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Dec 24 (Reuters) - The Canadian government condemned China on Tuesday for taking steps against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved in human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and Tibet. China announced the measures, which included asset freezes and bans on entry, on Sunday. Its targets included the Canada-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee, China's foreign ministry said. "Global Affairs Canada expresses solidarity with the members of the Canadian Tibet Committee and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and condemns the decision by the Chinese Government to punish them for speaking out for human rights," the Canadian government said in a statement. The Canadian statement urged China to respect its obligations under international law while also urging Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in camps. Beijing denies any abuses. China seized control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a "peaceful liberation" from feudalistic serfdom. International human rights groups and exiles, however, have routinely condemned what they call China's oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. "The Government of Canada will not tolerate any threats, acts of violence or harassment of people in Canada or their family and friends because of their political opinions or to silence dissenting viewpoints," the Canadian government said. Sign up here. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.
SYM Stock News: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Urges Symbotic Inc. Stockholders with ...
WASHINGTON — A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel’s “near-total blockade,” after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public dispute drew accusations from prominent aid and human-rights figures that the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System Network , meant to reflect the data-driven analysis of unbiased international experts, has been tainted by politics. A declaration of famine would be a great embarrassment for Israel, which has insisted that its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew earlier this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible .” Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world’s monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. “We work day and night with the U.N. and our Israeli partners to meet humanitarian needs — which are great — and relying on inaccurate data is irresponsible,” Lew said Tuesday. USAID confirmed to the AP that it had asked the famine- monitoring organization to withdraw its stepped-up warning issued in a report dated Monday. The report did not appear among the top updates on the group’s website Thursday, but the link to it remained active . The dispute points in part to the difficulty of assessing the extent of starvation in largely isolated northern Gaza. Thousands in recent weeks have fled an intensified Israeli military crackdown that aid groups say has allowed delivery of only a dozen trucks of food and water since roughly October. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and is still funded by it. But it is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. Its findings help guide decisions on aid by the U.S. and other governments and agencies around the world. A spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, Oren Marmorstein, welcomed the U.S. ambassador’s public challenge of the famine warning. “FEWS NET — Stop spreading these lies!” Marmorstein said on X . In challenging the findings publicly, the U.S. ambassador “leveraged his political power to undermine the work of this expert agency,” said Scott Paul, a senior manager at the Oxfam America humanitarian nonprofit. Paul stressed that he was not weighing in on the accuracy of the data or methodology of the report. “The whole point of creating FEWS is to have a group of experts make assessments about imminent famine that are untainted by political considerations,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and now a visiting professor in international affairs at Princeton University . “It sure looks like USAID is allowing political considerations — the Biden administration’s worry about funding Israel’s starvation strategy — to interfere.” Israel says it has been operating in recent months against Hamas militants still active in northern Gaza. It says the vast majority of the area’s residents have fled and relocated to Gaza City, where most aid destined for the north is delivered. But some critics, including a former defense minister, have accused Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza’s far north, near the Israeli border.Gen Bajwa advocated talks with TTP: Omar AyubThe spirit of Christmas, a time of giving, found a unique expression at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) on December 17, 2024, as the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines conducted its third and final Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program for the year. This initiative, undertaken with the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Area Management Office (DENR-PAMO), underscored TPB’s commitment to responsible tourism that not only benefits visitors but also safeguards the delicate ecosystems upon which species and communities depend. The LPPWP, a UNESCO Ramsar site aptly dubbed “Metro Manila’s Last Coastal Frontier,” is home to a plethora of endemic and endangered flora and fauna. It is also vital for six coastal barangays, home to over 117,500 residents, who rely on this ecosystem for their livelihoods, particularly artisanal fisheries. Recognizing this critical interdependence, TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles led 51 TPB personnel in a spirited coastal clean-up, inspiring the team to contribute to the preservation of the wetland park. “It’s inspiring to witness this collective effort. It is a testament to our shared responsibility to protect the environment and uplift the communities we serve,” said Nograles. She extended her gratitude to DENR-PAMO and SCPW for their invaluable collaboration and emphasized the critical role of wetlands in the country’s environmental sustainability. “Together, we embody the essence of responsible and sustainable tourism—preserving the natural beauty of the Philippines for future generations,” she added. “Your commitment to sustainable tourism ensures our advocacy remains alive and thriving. You are the driving force behind our efforts to balance tourism growth with environmental stewardship.” Following the clean-up, experts from the SCPW and LPPWP-DENR PAMO led insightful learning sessions. These sessions highlighted the crucial role of wetlands as vital habitats for numerous endemic and endangered species. The presentation, titled “Wetlands: A Disappearing Act,” addressed environmental challenges and explored ways we can all help support conservation efforts. A guided tour through the wetland park further enriched the experience, immersing participants in the vibrant tapestry of life within the ecosystem. Volunteers witnessed firsthand the diverse species of birds and plants, along with trees and botanicals that serve multiple purposes, including food and traditional medicine. “Let’s carry this spirit and momentum forward—not just today, but in everything we do,” COO Nograles concluded. “Your presence here is a testament to what it truly means to love the Philippines.” she added. The successful CSR program at LPPWP served as a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, volunteerism, and shared responsibility in preserving the nation’s natural treasures. Since 2015, TPB has implemented 31 CSR programs across the Philippines, from Batanes to Surigao del Sur, as part of its mission to give back to local communities and preserve the country’s natural and cultural heritage. Through initiatives like these, TPB Philippines remains steadfast in its role as a responsible corporate citizen, promoting a balance between tourism development and environmental preservation.
In their 49-year history, the Seahawks have been held to seven points or fewer 75 times, according to Pro Football Reference. Only once have they won — Thursday night in Chicago against the Bears, 6-3. One other time they tied, the infamous 6-6 overtime game at Arizona in 2016, which is the only tie in Seahawks history. Only 54 times has Seattle been held without a touchdown in 775 all-time games. Only three times have they won — Thursday night, and 9-6 wins at Cleveland in 2001 and at Detroit in 2006. Had the Seahawks lost in Chicago, it would have been one of the uglier defeats in recent team history, given that the Bears had lost nine in a row coming in and had lost their previous three games by a combined 60 points to the Lions, 49ers and Vikings. That it took all the Seahawks had to hold off the Bears, not securing the win until there were 11 seconds left, had many tabbing it as the proverbial ugly win. But to coach Mike Macdonald, what the effort said about his team was a sight to behold. The Seahawks faced the challenge of traveling on a short week, coming off two devastating losses that dropped them from first place in the NFC West and controlling their destiny to second place and needing a lot of help, and with the result of the Bears game itself having somewhat negligible meaning to Seattle’s postseason hopes, which rest largely on the Rams losing to Arizona and then beating LA next week and/or hoping for the strength-of-victory tiebreaker to break right. The Seahawks survived all that to get what was their sixth win in seven road games this season. "Well, the guys are put in a tough spot," Macdonald said Friday. “You're not guaranteed, you're not holding your own destiny, so what are you going to go play for? How are you going to go on a short week, go across the country, go play the right way, battle adversity throughout the game, stick together, and fight through it? How are you going to do all of that when playoff implications aren't necessarily on the line? “That tells me our guys are connected, they're tough, and they're playing for one another. I think that's pretty awesome." They did it behind what was statistically one of the better defensive performances in team history. The three points allowed tied for the 20 th fewest in team history; Seattle has had 19 shutouts and have now allowed just three points 21 times. Seattle has won all 40 of those games. And the 179 yards Seattle allowed were the 23 rd fewest in team history. The Seahawks have lost only twice when allowing fewer — a 16-3 defeat to Tampa Bay in 1998 when the Bucs got 156 and a 28-7 defeat to Kansas City in 1985 when the Chiefs gained 165. It was also the fewest yards allowed by Seattle since 2017, when the Giants gained just 177 in a 24-7 Seahawks win. Seattle needed every bit of that defense, though, with the offense managing just two field goals, gaining just 265 yards and garnering a season-low 11 first downs. It was the sixth time in the past nine games Seattle has been held to 289 yards or fewer, all far off what is still the season average of 331.9 per game, built on some explosive early-season performances. That led to Macdonald being asked Friday if the offensive performance was “alarming." Macdonald said, “I wouldn’t call it alarming," noting the circumstances of the game played a role in the offense growing conservative as the game wore on. “It wasn't up to our standard on our production and how we want to operate," he said. “But we did do the things we needed to do to win the game. We played a little bit of the field-position game in the second half. We finally flipped field position ... the game kind of declared (itself) there in the second half on how we had to play. “So, we slowed it down a little bit and it became a field-position game, which it'd been in our territory in most of the games. I would have liked for us to be able to get it out in some of those situations. But when we did, in the latter part of the game going into the last drive, that was big for us to make Chicago have to go 30 or 40 yards instead of just 10 or 15." The victory improved Seattle’s record to 9-7 and also assured that Macdonald will finish with a winning record in his first year as an NFL head coach. But as Macdonald noted, the goals were higher, and it’s whether those can be reached that will determine how successful this year turns out to be. “We wish we would have won more," he said. “We want to win every time we step on the field. But, to be sitting here with a week left and still have life, we've done some things. I felt like we've grown. Fallen short several times, but we've gotten up and dusted ourselves off and kept moving forward." Walker could be back if Seahawks make long postseason run The Seahawks on Thursday placed running back Kenneth Walker III on Injured Reserve with a high ankle sprain. Players on IR have to sit out four games, which means Walker could return if the Seahawks advanced to the NFC championship game. Macdonald said he thinks that could be realistic. "I would love to see him come back ready to roll," he said. “Let's go have that problem come NFC championship time. We've got to get there first, but I know I'm sure holding out hope to see him again." Seahawks preparing to play next Saturday Macdonald said the Seahawks should find out on Sunday if their game against the Rams will be on Saturday or Sunday of next weekend. None of the games for next weekend have yet been assigned dates with the league waiting to try to highlight games that have playoff implications. There are two time slots for Saturday and there has been some assumption that if the Rams-Seahawks game is winner-take-all it could be handed one of those, which are at 1:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. Pacific Time. The rest of the games will be on Sunday at the usual 10 a.m. and 1:25 p.m. slots, with one game at night (there is no Monday night game). Macdonald said the Seahawks are planning as if the game will be on Saturday and ready to adjust if needed. “Right now, we're operating under the assumption that we're going to be playing on Saturday because that's the earliest we can play," he said. “We have a secondary plan if we play Sunday. Right now, we're operating as if we're going to play on Saturday."Seahawks' only path to playoffs is to win NFC West, with help from Rams
DALLAS , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF) (the "Company") today announced a dividend for its 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (NYSE: NREF PRA) of $0.53125 per share. The dividend will be payable on January 27, 2025 , to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . About NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., is a publicly traded REIT, with its common stock and Series A Preferred Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NREF" and "NREF PRA," respectively, primarily focused on originating, structuring and investing in first-lien mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, convertible notes, multifamily properties and common equity investments, as well as multifamily and single-family rental commercial mortgage-backed securities securitizations, promissory notes and mortgage-backed securities. More information about the Company is available at nref.nexpoint.com . CONTACTS Investor Relations Kristen Griffith IR@nexpoint.com Media Relations Prosek Partners for NexPoint pro-nexpoint@prosek.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexpoint-real-estate-finance-inc-announces-series-a-preferred-stock-dividend-302339003.html SOURCE NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.Algorized Named to Fast Company’s Fourth Annual List of the Next Big Things in Tech
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Marcus Adams Jr.'s 25 points helped CSU Northridge defeat Utah Tech 89-79 on Sunday night at the Stew Morrill Classic. Adams added five rebounds for the Matadors (4-1). Keonte Jones added 23 points while shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 5 for 10 from the line while they also had nine rebounds and three blocks. Scotty Washington had 19 points and went 7 of 14 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range). The Trailblazers (1-5) were led by Hakim Byrd, who posted 23 points. Utah Tech also got 15 points from Noa Gonsalves. Samuel Ariyibi finished with 14 points and three blocks. The Matadors play Denver and Utah Tech takes on Montana when the event wraps up on Monday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
BALTIMORE (AP) — Nendah Tarke's 24 points helped Towson defeat Morgan State 64-60 on Sunday night. Tarke added seven rebounds for the Tigers (4-2). Tomiwa Sulaiman scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christian May scored nine. The Bears (3-5) were led in scoring by Wynston Tabbs with 19 points. Kameron Hobbs had 13 points and Ahmarie Simpkins finished with nine points, three steals and two blocks. Towson went into halftime leading Morgan State 35-26. Tarke scored 14 points in the half. Towson used a 7-0 run in the second half to build an 11-point lead at 58-47 with 5:51 left in the half before finishing off the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
This week, I went to a theater to watch a showing of the black-and-white version of starring Keanu Reeves. Old-heads like me may recall it as a bad mid-90s cyberpunk film (written by William Gibson!) about a data courier whose brain is the storage medium, but who had to have his childhood memories erased to make space for the work. I hadn’t seen it since I was a kid, and you know what? It’s still not a good movie. But if you ignore the plot holes, mostly awful acting, and terrible pacing, it’s at least very cool to look at. Also, I had totally forgotten about Ice T’s turn as J-Bone, leader of the Lo-Tek underground. It was fun enough, but it was weird to hear the theater audience erupt with applause at the end, though, knowing how it was received almost three decades ago. At least some of the movies below, from the last week’s worth of trailers, are bound to be better. Jack Black’s Steve gets a backstory in the latest trailer. The trailer shows young Steve (you can tell he’s young because his beard is brown at first) mining his way into the blocky game world, where he discovers he can build anything he imagines, as long as it’s made with blocks. Plus we get a look at Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen, who all find themselves dropped into this world with a now-much-older Steve (who now has a gray beard to show the passage of time). You can catch in theaters on April 4th. Then you can follow it up with a in 2026 or so. The new teaser trailer from Pixar’s lets us know the film is still alive and well. The movie comes from screenwriter Adrian Molina, who co-directs alongside Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian. It features the voice of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, a child who gets abducted by aliens and pretends to be Earth’s leader. If is any indication, I expect I’ll be openly sobbing at the end. It’s out on June 13th. The FX spinoff is on its way in summer 2025, when it promises to finally* show us what it might be like to see xenomorphs on our planet. There’s little revealed here apart from the release timeframe and that, as ’s Andrew Webster remarks, the aliens are “still shiny.” *Unless you count the films. is getting its first DLC in the form of , a storyline that brings Lando Calrissian into the game. If you haven’t been playing the game lately, maybe hopping into a space battle with Han’s old buddy will draw you back in. is available now for $14.99. Oh hey, look, a live-action version of an animated movie. will go head-to-head with when it’s released on June 13th. /
Canada condemns China's steps against Canadian institutions over Uyghurs, TibetPresident-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Christmas Day to suggest that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky should run for Prime Minister of Canada — or, as Trump put it, " Governor of Canada." "I just left Wayne Gretzky, 'The Great One' as he is known in Ice Hockey circles," Trump wrote . "I said, 'Wayne, why don't you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn't even have to campaign.'" "He had no interest," Trump continued. "But I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!" The prodding follows recent statements from Trump suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States. Earlier in December, after dining with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump jokingly referred to Trudeau as the "Governor of the Great State of Canada." During the Mar-a-Lago dinner, Trump reportedly said that Canada should join the U.S. as a state, claiming many Canadians would save on taxes and benefit from military protection. The president-elect also criticized Canada's trade policies and questioned why the U.S. provides subsidies to its northern neighbor. While Gretzky has expressed no interest in politics, Trump's comments have sparked a flurry of online debate about his repeated "51st state" suggestions. Meanwhile, Trudeau has yet to publicly respond to Trump's remarks.
Nendah Tarke scores 24 to help Towson defeat Morgan State 64-60
Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A female pygmy hippopotamus delivered a healthy calf at the Metro Richmond Zoo earlier this month, officials said — the third baby hippo born at the zoo within the past five years. The mother Iris gave birth to the female calf on Dec. 9 following a seven-month gestation, zoo officials said. The newborn, who has yet to be named, is the third calf for Iris and the father, Corwin. She was also the second calf to be born in December, according to the zoo. “Most people don’t get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years,” zoo officials said in a news release Tuesday. Five days after her birth, the baby had a neonatal exam and weighed 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). Officials said that fully grown pygmy hippos can weigh up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms). Related Articles National News | New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change National News | Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices National News | Christmas shooting at Phoenix airport leaves 3 people wounded, 1 stabbed National News | US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high National News | AI is a game changer for students with disabilities. Schools are still learning to harness it According to the Richmond-area zoo, pygmy hippos are an endangered West African species, and only 2,500 mature hippos remain in the wild. Officials said pygmy hippos are distinctive from regular hippos because they do not live in groups and are usually solitary or in pairs. “For this reason, once Iris’ two previous calves grew up, they were moved to other zoological facilities to live with future mates and continue contributing to the conservation of their species,” the news release said.California residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas Eve
First look: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings odds and linesJERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. Smoke rises Thursday from the area around the International Airport after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists Thursday who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Mourners cry Thursday while they take the last look at the body of a relative, one of eight Palestinians killed, during their funeral in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier , which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Service on Christmas Eve warned of dangerous, large-breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). Its latest high surf warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. “Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches,” the weather service said in a Christmas Eve bulletin. In Santa Cruz, where a municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most beaches were cordoned off as they were inundated with high surf and debris. Residents received an alert on their phones Tuesday morning notifying them to “avoid all beaches including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs.” It warned powerful waves could sweep entire beaches unexpectedly. Local officials said there could be further damage to the wharf, but no more pieces broke off overnight. The wharf collapsed and fell into the ocean midday Monday, taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in the weeks and months ahead officials will have to assess long-term solutions for protecting the coastal city from the impacts of climate change . “Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this, which could have been orders of magnitude worse in terms of any injuries to human beings and damage to property onshore and offshore,” he said at a media briefing Tuesday. “But I think we have somewhat of a question mark as we move through time,” he added. “And I don't think we're by ourselves. I think this is what coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with.” The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on his business, Venture Quest Kayaking. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity. Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening. Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone was swept off the rocks into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday, local emergency responders said. The U.S. Coast Guard will "transition to a recovery search as ocean conditions improve in the coming days,” officials said in a statement. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said, “It will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed.Blame it on the food and drink?