Bright sunshine can be a gift to the photographer, creating deep shadows and contrast that accentuate shapes and forms and lend your images a vivid intensity. But the flat, gray light of an overcast day has its own special ambiance and mood that can be a better fit for more contemplative scenes. There’s nothing like bright sun shining in a clear blue sky to inspire the urge to grab your camera and head outdoors to take pictures. By contrast, nothing so reinforces the urge to stay indoors and hunker down on a comfy couch as the bleak, windswept damp of a gray, overcast day. There’s a natural tendency to view such weather as doubly disagreeable for outdoor photography, offering, as it does, the potential misery of getting cold and wet for the reward of struggling to create compelling images in a flat, unforgiving light that seems to suck the texture out of every scene. But this perspective may underscore a failure of the imagination—an unwillingness to step outside of a creative comfort zone that could cost the photographer some wonderful photographic opportunities. That is the theme of the thoughtful, personal perspective presented in this new video from . This video really resonated with me, as I have realized a great deal of enjoyment and creative opportunity in my own photography, shooting in the flat, gray light of the kind of overcast days that it describes. There is a sort of quiet, subtle, and understated stillness to this light that can really complement some subjects, the broken-down and abandoned farm buildings featured in the video being a perfect example. This video serves as a very gentle exhortation to reconsider the often-overlooked allure of the subtle light that a cloudy, overcast day can bring to your photography. It nicely demonstrates how a willingness to reframe your photographic perspective can yield new creative opportunities that you might have previously missed. Gordon Webster is a professional photographer based in New England. He has worked with clients from a wide range of sectors, including retail, publishing, music, independent film production, technology, hospitality, law, energy, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, medical, veterinary, and education.
Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli truce violations . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate and within hours, Israel’s military carried out its biggest wave of strikes in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike on a village killed five people, while another airstrike killed four. Israeli strikes had already killed two people on Monday before the Hezbollah attack. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, which began Wednesday. Israel says that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate for Hezbollah violations. Hezbollah began launching its attacks on Israel last year in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders says Israel “is committing war crimes & ethnic cleansing in Gaza.” The Vermont lawmaker said he agreed with a former top Israeli general and defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, who accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza , where the army has sealed off the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. “You don’t fight terrorism by starving people & killing tens of thousands of civilians,” Sanders said Monday in a post on social media. Last month, the Senate rejected attempts by Sanders to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel over mounting civilian deaths in Gaza. WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack on Nov. 12 . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars
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Several suitors have emerged to be the successor to Mayor Valérie Plante. Luc Rabouin, the mayor of the Plateau Mont-Royal borough and chair of the city's executive committee, said Thursday he wanted to be mayor and was going to run for the leadership of Projet Montréal, Plante's political party. That position is up for grabs after Plante announced that she will not seek another mandate as Montreal's mayor. Podcast Why is Valérie Plante not running again as mayor? Rabouin said that, as mayor, he would focus on the environment and housing, two areas Plante prioritized during her tenure as mayor. But Rabouin isn't the only person vying for the job. Luc Rabouin, head of the city's executive committee, left, speaks at Montreal City Hall with Mayor Valérie Plante. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada) The former president of Projet Montréal, Guedwig Bernier also said he would run for party leader. In an interview with CBC News on Thursday, Bernier said he wanted the city to continue on its current path, but to spend money more efficiently. Asked if he was the best person to guide the city along that path, he said he had a business background and knew how to mine the proper expertise. "Am I the best person? I'll tell you that I'm able to surround myself well," he said. "I'm not a showman. I won't say I'm the best, but I'm able to get the right people around me to get those things done." Guedwig Bernier joined Projet Montréal in 2018, attracted by its vision for a greener city. (Julien Acosta) Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, the mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, also said last week that she was weighing a run for Projet Montréal leadership. Hopefuls have until Jan. 31, 2025, to be official leadership candidates. To do so, they must secure signatures from 200 of the party's members from at least seven boroughs, with a minimum of 10 signatures from each of those boroughs. The leadership race will end on March 15, when the party will announce the results of its internal vote. So far, only Bernier has filed the necessary documents. Gracia Kasoki Katahwa has indicated she is considering running to be Projet Montréal's next leader. (CBC) The municipal election will take place on Nov. 2, 2025. Frédéric Bérard, a lawyer and political commentator, said that though the municipal race is in its early stage, the vote will likely come down to a referendum on Plante, and whether the city should continue on its current path: emphasizing spending on bike paths, pedestrianization and green space, for example. Ensemble Montréal, the Opposition at city hall, does not yet have a leader who will run for mayor in the November election. "People will have to decide if they want to keep going with Valerie Plante's agenda, in a way, because each and every candidate for Projet Montreal are from the team already," Bérard said. He added that he expects some big names to enter the race in the coming months.None
It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”Assistant Secretary Loyce Pace
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The gaming world is abuzz with anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6, the next installment in Rockstar Games’ legendary franchise. Rumors, leaks, and speculation have swirled for years, with many claiming the game has been in some form of development for close to a decade. But is there any truth to this? As a games journalist who has followed Rockstar’s work for over 20 years, I’ve dug deep into the available information to uncover the reality behind GTA 6’s development timeline. The story of GTA 6’s development is a complex one, shrouded in secrecy and fueled by eager fans desperate for any scrap of information. While Rockstar Games officially confirmed the game’s existence in February 2022, whispers and alleged leaks suggest its origins stretch back much further, potentially to 2014 or even earlier. This raises the question: why the long wait? Is GTA 6 truly trapped in “development hell,” plagued by reboots and internal struggles? Or is there a more logical explanation for this extended development cycle? The Early Days: Seeds of Development While it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact start date, evidence suggests that preliminary work on GTA 6 likely began after (or even alongside) the development of GTA 5. Consider this: GTA 5, released in 2013, was a massive undertaking. Rockstar dedicated significant resources to its online component, GTA Online, which continues to generate substantial revenue. It’s plausible that a small team began exploring ideas and concepts for the next installment while the main studio focused on supporting GTA Online. Furthermore, Rockstar Games is known for its meticulous approach to development. They prioritize quality and innovation, often pushing the boundaries of technology and gameplay. Building a successor to the critically acclaimed GTA 5, a game that redefined open-world gaming, would undoubtedly require extensive planning, research, and experimentation. The “Project Americas” Leak and Its Implications In 2019, a significant leak allegedly revealed crucial details about GTA 6, codenamed “Project Americas.” This leak suggested a return to Vice City (inspired by Miami) and a new fictional location based in South America. It also claimed the game would feature multiple protagonists and a narrative inspired by drug cartels. While Rockstar Games never officially confirmed the leak’s validity , many details aligned with subsequent rumors and reports, lending it credibility. If “Project Americas” represents an early iteration of GTA 6, it indicates that the game has undergone significant changes throughout its development. This is not unusual in the game industry, where projects often evolve and iterate based on testing, feedback, and technological advancements. The Impact of GTA Online and Red Dead Redemption 2 Another factor contributing to GTA 6’s extended development cycle is the ongoing success of GTA Online. This online juggernaut has become a significant revenue stream for Rockstar Games, requiring continuous updates and content additions. It’s reasonable to assume that a portion of Rockstar’s development resources was dedicated to supporting GTA Online, potentially impacting the progress of GTA 6. Moreover, Rockstar released Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, a critically acclaimed masterpiece that undoubtedly demanded significant time and resources. Developing two massive open-world games concurrently would be a monumental challenge for any studio, even one as large and talented as Rockstar. The Rockstar Culture and Its Influence Rockstar Games has a reputation for its demanding work culture, with reports of crunch and long hours. While the company has taken steps to improve working conditions, it’s possible that this intense environment has contributed to the extended development timeline. Creating a game of GTA 6’s scale and ambition requires a significant investment of time and effort from the development team. Furthermore, Rockstar is known for its perfectionism. They are not afraid to scrap ideas, restart development, or delay releases to ensure their games meet their high standards. This commitment to quality, while admirable, can also lead to longer development cycles. The Pandemic Effect The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted industries worldwide, and the game industry was no exception. Lockdowns, remote work, and supply chain issues impacted game development across the board. It’s likely that GTA 6’s development was also affected, potentially causing delays and setbacks. The 2022 Leaks and Official Confirmation In September 2022, a massive leak rocked the gaming world, featuring early development footage of GTA 6. This leak seemingly confirmed the Vice City setting, the presence of a female protagonist, and other previously rumored details. While Rockstar Games swiftly took down the leaked footage, the damage was done. The leak provided a glimpse into the game’s development, albeit an unfinished one. Following the leak, Rockstar Games officially acknowledged the incident and confirmed that GTA 6 was indeed in development. This confirmation, while not unexpected, finally put an end to years of speculation and rumors. Looking Ahead: What to Expect Despite the leaks and rumors, concrete details about GTA 6 remain scarce. Rockstar Games is notoriously tight-lipped about its projects, preferring to reveal information on its own terms. However, based on available information, we can make some educated guesses. While it’s unlikely that GTA 6 has been in full-scale development for a full decade, it’s clear that its journey has been a long and complex one. Factors such as the success of GTA Online, the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s meticulous approach, and the COVID-19 pandemic have likely contributed to this extended timeline. Ultimately, GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated games in history. The pressure on Rockstar Games to deliver a worthy successor to GTA 5 is immense. However, based on their track record and the glimpses we’ve seen, there’s reason to believe that GTA 6 will be worth the wait.Raiders Player Charles Snowden Facing Misdemeanor DUI Charge After Las Vegas Arrest
No, These 34 Kitchen Items Are Not All Hype (And, Yes, They Make Perfect Gifts)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. In addition, Trump announced the selections of Daniel Driscoll, an Army veteran who was a senior adviser to Vice President-elect JD Vance, as Army secretary; Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who conducted the first private spacewalk on Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket, as NASA administrator; and Adam Boehler, a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team, as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. Navarro was held in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated Jan. 6. Sentenced to four months in prison, he described his conviction as the “partisan weaponization of the judicial system.” Hours after his release in July, Navarro spoke on stage at the Republican National Convention, where he told the crowd that “I went to prison so you won’t have to.” Navarro, 75, has been a longtime critic of trade arrangements with China. After earning an economics doctorate from Harvard University, he worked as an economics and public policy professor at the University of California, Irvine. He ran for mayor of San Diego in 1992 and lost, only to launch other unsuccessful campaign efforts, including a 1996 race for Congress as a Democrat. During Trump’s initial term, Navarro pushed aggressively for tariffs while playing down the risks of triggering a broader trade war. He also focused on counterfeited imports and even helped assemble an infrastructure plan for Trump that never came to fruition. Navarro often used fiery language that upset U.S. allies. In 2018, after a dispute between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Navarro said “there’s a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door.” Canadians were outraged, and Navarro later apologized. Issacman, 41, has reserved two more flights with SpaceX, including as the commander of the first crew that will ride SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship, still in test flights out of Texas. He said he was honored to be nominated. “Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history,” he said via X. Trump kept rolling out positions on Wednesday afternoon. He announced Gail Slater as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s antitrust division. Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector.” Slater worked for Trump’s National Economic Council during his first term, and she’s been an adviser to Vance. Trump also said Michael Faulkender would serve as deputy treasury secretary. A professor at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, Faulkender was the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for economic policy during Trump’s initial term. He has also been the chief economist at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank formed to further the Trump movement’s policy agenda. Outside the White House, Trump said that he had asked Michael Whatley to remain on as chair of the Republican National Committee. Whatley ran the committee during the election along with Lara Trump, the wife of Trump’s son Eric.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel unleashed its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people on Monday after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles as a warning over what it said were Israeli truce violations . The projectiles were apparently the first time that Hezbollah took aim at Israeli forces after the 60-day ceasefire went into effect last Wednesday. The increasingly fragile truce aimed to end more than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel — part of a wider regional conflict sparked by the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza . In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant Hamas group in Gaza, saying on social media that if they are not freed before he takes office in January there would be “HELL TO PAY.” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The U.S. has given Israel crucial military and diplomatic support throughout the nearly 15-month conflict. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Haris killed five people and wounded two while another airstrike on the village of Tallousa killed four and also wounded two. Israel's military carried out a string of airstrikes late Monday against what it said were Hezbollah fighters, infrastructure and rocket launchers across Lebanon, in response to Hezbollah firing two projectiles toward Mount Dov — a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” Before the Hezbollah projectiles, Israeli carried out at least four airstrikes and an artillery barrage in southern Lebanon, including a drone strike that killed a person on a motorcycle, according to Lebanese state media. Another strike killed a corporal in the Lebanese security services. Israel has said its strikes are in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the ceasefire deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days by launching airstrikes, demolishing homes near the border and violating Lebanon's airspace. Officials in the U.S. — which along with France helped broker the truce and heads a commission meant to monitor adherence to the deal — played down the significance of Israeli strikes. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, “Largely speaking, the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from dozens of strikes down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told reporters, referring to Israeli strikes. “We’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero.” Under the deal, Iran-backed Hezbollah has 60 days to withdraw its fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon. During that time, Israeli troops are also to withdraw to their side of the border. In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump called for Palestinian militants to free all of the roughly 100 Israeli hostages still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds of whom are believed to be alive. If not, Trump said, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” Hours earlier, the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. The Biden administration is mounting a last-ditch effort to try to restart talks between Israel and Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on Trump's post though President Isaac Herzog welcomed it. In Gaza, meanwhile, alarm is mounting over increasing hunger. The amount of food allowed in by Israel has plunged over the past two months, compounded by a decision Sunday by the United Nations to halt aid deliveries from the main crossing into the territory because of the threat of armed gangs looting convoys. Experts have already warned of famine in the northernmost part of Gaza , which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October, saying they're fighting regrouped Hamas militants there. Displaced families have set up tents surrounded by piles of garbage on the streets of Gaza City. Bilal Marouf, 55, said he and 11 family members fled the Israeli offensive “barefoot and naked.” “We had nothing. Hunger and thirst killed us, and we did not have a single shekel, nor clothes, nor a mattress, nor a blanket,” he said, speaking near his tent. Israel’s campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, has driven almost the entire population of the territory from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians now live in squalid tent camps, relying on international aid. The Israeli military said it allowed 40 trucks carrying 600 tons of flour for the World Food Program to enter the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday night, as well as 16 other food trucks. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid. November saw an increase in the average number of humanitarian trucks it let into Gaza, up to 77 daily from 57 the month before, according to official Israeli figures. But the levels are still nearly the lowest of the entire 15-month war. And the U.N. says less than half of that actually reaches Palestinians because Israeli military restrictions, fighting and robberies make it too dangerous to deliver the aid. The World Food Program was able to only deliver aid to some 300,000 Palestinians in November across the Gaza Strip due to ongoing Israeli military offensives and the looting of convoys, Carl Skau, WFP’s deputy executive director, said Monday. In a tent camp in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, Palestinians lined up at makeshift mud ovens trying to buy a few loaves of flatbread for their families. With the price of flour mounting because of scarcity, the bakers — women displaced from further north — said they could bake less bread, and families could afford far less. “They divide them to their children, one loaf every day,” said one woman baker, Wafaa al-Attar. Abou AlJoud reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Fatma Khalid in Cairo contributed to this report. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars
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This was a banner year for . While fan favorites like Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Cynthia Erivo and Donald Glover once again delighted audiences with their spectacular talent and cultural influence, a new crop of stars also made their presence known. From Ayo Edebiri’s stellar performance in “The Bear,” to “GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s sexually confident hip-hop takeover, to Angel Reese’s impact on and off the court, 2024 introduced us to the next batch of Black superstars to keep an eye on. As we celebrate the best entertainment and culture of 2024, we absolutely need to showcase the Breakout Stars of the Year. 2 / 16 Shaboozey Shaboozey When it comes to music, no one had a bigger breakout year than coutry’s newest star Shaboozey. From commercials, to award shows, to weddings, to birthday parties, his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)“ was everywhere this year. As if that wasn’t enough, he collaborated with Beyonce on her game-changing album “Cowboy Carter,” and even performed alongside the icon during her much talked about Christmas Day NFL halftime show. 3 / 16 Kai Cenat Kai Cenat There’s no denying that Kai Cenat made his streams the place to be in 2024. Famous names drop by, hang out, get comfortable and start revealing things they probably weren’t planning to talk about. Cenat’s influence and popularity made him one of the biggest internet stars of the year. 4 / 16 RaMell Ross RaMell Ross Writer/director RaMell Ross is receiving well-deserved praise and awards recognition for his film “Nickel Boys.” The haunting drama follows two young Black men as they try to survive an abusive reform school in the ‘60s. The movie connects with audiences in a way that makes us extremely interested in what stories Ross will focus on next. 5 / 16 Aaron Pierre Aaron Pierre With “Genius: MLK/X,” “Rebel Ridge” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” showcasing his immense artistic range, Aaron Pierre made it clear he’s an actor we need to watch whenever he’s on screen. 6 / 16 Ayo Edebiri Ayo Edebiri “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri spent 2024 as the bright light that keeps us coming back to the intense series. As Sydney, she balances Carmy’s self-destructive, unlikeable traits with a heart and soul we’re drawn to. In her numerous awards aceeptance speeches and “SNL” hosting stint, she also reminded everyone that her roots are in comedy, and she can make us laugh as hard as she makes us cry. 7 / 16 Coco Jones Coco Jones Actress/singer Coco Jones kicked off the year by winning a Grammy. Then she expanded her acting range with a fascinating storyline for Hillary on “Bel Air” and featured in the cool, almost all female tribute to Usher at the 2024 BET Awards. She has the final season of “Bel Air,” a new rom-com with Kountry Wayne and we assume more music on deck in 2025. She’s one of Hollywood’s hardest working entertainers. 8 / 16 Angel Reese Angel Reese WNBA rookie star Angel Reese made history on the court with her impressive triple-double streak. If she hadn’t been injured late in the season, she would’ve given Caitlin Clark a serious run for Rookie of the Year. However, she also made a name for herself off the court, lighting up red carpets and stacking endorsements, as she helped make 2024 the year of women’s sports. 9 / 16 Ryan Destiny Ryan Destiny Ryan Destiny isn’t a new star, but her critically acclaimed performance as boxing champion Claressa Shields in “The Fire Inside,” has audiences discovering that she’s so much more than a musical talent. Look for her to have a huge 2025. 10 / 16 GloRilla GloRilla GloRilla’s popularity is about more than the sexy persona she delivers in her lyrics and videos. It’s about how she gives her fans permission to be their unapologetic selves, whoever that might be. 11 / 16 Tyla Tyla The South African R&B star made the rounds with her hit single “Water,” winning multiple awards. She also tore up multiple red carpets on her way to becoming one of the year’s best style icons. 12 / 16 Malcolm Washington Malcolm Washington With an adept hand that showed an eye beyond his experience, Malcolm Washington stepped out of his famous father and brother’s shadows. We can’t wait to see how he fares with different stories in other genres. 13 / 16 Rep. Jasmine Crockett Rep. Jasmine Crockett We know Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is not an entertainer, but we had to recognize her impact on Black culture this year. Whether it was standing up for herself against the MAGA crowd, or rallying fellow Democrats to fight back against shady politics, Crockett has made it clear she’s done dealing with foolishness. 14 / 16 Sexyy Red Sexyy Red You may not agree with everything Sexyy Red says and does, but there’s no denying that she’s become an influential figure in hip-hop, style, and beauty. She used her popularity to crossover to mainstream appearances, introducing her music to new audiences. 15 / 16 Blue Ivy Carter Blue Ivy Carter Due to her famous parents, Blue Ivy Carter will always be held to a different standard. However, as she navigates her entry into the entertainment world, she’s obviously trying to figure out her own path. Yes, she gained a lot of experience performing with her mom, Beyonce, but she still had to work hard to prove herself. 16 / 16
VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Galiano Gold Inc. ("Galiano" or the "Company") GAU GAU is pleased to announce that it has terminated its gold purchase and sale agreement (the "Agreement") with Red Kite Opportunities Master Fund Limited ("Red Kite") for total cash consideration of US$13 million . Under the Agreement, the Company had been required to sell 100% of gold production from the Asanko Gold Mine (the "AGM"), up to a maximum of 2.2 million ounces, at a spot price selected by Red Kite during a nine-day quotational period following shipment of gold from the AGM. At the time of termination, the AGM had delivered 1,706,407 gold ounces to Red Kite under the Agreement. Over the past two years, during a period of elevated gold prices and volatility, the differential between the AGM's realized gold price under the Agreement and the spot price of gold on the gold delivery date, has resulted in a discount of approximately 2%. "With the Company's strong, debt-free balance sheet, we are pleased to have the financial flexibility to terminate this legacy offtake agreement as part of our prudent capital allocation strategy," said Matt Badylak , President and Chief Executive Officer of Galiano. "This strategic investment allows the AGM to sell gold at market prices, delivering meaningful value as we advance our business plan." About Galiano Gold Inc. Galiano is focused on creating a sustainable business capable of value creation for all stakeholders through production, exploration and disciplined deployment of its financial resources. The Company owns the AGM, which is located in Ghana , West Africa . Galiano is committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and the health and safety of its employees and neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.galianogold.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements regarding the Company's operating plans for the AGM and timing thereof; expectations and timing with respect to current and planned drilling programs, and any additional work programs to be undertaken by the Company and potential exploration opportunities. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: development plans and capital expenditures; the price of gold will not decline significantly or for a protracted period of time; the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions underlying mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the Company's ability to raise sufficient funds from future equity financings to support its operations, and general business and economic conditions; the global financial markets and general economic conditions will be stable and prosperous in the future; the AGM will not experience any significant uninsured production disruptions that would materially affect revenues; the ability of the Company to comply with applicable governmental regulations and standards; the mining laws, tax laws and other laws in Ghana applicable to the AGM will not change, and there will be no imposition of additional exchange controls in Ghana ; the success of the Company in implementing its development strategies and achieving its business objectives; the Company will have sufficient working capital necessary to sustain its operations on an ongoing basis and the Company will continue to have sufficient working capital to fund its operations; and the key personnel of the Company will continue their employment. The foregoing list of assumptions cannot be considered exhaustive. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein. Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, include, but are not limited to: mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates may change and may prove to be inaccurate; metallurgical recoveries may not be economically viable; life of mine estimates are based on a number of factors and assumptions and may prove to be incorrect; actual production, costs, returns and other economic and financial performance may vary from the Company's estimates in response to a variety of factors, many of which are not within the Company's control; inflationary pressures and the effects thereof; the AGM has a limited operating history and is subject to risks associated with establishing new mining operations; sustained increases in costs, or decreases in the availability, of commodities consumed or otherwise used by the Company may adversely affect the Company; adverse geotechnical and geological conditions (including geotechnical failures) may result in operating delays and lower throughput or recovery, closures or damage to mine infrastructure; the ability of the Company to treat the number of tonnes planned, recover valuable materials, remove deleterious materials and process ore, concentrate and tailings as planned is dependent on a number of factors and assumptions which may not be present or occur as expected; the Company's mineral properties may experience a loss of ore due to illegal mining activities; the Company's operations may encounter delays in or losses of production due to equipment delays or the availability of equipment; outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases may have a negative impact on global financial conditions, demand for commodities and supply chains and could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of the common shares of the Company; the Company's operations are subject to continuously evolving legislation, compliance with which may be difficult, uneconomic or require significant expenditures; the Government of Ghana may increase the Growth and Sustainability Levy, increasing the Company's expenditures; the Company may be unsuccessful in attracting and retaining key personnel; labour disruptions could adversely affect the Company's operations; recoveries may be lower in the future and have a negative impact on the Company's financial results; the lower recoveries may persist and be detrimental to the AGM and the Company; the Company's business is subject to risks associated with operating in a foreign country; risks related to the Government of Ghana defaulting on local and international bonds; risks related to the Company's use of contractors; the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of gold; the Company's operations are subject to environmental hazards and compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; the effects of climate change or extreme weather events may cause prolonged disruption to the delivery of essential commodities which could negatively affect production efficiency; the Company's operations and workforce are exposed to health and safety risks; unexpected costs and delays related to, or the failure of the Company to obtain, necessary permits could impede the Company's operations; the Company's title to exploration, development and mining interests can be uncertain and may be contested; geotechnical risks associated with the design and operation of a mine and related civil structures; the Company's properties may be subject to claims by various community stakeholders; current, ongoing and future legal disputes and appeals from third parties may be successful, and the Company may be required to pay settlement costs or damages; risks related to limited access to infrastructure and water; risks associated with establishing new mining operations; the Company's revenues are dependent on the market prices for gold, which have experienced significant recent fluctuations; the Company may not be able to secure additional financing when needed or on acceptable terms; the Company's shareholders may be subject to future dilution; risks related to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; risks relating to credit rating downgrades; changes to taxation laws applicable to the Company may affect the Company's profitability and ability to repatriate funds; risks related to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting and compliance with applicable accounting regulations and securities laws; future securities offerings issued pursuant to the Company's base shelf prospectus may not be successful depending on external market factors outside of the Company's control; risks related to information systems security threats; non-compliance with public disclosure obligations could have an adverse effect on the Company's stock price; the carrying value of the Company's assets may change and these assets may be subject to impairment charges; risks associated with changes in reporting standards; the Company may be liable for uninsured or partially insured losses; the Company may be subject to litigation; damage to the Company's reputation could result in decreased investor confidence and increased challenges in developing and maintaining community relations which may have adverse effects on the business, results of operations and financial conditions of the Company and the Company's share price; the Company may be unsuccessful in identifying targets for acquisition or completing suitable corporate transactions, and any such transactions may not be beneficial to the Company or its shareholders; the Company must compete with other mining companies and individuals for mining interests; the Company's growth, future profitability and ability to obtain financing may be impacted by global financial conditions; the Company's common shares may experience price and trading volume volatility; the Company has never paid dividends and does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future; the Company's shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of the Company's common shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of its common shares, or at all; and the risk factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, you are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that the Company has not identified. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in, this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galiano-gold-announces-buyout-of-offtake-agreement-302321556.html SOURCE Galiano Gold Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. 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