Daily Post Nigeria Edo: Politicians who wrote, announced fake results now crying of rigging – Gov Okpebholo Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Edo: Politicians who wrote, announced fake results now crying of rigging – Gov Okpebholo Published on November 30, 2024 By Matthew Atungwu Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State said politicians, who conjured election results and announced the same on social media during the governorship election are the same people crying that the polls were rigged. Okpebholo stated this on Saturday at the Esan Central Local Government Council Secretariat, venue of the homecoming reception held in celebration of his victory by the Esan people. While hailing the people of the state for voting him to power, the governor said those who lost would continue to cry foul because their rigging strategies failed. “I thank the leadership of my party especially our President, Bola Tinubu for standing firm for justice and allowing equity to prevail and it led to the success and victory recorded by our party. “The people that wrote results and were announcing fake results on the internet, are the same people crying today that somebody rigged the election. “It is sad to say that the criminals are crying today that they have lost and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money and will wait in vain,” he said. On his part, the Onojie of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie II, said the people of Esan are happy that the son of the land is the governor of the state, saying all the monarchs of Esanland backed his ambition which eventually materialised. “We, the traditional rulers from Esanland, went round the state to appeal for the support to produce the governor and today it’s a reality. “We thank the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare ll and we are grateful to all for the support. We believe that the governor will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State,” the royal father said. Related Topics: edo Okpebholo Don't Miss Living Faith’s airstrip licence: Be transparent, impartial in your probe – CAN tells Reps panel You may like Edo debt profile was less than N44bn, rose to N485 billion under Obaseki – APC Gov Okpebholo elected by Edo people, not selected— APC tells PDP Gov Okpebholo retains Obaseki’s automatic employment policy for first-class graduates Gov Okpebholo unbans Edo Security Network after suspension by IGP ‘Gov Okpebholo’s restoration of my statutory rights devastating on our detractors’ – Oba of Benin Police arrest man, 40, for raping minor in Edo Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

Malik Nabers says calling the Giants 'soft' was wrong but he doesn't regret speaking outMalabar Coast, Arabian Sea. There’s romance enough just in the names. I’m rattling along in a rickety local bus (no windows, driver perched on the springs of a seat that long ago lost its padding) towards Kochi in Kerala state, south-west India. The city, once known as Cochin, was a relatively sleepy place in the 1960s. Since then, the population has exploded from a manageable 250,000 to more than 31⁄2 million. What you’ll see today is a colonial-era district, Fort Kochi, surrounded by a vast Indian city of shopping malls, high-rise apartment blocks and motorways – pumping with life and energy 24/7. Traditional Kathakali dance on New Year carnival in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. Credit: Getty Images Fort Kochi was a significant trading port long before the local raja (king) negotiated a deal with the Portuguese in 1500. He got the worst of the arrangement, slowly losing power to his erstwhile ally. The Portuguese built a fort, hence the name, and held on to the territory for the next 163 years before losing it in turn to the Dutch. The British wrested it away in 1795, holding on to the growing town until India gained its hard-won independence in 1947. It’s no surprise Kochi is a major tourist attraction. It’s small enough to navigate around easily and is packed with the magnificent architecture of three successive colonial influences alongside Indian, with the whole lot surrounded by sea. With an international airport well serviced by flights from Australia, Kochi is a great place to begin your Indian adventure, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to India. Kerala is considered a politically and socially progressive state relative to the rest of India. It’s also one of the wealthiest and this is evident in Kochi. It’s a city of fine restaurants, hipster cafes, boutiques packed with original designs and a surprisingly large number of art galleries, many housed in exquisite, well-maintained colonial buildings. The city is home to the government-supported Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which has had quite an impact on the art world since its inception in 2012. The sixth edition gets underway in December this year. Wander in the narrow, winding lanes edged by buildings in the Dutch and Portuguese styles housing shops, cafes and private homes. Drop in for coffee at Kashi Art Cafe. Stroll with the locals at sunset on Kochi Beach, dine at a waterfront restaurant watching the boats coming and going across the harbour. There’s a wide range of accommodation here, from luxury hotels to modest guesthouses. Take a state-of-the-art electric ferry to the wharf near the iconic Chinese fishing nets and next door to the gorgeous Brunton Boatyard Hotel, which began life as a British colonial shipyard on the waterfront. Stay here, or pop in for a drink or a meal on the promenade. Nearby, tucked down a quiet, flower-filled lane, you’ll find SeaCoast Inn. This newly built, mid-range guesthouse is owned by Kochi local Shaan. The former IT executive has drawn on his own international travel experience to organise this attractive residence in a way that works for foreign visitors while still being essentially Indian. It’s pristine, well designed and full of lovely artisanal furnishings and fittings that reflect the Portuguese heritage of the area. Fort Kochi is not nearly as busy as many Asian cities with similar attractions. There’s still a homely feel to it, easygoing and genuine. My first day in Kochi, I lunch at Qissa cafe and find myself gravitating back there often during my stay. On one visit, as I step out into the street to take a phone call, I notice I’ve left my bag at my table. I’m about to double back when the waiter, a young man with the delicate beauty typical of the people of this region, his abundant black hair hauled into a topknot, makes me a sign: “No worries, I’ve got my eye on it, go do what you need to do.” Kochi is still that sort of place. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter .

Future innovators develop real-world sustainable solutions at AI hackathon hosted by QF’s QSTPNone

NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. 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NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. People are also reading... There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. March “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. April Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. May It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. August This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. October “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. December “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. 2024 Year in Review The stories and images that defined 2024. What were the most popular Wikipedia pages of 2024? Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... PHOTOS: The top images from the 2024 elections Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. PHOTOS: The top entertainment images from 2024 See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. From Kamala to Chappell, here are some of the most mispronounced words of 2024 News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Charleston is always a feast for the eyes, but the city rich in history and architecture truly shines during the holidays. You don’t need the magic of a snow globe to picture yourself strolling King Street, where lamp posts are wrapped in lit garlands and shops are bedecked in bows and glittering tinsel, gathering around the towering Christmas tree in Marion Square aglow with lights, and simply getting lost in residential neighborhoods where gas lanterns flicker and every color-drenched doorway is dressed to impress. Listen to the church bells ringing and mingling with the gentle sounds of the water and the marsh and soak up weather that’s cool enough to bundle up, yet, mild enough to enjoy a multitude of holiday activities. If you’re looking for what to do in Charleston during December, see why the enchanting Southern charmer should be this year’s holiday hideout. Charleston holiday hotel happenings Not just guests can enjoy these spirited events If you’ve never been to The Charleston Place during Christmas , there’s good reason why it’s considered the “holiday headquarters” for both hotel guests and the community. Even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth dropping by to see the grand hotel festooned from top to bottom with more than 100 trees, oversized Nutcracker figures, draped garlands and twinkling lights. In addition to treasured family favorites like the holiday train that inches around the gleaming lobby, this year, head to the second floor to peep at a new life-sized gingerbread house created by the pastry team. Also new this year, a “Santa Hotline” phone booth where little ones can ring the North Pole, a holiday movie night at The Riviera Theater and story time with special guest readers. Throughout the season, catch the nightly snowfall on the Market Street Circle, where a 40-foot tree holds court; enjoy mini-performances by a local ballet troupe in the lobby; and sip tea at the Sunday “Nutcracker Tea,” where sugar plum fairies float through the Thoroughbred Club. Swanky Hotel Bennett also dives deep into the holiday spirit, starting with its annual tree lighting on Gabrielle Plaza that sparkles on Dec. 5. Expect carolers and other surprises — including a visit from the main man himself, Santa. Other favorites are the hotel’s over-the-top gingerbread house crafted by the pastry team – where you’ll want to devour holiday sweets — breakfast or tea with Santa and sounds of the season from Ashley Hall choir. Add some whimsy to your holiday at fancy, pink-hued Camellias restaurant for the Tea with Santa experience throughout the winter season. Aspen or Charleston? Always on trend, The Ryder Hotel’s popular holiday pop-up Little Pine is back again, where poolside Little Palm restaurant is transformed into an alpine experience. With a backdrop of a flickering faux fireplace, cozy up with friends or family in one of the private enclosed gondolas to dip into fondue and indulge in a hot buttered rum cocktail or an orchard toddy touched with vodka, cinnamon, pear and apple. Little Pine is open until Jan 5.. The Ryder also features a skating rink where you can glide around the rink for an hour ($15 includes skate rentals). Both experiences can be reserved through Resy. If you’d prefer a hotel pop-up that includes partying in a holiday-themed yurt, head to Hotel Emeline’s “Frannie’s Winter Courtyard.” Celebrate the season in a large party yurt (8 people) or a more intimate yurt that accommodates four people, to wrap up in a blanket and dine by candlelight on fondue specials. Or simply sit by the fire to chat with friends while savoring shareable plates. A holiday hit for families is the ice-skating rink at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina , which opens on Thanksgiving day and runs until Feb. 3. Reservations are required and rental prices range from $15 to $18 per hour. Before or after lacing up your skates, rent one of the decorated firepits that edge the rink or harbor to chug hot cocoa and make s’mores treats. Haute for the holidays in Charleston Ice skating, holiday carriage rides and mesmerizing light shows If you’re craving more time on the ice, you’ll find another expansive custom-built ice-skating rink during “Skate The Stadium” at Credit One Stadium , which starts Nov. 29. After a few spins around the open-air rink, snuggle up around the firepits to warm up with s’mores, hot chocolate, cinnamon sugar pretzels or adult beverages like seasonal beers and specialty cocktails. New this year: catch an outdoor holiday movie on Friday nights in December. Enjoying a scenic carriage ride is almost a rite of passage in Charleston, and during the holiday season, you can hop on one of the 30-minute “holiday sleigh rides” with Old South Carriage Co. Guided by one of Santa’s elves, the decked-out carriages will clop through downtown, while guests are serenaded with carols. The final stop is at Santa’s stables to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies with Old Saint Nick and his elves and then take photos in the sleigh with the jolly man. Even the South Carolina Aquarium gets into the Yuletide spirit, where the marine life shares the spotlight with glimmering exhibitions during Aquarium Aglow . Visit the aquarium after dark on certain nights to see a dazzling light show, with hanging pendants, dangling jellyfish and other sea creatures aglow —which makes for perfect photo opps — along with refreshments for all ages. And Santa even dons a dive mask for an underwater extravaganza in the Great Ocean Tank. To view a dramatic light show where you don’t have to leave the comfort of your car, head to the drive-through “Holiday Festival of Lights” at James Island County Park . At this longtime cherished event, you’ll cruise through three miles of illuminated displays that include exhibitions draped in two million dazzling lights. Stop the car to take a whirl on the old-fashioned carousel and to enjoy other family-friendly activities, including a visit with Santa. Get gussied up in your holiday finest to attend a classic show, like a rendition of Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” at the Historic Dock Street Theatre , or take in an entertaining interpretation of the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” by the Footlight Players at Queen Street Playhouse (with several show dates throughout December). Holiday shopping In Charleston Pick up a gift for everyone on your list Looking for a special ornament or a gift? Newly opened Wentworth , by award-winning event designer Gregory Blake Sams, is a holiday beauty where you can choose an ornament stunner from one of their decorated trees or tables dotted with baubles and pick up a unique gift for that hard-to-buy-for friend or family member. Located near King Street, pop in Charleston Candle Co. for a hand-poured candle that smells like Christmas, and nearby The Tiny Tassel is bursting with joyful gifts, accessories and clothing (think oyster-themed clutches and pink ribbon ornaments). And if you’re looking for jewelry, sister-owned The Goldbug Collection features jewelry that doubles as art, like their signature gilded palmetto bugs and monogrammed pieces. Local artist Rebecca Meixner, known for her watercolor and coastal-infused designs, is hosting a “Stocking Stuffer Bar” at her flagship store at The Mills House Hotel starting Dec. 1. The store is splashed in pink and it’s the place to peruse Charleston-themed stockings which can be stuffed with custom-designed ornaments, small prints and other keepsakes. Cheers to the holidays Make spirits brighter at bars and a cocktail tour There’s no way you can escape the over-the-top holiday enthusiasm at local fixture Blind Tiger Pub on Broad Street. The bar is dripping in merry décor (worthy of capturing for social media), with a throng of colored ornaments dangling from the ceiling and a bevy of seasonal cocktails worthy of sampling. Another bar favorite Prohibition Charleston also goes all out with its “Sippin Santa” pop-up. Slide on your comfy shoes to join Bulldog Tours’ “Holiday Strolls Cocktail Tour,” a holiday-themed walking tour that mixes a sprinkling of history with stops at three boutique inns in the Historic District to try their signature cocktails. Put a visit to Charleston on your wish list and save this guide for a holiday to remember in Charleston.

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By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.

Dreaming about leaving the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life behind? If you’ve got your eyes fixed on a farm-centric future, you’re far from alone. According to the Big Movers 2023 report, 614,144 Australians made the move from our capital cities to regional areas across the country during the last census period (2016-21) – an increase of 120,750 on the prior one, with COVID restrictions probably driving some of this. Interestingly, the same report shows that Millennials left Sydney and Melbourne (the cities experiencing the greatest loss) in the highest numbers, as they likely embraced greater work flexibility and chased better affordability and work/life balance around the country. But is the move worth it? Three women who’ve done it in recent years share their highs and lows. “We lost everything in the floods, but we have no regrets” Sue Bourke, 54, PR and marketing professional “My husband, Brad, was diagnosed with prostate cancer seven years ago, aged 51. Until that point, we’d been living like many urbanites [in Sydney’s north], often feeling like hamsters running on a wheel but never able to get ahead. We we were exhausted and dreaming of getting out of the rat race. When Brad was undergoing treatment we said, ‘If we make it through this, let’s move to a country town.’ Moving to Wauchope [in the NSW Mid North Coast region] made sense from the get-go. We wanted a country town experience, yet still be close to the sea as well as a regional centre – and Wauchope ticked those boxes. When a local work opportunity landed in my lap, everything fell into place. We moved up here in 2019 and, straight after settling into our new home, went into a six-month period where we were badly affected by two natural disasters and the pandemic. The bushfires at the end of 2019 left many of the towns around us cut off, but we lost almost everything we owned in the floods of March 2020. I can still remember having to swim out from the house late at night in the dark and returning to find 90 per cent of our stuff either gone or destroyed. It wasn’t ideal but since we were insured, we were luckier than most. It also gave us a moment to detach ourselves from ‘stuff’; it’s not often you’re given a chance to start with a clean slate. The first thing you notice when you move to a country town is the depth of the community spirit; people share their abundance with their neighbours here. Some will drop off fruit and vegetables from their garden, and others will drop off jams they’ve made themselves. I put a post on our local Facebook community group the other day asking about manure and someone dropped off 16 bags of it for free. There are challenges with making a tree change; obviously we’re exposed to natural disasters in a way you only ever see on TV back in metropolitan areas, and I must admit I still really miss my hairdresser, but outside of that, I’d say we’ve never really looked back - especially since our son (now 25) moved up here three years ago. Living between the mountains and the sea means we’ve adopted a healthier, outdoor lifestyle which has seen me shed close to 50 kilos and drop from a size 22 to a size 12. Work has picked up too - I’m now working with The Rural Woman [a co-op putting women in touch with services] helping women living in rural and regional areas become digitally savvy. Women living in the bush are chronically underrepresented in Parliament, which is a real shame because there are so many forward-thinking, fearless female entrepreneurs doing amazing things around the country and their voices - their talents - should be amplified.” “Our family gap year gave us the courage to make the leap” Tamara Scenna, 47, caravan park operator “Our tree change began as a 12-month family gap year around Australia. Before we fled Sydney’s inner west in our caravan at the start of 2019, life was all hustle and bustle. I worked in public service, leaving the house at 7am to avoid heavy traffic that saw my journey to work take more than an hour. With the kids [now 16 and 13, respectively] at school, it often felt as if we all were ships in the night, so we thought a year to travel and bond before our eldest started high school would help us reset and ease back into city life with a fresh mindset. Of course, we then all realised there was so much more to life than what Sydney offered; during our time on the road, the seed to try something else was planted. Initially, we tried to settle down back in Sydney; we even got a new dog and a cat, but when COVID-19 hit, we started to think about buying a caravan park as a way to earn a living outside the city. We looked at a few options in Queensland, then we fell in love with what is now Daintree Siesta [in the state’s far north], which also had motel rooms and a restaurant. With school-aged children, timing is important and we were aware that if we wanted a tree change, it was now or never. So after serious discussions with our kids, we sold up and – after a few border closure complications – arrived to our new lives at the end of 2021. Moving to a remote location, particularly with teenagers, isn’t for everyone. Mossman is our closest town, so our local supermarket and pharmacy is an hour away, while Cairns is 21⁄2 hours away. My kids have always played soccer, so one of the non-negotiables of our move was that they would continue to do so. But for that to happen, we have to take them to training in Mossman every week and down to Cairns for games on Saturdays. It’s a lot of time spent driving, but we get someone to cover for us at the park and do it as a family, which provides quality time to talk about the big topics. The benefits have been plentiful. The schools my children attend are much smaller than the ones they went to in Sydney – my daughter’s primary school has 20 kids – so they get plenty of one-on-one with teachers. Shared experience has brought our children closer, and now they’re working after school in our restaurant and navigating all sorts of interesting situations, they’ve blossomed into wonderful young adults. Of course, we’re mindful they’ll likely leave for university, so it’s important to enjoy this time we have living and working together.” “Buying in Sydney made little financial sens e ” Tahlia Crinis, 40, PR consultant “I never realised how over the whole ‘Sydney thing’ I was until lockdowns forced us to live indoors for an extended period of time. Until that point, life felt like one social event after another. My husband, Alex, and I must have had at least three dinners out with friends each week, and there were endless work events during the day as well as casual coffee catch-ups and morning gym sessions. Once we were cooped up inside, we realised how much we enjoyed not having to go to places and being able to take life at a slower pace. When we started looking for a place to buy, it soon became apparent that we either had to downsize into a shoebox apartment or look well beyond city limits. Sydney has many wonderful attributes but affordability is not one of them The move to Wombarra [on the Illawarra coast south of Sydney] made sense from the get-go; I grew up in nearby Bulli so knew the area well, plus we needed a seachange location that was still close enough to Sydney to make Alex’s commute to the office at least three days a week a little easier to bear. The house we bought was the first one we looked at, and we couldn’t believe what our budget could stretch to once we left Sydney. In place of a one-bedroom apartment in Potts Point, we now have a three-bedroom home with ocean views and a large backyard. Life has changed in the way we’d planned since we made our move in 2023. I work from home, so during warmer weather I start my days with a swim at the beach. I always make time for the things I’d forgotten how much I’d always enjoyed, like sitting in the garden with a book and a cup of tea. Alex enjoys his commute, too; he says doing a lengthy train trip twice a day gives him a chance to complete any outstanding work, so his brain can be clutter-free by the time he gets home. A sea change isn’t only about moving house, but about changing aspects of how you live your life – or so we found out pretty quickly. Down here, we can no longer rely on ordering takeaway, which was a big part of our week in the city, and our suburb doesn’t even have a cafe or grocery store. Over time, however, we’ve learnt the importance of buying a good-quality coffee machine, and planning meals adequately so you don’t have to drive to the nearest shop, but they’re small adjustments in the grand scheme of things. We’re enjoying the peace and quiet so much – not to mention all this space we suddenly have – that we’ve never really given Sydney a second thought!” Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter .

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Also on Saturday, Lebanese authorities handed over dozens of Syrians — including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad — to the new Syrian authorities after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon, a war monitor and Lebanese officials said. The embassy announced on its Facebook page that consular work was suspended “until further notice” at the order of the Syrian foreign ministry. The announcement did not give a reason for the suspension. Two Lebanese security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the suspension was ordered because the passports belonging to Assad’s relatives — the wife and daughter of one of his cousins — were believed to have been forged at the embassy. Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad — who has been indicted in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity — had flown out the day before on his real passport and was not stopped, the officials said. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Saturday that 70 Syrians, including former army officers, were handed over by a Lebanese security delegation to the security forces of the new Syrian government, led by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Three Lebanese judicial officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report. Regional countries have been quick to establish ties with Syria’s new rulers. Delegations of Libyan and Bahraini officials arrived in Damascus on Saturday on official visits. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has largely succeeded in calming fears within and outside of Syria that his group would unleash collective punishment against communities that supported Assad’s rule or attempt to impose strict Islamic law on the country’s religious minorities. However, in recent days, sporadic clashes have broken out between the HTS-led security forces and pro-Assad armed groups. The country’s new security forces have launched a series of raids targeting officials affiliated with Assad and have set up checkpoints in areas with significant populations of the Alawite religious minority to which the former president belongs to search for weapons. There have also been ongoing tensions and clashes in northeastern Syria between Kurdish-led forces and armed groups backed by Turkey. Many Kurds have viewed the new order in Damascus, which appears to have strengthened Turkey’s hand in Syria, with anxiety. Ankara sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces — a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group — as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department said Saturday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to “discuss the latest developments in Syria.” “Secretary Blinken emphasized the need to support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that upholds human rights and prioritizes an inclusive and representative government,” the statement said, adding that they “also discussed the shared goal of preventing terrorism from endangering the security” of Turkey and Syria. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters convened by Kurdish women’s groups participated in a demonstration in the northeastern city of Hasaka to demand women’s rights in the new Syria. Perishan Ramadan, a participant from Hasaka, said the new government “is worse than Bashar” and that its leaders are Islamist extremists who “don’t accept any role for women.” While the country’s new leaders have not attempted to impose Islamic dress or other conventions, it remains to be seen what role women will have in the new order and whether they will hold political or government positions. "Women must be present in the new constitution for Syria,” said Rihan Loqo, spokeswoman for the Kongra Star women’s organization. "... Women’s rights should not be ignored.” Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Hasaka, Syria, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.