REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Zuora, Inc. (NYSE: ZUO), a leading monetization suite for modern business, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 31, 2024. Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results: Descriptions of our non-GAAP financial measures are contained in the section titled "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below and reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are contained in the tables below. Proposed Acquisition; Conference Call and Guidance On October 17, 2024, we announced that Zuora entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, in partnership with an affiliate of GIC Pte. Ltd. (“GIC”). The transaction is valued at $1.7 billion, with Silver Lake and GIC to acquire all outstanding shares of Zuora common stock for $10.00 per share in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. Upon completion of the transaction, Zuora will become a privately held company. Given the proposed acquisition of Zuora, we will not be holding a conference call or live webcast to discuss Zuora's third quarter of fiscal 2025 financial results, we will not be providing any forward looking guidance, and we are withdrawing all previously provided goals, outlook, and guidance. Key Operational and Financial Metrics: Explanation of Key Operational and Financial Metrics: Annual Contract Value (ACV) . We define ACV as the subscription revenue we would contractually expect to recognize from a customer over the next twelve months, assuming no increases or reductions in their subscriptions. We define the number of customers at the end of any particular period as the number of parties or organizations that have entered into a distinct subscription contract with us and for which the term has not ended. Each party with whom we have entered into a distinct subscription contract is considered a unique customer, and in some cases, there may be more than one customer within a single organization. Dollar-based Retention Rate (DBRR) . We calculate DBRR as of a period end by starting with the sum of the ACV from all customers as of twelve months prior to such period end, or prior period ACV. We then calculate the sum of the ACV from these same customers as of the current period end, or current period ACV. Current period ACV includes any upsells and also reflects contraction or attrition over the trailing twelve months but excludes revenue from new customers added in the current period. We then divide the current period ACV by the prior period ACV to arrive at our dollar-based retention rate. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). ARR represents the annualized recurring value at the time of initial booking or contract modification for all active subscription contracts at the end of a reporting period. ARR excludes the value of non-recurring revenue such as professional services revenue as well as contracts with new customers with a term of less than one year. ARR should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue, and is not intended to be a substitute for, or combined with, any of these items. ARR growth is calculated by dividing the ARR as of a period end by the ARR for the corresponding period end of the prior fiscal year. Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures: In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release and the accompanying tables contain non-GAAP financial measures including: non-GAAP cost of subscription revenue; non-GAAP subscription gross margin; non-GAAP cost of professional services revenue; non-GAAP professional services gross margin; non-GAAP gross profit; non-GAAP gross margin; non-GAAP income from operations; non-GAAP operating margin; non-GAAP net income; non-GAAP net income per share; and adjusted free cash flow. The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We use non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance, including the preparation of our annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies and to communicate with our Board of Directors concerning our financial performance. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide investors consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our operating results. We also believe these non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to that of other companies in our industry, as they generally eliminate the effects of certain items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance. We exclude the following items from one or more of our non-GAAP financial measures: Additionally, we disclose "adjusted free cash flow", which is a non-GAAP measure that includes adjustments to operating cash flows for cash impacts related to Shareholder matters and Acquisition-related expenses described above, and net purchases of property and equipment. We include the impact of net purchases of property and equipment in our adjusted free cash flow calculation because we consider these capital expenditures to be a necessary component of our ongoing operations. We believe this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations excluding such expenditures that are not related to our ongoing operations. Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. The non-GAAP measures we use may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP items excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes,” “may,” “will,” “determine,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continues,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “expects,” “could,” “would,” “projects,” “plans,” “targets,” “strategy,” “likely,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding the proposed acquisition of Zuora, including the expected timing of the closing of the acquisition, and expectations for Zuora following the completion of the acquisition. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date of this filing and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in our Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2024 as well as other documents that may be filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the possibility that the closing conditions to the proposed acquisition are not satisfied (or waived), including the risk that required approvals from Zuora’s stockholders for the proposed acquisition or required regulatory approvals to consummate the acquisition are not obtained in a timely manner (or at all); the outcome of the current complaint and any potential litigation relating to the proposed acquisition; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed acquisition; the ability of each party to consummate the proposed acquisition; our ability to attract new customers and retain and expand sales to existing customers; our ability to manage our future revenue and profitability plans effectively; adoption of monetization platform software and related solutions, as well as consumer adoption of products and services that are provided through such solutions; our ability to develop and release new products and services, or successful enhancements, new features and modifications; challenges related to growing our relationships with strategic partners; loss of key employees; our ability to compete in our markets; adverse impacts on our business and financial condition due to macroeconomic or market conditions; the impact of actions to improve operational efficiencies and operating costs; our history of net losses and ability to achieve or sustain profitability; market acceptance of our products; the success of our product development efforts; risks associated with currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks associated with our debt obligations; successful deployment of our solutions by customers after entering into a subscription agreement with us; the success of our sales and product initiatives; our security measures; our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property; interruptions or performance problems; litigation and other shareholder related costs; the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and ability to integrate operations and technology of any acquired company; geopolitical conflicts or destabilizing events; other business effects, including those related to industry, market, economic, political, regulatory and global health conditions and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. We undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Important Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed acquisition, Zuora has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement in preliminary form on November 25, 2024, a definitive version of which will be mailed or otherwise provided to its stockholders. The Company and affiliates of the Company have jointly filed a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the Schedule 13E-3). Zuora may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the potential transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, ZUORA’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement, the Schedule 13E-3 and other documents that Zuora files with the SEC from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Zuora’s website at investor.zuora.com . In addition, the proxy statement, the Schedule 13E-3 and other documents filed by Zuora with the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Zuora free of charge by directing a request to Zuora’s Investor Relations at investorrelations@zuora.com . Participants in the Solicitation Zuora and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Zuora’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Zuora in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise will be set forth in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 and other materials to be filed with the SEC. You may also find additional information about Zuora’s directors and executive officers in Zuora’s proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on May 16, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting Proxy Statement”). To the extent holdings of securities by potential participants (or the identity of such participants) have changed since the information printed in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such information has been or will be reflected in Zuora’s Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3 and 4 filed with the SEC. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Zuora using the contact information above. About Zuora, Inc. Zuora provides a leading monetization suite to build, run and grow a modern business through a dynamic mix of usage-based models, subscription bundles and everything in between. From pricing and packaging, to billing, payments and revenue accounting, Zuora’s flexible, modular software platform is designed to help companies evolve monetization strategies with customer demand. More than 1,000 customers around the world, including BMC Software, Box, Caterpillar, General Motors, The New York Times, Schneider Electric and Zoom use Zuora’s leading combination of technology and expertise to turn recurring relationships and recurring revenue into recurring growth. Zuora is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in the Americas, EMEA and APAC. To learn more, please visit zuora.com . © 2024 Zuora, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Zuora, Subscribed, Subscription Economy, Powering the Subscription Economy, Subscription Economy Index, Zephr, and Subscription Experience Platform are trademarks or registered trademarks of Zuora, Inc. Third party trademarks mentioned above are owned by their respective companies. Nothing in this press release should be construed to the contrary, or as an approval, endorsement or sponsorship by any third parties of Zuora, Inc. or any aspect of this press release. SOURCE: ZUORA, INC. ZUORA, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue: Subscription $ 105,253 $ 98,048 $ 308,263 $ 283,232 Professional services 11,676 11,801 33,831 37,760 Total revenue 116,929 109,849 342,094 320,992 Cost of revenue: Subscription 1 23,954 20,378 67,207 62,304 Professional services 1 14,383 14,650 43,483 47,851 Total cost of revenue 38,337 35,028 110,690 110,155 Gross profit 78,592 74,821 231,404 210,837 Operating expenses: Research and development 1 26,833 27,504 76,853 79,428 Sales and marketing 1 36,597 40,245 108,579 124,488 General and administrative 1 26,880 15,893 71,351 54,160 Total operating expenses 90,310 83,642 256,783 258,076 Loss from operations (11,718 ) (8,821 ) (25,379 ) (47,239 ) Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities (20,174 ) 6,997 (29,115 ) 2,241 Interest expense (7,045 ) (5,610 ) (20,781 ) (14,604 ) Interest and other income (expense), net 6,505 2,272 19,988 13,639 Loss before income taxes (32,432 ) (5,162 ) (55,287 ) (45,963 ) Income tax (benefit) provision (226 ) 340 (2,152 ) 1,396 Net loss (32,206 ) (5,502 ) (53,135 ) (47,359 ) Comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation adjustment 462 (696 ) 386 (1,383 ) Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities 248 (18 ) 63 494 Comprehensive loss $ (31,496 ) $ (6,216 ) $ (52,686 ) $ (48,248 ) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.21 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.36 ) $ (0.34 ) Weighted-average shares outstanding used in calculating net loss per share, basic and diluted 152,263 141,488 149,457 138,789 (1) Stock-based compensation expense was recorded in the following cost and expense categories: Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cost of subscription revenue $ 2,331 $ 2,350 $ 6,291 $ 6,889 Cost of professional services revenue 2,598 2,747 7,359 8,997 Research and development 7,697 7,165 21,680 20,661 Sales and marketing 7,613 8,191 20,609 24,857 General and administrative 4,694 5,648 13,163 16,569 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 24,933 $ 26,101 $ 69,102 $ 77,973 ZUORA, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited) October 31, 2024 January 31, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 277,615 $ 256,065 Short-term investments 280,909 258,120 Accounts receivable, net 82,414 124,602 Deferred commissions, current portion 15,995 15,870 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 25,183 23,261 Total current assets 682,116 677,918 Property and equipment, net 27,403 25,961 Operating lease right-of-use assets 20,591 22,462 Purchased intangibles, net 23,146 10,082 Deferred commissions, net of current portion 24,941 27,250 Goodwill 73,903 56,657 Other assets 4,972 3,506 Total assets $ 857,072 $ 823,836 Liabilities and stockholders’ equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 761 $ 3,161 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 45,167 32,157 Accrued employee liabilities 29,860 37,722 Deferred revenue, current portion 177,436 199,615 Operating lease liabilities, current portion 7,030 6,760 Total current liabilities 260,254 279,415 Long-term debt 368,348 359,525 Deferred revenue, net of current portion 860 2,802 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 32,573 37,100 Deferred tax liabilities 4,066 3,725 Other long-term liabilities 6,781 7,582 Total liabilities 672,882 690,149 Stockholders’ equity: Class A common stock 15 14 Class B common stock 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 1,067,329 964,141 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (410 ) (859 ) Accumulated deficit (882,745 ) (829,610 ) Total stockholders’ equity 184,190 133,687 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 857,072 $ 823,836 ZUORA, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (53,135 ) $ (47,359 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation, amortization and accretion 14,715 13,684 Stock-based compensation 69,102 77,973 Provision for credit losses 2,117 457 Amortization of deferred commissions 13,946 14,415 Reduction in carrying amount of right-of-use assets 3,470 4,876 Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities 29,115 (2,241 ) Other (2,418 ) 2,630 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 40,149 12,476 Prepaid expenses and other assets (2,657 ) 878 Deferred commissions (12,107 ) (12,013 ) Accounts payable (2,529 ) (634 ) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 6,843 (82,904 ) Accrued employee liabilities (7,986 ) 509 Deferred revenue (24,439 ) (7,461 ) Operating lease liabilities (7,476 ) (10,962 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 66,710 (35,676 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (9,252 ) (6,913 ) Purchases of short-term investments (240,093 ) (66,665 ) Maturities of short-term investments 222,279 175,128 Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired (24,786 ) (4,524 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (51,852 ) 97,026 Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options 3,372 1,000 Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan 4,481 4,765 Payment for taxes related to net share settlement of stock options (1,547 ) — Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net of issuance costs — 145,861 Net cash provided by financing activities 6,306 151,626 Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 386 (1,383 ) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 21,550 211,593 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 256,065 203,239 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 277,615 $ 414,832 ZUORA, INC. RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (in thousands, except percentages) (unaudited) Subscription Gross Margin Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of cost of subscription revenue: GAAP cost of subscription revenue $ 23,954 $ 20,378 $ 67,207 $ 62,304 Less: Stock-based compensation (2,331 ) (2,350 ) (6,291 ) (6,889 ) Amortization of acquired intangibles (1,164 ) (607 ) (2,706 ) (2,083 ) Workforce reductions (228 ) — (796 ) (38 ) Acquisition-related expenses (12 ) — (103 ) — Asset impairment — (439 ) — (439 ) Shareholder matters — — (20 ) — Non-GAAP cost of subscription revenue $ 20,219 $ 16,982 $ 57,291 $ 52,855 GAAP subscription gross margin 77 % 79 % 78 % 78 % Non-GAAP subscription gross margin 81 % 83 % 81 % 81 % Professional Services Gross Margin Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of cost of professional services revenue: GAAP cost of professional services revenue $ 14,383 $ 14,650 $ 43,483 $ 47,851 Less: Stock-based compensation (2,598 ) (2,747 ) (7,359 ) (8,997 ) Acquisition-related expenses (22 ) — (22 ) — Shareholder matters — — (28 ) — Workforce reductions — — (5 ) (46 ) Non-GAAP cost of professional services revenue $ 11,763 $ 11,903 $ 36,069 $ 38,808 GAAP professional services gross margin (23 )% (24 )% (29 )% (27 )% Non-GAAP professional services gross margin (1 )% (1 )% (7 )% (3 )% ZUORA, INC. RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED) (in thousands, except percentages) (unaudited) Total Gross Margin Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of gross profit: GAAP gross profit $ 78,592 $ 74,821 $ 231,404 $ 210,837 Add: Stock-based compensation 4,929 5,097 13,650 15,886 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 228 — 801 84 Acquisition-related expenses 34 — 125 — Asset impairment — 439 — 439 Shareholder matters — — 48 — Non-GAAP gross profit $ 84,947 $ 80,964 $ 248,734 $ 229,329 GAAP gross margin 67 % 68 % 68 % 66 % Non-GAAP gross margin 73 % 74 % 73 % 71 % Operating (Loss) Income and Operating Margin Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of (loss) income from operations: GAAP loss from operations $ (11,718 ) $ (8,821 ) $ (25,379 ) $ (47,239 ) Add: Stock-based compensation 24,933 26,101 69,102 77,973 Acquisition-related expenses 10,299 19 17,100 211 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 241 — 1,518 265 Shareholder matters 181 (3,508 ) 4,240 (3,265 ) Asset impairment — 1,592 — 1,592 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 25,100 $ 15,990 $ 69,287 $ 31,620 GAAP operating margin (10 )% (8 )% (7 )% (15 )% Non-GAAP operating margin 21 % 15 % 20 % 10 % ZUORA, INC. RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED) (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Net (Loss) Income and Net (Loss) Income Per Share Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of net (loss) income: GAAP net loss $ (32,206 ) $ (5,502 ) $ (53,135 ) $ (47,359 ) Add: Stock-based compensation 24,933 26,101 69,102 77,973 Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities 20,174 (6,997 ) 29,115 (2,241 ) Acquisition-related expenses 10,299 19 17,100 211 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 241 — 1,518 265 Shareholder matters 181 (3,508 ) 4,240 (3,265 ) Asset impairment — 1,592 — 1,592 Non-GAAP net income $ 24,786 $ 12,312 $ 70,646 $ 29,259 GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted 1 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.36 ) $ (0.34 ) Non-GAAP net income per share, basic and diluted 1 $ 0.16 $ 0.09 $ 0.47 $ 0.21 (1) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, GAAP and Non-GAAP net (loss) income per share are calculated based upon 152.3 million and 141.5 million basic and diluted weighted-average shares of common stock, respectively. For the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, GAAP and Non-GAAP net (loss) income per share are calculated based upon 149.5 million and 138.8 million basic and diluted weighted-average shares of common stock, respectively. Adjusted Free Cash Flow Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (GAAP) $ 22,408 $ (55,657 ) $ 66,710 $ (35,676 ) Add: Acquisition-related expenses 5,587 28 7,300 135 Shareholder matters 824 71,377 4,379 72,130 Less: Purchases of property and equipment (3,330 ) (3,075 ) (9,252 ) (6,913 ) Adjusted free cash flow (non-GAAP) $ 25,489 $ 12,673 $ 69,137 $ 29,676 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (GAAP) $ 18,999 $ 2,005 $ (51,852 ) $ 97,026 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (GAAP) $ (1,295 ) $ 145,899 $ 6,306 $ 151,626 View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209614914/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact: Luana Wolk investorrelations@zuora.com 650-419-1377Media Relations Contact: Margaret Juhnke press@zuora.com 619-609-3919 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE PAYMENTS ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FINTECH OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Zuora, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:10 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:08 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209614914/en Copyright Business Wire 2024.The walls are finally closing in on Donald Trump. The relentless politically-motivated criminal cases and two assassinations didn't take him out, but Keith Olbermann finally found the thing that'll bring down the Trump administration: a typo. No, really: Great. They've elected an idiot as "president" of the United States: pic.twitter.com/C73owItOgO Olbermann is also mad Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth didn't play Trump's editor. Shockingly, Hegseth Hegseth didn't correct Trump Trump. It'll be a Disaster Disaster https://t.co/UeTTfaTMpl Is that the best you've got, Keith? Really? You have terminal TDS! Cry moreeee! His is the most severe case of TDS we've ever seen. Oh man a proofreading error. Those walls are truly closing in on Trump now They sure are. Is this you? Don't tell me you're capable of idiocy! Comes as a shock. pic.twitter.com/76OwaNXnli Totally not a shock. BREAKING: Keith Olbermann is so smart, he can spot typos. The world wonders and waits for the next marvel of insight. Laughed out loud at this. Incredible evidence to support your claim. Surely everyone will see what you’ve been saying all along now! He's really onto something here. Keith, you can either be condescending or you can be stupid, but it is very unbecoming to be both. You seem to have accomplished that. It's what he does best. You got em Keith. Mission accomplished. https://t.co/73MOU5CvfV pic.twitter.com/KYHDVR8xkQ +1000 for the cute kitten gif. I want to be the first to thank you and all your former progressive colleagues ( code for #Marxists ) on @MSNBC @KeithOlbermann for all you help in making sure that @realDonaldTrump got elected a 2nd time ! The #RNC may be contracting you and your colleagues again in 2028 ! https://t.co/Us4TeQyKSW They had a huge hand in electing Trump twice, and they don't realize it. Meanwhile, after being fired from everywhere, genius Keith Olbermann continues waking up to rant on twitter all day everyday. https://t.co/qAFh5WbveQ pic.twitter.com/0D0ltuSOAB He really, really needs a hobby.
Venture 53 Invests in DEXA: The Autonomous Delivery Future is Here
CLEMSON — Cade Klubnik threw for three touchdowns, backup running back Jay Haynes scored twice on the ground and defensive tackle Payton Page had a 57-yard pick-6 score as No. 17 Clemson routed The Citadel 51-14 Saturday to move to 39-0 all-time against FCS opponents. The Tigers (9-2) won their third straight and still held on to feint hopes of reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and the College Football Playoff. Clemson, which finished ACC play at 7-1 with last week's 24-20 win at Pittsburgh, needs No. 11 Miami to lose at Syracuse next week to play for a league crown for the eighth time in 10 seasons. Clemson cranked it up early in this one, looking a lot like the offense that averaged better than 48 points during a six-game win streak earlier this season instead of the one that had not surpassed 24 points in any of its past three contests. Klubnik connected with Antonio Williams for a 30-yard TD to start the scoring and then the 315-pound Page stretched out for an interception and rumbled along the left sidelines — losing momentum with each step — for Clemson's first score from a defensive lineman in four years and a 14-0 lead. And Page wasn't the only defender to score. Clemson's All-American linebacker Barrett Carter playing his next-to-last home game, had a 4-yard TD run on Senior Day to end the Tigers' scoring. The Citadel (5-7), of the FCS Southern Conference, went on to its 19th straight loss to Clemson since 1932. Klubnik completed 12 of 16 passes for 198 yards. He headed to the sidelines after his second TD pass to Williams that gave the Tigers a 42-0 lead in the third quarter. Haynes got the bulk of the work after starter Phil Mafah achieved his 1,000-yard rushing season with three first-quarter runs. Haynes had scoring runs of 70 and 9 yards. The takeaway The Citadel: The Bulldogs are the leaders among FCS teams in victories over FBS opponents with nine since the college football split into Division I and Division I-AA in 1978. They couldn't stay competitive, but did roll up a season-high 288 yards rushing and scored a touchdown against Clemson for the first time in the past four games in the series. Clemson: The Tigers reached nine wins in a season for the 14th-straight time. Only Alabama, which entered the season with 16 straight nine-win seasons, had a longer current streak. Up next The Citadel's season is complete. Clemson closes the regular season with its rivalry game with South Carolina on Saturday.
https://arab.news/yerq7 Jeddah: Hollywood actress Eva Longoria and Oscar-winning actress and producer Michelle Yeoh captivated the audience with their insights about the film industry at two “In Conversation” panels at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah. With the festival set to run until Dec. 14 in Al-Balad, the conversations shed light on the significance of purpose-driven storytelling, cultural representation and breaking barriers in cinema. Longoria, known for her role in “Desperate Housewives” and her directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” shared her commitment to producing films that make a cultural impact. Hollywood actress Eva Longoria posed before her In Conversation talk at the Red Sea International Film Festival. (Getty Images) Speaking about her belief in using media as a force for social change, she said: “If we’re going to change the world, it’s going to be through culture. And who has the biggest impact on pop culture? Media — TV, films. If I can make things that change culture, culture changes minds and hearts.” Longoria elaborated on her criteria for selecting projects, saying: “When I read a script, it’s clear to me very quickly if I want to direct it, do it, or be in it. It has to say something — bring a cultural or female perspective we need to see and hear.” As a director, producer and actress, Longoria is keen to multitask. Expressing her belief in the leadership abilities of women, she said: “I like to direct, produce and act because I want to control everything. As women, we’re natural directors, decision-makers and multitaskers. It’s rewarding to do all three.” Longoria also emphasized the importance of supporting women in the film industry, particularly women from underrepresented communities. Reflecting on her work with Latinas, she said: “When you help a woman, she helps her family. And when you improve the lives of families, you improve the lives of nations.” Her advice to the next generation in the film industry focused on perseverance and the importance of experience. “If you don’t have the body of work, you can’t get the job. And you can’t get the job because you don’t have the body of work. You learn by doing. You volunteer your talents to anyone who will take you.” Meanwhile, Yeoh, celebrated for her roles in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” for which she won the Best Actress Oscar in 2023, spoke about her involvement in action films. She shared her experience with martial arts choreography, describing the art of movement in action sequences. “Action is like dance. Everything’s choreographed, but the projection of power and timing are different. It’s a blend of grace, speed and impact,” she said. Yeoh’s experience in the industry has been one of defying expectations, particularly in action cinema. Reflecting on her groundbreaking role in 2000’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” she praised director Ang Lee for revolutionizing martial arts films. “Ang Lee is a poet. He introduced martial arts cinema to the world in a way that made audiences feel like they were running on rooftops with us.” Her determination to challenge Hollywood’s limited portrayal of Asian women was a defining aspect of her career. She shared the impact of saying no to stereotypical roles. “At that time, roles for Asian women were so stereotyped. I waited for two years because I refused to step backwards. Saying no is powerful.” As a champion of cultural representation, Yeoh discussed the evolving landscape of cinema, stressing the importance of creating opportunities for diverse storytellers. “It’s crucial to create equal opportunities for storytellers to tell their stories in their own way. That’s how the industry evolves.” For Yeoh, the journey is more about authenticity. “Tell your stories. Don’t cut corners. Believe in what you do because if you don’t believe in that, you’ve lost the battle already.” Her experience as both an actress and producer has shown her the importance of both personal growth and collective representation. “Cinema is one of the best ways to learn about the world ... bring the world to you,” Yeoh said. Both Longoria and Yeoh emphasize the importance of representation in the film industry. Longoria advocates for breaking barriers by focusing on women’s roles and encouraging diversity behind the scenes. She is committed to creating spaces where women and people of color can thrive in the industry. “It’s much harder for women and people of color to break through,” she said. “Not because of intentional exclusion but because people hire who they know and who has the experience. That’s why building pipelines is so critical.” Yeoh echoes these sentiments, stressing the significance of diverse voices in filmmaking. “We are beginning to see changes,” she said. “We are beginning to welcome more diversity. We are beginning to see more women, especially, behind the cameras and other jobs, just instead of being an actress.” This year’s roster of speakers at the festival includes the Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser, renowned director and producer Michael Mann, Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner, acclaimed director Spike Lee, actress and director Olivia Wilde, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, as well as more Bollywood legends alongside Middle Eastern icons.Caprock Group LLC Takes $327,000 Position in Cohen & Steers Limited Duration Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE:LDP)None
Indiana 73, No. 18 Baylor 65
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks rose to records Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%, setting its own record. The quiet trading came after the latest jobs report came in mixed enough to strengthen traders’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its next meeting in two weeks. The report showed U.S. employers hired more workers than expected last month, but it also said the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%. “This ... doesn’t kill the holiday spirit and the Fed remains on track to deliver a cut in December,” according to Lindsay Rosner, head of multi-sector investing within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to offer more help for the slowing job market, after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, but they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts from the Fed have been a major reason the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year. And the Fed is part of a global surge: In the last three months, 62 central banks have lowered rates, the most since 2020, according to Michael Hartnett and other strategists at Bank of America. Still, the jobs report may have included some notes of caution for Fed officials under the surface. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, pointed to average wages for workers last month, which were a touch stronger than economists expected. That’s good news for workers, but it could keep upward pressure on inflation. “This report tells the Fed that they still need to be careful as sticky housing/shelter/wage data shows that it won’t be easy to engineer meaningfully lower inflation from here in the nearer term,” Wren said. So, while traders are betting on an 85% probability the Fed will ease its main rate in two weeks, they’re much less certain about how many more cuts it will deliver next year, according to data from CME Group. For now, the hope is that the job market can help U.S. shoppers continue to spend and keep the U.S. economy out of a recession that had earlier seemed inevitable after the Fed began raising interest rates swiftly to crush inflation. Several retailers offered encouragement after delivering better-than-expected results for the latest quarter. Ulta Beauty rallied 9% after topping expectations for both profit and revenue. The opening of new stores helped boost its revenue, and it raised the bottom end of its forecast range for sales for the full year. Lululemon stretched 15.9% higher after its own profit report. It said stronger sales outside the United States helped it in particular, and its earnings topped analysts’ expectations. Retailers overall have been offering mixed signals on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain amid the slowing job market and still-high prices. Target gave a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season, for example, while Walmart gave a much more encouraging outlook. A report on Friday suggested that sentiment among U.S. consumers may be improving more than economists expected. The preliminary reading from the University of Michigan’s survey hit its highest level in seven months. The survey found a surge in buying for some products as consumers tried to get ahead of possible increases in prices due to higher tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened. In tech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped 10.6%, one of the S&P 500’s larger gains, after reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected. Tech stocks were some of the market’s strongest this week, as Salesforce and other big companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial intelligence boom. All told, the S&P 500 rose 15.16 points to 6,090.27. The Dow slipped 123.19 points to 44,642.52, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 159.05 points to 19,859.77. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.15% from 4.18% late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 1.3% after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to stay in office until the end of his term and to name a new prime minister within days. Earlier this week, far-right and left-wing lawmakers approved a no-confidence motion due to budget disputes, forcing Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet to resign. In Asia, stock indexes were mixed. They rallied 1.6% in Hong Kong and 1% in Shanghai ahead of an annual economic policy meeting scheduled for next week. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.6% as the nation’s ruling party chief showed support for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk-yeol after he declared martial law and then revoked that earlier this week. Yoon is facing calls to resign and may be impeached. Bitcoin was sitting near $101,500 after briefly bursting above $103,000 to a record the day before. Choe writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed to this report.
As he delivered his postgame speech after the Vikings escaped with a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell locked eyes with undrafted defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. ADVERTISEMENT After watching Redmond explode into the backfield on multiple occasions, making a couple of tackles for a loss in the process, O’Connell wanted to make it known how much he appreciated his impact on the game. So, as he handed out game balls like he typically does after each win, O’Connell made sure Redmond got the recognition he deserved. “Sometimes we start feeling a guy’s energy,” O’Connell said. “Just highlighting that.” Redmond was caught off guard in the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, joking that he almost started to get emotional when he heard O’Connell say his name aloud. ADVERTISEMENT “It meant a lot,” Redmond said. “It was a special moment.” It was a stark contrast to back in training camp at TCO Performance Center when Redmond got kicked out of practice by O’Connell in response to a scuffle after the whistle. He remembers leaving that particular summer practice a little bit unsure about his future with the Vikings. “When I was walking off I was like, ‘Oh man. What did I do? I messed up,’ ” Redmond said. “The rule was not to fight, and I know that, so I was, like, ‘Man. I can’t be doing this stuff. I’m barely here.’ ” Fortunately for Redmond, O’Connell was forgiving in the immediate aftermath, and he got to keep his spot on the roster. Fortunately for the Vikings, Redmond has made the most of his opportunity, and he has slowly started carving out a niche for himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT “There’s a reason why he made our team,” O’Connell said. “He’s a perfect fit for our scheme with the way we move those guys up front.” The fact that Redmond has proven skills as interior pass rusher is something defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into even more he’s found places to insert him into the game on a weekly basis. “The athleticism jumped out immediately,” Flores said. “This guy can run.” ADVERTISEMENT That has long been a calling card for Redmond. He was an explosive athlete in college at Oklahoma, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, proving he had the twitchiness to play at the next level. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, Redmond arrived at rookie minicamp hellbent on proving everybody wrong. He got cut after training camp despite showing flashes of his potential. “It crushed me,” Redmond said. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to get another shot.” As he sat at home wondering what was next for him, Redmond randomly got a call from the legendary Bob Stoops, the former head coach of Oklahoma, who is now the head coach of the Arlington Renegades of the UFL. ADVERTISEMENT “It was wild,” Redmond said. “I look at my phone and see the name. I was like, “Why is Bob Stoops calling me?’ I answered it and he asked if I wanted to play on his team.” After growing up in in Oklahoma, Redmond was not about to say no to a legend. He joined the Arlington Renegades and eventually parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Vikings ahead of training camp “I went there with the mindset that I was going to make the best of it and try to get back to where I wanted to be,” Redmond said. “I had a lot of fun there, and it helped get me to where I am now.” ADVERTISEMENT Though he wasn’t exactly a household name, Redmond did enough to make the team out of training camp. “Whenever I walk through those doors and my code still works, I don’t take it for granted,” Redmond said. “I put in everything I can to everything I do here because I’ve been on the other side of it.” Now he’s starting to look more and more like somebody who could emerge as a key contributor for the Vikings down the road. “That’s all I wanted to do when I got here,” Redmond said. “Just prove that I can play at this level.” He can. He has a game ball as proof. “I was so happy for him,” Flores said. “I think he’s got a long career in front of him.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The announcement came as health officials in the Gaza Strip said the death toll from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The ICC panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both Netanyahu and his ex-defense minister bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Israel’s war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, decimated parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. humanitarian chief for Gaza is warning that the delivery of critical food, water, fuel and medical supplies is grinding to a halt throughout the territory and “the survival of two million people hangs in the balance.” Muhannad Hadi said in a statement Thursday that Israeli authorities have been banning commercial imports for more than six weeks and at the same time thefts from humanitarian convoys by armed individuals have surged. “In 2024, U.N. trucks have been looted 75 times –- including 15 such attacks since Nov. 4 alone –- and armed people have broken into U.N. facilities on 34 occasions,” he said. Last week, one driver was shot in the head and hospitalized along with another truck driver, Hadi said. And on Saturday 98 trucks were looted in a single attack which saw the vehicles damaged or stolen. The Gaza humanitarian coordinator said bakeries are closing because of lack of flour or fuel to operate generators. “Palestinian civilians are struggling to survive under unlivable conditions, amid relentless hostilities,” Hadi said. He demanded the immediate improvement of security and conditions throughout Gaza to allow the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid “through lawful means.” Israel says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel’s official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. WASHINGTON — The White House fundamentally rejects the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday. She said the Biden administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The Biden administration has increased its warnings and appeals to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to spare civilians in airstrikes and other attacks, and to allow more aid to reach Gaza. However, a 30-day Biden administration deadline came and went earlier this month for Israel to meet specific U.S. targets to improve its treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza trapped in the war. U.S. demands included that Israel lift a near-total ban on delivery of aid to hard-hit north Gaza for starving civilians there. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The three children were playing outside a cluster of tents housing displaced people in the Gaza Strip when an Israeli airstrike killed them, along with six other people. It’s become a grim, near-daily ritual more than 13 months into the Israel-Hamas war, which local health authorities said Thursday has killed over 44,000 Palestinians. Israel carries out frequent strikes against what it says are militants hiding in civilian areas, and women and children are nearly always among the dead. Wednesday’s strike killed Hamza al-Qadi, 7, his brother Abdulaziz, 5, and their sister Laila, 4, in a tent camp in the southern city of Khan Younis. Areej al-Qadi, their mother, says they were playing outside when they were killed. “All that’s left of them are their notebooks, their books and a blood-stained jacket,” she said as she broke into tears. “They were children who did nothing.” The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment on the strike. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Thursday that 44,056 Palestinians have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war, which was ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people that day, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 people. The Health Ministry does not say how many of those killed in Gaza were fighters but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities. Israel, which rarely comments on individual strikes, says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Hours after the ministry announced the latest toll, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader. Mahmoud bin Hassan, the children’s father, said he buried them on Thursday. He asked when the international community would take action to stop the war. “When the entire Palestinian population has been killed?” he said. NEW YORK — Human Rights Watch applauded the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants issued Thursday against both Israeli and Hamas officials. The warrants “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The New York-based rights group earlier this month released a report saying Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including massive forced displacements that amount to ethnic cleansing. JERUSALEM — Israeli prosecutors have charged a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with leaking classified documents to international media, apparently to protect the Israeli leader from criticism as a hostage deal was collapsing. Eli Feldstein, a former media adviser to Netanyahu, was charged Thursday with leaking classified information with the intent of harming state security and obstruction of justice. The leaked documents are said to have formed the basis of a widely discredited article in the London-based Jewish Chronicle — which was later withdrawn — suggesting Hamas planned to spirit hostages out of Gaza through Egypt, and an article in Germany’s Bild newspaper that said Hamas was drawing out the hostage talks as a form of psychological warfare on Israel. Critics say the leaks were aimed at giving Netanyahu political cover as the case-fire talks ground to a halt. Some have accused Netanyahu of resisting a deal in to preserve his governing coalition, which includes hard-line members who have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas. The leaks came at a time of public uproar over the deaths of six hostages who were killed by their Hamas captors as Israeli soldiers were closing in. The indictment said the leaks were meant “to create media influence on the public discourse in Israel in regards to the handling of the hostage situation, after the news of the murder of six hostages.” The indictment identified two other Netanyahu aides as being connected to the scheme, but only Feldstein and an unidentified reservist in Israeli military intelligence were charged. Netanyahu, who denies the accusations, has not been identified as a suspect in the burgeoning investigation. Israeli media say if convicted, Feldstein could potentially face life in prison. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the death of a 70-year-old Israeli man who entered Lebanon with Israeli forces and was killed in a Hezbollah ambush. Investigators are trying to determine, among other things, who allowed Zeev Erlich into the combat zone with the forces and why he was permitted to enter. According to Israeli media reports, Erlich was not on active duty when he was shot, but was wearing a military uniform and had a weapon. The army said he was a reservist with the rank of major and identified him as a “fallen soldier” when it announced his death. Erlich was a well-known West Bank settler and researcher of Jewish history. Media reports said Erlich was permitted to enter Lebanon to explore a local archaeological site. The army said a 20-year-old soldier was killed in the same incident, while an officer was badly wounded. The army announced Thursday that the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, has appointed a team of experts “to examine and strengthen operational discipline and military culture” following the incident. It said its commander for northern Israel, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, would launch a separate “command inquiry,” while Israeli military police conduct a separate probe. Such investigations can lead to criminal charges. BEIRUT — At least 29 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on different towns and villages across Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state-run media. In eastern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 26 people in six different towns in Baalbek province, the health ministry and the National News Agency said. In Tyre province, southern Lebanon, three people were killed in an Israeli strike, the health ministry said. The health ministry Wednesday said that over 3,550 people have been killed in the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The European Union's foreign policy chief has underlined that the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas officials are a legal and not political matter, and that they are binding on all 27 EU member countries and other signatories to the ICC to implement. “The tragedy in Gaza has to stop," Josep Borrell told reporters during a visit to Jordan. “It is not a political decision. It is the decision of an international court of justice, and the decision of the court has to be respected, and implemented.” “This decision is a binding decision on all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union," he added. ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling partyhas welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamn Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling it a judgement made for the sake of “humanity.” Omer Celik, spokesman for the Erdogan’s party, said on the social media platform X that Netanyahu and Gallant would “eventually be held accountable for genocide.” Celik also criticised Israeli officials who described the ICC decision as antisemitic. Turkey is among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and has submitted a formal request to join a genocide case that South Africa has filed against Israel at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice. Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the International Criminal Court, has confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil. “The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC ... we abide 100% by the Rome Statute,” he said in response to a question in parliament Thursday. Other European officials were more cautious. In France, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said he supported the International Criminal Court's prosecutor but declined to comment when asked more specifically if France would arrest Netanyahu if he were to step on French soil. “Today, combating impunity is our priority. We ratified the ICC Statute in 2000 and have consistently supported the court’s actions. Our response will align with these principles,” Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a press conference. Lemoine added that the warrants were “a complex legal issue ... It’s a situation that requires a lot of legal precautions.” In Italy, the foreign and justice ministries didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment about whether Italy, an ICC member which hosted the Rome conference that gave birth to the court, would honor the arrest warrant. Premier Giorgia Meloni hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 and has strongly supported Israel since Oct. 7, while providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. JERUSALEM — Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, has called the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a dark day for justice. A dark day for humanity.” In a post on X, he said the international court “has chosen the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, and turned the very system of justice into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity." Israel Katz, Israel’s new defense minister, said the decision was “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” He said it “serves Iran, the head of the snake, and its proxies.” Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, also condemned the decision, saying it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Hamas has welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue warrants against Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, calling it an “important and historic precedent” after what it said was decades of injustice at the hands of a “fascist occupation.” The statement did not refer to the warrants issued for the militant group’s own leaders. Hamas called on all nations to “cooperate with the court in bringing the Zionist war criminals, Netanyahu and Gallant, to justice, and to work immediately to stop the crimes of genocide against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.” DEIR AL-BALAH, The Gaza Strip — Bakeries have reopened in the central Gaza Strip after being closed for several days because of flour shortages. The shortages appear to have been linked to the looting of nearly 100 truckloads of aid by armed men in southern Gaza last weekend. Associated Press footage showed a crowd of hundreds pushing and shouting outside a bakery in the central city of Deir al-Balah on Thursday. The day before the reopening, the price of a bag of 15 loaves of pita bread had climbed above $13. “In my house, there is not a morsel of bread, and the children are hungry,” said Sultan Abu Sultan, who was displaced from northern Gaza during the war. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October as Israel launched a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say famine may be underway . Hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into tent camps with little in the way of public services and are reliant on international food aid. NICOSIA — The president of Cyprus says the European Union must play a bigger role in the Middle East as it can no longer stand by as an observer. President Nikos Christodoulides said the 27-member bloc needs to establish closer ties with countries that bolster regional stability like Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf states. “The conflict in the Middle East is taking place on the EU’s doorstep, in an area of vital interest to the bloc’s interests, where any escalation or regional spillover will have significant consequences on its security and stability,” Christodoulides told an Economist conference in the Cypriot capital. Christodoulides said EU member Cyprus for years has tried to get this message across to Brussels. The island nation earlier this year was the staging ground for a maritime corridor delivering some 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The EU is wracked by members’ divisions over how peace should come about in the Middle East THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have previously condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for the warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request. The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Health Ministry said 44,056 people have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year. Around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services. Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in residential areas, where they have built tunnels, rocket launchers and other military infrastructure. JERUSALEM — A rocket fired from Lebanon killed a man and wounded two others in northern Israel on Thursday, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. The service said paramedics found the body of the man in his 30s near a playground in the town of Nahariya, near the border with Lebanon, after a rocket attack on Thursday. Israel meanwhile struck targets in southern Lebanon and several buildings south of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, after warning people to evacuate.
Trump's tariffs would devastate auto sector, raise consumer costs: industry leaderLiverpool: Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday to move back to the top of the Champions League standings with a perfect record of five victories from five. Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were enough to give Arne Slot's team victory, with both Kylian Mbappe of Madrid and Mohamed Salah missing from the spot. Defeat leaves holders Madrid in 24th spot.Seahawks ‘not sure’ about Kenneth Walker’s status vs. Cardinals