The northwestern United States narrowly escaped a second 'bomb cyclone' on Thursday as the expected storm's force did not fully manifest, sparing the region from further devastation. However, the ongoing 'atmospheric river' continued to wreak havoc by delivering intense wind and torrential rain to northern California. The initial cyclone, characterized by sudden pressure drops leading to hurricane-force winds, battered areas from Washington state to northern California earlier this week, resulting in casualties and widespread power outages. Social media became awash with images of tree-crushed homes and vehicles, highlighting the storm's destructive impact. Despite the second storm not developing into a cyclone, it maintained enough power to exacerbate conditions. Authorities reported road hazards and issued multiple flood and wind warnings. Wind gusts were expected to reach up to 65 mph, posing risks of mudslides and life-threatening floods in vulnerable areas. Power outage numbers remained high, affecting thousands across the region. (With inputs from agencies.)GERRY Hutch is eyeing up an alliance of Independents to get him over the line next time - as he aims to master the transfer votes which cost him his Dail dream. The Monk suffered at the hands of Ireland’s proportional representation system which saw the fourth seat in Dublin Central snatched by Marie Sherlock from under the gangster’s nose. But he won’t be caught out again, and has vowed to come back stronger when the country next goes to the polls. He said: “I absolutely would do it all again, it was great fun. No one thought I would get as many votes as I did and I also learnt a lot. I don’t feel as though I’m finished with politics. “In boxing we have journeymen who support one another. As an Independent candidate in politics, I needed some journeymen and I didn’t have any. “These would be like-minded Independents who, when they would be canvassing, would be asking their supporters to give me a second preference and I would do the same for them." The patriarch of the Hutch family spent less than €10,000 on a campaign that saw few posters and barely any canvassing - but a huge media and social media exposure. The Dublin and Lanzarote -based crime chief saw a significant lead over Labour’s Sherlock eaten away by surpluses from Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe among others. His near miss forced people to sit up and take notice of what many presumed was a joke candidate. Hutch, cleared of the 2016 Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel thug David Byrne last year, reckons he would have been elected if he had those other “allies” whose transfers he could have relied on. The numbers bear that out. He told the Sunday Independent: “If I had more transfers, if I had journeymen with me, it would have made a big difference and I definitely would have won a seat. I went in blind and only ran my campaign for a few weeks. “Imagine what I could do if I ran a campaign for six months? So I’m throwing this out there now, to see if there might be other candidates who want to help their community, if we might form some kind of Independent alliance.” “I’m very pleased with how I did and I got more votes than anyone expected. “I certainly would consider running again. I’ve gotten a taste for politics.” Hutch, named in the Special Criminal Court as the patriarch of the Hutch family — which is involved in a feud with the Kinahan cartel that has claimed 18 lives — said he wished the four elected TDs in Dublin Central the best of luck. He insists he knew even before turning up for his infamous RDS count centre appearance that he wasn’t going to win a seat. He added: “It would have been disrespectful to the people who voted for me if I didn’t. I also thought it was the right thing to do to shake the hand of the Labour candidate who did get the fourth seat, Marie Sherlock, and wish her well. “I hope she does a great job for the community.” The three other candidates in the constituency who won seats were Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats.Thomas uses big drives and putts to hold lead in Bahamas
Frustrating search for gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO enters fifth dayIsraeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut’s southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city’s largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Airstrikes kill at least 12 Massive explosions lit up Lebanon’s skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that at least 12 people were killed in the strikes in Tyre province, adding to the more than 3,700 people in Lebanon who have been killed since Israel launched its invasion two months ago. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians , and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. The latest round of airstrikes came weeks after Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military had previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country’s deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” Hopes grow for a ceasefire Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country’s ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were “close to a deal.” “It can happen within days,” he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Netanyahu’s security Cabinet had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, but they said it remained unclear whether the Cabinet would vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday that he expected a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages and to be discussed by leaders Monday or Tuesday. Still, he warned, “it’s not going to happen overnight.” After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. “Nothing is done until everything is done,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force . Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel is demanding the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government has said that such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country’s sovereignty. A ceasefire could mark a step toward ending the regionwide war that ballooned after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . The lack of a ceasefire has emerged as a political liability for Israeli leaders including Netanyahu, particularly while 60,000 Israelis remain away from their homes in the country’s north after more than a year of cross-border violence. Hezbollah rockets have reached as far south into Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest of Iran’s armed proxies , is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition. While the proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a “big mistake” and a “missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” If the ceasefire talks fail, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “it will mean more destruction and more and more animosity and more dehumanization and more hatred and more bitterness.” Speaking at a G7 meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, the last summit of its kind before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office, Safadi said such a failure “will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction.” Federman reported from Jerusalem and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Nicole Winfield in Fiuggi, Italy, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warThe expensive electronics get all the attention — thousand-dollar phones and $500 tablets. But the supporting players — the cables and batteries and chargers that make our electronics work properly — are just as important. Right now for Black Friday , many of those smaller gadgets are on sale for less than $50. There are even some standalone devices like earbuds and smart speakers that fall well below the threshold. We’ve tested scads of these smaller, less expensive devices for Engadget buying guides, including the best power banks , iPad accessories , smart plugs and microSD cards . Here, we’ve gathered up all the Black Friday tech deals that are currently live from our recommendations that are currently less than $50. As there are still a few days to go until the actual day, we'll keep updating this guide as new deals come online. Black Friday tech deals under $20 Amazon Max subscription for $18 (6-month) ($42 off) : You can get six months of Max with Ads for $2.99 monthly instead of the usual $9.99. The subscription will automatically renew at that rate each month until the end of the promo period, when it'll automatically renew for the full $10. New and returning subscribers are eligible through Max.com, Roku, Apple and other streaming ecosystems, but is only open to new subscribers via Amazon Fire TV. Halo: The Master Chief Collection for $10 ($30 off) : As part of the Xbox Black Friday sale , you can save up to 55 percent on titles (some titles are going as low as $5). A number of our top picks for the best Xbox games are included in the sale, including this Halo collection, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut , Street Fighter 6 and Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred . And if you’re looking for more deals on game titles, check out Jeff Dunn’s Black Friday gaming roundup . Amazon Echo Pop (2023) for $18 ($22 off) : Amazon’s smallest Echo will fit in any room in your home, so Alexa can add things to your shopping list, set a timer, or answer questions (like “What’s a bomb cyclone?” or “Who is Penelope Cruz married to?”) from anywhere. Anker Nano Charger 30W USB-C for $13 ($7 off) : This compact 30-watt wall charger is smaller than others of its wattage and can speedily juice up an iPhone or Android handset. Anker is one of Engadget’s most recommended accessory brands and this is the model we picked for our fast charger guide . Get the same deal at Anker with an auto-applied code. Anker Nano power bank with built-in USB-C connector for $16 ($4 off) : It’s the size of an old-timey lipstick case but packs enough juice (and its own USB-C plug) to get a dying smartphone back in service with at least a half charge. It’s one of the winners in our guide to power banks . Also direct from Anker with an auto-applied code. Glocusent Tri-head clip-on book light for $16 ($4 off) : Glocusent’s book light can stand on a desk or clip to a book and casts a wide swath of light across the widest of pages. It’s a pick in our book lovers gift guide. Beshon European travel plug adapter (two-pack) for $13 ($6 off with Prime) : If you’re planning any trips abroad, take one of these, as Engadget’s Valentina Palladino recommends in our gifts for travelers guide . They come in versions made for Ireland, China and Japan, too. Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $1 ($29 off) : If you don’t currently subscribe to Audible you can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. The service is usually $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. Premium Plus gives you access to the Audible Plus library, and lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. Amazon Kindle Unlimited for $0 for one month ($12 off) : Amazon's ebook subscription service gives you access to a selected catalog of thousands titles for unlimited reading as well as some Audible audiobooks and magazines. Prime members can get two months for only $5. Elden Ring (PS4,PS5, Xbox) for $20 ($40 off) : One of our favorite games is down to the best price we’ve tracked. It feels impressively handmade despite its epic scale that feels big but never superfluous. Also at Best Buy . Amazon Smart Plug for $13 ($12 off) : If you rely on Alexa as your smart home assistant, this is an affordable and reliable way to control your lamps, fans and Christmas lights. It was one of the more reliable and fuss-free plugs I tested . Anker Nano II 713 Charger (45W) for $20 ($20 off) : This 45-watt charger has a single USB-C port and will let you take advantage of the faster charging speeds newer devices offer (just make sure you have an equally robust cable). It’s one of the picks in our iPad accessories guide . Also at Anker with an auto-applied code. Chipolo ONE for $20 ($5 off) : Our favorite Bluetooth tracker overall is loud, compact and readily tells you when you’ve left your keys (or whatever else you attach them to) behind. If you’re looking for a finding network to locate things you’ve lost out in the wild, this isn’t the one to get, but for everyday locating misplaced keys in the house, this is great. Belkin Apple AirTag secure holder for $15 ($5 off) : AirTags are great, and we recommend them for iPhone users, but they have no built-in method for attaching them. This is one of the gizmos we recommend in our guide to secure the tag to your luggage and more. Also at Amazon . Elevation Lab TagVault (2 Pack) for $16 ($4 off with Prime) : Another recommendation from our guide, Elevation Labs fabric mount is ideal for sticking an AirTag inside your coat, backpack or anything else you want to track. Also at Elevation Lab without Prime . Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 for $21 ($9 off) : If you have a Samsung smartphone, this is the tracker we recommend. The finding network isn’t as vast as Apple’s, but in our tests , the accuracy was good and the physical design is one of the best of its kind. PopSockets Phone Grip for $15 ($15 off) : You can save 50 percent on the Pop Socket we recommend in our guide to iPhone accessories . Many other Pop Sockets are on sale directly from Pop Socket for Black Friday. J-Tech Digital Ergonomic Mouse for $18 ($13 off) : The best budget ergo mouse has a vertical grip that’s a little wider than others of its ilk, which we found to be more comfortable. There are RGB lights, which can be fun. But which can also be turned off. WAVLINK USB-C hub for $13 ($13 off) : The budget pick in our guide to USB-C hubs has an HDMI port, three USB connections (two type-A and one type-C) plus a generous 10-inch cable to give you more options when plugging into your laptop or tablet. Anker USB-C 240W Bio-Braided cable for $12 ($5 off) : A fast charger won’t do much if the cable isn’t rated to handle the wattage. This 240W Anker cable is pulled from our list of the best iPhone accessories and will charge those devices (or any other rechargeable item with a USB-C port) as quickly as the brick and device will allow. Black Friday tech deals under $30 Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $29 ($21 off) : On our list of the best streaming devices we named the Roku Streaming Stick 4K the best pick for those wanting an ocean of free and live content. By combining Roku’s own free channels with content from other FAST apps this simple stick turns any screen into a portal to a near-infinite amount of movies and shows that you won’t pay a dime for. Also at Target and direct from Roku for $1 more. Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $28 ($12 off) : Anker’s Soundcore brand proves the accessory brand can make some excellent electronics and we named a number of Soundcore audio devices to our buying guides. This is one of the smaller and more affordable models from Anker and it’s currently back to one of its lowest prices yet. Anker Nano 3-in-1 10K portable charger for $30 ($15 off) : A top pick in our best power banks guide, this 10K brick has a built-in USB-C cable so you don't need to remember to bring one with you, plus it has an extra USB-C port for charging other devices. Also at Anker within an auto-applied code. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 gaming headset for $30 ($20 off) : Though we ultimately recommend getting an external mic along with your wired headphones if you need to chat while playing, the Cloud Stinger 2 is our pick for a budget gaming headset . Also at Best Buy and direct from Hyper . Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A (4-pack) for $30 ($20 off) : Our favorite smart plug overall connects to all the major smart home platforms, including from Apple, Google and Amazon. It’s perfectly simple to set up, stays connected and makes it easy to make your lights do what you want them to. Also at Amazon . EarFun Free 2S wireless earbuds for $25 ($15 off) : These don’t sound as sharp as other budget earbuds we recommend and there’s no noise cancellation or transparency mode, but if you need a pair of earbuds under $50 (or under $30 now) these are decently comfortable with a sound that’s a bit richer than others in its price range. Amazon Echo Buds for $25 ($25 off) : Our favorite budget earbuds with an open ear design are made by Amazon. They don’t go all the way in your ear so you’ll hear more of what’s going on around you. The sound is decently separated, though we recommend tweaking the EQ in the Alexa app to bring down the treble a touch. Anker USB-C Hub 341 for $25 ($10 off) : Anker’s seven-port hub lets you use a range of extras with your tablet, which is why we named it one of the best accessories for an iPad . In addition to extra USB connections, you also get a microSD and standard SD card slots. Logitech Signature M650 wireless mouse for $30 ($5 off) : This portable mouse is great for anyone who changes locations when they work because it connects quickly and easily slips in a pack. It’s one of the gifts we recommend in our stocking stuffer guide. Also at Staples and direct from Logitech . Ransom Notes board game for $28 ($7 off) : Engadget’s Karissa Bell recommends this party board game in our gift guide thanks to its hilarity-inspiring appeal. It forces players to communicate complex concepts using a given number of word magnet tiles. Baseus 30W Magnetic Power Bank for $25 ($20 off) : An honorable mention in our battery guide , this small Baseus bank delivers a fast charge either wirelessly for MagSafe compatible iPhones or via the attached USB-C cable. Black Friday tech deals under $40 Engadget Blink Mini 2 (two-pack) for $35 ($35 off) : The newest Blink Mini wired security camera came out earlier this year and it supports 1080p video recordings, a wider field of view than the previous model and improved low-light performance. It may be wired, but you can use it outside with the $10 weather-resistant adapter . JBL Go 4 for $40 ($10 off) : JBL’s smallest portable speaker has up to seven hours of battery life on a charge, has an IP67 waterproof rating and has a tiny built-in carry strap so you can bring it wherever you go. Also at JBL and Best Buy . Headspace annual plan for $35 ($35 off) : Our top pick for the best meditation app has tons of courses that address specific anxieties and worries, a good in-app search engine that makes it easy to find the right meditation you need, and additional yoga routines, podcasts and music sessions to try out. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $33 ($27 off) : Amazon's most powerful dongle supports 4K streaming with Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6E and live picture-in-picture mode so you can see security camera feeds directly on your TV as you're watching a show or movie. In addition to being a solid streamer, it also makes a good retro gaming device . Anker 633 Magnetic Battery for $40 ($15 off) : Choose from a MagSafe option or the 20W Power Delivery port via a USB-C cable (which charges things faster). The handy kickstand means you can look at your phone while it charges and that port lets you charge non-MagSafe devices too. Blink Outdoor 4 (2023) $38 ($52 off) : Amazon’s latest outdoor Blink camera works well (and only) with Alexa, letting you check on your surroundings using the app or a compatible display (like an Echo Show or a Fire TV. OtterBox Performance Fast Charge Power Bank 20,000 mAh for $32 ($23 off) : This is the larger-capacity model of the mid-range battery we recommend in our guide to power banks. Not only does it look cool, it’s durable and charges up a phone quickly through either the USB-C or USB-A port. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $40 ($30 off) : Engadget’s Mat Smith gave this title a favorable review earlier this year. It helps if you’ve played its predecessor and it’s absolutely stuffed with things to do. This is a new low for the PS5 exclusive. Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $35 ($15 off) : We like Govee’s playful smart lights and recommend the brand in our guide to smart bulbs. These light bars made the list in our stocking stuffer gift guide thanks to their versatility (they can stand up, lay flat or be mounted) and there’s no end to the multiple colors and sequences you can program. Razer Basilisk V3 ergonomic gaming mouse for $40 ($30 off) : This is the gaming option in our guide to the best ergonomic mice . It’s super light and glides across multiple surfaces. The buttons are customizable and the thumb rest is comfortable. Also at Amazon . UGREEN Revodok Pro 109 USB-C hub for $38 ($16 off) : The top pick in our buying guide to USB-C hubs has a good array of ports, the ability to support two 4K monitors, and a nice long host cable so you can easily arrange it on your desk. Moft Tripod iPhone Wallet for $40 ($10 off with Prime) : Moft's origami-inspired accessories tend to be clever and surprisingly useful. This one is no different, combining a single-card wallet with a dual-height stand. I was impressed with the sturdiness of the stand in such a thin package. If you don't need to carry a single card, the wallet-less version is $32 right now. Black Friday tech deals under $50 Amazon JBL Clip 5 for $49.95 ($30 off) : JBL makes a good number of the winners in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers . We didn’t review this one formally for our guide, but it’s one of the more affordable models the brand makes and the clip plus dunkable water resistance makes it easy to bring JBL’s signature dynamic range just about anywhere. Also at Walmart and direct from JBL . Amazon Echo Show 5 (2023) for $45 ($45 off) : The newest Echo Show 5 made our list of the best smart displays because it doubles as a “stellar alarm clock” with the auto-dimming screen, tap-to-snooze feature and a sunrise alarm. Plus the tiny, five-inch screen is perfect for a nightstand. Also, oddly, at Best Buy . Amazon Echo Spot (2024) $45 ($35 off) : The mini display just shows simple data like the time, weather or song that’s playing while the other half of the circle plays music. It’s an updated version of a model Amazon discontinued a couple of years ago and now it’s back . Elecom Nestout power bank 15,000mAh for $48 ($12 off) : For outdoor charging, this is one of the few portable batteries that can handle a dunk in water (as long as you’ve remembered to screw on the port covers). We recommend it in our guide and particularly like the handy accessories like a tripod stand and light that you can buy to go on it. Also at Nestout for $1 more. 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for $48 at Amazon ($12 off, Prime only) : Engadget’s Jeff Dunn raved about this wireless gamepad for Switch and PC, calling it comfortable with durable Hall effect joysticks that should avoid the “drift” sensation that plagues many modern controllers. Also at Best Buy . Soundcore by Anker Space A40 wireless earbuds for $45 ($35 off) : Our top budget wireless earbuds are just $5 shy of their all time low. They have outstanding active noise cancellation for the price and offer a warm and pleasant default sound. Ultimate Ears Mini Roll for $50 ($30 off) : This less-than-a-pound sound maker came out at the same time as the Everboom and is the smallest speaker in UE’s lineup. It’s IP67 rated to be dust- and waterproof and can crank out 85 decibels of volume — impressive for something so small. Also at Amazon and B&H Photo . Tribit StormBox Micro 2 for $42 ($38 off with coupon) : This is the smallest speaker in our guide and it can go with you anywhere with the built-in strap. It pumps out impressive volume for its size and can go for 12 hours on a charge. The audio isn’t the highest fidelity, but this is more about bringing the vibes than emitting flawless musical clarity. Also directly from Tribit (see price in cart). Anker PowerConf C200 2K webcam for $48 ($12 off) : The budget pick in our buying guide to webcams is back down to a low it’s hit a few times before. We like the excellent video clarity and easy set up and customization. Also at Anker with a coupon code. Thermacell Mosquito Repeller for $43 ($8 off) : The mosquitos may be gone for the winter, but we all know they'll be back next year. This is one of the few mosquito-repelling products we recommend , so grab one now for a less irritating summer next year. Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV for $44 (20 percent off) : This set recreates the scene in which Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers battled the Rebels, and it includes seven Star Wars minifigures. Also at Target . Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.
ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S) announced today it has taken delivery of ‘Al Shelila,’ the first of six new-build Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard in China. The vessel has been delivered two months ahead of schedule, with the remaining five expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026. Immediately after delivery, “Al Shelila” will go on hire with a top-tier, global energy trader. Al Shelila’s naming and delivery ceremony was attended by Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi, UAE Consul-General in Shanghai, Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, Lin Ou, Chairman of Jiangnan Shipyard, Tony Liang, General Manager, Wanhua Chemical Group, Rong Yao of CSTC, Norbert Kray of DNV and Sebastien Fatet of GTT. Al Masabi said, “As we expand our fleet to meet rising global demand for natural gas, our deepening partnership with Jiangnan Shipyard underscores the strong industrial ties between the UAE and China, reinforcing our shared commitment to powering global economic growth.” ADNOC L&S awarded shipbuilding contracts to Jiangnan Shipyard in 2022 for the six LNG carriers as part of the Company’s strategic fleet expansion to meet the growing global demand for natural gas as a lower-carbon energy source. During 2024, the Company further strengthened and modernised its asset base with new build contracts for up to 23 new energy-efficient vessels, including 8-10 LNG carriers, nine Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) and four Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs), adding in excess of 340 years of contracted income year-to-date. In addition, the Navig8 acquisition is progressing well through regulatory approvals, with completion anticipated by 31st March 2025 at the latest. The expected contribution of the acquisition will further boost ADNOC L&S’ profile as a global energy maritime logistics leader. Lin Ou commented, “Under the great trust and support of ADNOC L&S, DNV, GTT and all relevant parties, Jiangnan has completed the construction of the first Mark III type large LNG carrier two months ahead of schedule. As a global leading shipbuilding company specialised in the full series of gas carriers, Jiangnan has demonstrated its comprehensive shipbuilding ability again. We are committed to delivering the remaining LNG carriers, VLECs and VLACs on time to support ADNOC L&S in its ambitious fleet expansion, and further strengthen our strategic cooperation.” Al Shelila has a capacity of 175,000m3, significantly larger than the 137,000m3 capacity of ADNOC L&S’ current LNG carriers. Equipped with advanced energy-efficient technologies, including two new-generation LNG dual-fuel main engines, the vessel is designed to reduce methane emissions by up to 50% compared to older-generation technology. The partnership between ADNOC L&S and Jiangnan Shipyard continues to strengthen. In 2020, AW Shipping, the strategic venture between ADNOC L&S and Wanhua Chemical, awarded Jiangnan Shipyard shipbuilding contracts for five Very Large Gas Carriers. This collaboration expanded in 2024 with further contracts for nine VLECs and four VLACs. Source: ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S)Jason Bonney (53) was refused permission to convert the garage into a two-bedroom home for his daughter and grandson by Fingal County Council in 2016 and then further refused permission when he appealed the matter to An Bord Pleanála Jason Bonney advertised the property despite being banged up Jason Bonney’s palatial pad The converted garage at the rear of Jason Bonney’s pad Inside Jason Bonney’s pad... Inside the property A bedroom A Garda cordon outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin An illegally converted bungalow at the back of Regency Hotel getaway driver Jason Bonney’s Dublin mansion has been advertised on Daft.ie at a monthly rent of €2,250. Banged-up Bonney (53) was refused permission to convert the garage into a two-bedroom home for his daughter and grandson by Fingal County Council in 2016 and then further refused permission when he appealed the matter to An Bord Pleanála. However, an advert for the property at the rear of his palatial pad in the gated community of Drumnigh Woods, Portmarnock, posted on Daft this week revealed the garage has now been fully converted. In the advert, which was subsequently removed from the site, the former shed is described as a “single-storey detached two-bedroom apartment/bungalow located near the Dart line.” Jason Bonney’s palatial pad “The property offers two bedrooms, one double, one single, a modern kitchen with gas central heating, a private back garden and front driveway.” The contact person for the property was listed on the advert as ‘Jason B’. The advert, which had been viewed more than 700 times by Wednesday night, was removed from the site on Thursday morning. Texts and calls to mobile number supplied were not returned. When the Sunday World attempted to call to the Bonney property on Thursday evening, a security guard at the gates of the millionaires’ row declined to grant us access. A former boxing coach and long-time friend of gangster Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, Bonney is currently appealing his conviction and his eight-and-a-half-year sentence for acting as a getaway driver during the Regency Hotel shooting of David Byrne. The converted garage at the rear of Jason Bonney’s pad Byrne was shot and killed in the lobby of the Regency Hotel in a gangland killing that shocked the country on February 5, 2016. Bonney, who also owns two houses and four apartments, built an impressive property portfolio worth millions from a young age, snapping up Georgian homes in the city centre and cashing-in during the boom. The former boxer had been trying to develop his home at 89 Drumnigh Woods in Portmarnock at the time of the Regency attack. The house is located in an exclusive gated estate, where Brian McFadden and his former wife Kerry Katona once lived. But just five days after the Regency attack he was refused planning permission to demolish the double garage and build a two-bed property on his grounds. Ten days later, when his BMW X5 jeep was seized, he told officers that as a result of their close attention his life was a “living hell”, his workers had left him, his son had fled the country and that the “love and light” had gone out of his home. Inside Jason Bonney’s pad... Inside the property However, despite those problems, Bonney managed to put up a fight against Fingal County Council and lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála on March 3, 2016. Days before his arrest on May 27, the planning board upheld the refusal after visiting his house earlier that month. In a report, An Bord Pleanála said that the proposed development was intended as a home for Bonney’s young daughter and her 18-month-old son, who he claimed were entitled to social housing but who would have an eight-year wait. A bedroom The report said that permission had been granted in 2015 for an extension to the side of the existing house and for the conversion of the garage into a private gym with a bathroom. And, as a condition of that grant of permission, it had specified that the garage would not be sold, rented or leased independently “in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development of the area”. Both Bonney and a co-accused Paul Murphy stood trial before the Special Criminal Court last year in a case that was heard alongside that of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch. The pair sat every day of the trial sitting next to Hutch, who was ultimately acquitted of the murder of Byrne. However, unlike Hutch, Bonney and Murphy were convicted of facilitating that murder — by providing vehicles which they used to help the hit team escape. Bonney was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after he was convicted of being the getaway driver that helped hitman Kevin ‘Flat Cap’ Murray escape following the horrific gangland murder. Murphy, meanwhile, was sentenced to nine years in prison for using his taxi to transport one of the hit team. A Garda cordon outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin In her judgment on April 17, Ms Justice Tara Burns sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley found beyond reasonable doubt that Murphy’s silver Toyota Avensis taxi and Bonney’s black BMW X5 jeep were part of a convoy of six cars that parked up at St Vincent’s GAA club grounds in Marino in north Dublin before the Regency shooting on the afternoon of February 5, 2016, and had then each transported one of the hit men from St Vincent’s GAA car park. It was the prosecution’s case that an integral part of the operation which led to Mr Byrne’s death was the means by which the tactical team escaped, which was central to the case of Bonney and Murphy. Ms Justice Burns said the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the existence of the Hutch Criminal Organisation and that the defendants Murphy and Bonney knew of its existence when they provided access to their individual cars at St Vincent’s GAA club intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by the Hutches. She also said that the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the Regency attack, during which David Byrne was shot dead, was orchestrated by the Hutch Criminal Organisation. In pleading their innocence at the time, Murphy claimed the Toyota Avensis taxi seen in CCTV footage heading to St Vincent’s GAA and waiting for the hit team, was not his. Bonney, meanwhile, brought forward two witnesses to try and help corroborate his bizarre claim that his vehicle was being used that day by his now-deceased father. I n scathing remarks in her judgment, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the court had been lied to in the “most malevolent manner” by Jason Bonney, who had wrongly tried to implicate his father. “A dead father has been implicated in the Regency by his son’s witnesses. “That anybody thought that these lies would be accepted by the Court is quite frankly amazing,” she further added. Both men are currently imprisoned in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison.Shoppers in downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs won't have to worry about dipping into their holiday cash to pay for parking on select days this season. Officials in Colorado Springs and Manitou said their special parking promotions are intended to draw visitors to support local businesses during the biggest shopping period of the year. The day after holiday sales kick off on Black Friday, downtown Colorado Springs hosts Small Business Saturday all day on Nov. 30 in one square mile of downtown. Several shops and restaurants will offer sales and specials that day. Additionally, all Colorado Springs city-owned parking garages, lots and meters will be free Thursday to Saturday downtown and in Old Colorado City. "We want to encourage residents and visitors alike to visit downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City to support our wide variety of small businesses during this holiday week," Public Works Director Richard Mulledy, who also oversees the city's parking enterprise, said in a news release Monday. Colorado Springs officials worked with stakeholders in Old Colorado City and the Downtown Partnership to offer the parking promotions, Mulledy added. The city will place hoods over free meters in downtown, including on Tejon Street from Cache La Poudre to Rio Grande streets and the associated side streets within one block of Tejon. Parking in downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs will be free on select days this holiday shopping season, including on Small Business Day, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. In this file photo from Small Business Saturday in 2019, Kayla Collins shops at Piramide Clothing Co. in Manitou Springs. City-owned parking garages at Nevada and Colorado avenues, Nevada Avenue and Kiowa Street, and Cascade Avenue and Bijou Street; all parking meters in Old Colorado City; and surface lots on West Cucharras Street, West Pikes Peak Avenue and the alley lot off of West Colorado Avenue will be free. Later this season, metered parking in Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City will be free on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, according to the city's parking enterprise website. More than 90% of downtown's 170-plus shops, galleries, restaurants and personal services storefronts are locally owned and operated. "There's a real joy to having facetime with the people who have poured their heart and soul — and life — into bringing you an independent business and hand-selected products," Downtown Partnership spokeswoman Carrie Simison said in a separate Monday news release. "Each item you choose to gift comes with a story when you purchase it from a local shop owner." Colorado Springs shoppers can pick up a downtown holiday coupon book at Mountain Chalet outdoor sports store on Nevada Avenue and the Terra Verde boutique on Tejon Street. Small Business Saturday festivities also include Christmas carols and the return of the Yobel and The Look Up Gallery as a holiday pop-up shop at 517 S. Cascade Ave., Suite E. It runs Saturday through Jan. 15, ahead of a planned grand reopening in the spring. For more information, visit downtowncs.com/event/small-business-saturday . Old Colorado City's Christmas Stroll also runs Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at Bancroft Park and along Colorado Avenue. Shops will offer special offers and sales, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, carols and skits from Dickens Carolers, live reindeer, entertainment and costumed characters. A full schedule and details about special offers are online, shopoldcoloradocity.com/events/christmas-stroll . The free holiday season parking days are in addition to recent changes in downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City parking hours and fees. On Nov. 15, the city implemented free Sunday parking in three city-owned garages and nine lots through the end of the calendar year. Officials also permanently shortened meter hours: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. For more information about Colorado Springs parking, visit coloradosprings.gov/parking . Manitou Springs and the city's Metropolitan Parking District are offering free two-hour parking from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from Dec. 14-25. Parking is free after 6 p.m. The promotion applies to the city's Hiawatha (10 Old Man's Trail) and Canon (135 Canon Ave.) lots, the metro district's Wichita (708 Manitou Ave.) and Smischny (1134 Manitou Ave.) lots, and on-street parking areas in Manitou Springs. Visitors can use the parking kiosks to select their free two-hour parking period. For more information, including real-time parking availability, visit manitouspringsco.gov/567/Parking-Locations .
BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to knowUS inflation ticked up last month as some price pressures remain persistent WASHINGTON (AP) — Fueled by pricier used cars, hotel rooms and groceries, inflation in the United States moved slightly higher last month in the latest sign that some price pressures remain elevated. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, up from a yearly figure of 2.6% in October. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices increased 3.3%. Measured month to month, prices climbed 0.3% from October to November, the biggest such increase since April. Wednesday’s inflation figures are the final major piece of data Federal Reserve officials will consider before they meet next week to decide on interest rates. The November increase won’t likely be enough to discourage the officials from cutting their key rate by a quarter-point. Albertsons gives up on Kroger merger and sues the grocery chain for failing to secure deal Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies accusing each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after two judges — a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington — issued injunctions to block the merger, saying it could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the claims are “baseless.” Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It'll be a first for him NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, marking the ceremonial start of the day’s trading. That's supposed to happen on Thursday, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. The U.S. stock market soared after Trump won the November election in part by seizing on Americans’ worries over the economy. The bell-ringing will be a notable moment of recognition for Trump. He's a born-and-bred New Yorker who gave up living full time in his Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida. Supreme Court allows investors' class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nvidia of misleading investors about its past dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency to proceed. The court’s decision Wednesday comes the same week that China said it is investigating the the microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. The justices heard arguments four weeks ago in Nvidia’s bid to shut down the lawsuit, then decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. They dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Apple's latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season. It comes in the form of a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds. The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October. The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis,” Apple’s description of emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. EU targets Russia's ghost fleet shipping oil in a new round of sanctions BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union envoys have agreed a new raft of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine. The EU's Hungarian presidency said Wednesday that the measures will target in particular a vast shadow fleet of ships that Moscow is exploiting to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and fuel. The sanctions are aimed at about 50 of what are routinely decrepit ships. The sanctions will hit more officials and entities alleged to be helping Russia to improve its military technology by evading export restrictions. EU foreign ministers are set to formally adopt the sanctions package on Monday. Making a $1B investment in the US? Trump pledges expedited permits — but there are hurdles WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising expedited federal permits for energy projects and other construction worth more than $1 billion. But like other Trump plans, the idea is likely to run into regulatory and legislative hurdles, including a landmark law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact before deciding on major projects. Environmental groups called the plan a clear violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The chief policy advocacy officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council says Trump should be careful what he wishes for. She said, "What if someone wants to build a waste incinerator next to Mar-a-Lago or a coal mine next to Bedminster golf course?” Trump says he'll name Andrew Ferguson head of FTC and Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has made another flurry of job announcements. He said Tuesday that he had selected Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Kimberly Guilfoyle as the ambassador to Greece and Tom Barrack as the ambassador to Turkey. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners and will replace Lina Khan. She became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. Guilfoyle became engaged to Don Trump Jr. in 2020, adn Tom Barrack is a longtime friend who was also the former Trump inaugural chair. Bank of Canada cuts interest rate by half a percentage point, highlights risk of Trump's tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s central bank lowered its key interest rate by half a percentage point while highlighting the risk of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat of tariffs on all Canadian products. The Bank of Canada’s decision marked the fifth consecutive reduction since June and brings the central bank’s key rate down to 3.25%. The central bank noted a number of risks to the economy, including U.S. tariffs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Stock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 rose 0.9% Wednesday and is on track to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.8%. Treasury yields edged higher as expectations built that the inflation update will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Inflation accelerated a touch last month but came in exactly as forecast.
The Onion's rejected purchase of Infowars in an auction bid supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting dealt them a new setback Wednesday and clouded the future of Alex Jones' conspiracy theory platform, which is now poised to remain in his control for at least the near future. What's next for Infowars and Sandy Hook families' long-sought efforts to hold Jones accountable over calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax was unclear, after a federal judge in Houston late Tuesday rejected The Onion's winning bid for the site . U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said he did not want another auction but offered no roadmap over how to proceed. One possibility includes ultimately allowing Sandy Hook families — who comprise most of Jones' creditors — to return to state courts in Connecticut and Texas to collect on the nearly $1.5 billion in defamation and emotional distress lawsuit judgments that Jones was ordered to pay them. “Our hope is that when this process ends, and it will end, and it will end sooner rather than later, is that all assets that Alex Jones has available are paid to the families, and that includes Infowars, and that as a result of that process Alex Jones is deprived of the ownership and control of the platform that he’s used to hurt so many people,” Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, said in a phone interview Wednesday. The families, meanwhile, were preparing the mark the 12th anniversary of the Dec. 14 shooting. The sale of Infowars is part of Jones’ personal bankruptcy case , which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay the $1.5 billion. Jones was sued for repeatedly saying on his show that the 2012 massacre of 20 first graders and six educators was staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control. Lopez said there was a lack of transparency in the bidding process and too much confusion about The Onion's bid. He also said the amount of money offered in the only two bids was too low and there needed to be more effort to try to raise as much money possible from the selling of Infowars' assets. The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, submitted a $1.75 million cash offer with plans to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody . The bid also included a deal with many of the Sandy Hook families for them to forgo $750,000 of their auction proceeds and give it to other creditors. Lopez called it a complex arrangement that led to different interpretations of the bid's actual value as well as last-minute changes to a proposed sale order. The other bidder was First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements and planned to let Jones stay on the Infowars platforms. It offered $3.5 million in cash and later, with Jones, alleged fraud and collusion in the bidding process. Lopez rejected the allegations, saying that while mistakes were made there was no wrongdoing. Christopher Murray, the trustee who oversaw the auction, said he picked The Onion and its deal with the Sandy Hook families because it would have provided more money to Jones' other creditors. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday. The judge directed Murray to come up with a new plan to move forward. Murray and representatives of The Onion did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The judge said there was a possibility there could be a trial in 2025 to settle Jones' bankruptcy. He said Murray could try to sell the equity in Infowars' parent company. He also said Murray could abandon the efforts, which could allow the Sandy Hook families to return to the state courts where they won their lawsuits against Jones and begin collection proceedings against him. The judge said he wanted to hear back from Murray and others involved in the bankruptcy within 30 days on a plan to move forward. Mattei, who represented the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit, said everyone is waiting to see what plan the trustee comes up with. Jones, meanwhile, continued to allege fraud and collusion on his show Wednesday and threatened legal action over what he called an attempted “rigged auction.” On the social media platform X, he called the judge's ruling a “Major Victory For Freedom Of The Press & Due Process." “I don’t want to have to go after these people, lawsuit-wise, but we have to because if you don’t then you’re aiding and abetting and they do it to other people. They made some big mistakes," he said. It's a solemn and heartbreaking week for relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The 12th anniversary is Saturday, and some of the victims' relatives were traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend the annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence on Wednesday evening. The families usually mark the anniversary out of the public eye. Many of the families said their lawsuits against Jones bought back the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones, as well as the trauma of being harassed and threatened by believers of Jones' hoax conspiracy. Relatives said they have been confronted in public by hoax believers and received death and rape threats. Robbie Parker, whose 6-year-old daughter Emilie was killed, testified at the Connecticut lawsuit trial in 2022 that the decade of abuse his family suffered made them move across the country to Washington state, and even there he was accosted in person. The families have not received any money from Jones since winning the trials. Jones has been appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments, and has since conceded that the shooting did happen. Last week, a Connecticut appeals court upheld most of the judgment in that state but reduced it by $150 million. Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.