Author: quannd

The collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria reverberates far beyond the Levant, shaking the foundations of other autocratic regimes. Among these, Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela faces a stark warning: An erosion of external support can dismantle even the most entrenched dictatorships. Assad’s fall highlights not only the fragility of authoritarian regimes but also the growing impatience of populations living under decades of repression. For Maduro, it underscores how reliance on foreign backers like Russia could lead to a similar unraveling. Assad’s ouster dismantled a regime notorious for its extreme violence and dependence on external allies, particularly Russia and…

By MIKE STOBBE | Associated PressNEW YORK — The US flu season is underway, with cases surging across much of the country, health officials said Friday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted sharp increases in several measures, including lab tests and emergency room visits.RELATED: Why Finland is vaccinating farmers against bird flu — but California isn‘t — and more info about the spreading virus“It’s been increasing at a pretty steady pace now for the past several weeks. So yeah, we are certainly in flu season now,” said the CDC’s Alicia Budd.Thirteen states reported high or very high levels of…

Lauren Sanchez, who has been dating Jeff Bezos since 2019, is a journalist, entrepreneur, mother, and pilot preparing for a space flight. Now, she’s about to be his wife. Image Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock Lauren Sanchez is an Emmy-winning television host and longtime love of Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos. She’s about to get a promotion on that last title, as Page Six reported that Jeff popped the question to his longtime girlfriend. Lauren and Jeff are engaged and will reportedly get married in December 2024 in an expensive wedding. One might wonder if Jeff and Lauren might become the first couple…

There’s little doubt Nissan is facing an uncertain future right now. A report earlier this week alleged that the beleaguered automaker could merge with Honda under a new holding company. Another report has since surfaced alleging that the Taiwanese company Foxconn, which makes the Apple iPhone, is also interested in Nissan. But those talks are now on pause.  The senior executive was apparently in France to discuss buying a potential stake in the automaker from Renault, which owns 36 percent of the Japanese brand. Nissan is part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, with the three sharing technologies and platforms. Neither Honda…

West Virginia native Rachel Braslavi says she moved into her new home so that her family could have more space, and more of a community feel. But she faces bigger questions than she might with a typical home purchase. Their community is the Israeli settlement of Karnei Shomron, located inside the occupied West Bank.Asked if she sees her family of settlers as impediments to peace, Braslavi replied, “No. I don’t. I really don’t. I feel that we have a right to be here. And I feel that the Palestinians have a right to be here.””On this land?” I asked. “Not…

Find hints, solutions, and everything you need to know about the New York Times game. Image Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images The famous New York Times word game, “Wordle,” has become a global addiction. All players have six tries to guess the five-letter answer for each day’s “Wordle” in the games section of the publication. So, what was today’s Wordle answer? See the hints for the December 22, 2024, Wordle and the answer by scrolling all the way down below. What Is Today’s Wordle Hint? The Wordle hint for December 22, 2024, is: Strength or physical power. What Letter Does Today’s Wordle Start With? Today’s Wordle starts with the letter B.…

Zoe Backstedt clinched a career-best second place in the elite women’s cyclocross World Cup in Zonhoven, following a valiant ride which saw her lead for over half of the event.The 20-year-old British rider led from the start after powering through the technical sand sections, including the infamous Kuil sand descent.Her lead of around 20 seconds was pulled back in the second half of the race and a three-way battle followed, with experienced cyclocross riders Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck).A mistake in a technical section by Brand with just over a lap remaining held up…

The legendary MLB player married his high school sweetheart, and they were together for the rest of his life. Image Credit: MediaNews Group via Getty Images Rickey Henderson is celebrated for his achievements in the MLB. Widely regarded as one of the greatest baserunner and leadoff hitter, in addition to being nicknamed the “Man of Steal” for his stolen-base record, Henderson remains a legend. But he didn’t reach all of his strides alone. During his career, Henderson, who died at the age of 65 in December 2024, credited his wife for supporting him. So, who was Henderson married to? Before…

A 30-year-old man has been killed in a Russian drone attack in Beryslav, Kherson region. The Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. “According to the investigation, on December 22, at around 11:50, Russian military personnel launched a drone strike on Beryslav in the Kherson region. An explosive device dropped from the drone killed a 30-year-old man,” the post said. Read also: Two dead in Kherson as result of Russian drone attack The Beryslav District Prosecutor’s Office has launched a pretrial investigation under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (a war…

Faced with the rapid spread of avian flu through California dairies, health officials are now doing weekly testing of every dairy farm in the state — expanding initial efforts amid new evidence that some infections are going undetected and there may be unknown paths of transmission. Related Articles Science | Egg shortage due to avian flu expected to ease by 2025, says USDA Science | How do people catch bird flu? Science | Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency in response to bird flu Science | Bird flu: California declares emergency as officials confirm Louisiana patient has first severe case…