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Ministry responds to questions on Moose Jaw special-care home inspections after audit  DiscoverMooseJaw

With apologies to Bill Maher, here’s the new rule: Letter writers, like the one who thinks the Sun Sentinel is only good for wrapping fish because of your editorial opinions, have to tell us why they continue to read this newspaper.

Maybe it’s because there’s nowhere else to go for consistent, in-depth coverage of events in Broward County?

You certainly don’t get that in the Miami Herald. I’ve subscribed to both local newspapers for years and I find the Sun Sentinel to be far the superior newspaper, except for the sports section, other than Ira Winderman’s superior Miami Heat coverage. In addition to local reporting, the Sun Sentinel is filled with very worthwhile articles from the New York Times and other reputable news sources.

Even letters to the editor, typically passionate and often misguided, are more fun to read than the more antiseptic letters typically seen in the Herald; it’s the difference between a golf tournament and a rugby match.

So keep up the good and important work, Sun Sentinel. I, for one, will wrap no fish in your pages. (I hereby certify that I have no financial interest in the Sun Sentinel and did not pour out all this praise just to get this letter printed.)

Marc Rohr, Plantation

Targeted disparagement?

I’m writing regarding the series of three political cartoons in your publication on Dec. 8, all depicting President Donald Trump.

While editorial cartooning has always been a space for satire and strong viewpoints, these illustrations crossed a line that risks undermining the standard of fairness many readers expect from a reputable news outlet.

One of the three cartoons, all of them critical of President Trump, that the Sun Sentinel published on Dec. 8.

My concern is not about shielding any political figure from criticism — public officials should absolutely be subject to scrutiny.

It’s the imbalance and tone that stand out.

When a newspaper repeatedly publishes negative portrayals of one individual without comparable treatment or perspective across the political spectrum, it begins to feel less like commentary and more like targeted disparagement.

A healthy democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas. Newspapers play a vital role in sustaining that environment. But with that freedom comes the responsibility to ensure that satire, criticism and commentary are grounded in fairness and do not unintentionally alienate large portions of the readership.

I hope future editorial decisions will take into account the value of presenting a broader, more balanced range of political viewpoints. Many of your readers — regardless of their personal politics — look to your paper for thoughtful, principled journalism, not repeated caricature.

Dennis R. Wallace, Sunrise

A rocky ride in N.Y.C.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is getting his message across to the city’s three million-plus immigrants about their rights as illegals, that they do not have to comply with ICE when being detained.

He told them that because ICE is allowed to lie, that people do not have to answer their questions. Because the mayor-elect is creating a double standard in law and undermining federal authority, this likely will become a problem for law enforcement and illegal immigrants.

Our country has always welcomed immigrants, provided they come here legally. We are not monsters who prevent people from starting new and better lives here, but rather a country asking new immigrants to go through the proper channels. By complying with the laws of this land, the present illegal immigration problem would simply not exist.

The Mamdani mayoral experience is going to be a very rocky ride indeed.

Roberta Chaleff, Tamarac

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a dog walker and pet care provider. I’m retired, 73 years old, and I have a lot of work around the holidays.

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• Miss Manners: They publicly oppose my rights, then accuse me of intolerance
• Miss Manners: I’m so disgusted by begging that I don’t tip anyone, anywhere

My clients give me Christmas gifts. Should I just say “thank you” when I get something I don’t need, or say I’d like to regift it?

This week, a client gave me a dog-walking tool that I already have. It’s not too expensive — maybe $30 — and the gift bag also included treats for my dog. I already said thank you, but should I say anything else?

GENTLE READER: What would you say? Something along the lines of, “I have no use for this, so I’m going to get rid of it”?

Countering generosity by mentioning what a failure it was does not make anyone’s Christmas merrier. Not even yours, next Christmas, when this client will have been discouraged by the effort to please you and will give up trying.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What do you think about employers who let their children come around the workplace to sell goodies to their employees? And worse yet, what about when the boss himself escorts his child around the building to sell stuff?

Yeah, I know, it’s always for a good cause, but isn’t that putting people on the spot, and not in very good taste? Nobody really wants to buy these things, but you always feel obligated, especially when the boss is standing right there!

GENTLE READER: And a nice lesson that is for the children — not in salesmanship, but in the use of power to intimidate.

Miss Manners understands that you don’t want to antagonize the boss, and hopes that you also want to avoid embarrassing the children. But that does not mean that you are obliged to buy anything you don’t want.

Group action is the safest, of course. Perhaps you can get your colleagues to protest this, making an official complaint if necessary. But you can also handle it on your own by treating the children as the salespeople they are alleged to be. In a pleasant tone, ask about the merchandise — its use, its sturdiness, whatever.

If the child is able to answer these questions, you may still say regretfully that the item does not meet your needs (although Miss Manners would probably be touched enough to buy). But if, as she suspects, the child is unprepared, you need only say regretfully that you can’t commit to buying something you know so little about.

Let us hope that a responsible parent would understand and appreciate the value of this lesson to the child.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have received cards from a number of couples who are 30 to 40 years younger than we are. The return addresses and printed signatures are first-name only. Should we respond in kind, since my husband and I have different last names?

GENTLE READER: So that they will experience the frustration of some of their recipients, who are asking themselves, “Who are these people? Do we know any Jenna and Noah?” or “Which Emma and Everett could this be this from?”

Miss Manners asks you to resist that temptation and submit your full names.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Today is Monday, Dec. 15, the 349th day of 2025. There are 16 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge between Gallipolis (gal-ih-puh-LEES’), Ohio, and Point Pleasant, West Virginia, collapsed into the Ohio River, killing 46 people.

Also on this date:

In 1791, the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, went into effect following ratification by Virginia.

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In 1890, Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members were killed in Grand River, South Dakota, during a confrontation with Indian agency police.

In 1939, the Civil War motion picture epic “Gone with the Wind,” starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, had its world premiere in Atlanta.

In 1944, a single-engine plane carrying bandleader Glenn Miller, a major in the U.S. Army Air Forces, disappeared over the English Channel while en route to Paris.

In 2011, the flag used by U.S. forces in Iraq was lowered in a Baghdad airport ceremony, marking the formal end of the American military mission in that country. The war left 110,000 Iraqis and 4,500 Americans dead.

In 2013, Nelson Mandela was laid to rest in a state funeral, ending a 10-day mourning period for South Africa’s first Black president. Mandela died on Dec. 5 of that year at the age of 95.

In 2016, a federal jury in Charleston, South Carolina, convicted Dylann Roof of the racist killings of nine Black church members who had welcomed him into their Bible study gathering. The following year he would become the first person in the U.S. sentenced to death for a federal hate crime, a sentence upheld in 2021.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer Cindy Birdsong (The Supremes) is 86.
• Rock musician Dave Clark (The Dave Clark Five) is 86.
• Baseball Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland is 81.
• Actor Don Johnson is 76.
• Film and theater director Julie Taymor is 73.
• Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia is 71.
• Rock musician Paul Simonon (The Clash) is 70.
• Actor and filmmaker Lee Jung-jae is 53.
• Actor Adam Brody is 46.
• Actor Michelle Dockery is 44.
• Actor Charlie Cox is 43.
• Actor Camilla Luddington is 42.
• Rock musician and actor Alana Haim is 34.
• Actor Maude Apatow (AP’-ih-tow) is 28.

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and MIKE BALSAMO

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in the 1970s TV classic “All in the Family” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.

Messages to his representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner’s death a devastating loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.

__

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

General Daily Insight for December 15, 2025

A firm, focused mood could inspire us to take action today. As aggressive Mars enters Capricorn at 2:34 am EST, we’re likely to prioritize real results and plans we can actually finish. While the moody Scorpio Moon squares intense Pluto, emotions may spike in tough conversations, but maybe getting all that out is just what we need to turn pressure into momentum. Passion and productivity don’t have to be enemies. At this point, we’re in a position to experience the best of both worlds!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Making a bold first move is possible now. Fiery Mars charges into your 10th House of Career and Status, urging leadership on a stalled project that needs your clear direction. Choose one measurable goal and commit, because consistent action makes the most of your natural courage and turns scattered ambition into progress people notice. Feedback from friends may not always be comfortable, but try to hear it out. Their opinions have the potential to sharpen your message in helpful ways.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

An outside perspective currently has the potential to cut through the muck. Your 9th House of Travel and Higher Learning takes the spotlight as adventurous Mars arrives there, rallying your courage to enroll in training that stretches your world. Perhaps you’ve been embroiled in an emotional power struggle in your professional life. However, there could be more to the story than whatever is going on between you and the other person. Looking at the bigger picture is likely to expand your options!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Truth-telling is likely to become your friend today. As passionate Mars activates your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, you might be ready to take on a tough conversation you’d normally prefer to avoid. If someone owes you money, keep the tone light, but don’t shy away from specifics. Stating the exact amount with a clear payment date dissolves confusion. However, avoid assuming that you know why the other person acted the way they did. Combining empathy and facts builds safety for deeper sharing.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Cancer, your heart sets today’s steady pace. As action-oriented Mars powers into your 7th House of Partnerships, you’re probably in the mood to nail down firm agreements with a significant person in your life. If your companion grows defensive, soften your tone while staying clear, because your sensitive instincts can name the real need and protect everyone’s dignity. A written plan is likely to reduce anxiety and help you set fair boundaries on tough topics. Patiently working through this should strengthen your bond going forward!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Finding focus is presently possible. Ambitious Mars energizes your 6th House of Work and Wellness, helping you clean up any messy workflows and commit to productive routines. If you’re called upon to manage a coworker conflict, keep the focus on facts and next steps, since drama fades when you model calm and fairness. This doesn’t mean you have to embrace boredom, though. When you protect your energy, your creative spark is likely to return. Let work become a stage where steady effort shines!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Taking your creativity seriously can be rewarding now. As passionate Mars in your artistic 5th house invites playful risk, you might be ready to share a draft of a personal project with someone you trust. Although your own effort still matters, progress may come faster when you show the work and ask what connects. Honest feedback has the potential to sharpen your craft beautifully! That said, remember that you aren’t required to defer to nitpicking for the sake of being agreeable.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

When comfort unites with effort, home life shifts gently. While dynamic Mars kindles your 4th House of Home and Family, you might find that physically reorganizing a room helps traffic flow better and chores get done more easily. You may need to take a break from your favorite hobbies to focus on this, but a tidy base frees time for laughter later. If cohabitants push back, meet them with calm grace while holding the plan. Relationships improve when expectations are simple and promises are clear.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Clarity can arrive once you speak without hedging. Direct truth serves you now as aggressive Mars fires up your verbal 3rd house, favoring firm communication that sets respectful limits. You read between lines, so say what you see, but ask others to confirm. Facts prevent blame and end mixed messages. Tender history may be on your mind at this time, but you can honor feelings and still keep conversations clean. When you state your needs kindly, trust deepens, and tension eases naturally.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Careful money choices can pay off now. Your 2nd House of Money and Values gets a welcome nudge as ambitious Mars there favors a cleaner budget. In some cases, thoughtfully asking for a discount on a product or service might make sense. However, feeling overly sorry for yourself isn’t a good look. The freedom you crave is likely to grow when you’re realistic about what you want and what it should realistically cost. Once you’re grounded, you can reach for the stars!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Capricorn, you set the tone with intention. A fresh engine roars within as warrior Mars fires up your sense of self, turning resolve into action on a goal you’ve put off for too long. You may update a resume to reflect a new vision for your path forward. Although the financial side of whatever you want to do will eventually need your attention, a bold start proves your desire is real. Begin now — momentum loves your steady, disciplined stride forward.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Releasing what drains your energy is currently crucial. Decisive Mars activates your 12th House of Solitude and Closure, urging you to clear clutter that keeps you stuck. Give yourself a buffer between tasks and people, because your inventive mind resets faster when you protect the pockets of quiet in your day. Although you may worry that you’re not progressing quickly enough, you’re making room for brilliant ideas yet to come. Clear space now so inspiration can return with fresh strength.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

When friends rally, your ideas travel further. Warrior Mars energizes your 11th House of Friendship and Social Networks today, motivating you to gather people around a heartfelt community event. Your empathy helps you include quieter voices, and a kind invitation can reconnect an old pal who drifted away. Although you may not be in the most bubbly mood, showing up with gentle purpose gives your dream a practical path. Invite support now, and shared effort should multiply good results beautifully.

The Miami Dolphins’ slim playoff chances are getting slimmer and could go down to zero by the end of Week 15’s games.

After the results in the league’s Sunday slate, the Dolphins are now facing elimination from postseason contention in their Monday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6). They must win to keep their hopes alive.

If Miami was to lose, falling to 6-8, it would only have a chance to catch the Houston Texans, who currently hold the final playoff spot in the AFC at 9-5. That would take three Dolphins wins to finish the season and three Texans losses. But even then, the Texans would own the conference record tiebreaker.

A Dolphins loss would mean they can’t catch up to either the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars — all who are 10-4.

The Sunday results in the NFL didn’t go Miami’s way. Buffalo came back against New England to win. The Texans took down the Arizona Cardinals, and the Chargers held on late against the Kansas Chiefs.

A win for the Dolphins in the frigid cold of Pittsburgh on Monday keeps different paths, albeit unlikely, for Miami to reach the postseason.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. … They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City’s JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to increase pressure on Venezuela’s government.

“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us — maybe 2 or 3 miles — but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.” The pilot said the Air Force plane then headed into Venezuelan air space.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, said Sunday: “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.” He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”

The Pentagon referred The Associated Press to the Air Force for comment. The Air Force didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

___

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

MIAMI GARDENS — Defense and the run game have received most of the attention during the Miami Dolphins’ four-game winning streak. The fact is Miami’s success goes deeper. The Dolphins are also getting a big boost from playing smart, clean football.

Take a look at the statistical categories coach Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver value most — turnover margin and points allowed, respectively. The numbers are hugely favorable recently and offer another glimpse into why the Dolphins have won five of their past six games heading into their Monday night game against the Steelers (7-6) in Pittsburgh.

Also, take a look at penalties. Those numbers are hugely favorable, too.

It’s all connected, these ancillary elements to winning — turnover margin, scoring defense and penalties.

But when you want to understand the true depth of this Dolphins (6-7) midseason turnaround start at the beginning, meaning the beginning of the game.

When the Dolphins have won the toss during the past six games, McDaniel has taken the ball, a change in strategy, instead of deferring his option to receive until the third quarter. Consequently, the Dolphins have scored first in every game of this six-game stretch although not always on their first possession. They’ve scored first-quarter touchdowns in four of the six games. Playing with the lead has allowed McDaniel to stick with running back De’Von Achane and the running game, which leads the league during the past five weeks at 192.3 yards rushing per game.

Additionally, the run game success reduces the burden on inconsistent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (18 touchdowns, career-worst 14 interceptions, career-worst 86.4 passer rating). Tagovailoa’s success, and the success of the passing game, has been much different this season than previous seasons and a primary reason is likely the absence of injured star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

But just as importantly as winning the coin toss, taking the ball, scoring first, and utilizing the ground game, the Dolphins are plus-seven in turnover margin over the past six games. They’re now plus-one for the season. McDaniel regards turnover margin as the best statistical indicator of wins and losses.

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“I think it’s no coincidence what came first, the chicken or the egg,” McDaniel said. “I think our play style is leading to the takeaway margin, and we’ll need to continue that to hope to have the same success.”

When it comes to points allowed consider the Dolphins have only allowed more than 17 points once during the past six games, that being the 28-6 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. The scoring defense success represents a huge turnaround considering the Dolphins allowed at least 21 points in each of their first seven games, and four opponents scored 30 or more.

“We have unwavering faith and conviction in what we do,” Weaver said, “and we knew that if we would just keep taking small incremental steps forward in whatever that was, whether that was schematically, effort, focus on takeaways, technique and fundamentals, eventually the dam would break and we’d start getting the results that we were looking for.”

When it comes to penalties the Dolphins have had fewer penalty yards than each of their past six opponents. They haven’t had more than five penalties in any game during this stretch.

Dolphins now facing elimination at Pittsburgh on Monday after NFL’s Sunday slate

The bottom line is the Dolphins are playing smart, clean football along with executing when it comes to run games and defense.

McDaniel attributes all of the improved numbers and better results to more convicted efforts.

“We’re talking about takeaways every week,” he said, “but it’s all connected to high-effort strain, conviction, the style of play that is very violent in nature. The game of inches that lead to touchdowns versus field goals, first downs versus fourth downs, and then those tips and overthrows that lead to takeaways, they’re all packed into a style of play that is very much convicted and high effort.”

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — Will Miami win Monday at Steelers? | VIDEO

Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Monday, Acrisure Stadium

TV: ESPN, CBS (Ch. 4 in Miami-Dade, Broward counties; Ch. 12 in Palm Beach); RADIO: Westwood One, NFL+, WBGG (105.9-FM), WINZ (940-AM), WTZU (94.9-FM, Spanish); Palm Beach: ESPN (106.3 FM); WEFL (760-AM, Spanish)


Coaches: The Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel is 34-32, including the playoffs, in his fourth season as a head coach; the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is 198-124-2 in his 19th season.

Series: The Steelers lead the all-time series, 15-14, including 2-2 in the postseason. The Dolphins have won four of the past five regular-season meetings. These teams last met in the regular season in 2022, a 16-10 Miami victory at Hard Rock Stadium. Their postseason meeting after the 2016 season was Pittsburgh’s last playoff win, a 30-12 Steelers decision. Miami has lost its past two games in Pittsburgh (2016 playoffs, 2019 regular season).

Weather: 20 degrees (feels-like temperature of 12 degrees), 74 percent humidity; 0 percent chance of precipitation, 8 mph winds from the SW with gusts up to 22 mph.


Line: The Steelers are 3-point favorites; the over-under is 42 points.

Injuries: Dolphins — Doubtful: S Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee); Questionable: OL Andrew Meyer (triceps). Physically unable to perform: OL Liam Eichenberg; Injured reserve: WR Tyreek Hill (knee), RG James Daniels (pectoral), K Jason Sanders (hip), CB Storm Duck (knee), CB Kader Kohou (knee), RB Alexander Mattison (neck), CB Artie Burns (knee), TE Jalin Conyers, CB Jason Maitre, OL Obinna Eze, OL Germain Ifedi, OL Yodny Cajuste …

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Steelers — Out: OL Andrus Peat (concussion), CB James Pierre (calf), LB T.J. Watt (lung). Questionable: DT Derrick Harmon (knee), TE Darnell Washington (concussion). Injured reserve: S DeShon Elliott, QB Skylar Thompson are among 12 players on the list.

Noteworthy: This is another “cold-weather” game for the Dolphins with the line of delineation for this purpose being 45 degrees or colder at kickoff. The Dolphins are 1-5 in cold-weather games under McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa with the most recent victory being last week’s 34-10 win at the New York Jets. Aside from that game, the Dolphins lost at Buffalo (32-29) in the 2022 regular season, at Buffalo (34-31) in the 2022 playoffs, at Kansas City (26-7) in the 2023 playoffs, at Green Bay on Thanksgiving last season (30-17), and lost at the Jets (32-20) in last season’s finale. …

A win would be the fifth consecutive for the the Dolphins, matching their longest winning streak in the McDaniel era, achieved in 2022. …

A victory would improve Miami’s record to 7-7, making the Dolphins the fifth team in NFL history to reach .500 after starting 2-7. The 2021 Dolphins also turned the trick. …

The Dolphins are 7-7 in December games under McDaniel. …

This is usually a troubling time of the season for the Dolphins, who are 8-10 in December-January games under McDaniel, including 3-7 on the road. …

The Steelers and Dolphins had a high-profile offseason trade that involved Pittsburgh sending S Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in exchange for CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith. Each player will want to show that their former team was wrong to let them go. …

RB De’Von Achane (1,126 yard rushing, No. 3 in NFL) ranks No. 2 among RBs in the NFL for receiving TDs (four) and No. 4 in receptions (55) and receiving yards (383). …

Pittsburgh is without OLB T.J. Watt, and that will certainly hurt its defense, especially the pass rush. …

QB Aaron Rodgers is playing with a left (non-throwing) wrist injury. …

WR DK Metcalf will have to be monitored closely because he brings a combination of speed and size that’s rarely seen. …

DL Cameron Heyward, a future Hall of Famer, will have spirited matchups with C Aaron Brewer, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season. …

The Dolphins played the song “Renegade” by Styx on a loop during Friday’s practice. Renegade is a song played at Acrisure Stadium to get the crowd fired up. …

Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, the twin brother of ex-Dolphins C Mike Pouncey, is being inducted into the Hall of Honor so both will be at Monday’s game. QB Ben Roethlisberger and S Joey Porter, another former Dolphins player, are also being inducted in the Hall of Honor.

Top Dolphins-Steelers prop bets from Chris Perkins and David Furones

MIAMI — For the Miami Heat, Monday represents more than a return to action after a five-day break. It also opens an additional window for transactions.

Dec. 15 is the first day that most players signed in the offseason can be traded.

For the Heat, that makes Monday that first day that guard Dru Smith and Jahmir Young can be dealt, not that the team has offered any such indications.

Typically, the Heat would have a higher number of players trade-eligible on Dec. 15, but this, by their standards, was a relatively tame offseason.

While guard Davion Mitchell also was signed this past offseason, because he received a raise higher than 20% and was retained by Bird Rights, his trade window does not open until Jan. 15.

That does not mean the Heat are poised for a deal, only that transaction dates now are at hand ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline.

While Young is one of three Heat players on two-way contracts, the NBA limit, he does not become trade eligible until Monday because he was converted from a standard contract during the preseason. The Heat’s other two-way players — Vlad Goldin and Myron Gardner — were trade eligible 30 days after they were directly signed to two-way deals in July.

All of the Heat’s other offseason signings either were a matter of picking up player options or picking up guarantees, such as with Keshad Johnson and Pelle Larsson.

The Heat currently have one spot vacant on their standard roster, with teams eligible to carry up to 15. While they also have enough space below the luxury tax to sign an additional player — a window that opened Saturday — such additional space also can now be utilized in a trade.

In all, about 77 players will turn trade-eligible on Monday, about 17% of the NBA, a list that also includes the likes of former Heat forward Duncan Robinson, former Heat guard Kyle Lowry, and recently banished Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul.

Among offseason signings in addition to the Heat’s Mitchell that won’t be trade eligible until Jan, 15 are Jonathan Kuminga, Naz Reid and Josh Giddey.

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Worth noting amid Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation, with the Heat listed as potential landing spots if such a trade is considered, is that the Milwaukee Bucks have 10 players who become trade eligible Monday, creating significant optionality.

Similar situations

Monday’s 7:30 p.m. game at Kaseya Center was added to the schedule when the Heat and Toronto Raptors were knocked out in Tuesday night quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The game is in Miami because the Raptors otherwise had been scheduled only once in South Florida (Dec. 23). The Heat play in Toronto on April 7 and April 9.

Both teams have struggled after unexpectedly hot early starts, the Heat entering at 14-11, on a four-game losing streak, the Raptors at 15-11, also on a four-game losing streak.

“This year, it’s been almost a mirror image of the style of play, where we’ve been in the conference,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “the aggressiveness, commitment to defense. But I would say any year that the Heat and Toronto face each other, it always ends up being competitive games.”

Among the reasons for the Raptors’ revival has been the play of forward Brandon Ingram, who was acquired at last season’s trade deadline and then signed to a contract extension. He is coming off a 31-point NBA Cup performance against the New York Knicks.

“He’s healthy,” said Spoelstra, with Ingram not having played since Feb. 10, 2022 against the Heat. “I think that’s a big part of the success. Whenever he’s been healthy, he’s been an explosive scorer. He’s a tough guard. He gets to his spots and raises up above most defenses and he’s in a great system, a great rhythm right now.”

Only Larsson

Larsson, who sprained his left ankle in last week’s loss in Orlando, was the lone Heat player not to practice Sunday, as the Heat completed three consecutive days of work on their practice court at Kaseya Center, their longest training period since the preseason.

The only other player listed as out by the Heat for Monday is Terry Rozier, who remains on league-mandated leave.

Otherwise on the Heat injury report, rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis is listed as probable with a sprained left ankle, with Tyler Herro (toe) and Dru Smith (hip) both listed as available.

For the Raptors, RJ Barrett (knee) is out, with the balance of their rotation healthy and not on their injury report.

Save on Home Maintenance Services From Your Home Inspector This Season  CandysDirt.com

Today is Saturday, Dec. 13, the 347th day of 2025. There are 18 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 13, 2014, thousands of protesters marched in New York, Washington and other U.S. cities to call attention to the killing of unarmed Black men by white police officers.

Also on this date:

In 1862, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched failed frontal assaults against entrenched Confederate soldiers during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg; the soundly defeated Northern troops withdrew two days later after suffering heavy casualties.

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In 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese soldiers captured the Chinese city of Nanjing and began what would be a weekslong massacre of an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 citizens, war prisoners and soldiers.

In 1996, the U.N. Security Council chose Kofi Annan of Ghana to become the world body’s seventh secretary-general.

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.

In 2001, the Pentagon publicly released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the Sept. 11 attacks exceeded his “most optimistic” expectations.

In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.

In 2019, the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment accusing President Donald Trump of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress in the investigation that followed. He would later be acquitted by the Senate.

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act providing federal recognition and protection for same-sex and interracial marriages, calling it “a blow against hate in all its forms.”

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 100.
• Music/film producer Lou Adler is 92.
• Singer-TV host John Davidson is 84.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins is 83.
• Rock musician Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is 77.
• Rock musician Ted Nugent is 77.
• Country singer-musician Randy Owen (Alabama) is 76.
• Actor Wendie Malick is 75.
• Country musician John Anderson is 71.
• Actor Steve Buscemi (boo-SEH’-mee) is 68.
• Singer-actor Morris Day is 68.
• Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent is 65.
• Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 58.
• Actor-reality TV star NeNe Leakes is 58.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Sergei Fedorov is 56.
• Rock singer-musician Tom Delonge (Blink-182) is 50.
• Rock singer Amy Lee (Evanescence) is 44.
• Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is 36.
• Actor Maisy Stella is 22.

GAINESVILLE — UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris reportedly will join new UF coach Jon Sumrall’s staff instead of heading to Florida State.

According to Matt Zenitz of CBSSports, Harris is headed to Gainesville after the 35-year-old appeared bound for Tallahassee to replace Patrick Surtain Sr.

Harris is the younger brother of former UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., who also coached the Knights’ receivers in 2024 under former head coach Gus Malzahn. Tim Harris Sr. was a highly successful coach at Miami’s Booker T. Washington Senior High School.

Under Brandon Harris, UCF ranked 25th in the country in passing defense, allowing an average of 185.1 yards.

Harris inherited a secondary with veteran safety Braeden Marshall among a dozen returners. Nine newcomers  included seven transfers, including cornerbacks Jayden Bellamy, who led UCF with nine passes defended, and Phillip Dunham, who had a team-leading three interceptions.

Harris signed a two-year agreement in February to serve under Scott Frost, earning $275,000 annually. Harris’ buyout is 50% of the remaining balance of his payable salary, except if he resigns for a head coaching or coordinator position (collegiate or higher) or an NFL coaching job.

After the 2024 season, the Gators hired Deron Wilson, who earned $300,000 to coach cornerbacks, and Vinnie Sunseri to coach safeties at a salary of $400,000.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Two minors were arrested this week after a fight near a Plantation school ended with one person shot in the shoulder, the police department said Friday.

On Monday afternoon, officers were called about a group of minors fighting near the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 16th Street, which is across the street from Plantation High School. When they arrived, officers saw multiple minors running away and one who had been shot in the shoulder, Plantation Police said in a news release.

The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. The police department did not provide the person’s age or gender.

Investigators said during the fight, one minor “approached the group, produced a handgun, and pistol-whipped the victim,” causing the gun to go off and a bullet to hit the victim’s shoulder, according to the news release. The crowd dispersed after hearing the gunshot.

Plantation Police collect evidence at the scene of a shooting at the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 16th Street in Plantation, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The minor who initially had the gun gave it to another minor, and both ran away, the police department said. Investigators later found and recovered the gun from a canal in Lauderhill.

Both minors were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Plantation Police did not provide their ages or genders or specify what charges they are facing.

Police do not believe that the gun was ever on the nearby school campus, the news release said. The fight and shooting happened after school hours and off campus.

There may be additional arrests, the police department said.

By JOSH FUNK

New York is the eighth state found to routinely issue commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants that are valid long after they are no longer legally authorized to be in the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday, and he threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the system is fixed and any flawed licenses are revoked.

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New York was the fourth state run by a Democratic governor called out publicly by Duffy in his effort to make sure truck and bus drivers are qualified to either haul passengers or 80,000 pounds of cargo down the highway. He previously questioned similar practices in California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

But letters have gone out to other states as well without fanfare, or comments from Duffy, including Republican-run Texas and South Dakota.

In addition to finding licenses that remained valid longer than they should have, these federal audits have also discovered instances where the states may not have even checked a driver’s immigration status before issuing a license. Investigators check a small sample of licenses in each state.

Duffy launched the review this summer, but it became more prominent after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August. The rules on these licenses the Transportation Department is enforcing have been in place for years.

The AP discovered letters online Friday that were sent to Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington in October.

Most of the states that have been the focus of the investigation so far have defended their practices and said they were following the federal rules. But Duffy has said the high percentage of problems in some states, combined with the defensive responses from officials, suggests a systematic problem, and he insisted Friday this effort is about safety — not politics.

“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy said about New York on Friday.

Investigators also found that nearly half of the 123 licenses reviewed in Texas were flawed. Some of the other states involved small numbers, but most of the problems were similar. Since Duffy pressed the issue in California, the state has revoked some 21,000 commercial driver’s licenses that were issued improperly.

The Transportation Department has threatened to withhold federal highway funding from these states — including $182 million in Texas and $160 million in California — if they don’t reform their licensing programs and invalidate any flawed licenses.

So far, no state has lost money because they complied or because they have more time to respond. But as part of a separate review, California lost $40 million for failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers that the Trump administration began enforcing this summer.

States defend their licensing practices

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson Walter McClure said the state is following all the federal rules.

“Secretary Duffy is lying about New York State once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents. Here is the truth: Commercial Drivers Licenses are regulated by the Federal Government, and New York State DMV has, and will continue to, comply with federal rules,” McClure said in a statement.

Duffy has previously threatened to pull federal funding from New York if the state did not abandon its plan to charge drivers a congestion pricing fee in New York City and if crime on the subway system was not addressed. The Transportation Department also put $18 billion of funding on hold for two major infrastructure projects in New York, including a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, because of concerns about whether the spending was based on diversity, equity and inclusion principles.

A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that “public safety is the Governor’s top priority, and we must ensure that truckers can navigate Texas roadways safely and efficiently. To support this mission, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to strictly enforce English language proficiency requirements and to stop issuing intrastate commercial driver’s licenses to drivers who do not meet those standards.”

Most of the other states have said they are working to address the concerns the Transportation Department raised.

Previous efforts to restrict immigrant truck drivers

Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but these non-domiciled licenses only represent about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses or about 200,000 drivers. The Transportation Department also proposed new restrictions that would severely limit which noncitizens could get a license, but a court put the new rules on hold.

Trucking trade groups have praised the effort to get unqualified drivers and drivers who can’t speak English off the road along with the Transportation Department’s actions last week to go after questionable commercial driver’s license schools. But immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns these actions have led to harassment of immigrant drivers and prompted some of them to abandon the profession.

“For too long, loopholes in this program have allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways, putting professional truckers and the motoring public at risk,” said Todd Spencer, who is president of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Associated Press writers Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, and Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey, all contributed to this report.

By Nilesh Christopher, Los Angeles Times

Chatty bots are sharing their hot takes through hundreds of thousands of AI-generated podcasts. And the invasion has just begun.

Though their banter can be a bit banal, the AI podcasters’ confidence and research are now arguably better than most people’s.

“We’ve just begun to cross the threshold of voice AI being pretty much indistinguishable from human,” said Alan Cowen, chief executive of Hume AI, a startup specializing in voice technology. “We’re seeing creators use it in all kinds of ways.”

AI can make podcasts sound better and cost less, industry insiders say, but the growing swarm of new competitors entering an already crowded market is disrupting the industry.

Some podcasters are pushing back, requesting restrictions. Others are already cloning their voices and handing over their podcasts to AI bots.

Popular podcast host Steven Bartlett has used an AI clone to launch a new kind of content aimed at the 13 million followers of his podcast “Diary of a CEO.” On YouTube, his clone narrates “100 CEOs With Steven Bartlett,” which adds AI-generated animation to Bartlett’s cloned voice to tell the life stories of entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Richard Branson.

Erica Mandy, the Redondo Beach, California-based host of the daily news podcast called “The Newsworthy,” let an AI voice fill in for her earlier this year after she lost her voice from laryngitis and her backup host bailed out.

She fed her script into a text-to-speech model and selected a female AI voice from ElevenLabs to speak for her.

“I still recorded the show with my very hoarse voice, but then put the AI voice over that, telling the audience from the very beginning, I’m sick,” Mandy said.

Mandy had previously used ElevenLabs for its voice isolation feature, which uses AI to remove ambient noise from interviews.

Her chatbot host elicited mixed responses from listeners. Some asked if she was OK. One fan said she should never do it again. Most weren’t sure what to think.

“A lot of people were like, ‘That was weird,’ ” Mandy said.

In podcasting, many listeners feel strong bonds to hosts they listen to regularly. The slow encroachment of AI voices for one-off episodes, canned ad reads, sentence replacement in postproduction or translation into multiple languages has sparked anger as well as curiosity from both creators and consumers of the content.

Augmenting or replacing host reads with AI is perceived by many as a breach of trust and as trivializing the human connection listeners have with hosts, said Megan Lazovick, vice president of Edison Research, a podcast research company.

Jason ⁠Saldanha of PRX, a podcast network that represents human creators such as Ezra Klein, said the tsunami of AI podcasts won’t attract premium ad rates.

“Adding more podcasts in a tyranny of choice environment is not great,” he said. “I’m not interested in devaluing premium.”

Still, platforms such as YouTube and Spotify have introduced features for creators to clone their voice and translate their content into multiple languages to increase reach and revenue. A new generation of voice cloning companies, many with operations in California, offers better emotion, tone, pacing and overall voice quality.

Hume AI, which is based in New York but has a big research team in California, raised $50 million last year and has tens of thousands of creators using its software to generate audiobooks, podcasts, films, voice-overs for videos and dialogue generation in video games.

“We focus our platform on being able to edit content so that you can take in postproduction an existing podcast and regenerate a sentence in the same voice, with the same prosody or emotional intonation using instant cloning,” said company CEO Cowen.

Some are using the tech to carpet-bomb the market with content.

Los Angeles podcasting studio Inception Point AI has produced its 200,000 podcast episodes, accounting for 1% of all podcasts published on the internet, according to CEO Jeanine Wright.

The podcasts are so cheap to make that they can focus on tiny topics, like local weather, small sports teams, gardening and other niche subjects.

Instead of a studio searching for a specific “hit” podcast idea, it takes just $1 to produce an episode so that they can be profitable with just 25 people listening.

“That means most of the stuff that we make, we have really an unlimited amount of experimentation and creative freedom for what we want to do,” Wright said.

One of its popular synthetic hosts is Vivian Steele, an AI celebrity gossip columnist with a sassy voice and a sharp tongue. “I am indeed AI-powered — which means I’ve got receipts older than your grandmother’s jewelry box, and a memory sharper than a stiletto heel on marble. No forgetting, no forgiving, and definitely no filter,” the AI discloses itself at the start of the podcast.

“We’ve kind of molded her more towards what the audience wants,” said Katie Brown, chief content officer at Inception Point, who helps design the personalities of the AI podcasters.

Inception Point has built a roster of more than 100 AI personalities whose characteristics, voices and likenesses are crafted for podcast audiences. Its AI hosts include Clare Delish, a cooking guidance expert, and garden enthusiast Nigel Thistledown.

The technology also makes it easy to get podcasts up quickly. Inception has found some success with flash biographies posted promptly in connection to people in the news. It uses AI software to spot a trending personality and create two episodes, complete with promo art and a trailer.

When Charlie Kirk was shot, its AI immediately created two shows called “Charlie Kirk Death” and “Charlie Kirk Manhunt” as a part of the biography series.

“We were able to create all of that content, each with different angles, pulling from different news sources, and we were able to get that content up within an hour,” Wright said.

Speed is key when it comes to breaking news, so its AI podcasts reached the top of some charts.

“Our content was coming up, really dominating the list of what people were searching for,” she said.

Across Apple and Spotify, Inception Point podcasts have now garnered 400,000 subscribers.

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee threatened Friday to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton if they refuse to appear for depositions as part of the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

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Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement late Friday that the Clintons had “delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony” for several months and said the committee would begin proceedings to try to force them to testify if they don’t appear next week or schedule an appearance in January.

Comer’s statement came just hours after Democrats on the committee had released dozens of photos they had received from Epstein’s estate, including images of Clinton and President Donald Trump.

Contempt is one of U.S. lawmakers’ politically messiest and, until recent years, least-used powers. But the way Congress has handled demands for disclosure in the investigation into Epstein has taken on new political significance as the Trump administration faces a deadline next week to release the Department of Justice’s case files on the late financier.

Bill Clinton was among a number of high-powered people connected to Epstein, a wealthy financier, before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of the women who say Epstein abused them.

One of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, once gave a newspaper interview in which she described riding in a helicopter with Clinton and flirting with Trump, but she later said in a deposition that those things hadn’t actually happened and were mistakes by the reporter. Clinton has previously said through a spokesperson that while he traveled on Epstein’s jet, he never visited his homes and had no knowledge of his crimes.

Multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, but none has been compelled to do so. That history was invoked by Trump in 2022, between his first and second terms, when he faced a subpoena by the House committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot by a mob of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

By EDITH M. LEDERER and MARK BANCHEREAU

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States accused Rwanda on Friday of violating a U.S.-brokered peace agreement by backing a deadly new rebel offensive in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal.

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The remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz came as more than 400 civilians have been killed since the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels escalated their offensive in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province, according to regional officials who also say that Rwandan special forces were in the strategic city of Uvira.

Waltz told the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. is “profoundly concerned and incredibly disappointed with the renewed outbreak of violence” by M23.

“Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and war,” Waltz warned. “We will use the tools at our disposal to hold to account spoilers to peace.”

He called on Rwanda to respect Congo’s right to defend its territory and invite friendly forces from neighboring Burundi to fight alongside Congolese forces. He also said the U.S. is engaging with all sides “to urge restraint and to avoid further escalation.”

M23’s latest push

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed last week by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, it obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebels’ advance pushed the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Congo’s ministry of communication confirmed in a statement Friday that M23 has seized the strategic port city of Uvira in eastern Congo, on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and directly across from Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

Uvira was Congo’s government’s last major foothold in South Kivu after the provincial capital of Bukavu fell to the rebels in February. Its capture allows the rebels to consolidate a broad corridor of influence across the east.

M23 said it had taken control of Uvira on Wednesday afternoon, following a rapid offensive since the start of the month. Along with the more than 400 killed, about 200,000 have been displaced, regional officials say.

Concerns over an escalation

Civilians fleeing eastern Congo have also crossed into Burundi, and there have been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border, raising concerns about the conflict spilling over into Burundian territory.

• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)

Show Caption1 of 3Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo) Expand

More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.

Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N.

Waltz said Rwandan forces have provided “logistics and training support to M23” and are fighting alongside the rebels in eastern Congo, with “roughly 5,000 to 7,000 troops as of early December.”

Congo calls for more pressure on Rwanda

Congo’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of trampling on the peace agreement, which she described as bringing “hope of a historic turning point.”

FILE – Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner attends a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the State Departmentin Washington, June 27, 2025. (AP Pho to/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

She warned, however, that the “entire process … is at stake,” and urged the Security Council to impose sanctions against military and political leaders responsible for the attacks, ban mineral exports from Rwanda and prohibit it from contributing troops to U.N. peacekeeping missions.

“Rwanda continues to benefit, especially financially but also in terms of reputation, from its status as a troop-contributing country to peacekeeping missions,” Wagner told The Associated Press.

Rwanda currently is one of the largest contributors of U.N. peacekeepers, with nearly 6,000 Rwandan troops.

Wagner also said economic agreements signed with the Trump administration as part of the peace deal will hinge on stability. “We have told our American partners that we cannot envision any path toward shared economic prosperity without peace,” she told the AP.

Eastern Congo, rich in critical minerals, has been of interest to Trump as Washington looks for ways to circumvent China to acquire rare earths, essential to manufacturing fighter jets, cell phones and more.

Wagner said the economic partnership is still at an early stage.

“Everything will start to take shape and become much more tangible once the joint governance mechanisms are put in place,” she said. “What we want is a win-win partnership … far beyond the single issue of minerals and their transfer,” she added.

Rwanda accuses Congo of ceasefire violations

Rwanda’s Ambassador to the U.N. Karoli Martin Ngoga accused Congo of repeatedly breaking the ceasefire. He also accused the Congolese government of supporting the mostly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which “threatens the very existence of Rwanda and its people.”

Nearly 2 million Hutus from Rwanda fled to Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed 800,000 Tutsi, moderate Hutus and others. Rwandan authorities have accused Hutus who fled of participating in the genocide, alleging that the Congolese army protected them.

“Rwanda reiterates its full commitment to implement its part of the agreement,” Ngoga told the Security Council.

While Rwanda denies the claim that it backs M23, it acknowledged last year that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, allegedly to safeguard its security. U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writer Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo, contributed to this report.

General Daily Insight for December 13, 2025

Conversations could open doors we didn’t expect. Early missteps from fiery Mars challenging unpredictable Uranus may test patience and plans, but stubborn standoffs shouldn’t be necessary once we see the smarter adjustments available. With clever Mercury sextiling transformative Pluto at 11:32 am EST, we’re likely to find serious thoughts linking with real resolve, empowering us to make meaningful decisions. Later, the emotional Moon sextiles romantic Venus, making room for simple warmth expressed through kind gestures. Speak clearly, because honest words invite honest support.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

A bigger map unfolds before you today. As intellectual Mercury in your 9th House of Travel and Higher Learning sextiles powerful Pluto in your 11th House of Social Networks, plans and conversations are likely to click into place. You may finally be ready to schedule a trip or course of study that you’ve been considering for a long time. Try to avoid going it alone, though. At this time, allies are especially happy to open doors! Spread the word about what’s on your mind.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Today calls for calm, grounded choices. As action-oriented Mars in your 8th House of Shared Resources stirs up trouble with radical Uranus in your sign, your financial arrangements and intimate interactions may genuinely need some adjustments. Indulging every vision of sweeping overhaul that pops into your head probably isn’t a wise move, though. At heart, all you really want is fairness and a clear path forward! Keep that in mind as you work to bridge different needs. Avoid knee-jerk reactions that strain trust and budgets.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Identifying what’s necessary to move forward in a significant relationship or negotiation is possible at this time. Chatty Mercury, energizing your 7th House of Partnerships, sextiles intense Pluto in your philosophical 9th house, empowering you to dig deep. You might revisit or rewrite a contract because you value lasting clarity more than quick peace. It’s crucial to see the potential good in others’ motives rather than defaulting to fear and suspicion. Still, remember to stay firm about what fits your needs and schedule right now!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Quiet focus can keep you on track through a busy day. Your 6th House of Work and Wellness gains momentum as cerebral Mercury there reaches out to powerful Pluto, so you’re in a great place to implement a new system to keep your attention from getting scattered. Although you still might come in contact with heavier topics, maintaining a steady rhythm can keep discussions of money and other contentious subjects calm and helpful for everyone involved. No matter what happens, not everything has to change!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo, your voice lights hearts and rooms. Your kind words can travel far as the nurturing Moon in your 3rd House of Communication sextiles romantic Venus. Perhaps you’ll write a heartfelt thank-you note to someone who showed up for you. If you’re looking to interact further, support from Venus in your 5th House of Romance and Creativity helps conversations turn into fun plans, even with shy folks who need extra encouragement. Your joyful energy becomes the spark others gladly follow.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Knowing your limits can help you now. Your 4th House of Home and Family takes center stage as information-gathering Mercury there sextiles cosmic detective Pluto, inviting honest talks that finally clear the air. You might revisit holiday plans with a family member if it starts to look like you’ve taken on more than you can handle. A simpler approach could ease their nerves too! Remember that sticking to your usual routine as much as possible keeps everything moving smoothly and protects your energy.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Today, you’re likely to glow without even having to think about it! Charm could come naturally as the intuitive Moon lights up your 1st House of Self and sextiles sensual Venus, allowing your presence to soothe and attract without effort. Perhaps you’ll smooth a moment of tension between friends because you sense what makes everyone comfortable and safe. This ability to read the room helps texts and emails land kindly, even when discussing touchy topics. Offer grace, and people will probably reciprocate.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Scorpio, your resolve could find the right target today. Combative Mars, stirring your 2nd House of Money and Self-Worth, provokes reactive Uranus, turning your attention toward pricing, payments, or possessions. You might renegotiate a rate with a client, cancel an order, or talk with a partner about cutting costs. Although there may be many opinions in the mix, you’ll be best served by thoughtful adjustments instead of all-or-nothing moves. Let your sharp instincts sense the workable compromise before tempers flare.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Fresh confidence can rise as you clarify your message. Mental Mercury in your sign sextiles transformative Pluto, boosting your sense of identity. Rewriting your bio because you want the outside to match the inside is a great way to invite new opportunities. Your words carry weight, and they’ll help you get what you want. Having a firm grasp of your top priorities helps you nail timing and details without losing excitement. Thoughtful humor keeps listeners engaged, so don’t be afraid to have a little fun!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Being goal-oriented doesn’t have to make you scary, Capricorn. Your reputation could soften in a good way as the emotional Moon, lighting your 10th House of Career and Status, sextiles compassionate Venus in your selfless 12th house. Bringing kindness into public conversations is especially likely to make your name shine. You may feel moved to thank a mentor whose generous leadership gave you opportunities as well as a warm example to follow. Small courtesies are likely to open bigger doors!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your quiet leadership can provide needed direction to a group effort at this time. As intellectual Mercury in your 11th House of Friends and Community sextiles intense Pluto in your sign, you’re likely to be surrounded by companions who have plenty to say. Turning their flurry of ideas into shared goals will require a little more effort, though. Remembering what you’ve learned from a past project might hold the key. As you advise, maintain a collaborative tone that keeps everyone engaged and eager to contribute.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Stepping into a bigger role is an option now. As cerebral Mercury in your 10th House of Career and Public Image activates unearthing Pluto in your private 12th house, the growth you’ve undergone behind the scenes lately might be ready for display. When you speak from experience, your message is likely to land with authority and thoughtful depth. Old doubts may still haunt you, but your courage should expand once you get going. Let good work be seen, and kind support is likely to follow!