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The U.S. State Department says it has “taken steps to secure the U.S. embassy” in Syria following the collapse of the Assad government. This comes after the toppling of more than 50 years of a dictatorship there, showing an uncertain way forward for any new government. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," President Joe Biden said Sunday , but warned that the significant change will also mark a period of uncertainty for Syria and the region. "As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risks," President Biden said. The Biden administration plans to lend its support to establishing a transitional government in Syria. The White House is in close communication with stakeholders in the region, including Jordan's King Abdullah. More conversations with leaders are expected in the days ahead. RELATED STORY | Military command of Syria's opposition says Damascus is 'free' of Bashar Assad's rule Other countries and groups have a shared interest in continued stability in Syria, but officials also acknowledged the power vacuum carries risks. White House officials told Scripps News the administration is focused on preventing the ISIS terror group from taking advantage of the situation. "One of the things that we're going to work hard to avoid is ISIS being able to exploit this situation and somehow try to revitalize," White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in an interview. "That is a message that we are sending to all the opposition groups through various means that this is not the opportunity — should not be the time — for a closer relationship, or any relationship, quite frankly, with Isis." "What we are backing is the Syrian people. And we want to make sure that again, through our interlocutors and through the United Nations, we're doing what we can to see legitimate governance there." The conflict in Syria has spanned multiple administrations and is often considered a proxy for the goals of other international actors, including Russia. Officials pointed in part to President Biden's support of Israel and Ukraine as factors that weakened Iran and Russia's ability to support Assad — and one senior administrator official explained that Assad's departure "changed the equation" in the Middle East. But Republican President-elect Donald Trump has indicated the U.S. relationship with Syria may change when he takes office. "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend," Trump wrote on social media over the weekend. "The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight." Kirby told Scripps News that for the remaining time the Biden Administration has to set U.S. foreign policy, it would continue its mission to suppress ISIS and support legitimate government in Syria.Home inspections can be nerve-wracking for both buyers and sellers. But they’re also a critical part of the process that can protect you in the long run. A good inspection can save you money by asking the sellers to pay for whatever repairs come up in the process, and it gives the peace of mind that your new home will be hazard-free when you move in. Bringing the right questions to your home inspection can set you up for success. Here are some questions you should always ask your home inspector. Your first question should always be “What does the inspection include?” Make sure you have a good understanding of what it includes and what it leaves out so you’re as informed as possible. Ask them for proof of general liability insurance as well as errors and omissions insurance. This insurance protects both you and the inspector in the event they make a mistake (and even the most experienced professionals sometimes make mistakes). When hiring, ask what kind of technology they use. A home inspector’s most vital tools are always their eyes and experience, but some tools help conduct a more comprehensive inspection in a shorter period of time. Common home-inspection tools include thermal imaging, video scopes, drones for an aerial view of the roof, leak detectors, electrical circuit monitors and moisture meters. Keep in mind that while home inspectors are experienced with plumbing and electricity, they’re not usually licensed professionals in those fields. A home inspector can only note visible problems and point you to the right pro to handle them. They’re not likely to detect problems behind the walls without some kind of visible clue, such as stains that indicate leaks. Ask your inspector to identify which issues are the most important ones to fix and which ones are just minor imperfections. Not only is it no problem for you to accompany them on the inspection, it’s often encouraged so you can ask questions and learn about your home and how it works. Pay extra attention to the condition of costly components like the foundation, roof and HVAC system. These components are often difficult and expensive to fix, so you should have a clear understanding of any flaws. Once the inspection is over, ask the inspector what the biggest issues are. They’ll sort through everything they found during the inspection and tell you which problems actually pose a threat. They can also give you an estimated cost of repairs to help you make an informed decision. Afterward, you’ll receive a detailed written report that details their findings and recommendations. Hiring a home inspector usually costs about $450, though the price can change based on specific purposes, home size and where you live. Not all states, cities or municipalities license home inspectors. If your area requires it, verify that your inspector holds the proper licensing. Look for certification from a reputable professional organization such as the American Society of Home Inspectors. Tweet your home-care questions with #AskingAngi, and we’ll try to answer them in a future column. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria falloutfortune gems casino 。

China advances in the development of new technologies and one of the most outstanding is the manufacturing of trains that operate with magnetic levitation technology. The Asian giant wants a rail transportation system that reaches speeds of 1,000 kilometers per hour and Elon Musk wants to participate in this initiative. PUBLICIDAD This was made known by the South African magnate himself in one of his most recent messages on his X account. In the midst of a political-economic discussion about the expenses, investments, and savings that the United States government, which will be presided over by Donald Trump, must make, Elon Musk agreed with one of China's technological initiatives. PUBLICIDAD The businessman Aaron Levie took a screenshot of a note, which could easily have been from FayerWayer , in which a media outlet talks about how China is building a magnetic levitation train that will reach 1,000 kilometers per hour. Levie says regarding this initiative the following: “This is why we should care about regulatory overhead in America. The world is moving forward one way or another”. “This would be a super and great deal,” responded Elon Musk, positively to the initiative of one of the biggest political and commercial rivals of the United States. Some analysts and international policy specialists have reportedly advised Elon Musk, the upcoming member of Donald Trump's cabinet, to avoid "echar flores" to China's projects. However, since the magnate is an unconventional person and he privately conducts business with China through Tesla Motors, he has no problem highlighting (and perhaps copying) the advancements of the Asian giant. The train with magnetic levitation of China The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has been working since 2022 on the development of magnetic levitation trains, which would operate using the hyperloop methods that Elon Musk also has in mind. The concept of a train with magnetic levitation involves carriages that glide along tracks that operate with electromagnetic fields, without the need for friction in interactions for propulsion, combustion, or speed. In a way, it levitates, but the true propulsion lies in the projections of its motor. The initial tests did not reach the target, but it has already surpassed 600 km/h. They expect that in the upcoming tests, the train will reach 1,000 km/h or its equivalent in the scales used for the tests.Cowboys win wild one vs. Commanders to halt five-game slideFinal regular-season games loom large in determining conference championship matchups

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A southeast Louisiana official has been accused of committing perjury for failing to disclose information related to a controversial grain terminal in the state's Mississippi River Chemical Corridor in response to a lawsuit brought by a prominent local climate activist. St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard denied in a deposition that she knew her mother-in-law could have benefited financially from parish rezoning plans to make way for a 222-acre (90-hectare) grain export facility along the Mississippi River. Hotard also said in court filings, under oath, that no correspondence existed between her and her mother-in-law about the grain terminal, even though her mother-in-law later turned over numerous text messages where they discussed the grain terminal and a nearby property owned by the mother-in-law's marine transport company, court records show. The text messages were disclosed as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Joy Banner, who along with her sister, Jo Banner, successfully led efforts to halt the $800 million grain terminal earlier this year. It would have been built within 300 feet (91 meters) of their property and close to historic sites in the predominantly Black community where they grew up. The legal dispute is part of a broader clash playing out in courts and public hearings , pitting officials eager to greenlight economic development against grassroots community groups challenging polluting industrial expansion in the heavily industrialized 85-mile industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans often referred to by environmental activists as “Cancer Alley.” “We are residents that are just trying to protect our homes and just trying to live our lives as we have a right to do,” Banner said in an interview with The Associated Press. The Banner sisters gained national attention after cofounding the Descendants Project, an organization dedicated to historic preservation and racial justice. In the text messages turned over as part of Joy Banner's lawsuit, Hotard, the parish president, says that she wished to “choke” Joy Banner and used profanities to describe her. Hotard also said of the Banner sisters: “I hate these people.” Hotard and her attorney, Ike Spears, did not respond to requests for comment after Tuesday's filing. Richard John Tomeny, the lawyer representing Hotard's mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet, declined to comment. Banner initially sued the parish in federal court in December 2023 after Hotard and another parish councilman, Michael Wright, threatened her with arrest and barred her from speaking during a public comment period at a November 2023 council meeting. “In sum: a white man threatened a Black woman with prosecution and imprisonment for speaking during the public comment period of a public meeting,” Banner's lawsuit says. It accuses the parish of violating Banner's First Amendment rights. Wright and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. Hotard and Wright have disputed Banner's version of events in court filings. At the November 2023 meeting, Banner attempted to highlight Hotard's alleged conflict of interest in approving a zoning change to enable the grain export facility's construction. Banner had also recently filed a complaint to the Louisiana Board of Ethics against Hotard pointing out that her mother-in-law allegedly would benefit financially because she owned and managed a marine transport company that had land “near and within” the area being rezoned. In response to a discovery request, Hotard submitted a court filing saying “no such documents exist” between her and her mother-in-law discussing the property, the grain terminal or Joy Banner, according to the recent motion filed by Banner's attorneys. Hotard also said in her August deposition that she had “no idea” about her mother-in-law's company's land despite text messages showing Hotard and her mother-in-law had discussed this property less than three weeks before Hotard's deposition. Banner's lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early next year. ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 Jack Brook, The Associated Press

The Milwaukee Bucks' recent run of winning has quieted their desperation for a trade. However, the team still could use an upgrade defensively. The pool of players who are eligible to be traded will grow significantly on December 15th. The Bucks most likely won't hesitate to initiate trade discussions after that deadline. If the Bucks early-season woes return, there could be a roster overhaul. Though an overhaul appears highly unlikely at this moment, as Giannis Antetokounmpo remains committed to the franchise that drafted him 11 years ago. In the event of an Antetokounmpo trade request, Brook Lopez could be involved in a subsequent move. It is safe to assume that the 36-year-old would not want to remain on a rebuilding Bucks team at this stage of his career. NBC Sports recently released a list of possible Los Angeles Lakers trade candidates, which included the Bucks center. "...the long shot — if things really fall apart in Milwaukee — would the Bucks moving on from Brook Lopez (that seems unlikely)." The Lakers are 10-6 and sit just two games back of the Western Conference leaders," the article stated. "A Brook Lopez trade would solidify their center depth behind Anthony Davis as they prepare for a championship run." The two big men could also play alongside each other, as they both space the floor. Lopez particularly does so on relatively low usage, which would open up the offense for Davis and LeBron James. The specifics of a deal could look similar to the following: Lakers receive: Brook Lopez, Tyler Smith Bucks receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, 2029 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick Milwaukee does this trade assuming an Antetokounmpo trade request has happened. As they enter a rebuild, this deal nets them first-round draft capital along with a second-rounder in a deeply talented class. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is a 25-year-old athletic rim protector who could grow into Milwaukee's backup center of the future. Reddish is also 25 years old and could grow into a bench wing during the hypothetical rebuild. Additionally, Vincent is a cromulent 28-year-old bench point guard but was mainly included for salary-matching. The Lakers should certainly not anticipate Lopez becoming available, as the Bucks and coach Doc Rivers rely on the stretch five heavily. MORE BUCKS NEWS: Bucks predicted to cut ties with regressing All-Star via trade with MagicWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump's unusual nominees . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump's America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect's choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump's foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees' qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump's team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, Nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump's allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president's Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump's first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will "prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies" — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump's 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump's first inauguration during the country's bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it's important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family's five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It's one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

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Judge in Alex Jones' bankruptcy case orders new hearing on The Onion's bid for Infowars

Awo’s legacy lives on as Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu champions women’s role in creating a viable society