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Monday, December 11, 2023

12/11 WAKE-UP CALL: 'Beginning of The End' For Hamas


Dozens of militants have surrendered in recent days as the Israeli military intensifies its military effort to crush Hamas and kill its leadership, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. Netanyahu said the world is seeing "the beginning of the end" for Hamas and its leader, Yahya Sinwar."They lay down their weapons and surrender themselves to our heroic warriors," Netanyahu said in a video broadcast. "It will take more time, the war is in full swing, (but) I say to the Hamas terrorists it is over. Don't die for Sinwar. Surrender − now."

Hamas issued a statement saying Israel was detaining unarmed civilians and surrounding them with weapons in a "desperate and transparent ploy" to give the appearance that the resolve of the militants was fading. Netanyahu's bold prediction came two days after the U.N. Security Council's latest, historic resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire was vetoed by the U.S. Israel and its most supportive ally are finding fewer global backers as the Palestinian death toll continues to rise. On Sunday, the U.N. General Assembly scheduled an emergency meeting Tuesday to vote on a draft resolution expected to be similar to the one the U.S. vetoed. General Assembly resolutions can't be vetoed but aren't legally binding either.

TROUBLE AT ACADEMIA: University of Pennsylvania's leaders have resigned amid a controversy roiling colleges in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. President Liz Magill and Scott L. Bok, the chairman of the university's board of trustees, stepped down Satureday, capping a tumultuous week stemming from statements Magill made about antisemitism at a congressional hearing Tuesday. The resignations raise questions about the power major donors have over institutions and just where schools should draw the line on protecting free speech, generally considered a bedrock of academia. The war has also spurred fierce debate in politics—and no one has been more at the crux of the divisions it has spawned within the Democratic Party than Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress. For Tlaib, 47, the crisis has been a crucible, further alienating her from her party’s establishment while strengthening her resolve to speak for a community she believes has little other voice.

The resignations have done little to quell the desire for further change at the school, students on the campus said Sunday. "There's a realization that one step is over," said junior Akiva Berkowitz outside Steinhardt Hall, home to the campus' Jewish organization Hillel. "But the process is not, and I don't want people to think this is the end. Many things still need to happen. A lot still needs to change." Magill stepped down voluntarily Saturday after her congressional testimony about antisemitism on college campuses and that of presidents of Harvard and MIT drew fire from critics, who said the three failed to adequately denounce and prevent incidents of intimidation and hate speech at their respective institutions.


➤MR. Z GOES TO WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Tuesday to help jumpstart negotiations with Congress on providing additional aid to the war-ravaged country. A spokesman for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the Republican lawmaker would also meet with Zelenskyy during his visit. Zelenskyy will visit Washington on Tuesday. Lawmakers are scheduled to leave town at the end of the week until early January, and they have not been able to come to an agreement on funding for Ukraine. They also haven't reached a deal on the president's other national security priorities, leading the White House to warn that it would run out of money to help Ukraine's military combat Russia's invasion by the end of the year.


➤PAUL..WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) warned Sunday that the United States cannot afford to provide financial aid to foreign countries like Ukraine, citing concerns about devaluing the U.S. dollar. Paul also cited concerns regarding securing the southern border and agreed that it needs to be addressed before helping outside countries. He added that a financial crisis in the near future could be on the way as the U.S. accumulates debt "at a trillion dollars every three months."'

"This is an extraordinary thing," Paul said on Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. "And interest rates are now becoming the highest or one of the largest items in our budget. So really, people can talk about wanting to help other countries, we don’t have the money. It has to be printed up. It's destroying our currency, and it’s why it costs more to go to the grocery store to buy your groceries."

➤BIDEN POLL: MANY DEMS DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT ISRAEL: President Joe Biden’s backing for Israel in its war with Hamas is alienating at least a third of Democrats, a CBS News/YouGov poll showed, as criticism of his administration’s stance grows. The share of Democrats who said Biden has shown too much support rose to 38% from 28% in October, according to the poll, which has a 5 percentage-point margin of error. In a broader sample of Americans, 34% said his approach is making a peaceful solution less likely, according to the poll. The growing civilian toll of Israel’s military operation in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas has drawn increasingly pointed calls for restraint from Democratic lawmakers, US officials and protesters, adding to political risks for Biden as he campaigns for a second term.

At the same time, the Israel-Hamas war ranked well behind inflation, border security and the state of US democracy on the poll’s list of most important problems facing the country. Last year’s surge in US inflation to a four-decade high is dogging Biden even after annualized gains in the consumer price index fell from a peak of 9.1% in 2022 to 3.2% in October and inflation-adjusted wages started rising again this year. About three quarters of CBS poll respondents, or 76%, said their income isn’t keeping up with rising prices, 62% said the US economy is in bad shape and 56% blamed government spending for inflation.

➤TRUMP..'NOTHING MORE TO SAY': Former President Donald Trump changed his mind about testifying this week as the final witness for his defense in his New York civil fraud trial. In an all-caps post on his Truth Social platform, the former president declared Sunday afternoon that he had "ALREADY TESTIFIED TO EVERYTHING & HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY." He also, without evidence, called the trial election interference against his reelection bid. The former president's attorneys previously said he would testify Monday as they fight a case from the New York Attorney General's Office accusing Trump and others of engaging in various forms of fraud in his real estate empire. Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled Trump fraudulently inflated the value of his assets on financial statements, and his companies will lose state business certificates.

➤NEBRASKA PRIEST KILLED AFTER CHURCH ASSAULT; SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY, OFFICIALS SAY: A Catholic priest died on Sunday after being assaulted at his church in Nebraska, officials said. Father Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun, was assaulted at the church's rectory. He was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. He was 65 years old, according to local media. 

➤'UNDOCUMENTED' SUSPECT ARRESTED IN MURDER OF TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER LIZBETH MEDINA: An "undocumented" man, Rafael Govea Romero, has been arrested in the murder of 16-year-old Texas high school cheerleader Lizbeth Medina. She was found dead in her bathtub after missing a squad event. Romero was apprehended in Schulenburg, Tx., and charged with the crime. The authorities, including the Edna Police Department and Texas Rangers, did not disclose details about the circumstances of the killing or whether Romero and Medina were acquainted.


✞REALITY TV STAR DIES: Reality-TV personality Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, best known as daughter of Mama June Shannon and sister of Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, has died following her battle with cancer. She was 29. Shannon shared the news of her daughter’s death in an Instagram post Sunday. "With the breaking heart, we are announcing that (Anna) is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM," Shannon wrote alongside a family photo. "She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months. She passed away with her family around her...and we will be updating y’all with more information as we get it today. We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family (during) this difficult time."


🏈NFL COWBOYS 33 EAGLES 13:  Dak Prescott threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, Brandon Aubrey converted several extra-long field goals and the Dallas Cowboys got revenge on the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles with a 33-13 victory on Sunday night in Arlington, Texas. Prescott completed 24 of 39 throws to help the Cowboys (10-3) win their fifth straight. They have not lost since the Eagles beat them 28-23 in Philadelphia on Nov. 5. 

Now the rivals are tied atop the division standings with four games to play. Tight end Jake Ferguson led Dallas in receiving with five catches for 72 yards. CeeDee Lamb had six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Aubrey hit from 60, 59, 45 and 50 yards, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to make two field goals of 59 yards or longer in one game. Jalen Hurts finished 18-of-27 passing for 197 yards for the Eagles (10-3), with A.J. Brown accounting for nine catches and 94 yards. The Eagles lost three fumbles and committed 10 penalties for 95 yards in their second straight loss. In consecutive weeks, the San Francisco 49ers and the Cowboys combined to outscore Philadelphia 75-32. Dallas opened the game with a methodical 10-play, 75-yard drive. Lamb caught a 13-yard touchdown pass exactly five minutes into the game.

🏈NFL BILLS 20 CHIEFS 17: Josh Allen accounted for two touchdowns and Tyler Bass kicked the tiebreaking 39-yard field goal to help the Buffalo Bills post a 20-17 victory over the host Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.  Bass' boot went through the uprights with 1:54 remaining as the Bills (7-6) won for just the third time in their past seven contests. James Cook had a receiving touchdown and 141 scrimmage yards (83 receiving, 58 rushing) for Buffalo. Patrick Mahomes completed 25 of 43 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Chiefs (8-5) lost for the fourth time in six games. Travis Kelce had 83 yards on six receptions, Rashee Rice had seven catches and 72 yards and a score and Jerick McKinnon rushed for a touchdown.

High-powered Kansas City has scored 21 points or fewer in five of its last six games. The contest was Buffalo's fifth visit to Kansas City in 34-plus months. The Bills won all three regular-season games but lost both playoff appearances during the span.

🏈VIKINGS' JUSTIN JEFFERSON AVOIDS 'SIGNIFICANT INJURY'; JOSH DOBBS BENCHED: Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson will return home with the team after visiting a local hospital following a chest injury in the first half of a 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Speaking after the game, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said the team sent Jefferson for further evaluation to rule out any serious internal injuries after a hit by Raiders safety Marcus Epps. Jefferson returned to Allegiant Field by the end of the game, but whether he'll be ready to play next Saturday at Cincinnati Bengals has not yet been determined.

🏈CHARGERS' JUSTIN HERBERT FRACTURES FINGER ON THROWING HAND: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fractured the index finger on his throwing hand during Los Angeles' 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, according to coach Brandon Staley. Staley said he has no information on a timetable for Herbert's return and that the team will know more in the next few days. It will be a short week for the 5-8 Chargers, who play the Raiders in Las Vegas on Thursday.

🏀LAKERS WIN IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT FINAL BEHIND ANTHONY DAVIS' 41-20: Behind a masterful performance from Anthony Davis, who had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament with a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. LeBron James, who added 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, was named tournament MVP.

⚾SHOHEI OHTANI JOINS DODGERS ON 10-YEAR, $700M CONTRACT: The most unique player in baseball history has joined one of the most storied franchises in the world -- for more money than anyone could have possibly imagined. Shohei Ohtani, the transcendent two-way talent who spent the past three years redefining what was possible at his sport's highest level, agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, announcing his decision on his Instagram page.

🏈BROWNS QB JOE FLACCO NAMED STARTER FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON: Joe Flacco named Cleveland's starting quarterback for the rest of the season. On Sunday, Flacco led the Browns to a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Afterward, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski committed to Flacco as his starter. "Joe's been in big games," Stefanski said. "So feel comfortable with him leading the football team."

➤TENNESSEE RAVAGED BY STORMS: Over two dozen people have been rushed to hospital after homes and businesses were damaged in multiple cities. Hail the size of quarters pummeled down while buildings collapsed and power lines were downed in the deadly twisters. 

Three people, including a child, were killed after a tornado struck Montgomery County, north of Nashville near the Kentucky state line. Multiple municipalities have reported injuries and roofs torn off homes - and in Tennessee, 45,000 are still without power as of Sunday morning. Nashville Emergency Operation Center said that three others people were killed by severe storms in a downtown neighborhood. Meanwhile, another 23 people were treated for injuries at hospitals in Montgomery County.




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