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Travis Kelce's Ex-Girlfriend Made Opinion On Trump Voters ClearPope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Middle East latest: Israel expels patients from a hospital in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya on Tuesday, as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. He faces murder charges that could put him in prison for life. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.JAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. The New Terminal One is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, which will include two new terminals, the modernization and expansion of two existing terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Turkish Airlines, which currently flies 19 times weekly from JFK Airport to its hub at Istanbul , providing seamless connections to its extensive global network, will continue to offer top-tier service from the new terminal. As part of its expansion in the JFK market, Turkish Airlines will open an 11,000-square-foot lounge in the New Terminal One – twice the size of the airline's lounge at the existing Terminal 1. The new lounge will feature premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport's airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft, offering unmatched convenience for Turkish Airlines' business class customers and top-tier frequent flyers. Recognized for its exceptional in-flight service, Turkish Airlines recently received the World Class Award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among just 10 airlines in the world to have received this prestigious recognition. Turkish Airlines was also chosen as the Best Airline in Europe nine times by Skytrax. Over the years Turkish Airlines also received accolades from Skytrax and other prestigious organizations numerous times for its Business and Economy Class offerings and Lounges. Turkish Airlines offers service to 351 destinations, including 25 in the Americas. Turkish is a member of the Star Alliance and will join other alliance members at the New Terminal One: LOT Polish Airlines, EVA Air and Air China. "We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience," said The New Terminal One Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Aument . "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond." Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines' world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers' travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge. This move underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market." In addition to Turkish Airlines, the New Terminal One has partnered with several other global carriers, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos and Philippine Airlines. Air China is also partnering with the terminal on elevating the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting New York . The New Terminal One is focused on improving the customer experience by collaborating with potential airline partners. This includes working with airline teams across all customer journey touchpoints. Set to be JFK Airport's largest terminal when complete, the New Terminal One will offer a world-class customer experience and additional widebody aircraft gate capacity – providing international airlines a unique opportunity to grow their service at JFK, the top global gateway to the U.S. About The New Terminal One The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a world-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States . The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking and be considered one of the finest airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK's south side. Construction is taking place in phases. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion, anticipated in 2030, the New Terminal One will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined. The New Terminal One will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art, international-only terminal. Sustainably designed and future-focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including ambitious participation goals of 30% for minority and women-owned enterprises, 10% for local business enterprises and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/projects/the-new-terminal-one/ About Turkish Airlines Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 491 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 351 worldwide destinations in 130 countries (298 international destinations and 53 domestic destinations within Turkiye). More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-to-begin-operations-at-the-new-terminal-one-at-jfk-and-unveil-world-class-lounge-302331710.html SOURCE The New Terminal One at JFKA brokered ceasefire between and Hezbollah in relies on two key assumptions: the diminished power of Hezbollah as a fighting force and Israel’s restraint in responding to potential ceasefire violations. On , the ceasefire that ended fighting between Hezbollah and Israel early on Wednesday morning is clearly stacked in Israel's favour, and Arab officials and analysts have told Middle East Eye that a depleted Hezbollah was looking for a break. “The ceasefire is an important transaction, but not a transformation. It happened because Israel wanted it and Hezbollah needed it,” Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator, told MEE. Hezbollah and Israel have both agreed to withdraw their forces from southern Lebanon within 60 days, but unlike the deal that ended their 2006 war, the US’s footprint to police the group’s exit has . The US has also codified Israel’s right to preemptively strike Hezbollah if it believes the group is re-arming. The details of a side letter codifying Israel's rights to respond were confirmed by a senior US official to MEE. The letter gives American backing to Israel to launch strikes on Hezbollah if the group reconstitutes in southern Lebanon, imports weapons, or if Israel says Hezbollah is positioning itself in a way that Israel says is a threat. "The entire deal depends on how much leeway [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is willing to give Hezbollah. It is entirely up to him,” Patrick Theros, a former US ambassador to Qatar, told MEE. “Hezbollah is going to try and regain prestige and will slow walk its withdrawal." What makes the deal so shaky is that it leaves several unresolved questions, including whether Hezbollah fighters remaining in their local villages in southern Lebanon constitutes a violation of the ceasefire. Israel has used AI technology to target Hezbollah fighters and has shown it can track their movements. Theros estimates that 35,000 Hezbollah fighters hail from southern Lebanon. Analysts say Israel is likely not to raise the issue with the US and will focus on the withdrawal of missiles and artillery. But if Hezbollah withdraws its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, it can still station it in the Shia-majority Bekaa Valley, keeping towns in northern Israel within range of long-distance rockets. The ceasefire, on paper, reaffirms previous UN Security Council resolutions that effectively call for Hezbollah’s total disarmament. “The question is how much is Israel willing to let go in terms of violations and how much can Hezbollah absorb. I suspect Hezbollah has been weakened enough not to respond to Israel if it takes preemptive action,” Miller said. The ceasefire, in effect, rests on US assessments that Hezbollah has been weakened enough by Israeli strikes on its senior leadership and arms supplies, and the group will not cross Israel’s red lines. But while Hezbollah's leadership has been dealt severe blows, there is little evidence to categorically assert that it has been depleted as a fighting force. Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon has few achievements to boast. However, analysts say that Hezbollah's ability to fight Israel may come second to its domestic priorities, as the group may be willing to abide by Israel’s hard red lines because its internal position is shaky. After the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon’s government sensed weakness and, led by Sunni and Druze political parties, tried to reduce Hezbollah’s sway inside the country. Hezbollah forces took control of parts of Beirut in 2008, sparking street fights between Sunnis and Shias. “Hezbollah definitely needs to reassert itself in Lebanon because it looks so weak right now, but not by opening fire on Israel. It needs to focus on Lebanese internal politics,” Theros said. The US has tried to layer the ceasefire to put distance between Hezbollah and this Israeli military option. US military advisors are being deployed to Lebanon to monitor Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the south, and a Centcom official is expected to chair a committee to enforce the deal, MEE revealed previously. A US defence official also told MEE that the US is deploying additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to monitor Hezbollah’s withdrawal, including drones and geospatial intelligence to track the group. The US says it will work with the Lebanese Armed Forces and a beefed-up UN peacekeeping force that is set to include hundreds of new French troops to stop Hezbollah from rearming in the south. But realities on the ground in Lebanon mean the UN and Lebanese army are unlikely to have the heft to counter any Hezbollah violations. The Lebanese army is a multi-confessional force that includes Shia and Sunni Muslims along with Christians. It has been reluctant to use force to disarm Hezbollah, which is Lebanon’s most popular Shia political party and the world’s largest armed non-state actor. “We should assume Hezbollah will try to re-infiltrate southern Lebanon as soon as possible,” Daniel Mouton, a former National Security Council official now at the Atlantic Council, told MEE. Mouton added that if the Lebanese military intervenes, it would be "a recipe for another Lebanese Civil War," adding that "if Unifil does not respond, the Israelis will. But that does not necessarily mean a wider war resumes.” Israel has already taken action against Hezbollah without the group responding. On Wednesday, it arrested four Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, hours after the ceasefire went into effect. “It will be important to watch and see if Israel is forced to strike Hezbollah again in a large-scale manner. If Hezbollah takes it on the chin, it will give us an indication of how badly they have been hurt in the last weeks,” Mouton said.
CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Anthony Selden scored 29 points as Gardner-Webb beat Bethune-Cookman 79-64 on Wednesday. Selden also had five rebounds for the Runnin' Bulldogs (4-3). Jamaine Mann scored 12 points and added seven rebounds. Shahar Lazar shot 4 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points. Reggie Ward Jr. led the Wildcats (2-5) in scoring, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Daniel Rouzan added 14 points for Bethune-Cookman. Tre Thomas finished with 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .ARTIFICIAL intelligence is taking over dating apps after years of user backlash and exhaustion, according to a bold prediction by officials at Tinder. Tinder , the most popular dating app in the world, is shifting toward new technology as users are becoming burnt out on internet romance. In a recent survey conducted by Forbes , 78 percent of respondents reported feeling "emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted" by dating apps . Match Group , a tech company that owns online dating services including Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge, says an AI shift is exactly what the apps need to reignite excitement in users. "AI is going to transform the dating experience," Tinder executive Bernard Kim said at a recent investors meeting, according to the Financial Times . "It’s going to enable us to make all aspects of the online dating journey better." READ MORE ON APPS In preliminary efforts to improve the app experience, Tinder has started to test a trial requirement for users to upload pictures of their faces, which is currently optional in most regions. The app is also testing a check that uses biometric scans to ensure that users' profile pictures aren't fake. Faye Iosotaluno, the CEO of Tinder, also said on investor day that the app is trying an "AI-enabled discovery feature” that would suggest people's matches based on pictures and quizzes. Tinder already uses AI to help its users pick the best pictures to use in their profiles. Most read in News Tech However, the steps toward innovation didn't stop the app's slow descent over the years as sales dropped and digital dating fatigue grew. A year ago, Tinder launched a pricy subscription plan called Tinder Select that allowed users to send messages to profiles without matching with them first. The model sparked a backlash as critics worried that the plan removed consent from the user experience and created opportunities for stalking and harassment. However, users have to meet a specific criteria and go through an application process to be eligible for Tinder Select. Tinder isn't the only dating platform considering AI advancements. Hinge CEO Justin McLeod said at Match's investor day that the Tinder rival plans to create personalized dating coaches for users with the help of AI. Artificial intelligence is a highly contested issue, and it seems everyone has a stance on it. Here are some common arguments against it: Loss of jobs - Some industry experts argue that AI will create new niches in the job market, and as some roles are eliminated, others will appear. However, many artists and writers insist the argument is ethical, as generative AI tools are being trained on their work and wouldn't function otherwise. Ethics - When AI is trained on a dataset, much of the content is taken from the Internet. This is almost always, if not exclusively, done without notifying the people whose work is being taken. Privacy - Content from personal social media accounts may be fed to language models to train them. Concerns have cropped up as Meta unveils its AI assistants across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There have been legal challenges to this: in 2016, legislation was created to protect personal data in the EU, and similar laws are in the works in the United States. Misinformation - As AI tools pulls information from the Internet, they may take things out of context or suffer hallucinations that produce nonsensical answers. Tools like Copilot on Bing and Google's generative AI in search are always at risk of getting things wrong. Some critics argue this could have lethal effects - such as AI prescribing the wrong health information. “Dating isn’t easy," McLeod told investors, according to CNN . "Many people using the app don’t get that first match and don’t know why — whether it’s their photos, not sending enough likes or taking too long to ask a match on a date. "A dating coach can step in with personalized suggestions." ON A HINGE McLeod said that Hinge plans to fully embrace AI in the coming future with the same goals as Tinder. “While AI is not going to be a panacea when it comes to the very deeply and personal problem of love, I can tell you that it is going to transform the dating app experience, taking it from a do-it-yourself platform to an expertly guided journey that leads to far better outcomes and much better value to our daters,” he said. As AI expands to help daters find their perfect matches on dating apps, users can also take warning against scammers who use AI to prowl dating apps to manipulate or steal from victims. However, social scientist Liesel Sharabi told CNN that daters are still in the "early stages" of embracing AI. Read More on The US Sun “The platforms are still figuring out its role in the online dating experience, but it really does have the potential to transform this space," Sharabi said. Tinder hasn't responded to The U.S. Sun's request for comment.Russell Westbrook Invests $10 Million in Oklahoma City's Soccer Scene and Entertainment District
( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2024) - Energy Plug Technologies Corp. (CSE: PLUG) (OTCQB: PLGGF) (FSE: 6GQ) ("Energy Plug" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press releases dated December 2, 2024, it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement raising gross proceeds of $1,015,184 through the issuance of 14,502,624 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.07 per Unit (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (the "Warrant") having an exercise price of $0.10 per share and a term of one year from the date of closing of the Private Placement ("Closing Date"). The Warrant is subject to acceleration clause whereby in the event that at any time after four months following the Closing Date, the common shares of the Company have traded for twenty (20) consecutive trading days at a closing price of at least $0.15 per share on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"), the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is not less than twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the notice of the accelerated expiry date is provided by the Company to the warrant holders by way of news release. The securities issued as part of the Private Placement will be subject to a regulatory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Private Placement for research and development, product certification, repayment of trade payables, and general working capital. In connection with a portion of the closing of the first tranche, an aggregate cash finders' fee of $53,998 ($11,998 as to Ventum Financial Corp. and $42,000 to Haywood Securities Inc.) and an aggregate 771,410 Finders Warrants (171,406 to Ventum and 600,004 to Haywood) were issued to certain finders. The Finder's Warrants have the same terms as the warrants issued with the Units. The Company is pleased to announce a strategic leadership transition aligned with its mission to drive innovation in energy and blockchain technologies. Mr. Paul Dickson has been appointed as CEO, leveraging over 30 years of expertise in capital markets and executive leadership with public companies. With a strong background in software development, including SaaS, blockchain, and Web3 technologies, Mr. Dickson is well-positioned to steer Energy Plug's blockchain and technology-driven initiatives. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the Company's presence in the Capital Markets and advancing its blockchain integrations. Mr. Broderick Gunning will transition to the role of Executive Vice President, focusing exclusively on decentralized battery systems, product development, and strategic partnerships. His efforts will center on advancing the Malahat Battery Technologies partnership project and scaling Energy Plug's innovative battery solutions. In this role, Mr. Gunning will collaborate with Mr. Dickson to leverage their shared expertise in cryptocurrency as the Company continues to build its decentralized battery system, integrating blockchain technologies, DePIN networks, and advanced cryptocurrency mining applications. To fully dedicate himself to these initiatives, Mr. Gunning has resigned from the board. The Company also announces that Adam Morand has stepped down as a director. The Company extends its sincere gratitude for his contributions and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. About Energy Plug Technologies Corp. Energy Plug Technologies Corp. is an energy technology company dedicated to innovation and sustainability. With a focus on energy storage applications for residential, commercial, and utility sectors, the company advances battery technologies to enhance energy management and grid resiliency. Based in British Columbia, Energy Plug partners with leading technology companies and Indigenous communities to deliver cutting-edge solutions. For more information, visit . MENAFN24122024004218003983ID1109028587 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.