Food raids in Telangana: Snacks worth over Rs 60K seized, license suspendedFlash demonstrations intended to spread fear and anxiety are happening almost weekly, say experts. WASHINGTON - A neo-Nazi group scattered flyers across lawns and doorsteps in three Waterloo, Iowa, neighborhoods just before Veterans Day. The handouts offered a chilling assessment of the group’s proximity, in capital letters: “We are your neighbors! We are the random stranger holding the door open for you!”, it read. “We are everywhere.” About a week later, about a dozen people marched through a part of Columbus, Ohio, that is known for arts and culture, carrying Nazi flags and using a bullhorn to shout racial slurs against Jews and people of color. A similar scene unfolded in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, over the summer. Flash displays of hate and white power are happening more frequently in the United States, a trend that experts say is a reaction to changing demographics, political turmoil and social catalysts. More than 750 such incidents have taken place since 2020, according to the Anti-Defamation League, with more than half of them occurring in the last 18 months. National experts describe a familiar pattern: small groups of mostly masked men chant and wave swastika or white power flags in public and yell racial slurs at targets as varied as immigrants, Black people, Jews and LGBTQ+ people. They unfurl offensive banners over highways or post racist flyers in communities. The demonstrations are typically captured on video and ricochet across social media to large audiences. The league’s Center on Extremism counted 282 events organised or attended by white supremacists in 2023, a 63 per cent increase from the 173 recorded in 2022. And in 2024, from about Memorial Day to Labour Day, there were 64 white supremacist activities in 25 states, the center said. Those included “fight nights” and mixed-martial-arts-style events held for supporters to socialise, recruit members and raise money, according to the Anti-Defamation League. “It’s just that common,” said Mr Oren Segal, vice-president of the Center on Extremism. “Flash demonstrations, whether there are six people or 12 or 40, are designed to create fear and anxiety in a community, and they happen almost every single week.” In 2023, for the second consecutive year, the center recorded a new high in white supremacist propaganda incidents – which include distribution of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ flyers, banners, graffiti and posters – with a total of 7,567 cases. That figure represents a 12 per cent increase from the 6,746 incidents in 2022. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 15: The Ministry of Finance has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to focus on digital transformation, the development of financial and administrative systems, training, and the integration of artificial intelligence. In a press statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that the MoU was signed in Seattle, USA, by Aseel Al-Munifi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Angela Hayes, Microsoft's Executive Vice President for the Public Sector. The MoU outlines a schedule for developing financial systems and services, aiming to accelerate the digital transformation process by utilizing the latest global technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and cloud services. This agreement aligns with the Ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance its financial systems and improve services for government agencies. Microsoft has expressed its full commitment to providing the necessary technical support to help the Ministry achieve its goals. During the visit, Al-Munifi met with Kirk Arthur, Microsoft's Director of Business Strategies for the Government Sector, who outlined the steps Microsoft has taken in its partnerships with government agencies worldwide. The Ministry of Finance also revealed that joint workshops will be held between the Ministry and Microsoft's team to develop a cooperation plan. These workshops will define the necessary steps to achieve the Ministry's objectives for each program and identify the expertise required from Microsoft to provide technical support, implement the plans, and address any challenges within a clear and specific timeline.Putin claims Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that the West can't stopTulsa fires coach Kevin Wilson a day after blowout loss to South Florida
1 2 3 4 5 6 Patna: As temperatures plummet and a chilly winter settles over the city, sales of heating appliances such as geysers, blowers and heaters are surging. Local traders anticipate this upward trend to persist through December and January, driven by the growing need for warmth and comfort. "Demand for winter appliances is encouraging this year," said Kundan Kumar, manager of a prominent electronics showroom. "We have seen a 15% increase in geyser sales across various categories compared to last year. Domestic buyers particularly favour geysers with capacities between 10 to 25 litres, priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000." Kumar said geysers in the market range from 3 litres for basic use to 100 litres for commercial purposes with prices ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 30,000. High-end products are also gaining traction, especially among health-conscious customers. "Oil heaters, which use OFR (oil-filled radiators) technology, are becoming popular," Kumar said. "These heaters operate with diathermic oil to transfer heat, ensuring they don't burn oxygen or deplete room humidity," he added. With prices ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000, oil heaters are considered a superior alternative to traditional electric blowers, which cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000. Adding to the excitement is the rising demand for hot-and-cold air conditioners — versatile appliances that cater to both summer and winter needs. "These ACs have seen a 50% increase in demand recently," Kumar said. "Priced between Rs 45,000 and Rs 70,000, they offer the dual advantage of cooling in summer and heating in winter, making them a smart investment for extreme weather conditions," he added.Senator Ted Cruz facing deadline to pass bill protecting victims of deepfake pornography
Trump goes quiet about how he will separate his presidency from his businesses
NoneAnother year is coming to a close. As we say goodbye to 2024, let us take a moment to remember the tech that won't be continuing on with us into 2025. As it goes with the passing of time, tech products that were once shiny and new have been rendered obsolete. Others lived short lives at the expense of companies pivoting to different, more lucrative goals. On that note, the generative AI boom shows no signs of slowing down.This year's AI offerings highlighted the challenges of finding killer use cases that deliver genuine, transformative technology that, at best, provide minor productivity gains and, at worst, create frustrating inaccuracies. Some AI tech gadgets like the Humane AI pin and the Rabbit R1 simply fell flat , unable to provide the bare minimum of reliable features, let alone something revolutionary. However, you won't see them on this list because they're technically still alive, albeit on life support. Instead we've rounded up the most noteworthy tech deaths that have officially departed this world. Join us as we look back and reflect on their impact, whether it was significant, trivial, or downright baffling (looking at you, Meta). Google Jamboard and Google Podcasts It wouldn't be a tech death roundup without some entries from Google. The tech giant is notorious for ambitiously launching new products, only to ruthlessly cut them down a few years later. This year, Google Jamboard and Google Podcasts were on the chopping block. Google Jamboard was a whiteboard device and accompanying app for Google Workspace users to collaborate on projects in an interactive, scrapbook-esque way. Back in 2016, Mashable said it "makes collaborative work feel like playtime." But in September 2023, Google announced it would be winding down Jamboard by the end of 2024. Instead, Google said it would integrate Google Workspace with third-party partners FigJam by Figma , Lucidspark by Lucid Software , and the visual workspace Miro for its collaborative whiteboard tools. Say goodbye to Google Jamboard. It's not proper to speak ill of the dead, but discontinuing Google Podcasts kind of makes sense. Google announced it would be sunsetting the standalone podcast-hosting app this year and migrate its listeners over to YouTube Music. It's a logical choice given consumers' listening habits. "According to Edison, about 23 percent of weekly podcast users in the US say YouTube is their most frequently used service, versus just 4 percent for Google Podcasts," said the Google announcement. Plus, forcing users to listen to podcasts on YouTube Music means more eyeballs for ad revenue and subscriptions to the premium version, which costs $11 a month. And that's not even all the stuff Google killed this year. In 2024, we also said goodbye to Chromecast, VPN by Google One, DropCam, and Keen. If you want to pay your respects, we recommend visiting the Google Graveyard . Meta AI celebrity avatars Another year, another installment of Meta missing the mark with technology that no one asked for . This time it was a confusing collection of AI personas that used the likenesses of celebrities, that weren't even AI versions of those celebrities. Instead we got Kendall Jenner as an AI bestie, Tom Brady as a fitness guru, and bafflingly, Snoop Dogg as a Dungeon Master for Dungeons and Dragons. Meta's confusing AI personas were not long for this world. Despite reportedly paying millions of dollars per celebrity to license their likenesses, the investment did not pay off. After launching at Meta Connect in September 2023, Meta scrapped the AI personas in August 2024. The company didn't provide any reasoning for its decision to discontinue the feature, but the AI personas never gained much traction based on their follower count. So you're no longer able to chat with a bot that has Kendall Jenner as its profile picture and a vaguely similar influencer girly vibe. But don't worry, we still have Meta AI's celebrity voices, so at least these AI voices are clones of who they claim to be? As ever, we remain confused with Meta's strategic vision. Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro Old versions replaced by new and improved ones are part of the tech gadget lifecycle. But saying goodbye to the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro VR headsets was a tough loss. In its place, Meta introduced us to the Quest 3S, which combines Quest 2 and Quest Pro specs like full-color passthrough and XR capabilities, thereby making the older devices more or less obsolete. In a stirring eulogy, Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry wrote: The Meta Quest 2 was one of the best early VR headsets. Alas, such is the cycle of life. But the Quest 2 and Quest Pro will be remembered for bringing VR headsets to the masses, which is more than can be said for the Apple Vision Pro . Kindle Oasis As far as e-readers go, the Kindle Oasis had a good long life. Amazon launched the Kindle Oasis in 2016 with a thicker edge on one side that housed physical buttons to turn the pages. The design gave users a convenient way to hold the e-reader without obscuring or accidentally tapping the screen, and the buttons provided a pleasing tactility. But by this year, it was the only device in the Kindle lineup that had physical buttons, which seems to signal imminent death for tech gadgets. "Once current inventory of Kindle Oasis sells out online and in stores, we will not restock the device," Amazon confirmed to The Verge this October. "Today, all of our devices are touch-forward, which is what our customers are comfortable with." Kindle Oasis fans will miss the buttons. Kindle Oasis users took to Reddit to express their grief. "Bought my Oasis when it was released solely for the page turn buttons and can't imagine living without them," said one Redditor. "I'm just not buying another Kindle without page turn buttons. It's a deal breaker for me," said another . But for Amazon. it's RIP buttons. Long live touch screens. Jabra Elite earbuds This was the year Jabra succumbed to the highly competitive earbud market. This past June, Jabra's parent company GN announced that it would be "winding down its Elite and Talk product lines." Jabra's lineup of Elite wireless earbuds regularly made "best of" lists for sound quality, usability, and features like noise cancellation. They were also more budget-friendly compared to premium earbuds from brands like Apple and Bose. Jabra can no longer compete in the cutthroat earbud market. Jabra was one of the first companies to start making wireless earbuds. But as CEO of GN Store Nord Peter Karlstromer said, "the markets... have changed over time." Simply put, competing in a saturated market has become too costly. However, Jabra isn't going away for good. Instead it will focus on OTC hearing aids, gaming, and office communication products lines; markets where Jabra has stronger positions. But it's the end of the line for Jabra's consumer-focused audio tech. Apple Pay Later Apple Pay Later didn't last long in this world. The BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) tool launched in October 2023, but was shut down less than a year later. Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac saying "we will no longer offer Apple Pay Later in the U.S." Instead of Apple Pay Later, the tech giant will offer installment loans through third parties. Apple Pay Later was only available in the U.S., which suggests it never gained much traction. But it's likely that the company found it more practical to offer installment loans through third-party services rather than managing microloans directly — exactly the approach Apple has recently adopted. Instead of the self-funded Pay Later model, Apple now offers the ability to apply for "installment loans" through participating banks and lenders like Affirm and Klarna. So Apply Pay Later is dead, but its replacement is more or less the same for users.JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel unleashed its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people on Monday after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles as a warning over what it said were Israeli truce violations . The projectiles were apparently the first time that Hezbollah took aim at Israeli forces after the 60-day ceasefire went into effect last Wednesday. The increasingly fragile truce aimed to end more than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel — part of a wider regional conflict sparked by the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza . In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant Hamas group in Gaza, saying on social media that if they are not freed before he takes office in January there would be “HELL TO PAY.” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The U.S. has given Israel crucial military and diplomatic support throughout the nearly 15-month conflict. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Haris killed five people and wounded two while another airstrike on the village of Tallousa killed four and also wounded two. Israel's military carried out a string of airstrikes late Monday against what it said were Hezbollah fighters, infrastructure and rocket launchers across Lebanon, in response to Hezbollah firing two projectiles toward Mount Dov — a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” Before the Hezbollah projectiles, Israeli carried out at least four airstrikes and an artillery barrage in southern Lebanon, including a drone strike that killed a person on a motorcycle, according to Lebanese state media. Another strike killed a corporal in the Lebanese security services. Israel has said its strikes are in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the ceasefire deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days by launching airstrikes, demolishing homes near the border and violating Lebanon's airspace. Officials in the U.S. — which along with France helped broker the truce and heads a commission meant to monitor adherence to the deal — played down the significance of Israeli strikes. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, “Largely speaking, the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from dozens of strikes down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told reporters, referring to Israeli strikes. “We’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero.” Under the deal, Iran-backed Hezbollah has 60 days to withdraw its fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon. During that time, Israeli troops are also to withdraw to their side of the border. In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump called for Palestinian militants to free all of the roughly 100 Israeli hostages still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds of whom are believed to be alive. If not, Trump said, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” Hours earlier, the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. The Biden administration is mounting a last-ditch effort to try to restart talks between Israel and Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on Trump's post though President Isaac Herzog welcomed it. In Gaza, meanwhile, alarm is mounting over increasing hunger. The amount of food allowed in by Israel has plunged over the past two months, compounded by a decision Sunday by the United Nations to halt aid deliveries from the main crossing into the territory because of the threat of armed gangs looting convoys. Experts have already warned of famine in the northernmost part of Gaza , which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October, saying they're fighting regrouped Hamas militants there. Displaced families have set up tents surrounded by piles of garbage on the streets of Gaza City. Bilal Marouf, 55, said he and 11 family members fled the Israeli offensive “barefoot and naked.” “We had nothing. Hunger and thirst killed us, and we did not have a single shekel, nor clothes, nor a mattress, nor a blanket,” he said, speaking near his tent. Israel’s campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, has driven almost the entire population of the territory from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians now live in squalid tent camps, relying on international aid. The Israeli military said it allowed 40 trucks carrying 600 tons of flour for the World Food Program to enter the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday night, as well as 16 other food trucks. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid. November saw an increase in the average number of humanitarian trucks it let into Gaza, up to 77 daily from 57 the month before, according to official Israeli figures. But the levels are still nearly the lowest of the entire 15-month war. And the U.N. says less than half of that actually reaches Palestinians because Israeli military restrictions, fighting and robberies make it too dangerous to deliver the aid. The World Food Program was able to only deliver aid to some 300,000 Palestinians in November across the Gaza Strip due to ongoing Israeli military offensives and the looting of convoys, Carl Skau, WFP’s deputy executive director, said Monday. In a tent camp in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, Palestinians lined up at makeshift mud ovens trying to buy a few loaves of flatbread for their families. With the price of flour mounting because of scarcity, the bakers — women displaced from further north — said they could bake less bread, and families could afford far less. “They divide them to their children, one loaf every day,” said one woman baker, Wafaa al-Attar. Abou AlJoud reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Fatma Khalid in Cairo contributed to this report. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-warsSunday, December 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia has cemented its position as a rising global hub for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) industry with a groundbreaking announcement at the International M.I.C.E. Summit 2024 (IMS24). On the very first day of the summit, an astonishing Nineteen major events were confirmed for 2025, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead the world in large-scale business events and exhibitions. This strategic move underscores the Kingdom’s vision to diversify its economy, boost tourism, and solidify its status as a premier destination for global events. The International M.I.C.E. Summit (IMS24) has made an extraordinary impact on the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) industry. On an action-packed opening day, the summit unveiled Nineteen pivotal announcements aimed at establishing Saudi Arabia as a global powerhouse for events and exhibitions. This transformational move aligns with the Kingdom’s ambitious plans for sectoral growth over the next decade. Global Industry Leaders Expand Their Footprint in Saudi Arabia Multi-billion-dollar event giants RX Global, Messe Munich, and Clarion announced the establishment of new offices in Saudi Arabia. This strategic expansion supports the Kingdom’s vision of becoming a key player in the M.I.C.E. sector. With dedicated offices, these companies aim to facilitate the launch and management of large-scale global exhibitions and conferences, signaling Saudi Arabia’s surging appeal as a major event destination. Twelve Major Global Events to Launch in Saudi Arabia A highlight of IMS24 was the announcement of 12 new world-class events that will be hosted in Saudi Arabia. These events span diverse sectors, bringing a mix of high-profile business, technology, sports, and industry exhibitions to the Kingdom. Notable launches include Money20/20 (Informa/Tahaluf), the globally acclaimed fintech event, and FIBO (RX Global), the world’s largest fitness and wellness exhibition. Other prestigious events making their debut in Saudi Arabia include the World Refining Technology Congress, Advanced Therapies Week, and the Fire Department and Emergency Services Conference (Clarion). Industry-defining exhibitions such as the FSB Sports Show, International Hardware Show (Koelnmesse/DMG), and HOST (Fiera Milano) will also debut, with the addition of ArabLab (Terrapin), Saudi Muscle Show (Italian Exhibition Group), World Industrial Materials, and the World Advanced Packaging, Printing & Plastics (KAOUN). These landmark exhibitions reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a global hub for major events. The influx of international events is set to drive employment, boost tourism, and attract foreign investment. “The first day of the International M.I.C.E. Summit has been a tremendous success with three of the top 10 global Professional Event Organizers opening offices in Saudi Arabia, 12 new event launches, and multiple agreements signed to drive industry progress, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s status as the most exciting M.I.C.E. hub globally,” said His Excellency Fahd Al Rasheed, Chairman of the Summit’s host the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA). “Moreover, these announcements underscore the importance of the events and exhibitions industry as a catalyst for transformation, connecting people to opportunities in line with the goals of Vision 2030. IMS24 is driving investment opportunities and new partnerships across all sectors of the economy,” HE Al Rasheed added. Strategic Partnerships with Leading Saudi Entities IMS24 also witnessed the signing of four key Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with prominent Saudi authorities. These agreements are designed to bolster the M.I.C.E. sector’s infrastructure, support workforce development, and increase foreign investment. The four MOUs were signed with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Events Investment Fund, and the National Events Center. These partnerships aim to foster collaboration, create job opportunities, and position Saudi Arabia as a preferred global destination for large-scale exhibitions and conferences. The agreements mark a critical step in the Kingdom’s long-term strategy to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. Global Leaders and Industry Experts Take Center Stage Day One of IMS24 featured a high-profile lineup of influential speakers, offering powerful perspectives on the growth and future of Saudi Arabia’s M.I.C.E. sector. Leading the charge was HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, who was joined by former Prime Ministers and Ministers from the United Kingdom, Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece. The summit also featured senior leaders from globally renowned organizations such as the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Executives from leading event management firms like Informa, RX Global, Messe Munich, Clarion Events, and Messe Düsseldorf contributed valuable insights into the M.I.C.E. industry’s future. These discussions highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on the global M.I.C.E. stage and emphasized its potential as a preferred destination for high-profile global events. IMS24 Looks to the Future of M.I.C.E. Industry Growth As the inaugural IMS24 summit continues into Day Two, the focus shifts to future opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s M.I.C.E. sector. Key discussions will revolve around investment in M.I.C.E. infrastructure, the development of cutting-edge event venues, and the importance of global sustainability in the events industry. With more than 1,000 global M.I.C.E. industry leaders from over 70 countries in attendance, IMS24 serves as a dynamic platform for industry transformation. Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans are clear — to lead the global M.I.C.E. industry with world-class infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and a robust event calendar filled with industry-leading exhibitions. IMS24 has marked a turning point for Saudi Arabia’s M.I.C.E. sector, delivering nineteen powerful announcements that signal a future filled with growth, opportunity, and industry leadership. From securing marquee global events to establishing new offices for international event giants, the summit underscores the Kingdom’s rising influence on the world stage. As IMS24 progresses, all eyes are on Saudi Arabia’s M.I.C.E. sector as it sets a new standard for excellence in exhibitions and conferences.
Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli truce violations . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate and within hours, Israel’s military carried out its biggest wave of strikes in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike on a village killed five people, while another airstrike killed four. Israeli strikes had already killed two people on Monday before the Hezbollah attack. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, which began Wednesday. Israel says that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate for Hezbollah violations. Hezbollah began launching its attacks on Israel last year in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders says Israel “is committing war crimes & ethnic cleansing in Gaza.” The Vermont lawmaker said he agreed with a former top Israeli general and defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, who accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza , where the army has sealed off the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. “You don’t fight terrorism by starving people & killing tens of thousands of civilians,” Sanders said Monday in a post on social media. Last month, the Senate rejected attempts by Sanders to block sales of offensive weapons to Israel over mounting civilian deaths in Gaza. WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack on Nov. 12 . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-warsThe UCLA women's basketball team has upset No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 at Pauley Pavilion. This victory ends a 43 game winning streak for the Gamecocks, who had previously not lost since the 2023 NCAA Final Four, when they fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Gamecocks went undefeated and won the National Championship during the 2023-24 season. This is UCLA women's basketball's first win against an AP No. 1 team in school history. NO. 5 UCLA BEATS NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA TO WIN ITS FIRST GAME AGAINST AN AP NO. 1 TEAM IN PROGRAM HISTORY 👏 pic.twitter.com/zID7pZH3Y2 This story will be updated...
Tulsa fires coach Kevin Wilson a day after blowout loss to South Florida
HOUSTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Oilfield service companies ramped up hiring in November, adding 1,890 jobs in the sector, according to data from trade group Energy Workforce & Technology Council released on Monday. Oilfield service hiring can serve as an indicator of the health of the sector. Companies bringing on more employees could imply more drilling to come. Total jobs in the U.S. energy services sector rose to 655,630 in November, up from 654,062 in October, the data showed. In Texas, home of the prolific Permian basin which accounts for just under half of national oil production, 765 jobs were added, bringing the state's total to 319,489. President-elect Donald Trump promised voters lower fuel prices, pledging to ramp up domestic production in his "dril, baby, drill" campaign. But in practical terms, Trump cannot fully control prices . And producers broadly remain focused on capital discipline over new drilling. Sign up here. Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston; Editing by Bill Berkrot Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabThieves get a taste for cheese and butter amid surging pricesIT Support Brooklyn: Top Services to Keep Your Business Running Smoothly
Scientific advisers to the European Commission are calling for a moratorium across the EU on efforts to artificially cool Earth through solar geoengineering. That includes controversial technologies used to reflect sunlight back into space, primarily by sending reflective particles into the atmosphere or by brightening clouds. Proponents argue that this can help in the fight against climate change, especially as planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb. But small-scale experiments have triggered backlash over concerns that these technologies could do more harm than good. The European Commission asked its (GCSA) and (EGE) to write up their opinions on solar geoengineering, which were published today alongside a synthesizing what little we know about how these technologies might work. There’s “insufficient scientific evidence” to show that solar geoengineering can actually prevent climate change, says the opinion written by the GCSA. “Given the currently very high...ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Galaxy S25 Ultra leaks to Spotify Wrapped 2024Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldier and wounds 18 as Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others, the Lebanese military said. The Hezbollah militant group meanwhile fired barrages of rockets into northern and central Israel, wounding at least five people. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. The Israeli military expressed regret over the strike, saying it occurred in an area of ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah. It said it does not target the Lebanese armed forces and that the strike is under review. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.