GREEN MAG

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Syria's interim president on Saturday accused Israel of fighting "ghosts" and searching for enemies followingthe war in Gaza.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa told an international conference that since he took power a year ago, he has been sending "positive messages regarding regional peace and stability."

He said Israel has rejected his overtures, "extrapolating" its conflict with Hamas militants and justifying what he called aggression in the name of security. He promised Syria would not behave in that way.

"We are not concerned in being a country that exports conflict, including to Israel," he told the Doha Forum.

Al-Sharaa, who was once detained by the U.S. for joining al-Qaida in Iraq, called on Israel to withdraw its forces from his country and to recommit to a 1974 truce agreement. He called on the international community to put pressure on Israel and expressed hope a formula could be reached to meet "reasonable" security demands.

"There are currently negotiations, and the United States is participating and engaged in those negotiations," he said.

Since thefall of former Syrian President Bashar Assadin December 2024, Israel has held a slice of southern Syria that was previously a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone under a 1974 disengagement agreement.

Israel says it seized the 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile)demilitarized buffer zonein southern Syria in a pre-emptive move to prevent militants from moving into the area after Islamist insurgents toppled Assad.

Israeli troops have regularly carried out operations in villages and towns inside and outside the zone, including raids snatching people it says are suspected militants. At least 13 peoplewere killedin an Israeli operation against suspected militants last month.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said he was satisfied with al-Sharaa's performance, and urged Israel not to "interfere" in Syria's affairs.

"It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous State," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Israelhas also launched hundreds of airstrikeson Syrian military sites and pushed for a demilitarized zone south of Damascus.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's national security police arrested a man on Saturday in the first publicly confirmed arrest relating to criticism of authorities over a high-riseapartment blazethat killed at least 159 people.

Police said he had been accused of posting "information with seditious intention" on social media.

"That mainly included (materials intending to) incite hatred among (others) toward the Hong Kong government and the central government," Steve Li, chief superintendent of the police National Security Department, told reporters.

"For example, he pointed to the Hong Kong and the central governments as instigators of exploiting the tragedy to cause chaos and turmoil," he said. "That's something totally impossible."

Local media reported other arrests earlier but authorities have not confirmed them.

The fire, which broke out Nov. 26 at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, has prompted a debate about government accountability.

Authorities have warned against attempts to use the fire to try to undermine the local government or the central government in Beijing. Hong Kong is part of China but, like nearby Macao, has its own legal system and laws. Both are former European colonies that were returned to China in the late 1990s.

Police said the man had also been arrested on suspicion of disclosing information related to a national security probe, possibly with the intent of prejudicing the investigation.

On Dec. 2, he was asked to come to a police station to assist with a national security investigation, according to police. "But on the following day, we discovered that he had brazenly released all (or) some of those details on social media," said Li, despite being warned not to disclose the information publicly.

He said officials believed the 71-year-old man was attempting to tip off others involved in the case.

The initial cause of last month's blaze was unknown, but the government said it would set upan independent committeeto probe the cause.

At least 21 people have been arrested by authorities as officials investigate suspected corruption and negligence over a major renovation project that had been taking place at the housing complex before the fire broke out.

Substandard green netting coveringthe scaffoldingthat enveloped the buildings, as well as foam boards installed on windows of the buildings, have been identified as among the main causes for the fire's rapid spread to seven of the eight residential towers in the complex. Some fire alarms were also found to be not working.

Last weekend, the organizer of a petition calling for government accountability over the fire was arrested by national security police on suspicion of sedition, local media including HK01 and Sing Tao Daily reported.

Li did not confirm nor deny any other arrests but said officials had spotted a lot of fake information about the fire that they believed was intended in part to incite hatred against Hong Kong and Beijing.

Li also said that some people were attempting to provoke conflict by distributing pamphlets and putting up slogans near the scene of the fire, which he said resembled scenes from massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019.

The protests led to a crackdown that has effectively silenced political dissent in the city. There are no opposition candidates ina legislative electionon Sunday, with all those running vetted to ensure they are loyal to Beijing.

John Lee, Hong Kong's leader, has warned that authorities would take action against those who exploit the tragedy.

"For anybody who tries to sabotage the commitment of society, I will do all I can to ensure justice is done," he said.

A grandfather and his 3-month-old granddaughter were found dead in their Tennessee home — apparently mauled to death by the family's pack of pit bulls that were known to terrorize the neighborhood.

The lifeless body of James Alexander Smith, 50, was found inside the Tullahoma home Wednesday afternoon while the tiny tot was still being attacked by their 7 dogs, all of which police had to gun down to reach the bloodied victims,according to the 14th Judicial District Attorney General.

The infant had tragically died by the time cops fought their way to her.

Authorities are now investigating whether the pair were mauled to death or were already dead before the dog attack.

"This was an especially difficult and brutal scene," Attorney General Craig Northcott said in the release.

"Please pray for the family of the victims in this difficult time as well as the first responders as they cope with the trauma from what they witnessed."

Neighbor Brian Kirby — who said the same pack killed his beloved cat just a week earlier — came home from work to find the infant's mom screaming in the middle of the street moments before police arrived.

When he offered help, the hysterical woman darted back into the devastated Warren Street home. Kirby admitted he'd witnessed the dogs attack other animals in the neighborhood — even his own pet — but never imagined they'd turn on people,FOX 8 reported.

"I don't believe that they thought this would ever happen," the neighbor told the outlet.

"I'm sure it was not done on purpose. I think that people just have animals, and they just need to put them on a leash better; that's all. And I'm not blaming them for what happened at all. I know that they're devastated more than we are because it's their family," he continued.

"It's just hard to understand and wrap your head around it."

Rebecca Adams, who lived across the street from the gutted family, said the newborn's heartbroken mother was shrieking "my baby" as authorities swarmed the carnage-filled home.

She said the pit bulls constantly broke loose from the yard and went after other neighborhood pets.

"They'd run after cats, they'd run after dogs, you know, animal things," Adamstold WSMV.

"I could see them be aggressive towards animals. Never did I think they would do that to the kids."

Officials said the surviving dogs were taken into custody by Tullahoma Animal Control.

Authorities are also reviewing the dogs' history of aggression and whether prior issues involving the children and the Department of Children's Service contributed to the tragedy, the AG said.

The house was condemned due to its condition, according to a GoFundMe started by the family.

Officials have not yet determined whether criminal charges will be filed.

Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant combined for 59 points to pace a blistering shooting effort, and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 117-98 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Durant scored 17 of his 28 points in the second quarter to turn the tide, while Thompson scored a season-high 31 points on 12-for-17 shooting from the field. The Rockets excelled despite the absence of Alperen Sengun (illness), who leads the team in rebounds and assists and is second behind Durant in scoring.

Durant added eight assists to his ledger and became the eighth player in NBA history to eclipse 31,000 career points.

Dillon Brooks paced the Suns with 23 points while Jamaree Bouyea scored a career-high 18 and Collin Gillespie chipped in 13. Phoenix was without leading scorer Devin Booker (groin) and shot 39% from the field, including 5-for-36 on 3-point attempts (13.9%).

Brooks keyed a hot start for the Suns, and his three-point play at the 4:17 mark of the first quarter lifted Phoenix to a 20-15 lead. Brooks scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the opening period to help the Suns carry a 31-24 lead into the second.

The Rockets committed six turnovers and shot 40.9% in the first. Halfway through the second quarter, Durant almost singlehandedly reversed the hosts' fortunes by converting back-to-back three-point plays that fueled a 17-2 rally.

When Durant completed his second three-point play, the Rockets grabbed a 46-44 lead with 5:47 left in the first half. Durant fed Thompson for a dunk that extended that advantage to 54-46, and when Durant assisted a Josh Okogie baseline dunk that closed the first half, the Rockets led 68-58. Durant missed only one of eight shots in the second period and added three assists as the offensive linchpin for the Rockets, who shot 78.3% in the quarter.

The Rockets pulled away from the start of the third, with Durant finding Thompson for a dunk after passing out of a double team before Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points) added a pull-up jumper. When Durant and Thompson combined for an alley-oop fastbreak dunk, Houston led 74-58.

Houston led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter before both teams cleared their respective benches.

--Field Level Media

Tulane can start prepping for the College Football Playoff.

The No. 20 Green Wave took down No. 24 North Texas34-21to win the American Conference title on Friday night. Tulane was the better team on Friday. That's not in dispute. However, you also can't dispute the Green Wave got a little help from the officials in their blowout win.

Tulane went up 24-7 before halftime thanks to a blown call by the officiating crew. The Green Wave punted the ball back to North Texas with less than a minute to go and a 17-7 lead. But Tulane receiver Landon Sides — who was back to receive the punt — got hit by a Tulane player as the ball was in the air.

Sides was knocked down and unable to get to the vicinity of the ball. The punt then bounced off the back of gunner Baron Tipton and was recovered by Tulane. No kick-catch interference penalty was called.

As time expired in the second quarter, Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff then snuck the ball into the end zone for a 17-point lead. And even then it wasn't totally clear that Retzlaff scored.

RETZLAFF SNEAKS IT IN TO END THE FIRST HALF!pic.twitter.com/UAViziRMJo

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB)December 6, 2025

The Green Wave missed a field goal to start the second half and North Texas had the chance to cut the lead back to two scores. But Drew Mestemaker's pass was tipped and intercepted by Chris Rodgers, who returned the ball 35 yards for a TD.

FUMBLE AND TULANE PICKS IT UP BUT WAIT THE BALL IS FORCED OUT AND IS IT A TOUCHBACK?????????pic.twitter.com/ecaJeIKeoQ

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB)December 6, 2025

Or what was called a TD, anyway. Mestemaker hit Rodgers just before he got to the goal line and Rodgers fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone. However, the play was called a touchdown on the field and, somehow, upheld on replay review even as it was obvious that Mestemaker made contact with Rogers before the goal line.

Heck, you can even tell that the ball is being fumbled before the end zone in this picture below.

Again, Tulane was the better team. The Green Wave deserved the win. But the officiating was a clear sign that it was simply not North Texas' night. As was the play that happened in the fourth quarter after UNT had cut Tulane's lead to 10. A pass went right through linebacker S'Maje Burrell's hands and ended up as a completion and first down for Tulane.

The North Texas VS Tulane game summarized in one play 😂pic.twitter.com/i47elkd3a3

— The cfb lliason (@realfbllliason)December 6, 2025

The Mean Green turned the ball over four times and also lost star running back Caleb Hawkins after just seven carries. Hawkins, who entered the game with over 1,500 total yards and 26 total touchdowns, appeared to suffer a shoulder injury on North Texas' first drive of the game. He then left the game after fumbling on the second drive as he walked off the field favoring his shoulder again.

It was a game that was reminiscent of the disaster that happened in Denton on Oct. 10 for North Texas. The Mean Green started the season 5-0 and hosted a No. 24 South Florida team that beat Florida in Week 2. The Bulls scored four touchdowns in the span of five minutes and 37 seconds in the third quarter as the Mean Green turned the ball over five times in the 63-36 loss.

Outside of the games against South Florida and Tulane, North Texas went undefeated. UNT led college football with nearly 47 points per game and averaged 7.4 yards per play. It just committed nine of its 16 turnovers across two of the biggest games of the season.

Tulane will either be No. 11 or No. 12

Whoever won Friday night's game would enter the College Football Playoff with a coach heading to a new school in 2026. Tulane's Jon Sumrall is the new coach at Florida while North Texas' Eric Morris is the new coach at Florida.

Tulane is likely heading for a road trip against either Oregon, Texas A&M or Ole Miss depending on the results of Saturday's conference title games. If Virginia beats Duke in the ACC title game, Tulane will be the No. 12 seed in the CFP. If Duke wins that game and James Madison is the fifth-highest ranked conference champion, the Green Wave will be the No. 11 seed.

If Tulane can pull an upset win in a playoff game, it will tie the school record for victories in a season. Just two Tulane teams — the 12-2 team that went to the Cotton Bowl in 2022 and the 1998 team that went 12-0 — have won 12 games in a season and the 2025 team is just the sixth Tulane team to have at least 10 wins in a season.