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What should online shoppers know to keep their wallets safe this holiday season? No matter the time of year, consumers need to take precautions to protect their hard-earned money from scams, particularly when shopping online during the holiday season. Last year, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) tallied more than $73 million in losses from cybersecurity scams during the holiday season. A tried and true tip is worth repeating and sharing with friends and loved ones: if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Specifically, be on alert for unsolicited emails, online coupons and promo codes. While shoppers like a good bargain, don’t fall prey to clickbait. Think before you click. Don’t download attachments. Check if an emailed link is legitimate by typing the URL of the retailer or vendor into your browser to check its legitimacy. Stick with trusted retailers. Don’t put your wallet at risk by making a purchase with an unknown vendor. Also, be mindful to only use secure Wi-Fi. When scrolling or browsing online away from home, take care to double-check network names. Wi-Fi with typos and those not requiring a password are red flags for criminal scams. Take a moment to review security settings on your social media platforms and internet-connected devices. Tighten up privacy settings to prevent bad actors from mining your information, stealing your identity and targeting you for their next scam. Enable automatic software updates and use complex passwords. Throughout the year, it’s good practice to keep close tabs on your banking and credit card accounts. During the holiday shopping season, it’s even more important to closely track charges and withdrawals to verify you made those purchases. Before typing in your payment information online, make sure your information is encrypted. Look for the URL to begin with https: and show the padlock icon. As you go about your holiday to-do list, don’t let cybercriminals take the joy out of the season. Be sure to add cybersecurity to your checklist. As a former and incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’ve long worked to combat counterfeiting, protect consumer safety and strengthen intellectual property and trademarks. Counterfeit products not only rip off consumers, they harm innovation, impede entrepreneurism and damage the American economy. In our consumer-driven economy, it’s imperative to keep the integrity of the marketplace intact, protect creators from intellectual property theft and ensure consumers are buying authentic products, not getting duped by fake knock-offs. From luxury brands to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, the distribution of counterfeit products undermines the rule of law and is bad for consumer safety, economic growth, competitiveness and innovation. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Trademark Caucus, I’ve worked to raise public awareness about dangerous counterfeit goods and strengthen intellectual property rights. In 2021, I helped enact legislation to beef up protections against fraudsters who sell stolen, counterfeit or dangerous products to unsuspecting consumers using the online marketplace. In the 118th Congress, I re-introduced legislation to crack down on money laundering schemes by criminals trafficking illicit products to American consumers. Is consumer fraud a problem in Iowa? According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumer fraud in Iowa reached $42.6 million in losses in 2023. Last year, Iowans filed nearly 20,000 fraud reports to the FTC, and more than 3,700 cases to the Iowa Attorney General. Those numbers underscore why Iowans need to stay vigilant and take steps to prevent fraud, particularly online. The FTC says the three most reported scams in Iowa in 2023 were imposter scams, identity theft and fraudulent online shopping experiences. I hear from Iowa financial institutions that invest in anti-fraud software and employee training to thwart fraud and protect customers from financial losses and theft. The Iowa Attorney General advises Iowans to only do business with established sellers, avoid unsolicited messages and be wary when sending money electronically – such as Cash App, cryptocurrency, or Pay Pal – and avoid such payments to people you haven’t met. Know that law enforcement and government agencies will never threaten arrest for refusing to pay over the phone, or demand that Iowans keep their conversations secret. In this season of gift-giving, don’t let fraudsters be the Grinch who steals your hard-earned money. Iowans also need to beware of a scam that’s called “check washing.” Criminals get checks—often by stealing them in the mail—use chemicals to remove ink, write in their own names and payment amounts and then cash them in. If online payment isn’t an option, or you prefer writing a check to pay bills, take precautions to protect your money. According to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), inspectors recover $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders every year. The USPS advises people not to leave checks in the mailbox overnight. The best protection is to drop check payments inside the post office or hand directly to a postal carrier. Unfortunately, flipping the flag at your home mail box is a red flag that scammers use to steal your mail and your money. To report a potential scam to the Iowa Attorney General, contact (515) 281-5926 or file a complaint here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint To file a report with the FTC, visit: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ #/ To report suspected mail theft, visit: https://www.uspis.gov/report , or call (877) 876-2455.Snowflake's chief accounting officer sells $350,997 in stock
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Hegseth Cabinet Nomination: Less Than 20% Of US Adults Approve Of Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick, Poll Finds
CALGARY — Former NHL star Joe Thornton and Calgary Flames front office executive Brad Pascall are heading the management team for Canada's Spengler Cup squad for a second straight year. Hockey Canada announced its 2024 Spengler Cup management group Tuesday, with Thornton and Pascall working as co-GMs and Hnat Domenichelli joining them as an assistant. Thornton made his international management debut at last year's Spengler Cup, when Canada lost 4-3 to Czech squad HC Dynamo Pardubice in the semifinals. He ended his 25-year professional playing career after the 2021-22 NHL season and finished with 1,539 points in 1,714 games with Boston, San Jose, Toronto and Florida. His international career includes gold with Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and a Spengler Cup title in 2004 while playing for the tournament host team, Switzerland's HC Davos. Pascall is currently in his 11th season as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, and his second as vice-president of hockey operations. Domenichelli has served as general manager of HC Lugano in Switzerland since 2019. As a player, he had an 18-year professional career that included 922 games in the NHL, American Hockey League and Switzerland's National League. The Spengler Cup runs Dec. 26-31 in Davos. The hosts are the defending champions. Canada and Davos are tied for the most Spengler Cup titles with 16, though Canada hasn't won since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. The Canadian PressASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Fletcher Abee's 25 points helped UNC Asheville defeat Saint Andrews 120-64 on Saturday. Abee shot 8 for 12 (6 for 10 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Bulldogs (4-4). Connor Dubsky scored 20 points while going 6 of 12 from the floor, including 5 for 11 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Jordan Marsh had 14 points and finished 6 of 10 from the field. The Knights were led by Escamilla Mateu, who posted 17 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Ma'Nas Drummond added 14 points for Saint Andrews (NC). Caleb Brown finished with 13 points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
PHILADELPHIA and PERTH, Australia , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadium Lithium plc (NYSE: ALTM, ASX: LTM, "Arcadium Lithium"), a leading global lithium chemicals producer, today announced that it has obtained all requisite shareholder approvals in connection with the proposed acquisition by Rio Tinto previously announced on October 9 , 2024. "Today's vote of support by our shareholders confirms our shared belief that with Rio Tinto, we will be a stronger global leader in lithium chemicals production. Together, we enhance our capabilities to successfully develop and operate our assets while supporting the clean energy transition. We are confident that this transaction will provide future benefit to our customers, employees and the communities in which we operate, and I am excited by the path ahead," said Paul Graves , president and chief executive officer of Arcadium Lithium. The final voting results of Arcadium Lithium's special meetings will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form 8-K and will also be available at https://ir.arcadiumlithium.com . Regulatory Update As of this release, merger control clearance has been satisfied or waived in Australia , Canada , China , the United Kingdom and the United States (Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976). Additionally, investment screening approval has been satisfied in the United Kingdom . The proposed transaction is still expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of remaining regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Arcadium Lithium Contacts Investors: Daniel Rosen +1 215 299 6208 daniel.rosen@arcadiumlithium.com Phoebe Lee +61 413 557 780 phoebe.lee@arcadiumlithium.com Media: Karen Vizental +54 9 114 414 4702 karen.vizental@arcadiumlithium.com About Arcadium Lithium Arcadium Lithium is a leading global lithium chemicals producer committed to safely and responsibly harnessing the power of lithium to improve people's lives and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. We collaborate with our customers to drive innovation and power a more sustainable world in which lithium enables exciting possibilities for renewable energy, electric transportation and modern life. Arcadium Lithium is vertically integrated, with industry-leading capabilities across lithium extraction processes, including hard-rock mining, conventional brine extraction and direct lithium extraction (DLE), and in lithium chemicals manufacturing for high performance applications. We have operations around the world, with facilities and projects in Argentina , Australia , Canada , China , Japan , the United Kingdom and the United States . For more information, please visit us at www.ArcadiumLithium.com . Important Information and Legal Disclaimer: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, we have identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for Arcadium Lithium based on currently available information. There are important factors that could cause Arcadium Lithium's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the completion of the transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining required regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the transaction; potential litigation relating to the transaction that could be instituted by or against Arcadium Lithium or its affiliates, directors or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm Arcadium Lithium's business, including current plans and operations; the ability of Arcadium Lithium to retain and hire key personnel; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or governmental relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact Arcadium Lithium's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; significant transaction costs associated with the transaction; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction, including in circumstances requiring Arcadium Lithium to pay a termination fee or other expenses; competitive responses to the transaction; the supply and demand in the market for our products as well as pricing for lithium and high-performance lithium compounds; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the integration of the businesses of Livent and Allkem or of any future acquisitions; our ability to acquire or develop additional reserves that are economically viable; the existence, availability and profitability of mineral resources and mineral and ore reserves; the success of our production expansion efforts, research and development efforts and the development of our facilities; our ability to retain existing customers; the competition that we face in our business; the development and adoption of new battery technologies; additional funding or capital that may be required for our operations and expansion plans; political, financial and operational risks that our lithium extraction and production operations, particularly in Argentina , expose us to; physical and other risks that our operations and suppliers are subject to; our ability to satisfy customer qualification processes or customer or government quality standards; global economic conditions, including inflation, fluctuations in the price of energy and certain raw materials; the ability of our joint ventures, affiliated entities and contract manufacturers to operate according to their business plans and to fulfill their obligations; severe weather events and the effects of climate change; extensive and dynamic environmental and other laws and regulations; our ability to obtain and comply with required licenses, permits and other approvals; and other factors described under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in Arcadium Lithium's 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 , as well as Arcadium Lithium's other SEC filings and public communications. Although Arcadium Lithium believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Arcadium Lithium cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither Arcadium Lithium nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Arcadium Lithium is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this news release to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadium-lithium-announces-shareholder-approval-of-proposed-rio-tinto-transaction-and-provides-regulatory-update-302338409.html SOURCE Arcadium Lithium PLCAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:57 p.m. EST
Govt. inefficiency behind rice shortage: Nalin BandaraNo. 7 Tennessee outscored UT Martin by 28 points in the second half in routing the visiting Skyhawks 78-35 on Friday afternoon in Knoxville. Chaz Lanier scored a game-high 18 points for the Volunteers (7-0), who expanded on a 35-20 halftime lead with a 43-15 second half. Felix Okpara had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, helping Tennessee command the paint along with Igor Milicic, who added nine points and 13 rebounds. Zakai Zeigler nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine assists. The Volunteers used their size to their advantage, outscoring UT Martin 36-10 in the paint and out rebounding the Skyhawks 49-24. That included 20 offensive rebounds for Tennessee, which led to 19 second-chance points. UT Martin (2-5) was cold coming out of the locker room after halftime, missing its first eight shots. Conversely, the Vols started the second half with a nine-point run to extend their lead to 24 points. The Vols never let the Skyhawks score consecutive baskets in the first half, holding UT Martin to 25 percent shooting (4 of 16) from beyond the arc and allowing a total of only three points from the starting five. For the game, guard Josue Grullon led UT Martin with 15 points. The leading scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference entering Friday at 18.2 points per game, Grullon has not started any game for head coach Jeremy Shulman. Most of the Skyhawks' points -- 28 of 35 -- came from their reserves. The starting five combined to score seven points -- six points from Matija Zuzic and a free throw for Lamine Niag. The starters went a combined 2 of 18 from the floor, while UT Martin as a team shot 22.6 percent (12 of 53) from the field. The Skyhawks made 5 of 7 free-throw attempts and made 18 turnovers. The Volunteers, who got 23 points off the bench, were 8-for-10 and had 11 turnovers. Tennessee improved to 6-0 all-time against UT Martin since 1993. --Field Level Media
Kimberley hosts U18 BC Curling Championships
Fans moan after bizarre trigger warning slapped on new Wicked movieAP News Summary at 6:44 p.m. EST
The Chicago Cubs have had a busy offseason. They traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees and acquired Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. However, they could add another impact bat. FanSided's Mark Ruelle listed the Cubs as a potential trade partner for the Boston Red Sox to move Masataka Yoshida. The Red Sox could ask for one of the Cubs' middle infielders and pitchers in return. "The Cubs could also use more production out of their offense and could immediately slot Yoshida as their everyday DH," wrote Ruelle. "The Red Sox could consider a few options in a deal like this: The Cubs have a surplus of middle infielders and they could aim for a defensive minded one like Nico Hoerner. The Sox could also try and pry a veteran pitcher like lefty Drew Smyly." The Cubs' outfield currently is shaping out to feature Ian Happ in left field, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field and Kyle Tucker in right field. That leaves Seiya Suzuki to handle DH duties. Suzuki's agent has noted that he does not wish to be a full-time DH, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers . Unfortunately, if Suzuki wants to keep playing defense, the Cubs are paying him far too much money to not be an everyday player. He signed a five-year, $85 million deal in 2022. The Cubs are essentially left with two options in that case. They can either move Crow-Armstrong to a bench role, allow Suzuki to stay in right field and add a DH like Yoshida. They could also deal Suzuki and trade for a DH like Yoshida who is willing to serve as an every day DH. Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox in 2023. He hit 10 home runs in 108 games last year and slashed .280/.349/.415. More MLB: Cardinals, Red Sox blockbuster trade proposal dumps 8-time All-Star to BostonOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say
Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Sunday struck dozens of targets across Syria, taking out weaponry that Israel feared could fall into the hands of hostile forces, in light of the dramatic fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime some two weeks into a lightning offensive by rebel groups. Also on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces seized control of a buffer zone between the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights, in what it described as a temporary defensive measure. Dozens of IAF aircraft struck numerous targets, with a focus on destroying “strategic weapons,” defense sources told The Times of Israel, describing the strikes as “very intensive.” The weapons hit by the warplanes included advanced missile storage sites, air defense systems, and weapon production facilities, according to the defense sources. Israel also struck a chemical weapons site overnight Saturday-Sunday, according to foreign reports. The Assad regime, which fell on Sunday after a lightning offensive by rebel forces, was an ally of the Iranian regime, and a part of its so-called Axis of Resistance against Israel. For many years, Syria was used as a throughway for Iranian weapons, en route to terror groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, with which Israel entered a shaky ceasefire last month. Israel struck at least seven targets in southwest Syria on Sunday, two regional security sources told Reuters. They included the Khalkhala air base north of Sweida city, which Syrian army troops withdrew from Saturday night. The regional sources said the army left behind a large stockpile of missiles, air defense batteries, and munitions, that were hit on Sunday. Strikes at the Mezzeh airbase in Damascus targeted other ammunition depots, the sources told Reuters. Footage posted to social media purported to show the large Israeli airstrikes targeting the Mezzeh airbase. The videos showed heavy bombardment of the airbase. Later, Israel conducted another wave of at least three airstrikes in the Syrian capital, targeting a security complex and a government research center, the sources told Reuters. Those strikes caused extensive damage to the main customs headquarters and buildings adjoining the military intelligence offices within the security complex, in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus, the sources said, where Israel previously said Iranian scientists were developing missiles. The research facility was also damaged, a source said. One of the regional sources said the strikes hit infrastructure used to store sensitive military data, equipment, and guided missile parts. Strikes were also reported in the Daraa and Suwayda Governorates, in southern Syria, according to local media. The US also took advantage of the new reality in Syria, carrying out dozens of strikes on Islamic State targets in central Syria on Sunday. American warplanes struck more than 75 Islamic State targets hitting the group’s leaders, operatives and camps, the US military said. Strikes were carried out against “over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s,” the US Central Command said on social media. The IDF, meanwhile, issued an “urgent warning” to residents of several Syrian villages close to the Israeli border, during operations in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act and we do not intend to harm you,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. “For your safety, you must stay at home and not go out until further notice.” The warning was issued to residents of Ofaniya, Quneitra, al-Hamidiyah, Samdaniya al-Gharbiyya, and al-Qahtaniyah, all close to the Israeli border. The IDF on Sunday seized control of the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, stressing that it was a defensive and temporary measure, given the chaos in the country following the fall of the Assad regime. It marked the first time since the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement was signed following the Yom Kippur War that Israeli forces took up positions inside the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, though the IDF entered the zone briefly on several occasions in the past. “We are acting first and foremost to protect our border,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the Golan Heights. “This area has been controlled for nearly 50 years by a buffer zone, agreed upon in 1974, the Separation of Forces Agreement. This agreement has collapsed, the Syrian soldiers have abandoned their positions.” According to the military, Israeli troops were deployed to specific strategic positions in the buffer zone to prevent unidentified gunmen from being in the area. Israel notified the US prior to taking control of the zone, Axios reportedSunday evening, telling the Biden administration it was a temporary move, to last only a few days or up to a few weeks. The IDF said the deployment was carried out in coordination with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which is tasked with the buffer zone. UNDOF members were, as of Sunday, staying in their positions. The Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday that the government was considering deepening the area of IDF control further into the Golan Heights, “before someone else enters the vacuum that’s created,” citing an unnamed source familiar with the subject. Included in the existing movements in the zone, troops from the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag Unit seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon on Sunday — located some 10 kilometers from the border — facing no resistance during the operation. An image circulating on social media Sunday, and widely published in Hebrew media, appeared to show a group of IDF soldiers holding an Israeli flag on the mountain peak. The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s rule, dragged in major outside powers, created space for jihadist militants to plot attacks around the world, and sent millions of refugees into neighboring states. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the strongest rebel group, is the former al Qaeda affiliate in Syria regarded by the US and others as a terrorist organization, and many Syrians remain fearful it will impose draconian Islamist rule. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has tried to reassure minorities that he will not interfere with them and the international community that he opposes Islamist attacks abroad. In Aleppo, which the rebels captured a week ago, there have not been reports of reprisals.Suarez extends Inter Miami stay with new deal
Taiwan said Thursday it detected 16 Chinese warships in waters around the island, one of the highest numbers this year, as Beijing intensifies military pressure on Taipei. The navy vessels, along with 34 Chinese aircraft, were spotted near Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the defense ministry's daily tally. Beijing has been holding its biggest maritime drills in years from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, Taiwan authorities said this week. Around 90 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels have been involved in the exercises that include simulating attacks on foreign ships and practising blockading sea routes, a Taiwan security official said Wednesday. There has been no announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean. However, a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included two stops in U.S. territory drew fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic island as part of China's territory. The security official said that China began planning the massive maritime operation in October and aimed to demonstrate it could choke off Taiwan and draw a "red line" ahead of the next US administration. The sea drills were "significantly larger" than Beijing's maritime response to then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022, the security official said. Those war games were China's largest-ever around Taiwan. Taiwan's foreign ministry said Wednesday that China's increased military activity around the island was evidence that Beijing was a "troublemaker". But China's foreign ministry -- whose spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied that drills were taking place -- directed blame at Taiwan. The de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan said Thursday it was monitoring "with concern" Beijing's People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity near the island and in the region. While Beijing had not announced major drills in response to Lai's trip, Chinese military activity was "elevated", which was "consistent with levels we have seen during other large exercises," a spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan said. James Char, an expert on China's military at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said Beijing's silence "serves as a way of demonstrating that the Taiwan Strait as well as the waters and airspace around the island falls under Chinese sovereignty -- hence unnecessary to announce (the drills) to the world". "This is another means by the mainland to force its position upon others," Char told AFP, though he did not rule out Chinese confirmation at a later date. Taiwan said Monday that the PLA had reserved airspace off the Chinese coast until Wednesday. Vietnam-based maritime security analyst Duan Dang told AFP Thursday that aviation data showed the airspace zones had "fully returned to normal". Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the island in recent years, and also opposes any international recognition of self-ruled Taiwan -- especially when it comes to official contact between Taipei and Washington. Lai spoke last week with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in addition to his two recent stopovers on U.S. soil. The defense ministry's tally of Chinese warships on Thursday was the highest since May 25, when 27 navy vessels were detected during Chinese military drills held days after Lai's inauguration.
Justin Baldoni ’s lawyer is speaking out again after Blake Lively filed a lawsuit accusing the It Ends With Us director and star of sexual harassment — and of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation. “TAG PR operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources,” Bryan Freedman said in a statement to Us Weekly . (TAG PR, also known as The Agency Group PR, was hired by Baldoni and is one of several firms named in the lawsuit.) Freedman continued, “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on.” In the statement, Freedman claimed that the text exchanges between Baldoni and his PR team in the lawsuit were taken out of context. “It’s ironic that the New York Times , through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing,” Freedman concluded. The lengthy court documents filed on Friday, December 20, were first published by The New York Times on Saturday, December 21. The docs reference “thousands of pages of text messages and emails” that Lively reportedly obtained through a subpoena — though Freedman now claims they were leaked. In response to that claim and Freedman’s newest statement, a member of Lively’s legal team tells Us : “The subpoena disclosed and referenced in the Complaint was served on Jonesworks LLC. The internal documents referred to in the Complaint were produced subject to that subpoena. We expect that further details regarding the subpoena process will be disclosed during discovery.” One of the alleged text messages making headlines include a publicist working with the studio and Baldoni writing to a crisis management expert, “He wants to feel like she can be buried.” The paperwork goes on to allege that “this plan went well beyond standard crisis PR,” claiming Baldoni’s team proposed a concept called “‘astroturfing,’ which has been defined as ‘the practice of publishing opinions or comments on the internet, in the media, etc. that appear to come from ordinary members of the public but actually come from a particular company or political group.’” According to the docs, Baldoni “set the narrative for the social media campaign.” In one example, Baldoni appeared to use a social media post about Hailey Bieber “that had accused another female celebrity of bullying women.” Baldoni wrote in the text, “This is what we would need.” Baldoni also mentioned Taylor Swift while messaging with his crisis management team, with a scenario planning document from Baldoni’s side seemingly stating, “Our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ into getting what they want.” According to the docs, Lively experienced a series of inappropriate actions on set, from Baldoni allegedly adding sex scenes and nudity to the script to making crude comments to unwanted kisses in scenes between their two characters. As a result, Lively and several cast members opted to do press independently from Baldoni, in addition to unfollowing him on social media. Fans started to notice the rift around the August release date, which worried Baldoni. When “nearly all cast members chose to appear in public separately from Mr. Baldoni given his on-set behavior,” per the docs, Baldoni allegedly “became concerned that the public would discover that “something is much bigger under the surface.” You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News He went on to allegedly alter his own social media strategy, too. “After the Film’s premiere, Mr. Baldoni changed his Instagram profile, cancelled lighthearted social media posts, and instructed his team to look for survivors reactions and support — all in an effort to quickly shift his own public narrative to focus solely on survivors and domestic violence organizations,” the docs state. Following the lawsuit being filed, Freedman called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us , claiming that Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production. Us reached out to Lively’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back. In a statement to The New York Times regarding her lawsuit, Lively said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”Israeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. The United Nations reported heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Four Italian peacekeepers were lightly wounded when a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, hit their base, the U.N. said. A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict. More than 3,640 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,350 wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation and ground invasion, the Health Ministry said Friday. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of the territory, wounding nine medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, the hospital director said Friday. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said. It 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. Israel launched the 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: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, wounding nine medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, its director said Friday. Hossam Abu Safiya said strikes before dawn Friday hit the entrance of the emergency unit as well as in the hospital courtyard. He said six staff were wounded, including two critically. Friday night, he said an armed drone hit the entrance again, wounding three staffers. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Abu Safiya said the strikes caused damage to the functioning of the generator and disrupted oxygen supplies. The hospital is currently treating 85 wounded, 14 children in the pediatric ward and four newborns in the neonatal unit, he said. During the past month, Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit several times, was put under siege and was raided by Israeli troops, who are waging a heavy offensive in the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp and towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military says it detained Hamas fighters hiding in the hospital, a claim its staff denies. BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed the director of a university hospital and six others at his home in northeastern Lebanon, state media said. The strike targeted Dr. Ali Allam’s house near Dar Al-Amal Hospital, the largest health center in Baalbek-Hermel province, which has provided vital health services amid Israel's campaign of airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. State-run media reported that the strike came without warning. The ministry described his death as a “great loss,” and provincial governor Bachir Khodr said in a post on X that, “Mr. Allam was one of the best citizens of Baalbek.” In two separate episodes on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five paramedics with Hezbollah's medical arm, the Health Ministry said, describing it as “war crime.” The militant group provides extensive social services, including running schools and health clinics. In a report published Friday, the World Health Organization said nearly half of all attacks on health care in Lebanon since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in fatalities. “This is a higher percentage than in any active conflict today across the globe,” WHO said. In Lebanon, 226 health workers and patients were killed and 199 were injured between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 18, 2024, the report said. The Health Ministry said Friday that 3,645 people have been killed in nearly 14 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, while 15,356 were wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The death count includes 692 women and 231 children. UNITED NATIONS – Two rockets hit a headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, the United Nations says. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah militants or by affiliated groups Friday, impacting a bunker and a logistics area in the southwest headquarters at Chamaa. One of the structures that was hit caught fire, and the blaze was swiftly put out by U.N. staff, he said. According to Italy’s Defense Ministry, some glass shattered due to the explosion, hitting the four soldiers. Dujarric said the four injured peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the medical facility of the mission, known as UNIFIL. “Thankfully, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” he said. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL base “intolerable.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace, and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Dujarric said Friday’s attack was the third on Chamaa in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Chamaa and Naqoura areas in recent days. UNIFIL’s main headquarters is in Naqoura. Friday’s attack follows a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base east of the village of Ramyah on Tuesday that injured four peacekeepers from Ghana. Dujarric said UNIFIL strongly urges Hezbollah and its affiliates and Israel to avoid fighting near its positions, which are supposed to be protected. “We remind all parties that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law” and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, he said. BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, after the Israeli army issued several evacuation warnings saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites. The strikes in Beirut came dangerously close to central Beirut and Christian neighborhoods. One strike hit a building housing a gym and medical and beauty clinics, located just meters (yards) from a Lebanese army base. “What is there in the building to target? This attack they carried out on us in this building is a criminal and vile act,” resident Hassan Najdi told The Associated Press. “Because if their intention is targeting Hezbollah, this building has nothing to do with Hezbollah.” Najdi said he purchased an apartment in the building last year but had not yet moved in. He allowed a displaced family to move in and urgently asked them to evacuate after receiving the Israeli warning. The blasts sent plumes of smoke into the air and shattered glass in the vicinity. No casualties have been reported, but the strikes caused damage to nearby infrastructure and a key road connecting central Beirut to its southern suburbs. “We remain steadfast,” said Ali Daher, an employee at a mall facing the targeted building. “Everything that is lost can be replaced, and whatever is destroyed can be rebuilt in (no time).” In Tyre city, the Israeli military conducted multiple airstrikes after a series of warnings, claiming the targets belonged to Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, accusing it of firing projectiles into Israel. The Israeli military carried out other airstrikes across Lebanon, many without warnings, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in villages along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. ROME — Italy said Friday it plans to discuss the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over the Israel-Hamas war when it hosts Group of Seven foreign ministers next week. Premier Giorgia Meloni insisted that one point remained clear for Italy: “There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas.” Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Meloni’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement Friday, Meloni said Italy would study the reasonings behind the decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy respects the ICC and supports it. “But at the same time we are also convinced that the court must have a judicial role, and should not take up a political role.” Tajani will host G7 foreign ministers Monday and Tuesday outside Rome for the final meeting of the Italian G7 presidency. “As far as decisions are concerned, we will take them together with our allies,” Tajani said. During the G7 meetings, “we will talk about this with my allies there, and we will see what to do next.” Another member of the governing coalition, the outspoken Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was more defiant in supporting Israel. “If Netanyahu comes to Italy he will be welcomed,” Salvini was quoted by Italian media as saying. This item has been updated to correct that Salvini spoke of a potential Netanyahu visit to Italy, not Israel. ROME — Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the United Nations' peacekeeping mission base on Friday in Chamaa in southern Lebanon, Italy's defense ministry said. Initial information suggested that two rockets hit a bunker and a room of the mission base, damaging the surrounding infrastructure, the ministry said. Shattered glass hit the four soldiers. The incident was the latest in which UN peacekeeping posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called Friday's attack “intolerable.” He said he will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister to ask him “to avoid using the UNIFIL bases as a shield.” Crosetto said the conditions of the four Italian soldiers “did not cause concern.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she learned about the new attack with “deep indignation and concern.” Meloni reiterated that “such attacks are unacceptable,” renewing her appeal for the parties on the ground “to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible.” GENEVA — The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world. The U.N. health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more. WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat. Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah militants in the country two months ago. The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday. JERUSALEM — Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory. Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways. The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial. Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7. Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.” Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common. An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. “All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell. BERLIN — A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement Friday that it is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters, but “at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel.” The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that “we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps.” It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were “foreseeable.” Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It’s hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are “insignificant” for Russia, which doesn’t recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow’s eyes they’re “null and void.” Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: “Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That’s the first thing. And secondly, we don’t see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant.” DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. “I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread ... I have children to feed,” said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to $16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs $4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly $14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. “The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. “It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food.” BEIRUT — Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of U.N. peacekeepers. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring “heavy clashes” in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL’s headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon’s southern edge close to the border with Israel. “We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: “Yes for the moment.” Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded.Peterson has 16 as East Tennessee State takes down Charlotte 75-55Three Erie County Sheriff’s deputies helped save a life Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Reserve Deputy Shawn Kephart, Reserve Deputy Bernie Kowal and Reserve Deputy Josh Pasnik, with the help of a good Samaritan, administered CPR to a 61-year-old man during the first half of Sunday’s Buffalo Bills game. The man was transported to Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and is now in stable condition. The four performed CPR on a rotating basis for approximately five minutes before medical crews deployed an AED. Two shocks were administered, with crews finding a pulse after the second shock, according to the Sheriff's Office. During the first half of Sunday’s Bills versus Patriots game, dispatch received a first aid call for a male on the stairway between Sections 110 and 111. Several emergency first responders came to the scene, where they found the man without a pulse. “The courageous and heroic efforts of our reserve deputies, the good Samaritan and medical crews deserve to be recognized,” said Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia. “They responded to a chaotic moment quickly and consistent with their training.” Garcia added that this is a critical reminder of the importance of knowing CPR and how to use an AED. “A medical incident such as this can happen anywhere, anytime,” he said. “Preparation and knowledge can go a long way to increasing the chance of survival.” Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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