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Slowing inflation suggests that Biden's policies are helping, but American voters are still hurting. Sat, January 13, 2024 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden can make an increasingly strong case that he's helped fix inflation — if only he can get voters to believe him. Figures issued this past week reflected a historic level of progress on battling high prices, hinting that inflation could be near the Federal Reserve's 2% target around the time of November's election. The consumer price index posted an an annual increase of 3.4%, but the prices charged by the producers of goods and services rose a meager 1% over the past year. Current and former aides say Biden is eager to do more to bring down inflation, after a price surge in 2021 and 2022 crushed his public approval ratings in a way that is dragging down his reelection efforts. They see reasons for optimism with improving consumer sentiment. “It’s an ongoing effort,” said White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. “Under his leadership, we’ve attacked inflation from every angle.” The question is whether voters are feeling the improvement and will reward Biden. Or will they penalize him because inflation became a problem on his watch as the U.S. emerged from pandemic shutdowns? The answer could hinge on how people feel about the costs of necessities such as gasoline and eggs. Biden can accurately say his policies helped reduce the average price of a dozen eggs to $2.51, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is down from a peak last year of $4.82. But Republicans can counter that a dozen eggs cost $1.47 before Biden became president. Leading GOP lawmakers such as Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, greeted the latest inflation numbers as evidence that voters are still suffering from high prices: “President Biden’s inflation crisis continues to rob the wallets of working families,” he said. Former President Donald Trump has told supporters that the inflation under Biden is how “countries die” and that Trump's return to the White House would mean lower energy costs.

NFL wild-card round playoff game picks, schedule, guide play. Jan 13, 2024, The NFL playoffs' wild-card round schedule for the 2024 season is stacked with great matchups, and we've got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup. Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Analytics writer Seth Walder picks out each matchup's biggest X factor, Matt Bowen identifies a key game-planning matchup to watch in every game, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about the officiating. Finally, Walder and Eric Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football. ADVERTISEMENT Let's get into the full wild-card slate, including Matthew Stafford's return to Detroit and three great rematches of regular-season matchups (Browns-Texans, Eagles-Bucs and Dolphins-Chiefs). Jump to a matchup: CLE-HOU | MIA-KC | PIT-BUF GB-DAL | LAR-DET | PHI-TB Byes: SF, BAL (5) Browns at (4) Texans Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: CLE -2 (44.5) What to watch for: The last time these two teams played, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper finished with a team-record 265 receiving yards in Cleveland's 36-22 win. The Texans didn't have their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud, who was in concussion protocol, and Case Keenum stepped in and threw two interceptions. The Texans have the utmost confidence that they can beat any team when they have Stroud, so expect this matchup to be much different now that he's healthy. -- DJ Bien-Aime Bold prediction: The Browns will win the turnover battle for only the third time this season. This is the first playoff matchup since the 1970 merger featuring a team that committed the league's most turnovers (Cleveland, 37) against the team that committed the fewest (Houston, 14). The Browns have been emphasizing ball security in their building ahead of this matchup, so that should play in Cleveland's favor. -- Jake Trotter EDITOR'S PICKS Game-plan keys for every NFL wild-card matchup: Mapping each team's path to victory 4hMatt Bowen Barnwell predicts the NFL playoff bracket: Score picks for all 13 games 4hBill Barnwell Our guide to the NFL playoffs: Reasons for hope -- and concern -- for all 14 teams 3dNFL Nation Stat to know: Stroud's weakness is solving man coverage. While he has the highest QBR in the league against zone coverage (74), he ranks 27th against man (39). His QBR decline of 35.1 is the largest from zone to man coverage this season. This weekend, Stroud will face a Browns defense that runs man coverage at the 10th-highest rate (47%) and has the best man defense in the league. Matchup X factor: Browns cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr. -- whenever they are lining up on Nico Collins. The Texans wideout had an incredible season, ranking second in yards per route run behind only Tyreek Hill. If the Browns' corners can shut him down on any given play, that seriously depletes Stroud's options. Emerson and Ward are good players, and this strength-on-strength matchup could decide the game. -- Walder Game-plan key: I'm looking for the Browns to scheme some deep shots for quarterback Joe Flacco. He had five completions on passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield when Cleveland met Houston in Week 16. Can the Texans contain the Browns' vertical passing game? Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Browns | Texans Officiating note: This game will feature two of the NFL's most penalized teams. The Browns were flagged 138 times, second most in the NFL, while the Texans were No. 5 with 132 flags. And Browns opponents were flagged 133 times, most in the league. However, referee Clay Martin's regular-season crew threw the fourth-fewest flags in the league at 12.4 per game. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Texans are 9-3 against the spread (ATS) in their past 12 meetings against the Browns. Moody's pick: Texans 24, Browns 21 Walder's pick: Texans 23, Browns 16 FPI prediction: CLE, 50.5% (by an average of 0.2 points) Matchup must-reads: Garrett won't be denied as Browns begin playoff journey ... How Slowik has helped Stroud excel as a rookie ... Ward injures knee in practice, status in question ... How Ryans helped turnaround the Texans (6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Peacock | Spread: KC -4.5 (43.5) What to watch for: The Chiefs defended wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins about as well as they could have during their Week 9 meeting, but doing it a second time will be a challenge. Kansas City played a season-high 61% zone coverage in deference to Miami's speed and quickness. The Chiefs held Hill to 62 yards and made him fumble, returning it for the decisive touchdown. A similar performance would give the Chiefs a great chance for victory, but can they repeat it? -- Adam Teicher Bold prediction: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will throw a pair of touchdowns without turning the ball over. The temperature at Arrowhead Stadium is projected to feel like it's well into the negatives by Saturday night. Tagovailoa has faced criticism for his performance in cold weather -- he has lost all four of his starts in sub-45-degree weather, completing just 55% of his passes. But he will snap out of it, along with his late-season funk. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques Stat to know: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six straight postseason games and enters this weekend looking to tie Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Drew Brees for the third-longest streak in postseason history. Matchup X factor: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. He hasn't been the same player, and at this point, it has become blindingly clear that wide receiver help isn't coming for the Chiefs. They need someone to be a dominant receiving threat, and Kelce is likely the only player on the roster who can become that if he can find his 2022 form again. -- Walder play 1:32 Stephen A.: 'I'm not giving Miami any hope' against Kansas CityStephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe agree that Miami could struggle on the road against Kansas City this week. Game-plan key: How will the Chiefs slow down Hill? Getting some two-deep coverage variations into the game plan will be key to containing Miami's explosive pass game. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Dolphins | Chiefs Officiating note: The Chiefs were flagged more often for offensive holding (33) than any other team, a big reason why they ranked No. 6 overall in penalties (126). This aspect of the game would be under more scrutiny had the Dolphins not suffered a series of injuries to their top pass-rushers, but it's still worth noting that referee Brad Rogers' regular-season crew threw the second-most flags for offensive holding (48). -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Dolphins were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Chiefs were 9-8 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Dolphins 27, Chiefs 21 Walder's pick: Dolphins 27, Chiefs 23 FPI prediction: KC, 52.6% (by an average of 0.9 points) Matchup must-reads: How Tagovailoa met his goal of 17-game season ... How Reid unlocked Kelce ... Dolphins sign Houston, Irvin for playoffs (7) Packers at (2) Cowboys Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: DAL -7 (50.5) What to watch for: Playoff games between the Cowboys and Packers have been memorable, from the Ice Bowl (better known as the 1967 NFL championship), to the 2014 divisional round when Dez Bryant didn't -- or did -- catch it, to the 2016 divisional round when Aaron Rodgers' 35-yard completion set up the game-winning field goal. In that game, quarterback Dak Prescott was making his first playoff start. In this game, quarterback Jordan Love is making his first playoff start. Dallas coach Mike McCarthy was on the Packers' sideline for those last two games, but now he gets a chance to end his former team's season and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight season. -- Todd Archer Bold prediction: In a game that features the quarterbacks who ranked first and second in the NFL in touchdown passes this season (Prescott with 36, Love with 32), both Packers running back Aaron Jones and Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will top 100 yards. Jones ended the season with three straight games over 100 yards. And Pollard is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and will face a Green Bay defense that allowed a 28th-ranked 128.3 rushing yards per game this season. -- Rob Demovsky Stat to know: The Packers are 5-0 at AT&T Stadium all time, including playoffs (4-0 versus the Cowboys, plus a Super Bowl XLV win against the Steelers). Matchup X factor: Love. In theory, this should be Dallas' game, and it shouldn't be that close. But since Week 10, the top players in QBR have been Prescott and Love, respectively. If Love can pull out an exceptional game, Green Bay has a real chance. -- Walder Game-plan key: I'm excited to see if Dallas can scheme some interior pass-rushing plays for Micah Parsons. He led the NFL in pass rush win rate this season (35.4%), and there will be opportunities when he kicks inside. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen play 2:34 Stephen A.: Cowboys under more pressure to reach Super Bowl than 49ers.Stephen A. Smith and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo disagree on whether the Dallas Cowboys or San Francisco 49ers are under more pressure to reach the Super Bowl this season. Injuries: Packers | Cowboys Officiating note: The Cowboys have been exceptional this season at drawing coverage penalties from opponents, who have been flagged an NFL-high 31 times for defensive pass interference, defensive holding or illegal contact. It's a big reason why the Cowboys led the league with 43 first downs via penalty. The Packers' shell coverage, however, was only flagged 16 times for coverage fouls, the NFL's seventh fewest. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Packers were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 10-7. The Cowboys were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with unders going 9-8. Moody's pick: Cowboys 34, Packers 21 Walder's pick: Cowboys 31, Packers 24 FPI prediction: DAL, 73.6% (by an average of 9.1 points) Matchup must-reads: How Love is staying 'level' for playoff debut ... If not now, when for Prescott and a Cowboys Super Bowl? ... How Love outdid Rodgers, Favre in Year 1 ... Cowboys' McCarthy: Revisiting Packers tenure 'won't help us win' (6) Rams at (3) Lions Sunday, 8 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: DET -3 (51.5) What to watch for: Matthew Stafford against Jared Goff. It's the Lions' first home playoff game since the 1993 season, as the two former No. 1 overall pick quarterbacks face off for the second time since being traded for each other in 2021. There is no shortage of suspense as Lions coach Dan Campbell will try to lead Detroit to its first postseason victory since the 1991 season, while Rams coach Sean McVay is looking to improve his 7-3 career record in playoff games. -- Eric Woodyard Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job Bold prediction: Stafford will throw for at least 350 yards. It isn't a mark he has hit yet this season, but the matchup could be a high-scoring one. Stafford, who played for the Lions for 12 seasons, has a career average of 277.7 pass yards per game at Ford Field, the fourth highest by any quarterback at a single stadium in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. -- Sarah Barshop Stat to know: The Lions went for it on fourth down 34% of the time this season, the highest of any team this century. The Rams went for it 17% of the time, which ranked 20th this season. But Los Angeles might consider being more aggressive on fourth down as it has missed 16 combined field goals and extra points this season, the most by any team since the 2001 Steelers (17). Matchup X factor: Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. He finished the regular season red hot with 5.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a 19% pass rush win rate at edge in his final two games. If he keeps that up, that would be huge for the Lions' defense. -- Walder Game-plan key: Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs could see volume on Sunday night, especially out of 11 personnel. The Rams allowed 4.9 yards per carry against such alignments this season. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Rams | Lions Officiating note: The Lions' challenge in covering the Rams' passing game will be enhanced by their proclivity to commit coverage penalties. They were flagged 29 times for defensive pass interference, defensive holding or illegal contact, the fifth most in the NFL. They were also flagged six times for roughing the passer, tied for the fourth most. Referee Craig Wrolstad threw four flags for roughing the passer during the regular season, tied for sixth fewest. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Rams were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Lions were 12-5 ATS in the regular season, the best record in the NFL. Their overs went 11-6, also tied for the highest over percentage in the NFL. Moody's pick: Rams 28, Lions 24 Walder's pick: Lions 24, Rams 20 FPI prediction: DET, 53.9% (by an average of 1.4 points) Matchup must-reads: Stafford built his resiliency in Detroit -- now he hopes to topple the Lions ... Goff: Chip on shoulder from Rams trade will never leave me ... Morris has drive to be an HC again ... Untold stories of Campbell as a player (7) Steelers at (2) Bills Monday, 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: BUF -10 (35.5) What to watch for: The roads that the Bills and Steelers took to this game contain an eerie number of similarities, from losing key players to injury for stretches to putting together season-ending winning streaks despite low playoff odds. Both teams also fired their offensive coordinators at midseason, becoming the first playoff teams to have an in-season coordinator change since the 2012 Ravens. The Steelers are looking for the team's first playoff win since 2016, while the Bills are 13-2 in home playoff games since 1970. Limiting quarterback Josh Allen in the postseason will pose a challenge for Pittsburgh, as Allen is the only player in NFL playoff history to average 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game (min. five games) and has the highest combined average yardage (343.9). -- Alaina Getzenberg Bold prediction: Steelers running back Najee Harris will have his third consecutive game of at least 100 rushing yards. The Bills' rushing defense is arguably the toughest the Steelers have faced in at least a month, allowing opponents an average of 103 rushing yards per game in their past three contests. But Harris is on a roll with back-to-back games of 100-plus rushing yards. With the temperature expected to be below freezing, wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and possible light snow, the Steelers will lean heavily on their ground game. Sharing the backfield with Jaylen Warren, Harris had just 255 touches in the regular season, his fewest in his three-year NFL career, making him as fresh as possible for the playoffs. -- Brooke Pryor 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » Stat to know: The Steelers had nine wins in one-score games during the regular season, which led the NFL and are the most in a single season in franchise history. Matchup X factor: Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins. With edge rusher T.J. Watt out, Alex Highsmith is even more crucial to the Steelers' pass rush. If Dawkins -- who has had a really nice season and ranked fourth in pass block win rate among tackles -- can shut down Highsmith, that should set up Allen for a pretty smooth day. -- Walder Game-plan key: Pittsburgh has to run the ball well between the tackles. Harris and Warren finished the regular season hot, and Buffalo allowed 4.6 yards per carry on inside runs this season, 30th in the NFL. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Steelers | Bills Officiating note: This game will benefit from one of the NFL's most trusted referees. Carl Cheffers has been the Super Bowl referee in two of the past three years and three times in the past seven. His regular-season crew threw the third-fewest flags in the league (12.1 per game). -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Steelers were 10-7 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. The Bills were 7-10 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Bills 34, Steelers 20 Walder's pick: Bills 30, Steelers 13 FPI prediction: BUF, 76.6% (by an average of 10.4 points) Matchup must-reads: How Tomlin inspired the battered Steelers' unlikely playoff push ... Have the Bills shed their shaky late-game reputation? The playoffs will decide ... Who's to thank for Steelers' playoff push? Start with guys claimed 'off the couch' (5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ | Spread: PHI -3 (43.5) What to watch for: This is a Week 3 rematch that Bucs inside linebacker Devin White so accurately predicted after the Bucs' 25-11 home loss on "Monday Night Football." But these two teams have headed in opposite directions. The Bucs won five of their past six games, while the Eagles have lost five of their past six. The Bucs will also see a different looking defense since senior assistant Matt Patricia took over in Week 15. Both quarterbacks are dealing with injuries, as Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has not only a rib injury but also an ankle injury, while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a finger injury on his throwing hand in Week 18. -- Jenna Laine Bold prediction: Bucs running back Rachaad White will eclipse 125 all-purpose yards. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles held Tampa Bay to 41 rushing yards. But the run defense has fallen off a cliff since then, yielding 142 yards per game on average over their past seven games. A banged-up Mayfield could lean on White in both the ground and short passing game. -- Tim McManus Stat to know: Hurts has struggled with ball security against the blitz this season, throwing five touchdown passes with eight interceptions. Those eight turnovers were the most by any quarterback when blitzed this season. This weekend, Hurts will face a Tampa Bay defense that blitzed at the third-highest rate during the regular season. Matchup X factor: Hurts' finger. He said on Thursday that he hadn't thrown a ball since injuring his finger in Week 18. If that injury hampers his ability to throw the ball on Monday night, then this is an entirely different ballgame. -- Walder play 1:40 Is Nick Sirianni's job on the line if Eagles lose to the Bucs?Andrew Hawkins and Dan Graziano weigh in on whether Nick Sirianni's job is at stake if the Eagles lose early in the playoffs. Game-plan key: Can Philly get the run game going with D'Andre Swift? He ran for 130 yards against Tampa Bay back in Week 3, and feeding him in the run game could help the Eagles get into a rhythm. Read more at ESPN+. -- Bowen Injuries: Eagles | Buccaneers Officiating note: For all of the public discussion the Eagles endured over their offensive linemen lining up offsides on "tush push" plays, the bigger story is that their offensive line was flagged an NFL-low eight times for offensive holding. The Buccaneers' defensive front drew 22 such flags, tied for 16th-most. -- Seifert Betting nugget: The Eagles were 7-10 ATS in the regular season with overs going 9-8. The Buccaneers were 11-6 ATS in the regular season with unders going 11-6. Moody's pick: Buccaneers 28, Eagles 21 Walder's pick: Eagles 21, Buccaneers 16 FPI prediction: PHI, 57.3% (by an average of 2.6 points) Matchup must-reads: Is the Eagles' pass rush as fearsome as it seems? ... Buccaneers clinch third straight NFC South title with win by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Detta spelet är så vackert så det är värt att installera Raid: Shadow Legends If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Combat Siege Spelutvecklare: Varför män inte kan sluta spela det här spelet BuzzDaily Winners Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett won't be denied play Marcus Spears details why Myles Garrett is the second best defensive player in the NFL right now. (0:52) Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff Writer Jan 12, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeFireFunny 128 MYLES GARRETT COULDN'T lift his left arm high enough to put on a shirt. After wincing through several attempts, the Cleveland Browns' All-Pro defensive end went searching the Denver Broncos visitors locker room for help. He finally found a trainer, who pulled the long-sleeved white shirt over Garrett's head before placing his ailing shoulder -- the cause of his troubles -- in a sling. Five days later, Garrett walked across UCLA's practice field, able to lift the shoulder enough to sip on a protein shake. He hadn't missed a game all season. And he wouldn't miss the next one against the Los Angeles Rams, either, despite the pain he was experiencing. "Don't find an excuse, find a way," Garrett told ESPN. "At the end of the day, there's going to be a winner and a loser. No one's going to look back and say, 'Oh, he was hurt, or he felt like this, or he was going through that.' All they see is the box score and who came out on the right side of things." 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » This year, the Browns have taken on Garrett's resilience, shaped by a string of promising seasons thwarted -- from the notorious 2019 helmet swing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the car accident that left him with a shoulder sprain that never fully healed last season. Garrett had been derailed enough. He wasn't about to allow it to happen again. And he vowed that this season, he wouldn't be denied, no matter what. "Not allowing anything to stop me," Garrett said of his mindset this season. "It's all about being relentless." One snag after another prevented Garrett from reaching his ultimate potential in past seasons. But Garrett also came to the realization that, in some ways, he was holding the Browns back from reaching theirs, too. Sacking the quarterback alone wasn't enough. Past teammates grumbled about Garrett's lack of leadership, both privately and publicly. He showed up late to meetings, which affected his ability to lead. To become a true contender, the Browns needed their introverted and laidback superstar to set the tone off the field, as well: Mentor younger players; become a vocal leader; be the example for the locker room; show up on time; speak up in the meeting room; elevate the play of teammates. He knew he had to be relentless in that, too. On Saturday, the Browns will make their third postseason appearance in three decades when they visit the Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC). After season-ending injuries to several key players, including Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb and quarterback Deshaun Watson, and while starting five different quarterbacks, Cleveland finished with 11 regular-season wins, tied for the most by the franchise since 1986. Ask nearly anyone in the organization -- players, coaches, front office personnel -- and they will say Garrett is the biggest reason the Browns are in this position and have been able to overcome so much. Garrett had always been a dominant individual pass-rusher. But according to those same people in the organization, this year he's grown into that leader who has helped transform the Cleveland defense into a dominant unit. In turn, the Browns have emerged as a legitimate threat to reach their first Super Bowl. "He's taken that next step as a leader and foundational piece for this franchise," said linebacker Anthony Walker, whom, along with Garrett, the players voted a defensive captain in the preseason. "You see it now. A lot of guys stepping up and making plays. That's a testament to him. ... That's the difference. "And nothing stopping him now." Garrett closed the regular season as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. Michael Owens/Getty Images IN JULY, RETIRED defensive tackle Malik Jackson called Garrett out on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." "I don't think his leadership skills were the best," said Jackson, who played for the Browns in 2021. "He needs to take that bull by the horns and just lead more by example as far as in the classroom because we all know what he can do on the field. But to be able to go in the classroom, command that respect, and tell guys what to do is really where I think he really needs to take that jump. ... [But] some guys just don't have it." Leading into last year's final game, then-Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney told Cleveland.com he wouldn't be re-signing because the team was "trying to get [Garrett] into the Hall of Fame instead of winning games." According to multiple sources, Garrett was late to meetings, which irked veterans like Jackson. He once blew off a meeting altogether, which especially bothered Clowney and Jackson. Garrett's casual approach ultimately affected his ability to lead. "I didn't have a mentor to teach me how to lead, and most of the guys I talked to were out of the league or upper management, and they were trying to tell me that there was a certain way to lead," Garrett said. "They had this picture in their mind of how a leader should go about his business. I was like, 'Well, that's not me.' It really took me time. ... [Finding] the wisdom to understand what kind of leader that I am and how to elevate others in a way that suits me." Early in his career, Browns left guard Joel Bitonio, now an offensive captain, had Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas to apprentice under. Garrett didn't have anyone like that on the defensive side. "People look up to Myles because he's such an elite player," said Bitonio, a six-time Pro Bowler who is the only current Brown who's played for Cleveland longer than Garrett. "I don't know if he ever needed to be that vocal leader because he just was like, 'I play good. I'm a good player for us.' And when he came in the league. ... we never really had a guy be his leader." As a rookie, Garrett led the Browns with seven sacks, but Cleveland finished 0-16. "He was so dominant from Day 1. ... that we just automatically said, 'Oh, well, you're the best player on the team. You should be a leader,'" said Thomas, who played with Garrett in 2017 before retiring. "And sometimes you're just not ready for that role right away." This year, Garrett was ready. Multiple sources said Garrett is never late anymore. More than that, he's the one now holding others accountable and trying to enhance team chemistry. Garrett helped put together a weekly defensive line dinner, either at restaurants or players' houses. "An amazing guy," defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson said. "Off the field, you could say he's blossomed out of his shell a little bit more." Players also say Garrett is teaching and speaking in position meetings, the way former Browns say Thomas once did. Garrett has also taken younger players under his wing, most notably rookie defensive end Isaiah McGuire, who recorded his first career sack in Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. McGuire told ESPN that Garrett is constantly working with him, whether watching film or practicing technique. "I've seen Myles mature over the time that I've been with him," said Kevin Stefanski, in his fourth season as Cleveland's head coach. "Obviously a very intelligent player and intelligent person, great off the field. But I think in his leadership is where I've seen a huge jump. And I think his teammates would tell you that, as well. "We're very fortunate to have really good leadership on this team. When it comes from Myles, and the caliber of player that he is, that's just a greater driver." Myles Garrett has become the leader the Browns needed to propel them into the postseason. Michael Owens/Getty Images PAST SETBACKS HAVE added fuel to Garrett's desire to not be denied this season. In 2019, his third season, Garrett seemed on his way to winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett had 10 sacks and Cleveland was on the verge of defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep its postseason hopes alive. But in the waning seconds, an enraged Garrett tore the helmet off Mason Rudolph and smashed it into the Pittsburgh quarterback's head. Garrett later said Rudolph incited him by using a racial slur. Rudolph called the allegation "totally untrue." The NFL suspended Garrett six games, ending his season -- and, effectively, Cleveland's playoff hopes. Garrett doesn't like to relive that moment. But he admits it hurt knowing he let the team down. "The years I didn't win Defensive Player of the Year, or something derailed me or took me out [of] the game or for multiple games off the field, it wasn't that I wasn't winning the trophy that hurt," he said. "It was more I wasn't there for my teammates. I didn't have the opportunity to give my all to them or give my best for them. I wanted to be there for them to give us the best chance to win and bring success back to Cleveland. Those are the things that really mean a lot to me." Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job Garrett was making a case for Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, but he was never the same after catching COVID-19. When he returned after two games, he struggled to breathe and suffered from constant coughing fits. Later that season, Cleveland won its first playoff game in 26 years by upsetting Pittsburgh but couldn't knock off the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round. Then last September, Garrett was speeding on his way home from practice when he flipped his Porsche in a single-car crash. Garrett, who was cited for failure to control a motor vehicle, suffered shoulder and biceps strains that forced him to sit a Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He had to play through the shoulder injury the rest of the season and the Browns missed the playoffs again. Garrett doesn't want to revisit those experiences, either. But he said he's learned from them. "Molded me into the man I am," Garrett said. "Fighting through adversity really kind of shapes who you are and the kind of player you will be. How you choose to react to those things and those obstacles in life, it really is telling who the man is inside." Garrett has been there for his teammates all season. Despite being hurt, he played in Week 13 against the Rams, though failed to record a tackle in a game for the first time in his career with the shoulder injury clearly hampering him. But he roared back the following week. In the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stefanski grabbed Garrett and told him, "Let's go eat. It's time, OK?" Garrett, who was wearing a microphone, responded, "I'm going to end this game for us." Moments later, he fought through two Jaguars to sack quarterback Trevor Lawrence and foil Jacksonville's 2-point conversion try. The Browns would go on a four-game winning streak, culminating with a playoff-clinching victory over the New York Jets on Dec. 28. During that stretch, Garrett was dominant, delivering 35 pass-rush wins; only one other edge rusher had more than 20 (Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt had 26). "Go put the tape on and watch how [opposing teams] try to block him," Stefanski said. "He won't be denied." Myles Garrett has traveled a long road back from the 2019 incident with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images GARRETT'S NEWFOUND DEDICATION has prompted comparisons to some of the NFL's all-time greats. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said he's coached only two other players who are comparable difference-makers -- former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. "The definition of a great player is when an opponent starts their game plan with, 'We're going to take care of this guy, right? Like, we're not going to let this guy beat us, right?" Schwartz, who's in his first year in Cleveland, said. "And every week that player still makes plays. Myles fits in that category. A lot of guys can make plays when they don't see attention. He affects the game and helps other people make plays." Garrett ranks sixth in the league with 14 sacks, his lowest total since 2020 when he had to sit the two games with COVID-19. Garrett, however, is second in pass rush win rate (30.5%) despite facing the third highest double-team rate (28.8%). With Garrett commanding attention, the rest of the Browns' defense has thrived. Cleveland leads the league in defensive efficiency, yards per game allowed (267 yards) and three-and-out rate (32.9%), among numerous other categories. "Say whatever you want about sack numbers," Schwartz said. "We're the best third-down defense in the league by a pretty good chunk, and he has everything to do with that. Our corners [Pro Bowler Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II] are really high in their coverage percentages. Every single one of them can attribute some of that to Myles Garrett." Shortly after taking the job with the Browns, Schwartz, who won a Super Bowl in 2017 as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, met with Garrett and set "very strong" expectations for him, according to one team source. In 2022, Garrett was selected to a third straight All-Pro team, but the Browns' defense struggled on the way to a 7-10 finish. Schwartz wouldn't detail his early conversations with Garrett. But he did note that Garrett "has been everything that we expected." Garrett's drive for greatness has extended to his diet and exercise program as well. This offseason, he added Pilates and yoga to his routine. Despite his love for big breakfasts, he gave up pancakes, waffles, French toast and, most begrudgingly, Cap'n Crunch cereal. That commitment has paid off at the line of scrimmage. According to Next Gen Stats, Garrett on average is getting off the line in 0.66 seconds, the quickest jump of any player in the league and best of his career. The added burst was evident from the first week of Browns training camp. Though he wasn't allowed to touch Watson or the other quarterbacks, he repeatedly blew up plays, blowing past Cleveland's offensive linemen. "He was locked in," Bitonio said. Led by Garrett, the Browns ranked first in the NFL in total defense in 2023. Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images In a harbinger of what was to come, Garrett didn't produce the first sack of the year in Cleveland's opener against Cincinnati. But he forced it. Mimicking a basketball crossover, Garrett juked Bengals center Ted Karras and forced quarterback Joe Burrow to scramble into the arms of Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, wrecking Cincinnati's only promising drive of the day in a 24-3 Cleveland win. "Now it's more about, how can I elevate my teammates?" Garrett said. "If they're going to send two or three [blockers] my way, that means I've got to make sure that those two, three [blockers] are continuously occupied, continuously fighting me. That allows those other guys to get one-on-ones, that helps them make a play." Garrett has still found ways to make the play himself, too. Welcome to the NFL offseason • Team-by-team offseason guide (ESPN+) • Tracking coach openings, hirings • NFL draft order: Top 18 picks set • Ranking top 25 free agents (ESPN+) On Oct. 22, he became the first player this century, according to ESPN Stats & Info, to force two fumbles and block a field goal in a single game. All three plays led to 17 points, propelling Cleveland to a 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns have won five games with a winning score in the final two minutes of regulation this season -- a franchise record. A key defensive stop set up each of those comebacks. The Browns put other teams away with overwhelming fourth quarter defense. "The reason why they've been able to overcome all the injuries they've had is because I've yet to see anybody able to block Myles," said Thomas, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. "If you get any sort of lead towards the end of the game, he's going to close the game for you. It's kind of like in baseball, having a dominant relief pitcher who as soon as he comes in, the game's over." Buoyed by Cleveland's team success, Garrett ended the regular season as the betting favorite to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Garrett, who turned 28 last month, confessed that it would've consumed him in his younger years. Now, he's fixated on another goal: finishing his career with the Browns and delivering Cleveland a title. "I want to be viewed as the best. I want to be respected as the best," Garrett said. "But that's not as much on my mind anymore. The opinions of my peers or analysts or experts, those things don't really weigh on me anymore. It's all about wins and losses. You want to be the last winner at the end of the year. That's who's remembered. ... and I want to make Cleveland a winner." As he took another sip of the protein shake, Garrett admitted that after seven seasons in the NFL, he's begun to ponder legacy. Garrett grew up in the Dallas area, where Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki played his entire career. In 2011, Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to their first and only NBA title. Garrett can't think of a sports legacy any better. "I'm not judging or trying to demean anyone else on their journeys. But for me, being with the team that drafted you your entire career and winning a championship with them is the most special thing you can do in your career," he said. "That's why I'm always going to be committed to this city. As long as they have me, I'm going to be here trying to do my best to elevate this team, elevate this community, this city. ... and bring it all home." by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Om du har en dator, är detta spelet ett måste Raid: Shadow Legends You will never turn off your computer, if you have a mouse Combat Siege De 15 farligaste broarna som någonsin byggts TRAVEL CARIBOU Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. How DeMeco Ryans' energy helped lead Texans to playoffs play C.J. Stroud joins "The Pat McAfee Show" ahead of the Texans' wild-card matchup with the Browns. (1:27) DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN Jan 12, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeCelebrate 90 HOUSTON -- Brevin Jordan jogged off the field in frustration. The Houston Texans tight end had just run the wrong route, and when he reached the sidelines, he screamed. The echoing expletive was loud enough to catch coach DeMeco Ryans' attention. "DeMeco turned around and was like, 'Next play. It's over with. We're coming right back to you,'" Jordan told ESPN. Best of NFL Nation • McCarthy-Prescott bond spurs Cowboys • Bills gain rep for clutch play • Ryans brings energy to Texans • Packers' Love ready for playoff debut • Giants have solid options for DC job During the following series, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik called the same play. This time, Jordan ran the correct route and quarterback C.J. Stroud found him as he bolted into the end zone untouched to put the Texans up 10-0 against the Tennessee Titans. "For me, I don't know if coaches understand how much that means to a player. To hear that, [it shows] my coach trusts me. He's done that multiple times with me," Jordan said. "He goes out of his way to talk to us to build our confidence. Dudes need that. When you hear that from the head man, you're like, 'Man, I'm about to go bust these boys ass.'" The first-year coach created a leadership council -- led by Stroud, running back Devin Singletary, wide receiver Robert Woods and others -- to keep a pulse on the team and make weekly adjustments. The changes come in all forms. It could be as easy as fixing the showerheads in the locker room because the water pressure was too intense. The council brought this concern to Ryans, and he took care of it, proving to the players he's listening. "It might seem small, but that's just the type of guy he is," Singletary told ESPN. From the beginning, Ryans made it clear his coaching style would be engulfed with positivity. That approach is why the Texans (10-7) are AFC South champs for the first time since 2019 and hosting a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC) at NRG Stadium. He is the 27th first-year coach to win their division since the 1970 merger. Eric Christian Smith/AP That moment of affirmation from Ryans to Jordan has been a common occurrence. "I told the guys they were going to be treated like men. We're going to be respectful as a coaching staff," Ryans, a 39-year-old former linebacker, told ESPN. "We're going to tell you the truth, and everything we do is going to be positive. It's going to be positive reinforcement and positive feedback. I let them know that. I don't want my coaching staff cussing out players or demeaning players because that isn't helpful." RYANS' COACHING STYLE has captured buy-in from his team. The defense improved from the 27th-ranked scoring defense (24.7 points) last season to 11th (20.8). He helped improve a run defense that allowed the sixth-most total rushing yards (2,894) in history in 2022 to having the sixth-best run defense, allowing 1,643 yards in 2023, and the second-fewest yards per rush (3.5). In addition, Ryans built a staff to develop his rookie quarterback, who finished the season with 4,108 passing yards -- the third most for a rookie behind Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336 in 2020). Stroud's six 300-yard passing games were tied with Luck and two behind Herbert for the most all time by a rookie, and he became the first rookie to lead the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5). Ryans' infectious energy permeates the organization, giving it belief that Houston can avenge a Week 16 loss to the Browns (11-6) -- this time in the wild-card round of the playoffs -- with the season on the line. "The energy that I feel from our team right now. Everybody's calm. Everybody's confident. Everybody has positive energy," Ryans said. "Our team is together. And I was hoping we could get to [this] because I know when you get a tight team like this, you get the best team. You see the smiles. The guys enjoy working with each other. That's what I was searching for. That's what I was trying to instill, and it's here now." Two weeks prior to the Browns game, the Texans could have folded. They were 7-6 coming off a loss in which Stroud was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion. The concussion would keep Stroud out of the Browns game and that Week 15 matchup with the Titans, leaving Ryans with a decision to make on who would start at quarterback -- Davis Mills or Case Keenum. 2023 NFL Playoffs • Barnwell's playoff predictions (ESPN+) » • Our guide to all 14 playoff teams » • What to know for wild-card games » • Wild-card matchup keys (ESPN+) » • Full playoff bracket and schedule » Many assumed Mills would get the nod, but Ryans was coy all week, saying, "Davis has done a good job with everything that we've asked him to do." But behind closed doors, Ryans was leaning toward starting Keenum -- who hadn't started a game since 2021. Ryans demanded that his team keep the information inside the building to gain a competitive advantage. "I want you to know at the last possible second," Ryans said, "so you're not strategizing to practice for Case Keenum and then go back and look at all his film. No, that's going to be at the last minute. ... So, for me, keep it as tight as possible to [help us] get the win." The news that Keenum would start broke Saturday morning, but it still left Tennessee with little time to game-plan. The Texans defeated the Titans, 19-16, as Keenum threw for 226 yards with a pick-six but tossed the game-tying touchdown to wide receiver Noah Brown to send it into overtime. He led the game-winning drive in the extra period highlighted by a 41-yard completion to Singletary. "It's competition. It's strategy," Ryans said. "For me, when it comes to who's available, what are we doing, why do we do this? I don't feel like you should give the opponent anything. They're searching all the interviews. ... I just like to keep everything tight and keep everything in-house. And let's just go out and do our thing. I was never in the mindset that you got to do all this talking about what you're going to do. Just show up." RYANS WAS MAKING calls and connecting with his players and the rest of the Texans' organization after he took over in late January. Fast forward to the days shortly after Houston made Stroud the No. 2 overall pick, Ryans met with his future face of the franchise in his office. The coach, as he has been able to do with many of his players, was able to connect with Stroud through faith. "It was just about staying steadfast and just staying on your course," Stroud said. "And it just resonated with what I was going through at the time, so it was just cool to see a coach open up about his faith, you know, and not shy away from it. It was cool to bond over that." Throughout the season, Ryans also provided a comforting space for wide receiver John Metchie III. Welcome to the NFL offseason • Team-by-team offseason guide (ESPN+) • Tracking coach openings, hirings • NFL draft order: Top 18 picks set • Ranking top 25 free agents (ESPN+) Metchie made his NFL debut this season in Week 2, but he had an uphill battle to get there. Metchie heard his name called in late April during the second round of the 2022 draft, but come July, he was diagnosed with leukemia, causing him to miss his entire rookie season which he said led to "a lot of frustration." As a decorated college player coming out of Alabama, he found himself dwelling on his lack of production this season. It simply wasn't something to which he was accustomed. "DeMeco being open with me and talking to me and showing me how to take things step-by-step, day by day and things like that, that's something I needed to hear in times like that. "It's been great having DeMeco, especially in my process." Personal connections were one thing, instilling a winning culture similar to the one he learned in his six-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers in various coaching roles was another. He poured that teaching into the Texans, who went 11-38-1 from 2020 to 2022 when they fired three coaches in a row: Bill O'Brien, David Culley and Lovie Smith. Ryans' daily message centered on consistency and improving on the little things, as he held everyone accountable and wouldn't play favorites. Even Stroud. But it's all strategic. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans are set to host Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns on Saturday in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Tim Warner/Getty Images During OTAs Stroud missed a read, and it was something Ryans pointed out during a team meeting. The next day Stroud adjusted, and when the play was called, he threw a touchdown. "He's not trying to embarrass nobody," safety Jalen Pitre said. "He understands the end goal and that we're all trying to do this together. Nobody is intentionally out there just messing stuff up. "He's going to make sure that he lets you know that you did wrong and makes you understand how to fix it. But it's no belittling or anything like that. You can do nothing but respect that and just try to get better." Ryans is relatable, but he's not a pushover -- with one player calling those long summer days the "hardest training camp of my life." He also made his players earn their spots. Stroud competed with Mills throughout camp to be the starting quarterback. The competition went through training camp and extended until the former Ohio State standout was named the starter after the final preseason game. These principles of accountability, focusing on the small details to improve, not playing favorites, daily consistency and positive reinforcement factored in helping the Texans dig out of an 0-2 hole to start the season, where they were outscored 56-29. There were times throughout the season when he saw the team failing to execute in practice. He would make them repeat plays until they got it right, and sometimes that would extend to the next day. "Some people will say, 'We'll get it later.' But [Ryans] is coming back right at the end of the practice, letting us know that's not good enough," Singletary said. "Letting us know we got to get on that now and don't let it linger 'til game day." ALL OF THESE things are testaments and examples of what Ryans has brought, but defensive end Jerry Hughes, who was a part of last season's team that went 3-13-1, made it all sound so simple: "We got a head coach." "You got somebody that's invested in the team and the organization and somebody who wants to win," Hughes said. "He's always got a smile, always wanting to teach guys." One of Ryans' most recent motivation tactics came the Wednesday before their Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts that clinched the division and punched their ticket into the playoffs. The magnitude of the game was great, so he summoned rap mogul 50 Cent to speak to the team on Zoom. "I ain't gonna lie, that was hard. I ain't never seen 50 in person," Texans leading receiver Nico Collins said. "That was cool to see. He had a great message for us, and [we] took that and built on it. That was big time." Four quarters later, the Texans came out on top, 23-17. They finished the season 7-3 in one-score games, and only the Pittsburgh Steelers (nine) and Philadelphia Eagles (eight) had more wins in close games. A loss would have ended the season. A loss would have meant all of the momentum Ryans created in a year's span would have left them in the same position they'd been in for the past three seasons -- out of the playoffs. Instead, his first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium as the head coach of Houston, an organization that he starred for as a player from 2006 to 2011, resulted in a high. "For us to accomplish what we set out to accomplish, of getting that spot in the playoffs, I know what it meant to each and every one of our players, each and every one of our support staff," Ryans said. "It meant a lot to everyone in our entire organization." by TaboolaSponsored You May Like Ta reda på varför män är besatta av detta otroliga spel BuzzDaily Winners Helt ny liten elbil för seniorer - priset kan överraska dig Elbilar | Sökannonser Bärbara trapphissar är enklare och billigare än du tror. Bärbara trapphissar | Sponsorlänkar Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsEU Privacy RightsCookie PolicyManage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. The 2023 NFL playoffs, as explained by Usher's catalog play Stephen A. Smith thinks this could be the Cowboys' best chance at winning the Super Bowl. (1:19) Kalan Hooks, ESPN Jan 13, 2024, 08:20 AM ET Share LikeLike Open Extended Reactions LikeFireInteresting 292 The NFL playoffs kick off this weekend as 14 teams embark on their journey to fulfill every squad's dream -- playing in the Super Bowl. EDITOR'S PICKS Game-plan keys for every NFL wild-card matchup: Mapping each team's path to victory 4hMatt Bowen Back to Foxborough: Taylor Swift in attendance at Chiefs-Patriots 27dTory Barron While the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, face another challenging voyage to reach the big game, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens seem to be the favorites to win it all. And all eyes will be glued to the screens of televisions during halftime of Super Bowl LVIII to watch award-winning singer Usher. The R&B singer was announced as the headliner of the show, with announcements from different iconic figures such as Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and Skims founder Kim Kardashian, with a reenactment of the conversation from his "Confessions" music video. However, we have an entire playoff run to spectate before Usher takes the stage. Through his 516-song catalog -- nine of which were Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles -- each team can relate to Usher in some way. Here's the playlist, from ESPN Music, with full descriptions below.

Turkey launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, destroying bunkers, shelters and oil facilities The defense ministry said fighter jets destroyed bunkers, shelters and oil facilities 'to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people. 2024

Warehouse in St. Petersburg catches fire, over 500,000 square feet in flames 9:01 am, January 13, 2024Source: Meduza A warehouse in St. Petersburg belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, has caught fire, according to Russia’s Emergency Services Ministry. Initially, the ministry reported that the fire covered an area of 1000 square meters (about 10,800 square feet), but within half an hour, emergency workers said that the fire had spread to an area of 50,000 square meters (about 538,200 square feet). A message on the Wildberries Telegram channel said that people in the warehouse had been evacuated and that customers and sellers would be compensated for lost goods. A source told RBC that investigators are considering arson as one possible cause of the fire. RBC noted that on January 10, a mass fight broke out near the warehouse and two migrants, one of whom worked at the warehouse, were injured. In the two days following the incident, police conducted raids at the warehouse.

US carries out new strike in Yemen after Biden vows to keep pressure on By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Mohammed Ghobari January 13, 20249:40 AM GMT+1Updated 2 hours ago Summary LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: U.S. carries out an additional strike in Yemen U.S., British assault targets Houthis' missile, drone capabilities Yemeni movement vows to strike back Conflict raises specter of rising oil prices, inflation WASHINGTON/ADEN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The United States carried out an additional strike against Yemen's Houthi forces on Friday, after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to protect shipping in the Red Sea. The latest strike, which the U.S. said targeted a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on the Iran-backed group's facilities. The guided missile destroyer Carney used Tomahawk missiles in the follow-on strike early on Saturday local time "to degrade the Houthis' ability to attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The Houthi movement's television channel Al-Masirah reported that the United States and Britain were targeting the Yemeni capital Sanaa with raids. Intensifying concerns about a widening regional conflict, U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines on Thursday launched missiles against targets across Yemen controlled by the group, which has cast its maritime campaign as support for Palestinians under siege by Israel in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Even as Houthi leaders swore retaliation, Biden warned on Friday that he could order more strikes if they do not stop their attacks on merchant and military vessels in one of the world's most economically vital waterways. "We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior," Biden told reporters during a stop in Pennsylvania on Friday. Witnesses confirmed explosions early on Friday, Yemen time, at military bases near airports in the capital Sanaa and Yemen's third city Taiz, a naval base at Yemen's main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah governorate. Advertisement · Scroll to continue White House spokesperson John Kirby said the initial strikes had targeted the Houthis' ability to store, launch and guide missiles or drones, which the group has used in recent months to threaten Red Sea shipping. The Pentagon said the U.S.-British assault reduced the Houthis' capacity to launch fresh attacks. The U.S. military said 60 targets in 28 sites were hit. The Houthis, who control Sanaa and much of the west and north of Yemen, said five fighters were killed, but they vowed to continue their attacks on regional shipping. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad The UK Maritime Trade Operations information hub said it had received reports of a missile landing in the sea around 500 meters (1,600 feet) from a ship about 90 nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden. The shipping security firm Ambrey identified it as a Panama-flagged tanker carrying Russian oil. Drone footage on the Houthis' Al-Masirah TV showed hundreds of thousands of people in Sanaa chanting slogans denouncing Israel and the United States. "Your strikes on Yemen are terrorism," said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council. "The United States is the Devil." Biden, whose administration removed the Houthis from a State Department list of "foreign terrorist organizations" in 2021, was asked by reporters if he felt the term "terrorist" described the movement now. "I think they are," he said. SPILLOVER The Red Sea crisis is part of the violent regional spillover of Israel's war with Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist group, in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. [1/6]RAF Typhoon aircraft is pictured at RAF Akrotiri following its return after striking military targets in Yemen during the U.S.-led coalition operation, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, in Cyprus, in this handout picture... Acquire Licensing Rights Read more Hamas militants rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and seizing 240 hostages. Israel has responded by laying waste to large sections of Gaza in an effort to annihilate Hamas. More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed. Tobias Borck, a Middle East security expert at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, said the Houthis wanted to portray themselves as champions of the Palestinian cause but were mainly concerned about retaining power. At the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield defended the Yemen strikes, saying they were intended to "to disrupt and degrade the Houthis' ability to continue the reckless attacks against vessels and commercial shipping." Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said earlier that the U.S. and Britain "single-handedly triggered a spillover of the conflict (in Gaza) to the entire region." In Washington, Kirby said, "We're not interested in ... a war with Yemen." In a poor country only just emerging from nearly a decade of war that brought millions to the brink of famine, people fearing an extended new conflict queued at gas stations. OIL PRICE JUMPS The price of Brent crude oil rose more than $2 on Friday on concern that supplies could be disrupted, but later gave up half its gain. Biden said on Friday he was "very concerned" about the impact of war in the Middle East on oil prices. Commercial ship-tracking data showed at least nine oil tankers stopping or diverting from the Red Sea. The strikes follow months of raids by Houthi fighters, who have boarded ships they claimed were Israeli or heading for Israel. Many of the vessels had no known connection to Israel. The United States and some allies sent a naval task force in December, and recent days saw increasing escalation. On Tuesday, the United States and Britain shot down 21 missiles and drones. However, not all major U.S. allies chose to back the strikes inside Yemen. The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence support, while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and South Korea signed a joint statement defending the attacks and warning of further action. But Italy, Spain and France chose not to sign or participate, fearing a wider escalation. A senior U.S. official accused Tehran of providing the Yemeni group with military capabilities and intelligence to carry out their attacks. Iran condemned the strikes but there has been no sign so far that Iran is seeking direct conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the White House could "restore security across the region" by stopping its "all-out military and security cooperation" with Israel. Houthi attacks have forced commercial ships to take a longer, costlier route around Africa, creating fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption. Container shipping rates for key global routes have soared this week. Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Nandita Bose in Washington, and Mohammed Ghobari and Reyam Mukhashef in Aden; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Jonathan Landay and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Andrew Mills in Doha, Maher Hatem in Dubai; Elizabeth Piper in London; Writing by Matt Spetalnick and William Mallard; Editing by Cynthia Osterman.

Israel defends itself at the UN’s top court against allegations of genocide in Gaza Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the U.N.’s highest court that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and said instead that Hamas was guilty of genocide. (Jan. 12) Photos 10 BY MIKE CORDER AND RAF CASERT Updated 12:22 AM CET, January 13, 2024 Share THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the United Nations’ highest court Friday that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Israel described the allegations leveled by South Africa as hypocritical and said one of the biggest cases ever to come before an international court reflected a world turned upside down. Israeli leaders defend their air and ground offensive in Gaza as a legitimate response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, when militants stormed through Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker told a packed auditorium at the ornate Palace of Peace in The Hague that the country is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want.” “In these circumstances, there can hardly be a charge more false and more malevolent than the allegation against Israel of genocide,” he added, noting that the horrible suffering of civilians in war was not enough to level that charge. ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The United Nations' top court opened hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Live updates | Israel rejects genocide case as Mideast tensions rise after US-led strikes in Yemen Protestors carry a giant Palestinian flag, with dolls wrapped to represent dead and injured children, during a demonstration outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. The United Nations' top court opens hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Palestinian viewers are captivated and moved by case at UN’s top court accusing Israel of genocide A Palestinian child holds a lit candle as he prays in front of a poster of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a special service in his honor at the Holy Family Church, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) Nelson Mandela’s support for Palestinians endures with South Africa’s genocide case against Israel On Friday afternoon, Germany said it wants to intervene in the proceedings on Israel’s behalf, saying there was “no basis whatsoever” for an accusation of genocide against Israel. “Hamas terrorists brutally attacked, tortured, killed and kidnapped innocent people in Israel,” German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement. “Since then, Israel has been defending itself against the inhumane attack by Hamas.” Under the court’s rules, if Germany files a declaration of intervention in the case, it will be able to make legal arguments on behalf of Israel. A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The United Nations' top court opened hearings Thursday into South Africa's allegation that Israel's war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) A person waves a palestinian flag while passing a pro-israel protest outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Germany would be allowed to intervene at the merits phase of the case to address how the genocide convention, drawn up in 1948 following World War II, should be interpreted, according to international lawyer Balkees Jarrah, associate director of the international justice program at Human Rights Watch. “That would come after the court issues its decision on South Africa’s request for urgent measures to protect the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Jarrah told The Associated Press from The Hague, where she attended the ICJ hearings. Germany’s support for Israel carries some symbolic significance given its Nazi history. Hebestreit said Germany “sees itself as particularly committed to the Convention against Genocide.” He added: “We firmly oppose political instrumentalization.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement, saying the gesture “touches all of Israel’s citizens.” South African lawyers asked the court Thursday to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in the besieged coastal territory that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. A decision on that request will probably take weeks, and the full case is likely to last years — and it’s unclear if Israel would follow any court orders. On Friday, Israel focused on the brutality of the Oct. 7 attacks, presenting chilling video and audio to a hushed audience. “They tortured children in front of parents and parents in front of children, burned people, including infants alive, and systematically raped and mutilated scores of women, men and children,” Becker said. South Africa’s request for an immediate halt to the Gaza fighting, he said, amounts to an attempt to prevent Israel from defending itself against that assault. Even when acting in self-defense, countries are required by international law to follow the rules of war, and judges must decide if Israel has. As two days of hearings ended Friday, ICJ President Joan E. Donoghue said the court would rule on the request for urgent measures “as soon as possible.” Israel often boycotts international tribunals and U.N. investigations, saying they are unfair and biased. But this time, Israeli leaders took the rare step of sending a high-level legal team — a sign of how seriously they regard the case and likely their fear that any court order to halt operations would be a major blow to the country’s international standing. Still, Becker dismissed the accusations as crude and attention-seeking. “We live at a time when words are cheap in an age of social media and identity politics. The temptation to reach for the most outrageous term to vilify and demonize has become, for many, irresistible,” he said. In a statement from New York, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the case a “new moral low” and said that by taking it on, “the U.N. and its institutions have become weapons in service of terrorist organizations.” Becker said the charges Israel is facing should be leveled at Hamas, which seeks Israel’s destruction and which the U.S. and Western allies consider a terrorist group. “If there have been acts that may be characterized as genocidal, then they have been perpetrated against Israel,” Becker said. More than 23,000 people in Gaza have been killed during Israel’s military campaign, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. That toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s people have been driven their homes, a quarter of the enclave’s residents face starvation, and much of northern Gaza has been reduced to rubble. South Africa says this amounts to genocide and is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians. “The scale of destruction in Gaza, the targeting of family homes and civilians, the war being a war on children, all make clear that genocidal intent is both understood and has been put into practice. The articulated intent is the destruction of Palestinian life,” said lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, adding that several leading politicians had made dehumanizing comments about people in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry welcomed the case, saying in a written statement that South Africa “delivered unequivocal evidence that Israel is deliberately and systematically violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention.” Malcolm Shaw, an international law expert on Israel’s legal team, rejected the accusation of genocidal intent and called the remarks Ngcukaitobi referenced “random quotes not in conformity with government policy.” Israel also says that it takes measures to protect civilians, such as issuing evacuation orders ahead of strikes. It blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, saying the group uses residential areas to stage attacks and for other military purposes. Israel’s critics say that such measures have done little to prevent the high toll and that its bombings are so powerful that they often amount to indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks. If the court issues an order to halt the fighting and Israel doesn’t comply, it could face U.N. sanctions, although those may be blocked by a veto from the United States, Israel’s staunch ally. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the allegations “unfounded.” The White House declined to comment on how it might respond if the ICJ determines Israel has committed genocide. The extraordinary case goes to the core of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts — and for the second day protesters rallied outside the court. Pro-Israeli demonstrators set up a table near the court grounds for a Sabbath meal with empty seats, commemorating the hostages still being held by Hamas. “We want to symbolize the empty chairs, because we are missing them,” said Nathan Bouscher from Center for Information and Documentation on Israel. Nearby, over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters waved flags and shouted protests. The case also strikes at the heart of both Israel’s and South Africa’s national identities. Israel was founded as a Jewish state in the wake of the Nazis’ slaughter of 6 million Jews during World War II. South Africa’s governing party, meanwhile, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Black people to “homelands.” The world court, which rules on disputes between nations, has never judged a country to be responsible for genocide. The closest it came was in 2007, when it ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the July 1995 massacre by Bosnian Serb forces of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. Associated Press journalists Aleksandar Furtula and Ahmad Seir in The Hague, Netherlands, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

US warns ships to stay out of parts of Red Sea as Houthi rebels vow retaliation for US, UK strikes The Associated Press explains the details of the U.S.-led strikes that targeted Yemen’s Houthi rebels over their ongoing assault on shipping in the Red Sea (Jan 12.) Videos 3 Photos 7 BY JON GAMBRELL AND AAMER MADHANI Updated 11:44 PM CET, January 12, 2024 Share DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels. The warning in a notice to shippers came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led strikes, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel’s war in Gaza. U.S. military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to strike back. And President Joe Biden warned on Friday that the group could face further strikes. The U.S.-led bombardment — launched in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea — killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said. The U.S. said the strikes, in two waves, took aim at targets in 28 different locations across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. READ MORE In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Aug. 9, 2023. The top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East says Yemen’s Houthi rebels are showing no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. But Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview on Saturday that more nations are joining the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic is beginning to pick up. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP) US and British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen Houthi supporters chant slogans as they attend a rally marking eight years for a Saudi-led coalition, on March 26, 2023, in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Who are the Houthis? And why did the US and UK retaliate for their attacks on ships in the Red Sea? This is a locator map for the Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo) Iran’s navy seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman that was at the center of a major US-Iran crisis “We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior along with our allies,” Biden told reporters during a stop in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Asked if he believes the Houthis are a terrorist group, Biden responded, “I think they are.” The president in a later exchange with reporters during a stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said whether the Houthis are redesignated as such was “irrelevant.” Biden also pushed back against some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who said he should have sought congressional authorization before carrying out the strikes. This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) A map showing Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo) “They’re wrong, and I sent up this morning when the strikes occurred exactly what happened,” Biden said. The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military action from the hospital where he is recovering from complications following prostate cancer surgery. The White House said in November that it was considering redesignating the Houthis as a terrorist organization after they began their targeting of civilian vessels. The administration formally delisted the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorists” in 2021, undoing a move by President Donald Trump Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Staff, said that the new U.S. strikes were largely in low-populated areas, and the number of those killed would not be high. He said the strikes hit weapons, radar and targeting sites, including in remote mountain areas. ADDS COUNTRY TO SOURCE - In this photo provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, taken from the operation room of HMS Diamond, Sea Viper missiles are prepared to be fired in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the United States and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement. (UK Ministry of Defence via AP) In this photo provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, taken from the operation room of HMS Diamond, Sea Viper missiles are prepared to be fired in the Red Sea. (UK Ministry of Defence via AP) As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, it forced the world to again focus on Yemen’s yearslong war, which began when the Houthis seized the country’s capital. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade and energy shipments. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address that the U.S. strikes would “not go unanswered or unpunished.” Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former U.S. intelligence official, welcomed the U.S. strikes but expressed concern Iran was aiming to draw the U.S. deeper into conflict. “We should be worried about regional escalation,” Slotkin wrote on X. “Iran uses groups like the Houthis to fight their battles, maintain plausible deniability and prevent a direct conflict with the U.S. or others. ... It needs to stop, and my hope is they’ve gotten the message.” Biden told reporters that Iran has received a clear message. “I already delivered the message to Iran. They know not to do anything,” he said. Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to calm tensions in the Middle East for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes threatened to ignite one. Saudi Arabia — which supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting — quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. It remained unclear how extensive the damage was from Friday’s strikes, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The White House said the U.S. military was still assessing the extent the militants’ capabilities might have been degraded. U.S. Air Forces Central Command said the strikes focused on the Houthi’s command and control nodes, munition depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems. The strikes involved more than 150 precision-guided munitions including air-launched missiles by F/A-18 Super Hornets based on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Tomahawk missiles from the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, the Navy cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and a U.S. submarine. The United Kingdom said strikes hit a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced it imposed sanctions on two firms in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran-based Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. Four vessels owned by the firms were also identified as blocked property. In a separate development, Iran released footage of its seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once had been at the center of a dispute between Tehran and Washington. In the footage, a helicopter hovers over the deck of the St. Nikolas. Iran’s navy seized the vessel Thursday. The vessel had been known earlier as the Suez Rajan. The U.S. seized 1 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil off the vessel last year. In Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said that “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.” The Red Sea route is a crucial waterway, and attacks there have caused severe disruptions to global trade. Benchmark Brent crude oil traded up some 4% Friday at over $80 a barrel. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea. In Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday, denouncing the U.S. and Israel. Another drew thousands in Sanaa, the capital. Houthis now control territory that is home to some two-thirds of Yemen’s population of 34 million. War and misgovernment have made Yemen one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, and the World Food Program considers the vast majority of Yemen’s people as food-insecure. Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen. That war began when the Houthis swept into Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen’s exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support. The conflict, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. In March, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal to restart relations with Iran in hopes of ultimately withdrawing from the war. Iran condemned Friday’s attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani. “Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region,” he said. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea. And Russia on Friday condemned the strikes as “illegitimate from the point of view of international law.” ___ AP writer Aamer Madhani reported from Washington. AP writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Nasser Karimi in Tehran; Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer and Chris Megerian in Washington, and Seung Min Kim in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Microsoft Tops Apple to Become Most Valuable Public Company The shift is indicative of the importance of new artificial intelligence technology to Silicon Valley and Wall Street investors. Share full article $3.0 trillion in market capitalization 2.5 2.0 Apple Microsoft 1.5 1.0 0.5 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Note: Data from 2000 to 2023 is plotted monthly and adjusted for inflation.Source: LSEG Data and AnalyticsBy The New York Times By Tripp Mickle and Karen Weise Tripp Mickle has covered Apple since 2016. Karen Weise has covered Microsoft since 2018. Jan. 12, 2024 Updated 5:55 p.m. ET Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it sent to your inbox. For more than a decade, Apple was the stock market’s undisputed king. It first overtook Exxon Mobil as the world’s most valuable public company in 2011 and held the title almost without interruption. But a transfer of power has begun. On Friday, Microsoft surpassed Apple, claiming the crown after its market value surged by more than $1 trillion over the past year. Microsoft finished the day at $2.89 trillion, higher than Apple’s $2.87 trillion, according to Bloomberg. The change is part of a reordering of the stock market that was set in motion by the advent of generative artificial intelligence. The technology, which can answer questions, create images and write code, has been heralded for its potential to disrupt businesses and create trillions of dollars in economic value. When Apple replaced Exxon, it ushered in an era of tech supremacy. The values of Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Google dwarfed former market leaders like Walmart, JPMorgan Chase and General Motors. ADVERTISEMENT SKIP ADVERTISEMENT The tech industry still dominates the top of the list, but the companies with the most momentum have put generative A.I. at the forefront of their future business plans. The combined value of Microsoft, Nvidia and Alphabet, Google’s parent company, increased by $2.5 trillion last year. Their performances outshined Apple, which posted a smaller share price increase in 2023. “It simply comes down to gen A.I.,” said Brad Reback, an analyst at the investment bank Stifel. Generative A.I. will have an impact on all of Microsoft’s businesses, including its largest, he said, while “Apple doesn’t have much of an A.I. story yet.”

Justice Department to pursue death penalty against Buffalo supermarket shooter Payton Gendron Gendron pleaded guilty on state charges of killing 10 people in May 2022. ByAaron Katersky, Alexander Mallin, and Meredith Deliso January 12, 2024, 9:27 PM Saving ourselves: A community committed to change Struggling to heal following the Tops supermarket shooting, Buffalo families vow...Show More The Justice Department said Friday in a court filing it will seek the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the then-19-year-old who killed 10 people in a racially motivated shooting at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in May 2022. "United States believes the circumstances in Counts 11-20 of the Indictment are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified," the filing said. Lawyers for Gendron previously said he would consider pleading guilty to the federal charges if the death penalty was taken off the table. PHOTO: Payton Gendron, center, listens as he is sentenced to life in prison without parole for domestic terrorism motivated by hate and each of the 10 counts of first-degree murder, in an Erie County court room, in Buffalo, N.Y., Feb 15, 2023. Payton Gendron, center, listens as he is sentenced to life in prison without parole for domestic terrorism motivated by hate and each of the 10 counts of first-degree murder, in an E...Show more Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool, FILE Grendron was not in court on Friday when prosecutor Joe Tripi formally notified the judge of the government's intent to seek the death penalty. The defense waived Gendron's appearance, but Judge Lawrence Vilardo said he would have to show up in court soon. Recent Stories from ABC News "There's going to come a point in the relatively near future when he's going to need to be here," Vilardo said. Assistant federal defender Sonya Zoghlin responded, "I'm sure the court is completely confident we are communicating with him appropriately." The next court date is Feb. 2. Federal prosecutors outlined the reasons why they believe a death sentence is warranted in their filing, saying, "Gendron intentionally killed Roberta Drury, Pearl Young, Hayward Patterson, Ruth Whitfield, Celestine Chaney, Aaron W Salter Jr., Andre Mackniel, Marcus Morrison, Katherine Massey and Geraldine Talley." The Justice Department also cited Gendron's intentional infliction of bodily injury, intentional participation in an act resulting in death and the blatant racism associated with the shooting. "Payton Gendron expressed bias, hatred, and contempt toward Black persons and his animus toward Black persons played a role," the filing said. The defense said they were "deeply disappointed" in the DOJ's decision to pursue the death penalty. "Rather than a prolonged and traumatic capital prosecution, the efforts of the federal government would be better spent on combatting the forces that facilitated this terrible crime, including easy access to deadly weapons and the failure of social media companies to moderate the hateful rhetoric and images that circulate online," Zoghlin said in a statement. MORE: Buffalo: Healing from Hate: Saving Ourselves A federal grand jury returned a 27-count indictment against Gendron in July 2022 charging him with 14 violations of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act: "10 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, three counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill three injured individuals, and one hate crimes count alleging that Gendron attempted to kill additional Black people in and around the Tops grocery store," according to a statement from the Department of Justice. He was also charged with 13 firearms offenses. Gendron was motivated by a racist, far-right conspiracy known as replacement theory and he wanted to "inspire others to commit similar attacks," according to a criminal complaint. Markings on the rifle used in the shooting included the phrases "here's your reparations" and "the great replacement," the complaint said. Recent Stories from ABC News Garland has pursued two death penalty cases under his tenure -- one against Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people with a truck on a Manhattan bike path in October 2017, and the second against Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people in a shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018. A jury decided not to sentence Saipov to death, while Bowers was given the death penalty. Both of those cases were carried over from the previous administration, however, and Garland instituted a moratorium on the death penalty in July 2021. The moratorium remains in place. MORE: Son of Buffalo mass shooting victim fears death penalty will make suspect 'a martyr' The decision to seek the death penalty follows more than a year of deliberations inside the Justice Department. Garland has been open in previous public appearances about his concerns regarding the death penalty, and President Joe Biden campaigned on formally abolishing it at the federal level. But in the absence of a formal policy instituted by the Biden administration, DOJ officials have debated over a so-called "worst-of-the-worst" threshold for when recommending a death sentence is appropriate in some of the most egregious cases of hate-fueled mass acts of terror. The family members of victims said they met with prosecutors earlier Friday, where they learned the DOJ was seeking the death penalty. PHOTO: Mark Talley, the son of victim Geraldine Talley, speaks to reporters outside the Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 12, 2024. Mark Talley, the son of victim Geraldine Talley, speaks to reporters outside the Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 12, 2024. ABC News Mark Talley, the son of shooting victim Geraldine Talley, told reporters the decision made some happy, though he felt Gendron is "getting off the hook" if sentenced to death. Recent Stories from ABC News "For me, I want something worse than that," Mark Talley said outside the federal courthouse in Buffalo. "I want him to torture, I want him to suffer, I want everything he ever loved to suffer. I want friends and family that he loved to suffer. I want possibly the worst thing that I can ever imagine to possibly happen to him." "As far as I'm concerned, I think he's getting off the hook getting the death penalty because he won't get that suffering that I want," he continued. "As long as I'm alive, whether God gives me 20, 30 or 60 years, I wanna be able to see him to suffer." Wayne Jones, whose mother, Celestine Chaney, was killed in the attack, also said he was not in favor of seeking the death penalty. "I just wanted him to suffer as much as we've had to suffer," Jones told ABC News. "But I know in our group, there were people who didn't want anything else but death." Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he supported the DOJ's decision to pursue the death penalty, saying it should act as a "deterrent for this type of terrible crime." "I think it is the right decision," Brown said during a press briefing Friday. "Ten innocent lives in this community were taken, three other members of the community were injured and the shooter traveled more than three hours away from Buffalo to commit this heinous crime." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said she supported the DOJ's decision. "This complies with the DOJ requirements for what constitutes a death penalty offense," she said during an unrelated press briefing on Friday. "This community is still reeling from the atrocity of 10 innocent people on May 14 in 2022, simply going about shopping and were targeted -- targeted because of the color of their skin by a white supremacist who was radicalized online." PHOTO: A "Memorial Garden" filled with flowers, photos and mementos sits outside the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14, 2022 in Buffalo. A "Memorial Garden" filled with flowers, photos and mementos sits outside the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14, 2022 in Buffalo. John Normile/Getty Images, FILE Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without parole on state charges in February 2023 after pleading guilty to 15 charges, including domestic terrorism motivated by hate, murder and attempted murder. Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan imposed a sentence of life in prison without parole for each of the 10 victims he killed on May 14, 2022, at the Tops market and 25 years for each of the three victims he shot and wounded. During the sentencing hearing, Gendron offered a brief apology, saying he was "very sorry for all the pain" he caused "for stealing the lives of your loved ones." "I did a terrible thing that day. I shot people because they were Black," Gendron said. 2024

Russia warns UK that troop deployment in Ukraine would be 'declaration of war' Dmitry Medvedev made the warning as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was arriving in Kyiv to announce a major funding package for Ukraine By Michael Dorgan Fox News Published January 12, 2024 26 people injured after explosion during council meeting in Ukraine

State Department: Arab nations will partner with US on Gaza if Israel gets on board BY LAUREN IRWIN - 01/12/24 3:13 PM ET SHARE TWEET Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned from a seven-day trip in the Middle East, where he visited nine countries to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the conflicts that threaten a wider regional war. According to his spokesperson, Matt Miller, the Arab nations are ready to partner with the U.S. on short-term and long-term solutions for Palestinians in Gaza, but only if Israel is willing to get on board. “We’ve traveled through to nine countries and met with leaders in each of those, and was able to secure agreements with all of these Arab partners, as well as with Turkey, that they were ready to have those conversations, they were ready to coordinate with the United States and they were ready to take real steps to improve the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to look at how to rebuild Gaza and establish Palestinian-led governance in Gaza,” Miller told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Friday. “But they were only willing to do that if they had a partner on the other side in Israel and if Israel was ready to take real concrete steps to establish an independent Palestinian state,” Miller continued. Blinken traveled to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and the West Bank to continue diplomatic discussions as tensions in the region have spiked surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. The most recent trip was Blinken’s fourth visit to the region since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 in a surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages. In the months since, Israel has pursued a deadly and destructive counteroffensive that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly all of the region’s population. Miller said during the most recent trip, there “really was a difference” because the Arab partners they spoke with after the initial attacks were not ready to discuss the reconstruction, security and governance in Gaza, but now they are. Blinken reportedly had a “very candid conversation” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials about the partners the country would gain in the Arab world if it were to agree on the future of Gaza. “But look, it’s going to require tough choices, and not just tough choices from Arab partners in the region, but really tough choices from Israel,” Miller said. “And so, the United States can’t make those tough choices for Israel. We can’t make those tough choices for any of these countries.” Miller said the U.S. plans to play a leadership role in presenting its vision on the reconstruction of Gaza, and that Blinken will “continue to present” and “continue to press” in upcoming trips to the region in the next weeks and months.

China calls Taiwan's 2024 election a choice between peace and war. Here's what to know. By Elizabeth Palmer, Lucy Craft January 12, 2024 / 7:34 AM EST / CBS News Taipei, Taiwan — On Saturday, the people of Taiwan will elect a new president. For weeks, the leading candidates have staged boisterous campaign rallies across the small island off China's east coast. Addressing cheering supporters, they've made promises, ridiculed the opposition and worked the crowds — all visible proof of Taiwan's vibrant, thriving democracy. But one sobering presence loomed large over the campaign: Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi claims Taiwan belongs to China, and he's vowed to assert control over it — leaving open the option of using force. In his 2024 New Year's address, he insisted that reunification after more than seven decades was a "historical inevitability." As Taiwan's strongest ally, the U.S. is watching both the election and China's rhetoric very closely. What to know as the U.S. grapples with soaring China-Taiwan tension "Every election in Taiwan is significant because of the potential for Beijing reacting in a way that could contribute to further instability in the region," Taipei-based political analyst Michael Cole told CBS News. At a meeting between Presidents Biden and Xi in the U.S. last fall, the Chinese leader called Taiwan "the biggest, most potentially dangerous issue in U.S.-China relations" and said he would prefer a peaceful reunification, but again refused to rule out the use of force, according to a U.S. official's account of the conversation. Who is running in Taiwan's election? Taiwan's presidential race pits current Vice President Ching-te Lai, 64, a Harvard-educated physician-turned-politician who also goes by William, against challenger Hou Yu-Ih, a former police officer of the conservative Kuomintang party. Ahead of Taiwan presidential election 2024 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te holds a campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 11, 2024, ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 13, 2024. MAN HEI LEUNG/ANADOLU/GETTY There's also a dark horse rival, Ko Wen-Je, a former mayor of Taipei, of the Taiwan People's Party. It's a close race, but before polling was suspended more than a week before the vote, as required by Taiwanese law, Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was running a few points ahead of its rivals. Where the candidates stand, and China's warning All the parties advocate different approaches to dealing with Beijing. The Kuomintang favors dialogue and closer but unspecified ties with China in order to avoid a war, but none of the parties support a reunification that would see Taiwan swap its democracy for Beijing's one-party communist rule. That reflects the conviction of an overwhelming majority of the Taiwanese people. "Hong Kong's experience in recent years is something that the Taiwanese most assuredly do not want for themselves," said Cole, of the International Republican Institute in Taipei. Supporters of all parties in Taiwan, Cole said, "have this thing in common called freedom and democracy." About 200 miles south of the capital, two military veterans monitor the skies above the island, tracking the planes of Taiwan's military as they roar overhead — along with radio chatter from Chinese pilots who fly their fighter jets close to, or into Taiwanese airspace. "They think Taiwan is part of their country, that the airspace in the Taiwan Strait and to the east of Taiwan are part of their territory," Taiwan Air Force veteran Eric Chan, a 55-year-old YouTuber, told CBS News. Chan and his fellow vloggers said the Chinese flights were intimidation meant to influence voters to cast ballots for Taiwanese politicians who favor closer ties with China. China accuses frontrunner Lai and his DPP, which has governed Taiwan for the last eight years, of promoting separatist sentiment in Taiwan. If Lai wins, China's government warned Thursday that he "would continue to follow the evil path of provoking 'independence,'" taking Taiwan "ever further away from peace and prosperity, and ever closer to war and decline." "China meddles every time Taiwan holds elections, but this time it is the most serious we have ever seen," said Lai in the runup to the election. "No matter if it is propaganda or military intimidation, cognitive warfare or fake news, they are employing it all." The risk of war in the Taiwan Strait While Xi has threatened to use force to reunify China and Taiwan, the plane watchers wryly dismiss the prospect - while making it clear they would never accept being ruled by the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party. "I've got a joke for you," says radio afficionado Robin Hsu, 52, who blogs on Facebook. "In Taiwan, the people are free to criticize the president. And in China, the people are also free to criticize the president — of Taiwan." Untold numbers of military aircraft now patrol the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China — not just from China and Taiwan, but from the militaries of the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries. Tense encounters, with accusations of "trespassing," have become a more common occurrence. YouTuber Chan said that was making a potentially disastrous mid-air miscalculation ever more likely, "because if any one side fails to control themselves, then it might lead to a war." "Trusting in Taiwan or trusting in Xi" In the days ahead of the election, in Miaoli, southwest of capital Taipei, several thousand of the ruling DPP party's faithful crowded into a public park, where workers had neatly arranged rows of red plastic stools. As bombastic music filled the town square, they politely waved flags reading: "Choose the right person, walk the right path." wm-lai-rally.jpg Supporters of Taiwan's ruling DPP party hold a rally for the party's presidential candidate, Lai Ching-te, in Miaoli, southwest of Taiwan's capital Taipei, days before Taiwan's Jan. 13, 2024 presidential election. LUCY CRAFT/CBS NEWS Of course, this election is about local issues — from the cost of housing to better care for the elderly. But underpinning it all is Taiwan's relationship with China. "It's a choice between choosing a president, as opposed to a chief executive like Hong Kong has had to do," said Lai. "Embracing the world or staying hemmed in by China. Trusting in Taiwan or trusting in Xi." No matter which party wins, the Taiwanese will not be voting to trust in Xi.

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and his father named him president of his real estate business in 1971. Trump renamed it the Trump Organization and reoriented the company toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After a series of business failures in the late twentieth century, he successfully launched side ventures that required little capital, mostly by licensing the Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he co-produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice. He and his businesses have been plaintiff or defendant in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six business bankruptcies. Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote.[a] During the campaign, his political positions were described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. His election and policies sparked numerous protests. He was the first U.S. president with no prior military or government experience. The 2017–2019 special counsel investigation established that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to favor Trump's campaign. Trump promoted conspiracy theories and made many false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged or racist and many as misogynistic. As president, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and implemented a policy of family separations for migrants detained at the U.S. border. He weakened environmental protections, rolling back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations. He signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which cut taxes for individuals and businesses and rescinded the individual health insurance mandate penalty of the Affordable Care Act. He appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. He reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials, used political pressure to interfere with testing efforts, and spread misinformation about unproven treatments. Trump initiated a trade war with China and withdrew the U.S. from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times but made no progress on denuclearization. Trump refused to concede after losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud, and attempted to overturn the results by pressuring government officials, mounting scores of unsuccessful legal challenges, and obstructing the presidential transition. On January 6, 2021, he urged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, which many of them then attacked, resulting in multiple deaths and interrupting the electoral vote count. Trump is the only American president to have been impeached twice. After he tried to pressure Ukraine in 2019 to investigate Biden, he was impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress; he was acquitted by the Senate in February 2020. The House impeached him again in January 2021, for incitement of insurrection, and the Senate acquitted him in February. Scholars and historians rank Trump as one of the worst presidents in American history.[1][2] Since leaving office, Trump has remained the de facto leader of the Republican Party and is a candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. In 2023, a civil trial jury found that Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll. He was also indicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in Florida on 40 felony counts related to his mishandling of classified documents, in Washington, D.C., on four felony counts of conspiracy and obstruction for efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and in Georgia on 13 charges of racketeering and other alleged felonies committed in an effort to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Personal life Early life A black-and-white photograph of Donald Trump as a teenager, smiling, wearing a dark pseudo-military uniform with various badges and a light-colored stripe crossing his right shoulder Trump at the New York Military Academy in 1964 Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City,[3] the fourth child of Fred Trump, a Bronx-born real estate developer whose parents were German immigrants, and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, an immigrant from Scotland. Trump grew up with older siblings Maryanne, Fred Jr., and Elizabeth and younger brother Robert in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens, and attended the private Kew-Forest School from kindergarten through seventh grade.[4][5][6] At age 13, he was enrolled at the New York Military Academy, a private boarding school,[7] and, in 1964, he enrolled at Fordham University. Two years later, he transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.[8][9] In 2015, Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen threatened Trump's colleges, high school, and the College Board with legal action if they released Trump's academic records.[10] While in college, Trump obtained four student draft deferments during the Vietnam War era.[11] In 1966, he was deemed fit for military service based upon a medical examination, and in July 1968, a local draft board classified him as eligible to serve.[12] In October 1968, he was classified 1-Y, a conditional medical deferment,[13] and in 1972, he was reclassified 4-F due to bone spurs, permanently disqualifying him from service.[14] Family Main article: Family of Donald Trump In 1977, Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková.[15] They had three children: Donald Jr. (born 1977), Ivanka (born 1981), and Eric (born 1984). Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988.[16] The couple divorced in 1990, following Trump's affair with actress Marla Maples.[17] Trump and Maples married in 1993 and divorced in 1999. They have one daughter, Tiffany (born 1993), who was raised by Marla in California.[18] In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss.[19] They have one son, Barron (born 2006).[20] Melania gained U.S. citizenship in 2006.[21] Religion Trump went to Sunday school and was confirmed in 1959 at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens.[22][23] In the 1970s, his parents joined the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, which belongs to the Reformed Church in America.[22][24] The pastor at Marble, Norman Vincent Peale,[22] ministered to the family until his death in 1993.[24] Trump has described him as a mentor.[25] In 2015, the church stated that Trump was not an active member.[23] In 2019, he appointed his personal pastor, televangelist Paula White, to the White House Office of Public Liaison.[26] In 2020, he said he identified as a non-denominational Christian.[27] Health habits Trump has called golfing his "primary form of exercise" but usually does not walk the course.[28] He considers exercise a waste of energy because he believes exercise depletes the body's energy "like a battery, with a finite amount of energy".[29] In 2015, Trump's campaign released a letter from his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein, stating that Trump would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency".[30] In 2018, Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the letter and that three Trump agents had seized his medical records in a February 2017 raid on the doctor's office.[30][31] Wealth Main article: Wealth of Donald Trump Ivana Trump and King Fahd shake hands, with Ronald Reagan standing next to them smiling. All are in black formal attire. Trump (far right) and wife Ivana in the receiving line of a state dinner for King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in 1985, with U.S. president Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan In 1982, Trump made the initial Forbes list of wealthy people for holding a share of his family's estimated $200 million net worth (equivalent to $606 million in 2022).[32] His losses in the 1980s dropped him from the list between 1990 and 1995.[33] After filing the mandatory financial disclosure report with the FEC in July 2015, he announced a net worth of about $10 billion. Records released by the FEC showed at least $1.4 billion in assets and $265 million in liabilities.[34] Forbes estimated his net worth dropped by $1.4 billion between 2015 and 2018.[35] In their 2021 billionaires ranking, Trump's net worth was estimated to be $2.4 billion (1,299th in the world).[36] Journalist Jonathan Greenberg reported that Trump called him in 1984, pretending to be a fictional Trump Organization official named "John Barron". Greenberg said that Trump, speaking as "Barron", falsely asserted that he owned more than 90 percent of his father's business to get a higher ranking for himself on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans. Greenberg also wrote that Forbes had vastly overestimated Trump's wealth and wrongly included him on the Forbes 400 rankings of 1982, 1983, and 1984.[37] Trump has often said he began his career with "a small loan of one million dollars" from his father and that he had to pay it back with interest.[38] He was a millionaire by age eight, borrowed at least $60 million from his father, largely failed to repay those loans, and received another $413 million (2018 dollars adjusted for inflation) from his father's company.[39][40] In 2018, he and his family were reported to have committed tax fraud, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance started an investigation.[40] His investments underperformed the stock and New York property markets.[41][42] Forbes estimated in October 2018 that his net worth declined from $4.5 billion in 2015 to $3.1 billion in 2017 and his product-licensing income from $23 million to $3 million.[43] Contrary to his claims of financial health and business acumen, Trump's tax returns from 1985 to 1994 show net losses totaling $1.17 billion. The losses were higher than those of almost every other American taxpayer. The losses in 1990 and 1991, more than $250 million each year, were more than double those of the nearest taxpayers. In 1995, his reported losses were $915.7 million (equivalent to $1.76 billion in 2022).[44][45][32] In 2020, the New York Times obtained Trump's tax information extending over two decades. Its reporters found that Trump reported losses of hundreds of millions of dollars and had, since 2010, deferred declaring $287 million in forgiven debt as taxable income. His income mainly came from his share in The Apprentice and businesses in which he was a minority partner, and his losses mainly from majority-owned businesses. Much income was in tax credits for his losses, which let him avoid annual income tax payments or lower them to $750. During the 2010s, Trump balanced his businesses' losses by selling and borrowing against assets, including a $100 million mortgage on Trump Tower (due in 2022) and the liquidation of over $200 million in stocks and bonds. He personally guaranteed $421 million in debt, most of which is due by 2024.[46] As of October 2021, Trump had over $1.3 billion in total debts, much of which is secured by his assets.[47] In 2020, he owed $640 million to banks and trust organizations, including Bank of China, Deutsche Bank, and UBS, and approximately $450 million to unknown creditors. The value of his assets exceeds his debt.[48] Business career Main article: Business career of Donald Trump Further information: Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia Real estate Exterior ground view of Trump tower, a contemporary skyscraper with a glass curtain and stepped façade Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan Starting in 1968, Trump was employed at his father's real estate company, Trump Management, which owned racially segregated middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs.[49][50] In 1971, he became president of the company and began using the Trump Organization as an umbrella brand.[51] Between 1991 and 2009, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses, the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, the casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts company.[52] Manhattan developments Trump attracted public attention in 1978 with the launch of his family's first Manhattan venture, the renovation of the derelict Commodore Hotel, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal.[53] The financing was facilitated by a $400 million city property tax abatement arranged for Trump by his father who also, jointly with Hyatt, guaranteed a $70 million bank construction loan.[50][54] The hotel reopened in 1980 as the Grand Hyatt Hotel,[55] and that same year, Trump obtained rights to develop Trump Tower, a mixed-use skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.[56] The building houses the headquarters of the Trump Corporation and Trump's PAC and was Trump's primary residence until 2019.[57][58] In 1988, Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of sixteen banks.[59] The hotel filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992, and a reorganization plan was approved a month later, with the banks taking control of the property.[60] In 1995, Trump defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel along with most of his other properties in a humiliating restructuring that allowed Trump to avoid personal bankruptcy.[61][62] The lead bank's attorney said of the banks' decision that they "all agreed that he'd be better alive than dead."[62] In 1996, Trump acquired the mostly vacant 71-story skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later rebranded as the Trump Building, and renovated it.[63] In the early 1990s, Trump won the right to develop a 70-acre (28 ha) tract in the Lincoln Square neighborhood near the Hudson River. Struggling with debt from other ventures in 1994, Trump sold most of his interest in the project to Asian investors, who were able to finance the project's completion, Riverside South.[64] Atlantic City casinos The entrance of the Trump Taj Mahal, a casino in Atlantic City. It has motifs evocative of the Taj Mahal in India. Entrance of the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City In 1984, Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, with financing and management help from the Holiday Corporation.[65] It was unprofitable, and Trump paid Holiday $70 million in May 1986 to take sole control.[66] In 1985, Trump bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump Castle.[67] His wife Ivana managed it until 1988.[68] Both casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992.[69] Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue in 1988, the Trump Taj Mahal. It was financed with $675 million in junk bonds and completed for $1.1 billion, opening in April 1990.[70][71] Trump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991. Under the provisions of the restructuring agreement, Trump gave up half his initial stake and personally guaranteed future performance.[72] To reduce his $900 million of personal debt, he sold the Trump Shuttle airline; his megayacht, the Trump Princess, which had been leased to his casinos and kept docked; and other businesses.[73] In 1995, Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.[74] THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle in 1996 and went bankrupt in 2004 and 2009, leaving Trump with 10 percent ownership.[65] He remained chairman until 2009.[75] Mar-a-Lago Main article: Mar-a-Lago In 1985, Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.[76] In 1995, he converted the estate into a private club with an initiation fee and annual dues. He continued to use a wing of the house as a private residence.[77] In 2019, Trump declared Mar-a-Lago his primary residence.[58] Golf courses Main article: Donald Trump and golf The Trump Organization began building and buying golf courses in 1999.[78] It owns fourteen and manages another three Trump-branded courses worldwide.[78][79] Trump visited a Trump Organization property on 428 (nearly one in three) of the 1,461 days of his presidency and is estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf, one every 5.6 days.[80] Licensing of the Trump brand See also: List of things named after Donald Trump The Trump name has been licensed for various consumer products and services, including foodstuffs, apparel, adult learning courses, and home furnishings.[81][82] According to an analysis by The Washington Post, there are more than 50 licensing or management deals involving Trump's name, and they have generated at least $59 million in revenue for his companies.[83] By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license his name.[81] Side ventures Trump, Doug Flutie, and an unnamed official standing behind a lectern with big, round New Jersey Generals sign, with members of the press seated in the background Trump and New Jersey Generals quarterback Doug Flutie at a 1985 press conference in the lobby of Trump Tower In September 1983, Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League. After the 1985 season, the league folded, largely due to Trump's strategy of moving games to a fall schedule (when they competed with the NFL for audience) and trying to force a merger with the NFL by bringing an antitrust suit against the organization.[84][85] Trump's businesses have hosted several boxing matches at the Atlantic City Convention Hall, adjacent to and promoted as taking place at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.[86][87] In 1989 and 1990, Trump lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race, which was an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races such as the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia.[88] From 1986 to 1988, Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company and then sold his shares for a profit,[44] leading some observers to think he was engaged in greenmail.[89] The New York Times found that Trump initially made millions of dollars in such stock transactions, but later "lost most, if not all, of those gains after investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously".[44] In 1988, Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, financing the purchase with $380 million (equivalent to $940 million in 2022)[32] in loans from a syndicate of 22 banks. He renamed the airline Trump Shuttle and operated it until 1992.[90] Trump defaulted on his loans in 1991, and ownership passed to the banks.[91] The airline was eventually sold to US Airways.[90] A red star with a bronze outline and "Donald Trump" and a TV icon written on it in bronze, embedded in a black terrazzo sidewalk Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame In 1992, Trump, his siblings Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Robert, and his cousin John W. Walter, each with a 20 percent share, formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp. The company had no offices and is alleged to have been a shell company for paying the vendors providing services and supplies for Trump's rental units, then billing those services and supplies to Trump Management with markups of 20–50 percent and more. The owners shared the proceeds generated by the markups.[40][92] The increased costs were used as justification to get state approval for increasing the rents of Trump's rent-stabilized units.[40] From 1996 to 2015, Trump owned all or part of the Miss Universe pageants, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.[93][94] Due to disagreements with CBS about scheduling, he took both pageants to NBC in 2002.[95][96] In 2007, Trump received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as producer of Miss Universe.[97] NBC and Univision dropped the pageants from their broadcasting lineups in June 2015.[98] Trump University Main article: Trump University In 2004, Trump co-founded Trump University, a company that sold real estate training courses priced from $1,500 to $35,000.[99] After New York State authorities notified the company that its use of the word "university" violated state law (as it was not an academic institution), its name was changed to the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010.[100] In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging that the company made false statements and defrauded consumers.[101] In addition, two class actions were filed in federal court against Trump and his companies. Internal documents revealed that employees were instructed to use a hard-sell approach, and former employees testified that Trump University had defrauded or lied to its students.[102][103][104] Shortly after he won the 2016 presidential election, Trump agreed to pay a total of $25 million to settle the three cases.[105] Foundation Main article: Donald J. Trump Foundation The Donald J. Trump Foundation was a private foundation established in 1988.[106][107] In the foundation's final years, its funds mostly came from donors other than Trump, who did not donate any personal funds to the charity from 2009 until 2014.[108] The foundation gave to health-care- and sports-related charities, as well as conservative groups.[109] In 2016, The Washington Post reported that the charity committed several potential legal and ethical violations, including alleged self-dealing and possible tax evasion.[110] Also in 2016, the New York Attorney General determined the foundation to be in violation of state law for soliciting donations and ordered it to immediately cease its fundraising activities in New York.[111] Trump's team announced in December 2016 that the foundation would be dissolved.[112] In June 2018, the New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the foundation, Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8 million in restitution and additional penalties.[113][114] In December 2018, the foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.[115] In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million to a group of charities for misusing the foundation's funds, in part to finance his presidential campaign.[116][117] Legal affairs and bankruptcies Main article: Legal affairs of Donald Trump Roy Cohn was Trump's fixer, lawyer, and mentor for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s.[118] According to Trump, Cohn sometimes waived fees due to their friendship.[118] In 1973, Cohn helped Trump countersue the United States government for $100 million (equivalent to $659 million in 2022)[32] over its charges that Trump's properties had racial discriminatory practices. Trump's counterclaims were dismissed, and the government's case went forward, ultimately resulting in a settlement.[119] In 1975, an agreement was struck requiring Trump's properties to furnish the New York Urban League with a list of all apartment vacancies, every week for two years, among other things.[120] Cohn introduced political consultant Roger Stone to Trump, who enlisted Stone's services to deal with the federal government.[121] According to a review of state and federal court files conducted by USA Today in 2018, Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions.[122] While Trump has not filed for personal bankruptcy, his over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times between 1991 and 2009.[123] They continued to operate while the banks restructured debt and reduced Trump's shares in the properties.[123] During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4 billion.[124] After his corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major banks, with the exception of Deutsche Bank, declined to lend to him.[125] After the January 6 United States Capitol attack, the bank decided not to do business with Trump or his company in the future.[126] Media career Main article: Media career of Donald Trump Books Main article: Bibliography of Donald Trump Using ghostwriters, Trump has produced up to 19 books on business, financial, or political topics under his name.[127] His first book, The Art of the Deal (1987), was a New York Times Best Seller. While Trump was credited as co-author, the entire book was written by Tony Schwartz.[128] According to The New Yorker, "The book expanded Trump's renown far beyond New York City, making him an emblem of the successful tycoon."[128] Trump has called the volume his second favorite book, after the Bible.[129] Film and television Main article: Media career of Donald Trump Trump made cameo appearances in many films and television shows from 1985 to 2001.[130] Trump had a sporadic relationship with the professional wrestling promotion WWE since the late 1980s.[131] He appeared at WrestleMania 23 in 2007 and was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.[132] Trump, in a suit, sits in a crowded baseball stadium Trump at a New York Mets baseball game in 2009 Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest about 24 times on the nationally syndicated Howard Stern Show.[133] He also had his own short form talk radio program called Trumped! (one to two minutes on weekdays) from 2004 to 2008.[134][135] From 2011 until 2015, he was a weekly unpaid guest commentator on Fox & Friends.[136][137] From 2004 to 2015, Trump was co-producer and host of reality shows The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice. Trump played a flattering, highly fictionalized version of himself as a superrich and successful chief executive who eliminated contestants with the catchphrase "You're fired". The shows remade his image for millions of viewers nationwide.[138][139] With the related licensing agreements, they earned him more than $400 million which he invested in largely unprofitable businesses.[140] In February 2021, Trump resigned from the Screen Actors Guild he had been a member of since 1989 rather than face a disciplinary committee hearing for inciting the January 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol and for his "reckless campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting and ultimately threatening the safety of journalists".[141] Two days later, the union permanently barred him from readmission.[142] Political career Further information: Political career of Donald Trump Donald Trump shakes hands with Bill Clinton in a lobby; Trump is speaking and Clinton is smiling, and both are wearing suits. Trump and President Bill Clinton in June 2000 Trump's political party affiliation has changed numerous times. He registered as a Republican in 1987;[143] a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party, in 1999;[144] a Democrat in 2001; a Republican in 2009; unaffiliated in 2011; and a Republican in 2012.[143] In 1987, Trump placed full-page advertisements in three major newspapers,[145] expressing his views on foreign policy and on how to eliminate the federal budget deficit.[146] He ruled out running for local office but not for the presidency.[145] In 1988, he approached Lee Atwater, asking to be put into consideration to be Republican nominee George H. W. Bush's running mate. Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable".[147] Presidential campaigns (2000–2016) In 2000, Trump ran in the California and Michigan primaries for nomination as the Reform Party candidate for the 2000 United States presidential election but withdrew from the race in February 2000.[148][149][150] A July 1999 poll matching him against likely Republican nominee George W. Bush and likely Democratic nominee Al Gore showed Trump with seven percent support.[151] Trump, leaning heavily onto a lectern, with his mouth open mid-speech and a woman clapping politely next to him Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 In 2011, Trump speculated about running against President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, making his first speaking appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2011 and giving speeches in early primary states.[152][153] In May 2011, he announced he would not run,[152] and he endorsed Mitt Romney in February 2012.[154] Trump's presidential ambitions were generally not taken seriously at the time.[155] 2016 presidential campaign Main article: Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign Further information: 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries and 2016 United States presidential election § General election campaign Trump's fame and provocative statements earned him an unprecedented amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.[156] He adopted the phrase "truthful hyperbole", coined by his ghostwriter Tony Schwartz, to describe his public speaking style.[128][157] His campaign statements were often opaque and suggestive,[158] and a record number of them were false.[159][160][161] The Los Angeles Times wrote, "Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has."[162][163] Trump said he disdained political correctness and frequently made claims of media bias.[164][165] Trump speaking in front of an American flag behind a lectern, wearing a black suit and red hat. The lectern sports a blue "TRUMP" sign. Trump campaigning in Arizona, March 2016 Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015.[166][167] His campaign was initially not taken seriously by political analysts, but he quickly rose to the top of opinion polls.[168] He became the front-runner in March 2016[169] and was declared the presumptive Republican nominee in May.[170] Hillary Clinton led Trump in national polling averages throughout the campaign, but, in early July, her lead narrowed.[171][172] In mid-July Trump selected Indiana governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate,[173] and the two were officially nominated at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[174] Trump and Clinton faced off in three presidential debates in September and October 2016. Trump twice refused to say whether he would accept the result of the election.[175] Campaign rhetoric and political positions Main article: Political positions of Donald Trump Trump's political positions and his rhetoric were right-wing populist.[176][177][178] Politico described them as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory", quoting a health-care policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute as saying that his political positions were "a total random assortment of whatever plays publicly".[179] NBC News counted "141 distinct shifts on 23 major issues" during his campaign.[180] Trump questioned the need for NATO and espoused views that were described as isolationist, non-interventionist, and protectionist.[181] His campaign platform emphasized renegotiating U.S.–China relations and free trade agreements such as NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, strongly enforcing immigration laws, and building a new wall along the U.S.–Mexico border. Other campaign positions included pursuing energy independence while opposing climate change regulations such as the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Agreement, modernizing and expediting services for veterans, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, abolishing Common Core education standards, investing in infrastructure, simplifying the tax code while reducing taxes for all economic classes, and imposing tariffs on imports by companies that offshore jobs. He advocated a largely non-interventionist approach to foreign policy while increasing military spending, extreme vetting or banning immigrants from Muslim-majority countries[182] to pre-empt domestic Islamic terrorism, and aggressive military action against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. He described NATO as "obsolete".[183][184] Trump helped bring far-right fringe ideas, beliefs, and organizations into the mainstream.[185] Trump was slow to disavow an endorsement from David Duke after he was questioned about it during a CNN interview on February 28, 2016.[186] Duke enthusiastically supported Trump and said he and like-minded people voted for Trump because of his promises to "take our country back".[187][188] In August 2016, Trump hired Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News—described by Bannon as "the platform for the alt-right"—as his campaign CEO.[189] The alt-right movement coalesced around and supported Trump's candidacy, due in part to its opposition to multiculturalism and immigration.[190][191][192] Financial disclosures Further information: Tax returns of Donald Trump Trump's FEC-required reports listed assets above $1.4 billion and outstanding debts of at least $315 million.[34][193] Trump did not release his tax returns, contrary to the practice of every major candidate since 1976 and his promises in 2014 and 2015 to do so if he ran for office.[194][195] He said his tax returns were being audited, and that his lawyers had advised him against releasing them.[196] After a lengthy court battle to block release of his tax returns and other records to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation, including two appeals by Trump to the United States Supreme Court, in February 2021 the high court allowed the records to be released to the prosecutor for review by a grand jury.[197][198] In October 2016, portions of Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from The New York Times. They show that Trump had declared a loss of $916 million that year, which could have let him avoid taxes for up to 18 years.[199] Election to the presidency Main article: 2016 United States presidential election Electoral college map, depicting Trump winning many states in the South and Midwest and Biden winning many states in the Northeast and Pacific West 2016 electoral vote results. Trump won 304–227 On November 8, 2016, Trump received 306 pledged electoral votes versus 232 for Clinton, though, after elector defections on both sides, the official count was ultimately 304 to 227.[200] Trump, the fifth person to be elected president while losing the popular vote, received nearly 2.9 million fewer votes than Clinton.[201] He also was the only president who neither served in the military nor held any government office prior to becoming president.[202] Trump's victory was a political upset.[203] Polls had consistently shown Clinton with a nationwide—though diminishing—lead, as well as an advantage in most of the competitive states. Trump's support had been modestly underestimated, while Clinton's had been overestimated.[204] Trump won 30 states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, states which had been considered a blue wall of Democratic strongholds since the 1990s. Clinton won 20 states and the District of Columbia. Trump's victory marked the return of an undivided Republican government—a Republican White House combined with Republican control of both chambers of Congress.[205] Pennsylvania Ave., completely packed with protesters, mostly women, many wearing pink and holding signs with progressive feminist slogans Women's March in Washington on January 21, 2017 Trump's election victory sparked protests in major U.S. cities in the days following the election.[206][207] On the day after Trump's inauguration, an estimated 2.6 million people worldwide, including an estimated half million in Washington, D.C., protested against Trump in the Women's Marches.[208] Presidency (2017–2021) Main article: Presidency of Donald Trump For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency. Early actions See also: Presidential transition of Donald Trump and First 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency Trump, with his family watching, raises his right hand and places his left hand on the Bible as he takes the oath of office. Roberts stands opposite him administering the oath. Trump is sworn in as president by Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. During his first week in office, he signed six executive orders, which authorized: interim procedures in anticipation of repealing the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, reinstatement of the Mexico City policy, advancement of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline construction projects, reinforcement of border security, and a planning and design process to construct a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.[209] Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner became his assistant and senior advisor, respectively.[210][211] Conflicts of interest Before being inaugurated, Trump moved his businesses into a revocable trust run by his sons, Eric and Donald Jr., and a business associate.[212][213] Though he said he would eschew "new foreign deals", the Trump Organization pursued expansions of its operations in Dubai, Scotland, and the Dominican Republic. Trump continued to profit from his businesses and to know how his administration's policies affected his businesses.[213][214] He was sued for violating the Domestic and Foreign Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, marking the first time that the clauses had been substantively litigated.[215] One case was dismissed in lower court.[216] Two were dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court as moot after the end of Trump's term.[217] Domestic policy Economy Main article: Economic policy of the Donald Trump administration Trump speaks at a lectern, with a crowd in front of and behind him. A banner behind him reads "Buy American – Hire American" Trump speaks to automobile workers in Michigan, March 2017. Trump took office at the height of the longest economic expansion in American history,[218] which began in June 2009 and continued until February 2020, when the COVID-19 recession began.[219] In December 2017, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The bill had been passed by both Republican-controlled chambers of Congress without any Democratic votes. It reduced tax rates for businesses and individuals, with business tax cuts to be permanent and individual tax cuts set to expire after 2025, and eliminated the penalty associated with Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.[220][221] The Trump administration claimed that the act would either increase tax revenues or pay for itself by prompting economic growth. Instead, revenues in 2018 were 7.6 percent lower than projected.[222] Despite a campaign promise to eliminate the national debt in eight years, Trump approved large increases in government spending and the 2017 tax cut. As a result, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 trillion in 2019.[223] Under Trump, the U.S. national debt increased by 39 percent, reaching $27.75 trillion by the end of his term, and the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio hit a post-World War II high.[224] Trump also failed to deliver the $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan on which he had campaigned.[225] Trump is the only modern U.S. president to leave office with a smaller workforce than when he took office, by 3 million people.[218] Climate change, environment, and energy Main article: Environmental policy of the Donald Trump administration Trump rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.[226][227] He reduced the budget for renewable energy research by 40 percent and reversed Obama-era policies directed at curbing climate change.[228] In June 2017, Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, making the U.S. the only nation in the world to not ratify the agreement.[229] Trump aimed to boost the production and exports of fossil fuels.[230][231] Natural gas expanded under Trump, but coal continued to decline.[232][233] Trump rolled back more than 100 federal environmental regulations, including those that curbed greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and the use of toxic substances. He weakened protections for animals and environmental standards for federal infrastructure projects, and expanded permitted areas for drilling and resource extraction, such as allowing drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Trump's actions while president have been called "a very aggressive attempt to rewrite our laws and reinterpret the meaning of environmental protections".[234] Deregulation In January 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13771, which directed that, for every new regulation, federal agencies "identify" two existing regulations for elimination, though it did not require elimination.[235] He dismantled many federal regulations on health,[236][237] labor,[238][237] and the environment,[239][237] among other topics. Trump signed 14 Congressional Review Act resolutions repealing federal regulations, including a bill that made it easier for severely mentally ill persons to buy guns.[240] During his first six weeks in office, he delayed, suspended, or reversed ninety federal regulations,[241] often "after requests by the regulated industries".[242] The Institute for Policy Integrity found that 78 percent of Trump's proposals were blocked by courts or did not prevail over litigation.[243] Health care During his campaign, Trump vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).[244] In office, he scaled back the Act's implementation through executive orders 13765[245] and 13813.[246] Trump expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail"; his administration cut the ACA enrollment period in half and drastically reduced funding for advertising and other ways to encourage enrollment.[247][248] Trump falsely claimed he saved the coverage of pre-existing conditions provided by the ACA.[249] In June 2018, the Trump administration joined 18 Republican-led states in arguing before the Supreme Court that the elimination of the financial penalties associated with the individual mandate had rendered the ACA unconstitutional.[250][251] If they had succeeded, it would have eliminated health insurance coverage for up to 23 million Americans.[250] During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs, but in January 2020, he suggested he was willing to consider cuts to such programs.[252] In response to the opioid epidemic, Trump signed legislation in 2018 to increase funding for drug treatments but was widely criticized for failing to make a concrete strategy. U.S. opioid overdose deaths declined slightly in 2018 but surged to a record 50,052 deaths in 2019.[253] Social issues Main article: Social policy of Donald Trump Trump barred organizations that provide abortions or abortion referrals from receiving federal funds.[254] He said he supported "traditional marriage" but considered the nationwide legality of same-sex marriage a "settled" issue.[255] In March 2017, his administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration's workplace protections against discrimination of LGBT people.[256] Trump's attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients in August 2020 was halted by a federal judge after the Supreme Court's ruling in July had extended employees' civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.[257] Trump has said he is opposed to gun control in general, although his views have shifted over time.[258] After several mass shootings during his term, he said he would propose legislation related to guns, but he abandoned that effort in November 2019.[259] His administration took an anti-marijuana position, revoking Obama-era policies that provided protections for states that legalized marijuana.[260] Trump is a long-time advocate of capital punishment.[261][262] Under his administration, the federal government executed 13 prisoners, more than in the previous 56 years combined and after a 17-year moratorium.[263] In 2016, Trump said he supported the use of interrogation torture methods such as waterboarding[264][265] but later appeared to recant this due to the opposition of Defense Secretary James Mattis.[266] Pardons and commutations Further information: List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.[267] Only 25 of them had been vetted by the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney; the others were granted to people with personal or political connections to him, his family, and his allies, or recommended by celebrities.[268][269] From 2017 to 2019, he pardoned, amongst others, former Navy sailor Kristian Saucier, who was convicted of taking classified photographs of classified areas inside a submarine;[270] and right-wing commentator Dinesh D'Souza.[271] Following a request by celebrity Kim Kardashian, Trump commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who had been convicted of drug trafficking.[272] Trump also pardoned or reversed the sentences of three American servicemen convicted or accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan or Iraq.[273] In November and December 2020, Trump pardoned four Blackwater private security contractors convicted of killing Iraqi civilians in the 2007 Nisour Square massacre;[274] white-collar criminals Michael Milken and Bernard Kerik;[275] daughter Ivanka's father-in-law Charles Kushner;[269] and five people convicted as a result of investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Among them were Michael Flynn; Roger Stone, whose 40-month sentence for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction he had already commuted in July; and Paul Manafort.[276] In his last full day in office, Trump granted 73 pardons, including to Steve Bannon and Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy, and commuted 70 sentences.[277] Lafayette Square protester removal and photo op Main article: Donald Trump photo op at St. John's Church Trump and group of officials and advisors on the way from White House complex to St. John's Church On June 1, 2020, federal law-enforcement officials used batons, rubber bullets, pepper spray projectiles, stun grenades, and smoke to remove a largely peaceful crowd of protesters from Lafayette Square, outside the White House.[278][279] Trump then walked to St. John's Episcopal Church, where protesters had set a small fire the night before; he posed for photographs holding a Bible, with senior administration officials later joining him in photos.[278][280] Trump said on June 3 that the protesters were cleared because "they tried to burn down the church [on May 31] and almost succeeded", describing the church as "badly hurt".[281] Religious leaders condemned the treatment of protesters and the photo opportunity itself.[282] Many retired military leaders and defense officials condemned Trump's proposal to use the U.S. military against anti-police-brutality protesters.[283] Immigration Main article: Immigration policy of Donald Trump Trump's proposed immigration policies were a topic of bitter and contentious debate during the campaign. He promised to build a wall on the Mexico–United States border to restrict illegal movement and vowed Mexico would pay for it.[284] He pledged to deport millions of illegal immigrants residing in the United States,[285] and criticized birthright citizenship for incentivizing "anchor babies".[286] As president, he frequently described illegal immigration as an "invasion" and conflated immigrants with the criminal gang MS-13,[287] though available research shows undocumented immigrants have a lower crime rate than native-born Americans.[288][289] Trump attempted to drastically escalate immigration enforcement, including implementing harsher immigration enforcement policies against asylum seekers from Central America than any modern U.S. president.[290][291] From 2018 onward, Trump deployed nearly 6,000 troops to the U.S.–Mexico border[292] to stop most Central American migrants from seeking U.S. asylum. In 2020, his administration widened the public charge rule to further restrict immigrants who might use government benefits from getting permanent residency via green cards.[293] Trump reduced the number of refugees admitted into the U.S. to record lows. When Trump took office, the annual limit was 110,000; Trump set a limit of 18,000 in the 2020 fiscal year and 15,000 in the 2021 fiscal year.[294][295] Additional restrictions implemented by the Trump administration caused significant bottlenecks in processing refugee applications, resulting in fewer refugees accepted compared to the allowed limits.[296] Travel ban Main article: Trump travel ban Further information: Executive Order 13769 and Executive Order 13780 Following the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Trump proposed to ban Muslim foreigners from entering the United States until stronger vetting systems could be implemented.[297] He later reframed the proposed ban to apply to countries with a "proven history of terrorism".[298] On January 27, 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13769, which suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 90 days, citing security concerns. The order took effect immediately and without warning, causing confusion and chaos at airports.[299][300] Protests against the ban began at airports the next day.[299][300] Legal challenges to the order resulted in nationwide preliminary injunctions.[301] A March 6 revised order, which excluded Iraq and gave other exemptions, again was blocked by federal judges in three states.[302][303] In a decision in June 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban could be enforced on visitors who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States".[304] The temporary order was replaced by Presidential Proclamation 9645 on September 24, 2017, which restricted travel from the originally targeted countries except Iraq and Sudan, and further banned travelers from North Korea and Chad, along with certain Venezuelan officials.[305] After lower courts partially blocked the new restrictions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version to go into full effect on December 4, 2017,[306] and ultimately upheld the travel ban in a June 2019 ruling.[307] Family separation at border Main article: Trump administration family separation policy Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment Children and juveniles in a wire mesh compartment, showing sleeping mats and thermal blankets on floor Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment in the Ursula detention facility in McAllen, Texas, June 2018 The Trump administration separated more than 5,400 children of migrant families from their parents at the U.S.–Mexico border, a sharp increase in the number of family separations at the border starting from the summer of 2017.[308][309] In April 2018, the Trump administration announced a "zero tolerance" policy whereby every adult suspected of illegal entry would be criminally prosecuted.[310] This resulted in family separations, as the migrant adults were put in criminal detention for prosecution, while their children were separated as unaccompanied alien minors.[311] Administration officials described the policy as a way to deter illegal immigration.[312] The policy of family separations was unprecedented in previous administrations and sparked public outrage.[312][313] Trump falsely asserted that his administration was merely following the law, blaming Democrats, despite the separations being his administration's policy.[314][315][316] Although Trump originally argued that the separations could not be stopped by an executive order, he acceded to intense public objection and signed an executive order on June 20, 2018, mandating that migrant families be detained together unless "there is a concern" doing so would pose a risk to the child.[317][318] On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana Sabraw concluded that the Trump administration had "no system in place to keep track of" the separated children, nor any effective measures for family communication and reunification;[319] Sabraw ordered for the families to be reunited and family separations stopped except in limited circumstances.[320] After the federal-court order, the Trump administration separated more than a thousand migrant children from their families; the ACLU contended that the Trump administration had abused its discretion and asked Sabraw to more narrowly define the circumstances warranting separation.[309] Trump wall and government shutdown Main articles: Trump wall and 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown Trump speaks with U.S. Border Patrol agents. Behind him are black SUVs, four short border wall prototype designs, and the current border wall in the background Trump examines border wall prototypes in Otay Mesa, California. One of Trump's central campaign promises was to build a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) border wall to Mexico and have Mexico pay for it.[321] By the end of his term, the U.S. had built "40 miles [64 km] of new primary wall and 33 miles [53 km] of secondary wall" in locations where there had been no barriers and 365 miles (587 km) of primary or secondary border fencing replacing dilapidated or outdated barriers.[322] In 2018, Trump refused to sign any appropriations bill from Congress unless it allocated $5.6 billion in funds for the border wall,[323] resulting in the federal government partially shutting down for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, the longest U.S. government shutdown in history.[324][325] Around 800,000 government employees were furloughed or worked without pay.[326] Trump and Congress ended the shutdown by approving temporary funding that provided delayed payments to government workers but no funds for the wall.[324] The shutdown resulted in an estimated permanent loss of $3 billion to the economy, according to the Congressional Budget Office.[327] About half of those polled blamed Trump for the shutdown, and Trump's approval ratings dropped.[328] To prevent another imminent shutdown in February 2019, Congress passed and Trump signed a funding bill that included $1.375 billion for 55 miles (89 km) of bollard border fencing.[329] Trump also declared a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States, intending to divert $6.1 billion of funds Congress had allocated to other purposes.[329] Trump vetoed a joint resolution to overturn the declaration, and the Senate voted against a veto override.[330] Legal challenges to the diversion of $2.5 billion originally meant for the Department of Defense's drug interdiction efforts[331][332] and $3.6 billion originally meant for military construction[333][334] were unsuccessful. Foreign policy Main article: Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration See also: List of international presidential trips made by Donald Trump Trump and other G7 leaders sit at a conference table Trump with the other G7 leaders at the 45th summit in France, 2019 Trump described himself as a "nationalist"[335] and his foreign policy as "America First".[336] His foreign policy was marked by praise and support of populist, neo-nationalist, and authoritarian governments.[337] Hallmarks of foreign relations during Trump's tenure included unpredictability and uncertainty,[336] a lack of a consistent foreign policy,[338] and strained and sometimes antagonistic relationships with the U.S.'s European allies.[339] He criticized NATO allies and privately suggested on multiple occasions that the United States should withdraw from the alliance.[340][341] Trade See also: Trump tariffs Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations,[342] imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports,[343] and launched a trade war with China by sharply increasing tariffs on 818 categories (worth $50 billion) of Chinese goods imported into the U.S.[344] While Trump said that import tariffs are paid by China into the U.S. Treasury, they are paid by American companies that import goods from China.[345] Although he pledged during the campaign to significantly reduce the U.S.'s large trade deficits, the trade deficit in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, "was the largest monthly deficit since July 2008".[346] Following a 2017–2018 renegotiation, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) became effective in July 2020 as the successor to NAFTA.[347] Russia Trump and Putin, both seated, lean over and shake hands Putin and Trump shaking hands at the G20 Osaka summit, June 2019 The Trump administration, according to Reuters, "water[ed] down the toughest penalties the U.S. had imposed on Russian entities" after its 2014 annexation of Crimea.[348][349] Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing alleged Russian non-compliance,[350] and supported a potential return of Russia to the G7.[351] Trump repeatedly praised and rarely criticized Russian president Vladimir Putin[352][353] but opposed some actions of the Russian government.[354][355] After he met Putin at the Helsinki Summit in July 2018, Trump drew bipartisan criticism for accepting Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, rather than accepting the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.[356][357][358] Trump did not discuss alleged Russian bounties offered to Taliban fighters for attacking American soldiers in Afghanistan with Putin, saying both that he doubted the intelligence and that he was not briefed on it.[359] China Before and during his presidency, Trump repeatedly accused China of taking unfair advantage of the U.S.[360] As president, Trump launched a trade war against China that was widely characterized as a failure,[361][362][363] sanctioned Huawei for its alleged ties to Iran,[364] significantly increased visa restrictions on Chinese students and scholars,[365] and classified China as a currency manipulator.[366] Trump also juxtaposed verbal attacks on China with praise of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping,[367] which was attributed to trade war negotiations with the leader.[368] After initially praising China for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic,[369] he began a campaign of criticism over its response starting in March 2020.[370] Trump said he resisted punishing China for its human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in the northwestern Xinjiang region for fear of jeopardizing trade negotiations.[371] In July 2020, the Trump administration imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against senior Chinese officials, in response to expanded mass detention camps holding more than a million of the country's Uyghur Muslim ethnic minority.[372] North Korea See also: 2018–19 Korean peace process Trump and Kim shake hands on a stage with U.S. and North Korean flags in the background Trump meets Kim Jong Un at the Singapore summit, June 2018. In 2017, when North Korea's nuclear weapons were increasingly seen as a serious threat,[373] Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that North Korean aggression would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen".[374][375] In 2017, Trump declared that he wanted North Korea's "complete denuclearization", and engaged in name-calling with leader Kim Jong Un.[374][376] After this period of tension, Trump and Kim exchanged at least 27 letters in which the two men described a warm personal friendship.[377][378] Trump met Kim three times: in Singapore in 2018, in Hanoi in 2019, and in the Korean Demilitarized Zone in 2019.[379] Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader or to set foot on North Korean soil.[379] Trump also lifted some U.S. sanctions against North Korea.[380] However, no denuclearization agreement was reached,[381] and talks in October 2019 broke down after one day.[382] While conducting no nuclear tests since 2017, North Korea continued to build up its arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.[383][384] Afghanistan U.S. and Taliban officials stand spaced apart in a formal room U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with Taliban delegation in Qatar in September 2020 U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan increased from 8,500 in January 2017 to 14,000 a year later,[385] reversing Trump's pre-election position critical of further involvement in Afghanistan.[386] In February 2020, the Trump administration signed a conditional peace agreement with the Taliban, which called for the withdrawal of foreign troops in 14 months "contingent on a guarantee from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used by terrorists with aims to attack the United States or its allies" and for the U.S. to seek the release of 5,000 Taliban imprisoned by the Afghan government.[387][388][389] By the end of Trump's term, 5,000 Taliban had been released, and, despite the Taliban continuing attacks on Afghan forces and integrating Al-Qaeda members into its leadership, U.S. troops had been reduced to 2,500.[389] Israel Trump supported many of the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[390] Under Trump, the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel[391] and Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,[392] leading to international condemnation including from the United Nations General Assembly, the European Union, and the Arab League.[393][394] Saudi Arabia Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi place their hands on a glowing white orb light at waist level Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the 2017 Riyadh summit in Saudi Arabia Trump actively supported the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen against the Houthis and in 2017 signed a $110 billion agreement to sell arms to Saudi Arabia,[395] In 2018, the U.S. provided limited intelligence and logistical support for the intervention.[396][397] Following the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia blamed on Iran, Trump approved the deployment of 3,000 additional U.S. troops, including fighter squadrons, two Patriot batteries, and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD), to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.[398] Syria Trump ordered missile strikes in April 2017 and in April 2018 against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the Khan Shaykhun and Douma chemical attacks, respectively.[399][400] In December 2018, Trump declared "we have won against ISIS", contradicting Department of Defense assessments, and ordered the withdrawal of all troops from Syria.[401][402] The next day, Mattis resigned in protest, calling his decision an abandonment of the U.S.'s Kurdish allies who played a key role in fighting ISIS.[403] One week after his announcement, Trump said he would not approve any extension of the American deployment in Syria.[404] Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House in May 2017 In October 2019, after Trump spoke to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. troops in northern Syria were withdrawn from the area and Turkey invaded northern Syria, attacking and displacing American-allied Kurds in the area.[405] Later that month, the U.S. House of Representatives, in a rare bipartisan vote of 354 to 60, condemned Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, for "abandoning U.S. allies, undermining the struggle against ISIS, and spurring a humanitarian catastrophe".[406][407] Iran In May 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive

Chicago weather: Winter storm moving through area with foot of snow forecast in spots| Radar Hundreds of flight cancellations reported at O'Hare, Midway airports ByChristian Piekos and Jessica D'Onofrio WLS logo Friday, January 12, 2024 11:59AM LIVE radar as winter storm moves through Chicago area LIVE radar as winter storm moves through Chicago area WLS CHICAGO (WLS) -- A winter storm moving into the Chicago area Friday could dump as much as a foot of snow in some areas. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until noon Saturday for Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, eastern Will, northern Will, southern Cook, southern Will, central Cook, Lake, northern Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Boone, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle and Winnebago counties in Illinois. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday until noon Saturday for Kankakee County in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until noon Saturday for Kankakee County in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. The advisory starts at 6 p.m. Friday for Benton, Jasper and Newton counties in Indiana. SCHOOL CLOSINGS: See full list of Chicago area school closures. The snow will start at light and becoming heavier in the afternoon and evening, with as much as an inch of snow per-hour at times . The falling snow will start to east Saturday morning, but windy conditions could still lead to poor travel conditions. For the morning commute, the storm will bring periods of heavy snow, reduced visibility, strong wind. Areas south of the city may experience a mix of rain and sleet with isolated thunder at times. A winter snow storm will create slick conditions across the Chicago area Friday. The worst conditions are expected for the afternoon commute, with accumulating and blowing snow leading to poor visibility and snow-covered roads creating rough travel conditions. Snow totals along the lakefront are expected around three to six inches of snow. Most areas away from the lakefront are expected to get between six to eight inches of snow with northwestern suburbs expected to get as much as eight to twelve inches of snow. Area well to the south of the city are expected to get between three to six inches of snow. The storm has created slick conditions on Chicago area roads, especially expressway ramps. A car carrying three people rolled over on a ramp on the Edens Expressway at Dempster Avenue. All three inside the car refused medical transport. The storm has led to hundreds of flight cancellations at Chicago's airports. As of 4:29 a.m., 452 flights have been cancelled at O'Hare Airport, with average delays of less than 15 minutes. At Midway, 115 flights have been cancelled, with average delays of less than 15 minutes.

Céline Dept Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Family FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppReddItMix Céline Dept Quick Info Height 5 ft 11½ in Weight 64 kg Date of Birth December 8, 1999 Zodiac Sign Sagittarius Boyfriend Michiel Callebaut Céline Dept is a Belgian YouTuber and TikTok star known for her pranks, popular trendy dances, and soccer-related content that she posts to her TikTok account titled celinedept which has more than 14.5 million followers. Born Name Céline Dept Nick Name Céline Céline Dept as seen in a picture that was taken in February 2023 Céline Dept as seen in a picture that was taken in February 2023 (Céline Dept / Instagram) Age Céline Dept is currently 24 according to her birthdate December 08, 1999 Sun Sign Sagittarius Born Place Ostend, Belgium Residence Bredene, Belgium Nationality Belgian Occupation YouTuber, TikTok Star Build Athletic Height 5 ft 11½ in or 182 cm Weight 64 kg or 141 lbs Boyfriend / Spouse Céline Dept has dated – Michiel Callebaut (2018-Present) – Céline started dating fellow YouTube star Michiel Callebaut in 2018. Together, they run the YouTube channel Celine and Michiel. Céline Dept as seen in a picture with her beau Michiel Callebaut that was taken in July 2022 Céline Dept as seen in a picture with her beau Michiel Callebaut that was taken in July 2022 (Céline Dept / Instagram) Race / Ethnicity White Hair Color Dark Brown Eye Color Dark Brown Sexual Orientation Straight Distinctive Features Raised eyebrows Tall height She has a heart-shaped face. Brand Endorsements Using her strong social media presence, Dept has promoted several brands and services including Adidas Football, PlayStation, VTM GO (Dance Academy), etc. Céline Dept as seen in a picture that was taken in September 2023 Céline Dept as seen in a picture that was taken in September 2023 (Céline Dept / Instagram) Céline Dept Facts She was born and raised in Belgium. Céline started her TikTok account titled celinedept in April 2019. She was chosen to be an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Rogiers in the past. In January 2019, Dept traveled to Madrid, Spain. Aside from being a social media star, Céline is a soccer player who plays professionally. The earliest post that Céline uploaded to her Instagram account was on July 20, 2018. Celine and Michiel started their YouTube channel on June 30, 2019, with the first video being WIJ GAAN HARD IN ONZE ALLEREERSTE VLOG! #1 uploaded to their channel on July 1. She started her personal YouTube channel on May 4, 2023. Some of their most-watched vlog videos on the channel as of December 2023, were OVERNACHTEN IN EEN SPOOKHOTEL.. *Challenge* #82, HARDE VAL TIJDENS VOETBALWEDSTRIJD! *CREATORS FC VLOG* #523, 8 JARIGE VS 18 JARIGE – GEKKE DANCE BATTLE MET TOPTALENT #64, and GEKKE FIFA 23 VOETBAL CHALLENGE!! *ULTIMATE TEAM* #482. Céline Dept, Belgian, YouTuber, rumble, TikTok, star, pranks, dance, soccer, content, 2024, usa, us.

Isabella Strahan, Michael Strahan's 19-year-old daughter, reveals she's battling brain cancer. January 12, 2024 Isabella Strahan, the 19-year-old daughter of NFL legend and "Good Morning America" host Michael Strahan, shared she's battling brain cancer on Thursday. Isabella Strahan appeared alongside her father for an interview with Michael Strahan's "Good Morning America" co-host Robin Roberts, during which the pair spoke about Isabella's bout with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. She said she started experiencing headaches soon after starting her freshman year of college last fall, but she initially believed it was a case of vertigo. In late October 2023, her symptoms took a more serious turn. 38th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner To Benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis - Dinner Michael Strahan speaks onstage during The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis' 38th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on October 16, 2023, in New York City. ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE BUONICONTI FUND TO CURE PARALYSIS "I woke up probably at like 1 p.m.," she said. "I dreaded waking up. But I was throwing up blood. And my sister – I was like, 'This probably isn't good.' So I texted her, who then notified the whole family." Her family sought medical attention, and doctors found she had developed a golf ball-size tumor that was growing rapidly in the back of her brain. She received emergency surgery on Oct. 27, the day before her 19th birthday. Following the procedure, she went through a month of rehabilitation, followed by rounds of radiation. "So I just finished radiation therapy ... I got to ring the bell yesterday," she said. "It was great. It was very exciting because it's been a long 30 sessions. Six weeks." She will undergo chemotherapy at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina, next month. This time, she will document her experience in a new YouTube series, with proceeds going to the hospital. "That's my next step," she said. "I'm ready for it to start and be one day closer to being over." Vlog #1: How it started by Isabella Strahan on YouTube Michael Strahan, who played 15 seasons with the New York Giants, said he considers himself the "luckiest man in the world" because he has an "amazing" daughter. "I know she's going through it, but I know that we're never given more than we can handle and that she is going to crush this." What is medulloblastoma? Medulloblastoma is a brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although it is rare, the Mayo Clinic says it's the most common cancerous brain tumor in children. Treatment for medulloblastoma usually includes surgery, followed by radiation, chemotherapy or both.

Gang boss Mr Flashy arrested over seizure of ‘heavy duty’ firearms in Finglas Gardaí arrested the two men in relation to the seizure of two “heavy duty” firearms The notorious gangster nicknamed ‘Mr Flashy’ is in garda custody tonight where he and a close associate are being questioned about serious firearms offences. We cannot name the gangsters for legal reasons but they are allegedly heavily involved in gangland feuding in north Dublin. Both men are facing serious charges before the courts related to organised criminal activity. “Gardaí investigating the seizure of two suspected firearms and ammunition seized during a number of searches conducted by Gardaí in the Finglas area on Thursday, 10th February, 2022 have today, Thursday, 11th January 2024, arrested two men,” a garda spokesman said. “The two men (age 30 years and 22 years) were arrested in the Finglas area and are detained under section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939, as amended at a Garda Station in West Dublin,” he added. Gardaí arrested the two men in relation to the seizure of two “heavy duty” firearms and ammunition which they seized during raids in north Dublin two years ago. ADVERTISEMENT The search operations, which targeted nine addresses in the Finglas area that were suspected of being used by organised crime groups, took place on February 10, 2022. The firearms and money seized Officers recovered two suspected firearms, more than €47,000 in cash and 300 rounds of ammunition during the operation, where local gardaí were backed up by members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), the Garda Dog Unit, the Blanchardstown District Detective Unit, and the Task Force and Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit. Gardaí launched investigations into these seized items and the criminal activities of this west Dublin based crime group shortly afterwards. Following the searches in 2022, a number of the addresses targeted were boarded up by Dublin City Council, including one property used as a headquarters for the 'Mr Flashy' drugs mob for years. Once described as a "gangland fortress" it had been the subject of numerous raids by armed gardaí since 2017 and was known as the notorious safe house which had been used to plan drug deals and mob hits for at least five years. READ MORE Convicted murderer tried to smuggle drugs into prison while on temporary release Duo arrested two years after firearms seized in raids during which Mr Flashy HQ was searched It had bullet-proof windows and doors and an elaborate CCTV system, and over the years it had been shot at and attacked numerous times. But on every occasion that it was damaged, junior gang members would quickly clean up the mess and new windows and other fittings would be installed as "business" continued as normal in the property. It is understood to have been bought by the local authority from a person who has no involvement in crime shortly before the raids in February 2022. Mr Flashy has survived a number of assassination attempts as part of the bitter feud including in December, 2022, when he was present when one of his closest associates was shot in the buttocks and hand on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas. This man is also in custody tonight being questioned about firearms offences. After multiple shots were fired at but failed to kill the drugs boss and his close associate, the gunmen sped from the scene and crashed their car in the Berryfield area of Finglas before setting the vehicle alight to destroy forensic evidence.

Bill Belichick leaving Patriots after 24 seasons, six titles. Bill Belichick will no longer serve as New England Patriots coach after a remarkable 24 seasons, saying Thursday that "we're going to move on" while also looking back fondly at his unmatched run in NFL history that included six Super Bowl titles. Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spent a good part of this week periodically meeting and discussing how each side wanted to proceed. From sources familiar with those conversations, there was said to be no conflict, no disagreement, and in the end, productive talks resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease. Belichick Leaves Pats • Belichick leaving Pats after 24 seasons, six titles • Belichick's legacy: The NFL's greatest dynasty • What's Belichick's market? We asked NFL execs • Pats timeline: From six titles to Belichick's exit • Where it went wrong: Inside Kraft-Belichick breakup • Social media reaction: LeBron, ex-Pats, more • NFL coaching changes: Latest news, hires During a news conference Thursday, Kraft called Belichick the greatest coach of all time who deserved to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. "This is a move that we mutually agreed that is needed at this time," Kraft said. "What Bill accomplished, in my opinion, will never be duplicated." Belichick, who said he will "always be a Patriot," thanked Kraft and his family for the opportunity and support, saying: "We had a vision of building a championship football team that has exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations. I'm very proud of that. I'll always have those great memories, will carry those with me the rest of my life." Belichick, who had one year remaining on his contract, will be allowed to leave the team without the Patriots seeking compensation. He wants to continue coaching and is expected to draw interest from at least some of the other seven NFL teams that have head-coaching vacancies, including quite possibly the Atlanta Falcons, league sources said. ADVERTISEMENT "It'll be difficult to see him in a cutoff hoodie on the sideline, but I'll always wish him continued success, except when it's against the beloved Patriots," Kraft said. Most Wins with One Team Only George Halas had more wins with a single franchise (including playoffs) than Bill Belichick's 296 with the Patriots. COACH TEAM WINS* George Halas Bears 324 Bill Belichick Patriots 296 Don Shula Dolphins 274 Tom Landry Cowboys 270 * Including playoffs -- ESPN Stats & Information The Patriots now will embark on their first head-coaching search in a quarter century. Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, whom the team signed to a contract extension in the offseason and Kraft has identified as a rising head-coaching candidate, projects to be a, if not the, leading candidate for the job, sources said. Mayo played for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 and has been an assistant under Belichick since 2019. If Mayo is ultimately the choice, and the Patriots established a succession plan in the contract he signed last offseason, the organization could hire him at any point without going through the standard NFL hiring process. Kraft said in a second news conference Thursday that he chose not to try to trade Belichick, saying he "didn't think it was right" to turn the coach's departure into a transaction and comparing the circumstances to Tom Brady leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "We're looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win," Kraft said. Brady posted about Belichick's departure on Instagram, calling him "the best coach in the history of the NFL." "We accomplished some amazing things over a long period of time, many of which will be hard to replicate," Brady wrote. "He worked every day to help us achieve the ultimate goal, in the ultimate team sport. ... I could never have been the player I was without you Coach Belichick. I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next." Belichick's exit from New England occurred less than 24 hours after his close friend Nick Saban retired from Alabama. There is a symmetry and a similarity in the departures of two football legends -- men who are widely considered the greatest coach in professional history and the greatest coach in college football history. Belichick helped lead the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl titles; Saban led Alabama to nine SEC titles and six national championships. Additionally, Saban succeeded Pete Carroll as the Ohio State secondary coach in 1980; when Belichick was head coach in Cleveland, he worked with Saban from 1991 to 1994; and Belichick replaced Carroll as the Patriots' head coach in 2000, decades before all three vacated their long-standing jobs this week in a 24-hour period. Bill Belichick has 333 wins all time (regular season and playoffs), 14 behind Hall of Famer Don Shula. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images The fact that Belichick and Kraft are going their own ways carries an element of sadness, but not surprise. Kraft had pointed out how important it was for the Patriots to make the playoffs this season. Instead, they were one of the first teams eliminated, on Dec. 10. Speculation about Belichick's future swirled during the 2023 season, with one of the lowest points for the team coming Nov. 12 in a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany. Playoff Power No NFL coach has posted more playoff victories than Bill Belichick, whose 31 postseason victories are nine more than Andy Reid in second place. Most Playoff Wins by Head Coach - NFL History COACH WINS Bill Belichick 31* Andy Reid 22 Tom Landry 20 Don Shula 19 * 30 with Patriots -- ESPN Stats & Information Before that game, addressing this past season, the 82-year-old Kraft told NFL Network: "It's really been disappointing. I had hoped things would be a lot better, as I know our fan base did. ... This isn't what we were expecting to happen this year." Another key factor for Kraft was the franchise's trajectory since Brady's departure as a free agent after the 2019 season. Since losing Brady, which pained Kraft, the Patriots have posted losing records in three of their four seasons, and their last playoff win was a 13-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019 -- when Brady was on the team. Belichick, 71, leaves New England with 333 career victories (including playoffs), ranking second all time behind Don Shula and his 347. Belichick, George Halas and Curly Lambeau are the only NFL coaches with six championships since the league began postseason play in 1933. EDITOR'S PICKS Tracking NFL coach openings: Latest intel on Patriots, Seahawks, Titans, Commanders 12hESPN staff Offseason guide for every eliminated NFL team: Key free agents, draft outlook, priorities and predictions 16hESPN staff Belichick's 24-year tenure was the fifth-longest of any head coach with one team. He had completed his 49th consecutive NFL season in 2023, the most consecutive coaching seasons in league history. He is now looking to spend season No. 50 with another NFL franchise. Kraft called it an "emotional day" for the organization while explaining why he believed it was the right decision. "Our family is the custodian of this asset, the New England Patriots, and we know how important it is to the psyche of the community," Kraft said. "What's gone on here the last three to four years isn't what we want, so we have a responsibility to do what we can to fix it to the best of our ability." As he departs New England, Belichick's résumé includes these marks that are expected to stand for the foreseeable future: • 17 division titles, the most by a head coach in NFL history, with Shula, Andy Reid and Tom Landry tied for second with 13. • Nine conference championships, the most by a head coach in the Super Bowl era. • 12 Super Bowl appearances (including his time as an assistant). • 21 winning seasons as a head coach, which trails only Halas (40), Shula (33), Lambeau (33) and Landry (29). • One of four undefeated and untied regular seasons in NFL history (2007). It was the only one under the 16-game schedule played from 1978 to 2020. "Players win games in the NFL," Belichick said. "I've been very, very fortunate to coach some of the greatest players to ever play the game." NFL American football Rumble Latest news Updates Hottest games Player performances League happenings Touchdowns Turnarounds Dedicated fan Sports trends Channel Comprehensive coverage Insights Exclusive coverage Analyses Memorable moments Watch Enjoy Stay in the know Action

US bitcoin ETFs see $4.6B in volume in first day of trading Spot Bitcoin ETFs top $4.5B total volume on the first day of trading Spot Bitcoin ETFs topped $4.5 billion in trading volume on the first day of trading, but one of the issuers has clarified it hasn’t yet made the cut. Spot Bitcoin ETFs top $4.5B total volume on the first day of tradingNEWS Collect article Own this piece of history as an NFT Join us on social networks The first day of trading for a suite of new Bitcoin BTC tickers down $45,936 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has gone off with a bang, with BlackRock, Grayscale, and Fidelity’s ETFs coming out on top in total volumes. One issuer, however, didn't get to start as expected. Aggregated data from Yahoo Finance, compiled by Cointelegraph, shows that the total volume across ten of the spot Bitcoin ETFs reached more than $4.5 billion in total volume for day one trading. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), was the top performer of the newly-listed funds, handling just over $1 billion in volume — 22% of the group's total volume — per Yahoo Finance data. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) closed down 4.69% on the day. Source: Yahoo Finance Following close behind was Fidelity’s spot Bitcoin ETF — FBTC — which witnessed some $685 million in day one trading volume. Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF, which trades under the ticker GBTC, notched $2.2 billion in total volume. The investment vehicle is a conversion of its pre-existing Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. Advertisement Trade smart with instant Markets Pro alerts. Claim your New Years offer up to 70%! Ad Hashdex missed the opportunity to be counted among spot Bitcoin ETFs for the day. While the SEC approved Hashdex's 19b-4 filing — which would allow its spot ETF product to be listed on U.S. stock exchanges — the SEC did not make its S-1 form effective, meaning that Hashdex's "DEFI" fund is still only trading as a futures-based ETF. The company also issued a corrected statement noting the fund did not yet hold any spot Bitcoin in its portfolio. It’s important to note that trading volume includes inflows and outflows and doesn’t paint a full picture of how much of the day’s trading activity was buying versus selling. Senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas theorized that the vast majority of trading activity for GBTC was selling, as investors rotated out of the fund into newer, lower-fee products such as BlackRock’s and Fidelity’s respective ETFs. His colleague James Seyffart shared the same view. Meanwhile, the ProShares Futures Bitcoin ETF (BITO) experienced record-breaking trading activity of its own, with more than $2 billion in total volume on the day. This is also theorized to be comprised largely of selling, as investors move out from futures-based Bitcoin exposure, to cheaper, less volatile spot-based exposure. Related: Bitcoin spot ETF trading volume surpasses $1.6B within minutes of launch Timothy Peterson, an investment manager at Cane Macro, estimated that the buying activity across the ETFs means that approximately 47,000 Bitcoin — worth $2.1 billion at current prices — will need to be purchased on the spot market. Balchunas said that investors looking to understand the impact of the ETFs on underlying Bitcoin purchases will most likely have to wait until later the morning of Jan. 13 to get a better idea of spot inflows. U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw $4.6 billion worth of shares trade hands as of Thursday afternoon, according to LSEG data, as investors jumped into the landmark products approved by the U.S. securities regulator on Wednesday. Erfarna advokater - Advokater som du kan lita på Erfarna advokater - Advokater som du kan lita på Ad Zeijersborger The products mark a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency industry that will test whether digital assets - still viewed by many professionals as risky - can gain broader acceptance as an investment. Eleven spot bitcoin ETFs - including BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, among others - began trading Thursday morning, kicking off a fierce competition for market share. Grayscale, BlackRock and Fidelity dominated trading volumes, the LSEG data showed. "Trading volumes have been relatively strong for new ETF products," said Todd Rosenbluth, strategist at VettaFi. "But this is a longer race than just a single day's trading. The green light from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the products finally came late on Wednesday, following a decade-long tussle with the crypto industry. Related video: SEC Approval of Bitcoin ETFs Could Revitalize the Crypto Market (Money Talks News) Money Talks News SEC Approval of Bitcoin ETFs Could Revitalize the Crypto Market Some executives called out bitcoin as a high-risk investment, and Vanguard - the largest provider of mutual funds - said it had no plans to make the new batch of spot bitcoin ETFs available on its platform to its brokerage clients. The SEC had earlier rejected all spot bitcoin ETFs on investor protection concerns. SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement on Wednesday that the approvals were not an endorsement of bitcoin, calling it a "speculative, volatile asset." The ETF launches lifted the price of bitcoin up to its highest level since December 2021. It was last up 0.77% at $46,303, while the price of ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, was up 2.79% at $2597.95. RACE FOR MARKET SHARE The regulatory nod sparked intense competition for market share among the issuers, some of whom slashed the fees for their products well below the U.S. ETF industry's standard even before Thursday's launch. Meet Cisco's Finest Engineers - Join Us in Amsterdam Meet Cisco's Finest Engineers - Join Us in Amsterdam Ad www.ciscolive.com/Amsterdam/Feb-2024 Fees on the new bitcoin ETFs range from 0.2% to 1.5%, with many firms also offering to waive fees entirely for a certain period or for a certain dollar volume of assets. After its ETF started trading, Valkyrie cut its fees a second time to 0.25% and waived them for the first three months. Grayscale was approved to convert its existing bitcoin trust into an ETF on Thursday, overnight creating the world's largest bitcoin ETF with more than $28 billion in assets under management. Estimates for how much spot bitcoin ETFs could reel in vary widely. Analysts at Bernstein estimated that flows will build up gradually to cross $10 billion in 2024, while Standard Chartered analysts this week said the ETFs could draw $50 billion to $100 billion this year alone. Other analysts have said inflows could be $55 billion over five years. As the ETFs began trading on Thursday, market participants were closely watching bid-ask spreads: the difference between the price for a trader to buy into an ETF and the price it can be sold. ETFs with narrower spreads are typically viewed as more desirable. Trading volume, internal plumbing and the number of participants involved "are critically important to driving the spreads to a good spot," said Jason Stoneberg, director of product strategy at Invesco, whose ETF with Galaxy Digital debuted on Thursday. Some analysts cautioned that the euphoria around the approval might be premature. The broader investment community still views cryptocurrencies as risky, with scandals such as the implosion of crypto exchange FTX in 2022 adding to investors’ wariness. A Vanguard spokeswoman said the firm had no plans to launch its own crypto investment products, and that its focus remains on core asset classes such as stocks, bonds and cash, which it views "as the blocks of a well-balanced, long-term investment portfolio." Speaking at a webinar on Thursday, Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, head of the Investment Strategy Group and chief investment officer of Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs, said cryptocurrencies had no place in an investment portfolio. "When you think about it, where is there any value to something like bitcoin?," she said. "We don’t think it is an asset class to invest in." CRYPTO STOCKS GAIN Still, some expect the products to pave the way for even more innovative crypto ETFs, including spot ether products. Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein said in an interview Thursday that the firm plans to file for a covered call ETF in an effort to allow investors to generate income from options on its spot bitcoin product. Cryptocurrency-related stocks initially climbed higher on Thursday, but ended the day lower, with bitcoin miners Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital dropping 15.8% and 12.6% respectively. Bitcoin investor Microstrategy fell 5.2% and crypto exchange Coinbase 6.7%. The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, which tracks bitcoin futures, gained 0.44%. Also on Thursday, Circle Internet Financial, the company behind stablecoin USDC, said it had confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering. Circle controls the issuance and governance of USDC, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. (Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru, Hannah Lang in Washington and Suzanne McGee; Additional reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru, Medha Singh, Davide Barbuscia and Noel Randewich; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Nick Zieminski)

US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP Updated Fri, January 12, 2024 at 4:36 AM GMT+1·7 min read 8.5k In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Aug. 9, 2023. The top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East says Yemen’s Houthi rebels are showing no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. But Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview on Saturday that more nations are joining the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic is beginning to pick up. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP) FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden speak at the start of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. U.S. and British militaries are bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles. (Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP, File) In this photo provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, taken from the bridge of HMS Diamond, Sea Viper missiles are fired in the Red Sea. U.S. and British militaries are bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles.(UK Ministry of Defence via AP) 1 / 3 United States Red Sea Attacks In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Aug. 9, 2023. The top commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East says Yemen’s Houthi rebels are showing no signs of ending their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. But Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an Associated Press interview on Saturday that more nations are joining the international maritime mission to protect vessels in the vital waterway and trade traffic is beginning to pick up. (Mass Communications Spc. 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESSMore WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, U.S. officials said. The military targets included air defense and coastal radar sites, drone and missile storage and launching locations, they said. President Joe Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the U.S. and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks on the Red Sea. And he said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation. “These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” Biden said in a statement. He noted the attacks endangered U.S. personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade, and he added, “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.” Associated Press journalists in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Eyewitnesses who spoke with the AP also said they saw strikes in Taiz and Dhamar, cities south of Sanaa. The strikes marked the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials described the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Members of Congress were briefed earlier Thursday on the strike plans. The warning appeared to have had at least some short-lived impact, as attacks stopped for several days. On Tuesday, however, the Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, with U.S. and British ships and American fighter jets responding by shooting down 18 drones, two cruise missiles and an anti-ship missile. And on Thursday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden, which was seen by a commercial ship but did not hit the ship. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024 In a call with reporters, senior administration and military officials said that after the Tuesday attacks, Biden convened his national security team and was presented with military options for a response. He then directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who remains hospitalized with complications from prostate cancer surgery, to carry out the retaliatory strikes. In a separate statement, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Royal Air Force carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by the Houthis. The Defense Ministry said four fighter jets based in Cyprus took part in the strikes. Noting the militants have carried out a series of dangerous attacks on shipping, he added, “This cannot stand." He said the U.K. took “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defense, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.” The governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea joined the U.S. and U.K. in issuing a statement saying that while the aim is to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, the allies won't hesitate to defend lives and protect commerce in the critical waterway. The rebels, who have carried out 27 attacks involving dozens of drones and missiles just since Nov. 19, had warned that any attack by American forces on its sites in Yemen will spark a fierce military response. A high-ranking Houthi official, Ali al-Qahoum, vowed there would be retaliation. “The battle will be bigger ... and beyond the imagination and expectation of the Americans and the British," he said in a post on X. Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, described strikes hitting the Al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, the airport in the port city of the Hodeida, a camp east of Saada, the airport in the city of Taiz and an airport near Hajjah. The Houthis did not immediately offer any damage or casualty information. A senior administration official said that while the U.S. expects the strikes will degrade the Houthis' capabilities, “we would not be surprised to see some sort of response,” although they haven't seen anything yet. Officials said the U.S. used warplanes based on the Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and Air Force fighter jets, while the Tomahawk missiles were fired from Navy destroyers and a submarine. The Houthis say their assaults are aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and imperil a crucial trade route linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe. Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday that demanded the Houthis immediately cease the attacks and implicitly condemned their weapons supplier, Iran. It was approved by a vote of 11-0 with four abstentions — by Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique. Britain’s participation in the strikes underscored the Biden administration’s effort to use a broad international coalition to battle the Houthis, rather than appear to be going it alone. More than 20 nations are already participating in a U.S.-led maritime mission to increase ship protection in the Red Sea. U.S. officials for weeks had declined to signal when international patience would run out and they would strike back at the Houthis, even as multiple commercial vessels were struck by missiles and drones, prompting companies to look at rerouting their ships. On Wednesday, however, U.S. officials again warned of consequences. “I’m not going to telegraph or preview anything that might happen,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a stop in Bahrain. He said the U.S. had made clear “that if this continues as it did yesterday, there will be consequences. And I’m going to leave it at that.” The Biden administration’s reluctance over the past several months to retaliate reflected political sensitivities and stemmed largely from broader worries about upending the shaky truce in Yemen and triggering a wider conflict in the region. The White House wants to preserve the truce and has been wary of taking action in Yemen that could open up another war front. The impact on international shipping and the escalating attacks, however, triggered the coalition warning, which was signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Transit through the Red Sea, from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is a crucial shipping lane for global commerce. About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through the waterway that separates Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics. In response to the attacks, the U.S. created a new maritime security mission, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, to increase security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, with about 22 countries participating. U.S. warships, and those from other nations, have been routinely sailing back and forth through the narrow strait to provide protection for ships and to deter attacks. The coalition has also ramped up airborne surveillance. The decision to set up the expanded patrol operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. The Pentagon increased its military presence in the region after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict, including by the Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. ____ Associated Press writers Ahmed al-Haj in Sanaa, Yemen; Jack Jeffery in London; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report. View comments (8.5k) Terms/Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Cookie SettingsAbout Our Ads Up next Deseret News Report: U.S., U.K. ‘poised’ to attack Yemen’s Houthis Payton Davis Fri, January 12, 2024 at 12:41 AM GMT+1·1 min read 92 Sea Viper missiles are fired into the Red Sea, as seen from the bridge of the HMS Diamond on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the United States and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement. Sea Viper missiles are fired into the Red Sea, as seen from the bridge of the HMS Diamond on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the United States and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major naval engagement. | UK Ministry of Defence via Associated PressMore The United States and the United Kingdom were “poised” to launch strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, The Guardian reported. Driving the news: The attack would be in response to Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Houthis aimed missiles and drones at U.S. and U.K. warships Tuesday night, and The Guardian reported that preparations were “intensifying” in response. President Joe Biden is expected to make a statement on the situation soon. Preparations for an attack on Houthis follow a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday for an “immediate” end to Houthis attacks, per BBC. The context: Houthis have been attacking Red Sea vessels in response to the Hamas-Israel war since October. The attacks have affected major shipping routes and freight rates. The U.S. announced in December that a new “operation” was underway to quell the Houthi strikes. Democrats slam Biden for bypassing Congress to strike Yemen 'Squad' members Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush tweeted their displeasure at the the president's actions By Elizabeth Elkind Fox News Published January 11, 2024 8:25pm EST Facebook Twitter Flipboard Comments Print Email Joint US-UK air strikes against Houthi targets in YemenVideo Joint US-UK air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen Fox News senior national correspondent Rich Edson has the latest on the attacks on 'Special Report.' Some House Democrats are frustrated with the Biden administration for striking Houthi positions in Yemen without Congressional approval on Thursday night. "The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., wrote on X. "That is Article I of the Constitution. "I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House," he added. TOP BIDEN ADVISER VISITS BEIRUT AS ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH NEAR ALL-OUT WAR Ro Khanna at House hearing Rep. Ro Khanna slammed the Biden administration for not seeking Congressional authorization before striking targets in Yemen (Office of Rep. Ro Khanna) President Biden announced in a statement that the U.S. led a coordinated airstrike in Yemen with the U.K. and support from Canada, Australia and Bahrain. He said the targets were "used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways." ‘Squad’ members Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich, and Missouri Democrat Cori Bush joined the chorus of criticism aimed at Biden for not seeking Congressional approval. Other Democrats also tweeted their displeasure, "These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party," Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., wrote on X. FETTERMAN BLASTS SOUTH AFRICA ‘GENOCIDE’ CASE AGAINST ISRAEL AMID SLAYINGS OF WHITE FARMERS Biden in Pennsylvania President Biden announced the strikes on Thursday evening (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., warned that bypassing Congress could risk getting the U.S. into more foreign conflicts. "The United States cannot risk getting entangled into another decades-long conflict without Congressional authorization. The White House must work with Congress before continuing these airstrikes in Yemen," Pocan wrote on X. Senior Republican lawmakers, however, have shown rare praise for Biden over the move. "I welcome the U.S. and coalition operations against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists responsible for violently disrupting international commerce in the Red Sea and attacking American vessels. President Biden’s decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is overdue," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. US INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS WARN HEZBOLLAH MAY TARGET MAINLAND US DURING WAR IN ISRAEL: REPORT Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib demand cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 8: United States Representatives Rashida Tlaib (2nd L), Cori Bush (L) hold a banner demanding a ceasefire and condemning the Israeli attacks on Gaza, in front of U.S. Capitol in United States on November 8, 2023. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) Biden said of the strikes, "These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history." Yemeni Coast Guard boats Members of the Yemeni Coast Guard affiliated with the Houthi group patrol the sea as demonstrators march through the Red Sea port city of Hodeida in solidarity with the people of Gaza on January 4, 2024, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the militant Hamas group in Gaza. (AFP via Getty Images) "These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping," he said in a statement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching attacks against southern Israel and ships in the Red Sea since soon after Israel’s war with Hamas began in October. Since then the topic of Israel has driven a wedge in the Democratic Party, with hardliners and progressives more critical of U.S.-Israel relations and its military response in Gaza, while mainstream Democrats remain committed to the Middle Eastern ally.

Judge in Trump’s Civil Fraud Trial Faces Bomb Threat at His Home Authorities came to the home of Justice Arthur F. Engoron on the day he was set to hear closing arguments in New York’s suit against Donald Trump. The former president had attacked him on social media. Share full article - Jan. 11, 2024 Arthur Engoron, in a blue shirt under a black judicial robe, looks directly at the camera over a computer monitor on his bench in the New York State Supreme Court. Justice Arthur Engoron at the New York State Supreme Court last year.Credit...Pool photo by Erin Schaff Jonah E. Bromwich By Jonah E. Bromwich Jan. 11, 2024 Updated 10:01 a.m. ET Sign up for the Trump on Trial newsletter. The latest news and analysis on the trials of Donald Trump in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C. Get it sent to your inbox. Nassau County authorities on Thursday responded to a bomb threat at the house of the judge presiding over the civil fraud trial of Donald J. Trump. A spokesman for the Nassau County Police Department confirmed that there was an investigation at the house of the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, who in several hours is expected to hear closing arguments in Mr. Trump’s case. Two people with knowledge of the matter said that the threat involved a bomb and that the bomb squad came to the house. It was not clear whether the threat would delay the proceedings. The threat came the morning after Mr. Trump again attacked Justice Engoron on Truth Social, his social media site, saying that the judge and the New York attorney general, who brought the fraud case, were trying to “screw me.” And it came just days after the police in Washington were called to the home of the federal judge overseeing Mr. Trump’s election interference case. Mr. Trump originally planned to speak in his own defense at closing arguments Thursday. But Justice Engoron said he would have to abide by rules that apply to lawyers giving closing arguments and refrain from delivering a “campaign speech.” A lawyer for Mr. Trump, Christopher M. Kise, said that the conditions were untenable, and, after unsuccessfully requesting a delay because of his mother-in-law’s death, Mr. Trump appeared to back down from speaking.

Published January 10, 2024 At least four people have died and over half a million homes are without power after a series of powerful winter storms swept through parts of the eastern US and Canada. weather Strong winds flipped cars and knocked over homes in Florida, where several tornadoes were reported. More than 1,300 flights in or out of the US were cancelled on Tuesday, according to data from FlightAware. Vice-President Kamala Harris' plane had to be diverted due to weather. A spokesperson for Mrs Harris said that "inclement weather" required her plane from Atlanta to land in Virginia rather than neighbouring Maryland on her way back to Washington DC. As of Tuesday evening, more than 630,000 households in the eastern US, from Florida to New York State were without electricity. Gov Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 49 Florida counties, where storms have blown roofs off homes and knocked down power lines. Twelve tornadoes were reported across Florida, Alabama and Georgia by early Tuesday, causing significant damage and, in some areas, prompting search and rescue operations. More than 22 million people were under tornado watches. In Houston County, Alabama, an 81-year-old woman was reportedly killed after a tornado ripped through the area, destroying mobile homes and RVs. One person was killed and two others were critically injured in Claremont, North Carolina, officials said, after a powerful storm moved through a mobile home park. A motorist died in Clayton County, Georgia, officials said, after a tree fell across a highway and crushed the driver's car. And one man was also crushed to death by a toppled tree in Birmingham, Alabama, on Tuesday morning, the local station WVTM reported, citing local officials. Toppled houses after tornadoes pummel through the US state of Florida IMAGE SOURCE,CBS A resident of Panama City, Florida, who lives across from a home that was toppled by the wind said it sounded like a "freight train hitting a brick wall". "That's how loud it was," he told CBS News, the BBC's US partner. The storms also left roadways impassable in Panama City, ripped roofs off of buildings and brought hail the size of baseballs. A curfew has been declared for the city's downtown area until 06:00EST (11:00GMT) on Wednesday morning. "No one should be moving around in this area after dark," the Bay County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that more powerful storms are in store for the region and elsewhere in the eastern US. Parts of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina may see further strong tornadoes, bringing damaging wind gusts and hail Along with winds of up to 50 mph (80 kph), heavy rain across other parts of the eastern US could bring flooding from the Florida Panhandle all the way north to southern Maine. In South Carolina, four to five inches of rain had already fallen before sunset on Tuesday, causing several areas to flood. More than 1ft of snow fell in the US interior, stranding motorists and interrupting presidential campaigning in Iowa In Canada, a winter storm warning has stretched from southern Ontario, near Windsor, up to central Quebec, where more than 1ft of snow is also forecast A powerful rare blizzard in the Pacific Northwest region toppled trees and knocked out electricity for over 25,000 customers in Washington state, according to Poweroutages.us, as well as for thousands more people further north in Canada's British Columbia province. Snow and high winds closed mountain passages, shut down ferries and triggered avalanche warnings In New Jersey, a coastal flood advisory is in effect until Wednesday. The state's governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and warned residents not to "underestimate" the storm. In New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul warned the storm could be "life threatening", especially as the expected rainfall would combine with the snow already blanketing the ground, bringing about potential flash-flooding. Rain pours down as pedestrians walk on a street in the Queens district of New York City, January 9, 2024. IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has warned that the storms could be "life threatening" Around 2,000 migrants living in a city tent shelter on an airfield in Brooklyn were evacuated by authorities to high school gymnasiums until the storms pass. A ground stop was briefly issued at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport - one of the country's busiest - due to excessive snow and ice, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. A stop was also issued for Florida's Tampa International Airport due to a tornado warning. Severe weather has also disrupted road travel in states like Nebraska and Kansas, where state patrol has responded to hundreds of weather-related incidents. "Please stay home," a Kansas state trooper wrote on social media. "It's getting to the point where we will not be able to rescue you if you get stuck because we are having trouble getting around." The NWS said it expects the extreme weather to slightly ease going into Wednesday, though snow showers are still possible in some of the already affected areas in the central US and the northeast. Flood warnings issued by the NWS remained in effect on Wednesday morning from Louisiana to Maine, encompassing at least 15 states along the US Atlantic coast.

Judge says Donald Trump won’t give own closing argument at civil fraud trial after disputing rules BY JENNIFER PELTZ AND JAKE OFFENHARTZ Updated 3:12 AM CET, January 11, 2024 Share NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump won’t make his own closing argument after all in his New York civil business fraud trial after his lawyers objected to the judge’s insistence that the former president stick to “relevant” matters and “not deliver a campaign speech.” Judge Arthur Engoron nixed Trump’s unusual plan on Wednesday, a day ahead of closing arguments. The judge had initially indicated he was open to the idea, saying he’d let Trump speak if he agreed to abide by rules that apply to attorneys’ closing arguments. Among other things, Engoron wanted the former president and current Republican front-runner to promise he wouldn’t assail his adversaries in the case, the judge or others in the court system. Trump’s legal team said those limitations unfairly muzzled him. When Engoron didn’t hear from them by a Wednesday deadline, the judge told them he assumed Trump was not agreeing to the restrictions and therefore would not be speaking. “MEAN & NASTY,” Trump wrote of the judge’s decision on his Truth Social platform. Trump indicated he will still attend Thursday’s court proceeding and reiterated his desire to “personally do the closing argument.” The trial could cost Trump hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties and strip him of his ability to do business in New York. He’s fighting allegations that his net worth was inflated by billions of dollars on financial statements that helped him secure business loans and insurance. The former president denies any wrongdoing, and he has lambasted the case as a “hoax” and a political attack on him. The judge is a Democrat, as is New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the lawsuit. The trial came after Engoron decided, in a pretrial ruling, that Trump had engaged in fraud for years. The judge ordered at that point that a receiver take control of some of the ex-president’s properties, but an appeals court has put that order on hold. The trial concerns remaining claims of conspiracy, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. Engoron will decide the verdict. It’s extremely uncommon for people who have lawyers to give their own closing arguments. But Trump’s lawyers had signaled privately to the judge last week that the ex-president planned to deliver a summation personally, in addition to arguments from his legal team. James’ office objected, saying that the proposal would effectively amount to testimony without cross-examination. In an email exchange filed in court Wednesday, Engoron initially approved the request, saying he was “inclined to let everyone have his or her say.” But he said Trump’s remarks would have to stay within the bounds of “commentary on the relevant, material facts that are in evidence, and application of the relevant law to those facts.” Trump would not be allowed to introduce new evidence, “comment on irrelevant matters” or “deliver a campaign speech” — or impugn the judge, his staff, the attorney general, her lawyers or the court system, the judge wrote. Trump attorney Christopher Kise responded that those limitations were “fraught with ambiguities, creating the substantial likelihood for misinterpretation or unintended violation.” Engoron said that they were ”reasonable, normal limits” and would allow for comments on the attorney general’s arguments but not personal attacks. Kise termed the restrictions “very unfair.” “You are not allowing President Trump, who has been wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control, politically motivated attorney general, to speak about the things that must be spoken about,” the attorney wrote. “I won’t debate this yet again. Take it or leave it,” the judge shot back, with an all-caps addition saying he wouldn’t push back an already extended and imminent deadline to resolve the matter. The deadline passed without a response from Trump’s lawyers. Earlier in the exchange, the judge also denied Kise’s request to postpone closing arguments until Jan. 29 because of the death Tuesday of Trump’s mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs. The judge expressed condolences but said he was sticking to the scheduled date, citing the security and logistics required for Trump’s planned visit to court. Taking on a role usually performed by an attorney is dicey for any defendant, and summations are a last chance to try to show how the evidence from the trial has or hasn’t met legal requirements for proving the case. A closing argument isn’t constrained to the question-and-answer format of testimony. But “it’s absolutely not a free-for-all,” said Christine Bartholomew, a University at Buffalo School of Law professor who specializes in civil procedure. “Unless you’re legally trained … the chance of a misstep is really, really high,” she said, adding that it’s “extra-risky” when a judge has already taken issue with a defendant’s conduct during the case. Trump ran afoul of Engoron after making a disparaging social media post about the judge’s law clerk on the trial’s second day. The post included a false insinuation about the clerk’s personal life. Engoron then imposed a limited gag order, barring all participants in the trial from commenting publicly about court staffers. The judge later fined Trump a total of $15,000, saying he’d repeatedly violated the order. Trump’s defense team is appealing it. During the recent email exchange about Trump’s potential summation, Engoron warned Trump’s lawyers that if the former president violated the gag order, he’d be removed from the courtroom and fined at least $50,000. Trump testified in November, sparring verbally with the judge and state lawyers as he defended himself and his real estate empire. He later considered but ultimately decided against a second round of testimony, explaining that he had “nothing more to say.

Republican debate: Five takeaways as Haley and DeSantis face off Published Jan 09, 2024 Share Related Topics US election 2024 DeSantis and Haley IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES By Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC News, Des Moines, Iowa Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley squared off in a tense debate on Wednesday, trading barbs just days before the Iowa caucuses. Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the race for the party's 2024 nomination, once again chose not to attend and held a Fox News town hall event at the same time. Iowa is the first in the state-by-state contest to decide who in the Republican party will contest the general election, probably against Democratic President Joe Biden, in November. Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley, a long way behind Mr Trump in the Iowa polls, are hoping a strong second place finish in the state on Monday will breathe new life into their campaigns. A very quick guide to US Republican primaries Here's what we learned when they went head to head on the stage in Des Moines. 1) Neither candidate held back Things got off to a heated start when the pair traded insults in their very first answers. Mr DeSantis, 45, began proceedings by calling his opponent "another mealy-mouthed politician that tells you what she thinks you want to hear". Ms Haley then shot back and took aim at what she called Mr DeSantis's repeated "lies". "You're going to find out about a lot of Ron's lies," she said. There have been four Republican debates before this, but the one-on-one nature of this one, which was hosted by CNN at Drake University, resulted in far more direct attacks and testy exchanges. It seemed as though both were hoping to land a knockout blow before Republicans in Iowa kickstart the next phase of this race and pick their preferred presidential candidate on Monday. The theme of the night? Attack, attack attack. 2) They went after Trump's record As the two candidates battled on stage, the former president was three miles (5km) away holding an event with his supporters. The question of his absence, and his lead in the polls, unsurprisingly came soon in the debate. Mr DeSantis accused the former president of "running to pursue his issues" and ignoring the needs of American families. He said Mr Trump spewed "word vomit" on social media and cast doubt on his ability to get through the legal battles he is facing. Why Trump’s rivals in Iowa still think they can win Christie exits 2024 race with parting shot at Trump Ms Haley, for her part, once again said that she did not believe Mr Trump was "the right president to go forward". Both were more vocal in their criticism of him than in previous debates, taking aim at his handling of issues ranging from the pandemic to border security and relations with China. At his own event in Des Moines, Mr Trump also took aim at both candidates and touted the "tremendous" levels of support he has in Iowa. Additionally, his campaign sent out several emails during the rival debate, criticising Ms Haley and Mr DeSantis on a range of issues including Ms Haley's "childish" foreign policy positions and China and Mr DeSantis' "lying record on Covid." 3) They clashed on immigration Border security and immigration came up repeatedly, a reflection of the polls that show it is a primary concern for Republican voters in Iowa and around the US. Mr DeSantis urged the crowd to "not trust" Ms Haley with immigration. "That's like having the fox guard the henhouse," he said, pointing to earlier comments in which she referred to the term "illegal aliens" as "disrespectful". Ms Haley mostly struck a more nuanced tone on the subject, referring to the root causes of migration in Central and South America and touting her credentials as a former ambassador to the United Nations. She did, however, say undocumented migrants should be deported for "cutting the line". 4) Ukraine was a flashpoint The war in Ukraine proved to be one of the most contentious issues of the night, and both candidates sparred with one another over their positions on the conflict. Ms Haley hit out at Mr DeSantis for initially backing US funds for Ukraine, and then later changing his position. "Nobody knows what he believes," she said. "Let me tell you why Ukraine should matter. This is a freedom loving country," she said, adding that it was a "friend" of America and that US support was about "preventing war". Mr DeSantis responded by saying the war needed to end, and "people like Nikki Haley care more about Ukraine's border than our southern border". The clashes over Ukraine mirror a wider rift in the Republican Party, which has been split over US foreign policy and continued assistance to Ukraine. 5) DeSantis got more cheers, but Haley claimed victory The audience of 200 or so at the venue in Des Moines was also far from raucous, but Mr DeSantis seemed to get the larger share of the applause. Some of his comments, including one moment where he described Ms Haley as having a problem with "ballistic podiatry" (in other words, shooting herself in the foot) prompted a good response in the room. That is perhaps unsurprising, as Iowa is widely seen as more favourable to him than other states such as New Hampshire, where the second Republican contest will take place and Nikki Haley is expected to perform better. Ms Haley did have some memorable moments herself, and received a loud cheer when she described the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021 as a "terrible day". Afterwards her campaign staff and supporters said they saw the event as a victory that will propel her going into the New Hampshire primary. "Tonight was a success," Texas congressman Will Hurd told the BBC. "More people were Googling Nikki Haley than Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump combined. Her momentum is continuing." But in a room not far from the venue, at his separate town hall in front of a favourable crowd, Mr Trump experienced a stronger reaction. His supporters shouted "we love you" throughout the event and he shook hands for more than 10 minutes after it finished. If Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley are to seriously challenge the former president, they will need to tempt some of these Iowan voters away from him before Monday's critical caucuses.