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With Trump’s victory, Ellen DeGeneres will never return to America: reportSince new social media laws passed the Australia parliament, my colleagues at Relationships Australia NSW and I have been inundated with questions from parents. The new legislation, which won’t take effect until the end of next year, bans teens aged under 16 from most social media platforms. As we wait to hear more specifics (like what platforms might be allowed), families are navigating new terrain and working out what to do next. I’ve heard mixed responses from parents – some are wholeheartedly embracing the restrictions, while others aren’t convinced and are dealing with children who feel outraged and upset. Regardless of your position on the issue, change is coming, and families must work together to find a path forward. How to talk with your children about the changes Rather than waiting for the ban to start, I encourage you to have open conversations with your children now while the issue is already under social discussion. Putting off discussions or only partially engaging can actually fuel conflict, breed resentment and create further resistance against these rules. When you chat with your kids, you could hold a ‘family meeting’ or bring it up over dinner. Lead with curiosity and ask them open-ended questions that seek their thoughts. If you have already been quite vocal about your position on the ban, then it’s a good idea to acknowledge this in your conversation – “I know I have said this... but now the legislation has passed, I really want to talk with you about how it might affect you”. My child hasn’t reacted well to the news – what do I do? While the ban aims to protect children’s mental and social wellbeing, many kids and have highlighted the role social media plays in finding connection and community online. If your child is upset and struggling, keep a close eye on this and keep the conversations flowing. They might be struggling with a key social pathway being taken away and are floundering about how to replace it. They might also be grappling with friends’ parents who are planning to ignore the ban and feeling resentful of being left out. Rather than minimising their feelings, openly talk about it – “What are you finding tough? What’s the worst thing about this for you?” If your young person depends on social media as a resource to manage a social or mental health problem, finding some realistic and meaningful alternatives is going to be critical. Starting the transition now rather than waiting for the deadline is in everyone’s best interests. For instance, if they use social media to share stories with friends or family members, could you find safe, supervised alternatives for this such as Signal? Is online contact already second best to more direct contact with cousins or friends, for example? If so, can they more directly catch up? Are there in-person resources available through your local or clubs that could be of use? Embracing the changes as a family The legislation might call out under 16-year-olds, but you can approach this as a team effort. Instead of only focusing on getting your kids off devices, start thinking about your family culture and what role technology plays at home. Are devices always in use by everyone? Do you or other family members find themselves distracted by their phones? Rather than simply restricting kids and teens, consider how you can support this change and have the whole family try new things. Managing children with varying rules If you have kids of different ages, there’s a good chance they might have also have new rules applying to them. Let’s say you have a 17- and 14-year-old, and both of them have been on social media for a couple of years. If you support the ban, the 17-year-old could continue on, having had access to social media unencumbered throughout their teens. On the other hand, your 14-year-old will be taken off and might be a bit ticked that their sibling managed to dodge the ban by a couple of years! For a lot of siblings, there is already a competitive dynamic between them and these changes might enflame it. Have a chat with your older children about how you’d appreciate them handling it – not being deliberately provocative, not lording it over the younger ones, or not undermining rules you have set. I know a lot of parents – and children – are feeling daunted by the changes and feel uncertain about how it will actually play out. If it’s any consolation, everyone in this situation is new to this. What I can confidently say is that having open and curious conversations with your children will deepen your relationship, help you understand what they’re scared or nervous for, and form the foundations for these transparent and thoughtful discussions into the future.
US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records 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 S&P 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%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO quickly left NYC on a bus after shooting NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny says video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding through Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal, directly across from New Jersey. Police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting. Investigators on Friday found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.Provident Bancorp, Inc. Adopts Stock Repurchase Program
Published 4:38 pm Monday, December 23, 2024 By Sarah Stultz Families and students gave overall positive responses regarding their desired daily experiences while in school, while staff responses were ultimately in favor, though not as strong, according to data from a recent survey conducted in the Albert Lea school district. Tonya Franks, executive director of academics and accountability for the district, said the daily desired experiences were identified as part of the district’s strategic planning work. The district conducted its first survey about the experiences in 2022 and is conducting annual surveys of students, families and staff to see how the groups feel those experiences are being met. For the student portion, the survey was given out to students in grades six through 12, and over 800 responded, Franks said. The goal overall with the survey was to have at least 60% in the agree or strongly agree categories and below 10% in the strongly disagree or disagree categories. For students, the most positive response came in a question about if the school offers a variety of activities where they have opportunities to try new things and grow when 70.5% said they agreed or strongly agreed. Sixty-nine percent also said they agreed or strongly agreed that they are safe in the school. Sixty-seven-and-a-half percent said they thought their teachers supported and valued them, while 67.3% agreed that they have access to resources and feel their needs are met. When asked if they are recognized and appreciated, 57.6% answered that they agreed or strongly agreed. Only one question came back higher than 10% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing and that was a question that asked if the students were having fun completing engaging activities about interesting topics to help them learn in class. Most of the questions had between 23% and 33% in the “neutral” category. Franks said the data was being distributed to the individual buildings for further study and for principals to review with their staff. Once the baseline was determined, then they could set goals to achieve in the future. Family responses were more favorable with all questions receiving 60% in the agree or strongly agree categories and all below 10% for the disagree or strongly disagree categories. She said families feel their children are physically and emotionally safe, that their schools are welcoming and that they have resources to meet their child’s needs and are appropriately challenged. Out of about 3,500 students enrolled in the district, they received back 388 family responses. Families with multiple children were asked to fill out the survey for each child. About 68% of the responses were from elementary school families. Board member Gary Schindler said he was happy to see that parents and families feel their students are safe. About 88% agreed or strongly agreed that their child’s school was welcoming to all students, while only 3.9% disagreed or strongly disagreed. About 84% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is physically and emotionally safe, and 86.6% answered that their child’s classroom is an engaging, orderly and productive learning environment. The lowest response was 77.5% agreed or strongly agreed that they are connected and have a partnership with their child’s school. Staff responses as a whole were less favorable than the family and student responses, with three questions below the 60% threshold for agreeing or strongly agreeing, and five questions above the 10% threshold for disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. About 67% said they agreed or strongly agreed that they work in a safe and orderly school, while 11.4 disagreed or strongly disagreed. Less than 52% said they agreed or strongly agreed that they had the resources and time to perform their job duties effectively. Almost 32% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Fifty-seven percent of staff agreed or strongly agreed that their students’ social and emotional needs are supported, while 21.7% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Only 46.2% agreed or strongly agreed that the communication from the district and building administration is consistent, timely and relevant, with 27.7% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. Schindler said he appreciates surveys as they help identify things they can celebrate, as well as things they need to work on. He said he was glad to see a high response from staff about a collaborative workplace but noted the disconnect between how the students and the families are feeling in some categories and how the staff responded. Franks said the survey results would be placed on the principal leadership agenda for January for further follow-up. They will discuss some of the highest needs that came from the surveys and said they will help guide decisions for continuous improvement in the future. Updates would be presented to the school board in the spring.THE NHS has issued a "stay home" warning as cases of norovirus surge - and common protection won't work. The contagious stomach bug spreads easily through close contact and eating food prepared by infected people - a stomach-turning prospect as families gathered together for festivities. Cases of norovirus surged by 33.2 per cent in the two weeks between November 18 and December 1, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. The total amount of infections reported was more than double the number of cases usually seen at this time of year - amounting to an 114 per cent increase. Now the NHS provided an update to social media on Friday. It advised: "Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. "It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days. If you catch it; stay home, rest and have plenty of fluids." Common symptoms of the dreaded bug include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Often accompanied with these symptoms is a high fever, headaches, and limb pains. These tend to appear one or two days after infection. The key guidance also stresses the importance of avoiding work or school until those affected are symptom-free for 48 hours. This is especially important without vomiting or diarrhoea due to the contagious nature of the virus in this timeframe. It is also recommended to stay away from hospitals and care homes to prevent any more spreading of the virus. The NHS has also stressed the importance of hand washing with soap and water to stop norovirus from spreading. Alcohol-based sanitisers aren't effective against it, which is important to note. The virus can usually be managed at home with enough rest and hydration. However it's advised to call 111 if you're concerned about a baby under one years old. UKHSA said multiple factors could be behind the surge in norovirus cases, including the increased use of PCR multiplex technology for testing - which is capable of detecting multiple gastrointestinal pathogens in one test - as well as changes to the bug after the Covid-19 pandemic. The health watchdog also noted "the emergence of an unusual norovirus genotype" dubbed GII.17. So far into the 2024/2025 norovirus season, a whopping 89 per cent of samples belonged to norovirus genogroup 2 (GII). Of these, 66.3 per cent of cases were attributed to the GII.17 genotype. "An increase of this variant has also been observed in other counties during 2024 and is being closely monitored," UKHSA noted. "At present there is no indication it leads to more severe illness." The health watchdog said there were probably more norovirus cases than data indicates. "Lab reports represent just a small proportion of total norovirus cases," UKHSA explained. "It has been estimated that for every case of norovirus reported to national surveillance in the UK there are about 288 in the community that go unreported, representing an annual burden of around 3 million cases." Norovirus symptoms tend to inclue nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. But sufferers can also be struck with a high temperature, stomach pain and aching limbs. People can be at risk of dehydration after getting infected with norovirus, especially young children and older or immunocompromised people. If you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids during that time, to replenish those lost through diarrhoea and vomiting. Symptoms tend to strike suddenly but you will usually start to feel better within two or three days. It's important that you stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days, as this is when you're most infectious. If you think you have norovirus, stay hydrated, rest, and eat bland foods when you feel better. Wash hands often, disinfect surfaces, and avoid contact with others until 48 hours after symptoms stop. Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or prolonged. When it comes to treatment, focus on staying hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks. Rest as much as possible. Eat bland foods like toast or crackers, rice, pasta. For symptom relief, consult your doctor about over-the-counter options. Symptoms should go away in one to three days. If you or your child experiences the following, you should call 999 or go to A&E: Source: Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, Lecturer in Microbiology at Teesside University and NHSThe rivalry between Airbus and Boeing is one of the most iconic and enduring in the aviation industry. Spanning over five decades, this competition has driven innovation, shaped the market, and pushed the boundaries of what is possible in commercial aviation. Early Years: Douglas and Boeing (1950s-1970s) The seeds of the rivalry were sown in the 1950s, when Douglas Aircraft Company and Boeing were competing for dominance in the nascent commercial jet market. Boeing’s 707 and Douglas’s DC-8 were the pioneering aircraft that launched the modern jet age. Airbus Enters the Scene (1970s) In the 1970s, Airbus, a consortium of European aircraft manufacturers, entered the scene with its first commercial aircraft, the A300. Initially, Airbus struggled to gain traction, but the company persevered, and its A320 family eventually became a game-changer in the narrow-body market. The Rivalry Intensifies (1980s-1990s) The 1980s and 1990s saw the rivalry between Airbus and Boeing intensify. Both companies invested heavily in new technologies, marketing, and sales efforts. The competition led to significant improvements in aircraft design, efficiency, and passenger experience. Modern Era: Competition and Innovation (2000s-Present) In the 21st century, the Airbus-Boeing rivalry has continued to drive innovation. Both companies have developed new aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, which boast advanced materials, more efficient engines, and improved passenger comfort. The rivalry has also led to significant investments in digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies are transforming the aviation industry, enabling more efficient operations, improved safety, and enhanced passenger experiences. Conclusion The Airbus-Boeing rivalry has been a defining feature of the commercial aviation industry for over five decades. This competition has driven innovation, improved efficiency, and enhanced the passenger experience. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s likely that the rivalry between Airbus and Boeing will remain a key driver of progress and innovation.
DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed Damascus' historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. According to Arab television stations, the Friday sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria had been tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not seen violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands, and has seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would have to be responded to. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press Writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report.OKLAHOMA STATE 80, MIAMI (FL) 74This decision has sparked mixed reactions among Tencent Video users, with some expressing disappointment and frustration over the limitation, while others welcome the change as a step towards preventing account sharing and ensuring fair access to premium content.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s main airport as a civilian Airbus 320 with hundreds of passengers on board was landing and a U.N. delegation was waiting to leave, the U.N.‘s top humanitarian official in Yemen said Friday. Julien Harneis told U.N. reporters that the most frightening thing about the two airstrikes on Thursday wasn’t their effect on him and about 15 others in the VIP lounge at the international airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, including the head of the U.N. World Health Organization. Rather, it was the destruction of the airport control tower as a Yemenia Airways plane was taxiing in after touching down. “Fortunately, that plane was able to land safely and the passengers were able to disembark, but it could have been far, far worse,” said Harneis, who was with . He said one airstrike landed approximately 300 meters (330 yards) south of the VIP lounge and another about 300 meters to the north around 4:45 p.m., while about five members of the U.N. team were outside the building. “Not only obviously did we have zero indication of any potential airstrikes, but we cannot remember the last time there were airstrikes in Sanaa during daylight hours,” Harneis said in a video news conference from Sanaa. The U.N. said at least three people were killed and dozens injured in the strike. Among the injured was a crew member from the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service, which was about to fly the U.N. delegation of some 20 people out of Sanaa. He suffered a serious leg injury from shrapnel and lost a lot of blood, Harneis said. Immediately after the airstrikes, Harneis said, U.N. security officials moved the delegation out of the VIP building and into five armored cars where they waited for approximately 40 minutes to ascertain what happened and help the injured crew member. He was taken to a hospital in Sanaa and underwent four hours of surgery while the rest of the delegation spent the night in a U.N. compound, Harneis said. The U.N. plane with Tedros and the U.N. team, including the injured crew member, was able to depart for Jordan on Friday afternoon – without an operating control tower. The United Nations said the injured crew member was taken to a hospital in Jordan, and Tedros was heading back to Geneva, where WHO is based, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control Sanaa and much of the country’s north, have gone after Israel since attacks by Gaza’s Hamas militants on southern Israel. The Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea, disrupting one of the world’s main maritime routes, and recently . Israel has escalated its response. The Israeli army said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief or U.N. delegation were at the Sanaa airport on Thursday. Israel said it bombed the airport because it is used by the Houthis and Iran. Harneis responded, stressing that the airport is civilian, not military, and is used for transporting U.N. and other humanitarian workers, and for one civilian flight — Yemenia to and from Amman, Jordan. The flight operates as a result of an international agreement, and thousands of Yemenis have used the flight to get advanced medical treatment abroad, he said. Yemen is the Arab world’s poorest nation and has been engulfed in a 10-year civil war between the Houthi rebels, who control Sanaa and much of the country’s north, and the internationally recognized government forces in the south. Tedros was in the country to discuss its worsening humanitarian crisis and to seek the release of about 50 people detained by the Houthis since June from the U.N., nongovernmental organizations and civil society. Harneis said 18 million Yemenis — about half the country’s population — need humanitarian assistance this year, and the U.N. expects the number to increase to 19 million next year because of . In addition to airstrikes on the Sanaa airport, Israel has been attacking the country’s key port of Hodeida, in western Yemen. Harneis said Yemen relies on imports through Hodeida for 80% of its food and more than 90% of its medical supplies to the north. A recent Israeli airstrike destroyed two tugboats and is estimated to have reduced the harbor’s capacity by 50%, the U.N. official said, while damage from Thursday’s airstrikes hasn’t been assessed yet. As for the detainees, Harneis said he joined the WHO chief at meetings with the Houthi prime minister, foreign minister and a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council. He said they received commitments on the detainees’ possible release and a pathway to it, and on conditions under which they are being held.
Republicans have dealt a pair of stinging rejections to President-elect Donald Trump over the past week, a sign of how Trump’s immediate lame-duck status could limit his influence despite his enormous sway over the GOP’s most dedicated voters. There’s little doubt Trump, like any president, remains the leader of his party, and is certain to have a mostly unified GOP rooting for him as he pushes for tax cuts for the wealthy, conservative judicial appointments and assaults on democratic norms. And there have long been limits to how far Republicans would actually go in service of a man many of them privately find ridiculous even as they lavishly praise him in public. But the two prominent rejections in the past week ― Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis resisting Trump’s entreaties to his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to Florida’s open Senate seat and more than three dozen House Republicans denying his request to include a debt ceiling hike in a government funding bill ― show how Trump lacks the power to simply dictate the GOP’s behavior in either politics or government, and function as warning signs for Trump allies hoping for seamless enactment of his agenda, from his plans for a complex piece of tax legislation to his vision for trillions in spending cuts engineered by Elon Musk. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told HuffPost the GOP would obviously remain by Trump’s side, but noted some of his requests ― like a debt ceiling hike ― simply aren’t feasible. “I think he’s going to continue to lobby, and I think they respect the fact that he’s the incoming president of the United States, and they all want to have a good relationship with him, but they also know that certain things are doable and some things are not doable, and in the political process, there is no way at this stage of the game to effectively address the debt ceiling,” he said. “And so it was a matter of we do the best we can, and we’re all on the same team.” “We want to make things work out, right?” Rounds said. Trump’s demand that Republicans add a debt ceiling provision to their government funding bill tanked House Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial legislation, but set up a standoff that he wound up losing. Republicans hate raising the debt ceiling, and they weren’t willing to abandon their stubborn position just because Trump wanted them to. Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the legislation that Johnson hastily assembled to placate their leader. The president-elect even threatened to back a primary opponent against Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), only to see Roy openly defy him. “My position is simple - I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) without significant & real spending cuts attached to it. I’ve been negotiating to that end. No apologies,” Roy wrote on X, tagging Trump to make sure he saw. Trump’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of House lawmakers followed a stiff-arm by Senate Republicans, who refused to support scandal-plagued Matt Gaetz for attorney general, forcing the would-be nominee to withdraw from consideration. In that confrontation, Trump backed down even after threatening to try to go around the Senate and use recess appointments to fill his cabinet. DeSantis’ resistance was less explicit. Lara Trump was never firmly rejected, instead withdrawing her name from consideration on Saturday night. The Washington Post reported Trump had pushed DeSantis to name her to the seat , which will become vacant when Sen. Marco Rubio is presumably confirmed as Trump’s Secretary of State. But when asked about it at a press conference earlier this month, Trump was skeptical he would get his way. “I probably don’t, but I don’t know,” the president-elect said at Mar-a-Lago. “Ron’s doing a good job and that’s his choice. Nothing to do with me.” Trump likely lost leverage over DeSantis when it became clear he was sticking by his troubled nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who stands accused of workplace drinking and sexual assault. Trump allies had floated DeSantis as a potential replacement nominee if Hegseth faltered. Former Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), a Trump critic, said DeSantis and other Republicans were already looking past the time when Trump ruled the party. “That episode clearly reflects Trump’s lame duck status when it comes to who will be fighting for control of the party starting in December of 2026,” Jolly said. “DeSantis clearly sees Trump as a lame duck with fading currency, and the Florida Governor still has plans to demonstrate his own Republican leadership. Surely DeSantis isn’t alone.” Another prominent Florida GOP consultant noted the “ceiling” of Trump’s ask could also decline in the future. “If there is obvious cognitive decline from Jan. 20, [his problems] will accelerate,” said the consultant, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about his party’s leader. Mike Davis, a former Senate GOP staffer known for his pro-Trump bombast, insisted the president-elect was charging full steam ahead. “Trump forced Biden, a Democrat-controlled Senate, and a barely Republican-controlled House to surrender on their annual end-of-year spending frenzy,” he said. “Trump’s just getting warmed up.” Still, it’s clear there’s also something of an indirect challenger for Trump’s throne atop the GOP. While Trump did not get any of what he requested from House Republicans, his top donor, tech billionaire Elon Musk, did. And Musk’s trillions may be able to power political careers years in the future when Trump’s social media missives have disappeared from the scene. Trump, in a speech in Arizona on Sunday, aimed to downplay the idea Musk could somehow supplant him, noting ― correctly, for once in his life ― that Musk is ineligible to be president. “I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country,” Trump said jokingly.‘Viklang’ sign at SMS hospital sparks outrage over accessibility violations
NoneHUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man was convicted Thursday of killing two men and wounding a third in a shooting at a high school basketball game three years ago. Jadon Hardiman, 21, was found guilty in Gibson County of charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, district attorney Frederick Agee said in a statement. He faces up to 76 years in prison at sentencing in April. Hardiman, of Jackson, attended a basketball game between Humboldt and North Side high schools on Nov. 30, 2021. Then 18, Hardiman entered the Humboldt gymnasium's crowded concession area and pulled a semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun, prosecutors said. He fired three shots at Justin Pankey, a 21-year-old former Humboldt basketball player. Pankey was hit one time and died within seconds, Agee said. A second bullet hit Xavier Clifton, a former North Side student and basketball player, who was standing in the concession line. Clifton was shot in the neck and paralyzed. He died in March 2022. Story continues below video A third shot struck another man in the back of the head. He survived. “Many people were placed in fear of imminent bodily injury by Hardiman’s shooting, as shown by video footage of their fleeing into the gym, into bathrooms, and other areas of the school,” Agee said. Hardiman ran away and drove to Jackson, disposing of the murder weapon along the way, the district attorney said. The U.S. Marshals Service contacted his family, and he was arrested the next day. Agee said the shooting "frightened every adult, student, and child present, who were only there to support their team and enjoy a good game.” Hardiman's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.