While, in the streaming era, there is never a shortage of movies and TV shows to get your heart racing, for those who prefer the thrill of a real-life story, the best true-crime shows deliver. And no need to limit your viewing to Criminal Minds or Law & Order , either—options from Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer and The Keepers to the less-bloody-but-equally-thrilling Inventing Anna and Baby Reindeer abound. Read on for some of the best true-crime shows to add to your queue for your next night in. Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (2024) In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the indie rock duo Tegan and Sara—made up of twin sisters—rose to fame, performing everywhere from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to Coachella. They cultivated a close-knit, passionate fan base online by leveraging the emerging social media platforms of the era to connect directly with their audience. However, their community—and the band itself—was profoundly shaken when a scammer stole Tegan’s identity and began forming fake relationships with fans. This riveting Hulu documentary delves into the trauma of a 16-year-long catfishing ordeal, offering a compelling cautionary tale about the dangers of parasocial connections gone tragically wrong. Baby Reindeer (2024) The Netflix show that took 2024—and the internet—by storm, Baby Reindeer , revolves around the real-life story of a struggling comedian and bartender, Richard Gadd, targeted by a female stalker named Martha ( Jessica Gunning ). It’s dark, nuanced, and twisted—but also, surprisingly funny. “I think life is a comedy-drama,” Gadd explains of the genre-blending show. “Some of the darkest places I’ve been, I’ve found giggles somehow. And some of the funniest places I’ve been, including backstage at comedy clubs with other comedians, can be the most depressing as well. I always think life is a mixture of light and shade. So I wanted Baby Reindeer to be a blend of both.” Love & Death (2023) There’s nothing more mesmerizing than watching Elizabeth Olsen portray Candy Montgomery, a cheerful 1980s Texas housewife who gradually becomes unhinged by her Stepford Wives-esque life. Her descent leads to an unlikely affair with her church friend’s husband and, ultimately, to murdering her friend with an axe. “She was a really beloved woman,” Olsen told Vogue Australia about the real-life Montgomery. “People were so shocked to hear something like this happened.” You’ll be equally shocked watching it all unfold in this seven-part Max series. (And let’s not forget the captivating early ’80s hair, fashion, and sets—they’re absolutely riveting.) Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) The first season of Netflix’s true-crime anthology series follows the string of horrific murders in Ohio and Wisconsin that made Jeffrey Dahmer one of the most notorious serial killers and cannibals in America. Evan Peters ( American Horror Story ; Mare of Easttown ) stars. The Dropout (2022) Based on the podcast of the same name, Hulu’s The Dropout follows the deceit (and self-destruction) of Elizabeth Holmes’s company Theranos. After dropping out of Stanford at 19, Holmes infamously told investors that Theranos—which purported to scan for hundreds of diseases with just a pinprick of blood—would revolutionize biotechnology. But the entrepreneur (portrayed here by Amanda Seyfried in an Emmy-winning turn) was later caught for fraud—and Theranos’s too-good-to-be-true technology deemed just that. Inventing Anna (2022) For those who prefer their true crime with less blood, there’s no better watch than this Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix miniseries based on Anna Delvy , the faux heiress who scammed her way through New York’s arts scene and swindled banks out of at least $100,000. Portrayed by Julia Garner with pitch-perfect accuracy and heavy on Rhimes’ signature fast-paced vivacity, the show makes for a playful romp that will have you wondering if Delvy was merely an intrepid entrepreneur or something far more sinister. The fashion industry references are pretty fun, too. The Staircase (2022) After Michael Peterson’s wife, Kathleen, is found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their home, Peterson, a crime novelist, is accused of her murder. This HBO miniseries—based on the 2004 true crime docuseries of the same name, and starring Colin Firth, Toni Collette, and Michael Stuhlbarg, among others—follows his trial to answer the age-old question: Is it always the husband? Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) Based on the 2003 book by Jon Krakauer, this psychological thriller unravels the chilling true story behind a mother and her baby’s double murder in the Salt Lake Valley in 1984. As investigators— including a Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield)—pursue justice, they shed light on religious extremism within the Mormon community. Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer (2021) Split into four parts, Night Stalker is a documentary series about Richard Ramirez, a serial killer and sex offender who wreaked havoc on Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. A detective and investigator team up to track down the killer and bring him to justice. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020) This gripping five-part docuseries shifts the focus from Ted Bundy to his victims, placing his actions in the context of the feminist movement of the 1970s and underlining Bundy’s extreme misogyny. (Consider it a counter to the rather more glamorous Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile , starring Zac Efron and Lily Collins.) Don’t F**K with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019) This three-part docuseries follows the online manhunt for Luka Magnotta, a former porn actor who posted a video of himself killing two kittens in 2010 before becoming the prime suspect in the murder of Jun Lin, a Chinese international student. The show explores the dark side of the internet and the pursuit of justice by a group of internet sleuths. Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (2018) Trayvon Martin was 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in 2012. Claiming that he acted in self defense, Zimmerman was later found not guilty of second-degree murder—prompting a wave of protests against both the trial’s verdict and the American justice system more generally. This series explores the intersections of racism, gun violence, and politics in the United States, while honoring Martin’s life with a touching portrayal of the young man before his tragic death. The Keepers (2017) The Keepers investigates the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a Catholic nun and high school teacher in Baltimore who went missing in 1969 before being found dead two months later. It’s worth a watch, especially now that a related case is making headlines again. American Crime Story (2016- ) The Emmy award-winning anthology series has covered a different crime each season, jumping from the O. J. Simpson trial in 1995 to the assassination of Gianni Versace in 1997 and—most recently—the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal in 1998 to 1999. The latter featured Beanie Feldstein as the young White House intern, Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, and Clive Owen and Edie Falco as the president and first lady. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015) New York real-estate heir Robert Durst is surrounded by death. First, his wife goes missing in the 1980s; then his family friend is murdered; and then his neighbor. But the one thing they all have in common is Robert. The six-part series is the culmination of a decade’s worth of research—through police files, formerly hidden documents, archival footage, and even an interview with the convicted murderer himself.Moreover, aligning Lincoln with Ford in China could provide the brand with access to Ford's extensive network of dealerships and service centers across the country. This would improve customer accessibility and enhance the overall ownership experience for Lincoln customers in China, helping to build brand loyalty and drive repeat purchases.In addition to Wang Chuqin's individual accomplishments, the success of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team can be attributed to the rigorous training programs, coaching expertise, and competitive spirit that define Chinese table tennis culture. From a young age, athletes are groomed for success through specialized training regimens that focus on developing not only their technical skills but also their mental toughness and resilience. This holistic approach to athlete development has been a key factor in the sustained success of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team.
Why some brewing companies are producing more hop-forward ales and light-bodied lagersThe exposure of these false advertising practices serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent regulations and oversight in the healthcare industry. It is essential for healthcare providers to adhere to ethical standards and ensure that their advertising is truthful and accurate. Patients rely on this information to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, and any manipulation or deception can have serious consequences.
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the “overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024.” They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. The Manhattan district attorney, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. A dismissal would erase Trump’s historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Merchan hasn’t set a timetable for a decision. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has pledged to appeal the verdict if the case is not dismissed. He and his lawyers said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes.Thousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus’ main square and a historic mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown , a major symbolic moment for the country’s dramatic change of power. The rebels are now working to establish security and start a political transition after seizing the capital on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to unify Middle East nations in support of a peaceful political transition in Syria. It’s part of Blinken’s 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year in Gaza but his first after Assad was ousted. The U.S. is also making a renewed push for an ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has plunged more than 2 million Palestinians into a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The October 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on Friday against sites in several cities in Syria, an opposition war monitor reported. Associated Press journalists heard loud explosions throughout the Syrian capital Damascus. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The strikes hit the summit of Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Khalkhala Airport in the countryside of Sweida and the Defense and Research Laboratories in Masyaf, located in the western countryside of Hama, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Earlier on Friday, Israeli strikes targeted six military sites in the countryside of Damascus and Sweida, the observatory said. Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes since the toppling of the Syrian regime, saying it seeks to neutralize potential threats following the ouster of Bashar Assad. The strikes have targeted weapons production sites, anti-aircraft batteries and airfields. Israel has also moved troops to occupy a buffer zone in the Golan Heights on its border with Syria. DAMASCUS, Syria — Russian forces and military vehicles were seen withdrawing from southern Syria on Friday toward their primary base in in the coastal city of Latakia. The Russian troop movement comes amid questions about whether Moscow will still be able to project power in the Middle East after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad. His rule was supported by Russia and he received asylum in Russia after being toppled Sunday. There are also questions about what a Russian pullback in Syria could mean for the war in Ukraine. Significant Russian military convoys were seen on the Damascus-Homs highway near Shinshar village heading north. The military vehicles, bearing Russian flags, included tanks and armored personnel carriers. The military equipment had been previously stationed in southern regions such as Daraa and Damascus. On Thursday, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces were leaving bases in Ain Issa and Tel Al-Samn in the Al-Raqqah countryside. Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on Friday show what appear to be cargo planes at a Russian military airfield in Syria with their nose cones opened to receive heavy equipment, along with helicopters being dismantled and prepared for transport. Earlier this week, all Russian naval ships departed the Syrian port of Tartus, according to a U.S. official. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus will reopen on Saturday for the first time since 2012, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday. In an interview with Turkey’s NTV television Fidan said a newly appointed interim charge d’affaires had left for Damascus on Friday together with his delegation. “It will be operational as of tomorrow,” he said. The embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security conditions during the Syrian civil war. All embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Syrian insurgents who overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday did so with vital help from Turkey. WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has transported out of Syria an American who disappeared seven months ago into former President Bashar Assad’s notorious prison system and was among the thousands released this week by rebels, a U.S. official said Friday. Travis Timmerman was flown out of Syria on a U.S. military helicopter, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them. He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility. — By Lolita C. Baldor THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten organizations told The Hague District Court last month that they thought the Netherlands was in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel more than a year into the conflict in Gaza. “The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I’ve lost 18 members of my own family,” Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, told the court during a hearing in November . The court ruling said that “it is not up to the interim relief judge to order the state to reconsider government policy. That is primarily a political responsibility.” Lawyers for the government argued it wasn’t up to a judge to decide foreign policy for the Netherlands. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. The coalition said it will review the court’s ruling and is considering an appeal. CAIRO — Israeli attacks in and around a hospital in northern Gaza wounded three medical staff overnight into Friday and caused damage to the isolated medical facility, according to its director. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said Israeli quadcopter drones carrying explosives deliberately targeted the emergency and reception area of Kamal Adwan Hospital, where one doctor was wounded for a third time. Abu Safiya said “relentless” drone and artillery strikes throughout the night exploded “alarmingly close” to the hospital, heavily damaging nearby buildings and destroying most of the water tanks on the hospital’s roof and blowing out doors and windows. Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya has been hit multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. “We demand international protection for the hospital and its staff,” Abu Safiya said in a statement released via the U.K.-based aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, “as well as the entry of delegations with surgical expertise, medical supplies, and essential medications to ensure we can adequately serve the people we are treating.” Abu Safiya said there were 72 wounded patients at the hospital, one of the few medical facilities left in northern Gaza. He said he expected Israeli forces would allow a World Health Organization aid convoy to bring supplies to the hospital on Friday or Saturday, as well as a team of doctors from Indonesia. Israel has allowed almost no humanitarian or medical aid to enter the three besieged communities in northern Gaza — Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp — and ordered tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City. Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine . BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced stop in Iraq on Friday on his latest visit to the Middle East aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria to prevent further regional turmoil. Blinken met in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani as part of the hastily arranged trip, his 12th to the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. Blinken has already been to Jordan and Turkey on his current tour and will return to the Jordanian city of Aqaba for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers, Turkey’s foreign minister and the United Nations special envoy for Syria, the U.N. said. Blinken will try to unify support for an inclusive post-Assad transition that does not allow the Islamic State group to take advantage of the political vacuum in Syria and secures suspected chemical weapons stocks. In Baghdad, Blinken underscored “U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” the State Department said. “He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,” it said in a statement. His trip comes as the Biden administration winds down with just over a month left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has been highly critical of Biden’s approach to the Middle East and skeptical of the U.S. military presence in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. and Iraq agreed in September to wrap up U.S.-led military operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq next year, although Assad’s ouster and the potential for the group taking advantage of a political vacuum in Syria could complicate the timing of the withdrawal, according to American officials. DAMASCUS — The kingdom of Bahrain sent a message Friday to Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It said Bahrain is “fully prepared to consult with you continuously and to provide support in regional and international organizations to achieve what is in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.” It added, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.” Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year after 12 years of ostracization. It is still unclear how the international community will deal officially with the new interim government in Syria. JERUSALEM - Israel’s defense minister told troops to prepare to remain through the winter months on the peak of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point, located in a swath of southern Syria that Israeli troops moved into after the fall of Damascus to insurgents. The comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the military will extend its occupation of the zone along the border, which Israel says it seized to create a buffer zone. In a statement Friday, Katz said that holding the peak was of major importance for Israel’s security and that it would be necessary to build facilities there to sustain troops through the winter. The summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak on the eastern Mediterranean coast at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet), gives a commanding view over the plains of southern Syria. It also positions Israeli troops about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Damascus. The mount is divided between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in the zone until another force across the border in Syria could guarantee security. Israeli troops moved into the zone -– set as a demilitarized area inside Syrian territory under truce deals that ended the 1973 Mideast war -- after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell last weekend. ANKARA, Turkey -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. “There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the 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 in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The insurgent groups that toppled Assad in Syria have not made clear their policy or stance on Israel, whose military in recent days has bombed sites all over the country, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. Blinken also said it was crucial to keep the Islamic State group under control. “We also discussed the imperative of continuing the efforts to keep ISIS down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS to ensure that that threat doesn’t rear its head again,” Blinken said. The Turkish foreign minister said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. “Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,” Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party. Blinken said: “We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.” Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a ceasefire for Gaza. “We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks more encouraging signs that (a ceasefire) is possible,” Blinken said. Blinken, who is making his 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but first since the weekend ouster of Assad, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday. The outgoing Biden administration is particularly concerned that a power vacuum in Syria could exacerbate already heightened tensions in the region, which is already wracked by multiple conflicts, and create conditions for the Islamic State group to regain territory and influence. Later Friday, Blinken is to return to Jordan for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers and senior officials from the European Union, the Arab League and the United Nations. ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey has appointed a temporary charge d’affaires to reopen its embassy in Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security problems during the Syrian civil war and embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Anadolu Agency said late Thursday that Turkey appointed Burhan Koroglu, its ambassador in Mauritania, to the post. UNITED NATIONS- – Two U.N. aid convoys were violently attacked in Gaza, making it virtually impossible for humanitarian agencies to operate without putting staff and civilians at risk, the U.N. food agency says. On Wednesday, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom was waiting for personnel to safeguard the food and other aid destined for central Gaza when there were reported attacks by Israeli forces in the nearby humanitarian zone, the U.N. World Food Program said Thursday. More than 50 people are now estimated to have died in the attacks, including civilians and local security personnel who had been expected to ensure the convoy’s safety, WFP said. The Rome-based agency said the convoy was forced to proceed from Kerem Shalom to central Gaza without any security arrangements, using the Philadelphi corridor, an Israeli-controlled route that had been recently approved and successfully utilized twice. On the way, WFP said, conflict and insecurity led to a loss of communication with the convoy for more than 12 hours. ”Eventually, the trucks were found but all food and aid supplies were looted,” the U.N. agency said. In a second incident, Israeli soldiers approached a WFP convoy moving out of the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza, fired warning shots, conducted extensive security checks, and temporarily detained drivers and staff, the agency said. “As the trucks were delayed, four out of the five trucks were lost to violent armed looting,” WFP said. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief has a message for Israel: Stop the attacks on Syria. Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about several hundred Israeli airstrikes on several Syrian locations and stresses “the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday. The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the previous 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following last week’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The buffer zone was established after Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1973 war. Dujarric said Guterres condemns all actions violating the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries that remain in force. And the U.N. chief calls on the parties to uphold the agreement and end “all unauthorized presence in the area of separation” and refrain from any action undermining the ceasefire and stability in the Golan Heights, the spokesman said.
Eleven local schools received grants for educators to develop science, technology, engineering and math education projects from the Tennessee Valley Authority partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. Grants were awarded to 342 schools across the state, according to a news release. Schools in Washington, Sullivan and Hawkins counties are among those to receive funds. “We know STEM teachers across the region are inspiring students to become the workforce of the future and that’s why it’s so important for TVA to continue to support this grant program,” Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO, stated in the release. “Providing additional resources to schools helps provide essential hands-on learning programs that equip students with skills that will help them be successful in whatever they choose to do in life.” The STEM grant program received 647 grant applications, and 342 were awarded. T he TVA will give out $1.5 million among those schools. “Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. has a reputation for giving back to the community. BVI is proud to partner with TVA in empowering teachers to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” Kathy Black, president of BVI, stated in the release. “We believe that by enriching their educational experiences, we are helping create lifelong learners and building the workforce of tomorrow.” The TVA focused on applications that explored environment, energy, economic development and community problem-solving. All schools that receive their power from a local power company served by TVA were eligible to apply for the grants. The following Northeast Tennessee schools and teachers received grant money for their projects: HAWKINS COUNTY Kristen Riley of Bulls Gap School received $5,000 for the development of Our CAD Garden. It is a greenhouse that introduces students to the iterative design process and helps their creative problem solving and communication. Katie Brabham of Hawkins Elementary received $5,000 for use of the SPHERO Bold system, block coding and recycled materials to create an efficient school bus route. Kerry Bloodworth of Mooresburg Elementary received $5,000 to make the STEAM programs more rigorous. She will do so by introducing Makey-Makey sets, Sphero Indi Cars and a 3D printer. Abigail Daniels of Surgoinsville Middle School received $5,000 to get new aerial drones for the students to trace examples of drone use and learn how technology changes the way things can be done. Jeffrey Buck of Volunteer High School received $2,5000 to help the robotics team compete in the Robot Drone League competitions; they will also get an Advanced RDL GoBilda Terrestrial Kit. SULLIVAN COUNTY Autumn Roe of Anderson Elementary received $5,000 to initiate her “STEM Careers in the Arts” program. It will immerse students to the arts and technology convergence and introduce them to careers that mix creativity and technical expertise. Sarah Knight of West Ridge High School received $5,000 to integrate state-of-the-art hydroponic technology into agriculture and culinary programs. This offers students hands-on experience in modern agriculture. WASHINGTON COUNTY Jared Smith of Jonesborough Elementary received $5,000 to enable students in the Eye of the Tiger Filmmaking and Digital Media Club to be equipped to script, direct, film and edit their short film projects. Kallam McKay of Mountain View Elementary received $5,000 to help students get new hands-on experience to code, build and program robots in the STEAM studio. Luanna Rolston of North Side Elementary received $3,500 to implement Blue-Bots (engaging, programmable floor robots) into the computer science curriculum for the K-3 STEM lab. Jacob Street of South Side Elementary received $3,500 to get an interactive modular STEM wall with pipe fitting, gears, tools and a color-changing light table with human x-rays and engineering manipulatives. Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter TodayIn conclusion, the prospect of Barcelona signing Son Heung-min on a free transfer next summer represents a tantalizing opportunity for the club to address their attacking needs and expand their reach in the Asian market. With Son's proven ability on the pitch and his immense popularity off it, Barcelona could be on the brink of a significant and exciting new chapter in their storied history.