Brokerages Set Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) PT at $106.62Two of Pa. Rep. Summer Lee's closest allies lost reelection bids. What could it spell for her future?Biden says Assad's fall in Syria is a 'fundamental act of justice,' but 'a moment of risk'

By Brooks Kubena, Saad Yousuf, Jon Machota and Amos Morale III The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East division title Sunday as running back Saquon Barkley topped the 2,000-yard mark in a 41-7 win against the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley, who now has 2,005 rushing yards this season, tallied 167 yards on 31 carries Sunday for an Eagles team that played without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. The quarterback remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Advertisement Backup Kenny Pickett started for the Eagles, and completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score before leaving the game in the third quarter with a rib injury . Tanner McKee made his NFL debut while finishing the game in Pickett’s place. McKee posted a nearly perfect passer rating while completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with receiver A.J. Brown for a 20-yard third-quarter score and found DeVonta Smith in the fourth for a 25-yard touchdown. 📁 Things We Love To See 📁 Tanner McKee & DeVonta Smith 📁 Touchdown vs. the Cowboys (Kelly Green) pic.twitter.com/kG2zCubj17 — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 29, 2024 Philadelphia’s defense added to the scoring with defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson returning one of Cooper Rush’s two interceptions for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Eagles (13-3) will end their regular season against the New York Giants, while the Cowboys (7-8) will face the Washington Commanders. Saquon Barkley eyeing record Barkley is the ninth player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 yards rushing in a single season. Barkley (2,005 yards) is within range of the record set by Eric Dickerson (2,105) in 1984. Barkley will have one more game to set the record. And, no less, it will be in the regular-season finale against his old team: the Giants. Barkley already holds the single-season record for the Eagles. It’s difficult to be hyperbolic about his impact on this year’s offense. Barkley was given an ovation after eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark with a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter. Each offensive lineman embraced Barkley. The fans inside Lincoln Financial Field chanted “M-V-P.” Barkley finished the game with 167 yards rushing, his 11th 100-yard game of the season. — Kubena Saquon Barkley is just the 9th player in NFL history to reach 2,000+ rushing yards!!️ @saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/3o7SCoMWO0 — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 29, 2024 C.J. Gardner-Johnson gets Eagles rolling The Eagles demolished the Cowboys in their first meeting by winning the turnover margin. Again, the Eagles won the margin and forced two fumbles. Gardner-Johnson had two interceptions, including a 69-yard pick-six on the game’s first possession. Gardner-Johnson has a team-leading six interceptions in 2024, tying his career high. Advertisement By beating the Cowboys 34-6 in their first meeting and 41-7 in their second, the 62-point margin is the second-most one-sided pair of games in the rivalry’s history. — Kubena Turnovers prove costly for Dallas When the Cowboys went 4-1 in their last five games, their turnover margin was one of their strengths. The Cowboys were plus-eight during that span, which was second-best in the NFL, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs’ plus-nine. As the Cowboys got blown out by the Eagles, who played a good portion of the game with their third-string quarterback, Dallas lost the turnover battle 4-0. Sunday’s game had a bit of everything, from a horrendous pick-six on the first drive of the game, a bad fumble by Jake Ferguson in Dallas’ territory, a Rico Dowdle fumble in Eagles territory and another Rush interception. Meanwhile, the defense became a doormat to Barkley and didn’t force a single turnover. The pass rush was unable to get home much and the defensive secondary was atrocious, specifically, Andrew Booth getting torched early and often. Mix that with the offense’s propensity to turn the ball over Sunday and it was a recipe for the disaster the game ended up being. — Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer Cowboys worn down Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said his message to the team heading into Sunday’s game was to “cut it loose.” McCarthy added the Cowboys were “going in there to win.” While that sounded good, an injury-depleted roster cost them against better competition. Even without Hurts, the Eagles are the best team Dallas has faced over the last month. The Cowboys went into Sunday’s game without six key starters: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, right guard Zack Martin, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Trevon Diggs. It looked like a team missing six of its top 10 players. — Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer Required reading (Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)DAMASCUS: Syrian rebels declared they had ousted President Bashar al-Assad after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing him to flee and ending his family’s decades of autocratic rule after more than 13 years of civil war. In a seismic moment for the Middle East, the rebels also dealt a major blow to the influence of Russia and Iran in Syria in the heart of the region – allies who had propped up Assad during critical periods in the war but were distracted by other crises recently. The rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. Thousands of people in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting “Freedom” from a half century of Assad family rule, witnesses said. People were seen walking inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, with some leaving carrying furniture from inside. “We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains,” the rebels said. Leading rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani said there was no room for turning back. “The future is ours,” he said in a statement read on Syria’s state TV after his forces took over Damascus. The pace of events stunned Arab capitals and raised concerns about a new wave of instability in a region already in turmoil following the spread of conflict after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the ensuing Gaza war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Assad’s fall was a direct result of blows that Israel has dealt to Iran and its ally Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron said “the barbaric state has fallen” and paid tribute to the Syrian people. Daunting task ahead When the celebrations fade, Syria’s new leaders will face the daunting task of trying to deliver stability to a diverse country with competing factions that will need billions of dollars in aid and investments to rebuild. Syria’s long civil war, which erupted in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s rule, turned cities to rubble and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Stakeholders range from Turkey to the United States to Islamists to Kurds. One possible challenge could be a resurgence of Islamic State which imposed a reign of terror in large swathes of Syria and Iraq and directed external operations during its prime. President Joe Biden’s administration was monitoring developments but has not adjusted the positioning of the roughly 900 troops in Syria so far, U.S. officials told Reuters. Underscoring the lightning changes, Iran’s embassy was stormed by Syrian rebels, Iran’s English-language Press TV reported. Iran, whose elite Revolutionary Guards have faced deadly Israeli strikes in Syria, gave a measured response. Its foreign ministry said Syria’s fate is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people and should be pursued without foreign imposition or destructive intervention. Lebanese-based Hezbollah, which provided crucial support to Assad for years, withdrew all of its forces from Syria on Saturday as rebel factions approached Damascus, two Lebanese security sources told Reuters on Sunday. Assad, who had not spoken in public since the sudden rebel advance a week ago, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters. His whereabouts now – and those of his wife Asma and their two children – were unknown. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Assad had left office and departed the country after giving orders for a peaceful handover of power. The Syrian rebel coalition said it was continuing work to complete the transfer of power in the country to a transitional governing body with full executive powers. “The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people,” it added in a statement. Throughout the civil war, security forces held hundreds of thousands of people seized into detention camps where international human rights organisations say torture was universal practice. Families were often told nothing of their loved-ones’ fate. Bewildered and elated prisoners poured out of Syrian jails on Sunday, shouting with joy as they emerged from one of the world’s most notorious detention systems. Newly freed prisoners ran through the Damascus streets holding up the fingers of both hands to show how many years they had been in prison, asking passers-by what had happened, not immediately understanding that Assad had fallen. Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections in a country where Assad’s opponents faced barrel bombs. Jalali also said he had been in contact with Golani to discuss managing the transitional period, marking a notable development in efforts to shape Syria’s political future. The collapse of Assad’s rule followed a shift in the balance of power in the Middle East after many leaders of Hezbollah, a lynchpin of Assad’s battlefield force, were killed by Israel over the past two months. Russia, a staunch Assad ally, intervened decisively in 2015 to help Assad during Syria’s civil war. But it has been tied down by the Ukraine war. US to maintain presence The Syrian civil war dragged in a string of outside powers, created space for jihadist militants to plot attacks around the world and sent millions of refugees into neighbouring states. The frontlines were dormant for years. Then Islamists who had once been affiliated with Al Qaeda suddenly burst into action in late November. Western governments, which have shunned the Assad-led state for years, must now decide how to deal with a new administration in which a globally designated terrorist group – Golani’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – looks set to have influence. A former US military commander of American forces in the Middle East, retired Marine General Frank McKenzie, said he was concerned about the way ahead for Syria. “I wish I could be more hopeful that it will mean good news for the Syrian people ... We could have an Islamic state arise there which will have profound negative implications across the region. That is possible,” McKenzie told ABC News. The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said at a conference in Manama on Sunday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said “terrorist organisations” must not be allowed to take advantage of the situation in Syria and called for caution. HTS, which spearheaded the rebel advances across western Syria, was formerly an al Qaeda affiliate until its leader Golani severed ties with the global jihadist movement in 2016. “The real question is how orderly will this transition be, and it seems quite clear that Golani is very eager for it to be an orderly one,” said Joshua Landis, a Syria expert and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. “They are going to have to rebuild ... they will need Europe and the U.S. to lift sanctions,” Landis added. HTS is Syria’s strongest rebel group and some Syrians remain fearful it will impose draconian Islamist rule or instigate reprisals. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, both close U.S. allies, see Islamist militant groups as an existential threat, so HTS may face resistance from the regional heavyweights. Israel said it had deployed forces in the U.N.-monitored buffer zone with Syria and at a number of points necessary for defence. Suspected Israeli strikes hit Mazzeh district of Damascus, one Lebanese and one Syrian security source said on Sunday. Jets believed to be Israeli bombed the Khalkhala air base in southern Syria that was evacuated by the Syrian army overnight, two regional security sources told Reuters. The Israeli government had no immediate comment on the reported strikes, which one of the sources said appeared to be aimed at preventing weapons falling into the hands of radical Islamist groups. 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NEW YORK — The last of the crystal triangles that make up this year's Times Square New Year's Eve ball were installed Friday morning. It's the first time in 10 years that all 2,688 were replaced at once. Singer Pitbull attends the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation on Friday at One Times Square in New York. Rapper Pitbull and inventor Joy Mangano were among those on hand to help the organizers of the celebration put the final pieces in place atop One Times Square, the skyscraper from which the 11,875-pound geodesic sphere drops to mark the new year. Singer Pitbull, left, and Joy Mangano, right, founder of CleanBoss, install a crystal Friday during the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Crystal Installation at One Times Square in New York. A New Year's Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound, 5-foot diameter ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt lightbulbs. Six newer versions of the ball were featured in the century-plus since that first celebration. Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is displayed Friday at One Times Square in New York. The only years no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when the city instituted a nightly "dimout" during World War II to protect itself from attacks. Crowds instead celebrated the new year with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square. As the new year approaches, many people begin thinking about their resolutions—typically focusing on physical health, saving money, or spending more time with family. One area that often gets overlooked is mental health. The pressure to "get fit" or "eat better" is well-known, but taking care of mental well-being is just as important as improving physical health, especially since mental health impacts every aspect of life. At first glance, mental health goals can seem intangible and subjective, but there are scientifically-proven ways to set achievable, measurable, and personalized mental wellness goals that will help anyone thrive in 2025. Vivian Chung Easton, a mental health therapist at Blueprint , a company focused on building AI-powered tools to help therapists, shares recommendations for setting mental health resolutions. One of the most important mental wellness goals for 2025 is to prioritize self-compassion and resilience. In a culture that often celebrates hustle and perfection, it's easy to push yourself too hard, setting unrealistic expectations that only add to stress and anxiety. But research shows that self-compassion and resilience are critical factors in coping with stress and maintaining long-term mental well-being. A 2021 study by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer highlights that self-compassion—treating yourself with kindness when things don't go as planned—can reduce emotional distress and improve resilience. Instead of criticism for not meeting a goal or making a mistake, practice affirmations or positive self-talk. A simple goal, like being kinder to yourself during setbacks, can help reduce stress and boost mental wellness. A goal can look something like this: Making room for self-compassion this year can be a transformative step toward building resilience and enhancing overall mental health. Social connection is one of the most important factors in mental wellness, yet it's often overlooked in favor of individual self-improvement goals. Physical isolation can lead to loneliness, but social isolation is also strongly linked to mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, according to a study by Juliannee Holt-Lundstad. Meaningful relationships and community support can improve how satisfied you feel in your life on a day-to-day basis. This year, make it a goal to strengthen and nurture social connections, whether that means reconnecting with old friends, regularly scheduling family time, or joining social groups and clubs—like a book club, gym, or church group. For example, a social wellness goal can look like: Building mental wellness isn't just about managing thoughts and feelings; it's also about fostering a strong support network. Social connections are integral to building emotional resilience. Just as physical fitness is associated with physical health, mindfulness is often associated with mental fitness. However, practicing mindfulness is just as important as going for a run or lifting weights when it comes to mental wellness. Mindfulness-based practices—such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises—have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve focus, and boost emotional well-being according to research by Stefan Hofman in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Incorporating mindfulness into a routine doesn't have to be time-consuming or difficult. Start small by committing to 5–10 minutes of mindfulness practice a few times a week . Focus on breath, practice guided meditation, or even engage in mindful walking or eating. A simple goal might be: These exercises are called a practice for a reason: doing them consistently and often can strengthen your ability over time. These practices not only reduce stress in the moment but also help to build resilience over time, making it easier to handle future challenges. Whatever New Year's resolution you might have, a large obstacle is setting goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic. Whether it's aiming to exercise every day or cutting out all sugar, overambitious goals can lead to burnout and disappointment when progress isn't immediate. This is especially true for mental health goals, which often require patience and consistency. Using these suggestions for mental health goals, focus on how to personalize them to make them realistic and achievable for your life. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that people are more likely to succeed in their resolutions when they set realistic and incremental goals. Instead of vague, broad goals like "be happier" or "stress less," focus on small, concrete actions that can lead to big changes over time. One effective approach is to use SMART goals—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: These specific, measurable actions make it easier to track progress and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. Plus, they're more realistic and achievable, which increases your chances of success. It happens every year—gyms always seem to empty out before spring starts. One of the challenges of New Year's resolutions is that many people abandon their goals as early as January. However, mental health goals require ongoing attention and flexibility. Unlike weight loss or fitness goals, mental wellness is a journey, not an endpoint. Regularly tracking progress is essential. By setting aside time to evaluate personal progress, it's easier to adjust your goals and make necessary changes to keep things on track. Research shows that regular goal check-ins increase the likelihood of long-term success. Consider setting quarterly check-ins with yourself to assess your mental health goals: If you're not meeting your targets, adjust them to make them more realistic. Mental health progress doesn't always follow a straight line, so it's important to be flexible and forgiving with yourself. The new year is inherently a time of change, and that can be a helpful mindset in seeing new potential for growth and taking action. As you set your resolutions for 2025, don't forget to prioritize mental wellness. By focusing on achievable, realistic goals—you're setting yourself up for a healthier, more fulfilling year. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and nurturing it can help to reach other goals more effectively. Even if, in a month or two, you feel like you're falling behind—mental health goals can and should be flexible and adaptable. You can always adjust your approach if things aren't serving you, and check in with yourself regularly to stay on track. Goals are personal, and you're always in control. Here's to a year of growth, balance, and emotional well-being in 2025. This stor y was produced by Blueprint and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Photo Credit: Alberto Menendez Cervero / Shutterstock As anyone who’s ever started a business knows, getting one off the ground is not for the faint of heart. Entrepreneurs face numerous challenges in the early years, from solidifying business plans to navigating the complexities of hiring employees and acquiring licenses and insurance. These hurdles often determine the fate of a startup, making the journey from an idea to a successful enterprise both difficult and uncertain. Each year, millions of Americans file new business applications , but only a fraction of these ventures transition to hiring employees. Among those that do, surviving the critical first few years can still be an uphill battle. However, survival rates differ significantly by location, influenced by a variety of factors such as economic conditions, state policies, and industry-specific demand. The good news is that businesses that weather the initial hurdles see a much greater likelihood of long-term success. This analysis explores the states where new businesses are most likely to survive their earliest years based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The findings reveal important insights into how location and time impact the chances of business success. The chances of staying in business increase dramatically after the first few years Source: Simply Business analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Simply Business One of the most significant challenges for new business owners is simply staying in operation. The risk of failure is highest during the first year, but it diminishes considerably over time. For those businesses that survive the initial hurdles, the likelihood of long-term success grows each year. According to recent BLS data, only about 79% of businesses survive their first year, making it the most difficult period for startups. However, for businesses that survive their first year, roughly 85% make it to the next. By the fifth year, 91% of businesses manage to continue operations, and for those that reach the 10-year mark, an impressive 93% make it through to another year. These figures underscore the importance of persistence and adaptability, especially during the critical early years when the risk of failure is highest. They also highlight that while starting a business is undeniably challenging, those who endure the startup years enjoy far better odds moving forward. Washington & California lead the country in new business survival rates Source: Simply Business analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Simply Business New business success varies widely across the United States, with some states providing a more favorable environment for startups to thrive. Based on survival rates for the first three years of operation, Washington and California stand out as the nation’s leading states. Washington claims the top spot, with businesses in the state enjoying an 86.4% chance of surviving their first year, 89.3% in their second year, and an impressive 91.8% in their third year. These figures highlight Washington's robust support for young businesses, likely fueled by its thriving tech ecosystem and a generally favorable economic climate. California ranks second, with survival rates of 86.0% in the first year, 89.8% in the second, and 91.4% in the third. Despite challenges such as high costs of living and regulatory complexities, California’s strong economy, innovation hubs, and access to venture capital contribute to its high ranking. Outside of the West Coast, West Virginia —whose economy is deeply rooted in energy production, natural resources, and manufacturing—ranks third, boasting the highest third-year survival rates at 91.9%. North Carolina —a major banking center and home of the Research Triangle—follows closely with similar numbers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Minnesota businesses face the toughest challenges in their early years, with only 72.3% surviving their first year and 80.2% their second. These regional differences highlight the importance of local economic conditions in shaping a startup's odds of success. For entrepreneurs planning their next move, this analysis offers insight into where businesses are thriving and where challenges are more pronounced. Factors like industry presence, regulatory environments, and access to resources can create opportunities—or hurdles—that significantly affect survival rates in the critical early years. Choosing the right location isn’t just about personal preference; it can mean the difference between failure and success. This analysis was conducted by Simply Business —an online insurance marketplace for small businesses—using 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For complete results, see the original post: States Where New Businesses Are Most Likely to Succeed . Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row‘I got it wrong’: Paul Merson calls out Mike Dean live on Sky Sports after Jack Stephens’ red card for Southampton

3 Korean Celebrities Named 2024’s “Worst-Mannered” By Movie Biz InsidersNoneWASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a "fundamental act of justice" after decades of repression, but it was "a moment of risk and uncertainty" for the Mideast. Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country after more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. Biden said the United States was unsure of Assad's whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers - Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said "for the first time" that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. "Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team at the White House. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, "was not interested in protecting him any longer." Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended those for troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted "dozens" of what he called "precision air strikes" on Islamic State camps and operations in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. "We will remain vigilant," Biden said. "Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses." He added that the groups are "saying the right things now." "But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions," Biden said. Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, "are in a weakened state right now." Vice President-elect JD Vance, a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. "Many of 'the rebels' are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they've moderated. Time will tell," he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government "lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine" and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders. Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was "solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict." "We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria's minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement," Shapiro said. "Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad's horrific crimes, Russia's indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. "If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime," he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. "To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we're waiting for Austin," Tice's mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he's going to be fairly dazed & he's going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!" Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. We've remained committed to returning him to his family," Biden said at the White House. "We believe he's alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable." The president added: "We have to identify where he is." ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, and AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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Prediction markets have been around for a long time, but it was only during the last election that they broke fully into the mainstream, with bets on Donald Trump or Kamala Harris soaring. A month after , betting platforms like Kalshi are looking ahead to what's next for the industry. They say the surge in user activity is trickling down to other markets, ranging from pop culture and celebrity drama to bets on the weather. Betting experts, meanwhile, predict the market will keep growing. Observers see brokerages and startups racing to capitalize on the increased interest since the election, and say that trend could be especially pronounced as regulation eases. Kalshi cofounder Tarek Mansour says his site saw a rapid surge in user activity after winning the right to offer political trades to US users following a with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in October. That burst of activity has had the effect of encouraging users to bet on non-political outcomes, too, he said. "Once you're in, you have an account, you understand how it works, you have the habit of checking, you're going to trade more, right?" he told Business Insider. Political trades still appear to have the greatest volume on the site, with bets on Trump's cabinet picks raking in millions in betting volumes. Users have wagered $6.5 million on Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, while his choice of FBI Director has garnered $1.8 million as of Friday afternoon. Other policy outcomes, like the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting cycle, are gaining close attention from traders, too. Users have wagered about $6.3 million on the number of rate cuts in 2024, and another $2.3 million on the Fed's decision in December. Northwestern University's Thomas Miller, who studies prediction markets closely and runs the election forecasting model, , says interest in those markets makes sense. Beyond just making a profit on a correct bet, investors using economic markets may be looking to offset any related risk to their portfolios. "They are a hedging mechanism. There are investors that are going to be like investors in the political markets, where they're just making a prediction of what's going to happen, but there are also investors in the economic markets that are hedging," he told Business Insider. Bets on pop culture have also gained steam in recent weeks, like the winner of the Game of the Year and Grammy Song of the Year, both of which have drawn around $500,000 worth of bets. Rotten Tomatoes scores for particular movies and the Oscars winner for Best Picture are also popular betting markets. Even the weather is attracting bettors. A bet based on the highest temperature recorded in New York City for Friday was among the site's top 10 trending trades on Friday afternoon. Still, volumes in other categories pale in comparison to political bets on the site. Harry Crane, a statistics professor at Rutgers University who studies prediction markets, says he suspects sports bets, if legal for the sites, could be a good entry point to rack up greater volume in non-political trades. "Sports betting is just very popular. Elections are popular every couple of years, but not on a daily basis," Crane said. Kalshi's increasingly rapid listing process could also help the rising interest in more quickly resolved trades in areas like pop culture and weather. "We listed more markets in October alone than the entire past 12 months combined," Mansour said, adding that it now takes 24 hours or less to list a new market. Listing their first-ever market took 18 months. Crane and Miller said the incoming Trump administration's lighter approach to regulation could also help predictor markets grow. Miller says less regulation could generate more interest from large brokerages and new sites looking to capitalize on the rising interest in prediction markets, joining retail brokerages like . "This is going to be another area for securities and financial services. Absolutely. We're just starting to see it," Miller said, adding, "We're at the beginning of a new cycle." Those new competitors will likely be helped, too, by Kalshi's court win earlier this year, he said. "That's a signal to other firms," he said. "It is now legal, so I don't have to be concerned about regulators coming after me as long as I play the game fair, transparent, and in the contracts they offer." Crane argues any market manipulation attempts harder to pull off, he says. "Everything kind of feeds off of everything else, and by trying to limit one aspect of it, or trying to police one aspect of it, it can often ruin the entire market function," Crane told BI in a previous interview in August. Mansour similarly welcomes looser regulation and greater competition in the industry, and says it will only help prediction markets to grow. "I think more players will help build the asset class faster. That's a good thing," he said, adding, "I don't see a reason why prediction markets won't topple the stock market at some point. It's very simple. Yeah, people care about stocks, but people care more about politics or COVID, economics or weather. So they should be trading it," he said. Read the original article onA recent fatal crash on Sydney Harbour has reiterated the importance of safety on the water for the Sydney to Hobart fleet as wild weather looms for the big race. A man in his 50s succumbed to serious chest injuries after his boat collided with another during twilight racing off Bradleys Head on December 6. NSW Police investigations into the crash are ongoing. Less than an hour after the incident occurred, around half of the 104 boats contesting this year's Hobart were leaving the harbour in the Cabbage Tree Island Race - the final off-shore contest before the bluewater classic begins on Boxing Day. The fatal crash made an impression on Master Lock Comanche co-skipper and Matt Allen, who is assisting with Australian Sailing's inquiry. "Any time we have an incident like that, it brings back home the fact that safety is the paramount thing," Allen told AAP. The trying conditions forecast for the Sydney to Hobart has underlined the importance of safety this year. North-easterly winds will make for a fast start, before a south-westerly change brings gale force winds and possibly thunderstorms to the Bass Strait on the first night of racing. "In challenging wind conditions, these boats are very fast and very wet. Safety is number one, we can't forget that," Allen said. A NSW coronial inquest into the 1998 Sydney to Hobart, during which six people died amid storms, made 14 formal recommendations and triggered significant updates to the race's safety protocols. Today, entrants are required to have an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) on board for each crew member, usually fitted to their life jacket, as well as life-lines that strap each sailor to the vessel. Personal torches are also mandatory, while the Bureau of Meteorology now provides more detail in its compulsory briefings to the fleet on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. This year's race will be the first without radio relay vessels keeping pace with the fleet, but the majority of boats are now fitted out with on-board internet service Starlink to maintain communications with land. Each yacht must also carry a satellite phone. "The resources that we have, to know what weather's coming and to manage misadventures, are pretty significant now," said Jules Hall, co-skipper of Disko Trooper_Contender Sailcloth. "(The recent crash in Sydney Harbour) was a tragic event, and sincerest condolences to all affected by that. Safety's got to come number one, it's so important. "You can't underestimate the ocean, the wind and the waves." Around 35 maritime rescue vessels will be on hand for the start of the race at 1pm on Boxing Day, when an exclusion zone will be in place to protect the fleet from spectator vessels. There will be fewer buoys marking out the exclusion zone this year, but they will be larger than in 2023, spaced about 100m apart from each other. As the race goes on, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will respond to emergency broadcasts and beacons around the clock. A fixed-wing aircraft is on a 30-minute stand-by to disembark from Essendon Airport in the event of an emergency, while helicopters can also be deployed from the east coast or Tasmania. URM Group co-owner Anthony Johnston said there were extra safety precautions boats could take. "Controlling the noise on board, that's really important," he told AAP. "You've got to have one game plan. You can't have everyone throwing their idea in, especially in a dynamic situation. "It's all about keeping the communications under control but at the same time, getting the feedback you need to implement the right decisions."

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