US lawmakers urge Biden to pardon Assange to send ‘clear message’ on media freedomIn his book published this summer, “The War on Warriors,” Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, described being called up to active duty to guard the streets of Washington, D.C., during the Black Lives Matter protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd. He acknowledged protesters’ First Amendment rights but also seethed at “violent professional agitators” and “armies of armed and violent left-wing extremists” who he said behaved “like twenty-first century hoplites,” referring to a term for well-armed citizen soldiers in ancient Greece. In a recurring theme for the man who might soon lead history’s most powerful military, he fantasized about treating Americans like overseas combatants. “Most of us [National Guard soldiers] wanted to fight back,” Hegseth wrote. “Within ten minutes, I became one of them. As your muscles ache and your eyes fill with sweat and dust, you begin to seek closure with a sense of resolve. We could easily have pushed this line back, snatched the leaders or the loudest protesters in Antifa, and sucked them back behind the lines.” “If this engagement were to occur in Damarra or Kandahar,” Hegseth continued, “we would be home by breakfast.” Hegseth, a Princeton grad who worked as an analyst at Bear Stearns, deployed overseas three times between 2004 and 2012 — to Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan — before becoming a Fox News personality and an advocate for accused and convicted war criminals . As Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief, his nomination faces turbulence in the Senate both for his far-right beliefs and for an allegation of sexual assault made against him , which Hegseth denies, though his attorney has acknowledged a settlement agreement involving paying his accuser not to tell her story publicly. In “The War on Warriors,” Hegseth painted the military as a civilizing force for America’s young men. “Who knows what the untrained and unconstrained world would have made of these alpha males, but the military made great warriors–and now great citizens,” he wrote of two friends, “masculine football-playing studs” who served their country. But he’s also explicit that the military — and therefore America — is under attack from supposed left-wing ideologies, and that the military should fight back against the “woke” tide just as it would a foreign enemy. America, he said, is “in a cold civil war” and under attack by “a confederacy of radicals.” In the book, he dedicated considerable time railing against modern laws of war and called on the United States to rewrite them and “fight by its own rules.” Hegseth’s conception of the American left as the enemy within is the defining theme of “The War on Warriors.” On its surface, the book answers the question, “How did the military allow itself to go woke?” According to Hegseth, the existence of women in combat roles, the presence of transgender people in the military, the requirement that soldiers take the “experimental” COVID-19 vaccine, his perception of affirmative action in military promotions, the renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals, and the military’s efforts to root out violent extremism — an effort that affected him at one point — all flow from the same source. You guessed it: It’s the Marxists in academia, hell-bent on shoving “DEI” and “CRT” — diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory, respectively — down everyone’s throats, along with an “unholy alliance of political ideologues and Pentagon pussies [that] has left our warriors without real defenders in Washington.” The effects are obvious, according to Hegseth’s book. “When I think about my career in uniform, in almost every instance where there has been poor leadership or people in positions they’re not qualified for, it was based on either the reality or the perception of a ‘diversity hire,’” Hegseth wrote. On the other hand, he claimed that woke military bureaucrats have “said Trump supporters are extremists, full stop.” He also linked the supposed push toward progressivism in the military to recruiting troubles. “For the past three years, the Pentagon–across all branches–has embraced the social justice messages of gender equality, racial diversity, climate stupidity, vaccine worship, and the LGBTQA+ alphabet soup in their recruiting pushes,” Hegseth wrote. “Only one problem: there just aren’t enough trannies from Brooklyn or lesbians from San Francisco who want to join the 82nd Airborne.” Hegseth’s view that “woke” ideology is specifically weakening the military — and America overall — is the generic Republican Party position in 2024. It remains to be seen if Trump bans transgender people from the military , bans women from combat roles, or pursues Hegseth’s other ideological battles once in office. Elsewhere in the book, Hegseth described fighting “a war on two fronts” — against both “radical Islamist ideology” abroad and also left-wing “domestic enemies at home.” Just like “an enemy at war,” Hegseth wrote, “The radical Left never stops moving and planning. They do not respect cease-fires, do not abide by the rules of warfare, and do not respect anything except total defeat of their enemy – and then total control.” In the book, he proposed “a frontal assault” to reclaim the military from the left. And he’s quite explicit this isn’t a political difference of opinion: In the military, Hegseth wrote, “The expectation is that we will defend [the Constitution] against all enemies–both foreign and domestic. Not political opponents, but real enemies. (Yes, Marxists are our enemies.)” He added in the next paragraph that the left wants America to turn away from the Constitution and “let America’s dynasty fade away.” “Those who push DEI/CRT ideology,” Hegseth wrote, are not only hypocrites and Marxists but “traitors.” While regular citizens have First Amendment protections for bad ideas, military leaders who seek to retrain soldiers based on those ideas “are guilty of coercive violence against their neighbors,” he argued. “The Constitution is our lodestar,” he added later. “Marxists hate the Constitution. DEI and CRT are Marxist philosophies. Therefore DEI and CRT are enemies of our Constitution – domestic enemies.” Perhaps most notably in a book obsessed with fighting against perceived “domestic enemies,” Hegseth spent a considerable amount of time in “The War on Warriors” criticizing the military’s rules of engagement, and modern international laws of warfare more generally. Military lawyers and limited rules of engagement, he posited, are the real reasons America can’t seem to take its gloves off and win a war. Speaking on his time in Iraq, for example, Hegseth recalled a judge advocate general — or, as Hegseth wrote, “jagoff” — telling his men that they were not allowed to fire on a hypothetical man carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher “until that RPG becomes a threat. It must be pointed at you with the intent to fire.” Hegseth told his men to disregard the instruction: “Men, if you see an enemy who you believe is a threat, you engage and destroy the threat. That’s a bullshit rule that’s going to get people killed.” “Our enemies should get bullets, not attorneys,” he wrote later. “The fact that we don’t do what is necessary is the reason wars become endless. Modern wars never end, because we won’t finish them.” Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. So what is “necessary” to win modern wars? The likely future defense secretary has an answer — in a chapter called “The Laws of War, for Winners.” In it, Hegseth decried “hopelessly outdated international laws,” which he argued clash with ancient theories of proportionality and just war, particularly when groups like Al Qaeda don’t respect the Geneva Conventions. “If our warriors are forced to follow rules arbitrarily and asked to sacrifice more lives so that international tribunals feel better about themselves, aren’t we just better off winning our wars according to our own rules?! Who cares what other countries think,” he wrote. “The question we have to ask ourselves is, if we are forced to fight, are we going to fight to win? Or will we fight to make leftists feel good – which means not winning and fighting forever.” In the same chapter, he took particular issue with a 2023 update to the Department of Defense’s Law of War Manual — that commanders and other decision-makers must assume people are civilians if there is nothing indicating they are combatants — writing: “In short, this means our troops are going to have to hesitate every time they fire.” “Our boys should not fight by rules written by dignified men in mahogany rooms eighty years ago,” Hegseth wrote. “America should fight by its own rules. And we should fight to win, or not go at all.” Related From Our Partner
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CINCINNATI, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paycor HCM, Inc. (Nasdaq: PYCR) ("Paycor”), a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) software, today announced that management is scheduled to participate in the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 12:55 pm Mountain Time. The presentation will be webcast live and accessible for replay for a limited time under the "Events & Presentations" section of Paycor's investor relations website at https://investors.paycor.com/ . About Paycor Paycor's HR, payroll, and talent platform connects leaders to people, data, and expertise. We help leaders drive engagement and retention by giving them tools to coach, develop, and grow employees. We give them unprecedented insights into their operational data with a unified HCM experience that can seamlessly connect to other mission-critical technology. By providing expert guidance and consultation, we help them achieve business results and become an extension of their teams. Learn more at paycor.com . Investor Relations: Rachel White 513-954-7388 [email protected] Media Relations: Carly Pennekamp 513-954-7282 [email protected]IN the gloom of a Manhattan dawn, the hooded killer emerged from behind a parked car, raised a handgun and fired into the health executive’s back. CCTV footage showed the murderer sauntering away after slaying dad-of-two Brian Thompson with the glacial cool of a seasoned underworld hitman. Yet when cops finally caught up with the man they believe to be the assassin, they instead found a gifted Ivy League student with only a $100 trespass fine against his name. Suspect Luigi Mangione, 26, hails from a dynasty of East Coast grandees who own country clubs and a conservative-leaning radio station. Tanned, with a muscular physique and chiselled good looks which have earned him the nickname “the hot assassin”, Mangione is heir to a fortune in a future that seemed golden. Classmates remember a well-liked and intelligent youngster who played football for the school team and was a decent cross country runner. Freddie Leatherbury, 26, a former classmate at Mangione’s private, all-boys high school in Baltimore, said: “He was very smart, a pretty big math guy, really well read and quite well liked, to be honest. I don’t have any bad memories of him.” Last night New York Sheriff deputies had to grab Mangione by the neck to control him as they lead their suspect into Blair County Courthouse. The tech graduate screamed: “It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.” So what would drive this apparently clean-cut young American immersed in wealth and privilege to allegedly assassinate a man he had apparently never met? Mangione’s social media seems to offer a window into what detectives believe is a murderous mind. A Twitter/X account in his name has a photo above his profile of an X-ray of a spinal fusion, with screws through bones. And Mangione appears to have left an online review of US “Unabomber” terrorist Theodore Kaczynski ’s book, saying: “When communication fails, violence is necessary.” He also took an interest in magic mushrooms. One book he recommended on bookworm site Goodreads was How To Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics. This deeply sinister case began to unfurl on December 2 when Brian Thompson — CEO of medical insurer UnitedHealthcare — travelled from his home in Minnesota to New York for a company conference. Known as BT, Thompson, 50, had risen up the corporate ranks after a childhood in the small Midwest farming town of Jewell, Iowa. The son of a grain elevator operator, he was a gifted high school pupil who topped his class at his home state’s university. Heather Holm, superintendent of the South Hamilton Community School District said: “He was a model student.” His glittering academic record would lead to a career in accountancy before becoming CEO of UnitedHealthcare — the largest health insurer in the US. Steve Nelson, a former executive at the firm, said of Thompson: “He was the smartest guy in the room, but somehow not in an annoying way.” Under Brian’s helm, UnitedHealthcare had revenues of around £220billion last year and provided health coverage for more than 50 million in America’s for-profit system. Yet the company has faced criticism over denying policyholders’ claims. Earlier this year, 11 protesters were arrested outside the firm’s Minnesota headquarters protesting over alleged improper insurance denials. On December 4, at 6.45am, Brian strolled towards the Hilton Hotel close to New York’s famous Times Square where he was due to give a talk to investors and analysts. Emerging from the shadows, a masked figure in black raised a 9mm handgun with a silencer and unleashed a fatal volley of shots. The murderer escaped on an ebike via nearby Central Park. Three bullet casings found at the crime scene were engraved with the words “deny” “depose” and “defend”. They echoed the phrase “delay, deny, defend” used to describe allegations levelled at insurers who avoid payouts. Cops scoured CCTV while police dogs , drones and divers searched Central Park and its lake. Detectives were hopeful of retrieving DNA from a water bottle discarded at the murder scene. Police managed to retrieve CCTV images of the suspect — one when he removed his mask while flirting with a receptionist at a Manhattan hostel — and another from inside a cab. We just didn’t even think twice about it. We knew that was our guy They showed a young man with dark eyebrows and lean, angular face. For all the police’s forensic work, it was a tip off from the public that led them to arrest Mangione after allegedly five days on the run. Rookie cop Tyler Frye — on the beat for six months — was called to a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania by a staff member. Frye said: “We just didn’t even think twice about it. We knew that was our guy.” Officers say they discovered Mangione with fake ID, a gun similar to the one seen in CCTV footage of the killing and a manifesto lambasting the healthcare industry. The 262-word handwritten note condemned firms that “continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.” Mangione’s note added: “To save you a lengthy investigation , I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone. "These parasites had it coming. I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done.” The firearm that Mangione was allegedly carrying was an unlicensed “ghost gun”, possibly produced by a 3D printer. On Monday he was charged with murder. The events this week are a lifetime away from Mangione’s childhood in Maryland. Brought up in a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Baltimore, his Italian-American family are well-known in the community. Grandfather Nicholas Mangione Sr, the son of Sicilian immigrants, worked in real estate, developing a 1,000-acre golf club. He also owned two hotels, seven nursing homes and two talk radio shows. The suspect’s father Louis, 71, owns a nursing home company and his mother Kathleen, 60, runs a boutique travel business. The suspect has two elder sisters, MariaSanta, 34, a doctor, and Lucia, 32, who is an artist. His cousin Nino Mangione, 37, is a Republican Maryland lawmaker. Thomas J. Maronick Jr, a lawyer and radio host who knows the family, said Luigi Mangione was “just the last person you would suspect.” To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone He added: “It is just such a well-respected family and such a prominent family in Baltimore County.” Mangione graduated from Baltimore’s prestigious Gilman School with the highest grades of his year. In his 2016 graduation speech, he described his class as “coming up with new ideas and challenging the world around it.” He politely thanked parents in the audience for sending him and his classmates to the school, which he described as “far from a small financial investment.” Tuition fees are around £30,000 a year. A tech geek, Magione went on to the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania to study computer science. After college, he worked for or had internships with several tech companies. In 2022, Magione had set up home in a “co-living” space in Honolulu, Hawaii, called Surfbreak that caters to remote workers. Its founder RJ Martin said: “We look for people who are looking to give back. And he fit the bill .” RJ added that Mangione was suffering from a painful back problem that meant it “wasn’t possible” for him to have sex. Mangione left Hawaii after six months to return to the East Coast, telling RJ he was planning to see his doctor. The alleged assassin would return to Hawaii in summer of 2023. In August of that year, RJ sent Mangione a text asking how he was doing. In reply he sent back pictures of his back surgery. RJ revealed: “It looked heinous, with just giant screws going into his spine.” Asked how he was feeling, Mangione replied: “So, long story.” The pair last communicated in April, after which RJ’s texts remained unanswered. A social media post for Mangione from another friend in October said: “Nobody has heard from you in months.” His family reported him missing in November. A star is born Meanwhile, Mangione’s Good Reads had also plugged a book called, Crooked: Outwitting The Back Pain Industry And Getting On The Road To Recovery. Detectives will examine whether the physical and mental anguish wracking the young man led him to kill an innocent father. Astonishingly, some have treated the alleged cold-blooded killer as an anti-capitalist champion. British actress Jameela Jamil , 38, wrote on Instagram beneath images of Mangione, including one of him hiking shirtless: “A star is born.” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro insisted: “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero. “I understand people have real frustration with our healthcare system, and I have worked to address that throughout my career. “But I have no tolerance, nor should anyone, for one man using an illegal ghost gun to murder someone because he thinks his opinion matters most.” BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing. Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far. Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan. Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter. The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin. 11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out. 12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot. 2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by. December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports. 8 am - Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there. 11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured. He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation. Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting. December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. December 9 - Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a "strong person of interest" at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson's murder.
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A brewery is looking to open its first pub in York in 2025. The move follows a dramatic 2024, which saw the Ainsty Ales brewery gain new owners under a new company structure at the end of last January. The brewery at Acaster Malbis had been formed in 2014 by Andy Herrington, but like many breweries in the industry, had suffered financial difficulties following the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. A new consortium of owners took over the operations including local business owners Nick Ivel, Jon Greenwood, Sean Wilkinson, Ian Walker and Dave Smith. Managing the business, and also becoming shareholders, were husband and wife team and long-serving publicans Stuart and Lyndsay Weston, who previously ran the Inn on the Green in Acomb, and before that, the Knavesmire in Albemarle Road. Jon Greenwood told the Press: “We are just local lads trying to save a local brewery.” However, Jon, a former racing driver and former director of commercial services at the University of York, admits it has been “a big learning curve.” The initial plan was Andy Herrington would stay with the brewery but after a few months, he left to work for the Eboracum security company in marketing and business development. The consortium, who invested six-figures to take over Ainsty Ales, from the liquidators, say they found they inherited bills to pay to ‘keep good faith’ with suppliers. This meant they had to make a second cash injection to “keep us ahead,” Jon explained. “We kept all of our customers and with some we have expanded. We have picked up more business from Thor’s Tipi, who are based over the road in Acaster Malbis.” Pubs remained on board with the new owners and new company and the Golden Ball in York returned to stock its ales. Over nine months the consortium managed to ‘take control’ of the business, streamlining processes and “got costs down,” Jon explained. Stuart continued as Head Brewer and Jon praised him, saying: “He’s fantastic. He’s supermotivated.” Jon admits that wasn’t a real ale drinker at first, originally preferring Guiness, but as a convert to the joys of real ale, says “our beers are great.” Other staff stayed with the business as did the ales, with a special beer also launched for Christmas. Looking ahead to 2025, Jon says the brewery plans to open its first pub in York next year. He said: “We have put a bid in for one and a tender for the other. We will get one or the other in York. It will be our first direct to customer outlet, a tap room to sell direct - the profitable part of the industry.” This will add to the existing tap sessions at the brewery in Acaster Malbis, which take place all-year-round, every Friday from 3pm to 9pm. “Our directors turn up and meet and greet customers. We always have food. It’s a good craic.” Jon says the business has now ‘stabilised’ and for the first time in years has achieved break-even and it has renewed its lease on the Acaster Malbis premises. He added: “Everything has come around but it’s taken a lot of time and patience. We look forward with optimism to 2025.”Century-old series resumes as South Carolina hosts Presbyterian
Spotify Removes Sexually Explicit Material From Search Results Following User Complaints About Porn VideosNancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes for Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 Today’s Birthday (12/30/24). Your work, energy and health flower this year. Connect and communicate for community support. Professional changes motivate educational adventures this spring. Tackle domestic repairs this summer. Connect, network and share next autumn. Adapt winter investigations for new conditions. Do what you love to grow. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — This New Moon illuminates career opportunities. Develop interesting projects over the next two weeks. Pursue exciting possibilities. Your professional status and influence rise. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Educational opportunities arise after tonight’s New Moon. The next two-week phase favors study, investigation and exploration. Consider new perspectives. Make connections, contributions and discoveries. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Find creative ways to grow your family nest egg. A lucrative two-week phase dawns with tonight’s New Moon. Launch valuable initiatives with your partner. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Collaboration comes naturally, especially over two weeks following tonight’s Capricorn New Moon. You’re on the same wavelength. Take your partnership to the next level. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Energize your physical moves. This New Moon initiates two weeks of strengthening work and health. Put your heart into your actions. Practice makes perfect. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy yourself. Stir up some romance. The New Moon begins a two-week family, fun and passion phase. Get creative. It’s all for love. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Realize domestic visions with upgrades over a two-week New Moon phase. Get creative. Improve the beauty and functionality of your home. Nurture your family. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Profit through communications. Possibilities spark in conversation over this two-week New Moon phase. Creative projects flower. Express, share and connect. Write your story. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Begin a lucrative New Moon phase. Discover fresh markets and rising prosperity. Strengthen financial foundations for growth. Rake in and conserve a healthy harvest. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Pursue personal dreams. Expand talents, capacities and skills over two weeks, with the New Moon in your sign. Grow and develop. Shine your light. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Dreams seem within reach. Insights, breakthroughs and revelations sparkle under tonight’s New Moon. Enjoy a two-week creative, imaginative and organizational phase. Imagine the possibilities. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Connect shared support for big results. This New Moon phase benefits team efforts. Grow through friendships, social networks and community participation. Have fun together. Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack . For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope , visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes , or go to www.nancyblack.com . ©2024 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draft
(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
UP Assembly LoP and Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey on Monday stated that as Akhilesh Yadav announced to provide the kin of each deceased in Rs 5 lakh, the cheques will be handed over today, ANI reported. "Our national president had announced to give Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in Sambhal. We are going to Sambhal today to hand over those cheques," said Pandey. Earlier, the SP chief Yadav at the end of November announced that his party would provide compensation worth Rs 5 lakhs to the family of the deceased in Sambhal violence. Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief , took a dig at the ongoing excavation work in the state, suggesting that a Shivling might also be found at the residence of the state's Chief Minister, ANI reported. "Since the excavation work is underway, I believe that there is a Shivling at the Chief Minister's residence too... we have faith that the Shivling is there," Yadav remarked, implying that such discoveries were allegedly being overly dramatized for political purposes. He further stated, "We should all prepare for its excavation... The media should go first, and we will join after that." Meanwhile, Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) Dr Rajender Pensiya announced on Saturday the start of restoration and reconstruction work at Sambhal's . As per ANI, he stated that the Municipal Council has started the work of restoration and reconstruction of the well. Under this, we have visited here, so we will preserve all the wells ourselves and we will get a budget from the government for all the pilgrimage sites. He further said that the funds for the restoration were being provided by the government as part of efforts to preserve historical and religious sites in the region. In line with this initiative, he revealed that the district had also received funds under the "Vandan Yojana for the Yam Tirtha", also known as Yamghant Tirtha, ANI reported. Work is currently underway to build a police post in the empty ground near Jama Masjid in UP's Sambhal amid the violence that erupted last month during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque, , ANI cited. The construction for the new police outpost has begun in Sambhal with the Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed to ensure security. This development comes following the recent violence in the area, resulting in casualties, and aims to strengthen security and prevent further unrest. (With ANI inputs)
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — For Gaza’s women, the hardships of life in the territory’s sprawling tent camps are compounded by the daily humiliation of never having privacy. Women struggle to dress modestly while crowded into tents with extended family members, including men, and with strangers only steps away in neighboring tents. Access to menstrual products is limited, so they cut up sheets or old clothes to use as pads. Makeshift toilets usually consist of only a hole in the sand surrounded by sheets dangling from a line, and these must be shared with dozens of other people. Alaa Hamami has dealt with the modesty issue by constantly wearing her prayer shawl, a black cloth that covers her head and upper body. “Our whole lives have become prayer clothes, even to the market we wear it,” said the young mother of three. “Dignity is gone.” Normally, she would wear the shawl only when performing her daily Muslim prayers. But with so many men around, she keeps it on all the time, even when sleeping — just in case an Israeli strike hits nearby in the night and she has to flee quickly, she said. Israel’s 14-month-old campaign in Gaza has driven more than 90% of its 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of them are now living in squalid camps of tents packed close together over large areas. Sewage runs into the streets , and food and water are hard to obtain. Winter is setting in. Families often wear the same clothes for weeks because they left clothing and many other belongings behind as they fled. Everyone in the camps searches daily for food, clean water and firewood. Women feel constantly exposed. Gaza has always been a conservative society. Most women wear the hijab, or head scarf, in the presence of men who are not immediate family. Matters of women’s health — pregnancy, menstruation and contraception — tend not to be discussed publicly. “Before we had a roof. Here it does not exist,” said Hamami, whose prayer shawl is torn and smudged with ash from cooking fires. “Here our entire lives have become exposed to the public. There is no privacy for women.” Wafaa Nasrallah, a displaced mother of two, says life in the camps makes even the simplest needs difficult, like getting period pads, which she cannot afford. She tried using pieces of cloth and even diapers, which have also increased in price. For a bathroom, she has a hole in the ground, surrounded by blankets propped up by sticks. The U.N. says more than 690,000 women and girls in Gaza require menstrual hygiene products, as well as clean water and toilets. Aid workers have been unable to meet demand, with supplies piling up at crossings from Israel. Stocks of hygiene kits have run out, and prices are exorbitant. Many women have to choose between buying pads and buying food and water. Doaa Hellis, a mother of three living in a camp, said she has torn up her old clothes to use for menstrual pads. “Wherever we find fabric, we tear it up and use it.” A packet of pads costs 45 shekels ($12), “and there is not even five shekels in the whole tent,” she said. Anera, a rights group active in Gaza, says some women use birth control pills to halt their periods. Others have experienced disruptions in their cycles because of the stress and trauma of repeated displacement. The terrible conditions pose real risks to women’s health, said Amal Seyam, the director of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, which provides supplies for women and surveys them about their experiences. She said some women have not changed clothes for 40 days. That and improvised cloth pads “will certainly create” skin diseases, diseases related to reproductive health and psychological conditions, she said. “Imagine what a woman in Gaza feels like, if she’s unable to control conditions related to hygiene and menstrual cycles,” Seyam said. Hellis remembered a time not so long ago, when being a woman felt more like a joy and less like a burden. “Women are now deprived of everything, no clothes, no bathroom. Their psychology is completely destroyed,” she said. Seyam said the center has tracked cases where girls have been married younger, before the age of 18, to escape the suffocating environment of their family’s tents. The war will “continue to cause a humanitarian disaster in every sense of the word. And women always pay the biggest price,” she said. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Its count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its assault in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others. With large swaths of Gaza’s cities and towns leveled, women wrestle with reduced lives in their tents. Hamami can walk the length of her small tent in a few strides. She shares it with 13 other people from her extended family. During the war, she gave birth to a son, Ahmed, who is now 8 months old. Between caring for him and her two other children, washing her family’s laundry, cooking and waiting in line for water, she says there’s no time to care for herself. She has a few objects that remind her of what her life once was, including a powder compact she brought with her when she fled her home in the Shati camp of Gaza City. The makeup is now caked and crumbling. She managed to keep hold of a small mirror through four different displacements over the past year. It’s broken into two shards that she holds together every so often to catch a glimpse of her reflection. “Previously, I had a wardrobe that contained everything I could wish for,” she said. “We used to go out for a walk every day, go to wedding parties, go to parks, to malls, to buy everything we wanted." Women “lost their being and everything in this war," she said. "Women used to take care of themselves before the war. Now everything is destroyed.” Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
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Diljit Dosanjh dedicates his Guwahati concert to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, wins internetWordle Hints, Clues And Answer Today #1290 December 30: Trying to solve today’s Wordle? Check out the simple hints and clues and solve it quickly. Wordle hints, clues and answer today #1290 December 30, 2024: Every day, a new puzzle is introduced! If you were one of the initial users, you should be aware that Wordle has had a number of changes and challenges in recent years. However, the player just needs to guess five or six letters in the really basic Wordle game. You may be able to predict the sentences right away by using the coloured tiles. Yellow indicates that the letter is in the wrong position but correct, green indicates that the letter is in the appropriate place, and grey indicates that the letter is not in the word. Using one of the previously described principles and attempting to predict the future development of the problem is adequate. Remember that there may be up to six options for the word of the day. However, there are some situations when a lengthy decision-making process is beneficial. By following these guidelines and suggestions, you can select the word of the day rather than the standard response. Wordle Hints Today, December 30, 2024 Wordle #1290’s word of the day was chosen because it has the ability to halt your run. However, we may occasionally mislead others even when we talk appropriately. Additionally, it makes use of the letter repetition feature. Don’t worry, though; you may adhere to these rules: – The word has two vowels. – It starts with the letter ‘S’. – There are no repeated letters. – The third letter is ‘A’. – Here’s a clue: To look at something or someone fixedly with wide-open eyes, often for a prolonged time. Are you still having trouble identifying the issue? The final piece of advice may have a significant effect. Don’t pull out just yet if you’re close and only need one or two letters. The solution is given below. Wordle answer for puzzle #1290, December 30, 2024 You can now scroll away if you would want to give it one last attempt. But as you wait for your guess to be confirmed, here’s the word you’re looking for: Today’s Wordle answer is “STARE.” Did you figure it out by yourself? You probably understood this one easily. Stay tuned and return tomorrow for more details on how to finish the Wordle challenge. Click for more latest Gaming news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Pragya is an accomplished journalist known for in-depth reporting and a keen eye for detail. Delivers insightful and well-researched content that informs and engages readers.Rejecting the demand of the leaders of the ruling National Conference, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sunday released the unchanged list of holidays for the year 2025. National Conference leaders including Ministers have demanded the restoration of holiday on the birth anniversary of the party's founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. There is no holiday on December 5 in the list of holidays issued by the General Administration Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government. December 5 is the birthday of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was the founder of the ruling National Conference. According to the list of holidays issued by the GAD in a Government Order No.2193-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated 29.12.2024, 28 holidays to be observed in across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2025. Furthermore, four holidays are to be observed in Kashmir province and three in Jammu province. Seven are the local holidays to be observed in different districts across the year and four are the restricted holidays. Ohhh 5 Dec is not in the list..., pic.twitter.com/m3QesQBdDp Notable this year, after the formation of a popular government, the National Conference leaders including ministers have raised their concerns over the omission of December 5 as a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir. Some ministers have announced that the holiday would be reinstated. "There will be no financial burden on the J&K government if a holiday is declared on Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary. It would be a gesture of respect to the founder of the NC, whose decisions made J&K the crown of India. From next year, December 5 will definitely be a public holiday as we have understood the people's sentiment," a minister said while addressing the media. Following the abrogation of J&K's special status in 2019, the administration had removed two public holidays: December 5, Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary, and July 13, which commemorated the deaths of protesters killed by the forces of the princely state in 1931. Sheikh Abdullah, born on December 5, 1905, in the Soura area of Srinagar, was a pivotal figure in shaping the socio-political landscape of the erstwhile state. Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary dropped from public holidays list in 2020 In 2020 The Jammu and Kashmir administration had dropped ex-chief minister Sheikh Abdullah's birth anniversary from its list of public holidays and included October 26 which is observed as 'Accession Day' figures in it. On October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession which was duly accepted and signed a day later by Lord Mountbatten, the then Governor General of India. List of holidays in 2025. The list of holidays for 2025 includes Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Birthday (January 6), Republic Day (January 26), Shab-i-Miraj (January 27), Mahashivratri (February 26), Nauroz (March 21), Shab-i-Qadr (March 27), Jumat-ul-Vida (March 28), Navratra (March 30), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 31), Ramanavami (April 6), Baisakhi (April 13), the Birthday of Dr B.R. Ambedkar (April 14), Buddha Purnima (May 12), Eid-ul-Azha (June 7-8), Guru Hargobind Ji's Birthday (July 5), Ashoora (July 6), Independence Day (August 15), Janmashtami (August 16), Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi (September 5), the Friday following Eid-i-Milad (September 12), the Birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji (September 23), Mahanavami (October 1), Dussehra (October 2), Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (October 2), Diwali (October 21), Accession Day (October 26), Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday (November 5), and Christmas Day (December 25). 2024: A Milestone Year for Democracy in J&K, First Popular Government Established in UT. "Reimagining Jammu and Kashmir" is a visual masterpiece of resilience and progress, a must read Reservation Row in J&K: Why is BJP, Congress Silent Amid Rising Demand for Rationalization