Middle East latest: Israel bombs new central areas of Beirut
The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, as well as Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif. The unprecedented move drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations "absurd and false". Israel's closest allies, including the United States, also slammed the warrants against the Israeli politicians, but rights groups including Amnesty International welcomed them. "Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard. The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. "The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024," the ICC said in a statement. A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added. Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The court said it had issued the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether or not Deif was dead. The court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan urged the body's members to act on the warrants, and for non-members to work together for "upholding international law". "I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment... by respecting and complying with these judicial orders," Khan said in a statement. The Palestinian Authority and militant group Hamas both welcomed the warrants -- though without mentioning Deif. The warrants for the Israeli leaders are "an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general", Hamas's political bureau member Bassem Naim said. "But it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world." - 'Reasonable grounds' - The court said it had found "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The ICC said the pair were also criminally responsible "for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population". The court alleged both men "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival", including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity. Regarding the war crime of starvation, it said the manufactured shortages "created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza". This resulted in civilian deaths including of children, due to malnutrition and dehydration, the court charged. It said it had not yet determined if "all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met," the court said. However, judges did say there were reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder had been committed in relation to these victims. - 'Deeply concerned' - Washington denounced the warrants against Israel. "We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision," said a National Security Council spokesperson. "The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter." Argentina's president, Javier Milei, also expressed his country's "deep disagreement", arguing it "distorts the spirit of international justice". Yet Italy said it would be forced to comply with the warrant should the Israeli officials set foot in the country. While Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he believed the ICC was "wrong" to put Netanyahu and Gallant on the same level as Hamas, if either "were to come to Italy, we would have to arrest them". Speaking from Jordan, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell noted: "It is not a political decision. It is a decision of a court... of an international court of justice. "And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented." - 'Secret' warrants - The warrants had initially been classified as "secret" to protect witnesses and safeguard the conduct of the investigations, the court said. They decided to make the public "since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing", it added. "Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants' existence." ICC prosecutor Khan in May requested the court issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu sacked Gallant as defence minister on November 5. Khan initially also sought warrants against other top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He had already dropped the application for Ismail Haniyeh, the group's political leader, following his death in an explosion in Tehran. Khan had also requested warrants against former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was also killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Since Hamas conducted its October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Israel has been fighting a war in Gaza, which the militant group rules. It was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants, a cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The Hamas government's health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that at least 44,056 people had been killed in more than 13 months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes 71 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 104,268 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began. jhe/jj/js/sbk/giv Originally published as ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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Read moreBEDFORD, Mass. , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT ), a leader in consumer robots, today announced that the company's management team will present at the following investor conferences: Raymond James TMT and Consumer Conference Date: Monday, December 9, 2024 Location: New York, NY Presentation: 3:00 p.m. ET ICR Conference 2025 Date: Monday, January 13, 2025 Location: Orlando, FL Presentation: 2:30 p.m. ET 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Location: New York, NY Presentation: 8:45 a.m. ET iRobot Chief Executive Officer Gary Cohen and Chief Financial Officer Karian Wong will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors during the three events. Live webcasts of the presentations will be available on the company's investor relations website, https://investor.irobot.com . Archived versions of the webcasts will be available after the event. For more information, please visit https://investor.irobot.com . About iRobot Corporation iRobot is a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places to live. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com . SOURCE iRobot CorporationNone
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has undergone surgery on his right ankle. The 28-year-old will be out for the foreseeable future and the club has yet to announce any timeline for his return. It is a major setback for a team that has just come off a massive 4-0 away at reigning champions Manchester City. Tottenham Confirm Guglielmo Vicario ’s Ankle Surgery We can confirm that Guglielmo Vicario has today undergone surgery for a fracture of his right ankle. Guglielmo will be assessed by our medical staff to determine when he can return to training. We're all behind you, Vic pic.twitter.com/FURltXcb3N — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 25, 2024 Who Will Replace Vicario Vicario started every Premier League match for the team, keeping four clean sheets in that time. The Italian international has come a long way since signing with the North London club and is now one of the best and most ‘ outstanding ‘ keepers in the league. His most obvious replacement is veteran keeper Fraser Forster. The 36-year-old last played a Premier League game for the Liliywhites in the 2022/23 season and has been used in the odd cup or European outing since then. In his three starts this term the former Southampton number one has kept one clean sheet and conceded four goals. Other options include Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, though neither keeper has first-team experience. Manager Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to choose either option. January Transfer Window Could Provide New Options As the club has not released any timeline for Vicario’s recovery, it is hard to determine what their outlook will be in the winter transfer window. Tottenham currently sit sixth, just three points behind archrivals Arsenal for a Champions League spot. If they are still in contention for the top four heading into the new year, they could possibly look to strengthen their goalkeeper stocks. But first, they must make it through the most congested schedule of the season. They are still in the EFL Cup and have Europa League matches coming up. Along with a heavy amount of Premier League games, this will see them play 10 games between now and the new year. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Commanders kicker Austin Seibert placed on injured reserve after missing three kicks against CowboysWomen must be given adequate space in politics and the freedom to express their opinions without falling victim to rumours or mob justice on social media, speakers said at an event yesterday. The event, titled "Unmasking Violence: Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Cyberbullying", was jointly organised by USAID and Dhaka Tribune as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign at the capital's Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium. Umama Fatema, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement, talked about the online harassment faced by female students and mothers who were at the forefront of recent mass protests. "They have been subjected to derogatory comments about their clothing, behaviour, and speech on social media. The political space is already underserved for women, and the politics of misinformation and rumours has made the situation worse," she said. Barrister Mitin Sanjana, a Supreme Court lawyer and researcher, criticised the inadequacies in Bangladesh's cyber security laws. "Girls are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, yet only one in 100 victims seek legal help. Often, police dismiss these cases as minor, while instances of victim-blaming and character assassination remain rampant, with no legal protection against such actions. The laws require urgent reform," she said. Sirazum Munira, former lead member of the Grassroot Network of the Youth Policy Forum, said 89 percent of cyberbullying victims in Bangladesh are aged between 18 and 30, with 73.4 percent not seeking legal action. She identified deepfake and generative AI technologies, lack of digital literacy, and insufficient fact-checking infrastructure as significant challenges. "Pornography, offensive messages, and derogatory statements dominate crimes against women," she added. Maliha Tabassum, faculty member of Bangladesh University of Professionals, pointed out that while urban youth are aware of AI, teens at the grassroot level lack digital literacy and often overlook online harassment, enabling perpetrators. "We need to raise awareness at the personal level," she urged. Poet and activist Ferdous Ara Rumi linked social media misuse to child marriage. "In villages, the threat of 'making it viral' is commonly used. Families, fearing social disgrace, often resort to child marriage to protect their reputation," she said. Troy Beckman, USAID's director of communications, said the youth should play a major role in addressing digital harassment. "Young people are the driving force for change in Bangladesh and must take action against this issue," he said. Reaz Ahmed, executive editor of Dhaka Tribune, said national progress depends on addressing the issues faced by women. "Following the July Revolution, tackling violence against women, particularly through combatting misinformation and disinformation, is essential," he said. The event called for stronger legislation, enhanced digital literacy, and collective action to ensure safer spaces for women both online and offline.
Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media
I love iced coffee, but I loathe cold coffee. Intentionally iced coffee is perfection, while hot coffee that's gone cold is disgusting. You can, of course, microwave coffee to return it to a drinkable temperature, and I have—many times. But a sad mug of microwaved coffee is no replacement for sipping a freshly brewed cup as close to its original temperature as possible, and that's always going to be a losing race against time. Enter Ember, and its " smart mug ." Unlike your dumb mug, Ember's cup can keep your drink at a stable temperature of your choosing, ranging between 120 ̊F and 145 ̊F. You set the temperature in the Ember app, pour yourself a cup of joe, and sip at your own leisure: Every time you take a drink, your coffee, tea, hot chocolate, what have you, will be the same temperature as the first sip. Even after Cyber Monday, Amazon still has the 14 oz mug on sale for up to 27% off—as long as you're okay with getting it in black. The 10 oz mug is on sale in a number of colors, though, including 21% off in copper and gold, 23% off in red, and 27% off in stainless steel and rose gold. Click through the various colors and sizes to see if you can find a match that works for you. I have been using an Ember mug for a while now, and it really is great—if not slightly surreal. It's an odd thing to pick up a mug of coffee that's been sitting around for half an hour, take a sip, and find it as steamy as when I first poured it. As odd as it sounds, this means it comes with a bit of a learning curve, at least if, like me, you are used to taking larger and larger sips of your coffee the longer it has been sitting around. Don't throw back a cup from your Ember, is what I'm saying. It'll be a bad time. A piping hot cup for over an hour Ember will eventually stop keeping your drink hot when the battery runs out. When new and fully charged, that's a generous 80 minutes, which is a long time to enjoy any single 14 oz beverage. However, if you tend to drink multiple cups a day, that battery will wear out before you've finished your afternoon spreadsheets, so I recommend storing the wireless charging dock wherever you're most likely to be drinking from the Ember mug—perhaps your desk, or on an end table. That way, you can place your mug on the charger instead of a coaster, and keep the battery constantly juiced. Don't let your brew burn The Ember mug isn't perfect. My one gripe is with how it handles the last sip or two of your beverage. It seems the heating element is so strong, it burns, or at least alters the taste of, any too-small amount of liquid. My advice is to finish the cup before it gets to this point, keep your temperature set lower, or turn off the heater via the app when you get about three-quarters of the way through it. A critical note: Do not put your Ember mug in the dishwasher . This mug is hand-wash only . It's safe to scrub it in the sink, and even submerge it in water up to one meter. However, the abrasive nature of your dishwasher's jets will be too much for both the outside coating and the electronics inside the mug. It's a little extra work to hand wash it after each use, but you'll have plenty of energy thanks to having downed that never-cooling cup of coffee.