New York Liberty Win First WNBA Championship in Franchise Historical past

Tonight, the New York Liberty gained the 2024 WNBA Championship after defeating the Minnesota Lynx, 67-62. The New York Liberty are an authentic franchise of the WNBA and this win marks their first-ever WNBA Championship in 28 seasons and New York Metropolis’s first skilled basketball championship since 1973.

Led by an 17-point efficiency from 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, the Liberty secured its third win of the collection to clinch the title. The 2024 common season was a record-breaking 12 months for the New York Liberty, clinching the No. general 1 seed within the WNBA Playoffs for a second time in franchise historical past, tying a franchise-best end of 32-8, and turning into the primary workforce in WNBA historical past with back-to-back 30+ win seasons.

“After 28 years, we are able to lastly say it: the New York Liberty are WNBA champions,” mentioned Jonathan Kolb, Basic Supervisor, New York Liberty. “This achievement belongs to our followers who by no means wavered, each Liberty legend who paved the way in which, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai who breathed new life into a corporation in want, and all the metropolis of New York that has been ravenous for a championship—and naturally, our gamers, whose grit, sacrifice, and willpower have made historical past. They’re really the primary to do it in New York and I couldn’t be extra pleased with this complete group.”

“This second means every thing – not solely to the Liberty group, however to our followers and all of New York Metropolis,” mentioned Keia Clarke, CEO, New York Liberty. “The Liberty have been chasing this dream since 1997 and after a strategic five-year turnaround, pushed by possession’s imaginative and prescient of rebuilding and regrowing this historic workforce, we’re proud to get again to first and win this championship for New York. We’d not be right here with out our followers whose ardour has helped energize this workforce all season lengthy. We take nice pleasure in what we’ve constructed with our followers – one thing particular that extends far past the basketball courtroom – and this second is simply as a lot for them as it’s for us.”

The New York Liberty will host 2024 championship celebrations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with extra particulars introduced on Monday, October 21. Followers can join at www.liberty.wnba.com/2024Champions to obtain further data when it’s accessible.

Championship merchandise will probably be on-sale on-line at www.nylibertystore.com and on the workforce’s retailer at Barclays Heart, Brooklyn Fanatics, till midnight tonight, with stock up to date every day. Brooklyn Fanatics may even be open for prolonged hours all through the week (Monday, Oct. 21 – Wednesday, Oct. 23: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.).

PITTSBURGH — Two scenes within the New York Jets’ postgame locker room informed the story of their 37-15 loss Sunday evening to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.

Newly acquired vast receiver Davante Adams, surrounded by reporters, appeared incredulous that an offense with a lot expertise managed solely two touchdowns and was shut out within the second half.

“That is nearly what pisses you off much more, realizing that you have these kind of weapons and to return up quick …” he stated.

As Adams spoke, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and vast receiver Garrett Wilson — within the far nook of the room — embraced for a number of seconds. It was a comfort hug. Wilson blamed himself for the Jets’ fourth straight loss, saying his third-quarter drop — intercepted by nickel again Beanie Bishop Jr. — was the turning level.

It was that kind of evening for the Jets (2-5): Emotional, irritating and bitterly disappointing. They’re 0-2 below interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who changed the fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8.

Adams’ extremely anticipated Jets debut, and his reunion with Rodgers, produced a few early glints however no fireworks. It was a tough evening for Rodgers (two interceptions) and his two star receivers, as Adams and Wilson mixed for under eight receptions and 91 yards on 18 targets.

“I’ve to play higher,” stated Rodgers, who has 5 interceptions previously three video games. “That is the important thing, I’ve to play higher. We now have to discover a technique to run the ball higher so we are able to play-action cross.”

The Jets performed effectively for the primary 20 minutes, leaping to a 15-6 lead on Rodgers’ 1-yard scoring cross to tight finish Tyler Conklin. After that, the offense disappeared. Simply earlier than halftime, Rodgers threw into site visitors over the center to Wilson and it was picked off by Bishop.

“A s—ty interception,” Rodgers referred to as it, taking the blame.

It was a momentum changer; the Steelers transformed the turnover right into a landing to make it 15-13 at halftime. Rodgers stated there was no power at halftime — or earlier than the sport, for that matter, a fairly gorgeous admission.

“It felt just like the power — and it begins with me — the power, for no matter motive at halftime, was a bit of flat,” Rodgers stated. “It felt prefer it was flat earlier than the sport too. … So I take a look at myself and what I can do to convey higher power, however all of us need to do higher.”

Rodgers added: “I imply, ‘Sunday Evening Soccer’ on NBC, the one present on TV. I reside for these video games and I simply do not fairly perceive why the power was a bit of bit flat.”

The Adams acquisition was supposed to supply a spark and provoke the offense. He was focused on the primary play and the throw was vast, off his arms — a harbinger for the evening. Adams performed 53 of 55 snaps on offense, but managed solely three catches for 30 yards on 9 targets.

Adams, who missed his previous three video games with the Las Vegas Raiders because of a hamstring damage, stated there was no rust between him and Rodgers. He chalked up the non-productive evening to sport circumstances. He expressed optimism concerning the potential of the offense.

“I am fired up, man,” he stated. “I am in a nasty temper — we misplaced the sport — … however I am nonetheless fired up about what this soccer staff can do. There’s a number of expertise. I imply, the offense that we now have, the weapons that we now have, once I’m within the huddle immediately a number of occasions I am simply wanting round [at the talent] and it is type of loopy.”

Rodgers, who gave the impression to be hindered by a left hamstring damage, accomplished 24 of 39 passes for 276 yards. He struggled to get the ball to his wideouts, as he accomplished solely 13 of 25 makes an attempt. He additionally appeared hesitant to throw downfield; he did not throw a cross longer than 19 yards. His handiest play was dumping it off to operating again Breece Corridor, who had six catches for 103 yards.

On their second possession of the second half, Rodgers seemed for Wilson once more — an excellent ball, however it bounced off him proper to Bishop. He returned it to the 1-yard line, establishing one other landing.

“I am fired up, man. I am in a nasty temper — we misplaced the sport — … however I am nonetheless fired up about what this soccer staff can do. There’s a number of expertise. I imply, the offense that we now have, the weapons that we now have, once I’m within the huddle immediately a number of occasions I am simply wanting round [at the talent] and it is type of loopy.”

Jets WR Davante Adams

“I received to catch the rattling ball,” Wilson stated. “I am taking part in like s— proper now. Received to repair it. I do not take that flippantly. That was the explanation we misplaced the sport on the finish of the day. [That] s— cannot occur. Cannot occur. It is a horrible play.

“It is like a fruits of me getting dangerous habits, not attacking the ball within the sport and, impulsively, I received to repair it. I’ve received good arms. I’ve received to go use my arms and catch the rattling ball.”

The Jets, who started the season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations, journey to the New England Patriots (1-6) in a digital must-win. One other loss they usually might be toast by Halloween.

“That sport, particularly that second half, that is not who this staff is,” Ulbrich stated. “It is not adequate and that begins with me and the teaching workers. We will all give extra and we’ll give extra. We now have what we want. That is not who we’re. Extraordinarily disillusioned.”

New York journal and its star political reporter, Olivia Nuzzi, have determined collectively to “half methods” after studies that she had a private digital relationship with a supply whereas masking the 2024 marketing campaign.

The journal mentioned Monday that its personal inside evaluate and an investigation by a regulation agency it enlisted discovered no points with Nuzzi’s accuracy or bias.

“Nonetheless, the journal and Nuzzi agreed that one of the best course ahead is to half methods,” the publication mentioned in a publish on its web site, which it framed as an replace to readers. “Nuzzi is a uniquely gifted author and we have now been proud to publish her work over her almost eight years as our Washington correspondent. We want her one of the best.”

Final month, the e-newsletter Standing, which broke the story, and The New York Instances each cited unnamed sources in figuring out Robert F. Kennedy Jr. because the particular person concerned with Nuzzi. She has not confirmed Kennedy’s involvement and Kennedy mentioned in an announcement that he had solely met her as soon as.

David Haskell, New York journal’s editor in chief, mentioned in a observe to employees members after the information broke that Nuzzi instructed them the connection started final December, “after we had printed her November profile.” Nuzzi’s solely printed profile that month was of Kennedy. The connection reportedly led to August, Haskell wrote.

The publication mentioned on the time that if it had been conscious of the connection, Nuzzi wouldn’t have been permitted to cowl the presidential marketing campaign.

Final month, Nuzzi mentioned in an announcement to Standing that the character of some communication between herself and a former reporting topic turned private early this 12 months.

“Throughout that point, I didn’t immediately report on the topic nor use them as a supply,” she mentioned. “The connection was by no means bodily however ought to have been disclosed to forestall the looks of a battle. I deeply remorse not doing so instantly and apologize to these I’ve upset, particularly my colleagues at New York.”

A number of individuals, together with a toddler, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Houston, Texas on Sunday, native authorities mentioned.

The helicopter, which was reportedly carrying 4 individuals, crashed right into a radio tower within the metropolis’s east on Sunday night, in accordance with the Houston fireplace division.

Native media retailers reported giant numbers of emergency personnel responding to the scene.

Hearth officers mentioned the crash’s victims have been travelling within the helicopter. Their identities haven’t but been launched.

Houston authorities consider the plane was a privately owned R44 helicopter which took off from Ellington Discipline, about 15 miles (24km) away from the location of the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had earlier issued a notification saying the tower’s lights weren’t working, in accordance with native broadcaster KHOU-TV, an affiliate of the BBC’s US associate, CBS Information.

Photos shared by the fireplace division on social media present emergency employees investigating the wreckage on the scene.

In a press convention on the scene of the crash, Police Chief J. Noe Diaz mentioned it didn’t seem that anybody on the bottom had been harm.

The crash brought on a fireplace to unfold over a “large space of land” overlaying an estimated two to 3 blocks, in accordance with Hearth Division Chief Thomas Munoz.

Talking on the similar late night time convention, he mentioned: “Fortunately there have been no residents, nevertheless it was close to residents.”

Houston Mayor John Whitmire added it was “lucky” the crash didn’t trigger a much bigger explosion.

Some properties close to the crash web site misplaced energy, he mentioned.

Officers mentioned that the radio tower was the one construction on the bottom that was broken by the influence.

The FAA and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board will examine the incident.

“A number of folks” are lifeless, together with a baby, after a helicopter crashed right into a radio tower in a residential space in Houston on Sunday, in response to native officers.

At a press convention Sunday night, Houston officers mentioned a Robinson R44 helicopter was flying from Ellington Airport when it struck a radio tower round 8 p.m. CT. The reason for the helicopter crash is being investigated by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and native hearth and police officers.

“The preliminary info now we have is that the helicopter was working as an air tour flight when it crashed right into a radio tower below unknown circumstances. A post-impact hearth ensued,” the NTSB mentioned in an announcement on Monday. “NTSB investigators are en path to the scene and are anticipated to reach later immediately.”

The investigation spans an space of a minimum of 4 acres, Houston Police Division Lt. Jonathan French instructed reporters on Monday. Energy outages have been reported within the space, Houston Mayor John Whitmire mentioned Sunday. No residents have been injured or autos broken on the bottom, French additionally mentioned.

There are additionally “a number of reviews” of particles, and Houston police are advising residents to name 911 or contact legislation enforcement in the event that they discover items of particles.

“Any particles that you’ve got discovered proper now could be thought of proof,” French mentioned. “Please, don’t contact something.”

The Workplace’s Jenna Fischer revealed her breast most cancers prognosis in early October 2024. And after showing on TODAY for a candid dialog with Hoda Kotb, followers acquired an inside have a look at Fischer’s most cancers journey — and eventual restoration.

On October 8, Fischer introduced she had been identified with Stage 1 Triple Optimistic Breast Most cancers — however adopted up the announcement with some good news: She had completed chemotherapy and is now cancer-free.

On October 21, Fischer joined TODAY and spoke extensively of her thought course of, from prognosis to chemotherapy.

Because it seems, early detection performed a major half in Fischer’s restoration. After awaiting outcomes from a routine mammogram, Fischer recalled that she felt “no degree of concern” when medical doctors suggested her to comply with up with a breast ultrasound. Nonetheless, the information that adopted got here as a giant shock.

Fischer stated she was on a hike by herself when she digitally acquired her ultrasound outcomes.

“I checked the portal on the hike, and that is once I noticed phrases like ‘invasive,’ ‘ductal,’ ‘carcinoma,’ ‘malignant,'” she stated. “And I used to be like, ‘These phrases sound like most cancers phrases.'”

After receiving a name from her physician to verify the prognosis, Fischer stated she felt “disbelief.”

“I believe the phrase that basically bought me was after we came upon that I used to be triple-positive and my oncologist stated chemotherapy,” she revealed. “That was once I actually misplaced it.”

Fischer began therapy instantly — she misplaced a small patch of hair — and leaned on the individuals she cherished essentially the most in the course of the troublesome street forward. The 50-year-old credited her help system — together with her household and shut buddies — for serving to her stay her life as usually as doable as she was present process chemotherapy.

“So many individuals took care of me and my household and my youngsters, and I’m so grateful for it — in so many small methods,” she stated. “And the factor is, is that everyone had the fitting approach or the proper approach to do it.”

Though she remains to be taking post-treatment medicine, Fischer at the moment has a clear invoice of well being: her breast most cancers is formally in remission.

Jenna Fischer thanks TODAY and Hoda Kotb for giving her a voice

In a heartfelt Instagram photograph of herself and Kotb shared on October 21, Fischer thanked the morning present and Kotb herself for giving her a platform to inform her story and to boost consciousness of early most cancers screenings.

“An enormous thanks to @hodakotb and everybody on the @todayshow for having me on to speak about my journey with breast most cancers,” Fischer captioned. “I hope that listening to my story shall be comforting to any girls on the market additionally on this journey. I am nonetheless strolling by this day by day. However there are extra good days than unhealthy. With the ability to put my expertise to make use of one way or the other helps quite a bit.”

RELATED: The Workplace Children! Jenna Fischer’s Daughter & Oscar Nunez’s Daughter Are Summer time Camp Besties

The star’s recommendation to followers is easy.

RELATED: The Workplace‘s Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer Are Greatest Pal Targets

“One other reminder to get your mammogram and any comply with up assessments your physician recommends,” she wrote. “Ninety-nine % of girls who obtain an early breast most cancers prognosis survive it. Early detection is why my therapy was so profitable.”

Simply over per week after Jenna Fischer publicly revealed her breast most cancers analysis, the previous “The Workplace” actor is opening up about her journey, therapy and the way her mindset has shifted.

On Oct. 8, Fischer, 50, shared an Instagram submit for Nationwide Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month, revealing she had been recognized with Stage 1 triple-positive breast most cancers in December 2023. She wrote that after present process surgical procedure, chemotherapy and radiation, she’s now most cancers free.

In a one-on-one dialog with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, which aired on Oct. 21, Fischer stated she hoped sharing her story will carry consolation and hope to a different girl receiving a breast most cancers analysis.

The analysis

The actor instructed Hoda that in October 2023, she went in for her routine mammogram appointment that she had been pushing aside.

“Three weeks later, they stated, ‘Oh, your mammogram was advantageous. There have been just a few spots that had been troublesome to see. You have got very dense tissue. We’d suggest that you just do one other mammogram and perhaps observe up with a breast ultrasound,’” she stated of the dialog along with her physician.

“I used to be like, ‘That is the appointment that gained’t finish,’” Fischer added, laughing.

She defined that she felt “no stage of concern” when she went again for her breast ultrasound. Nonetheless, they then requested her to do a biopsy, saying it doubtless was a “10% probability it’s cancerous.”

Fischer stated she was on a hike by herself when she obtained the outcomes by way of her affected person portal.

“I checked the portal on the hike, and that’s once I noticed phrases like ‘invasive,’ ‘ductal,’ ‘carcinoma,’ ‘malignant,’” she stated. “And I used to be like, ‘These phrases sound like most cancers phrases.’”

She then referred to as her husband, Lee Kirk, to inform him the outcomes, although she wasn’t certain it was most cancers till her physician confirmed it later that very same day.

When her physician instructed her of her analysis, Fischer stated she simply felt “disbelief.”

“I believe the phrase that basically bought me was once we discovered that I used to be triple-positive and my oncologist stated chemotherapy. That was once I actually misplaced it,” she stated.

Remedy

Fischer opened as much as Hoda in regards to the actuality of shedding her hair throughout chemotherapy, which she stated was one of many uncomfortable side effects she was most involved about.

“I began by having only a huge bald patch down this aspect of my head. And I might sort of do an actual elaborate comb-over,” she stated, laughing. “I used to be like, ‘Oh, I perceive why the gents do that now. Sure, I can type of fake like that isn’t there for some time.’”

Though Fischer stated she thought of it, she by no means had a “huge shave-your-head second.” Other than styling her new half, she stated she additionally opted to put on extra hats and wigs throughout therapy.

Leaning on her assist system

When it got here to sharing the information with family and friends, the “Corridor Move” actor revealed one of many first individuals she referred to as after receiving her analysis: Christina Applegate.

“I referred to as her, and she or he answered the telephone, and she or he stated, ‘Which one is it?’ And I stated, ‘It’s breast most cancers.’ And she or he stated, ‘I effing knew it.’” Fischer recalled of their dialog. “She’s salty. Salty language that one. I really like her for it.”

Fischer stated Applegate put her in contact with fellow survivors and that they took on her journey “collectively.”

As for telling her youngsters, Weston Lee, 13, and Harper Marie, 10, Fischer stated she and her husband “sat them down” and had been “very trustworthy with them.”

“They’re 10 and so they’re 13, and so they had been going to be dwelling in the home whereas I went by means of this. They’re going to see it. And the most important factor that I wished them to know was that any ways in which I appeared sick throughout this course of had been uncomfortable side effects of therapies. They weren’t most cancers making me sick,” she stated.

“That distinction, I believe, actually put them relaxed. After which we simply sort of did it collectively. And so they had been superb.”

The place issues stand

Together with chemotherapy, Fischer stated she additionally underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. Following her newest screenings, the actor stated she’s most cancers free, although she’s persevering with to take tamoxifen and Herceptin for the following yr.

Fischer instructed Hoda that two saving graces throughout her expertise had been sustaining a humorousness and normalcy.

“Humor helped by means of all of this. And dealing helped. And staying on the planet helped,” she stated. “My oncology nurse, Ron, was an incredible man. … Once I began chemotherapy, he stated to me, ‘Hear, I would like you to stand up daily, and I would like you to stroll. Day-after-day.’”

“‘I would like you to drink a ton of water. Strolling and water. That’s what I would like you to do. And I would like you to deal with these children. The ladies who stand up and at it are the ladies who do higher in my expertise.’”

Fischer stated among the greatest recommendation she obtained was to “stay your life throughout this course of,” whereas additionally listening to her physique.

“I did that,” she stated. “And a few days I simply walked circles in my very own lounge. Some days I walked throughout the block. However I did daily stand up and do these issues. And I believe it made a very huge distinction.”

Trying again on the previous yr, Fischer instructed Hoda that one of many largest classes she’s realized is the affect of individuals taking good care of different individuals.

“So many individuals took care of me, and my household, and my youngsters, and I’m so grateful for it — in so many small methods,” she stated. “And the factor is, is that everyone had the appropriate manner or the proper approach to do it.”

Fischer defined that some buddies put her chemotherapy schedule on their calendars, whereas others despatched considerate texts and picked her children up from college. She stated her mother-in-law recorded prayers that she would ship earlier than therapies.

The mom of two stated this whole journey prompted her to have a look at the world by means of a brand new lens of gratitude.

“I appreciated that folks had been aggravated if I used to be late with an electronic mail,” she stated. “I appreciated being considered my previous self, so to talk.”

“The entire most vital issues grew to become so clear so rapidly. And the cool factor is that that focus by no means leaves. So I’ll get to hold that with me now. … I’ll say I discover the world to be such a gorgeous place in all of its quirkiness.”

Fischer added that on a regular basis annoyances have abruptly grow to be “charming” to her.

“Like, you already know, simply site visitors. ‘Oh, have a look at you, cute site visitors. Take a look at all of the individuals simply goin’ locations,’” she stated. “How nice that I get to take a seat in site visitors. How cool.”

Fischer’s ultimate takeaway from her expertise is a message to all ladies: “Please don’t skip your mammogram appointment. Please get all the additional screenings that the physician desires you to get.”

She credit the success of her therapies to her early analysis, encouraging extra individuals to e-book the “annoying” appointment.

“If I had waited six extra months, it may have been a lot worse. It may have unfold. It was a really aggressive type of most cancers,” Fischer stated. “I’m actually fortunate that my most cancers had not unfold into my lymph nodes. It hadn’t unfold anyplace else in my physique.”

“My tumor was nonetheless very small, too small to really feel,” she added. “That’s the factor. A self-exam wouldn’t have (caught the most cancers). It actually was that routine mammogram that began all of this. And I’m so grateful that I went to that appointment.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Seven new lawsuits have been filed towards Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, together with one alleging the rape of a 13-year-old lady. They arrive as his legal professionals tried once more Monday to get him freed on bail, and complained {that a} “recent wave of publicity” is endangering his proper to a good prison trial.

Within the lawsuits filed Sunday in state and federal courts, 4 males and three girls, all nameless, allege they had been sexually assaulted by Combs at events over the past 20 years.

Combs, 54, has pleaded not responsible to federal intercourse trafficking prices contained in an indictment unsealed the day after his Sept. 16 arrest. Prices embody allegations he coerced and abused girls for years, aided by associates and staff, and silenced victims by means of blackmail and violence, together with kidnapping, arson and bodily beatings.

He has remained incarcerated pending a Could 5 trial after two judges denied bail in rulings being appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals.

Combs’ legal professionals requested a choose Sunday to order potential witnesses and their legal professionals to cease making statements that would forestall a good trial.

“Because the Court docket is conscious, Mr. Combs has been the goal of an never-ending stream of allegations by potential witnesses and their counsel within the press,” they wrote. “These potential witnesses and their legal professionals have made quite a few inflammatory extrajudicial statements aimed toward assassinating Mr. Combs’s character within the press.”

The most recent lawsuits are drawn from what legal professionals say are greater than 100 accusers who’re planning authorized motion towards Combs. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Tony Buzbee introduced the deliberate litigation at an Oct. 1 information convention and posted a 1-800 quantity for accusers to name.

As earlier than, Combs’ representatives dismissed the newest lawsuits as “clear makes an attempt to garner publicity.” They stated Combs and his authorized workforce “have full confidence within the info, their authorized defenses, and the integrity of the judicial course of.”

Combs “has by no means sexually assaulted anybody — grownup or minor, man or girl,” they added.

One of many lawsuits filed Sunday alleges {that a} 13-year-old lady who was invited to a celebration by a limousine driver after the Video Music Awards in Manhattan in September 2000 was raped by a “male celeb” after which by Combs as people recognized solely as “Movie star A,” a male, and “Movie star B,” a feminine, watched.

One other lawsuit alleged that Combs sexually assaulted a 17-year-old male at a Manhattan lodge penthouse social gathering in 2022.

Within the lawsuits, it was alleged that the plaintiffs believed that they had been fed drinks laced with medication earlier than they had been assaulted.

In the meantime, legal professionals for Combs on Monday informed the 2nd Circuit in a submitting that he’ll renew his bail utility earlier than the decrease courtroom primarily based on “important modified circumstances.” They stated the problems embody “constitutional issues stemming from his circumstances of confinement and proof contained in not too long ago produced discovery.”

In a submitting final week, prosecutors informed the appeals courtroom that judges denied bail after proof confirmed Combs “used methodical and complicated means to silence and intimidate witnesses all through the racketeering conspiracy and in the course of the Authorities’s investigation.”

SAYLORSBURG, Pa. — Fethullah Gülen, a reclusive U.S.-based Islamic cleric who impressed a world social motion whereas dealing with accusations he masterminded a failed 2016 coup in his native Turkey, has died.

Abdullah Bozkurt, the previous editor of the Gülen-linked At present’s Zaman newspaper, who’s now in exile in Sweden, stated Monday that he spoke to Gülen’s nephew, Kemal Gülen, who confirmed the dying. Fethullah Gülen was in his eighties and had lengthy been in ailing well being.

Turkish International Minister Hakan Fidan stated the dying has been confirmed by Turkish intelligence sources.

“The chief of this darkish group has died,” he stated.

Gülen spent the final many years of his life in self-exile, dwelling on a gated compound in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, from the place he continued to wield affect amongst his thousands and thousands of followers in Turkey and all through the world. He espoused a philosophy that blended Sufism — a mystical type of Islam — with staunch advocacy of democracy, training, science and interfaith dialogue.

Gülen started as an ally of Turkish chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however grew to become a foe. He known as Erdogan an authoritarian bent on accumulating energy and crushing dissent. Erdogan forged Gülen as a terrorist, accusing him of orchestrating the tried navy coup on the evening of July 15, 2016, when factions inside the navy used tanks, warplanes and helicopters to attempt to overthrow Erdogan’s authorities.

Heeding a name from the president, hundreds took to the streets to oppose the takeover try. The coup-plotters fired at crowds and bombed parliament and different authorities buildings. A complete of 251 folks had been killed and round 2,200 others had been wounded. Round 35 alleged coup plotters had been additionally killed.

Gülen adamantly denied involvement, and his supporters dismissed the costs as ridiculous and politically motivated. Turkey put Gülen on its most-wanted record and demanded his extradition, however the USA confirmed little inclination to ship him again, saying it wanted extra proof. Gülen was by no means charged with against the law within the U.S., and he constantly denounced terrorism in addition to the coup plotters.

In Turkey, Gülen’s motion — generally often known as Hizmet, Turkish for “service” — was subjected to a broad crackdown. The federal government arrested tens of hundreds of individuals for his or her alleged hyperlink to the coup plot, sacked greater than 130,000 suspected supporters from civil service jobs and greater than 23,000 from the navy, and shuttered a whole lot of companies, colleges and media organizations tied to Gülen.

Gülen known as the crackdown a witch hunt and denounced Turkey’s leaders as “tyrants.”

“The final yr has taken a toll on me as a whole lot of hundreds of harmless Turkish residents are being punished just because the federal government decides they’re by some means ‘linked’ to me or the Hizmet motion and treats that alleged connection as against the law,” he stated on the one-year anniversary of the failed coup.

Turkish International Minister Fidan stated Monday that Gülen’s dying “is not going to make us complacent or relaxed. This group has been a risk hardly ever seen within the historical past of our nation.”

“Our nation, our state will proceed to combat in opposition to this group as they do with every kind of terrorist organizations,” Fidan stated.

He additionally known as on Gülen’s followers to show away from “this treasonous unsuitable path.”

Gülen preached that faith and science may go hand in hand

Fethullah Gülen was born in Erzurum, in japanese Turkey. His official beginning date was April 27, 1941, however that has lengthy been in dispute. Y. Alp Aslandogan, who leads a New York-based group that promotes Gülen’s concepts and work, stated Gülen was really born someday in 1938.

Educated as an imam, or prayer chief, Gülen gained discover in Turkey some 50 years in the past. He preached tolerance and dialogue between faiths, and he believed faith and science may go hand in hand. His perception in merging Islam with Western values and Turkish nationalism struck a chord with Turks, incomes him thousands and thousands of followers.

Gülen’s acolytes constructed a loosely affiliated world community of charitable foundations, skilled associations, companies and colleges in additional than 100 international locations, together with 150 taxpayer-funded constitution colleges all through the USA. In Turkey, supporters ran universities, hospitals, charities, a financial institution and a big media empire with newspapers and radio and TV stations.

However Gülen was considered with suspicion by some in his homeland, a deeply polarized nation break up between these loyal to its fiercely secular traditions and supporters of the Islamic-based social gathering related to Erdogan that got here to energy in 2002.

Gülen had lengthy avoided overtly supporting any political social gathering, however his motion cast a de facto alliance with Erdogan in opposition to the nation’s previous guard of staunch, military-backed secularists, and Gülen’s media empire threw its weight behind Erdogan’s Islamic-oriented authorities.

Gülenists helped the governing social gathering win a number of elections. However the Erdogan-Gulen alliance started to crumble after the motion criticized authorities coverage and uncovered alleged corruption amongst Erdogan’s inside circle. Erdogan, who denied the allegations, grew weary of the rising affect of Gülen’s motion.

Erdogan charged Gülen with plotting to overthrow him

The Turkish chief accused Gülen’s followers of infiltrating the nation’s police and judiciary and establishing a parallel state, and started agitating for Gülen’s extradition to Turkey even earlier than the failed 2016 coup.

The cleric had lived in the USA since 1999, when he got here to hunt medical remedy.

In 2000, with Gülen nonetheless within the U.S, Turkish authorities charged him with main an Islamist plot to overthrow the nation’s secular type of authorities and set up a spiritual state.

Among the accusations in opposition to him had been primarily based on a tape recording on which Gülen was alleged to have advised supporters of an Islamic state to bide their time: “If they arrive out too early, the world will quash their heads.” Gülen stated his feedback had been taken out of context.

The cleric was tried in absentia and acquitted, however he by no means returned to his homeland. He gained a prolonged authorized battle in opposition to the administration of then-President George W. Bush to acquire everlasting residency within the U.S.

Hardly ever seen in public, Gülen lived quietly on the grounds of an Islamic retreat middle within the Poconos. He occupied a small condominium on the sprawling compound and left largely solely to see docs for illnesses that included coronary heart illness and diabetes, spending a lot of his time in prayer and meditation and receiving guests from all over the world.

Gülen by no means married and didn’t have youngsters. It isn’t recognized who, if anybody, will lead the motion.

South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador, looking for the “speedy withdrawal” of North Korean troops which it says are being skilled to struggle in Ukraine.

About 1,500 North Korean troopers, together with these from the particular forces, have already arrived in Russia, based on Seoul’s spy company.

In a gathering with the ambassador Georgiy Zinoviev, South Korea’s vice-foreign minister Kim Hong-kyun denounced the transfer and warned that Seoul will “reply with all measures obtainable”.

Mr Zinoviev mentioned he would relay the issues, however pressured that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is “throughout the framework of worldwide regulation”.

It’s unclear what cooperation he was referring to. The ambassador didn’t affirm allegations that North Korea has despatched troops to struggle with Russia’s navy.

In a while Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised reporters the cooperation between the 2 nations is “not directed in opposition to third nations”.

He added it “shouldn’t fear anybody”, based on Russian state information company Tass.

Pyongyang has not commented on the allegations.

South Korea has lengthy accused the North of supplying weapons to Russia to be used within the battle in opposition to Ukraine, but it surely says the present scenario has gone past the switch of navy supplies.

Some South Korean media stories have steered as many as12,000 North Korean troopers are anticipated to be deployed.

“[This] not solely gravely threatens South Korea however the worldwide neighborhood,” Kim mentioned on Monday.

Moscow and Pyongyang have stepped up cooperation after their leaders Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a safety pact in June, will pledges that their nations will assist one another within the occasion of “aggression” in opposition to both nation.

Final week, Putin launched a invoice to ratify the pact.

Pyongyang’s deployment of troops to struggle with Russia “would mark a major escalation” within the battle, Nato Secretary-Common Mark Rutte mentioned on Monday.

In a cellphone name with Rutte on Monday, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the alliance to discover “concrete countermeasures”, including that he’ll take steps to strengthen safety cooperation between South Korea, Ukraine and Nato.

British International Minister David Lammy, who’s visiting Seoul, known as Russia’s actions “reckless and unlawful”, including that London would work with Seoul to reply, based on Yoon’s workplace.

The US and Japan have additionally condemned the deepening navy ties between North Korea and Russia.

In the meantime, in response to a BBC query concerning the alleged North Korea-Russia cooperation, Chinese language international ministry spokesperson Lin Jian mentioned that China hopes all events will work to de-escalate the scenario and goal for a political answer to the Ukraine disaster.

Some defence specialists advised BBC Korean that North Korea’s involvement may complicate the battle.

“North Korea’s involvement may open the door for larger worldwide participation within the battle, probably drawing in additional nations,” mentioned Moon Seong-mok from the Korea Nationwide Technique Institute.

“The worldwide neighborhood will seemingly enhance sanctions and strain on each Russia and North Korea, but it surely stays to be seen whether or not North Korea’s involvement will really profit both nation,” Dr Moon mentioned.

However others imagine the Russian navy models could have difficulties incorporating North Korean troops into their frontlines.

Other than the language barrier, the North Korean military has no latest fight experiences, they mentioned.

Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Specific, mentioned the North Korean troopers might be requested to protect sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, which can release Russian models to struggle elsewhere.

“I might rule out the chance that these models will instantly seem on the entrance line,” he mentioned.

Extra reporting by Sangmi Han, Jake Kwon and Hosu Lee in Seoul