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Good morning, I'm Nathan Hager and I'm John Tucker. Here are the stories we're following today.
John, we begin with the latest from the Middle East. Syrian president Bashar al Assad has fled to Moscow. Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew Asad's government following nearly fourteen years of civil war. We get more from Bloomberg Stewart Livingston Wallace.
I think you would find a constituency out there that said it took five decades to get rid of them, But you know, in terms of the more immediate past, yeah, it was less than two weeks. And I think it was the What surprised everyone was the speed of which it happened on a number front. So number one, that the opposition forces and there are many, many of them, managed to unify and work together and move very rapidly. Secondly at how weak the Assad regime proved to be
when under a little bit of pressure. And then the third really important thing is how reluctant both Russia and Iran were to step in, Because there was certainly an assumption among some analysts that Russia would absolutely intervene, and that just didn't happen.
Bloeberg Stewart Livingston Walla says looters have started raiding the presidential palace and people have taken to the streets of Damascus to celebrate the Azad regime's demise.
And now Israeli ground forces have crossed into Syria for the first time in more than fifty years. Israel's Foreign minister confirmed that they've struck chemical weapons facilities in Syria. It was described as a preventative measure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjaminetna, who welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebdon and Hesblab militant group.
This is a historic day for the Middle East, the collapse of the Acid regime. The tyranny in Damascus offers great opportunity, but also is flawed with significant dangers. This collapse is a direct result of our forceful action against Kibala and Iran Asad's main supporters. It's set off a chain reaction of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and it's oppression.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjaminnett Yeho says the collapse of the Assaud regime I in Syria may help advance a deal to release the hostages held in Gaza.
And over the weekend, John the US hit dozens of Islamic state targets in central Syria. President Biden is counsctioning Assad's fall from power could open the door to a resurgence of Islamic extremism.
We're cleared eyed about the fact that isis will try to take advantage of any vacuum to re establish his capability and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen.
President Biden spoke from the White House as his administration keeps up heavy involvement in Israel's multi front war.
And before the Assad regime's downfall. President elect Donald Trump spoke to NBC's Meet the Press for his first network TV interview since the Eluction win Trump telling moderator Kristin Welker one of his first day priorities will be issuing pardons to the Capitol Hill rioters on January sixth, twenty twenty one.
Everything we're going to look at into the free places. Yeah, okay, but I'm going to be acting very quickly.
The President link also repeating his threat to impose terrace on Canada and Mexico. He says he doesn't think it'll cost American consumers anything, but he can't guarantee it.
I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow, but I can say that if you look at my just pre COVID, we had the greatest economy in the history of our country.
President like Trump also promised to end birthright citizenship through executive action, even though the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship to people born in US territory.
If somebody sets a foot, just a foot, one foot, you don't need to on our land. Congratulations, you are now a citizen of the United States of America. Yes, we're going to end that because it's ridiculous.
President delect was also asked about a key personnel decision. Will you try to replace Jerom Pell?
No, I don't think so. I don't see it, but I don't. I think if I told him too, he would.
Donald Trump also said he has spoken with Chinese President Shi Jinping in recent days. It's the first time he's mentioned direct contact with the Chinese leader since his election went and you could hear NBC's Meet the Press every Sunday on Bloomberg Radio.
And we want to update you on the political crisis in Asia. South Korea's Justice ministry as banned President Yunsak Yule from traveling overseas. The ban comes as multiple investigations are underway following the embattled leader's brief declaration of martial law. The Cosmy Benchmark stock index closed down a further two point eight percent today, bringing its lines as the martial law declaration to more than five percent.
On the flip side, John Hong Kong's benchmark index jumped two point eight percent. Those games came as China's top leaders announced they plan to loosen monetary policy and expand fiscal spending next year. The move is seen as a sign of confidence against President elect Trump's trade threats and is expected to boost the Chinese economy.
I'm talking about spending. Another major story we're following this morning comes with the world of sports. Baseball star Won Soto has signed the richest contract ever of the sport, and let's get the latest from Bloomberg's John Stasher. John, Good morning, Good morning, John.
This is what Mets fans were hoping for when Steve Cohen bought the team that no one would outspend him. Soto's deal with the Mets is for fifteen years that takes him to age forty one. It's worth seven hundred and sixty five million dollars. It will make fifty one million a year, and if he doesn't opt out in five years, that salary grows the fifty five million. Unlike shoey Otani's deal last year with the Dodgers, none of
the salary is deferred. The Yankees, in their attempt to keep Soto, apparently finished a close second, their offer reportedly worth seven hundred and sixty million. John stashiew Were Bloomberg Sports, John and Nathan Okay, John.
Thank you.
We're going to get more reaction to the historic Soto deal in a few minutes, coming up in sports. But turning back to markets now, we're watching shares of inter Public Group in early trading. They are surging nearly fourteen percent. The Wall Street journals reporting Omnicom Group as an advanced talks to buy into Public in a deal that would create the world's largest advertising firm.
I thanks Nathan vemperingsys to five oh Savil on Wall Street time for a look at some of the other stories making news in New York and around the world. Ever that we're joined by Bloomberg's Michael Barr Michael, Good Morning.
Good morning John. The hunt for the gunman who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan has involved following leads in multiple states, According to law enforcement sources, NYPD divers have been scouring a pond in Central Park looking for evidence. New York Mayor Eric Adams would not say much about what divers hope to find. I don't want to do anything that's going to a friend join these investigators.
Some of them have been up throughout the night while this investigation has taking place.
But every piece is important to that puzzle.
The backpack the shooter is seen wearing in video was found in Central Park Friday, and late Saturday, police release new photos of the suspect, seen in a taxi after the killing. Billionaire hip hop mogul jay Z has been added to an existing civil lawsuit against Sean Diddy Combs. He's being accused by an unidentified woman of sexually assaulting her when she was a thirteen year old girl. The incident allegedly happening after the two thousand VMAs. Jay Z
vehemently denies the claim. A jury in New York will deliber eight for a fifth day today. In the trial of Daniel Penny, the judge presiding over the case dismissed the manslaughter charge after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision. Penny could face up to four years in prison if convicted on the charge of criminally negligent homicide he put Neely in a chokeold on the subway in New York City last year. It is possible that the jury could find him guilty of criminal negligence, which
is a lower standard of culpability than manslaughter. President Joe Biden hosted this year's Kennedy's Center honorees at the White House before attending the forty seventh Kennedy Center Honors late last night. This year's honna rees are The Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, The Apollo Theater, and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola France.
And I'm looking for work in February, so maybe you've got something for me? An a Biden de Nero combination here. I can't sing, I can't act, I can't dance to a damn thing, but I can help you.
Also at the Kennedy Center honors first Lady Doctor Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second Gentleman Doug M. Hoff. Global News twenty four hours a day and whenever you want it with Bloomberg News. Now, I'm Michael Barr, and this is Bloomberg, John.
Michael, thank you, and Tondell that it brings us to five to ten. John stansher back now for the rest of the sports is being drunk you by your Trient State OUTI Dealers.
John, good morning, Good morning, John wansto only twenty six years old, He's already accomplished so much both individually and he led Washington to a world championship for the Yankees to a pendant, and that's what made him so appealing as a free agent. Several teams expressed interest, but in the end, it as expected, perimed came down to the Mets and Yankees, with the Mets offer of a total package worth seven hundred and sixty five million dollars, just
five million more than the Yankee offer. What may have clinched the deal for the Mets is that if Soto doesn't opt out after five years, as salary grows, the deal could exceed eight hundred million. Just how bad is his NFL season in New York been Over the past two months, the combined record of the Jets and Giants one and sixteen. Both teams had chances to win in Week fourteen, especially the Jets. In Miami, the only trailed
second half for three and a half minutes. They retook the lead on a field goal, but allowed the Dolphins to return the ensuing kicked off forty five yards. They were able to tie the game, and then they won the coin flip and in overtime march down the field. Miami beat the Jets thirty two to twenty six of the touchdown passed to a tone by all out of Johnny Smith. Jets fourth straight loss they've dropped seven the last eighth. The Giants had lost all of their last eight.
Hosting New Orleans, they had virtually no offense in the first half, did come alive late, had a thirteen to play eighty two yard touchdown drive. They were in position to send the game to overtime. You needed only a Graham you know, chip shot field goal, it was blocked and the Saints won fourteen to eleven. The Giants coach Brian da Ball thought.
They battled their tails off. I was probably the way they competed and we came up short.
And it's tough, you know, you put everything into it.
And it was again at the end and fund there's plenty of plays that could have made a difference.
It came up short.
Giants still winless at home. One board defeat ties the club record for the longest losing the game. Last night, Kansas City went to twelve and one narrow win over the Chargers nineteen seventeen. John Stashan were Bloomberg Sports JOHNA.
Nathan Coast to Coast on Bloomberg Radio, nationwide on Sirius XM, and around the world on Bloomberg dot Com and the Bloomberg Business app. This is Bloomberg Daybreak.
Good morning, I'm Nathan Hager.
The world is bracing for more potential chaos in the Middle East after the rapid advance on Damascus that led to the downfall of Syrian President Boscher al Asad's government the first time, and Asad member has not been leading the Syrian regime in more than half a century joining us now. Bloomberg News Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Rosalind Matheson Roz, Good morning. These developments over just the last weekend have been headspinning. How did this
rebel advance happen so quickly? What do we know about this group that seems to have overrun the Syrian military?
Good Morning, Well, I just say it.
Was pretty startling how quickly it happened. In the end, we saw them start with Aleppo and then move through a series of cities, but advancing on Damascus with great speed. It seems as though the Syrian army didn't really put up any resistance, abandoned some of their posts. Cindy, a control Assad had over his military seems to have faded very quickly, and that just shows again you know, internally Siria for years has been a crumbling state, even with
his very strong and ugly quite repressive rule. So in the minute, the military didn't support him, and so they faded away, and the rebels moved very quickly, and as we saw, with speed that shocked not just the rest of the world, but also seems to have shocked Aside himself.
So what happens next Rose with a side apparently now seeking asylum in Moscow. What is the risk of a power vacuum one another power vacuum once again in the Middle East.
Well, that is the real question because if you look at other examples around the world, mean Gaddafi, of course, Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Other times, when you have a very very strong man leader who has taken out, what comes in their place because they really kind of kept the country stitched together. So the question is what comes up now. Of course, we do have the rebel group known as HTS which led the charge here, their leader
Mohammad al Jilani. Does he try and form a government, does he try and bring these other rebel groups in the country together. Of course that's a splinter group from al Qaeda, But there are a lot of other players in the country. And how do you go from military operations to being political players. They don't really have experience in politics. How do you form a government, how do you run government ministries? How workable is at So there's
a lot of questions around that. There's a lot we don't know about how or when a government or new administration might come. We also don't know what opportunities this might give others in that vacuum. I mean, you saw the US President Joe Biden yesterday and others talking warning about Islamic State, which is still operating in Syria. That's why US troops are there to try and contain ISIS. So does this give them an opportunity to try and regroup.
Now we've seen reports as well that Israeli ground truew on a Syrian buffer zone, that there have been strikes on suspected chemical weapons plants in Syria as well. What does this say about the power dynamic in the Middle East right now when Israel is fighting a multi front war and Iran, which had also been backing Syria, appears to be something on a bit of a backfoot potentially.
Well, the chess board on this is very interesting. As you say, the two QI allies, Russia and Iran didn't really come in militarily to save Asad, and that's because they're dealing with their own conflicts, Russia with Ukraine around with its proxies that you were saying in the region in Lebanon and Gaza, and not inclined to step in. So where does that leave them in this where does it leave. Turkey, of course, which has got a strong interest in what happens in Syrian arguably is in a
position now to influence events on the ground. And for Israel, of course, because they've got that border area, and as Benjamin Etnia he was saying yesterday, very much a defensive move for now well in that buffer zone, which has operated for nearly fifty years, the Syrian Army abandoned their posts and that's obviously your concern for Israel in maintaining its border area, so they zipped in there to the buffer zone in what he was saying is a defensive move,
and perhaps a bit further into Syrian territory. They're also worried about who's going to control weapons in Syria in all of this, the question of whether there are a chemical weapons facilities still in Syria, so obviously concerned about that, which is why we've seen the strikes at Israel has announced today and that we'll be expected to continue. But that's largely appearing to be a defensive move by Israel.
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