aztec treasure free slot game
CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.com
AP News Summary at 4:20 p.m. ESTOssoff says DeJoy’s Postal Service leadership continues to disappoint
Wike, G5 governors want to destroy PDP – Rep member ugochinyere
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma appears to have borrowed from the past to cure its recent offensive ills. The , best known this century for a passing prowess that has produced four Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, took it back to the 20th century against Alabama. Oklahoma ran 50 times for 257 yards while only throwing 12 times that took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat. The Sooners more resembled Barry Switzer’s squads that dominated the old Big 8 with the wishbone offense in the 1970s and ’80s than the more recent Air Raid teams. Venables said the change was a matter of necessity for a unit that has been besieged by injuries at receiver and offensive line. “I think this staff has done a really good job with trying to figure that out, get better every week, put together a great gameplan but also figure out, ‘OK, what does this group of guys, what does this team — what do we need to do?’” Venables said. To make it work, Oklahoma needed to trust that such a change would work in the modern Southeastern Conference. They had to implement it with an interim play-caller in Joe Jon Finley, who stepped in after the Sooners fired Seth Littrell last month. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) pulled it off, and LSU coach Brian Kelly has taken notice ahead of their game on Saturday. “This is now much more about controlling the football, running the football, playing with physicality,” Kelly said. “They’ve got perimeter skill, but I think it’s centered around much more of a run-centric, quarterback run and take care of the football.” The Sooners started to see success on the ground against Maine. They ran 52 times for 381 yards that got the wheels turning. Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns that day. Venables said the timing of the opportunity to play that non-conference game against Maine in early November and figure some things out was perfect. “Everybody has some degree of vulnerability and maybe some self-doubt,” he said. “And just developing some confidence and putting something on tape other than practice, like, ‘Man, look, see what you’re capable of?’ And executing against, again, a well-coached team — certainly, we played off of that in all the right ways like you would expect us to. And so there’s a real place for that.” After a bye week, the Sooners tried the same approach against Missouri. It wasn’t as successful — they ran 36 times for 122 yards — but they hung tough . The Sooners went all in against Alabama. Jackson Arnold — the same guy who threw 45 times in the Alamo Bowl last year, ran 25 times for 131 yards and threw just 11 passes. The Sooners found something in running back Xavier Robinson. With Barnes out with an injury, Robinson carried 18 times for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns. Suddenly, a team that had been forcing the pass and getting sacked at an alarming rate was moving the line of scrimmage and controlling the tempo. Oklahoma had the ball for more than 34 minutes against the Crimson Tide, lending support to a talented defense that had been spending way too much time on the field. The new approach could be helpful on Saturday — (7-4, 4-3) ranks 14th out of 16 conference teams against the run. Venables said the Sooners still need to throw the ball well to win, but he’s glad to know his squad can run with force when necessary. “I think that’s the art of having a system that’s adjustable, flexible, adaptable, week in and week out, but also has an identity — toughness, physicality,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to run the ball at every level of football, but you do have to throw it. You can’t just do one thing. But we need to be efficient.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and
None
Syrian opposition fighters have reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, for the first time since the region was recaptured by government troops in 2018, opposition activists and a rebel commander said Saturday. One resident told The Associated Press the city was on edge, with security forces on the streets and many shops running out of staple foods. The Syrian army withdrew from much of the country's south on Saturday but later said it was fortifying positions in the Damascus suburbs and in the south. Lebanon said it is closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria because of the security situation on the Syrian side. The rapidly developing events in Syria have again put the region on edge. Elsewhere, Palestinian officials said at least 29 people were killed, including four medical staff, when Israeli strikes pummeled the area around one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza. Israel's war against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,600 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. Here's the Latest: The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Syria says the U.N. is relocating non-critical staff outside the country. Adam Abdelmoula in a statement Saturday called it a precautionary measure to protect U.N. teams. “Let me emphasize—this is not an evacuation and our dedication to supporting the people of Syria remains unwavering,” Abdelmoula said. The statement did not say how many U.N. staffers were leaving Syria as opposition fighters reached the suburbs of Syria’s capital, Damascus. The statement said the fighting in Syria has displaced over 370,000 people as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, “with many seeking refuge in the northeast and others trapped in frontline areas, unable to escape.” Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran have gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit along with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, to discuss the situation in Syria. The talks continued late Saturday and no details were immediately available. Qatar, Jordan and Iraq also were part of the discussions as opposition fighters closed in on the Syrian capital, Damascus. BAGHDAD — An Iraqi government spokesperson says about 2,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq seeking refuge as opposition forces advance in Syria. Bassem al-Awadi said the soldiers’ equipment and weapons were registered and taken into custody by the Iraqi army. “We dealt with them according to the principle of good neighborliness and humanity,” he said Saturday. Al-Awadi also said Iraqi officials are concerned about the security of the al-Hol camp and other facilities in northeast Syria where suspected Islamic State group members and their families are detained. The facilities are guarded by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Al-Awadi said there is “high security coordination” between Iraqi officials and those forces to “prevent the prisoners from escaping.” Syria's army says it is fortifying its positions in the suburbs of Damascus and in the country’s south, as opposition fighters close in on the capital. The army statement on Saturday also asserted that Syria is being subjected to a “terrorist” and propaganda campaign aiming to destabilize and spread chaos. The statement also said the military is continuing with operations in areas including the central provinces of Hama and Homs, and that it has killed and wounded hundreds of opposition fighters. At least two people were wounded in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank on Saturday, according to the Israeli army and rescue services. The army said the attack took place in the area of the Fawwar refugee camp, near the city of Hebron. It said a soldier was severely wounded, and security forces were looking for the attacker. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said another man in his 40s suffered light injuries from shrapnel. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza sparked the war there. Israel has intensified its military raids in the West Bank, targeting what it says are militants planning attacks, and there has also been a rise in Palestinian attacks on Israelis. The Israeli military says it is helping United Nations forces to head off an attack on a U.N. position in Syria close to the Israeli border. The army said in a statement Saturday that an attack was carried out by “armed individuals” on a U.N. post near the Syrian town of Hader and it was “assisting U.N. forces in repelling the attack.” On Friday, Israel’s military said it would reinforce its forces in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and opposition fighters. Hamas has released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker making an emotional plea for his release and describing the conditions he and other hostages face in Gaza after being seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. His mother, Einav, has become a symbol of the fight to bring back the hostages and is an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Matan Zangauker, speaking under duress, appealed to the public to protest in front of Netanyahu’s home and “not let him sleep even for a minute.” Zangauker also referred to 420 days of being held by Hamas militants. “We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening,” he said, describing having little food and medicine and “undrinkable” water. President-elect Donald Trump has made his first extensive comments on dramatic advances by opposition fighters in Syria, saying the besieged President Bashar Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on the Truth Social platform on Saturday. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration of how the U.S. would handle the sudden advances against Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-allied leader. Trump condemned the overall U.S. handling of the 13-year civil war in Syria, but spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces. ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that there was “now a new reality in Syria” following the rapid advance of rebel forces. Speaking in Gaziantep, a city less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Syrian border, Erdogan said that “increasing attacks on civilians” in Syria’s northwest Idlib province “triggered the latest events like the straw that broke the camel’s back.” It was not possible for Turkey to ignore developments in a country with which it shares a lengthy border and it would not allow any threats to its national security, he added in a televised speech. “Our wish is for our neighbor Syria to attain the peace and tranquility it has been longing for for 13 years,” he told a rally of supporters. “We want to see a Syria where different identities live side by side in peace. We hope to see such a Syria in the very near future.” Erdogan claimed President Bashar Assad had erred in rebuffing Turkey’s previous efforts to establish relations, saying Damascus “could not appreciate the value of the hand Turkey extended.” Ankara has supported anti-Assad rebel groups since the early months of the conflict and hosts 3 million refugees dislodged by the fighting. While Turkey lists HTS, the group leading the latest offensive, as a terrorist organization, the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army has worked alongside it. BEIRUT — A resident of the Syrian capital of Damascus says the city is very tense as troops and members of security agencies are deployed on main streets and intersections. The resident told The Associated Press that many shops are closed and those that are open have run out of main commodities such as sugar. He added that if food products are available, some shops are selling them for a price three times higher than usual. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said on condition of anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” — Bassem Mroue in Beirut DOHA, Qatar — Russia’s foreign minister says he has met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Doha and that all three countries were calling for an “immediate end to hostile activities” in Syria. Russia and Iran are the chief supporters of Syria’s government, while Turkey backs opposition fighters trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Speaking at the annual Doha Forum, Sergey Lavrov said Russia continues to help the Syrian army confront insurgents, military via airstrikes. Asked whether Assad’s rule is threatened by the fast-moving rebel offensive, he said, “We are not in the business of guessing what’s gong to happen.” He blamed the United States and the West for the events in Syria and said, “We are very sorry for the Syrian people who became a subject of another geopolitical experiment. “We are doing everything we can not to make terrorists prevail, even if they say they are not terrorists,” Lavrov said, referring to the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgents, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who says he has cut links with al-Qaida. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. He said Russia, Iran and Turkey want the full implementation of a U.N. resolution, which endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. Resolution 2254 was adopted unanimously in December 2015. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Lavrov also downplayed reports that Moscow had withdrawn ships from Russia’s base in Syrian city of Tartus, saying that the vessels had left to take part in naval exercises in the Mediterranean. DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. envoy who brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah says the deal has created a new opportunity for Lebanon to reshape itself. Amos Hochstein told the Doha Forum that the weakness of Hezbollah after nearly 14 months of fighting along, along with blows to its Syrian and Iranian allies, give the Lebanese military and government a chance to reassert itself. “Now is the moment with this ceasefire to rebuild Lebanon again for a much more prosperous future and stronger state institutions,” Hochstein told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference. He said Lebanon needs “to do its part” by rebuilding its economy, choosing a president after years of delays and strengthening its central government to attract investors. “And the international community has a requirement and a responsibility to support Lebanon after this devastating conflict and after years of Hezbollah control,” he said. Hochstein told the conference that the turning point in ceasefire efforts was Hezbollah dropping its pledge to keep fighting as long as the war in Gaza continues. He said the change in position was the result of the heavy losses inflicted on Hezbollah, and Lebanese public opinion in favor of delinking the two conflicts. He said key tests for the ceasefire will be whether Israel carries out its promised phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon over the coming two months and whether the Lebanese army is able to move into those areas. BEIRUT — Insurgents and a war monitor say opposition fighters are taking over military posts evacuated by Syrian government forces in the country’s south, bringing them closer to the capital, Damascus. An insurgent official known as Maj. Hassan Abdul-Ghani posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition fighters are now in the town of Sanamein, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the southern outskirts of Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said insurgents have entered the town of Artouz, which is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Damascus. Opposition fighters have captured wide parts of Syria, including several provincial capitals, since they began their offensive on Nov. 27. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s government has approved a plan to deploy more troops along the border with Israel, part of the ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a rare Cabinet meeting outside of Beirut, held Saturday at a military base in the southern port city of Tyre, the government also approved a draft law to reconstruct buildings destroyed during the Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out in October 2023 and ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last week. Information Minister Ziad Makary told reporters after the meeting that the committee whose job is to monitor the ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 will hold its first meeting on Monday. The committee is made up of military officials from the U.S., France, Israel and Lebanon as well as the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed along the border. As part of the ceasefire deal, during the first 60 days Israeli troops will have to withdraw from Lebanon, while Hezbollah will have to pull its heavy weapons away from the border area to north of the Litani river. The Lebanese army said this week it will begin recruiting more soldiers, apparently to deploy them along the border with Israel. BEIRUT — The Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria on Saturday, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters, the military and an opposition war monitor said. The redeployment away from the provinces of Daraa and Sweida came as Syria’s military sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The rapid advances by insurgents are a stunning reversal of fortunes for Syria’s President Bashar Assad , who appears to be largely on his own, with erstwhile allies preoccupied with other conflicts. His chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by Israeli regular airstrikes. JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian man after he attacked them at a border crossing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday morning, police said. The man shot firecrackers at security forces at the checkpoint and threatened them with a knife, the police statement said. The man wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a symbol of the Islamic State militant group, according to an Associated Press reporter Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began last year, Palestinian health officials said. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. DOHA, Qatar — The prime minister of Qatar says he has seen new momentum in Gaza ceasefire efforts since the U.S. presidential election, with the incoming Trump administration seeking an end to the conflict before it takes office. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire efforts, declined to give specifics of the negotiations but told an international conference in Doha that the gaps between the sides are not large. Qatar, which has served as a mediator throughout the 14-month war, suspended its efforts last month in frustration over the lack of progress. But Sheikh Mohammed said his government has re-engaged in recent days after determining a new willingness by both parties to reach a deal. ’We have sensed after the election that the momentum is coming back,” he told the Doha Forum on Saturday. He said has been in touch with both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration and found that while there are some differences in approach, both are committed to the same goal of ending the war. ’We have seen a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He declined to discuss details, saying he wanted to “protect the process,” but expressed hope for a deal “as soon as possible.” ’If you look at the gaps and the disagreements, they are not something substantial that really affects the agreement,” he said. CAIRO — At least 29 people were killed, including four medical staff, when Israeli strikes pummeled the area around one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The situation in and around the Kamal Adwan hospital is “catastrophic,” according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital. The dead included five children and five women, according to the hospital casualty list, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Friday’s strikes also wounded 55 people including six children and the five women, according to the hospital. Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya is one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the Gaza’s northernmost province , where Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military denied that its forces had struck the hospital or operated inside it. The army said that in the past few weeks, “coordinated efforts with international organizations have been underway in order to transfer patients, companions, and medical staff to other hospitals.” An Indonesian medical team which had been assisting in Kamal Adwan for the past week was forced to evacuate on foot after the area was surrounded by Israeli soldiers, according to a statement from the team. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the medical team’s expulsion. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories, said an Israeli tank approached the hospital at around 4 a.m. Friday. Although no official Israeli evacuation order was issued, “people started to climb the wall to escape, and this panic attracted IDF (Israeli) fire,” he said. He spoke by video from Gaza to journalists in Geneva. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation in northern Gaza against Hamas militants. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. MANAMA, Bahrain — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has reiterated the kingdom’s call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Israel as acting with “impunity and is getting away without punishment” in its war on Hamas there. The prince said that any permanent solution requires a two-state solution, with the Palestinians having east Jerusalem as their capital. After the speech, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a prominent royal in the kingdom who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, took the stage. He harshly criticized Israel’s conduct in the wars. “Israel has become an apartheid, colonial and genocidal state,” Prince Turki said. “It is about time for the world to address that issue and take the necessary steps to bring those who are thus charged by the International Criminal Court to justice.” Israeli officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Prince Turki’s remarks. The Saudis spoke at the International Institute for Security Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.
As Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to restLudhiana: Cyber police in the city face two major challenges in their quest to track cyber cons, who have become increasingly active over the past few years. According to an official in the cyber police station, these hurdles include tracing mobile sim cards and bank accounts made on fake documents. The alibis can be very different but most play on fear, such as the threat of someone’s son/daughter in a foreign country being deported. An official at the police station said that they had filed eight cyber fraud cases in the last around four months. In five of these cases, cyber cons claimed to be calling from Canada. “Often, the caller claims to be a friend of the target’s son, who has moved to Canada illegally. The caller tells the victim that his/her ward has been taken to a hotel by the Canadian authorities and is being deported to India. Then the caller assures that they have struck a deal with officials in Canada, for which parents need to send money immediately. The parents are pressured into sending the money quickly, which does not give them a chance to verify,” the official said. In case the target has a child who has settled in Canada legally, the story is tweaked. In such a case, the caller tells the target that his son/daughter has caused an accident, which has killed someone. Thereafter, the cyber con demands money immediately to save the target’s ward from spending a lifetime in a Canadian jail. Also, there are cases of cyber cons calling people claiming to be their acquaintances settled in Canada and facing a difficult situation from which they needed to be bailed out. In local cases, cyber cons call parents of some youth and tell them that their son took a lift from someone from whom drugs were seized, thereby getting involved in a drug case themselves. They proceed to demand money to save the youth from jail. The official said that cyber criminals, who may be from various states, use SIM cards procured on the basis of false documents. They also generally use instant bank accounts which don’t conduct immediate physical verification. They get large sums of money transferred in the accounts and withdraw it before the accounts are closed. “Since such accounts don’t require immediate physical verification, cyber fraudsters manage to withdraw money. It is a big challenge to reach the cyber cons as the account is not used by genuine people,” the official said. SSP Ludhiana, Rural, Navneet Singh Bains said that the use of unverified bank accounts and SIM cards poses a challenge to investigators. He advised people who receive such calls to verify details before transferring the money. Meanwhile, a banker said that a person can withdraw money from an instant account after opening it. He added that after opening the account online, the account holder normally get physical verification done at the nearest bank branch. A police official suggested that authorities concerned devise a system which made it impossible to withdraw money from instant bank accounts at least for a few days after opening or till physical verification of the account holder Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gemma Owen’s Love Island ex Luca Bish is reportedly heading back to the dating show for its All Stars series. The move could be a nightmare for Gemma , the daughter of ex-England football star Michael, with fears her former beau will spill details of their break-up. Fishmonger Luca, 25, and Gemma, 21, fell in love during the ITV2 show’s summer series in 2022, and came runners up to Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti, but split three months later. Now he is back for the All Stars spin-off series in Cape Town, South Africa, which Maya Jama will host in January. A TV source told the Sun : “This is the last thing Gemma wants because in the last year she’s tried to keep her personal life private. "Their break-up was shrouded in secrecy and neither has discussed it, but it did not end well. He hinted he was blindsided by the break-up when she posted it online and this is his time to spill the beans.” OK! has reached out to representatives for Gemma, Luca and ITV for comment. Gemma, the 19 year old daughter of legendary footballer Michael Owen, 42, broke up with the fishmonger in mid-November , following three months together post-Love Island. The couple's decision to go their separate ways came with some drama as Luca appeared to be blindsided by the announcement Gemma put on her social media. The international dressage rider spoke out on the ordeal in 2022, as she told Goss.ie : "These last few weeks, as going through any break up, it’s not nice. It’s not a nice time. Having to deal with the press and other people’s opinions, and people thinking that they know what’s going on when they don’t, that’s been challenging," she added at the Christmas Party for PrettyLittleThing in Dublin. At the time of their break up, Gemma wrote a lengthy statement, which was quickly followed with one by Luca. He wrote: "Switched my phone back on after taking some time out to clear my head after an emotional afternoon to thousands of messages and news articles about my breakup." The star went on to say he would have liked "some time" to process the decision "privately" after he and Gemma mutually chose to go their "separate ways. We have been on such a journey together and have made some amazing memories which I will treasure," he continued. He then shared that he "can't thank everyone enough for their support" for him and Gemma as a couple, both during and after Love Island . "We will remain good friends and I wish nothing but the best for her," Luca added.
NoneTitans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags
AI Crushes It at Simplicity: GPT-4 Writes Science Summaries Better Than the Pros
NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missileShare Tweet Share Share Email Accepting payments efficiently is crucial for any small business. The advent of digital payment methods has made it easier than ever for customers to make purchases, and small businesses need to stay up-to-date with these trends. Merchant acquiring solutions offer tools that streamline the payment acceptance process, making it simpler, faster, and safer for both businesses and their customers. As payment technology continues to advance, small businesses must stay informed and choose solutions that can grow with them. The right merchant acquiring solution can make all the difference in maintaining a competitive edge and fostering long-term success. What is Merchant Acquiring? At its core, merchant acquiring refers to the process through which businesses accept electronic payments. A merchant acquirer is a financial institution or service provider that partners with businesses to facilitate the acceptance of payment transactions. These transactions could involve credit or debit cards, digital wallets, or other forms of electronic payment. The acquirer plays a key role in managing the technical and financial aspects of payment processing . For small businesses, choosing the right merchant acquiring solution can significantly impact operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. From accepting in-person card payments to offering e-commerce payment options, the right tools can streamline day-to-day transactions and enhance overall business growth. Why Do Small Businesses Need Merchant Acquiring Solutions? Small businesses often face unique challenges when it comes to payment acceptance. Unlike larger corporations, they may not have the resources to manage complex payment processing systems. However, with the rise of e-commerce and contactless payments, even small businesses need to offer diverse payment options to stay competitive. Merchant acquiring solutions provide the necessary infrastructure for small businesses to accept payments securely and efficiently. Without these tools, businesses may miss out on potential customers who prefer to use cards or digital wallets for payments. Additionally, integrating such solutions into business operations can help reduce friction at the point of sale, which can lead to faster transactions and a smoother customer experience. Key Features of Merchant Acquiring Solutions When evaluating merchant acquiring solutions, small businesses should consider the following features to ensure they select the best fit for their needs: Multiple Payment Methods One of the key advantages of modern merchant acquiring solutions is their ability to support multiple payment methods. From credit and debit cards to mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, businesses can offer their customers a wide range of options for completing transactions. This flexibility not only increases customer convenience but also helps small businesses stay competitive in a market where diverse payment options are in high demand. For example, a small retail shop may find it beneficial to accept contactless payments, while an online business might prioritize integrating payment gateways that work with digital wallets and credit card processing. A comprehensive solution ensures that businesses can cater to a variety of customer preferences. Security Features Security is a top priority for businesses dealing with sensitive payment data. Merchant acquiring solutions typically come with robust security features, such as encryption and fraud detection tools, to protect both businesses and customers. This is critical, as data breaches can not only result in financial losses but also harm the business’s reputation. Most solutions comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), ensuring that transaction data is securely processed. Furthermore, advanced fraud prevention systems, such as tokenization and two-factor authentication, help reduce the risk of fraudulent activity. Seamless Integration with Existing Systems A seamless integration with existing point-of-sale (POS) systems and e-commerce platforms is another important feature to look for. Many merchant acquirers offer solutions that can easily integrate with popular accounting software, inventory management tools, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. For example, an e-commerce store running on Shopify may prefer a payment gateway that directly integrates with the platform. This integration reduces manual work, speeds up processing times, and minimizes human error, allowing businesses to focus on core activities like sales and customer service. Cost-Effectiveness While merchant acquiring solutions provide several benefits, small businesses need to ensure that the tools they choose are cost-effective. Transaction fees, setup charges, and monthly subscriptions can vary significantly across different providers. Businesses should carefully assess the total cost of ownership, including any hidden fees that may arise during regular transactions. Many acquirers offer pricing models based on transaction volume, allowing businesses with lower sales to pay less in fees. Other factors such as the number of payment methods supported and additional services like chargeback management or customer support should also be considered when evaluating costs. Scalability As small businesses grow, so do their payment processing needs. Therefore, scalability is an important factor when choosing a merchant acquiring solution. Businesses should select tools that can grow alongside their operations, offering additional features and higher transaction limits as required. Scalable solutions help businesses avoid the need to switch providers as they expand. Whether it’s adding more payment options, handling higher transaction volumes, or expanding into new markets, a scalable solution ensures that the business can adapt to future growth. Popular Merchant Acquiring Solutions for Small Businesses Several merchant acquiring solutions cater specifically to small businesses. Here are a few popular options: Square Square is one of the most popular merchant acquiring solutions for small businesses, particularly in the retail and service industries. Its user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and ability to accept both in-person and online payments make it a top choice for small businesses. Square also offers features like inventory management, analytics, and employee management. Additionally, Square provides a range of hardware options for businesses that need physical POS systems, including card readers, registers, and terminals. Its flat-rate pricing model makes it an attractive option for businesses that need simplicity and transparency in their payment processing. PayPal PayPal is another widely recognized payment processor that caters to small businesses, particularly those with an online presence. With PayPal, businesses can accept payments via credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets. PayPal also offers solutions for recurring billing, invoicing, and even international payments. For businesses already using PayPal for personal or e-commerce transactions, integrating PayPal’s merchant solutions into their payment system is relatively simple. PayPal also offers competitive fees and easy access to funds, making it a reliable solution for small businesses looking to streamline payment acceptance. Stripe Stripe is well-known in the e-commerce world for its developer-friendly features and flexible APIs. It allows businesses to integrate payment processing directly into their websites or mobile apps, offering a seamless customer experience. Stripe supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, ACH transfers, and even cryptocurrencies. Stripe is especially favored by online businesses due to its ability to handle complex payment flows, such as subscription-based models and international payments. It also provides advanced fraud prevention tools and an intuitive dashboard for managing transactions. Adyen Adyen is a global payment processor that supports a wide range of payment methods, from cards and mobile wallets to local payment systems. While it’s more commonly used by larger enterprises, Adyen offers a solution tailored to small businesses looking for international payment capabilities and multi-currency support. Adyen’s unified platform streamlines payment processing for both in-person and online transactions, making it a good option for businesses that have both physical and digital storefronts. The solution also provides insights into transaction trends , helping businesses make informed decisions about their payment strategy. The Future of Merchant Acquiring Solutions As technology continues to evolve, merchant acquiring solutions will become even more sophisticated. Innovations such as biometric authentication, AI-driven fraud prevention, and blockchain-based payment systems are on the horizon. These advancements will offer small businesses even more tools to enhance security, optimize payment processes, and improve customer experiences. Additionally, the growing adoption of mobile wallets and contactless payments will likely lead to more options for businesses to accept payments seamlessly. As the payment landscape continues to shift, small businesses that adopt innovative merchant acquiring solutions will be better positioned to thrive in an increasingly digital economy. Conclusion Merchant acquiring solutions are essential for small businesses looking to accept payments efficiently and securely. By providing access to multiple payment methods, robust security features, and easy integration with existing systems, these solutions simplify payment processing and enhance customer satisfaction. Whether businesses are looking for a solution for in-person payments, e-commerce transactions , or both, there are a variety of tools available to meet their unique needs. Related Items: Merchant Acquiring Solutions , Multiple Payment Methods , Small Business Payment Acceptance Share Tweet Share Share Email CommentsPreview: Huddersfield Town vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups