," Warren said 72 hours later. "We try to do everything in a professional manner. That decision was made on Friday." "Coach Eberflus had his press conference, we had not made a final decision. I think you know me, you know Ryan you know George McCaskey. One thing we stand for is family, integrity, doing it the right way. In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely." Eberflus, 54, went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. The Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco (5-7) in Week 1. --Field Level MediaB. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. ( NYSE:KOF – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 15,228 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,351,000. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in KOF. D Orazio & Associates Inc. grew its stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA by 5.4% in the second quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 2,680 shares of the company’s stock valued at $230,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the period. Hartford Financial Management Inc. grew its position in Coca-Cola FEMSA by 42.2% in the 3rd quarter. Hartford Financial Management Inc. now owns 472 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Chase Investment Counsel Corp increased its stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp now owns 4,595 shares of the company’s stock valued at $415,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Coca-Cola FEMSA by 56.2% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 545 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Americana Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA by 5.4% in the third quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 4,150 shares of the company’s stock valued at $368,000 after buying an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Coca-Cola FEMSA Price Performance Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA stock opened at $79.03 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $85.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $87.61. Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 12 month low of $77.02 and a 12 month high of $104.38. Coca-Cola FEMSA Cuts Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded Coca-Cola FEMSA from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Citigroup upgraded Coca-Cola FEMSA from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $93.00 to $102.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Coca-Cola FEMSA from $110.00 to $108.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Coca-Cola FEMSA presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $103.91. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Coca-Cola FEMSA About Coca-Cola FEMSA ( Free Report ) Coca-Cola FEMSA, SAB. de C.V., a franchise bottler, produces, markets, sells, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The company offers sparkling beverages, including colas and flavored sparkling beverages; waters; other non-carbonated beverages comprising juice drinks, coffee, teas, milk, value-added dairy products, sports and energy drinks, and plant-based drinks; and alcoholic beverages, such as hard seltzer under the Topo Chico brand name. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KOF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. ( NYSE:KOF – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola FEMSA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola FEMSA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL) Holdings Reduced by Pathstone Holdings LLC
NITDA partners education ministry to revolutionise sector
Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join GuardiansC hilly weather and early nights make the winter months ideal for cuddling up with your favorite games. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or an after-dinner activity. They often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. Here are some games that can provide a whimsical escape for you or a crowd. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead, where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork also will transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the season. Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Puzzle and organization games If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. Farming, building and simulation games Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. Palia, a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar. For a single-player escape, try the recently released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. Relaxing card games A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. Some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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China's military supercomputer tops global AI efficiency testHopeful of continuity It is hoped that appointment of 1991-batch IAS officer Rachna Shah as secretary will end musical chairs at the Department of Personnel & Training. Incidentally, Shah is the third full-fledged DoPT secretary in the year. While Radha Chauhan retired on June 30, Vivek Joshi replaced her only in August. Joshi's stint lasted till October 31 as he was sent to Haryana as chief secretary. Department of Investment and Public Asset Management secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey held DoPT's additional charge until Shah's appointment. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Back in Familiar Terrain 1992-batch IAS officer Vineet Joshi , who was appointed as Manipur chief secretary in May 2023 after ethnic unrest there, is back at the Centre in his familiar terrain at the education ministry as higher education secretary — more so when PMO is holding regular reviews on exam reforms. In his previous stint, he was additional secretary, CBSE chairperson as well as National Testing Agency. Joshi’s return comes in the wake of the appointment of former home secretary Ajay Bhalla as governor of the troubled state. Invitation Spree UP CM Yogi Adityanath is sending ministers to different states to invite chief ministers for the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Recently, ministers Yogendra Upadhyaya and Suresh Rahi met Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and invited him for Mahakumbh. Earlier, ministers Rakesh Sachan and Dayashankar Singh traveled to Patna to invite CM Nitish Kumar and senior RJD leader Lalu Prasad. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
AH Real Deal: Lenovo's Legion Go 1TB is down to $550
British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are set to receive the Nobel Prize for physics on Tuesday in Stockholm. The pair landed the accolade because they used physics to develop artificial neural networks, which help computers learn without having to program them. These networks form the foundation of machine learning, a computer science that relies on data and algorithms to help artificial intelligence mimic the human brain. Hinton and Hopfield's path to the Nobel began when Hopfield, who is now a professor emeritus at Princeton University, invented a network in 1982 that could store and reconstruct images in data. The Hopfield network uses associate memory, which humans use to remember what something looks like when it's not in front of them or to conjure up a word they know but seldom use. The network can mirror this process because it stores patterns and has a method for recreating them. When the network is given an incomplete or slightly distorted pattern, the method then searches for the stored pattern that is most similar to recreate data. This means if a computer was shown, for example, a photo of dog where only part of the animal was visible, it could use the network to piece together the missing part of the image and recognize it was depicting a dog. Hinton, who was working at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1985, used the Hopfield network as the foundation for a new network he called the Boltzmann machine. Its name came from the nineteenth-century physicist Ludwig Boltzmann. The Boltzmann machine learns from examples, rather than instructions, and when trained, can recognize familiar characteristics in information, even if it has not seen that data before. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which gives out the Nobel, likens this to how humans may be able to identify someone as a relative of one of their friends, even if they've never met this person before, because of they share similar traits. The Boltzmann machine works in a similar way, classifying images or creating new examples based on the patterns it was trained on. This kind of technology can help suggest films or television shows based on a user's preferences and past viewing history The Hopfield network and Boltzmann machine are considered to have laid the groundwork for modern AI. Hinton, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, went on to win the A.M. Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of computing, with fellow Canadian Yoshua Bengio and American Yan LeCun in 2018. He is often called the godfather of AI. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) By Henry Campbell and John Coyne Youth radicalization and its connection to Political violence and terrorism is an urgent concern. Despite consistent warnings from intelligence and law enforcement, public discussion around this issue often falls short. We need to understand why it persists and how to disrupt it before it escalates. Youth radicalization and its connection to political violence and terrorism is an urgent concern. Despite consistent warnings from intelligence and law enforcement agencies in Australia and globally, public discussion around this issue often falls short. We need to understand why it persists and how to disrupt it before it escalates. Australian Security Intelligence Organization said on 6 December that about 20 percent of its priority counterterrorism cases involved minors. Since 2017, ASIO and the AFP has investigated 35 young Australians for violent extremism, some as young as 12. Young adults are also a risk factor, as illustrated this month by the apparently ideologically motivated killing of a healthcare CEO in the US. To address their radicalization, policymakers must grapple with agency: radicalized people are not just vulnerable and manipulated; political violence can be their response to both real and perceived grievances. A Five Eyes report issued this month highlights disturbing case studies of youth involvement in violent extremism across Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. These case studies offer valuable insights but focus on social media. While digital environments are important, we risk overshadowing the deeper psychological, societal and cultural factors that underlie youth radicalization. We must determine what differentiates those merely exposed to extremist content and those who are radicalized by it. Online interactions may exacerbate radicalization but are not the sole factor. Multi-faceted vulnerabilities are part of the answer. For example, individuals who feel alienated, unsupported or marginalized may find a sense of belonging or purpose in extremist ideologies. Understanding complex factors, and their role in the cycle of radicalization, is necessary to disrupt the cycle. We must focus on understanding why certain individuals, particularly young people, are drawn to extremist ideologies in the first place. This includes understanding the uncomfortable issue of youth agency in radicalization. Agency is absent from the Five Eyes report and much of public discussion. We cannot view radicalized young people only as vulnerable victims. We must consider their conscious participation as an attempt to resolve real or perceived grievances. While agency is tricky to assess in the case of radicalized minors, it is particularly relevant in assessing cases of adult young persons, aged 18 to 25. This demographic is more likely to be politically aware and may be motivated to violent extremism due to a radical ideology or political grievance. The post We must understand why youth are radicalized: It's not just manipulation appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN26122024000232011072ID1109033656 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Oncocyte dd-cfDNA Assay Detects Kidney Transplant Rejection 11+ Months Ahead of Standard Protocols, New Study AffirmsChelsea defender Marc Cucurella changed his cleats just 12 minutes into the game after his slips contributed to both of Tottenham's early goals in the teams' London derby in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spain international ceded possession by slipping on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fifth and 11th minutes — and from the ensuing attacks, Spurs scored through Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. Immediately after Kulusevski's shot hit the net to make it 2-0, Cucurella sprinted to the sideline while shrugging his shoulders and pointed to his cleats. He took them off and threw them away in disgust before putting on new ones. It seemed to work. Within six minutes, he provided the pass that led to Jadon Sancho scoring for Chelsea to make it 2-1. Chelsea went on to win 4-3 — and Cucurella posted a photo on social media after the match, showing the first cleats he wore nestled in a bin. “It almost slipped away,” Cucurella wrote on Instagram Stories, “but proud of the amazing team effort to turn things around.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerIslamist rebels in Syria have stormed the presidential palace of Bashar al-Assad in chaotic scenes, posing at his desk and uncovering a massive fleet of high-end cars, including Mercedes, Porches, Audis and Ferraris. Videos shared on social media show gleeful looters touring a large garage in the sprawling New Shaab Palace, chock full of high-end roadsters from the deposed dictator’s private stash. One eagle-eye commenter pointed to a coveted Mercedes-Benz with gullwing doors, The NY Post reports. SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, and what appears to be an armored truck also awaited the rebels, who traipsed through the sprawling mansion taking selfies, firing guns into the air and making off with anything that wasn’t bolted down, videos shared on X show. Another clip showed men hauling away furniture and artwork while women in full hijab picked through the dishes and bed linens. One video shows what appears to be an armoury stocked with scores of submachine guns. The palace is a fortress made of stone and marble perched on a hill on the outskirts of Damascus; the Guardian once described it as an “echoing monument to dictator decor.” Rebel soldiers found it abandoned after declaring that they had taken Damascus in a lightning offensive on Sunday. The coup sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing, ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria, in which the dictator and his family lived like emperors while the people languished. Al-Assad and family arrive in Moscow: Report Assad absconded by plane and has since arrived in Moscow where he and his family have been granted political asylum, Russian state media agencies report, citing sources in the Kremlin. The RIA Novosti news agency reports that the Kremlin is in contact with the leaders of the armed Syrian opposition, “who have guaranteed security to the Russian military bases and diplomatic establishments in Syria”. The agency quotes an unnamed source in the Kremlin as saying Russia has “always called for a search for a political solution in the Syrian crisis”. “We hope the Syrian dialogue will continue in the interests of the Syrian people and the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Syria,” the source said. In a message broadcast on state television, the rebels earlier announced that they had toppled “tyrant” Assad and freed unjustly detained prisoners. A group of people were shown at the state television news studio, with one reading a statement from the “Damascus Conquest operations room” announcing “the liberation of the city of Damascus and the fall of the tyrant Bashar al-Assad and the release of all the unjustly detained from the regime prisons”. They also called on fighters and citizens to safeguard the “property of the free Syrian state”. Residents in the Syrian capital were seen cheering in the streets of Damascus after the rebel group’s announcement. China’s urgent message after tyrant flees In the wake of the rebel takeover, China has issued an urgent message to Syria. China’s foreign ministry said that Beijing “is closely following the development of the situation in Syria and hopes that Syria returns to stability as soon as possible”, the foreign ministry said in a statement. “The Chinese government has actively assisted Chinese citizens who are willing to leave Syria in a safe and orderly way, and has maintained contact with ... Chinese citizens who remain in Syria,” the ministry said. “We urge the relevant Syrian parties to take practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria,” it added. “At present, the Chinese embassy in Syria is still holding strong, and we will continue to provide full assistance to Chinese citizens in need.” While Russia and Iran have been Syria’s closest backers in recent years, China’s ties to the country have grown. China is one of only a handful of countries outside the Middle East that Assad has visited since Syria’s civil war began in 2011. On that 2023 trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Assad announced a “strategic partnership” between their countries. But with the rebel offensive sweeping through the country, the Chinese embassy in Damascus sent an urgent notice on Thursday advising its citizens to leave Syria “as soon as possible”. Trump confirms Assad has ‘fled’ US president-elect Donald Trump confirmed Assad had “fled his country”, saying he left after losing the backing of Russia. “Assad is gone,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer.” The ‘start of a new era’ for Syria The president’s reported departure comes less than two weeks since the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched its campaign challenging more than five decades of rule by the Assad family. “After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement ... we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria,” the rebel factions said on Telegram. Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said he was ready to co-operate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people”. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP “Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left” the facility. While reports remain unconfirmed, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP fighters from the key Assad ally had left their positions around Damascus. HTS said their fighters broke into a jail on the outskirts of the capital, announcing an “end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya” which has become a byword for the darkest abuses of the Syrian regime. The rapid developments in Damascus come only hours after HTS said they had captured the strategic city of Homs on the way to the capital. The defence ministry denied that rebels had entered Homs, describing the situation as “safe and stable”. Homs lies about 140 kilometres north of the capital and was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on November 27, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant. Iranian diplomats left Damascus embassy before ‘assault’ Iran’s embassy in Syria was “attacked” on Sunday, Iranian state TV said. “Unknown individuals have attacked the Iranian embassy, as you can see in these images, shared by various networks,” a state TV broadcaster said, showing footage said to be from inside the diplomatic compound. Iranian diplomats had left their embassy before it came under attack, Iranian media said. “Iranian diplomats at the embassy in Damascus evacuated the premises prior to an assault,” the Tehran Times daily reported, citing foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. It added that embassy staff were safe Biden is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation in Syria US President Joe Biden is keeping a close eye on “extraordinary events” transpiring in Syria, the White House said. “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement on social media. UN envoy voices ‘cautious hope’ for Syria The UN special envoy to Syria said the country was at “a watershed moment”. Describing nearly 14 years of civil war in Syria as a “dark chapter (that) has left deep scars”, Geir Pedersen said in a statement that “today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one-one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians”. Syrian rebels not to approach official institutions in Damascus The leader of Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has ordered forces not to approach official institutions in Damascus, saying they would remain under the prime minister until they are “officially” handed over. “To all military forces in the city of Damascus, it is strictly forbidden to approach public institutions, which will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are officially handed over,” Jolani said in a statement on Telegram, using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa instead of his nom de guerre. “It is forbidden to shoot into the air,” he added. Rebels topple statue Meanwhile, Damascus residents are bracing for chaos as rebels circle. In footage circulating on social media, rebels appear to have reached the outer suburbs of Damascus, where they’ve since toppled an iconic statue. The footage shows a statue of Assad’s father, Hafez, toppling to the ground in Damascus’ eastern suburb of Jaramana. Protesters can be seen ripping the head off the giant statue, which sat less than 10km from the centre of the city. The rebels then shifted focus to attacking posters of Assad and demanding security forces leave the area, The Sun reports. It is understood the Assad regime’s defensive line in the northwest of the country has collapsed surprisingly fast. On Sunday morning local time, CNN reported dramatic scenes within Damascus airport with dozens of people desperately trying to pass through security checkpoints and onwards to departure gates in a bid to flee the country. The publication reported that parts of the airport appeared to be unstaffed. Rebels take hold Last week, rebels seized the second-city of Aleppo in the northeast as well as Idlib and Hama. The group claim, as reported by the BBC , that Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani has “fully liberated” Syria’s central city of Homs. According to the report, Syria’s Islamist rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani called the takeover a “historic moment”. It is understood he called on his fighters not to harm “those who drop their arms”. In a video post on Telegram, al-Jolani says: “We are living in the final moments of the liberation of the city of Homs ... this historic event that will distinguish between truth and falsehood”. While there are many of them, Syria’s main rebel group says it will now focus on Damascus, after capturing four cities in a day to the south and north of the capital. “We were able to liberate four Syrian cities within 24 hours: Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs, and our operations are continuing to liberate the entire Damascus countryside, and our eyes are on the capital, Damascus,” Ghani said early Sunday morning local time, as reported by CNN. If that proves true, and Damascus is the next to fall, officials say it would be a tremendously fast fall from power for the Syrian dictator after a civil war that began in 2011. – With AFPBOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Florida Atlantic is finalizing the hiring of Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley as its new head coach, a person with knowledge of the decision said Monday. Kittley and the school were working through the remaining details Monday, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school has yet to announce that the hiring is complete. The Owls are replacing Tom Herman, who was fired two weeks ago with two games left in his second year at the school. Kittley had stints as offensive coordinator at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky before returning to Texas Tech — his alma mater — in 2022 in the same role. The Red Raiders have averaged 435 yards per game over the last three seasons under Kittley, 22nd best among all FBS teams. This season saw the Red Raiders rank among the nation's best offenses: They were eighth in yards per play, eighth in points per game, 10th in yards per game and did all that at a pace nearly unmatched nationally. Texas Tech averaged 78.25 plays per game this season, just behind Syracuse's 78.33 for the national lead. As a student assistant, then graduate assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach at Texas Tech, Kittley helped coach Patrick Mahomes — the Kansas City Chiefs star, NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion — during his collegiate career. The Owls went 3-9 this season, their fourth consecutive losing record. Lane Kiffin went 27-13 with two bowl wins in his three seasons at FAU; the Owls are 22-35 in five seasons since Kiffin left for Ole Miss after the 2019 campaign. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football