It all started when health inspectors conducted routine checks on various vegetable stores in the city. Upon testing samples from the store in question, it was discovered that the pesticide residue levels in the vegetables were significantly above the allowable limits. This raised serious concerns about the safety and quality of the vegetables being sold to unsuspecting customers.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press
"The Path of the Divine Maiden" custom XSX console and controller set featuring Miko Big Sister is a true masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, bringing together the worlds of gaming and art in a seamless and enchanting way. It is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination in the gaming community, and a collector's item that will be cherished by fans for years to come. Embark on the divine maiden's path today and experience the magic for yourself!TORONTO , Dec. 18, 2024 /CNW/ - BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. today announced the 2024 annual reinvested distributions for BMO Exchange Traded Funds (BMO ETFs) or ETF Series of BMO Mutual Funds (ETF Series) 1 . These annual reinvested distributions generally represent realized capital gains and special income within the BMO ETFs and ETF Series, and are paid to unitholders, as required, to ensure that the BMO ETFs and ETF Series are not liable for ordinary income tax. Unitholders of record at close of business on December 30, 2024, will receive the 2024 annual reinvested distributions. The actual taxable amounts, including the tax characteristics, will be reported in 2025. Please note that the cash distributions will be reported separately and may be applicable to some BMO ETFs and/or ETF Series making annual reinvested distributions. Details of the per-unit annual reinvested distribution amounts are as follows: FUND NAME TICKER REINVESTED DISTRIBUTION ($) BMO Long Short Canadian Equity ETF ZLSC 0.089 BMO Long Short US Equity ETF ZLSU 1.078 BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF ZAG 0.000 BMO BBB Corporate Bond Index ETF ZBBB 0.015 BMO Canadian Bank Income Index ETF ZBI 0.019 BMO Canadian MBS Index ETF ZMBS 0.015 BMO Clean Energy Index ETF ZCLN 0.000 BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF ZCB 0.000 BMO Discount Bond Index ETF ZDB 0.000 BMO Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZDJ 0.000 BMO Emerging Markets Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZEF 0.000 BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF ZEB 0.000 BMO Equal Weight Global Base Metals Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZMT 0.000 BMO Equal Weight Global Gold Index ETF ZGD 5.604 BMO Equal Weight Industrials Index ETF ZIN 1.195 BMO Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF ZEO 0.057 BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF ZRE 0.379 BMO Equal Weight US Banks Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZUB 0.097 BMO Equal Weight US Banks Index ETF ZBK 0.124 BMO Equal Weight US Health Care Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZUH 0.000 BMO Equal Weight US Health Care Index ETF ZHU 0.000 BMO Equal Weight Utilities Index ETF ZUT 0.424 BMO ESG Corporate Bond Index ETF ESGB 0.028 BMO ESG High Yield US Corporate Bond Index ETF ESGH 0.291 BMO ESG High Yield US Corporate Bond Index ETF (Hedged Units) ESGH.F 0.111 BMO ESG US Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF ESGF 0.066 BMO Global Communications Index ETF COMM 0.104 BMO Global Consumer Discretionary Hedged to CAD Index ETF DISC 0.019 BMO Global Consumer Staples Hedged to CAD Index ETF STPL 0.000 BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF ZGI 0.258 BMO Government Bond Index ETF ZGB 0.003 BMO High Quality Corporate Bond Index ETF ZQB 0.000 BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZHY 0.010 BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Index ETF ZJK 0.053 BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZJK.U 0.036 BMO Japan Index ETF ZJPN 0.000 BMO Japan Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZJPN.F 0.038 BMO Junior Gold Index ETF ZJG 0.000 BMO Laddered Preferred Share Index ETF ZPR 0.018 BMO Laddered Preferred Share Index ETF (USD Units)* ZPR.U 0.000 BMO Long Corporate Bond Index ETF ZLC 0.000 BMO Long Federal Bond Index ETF ZFL 0.000 BMO Long Provincial Bond Index ETF ZPL 0.000 BMO Long-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF ZTL 0.198 BMO Long-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZTL.F 0.127 BMO Long-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZTL.U 0.685 BMO Mid Corporate Bond Index ETF ZCM 0.000 BMO Mid Federal Bond Index ETF ZFM 0.000 BMO Mid Provincial Bond Index ETF ZMP 0.000 BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZMU 0.000 BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Index ETF ZIC 0.003 BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZIC.U 0.011 BMO Mid-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF ZTM 0.000 BMO Mid-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZTM.U 0.011 BMO MSCI ACWI Paris Aligned Climate Equity Index ETF ZGRN 0.000 BMO MSCI All Country World High Quality Index ETF ZGQ 2.369 BMO MSCI Canada ESG Leaders Index ETF ESGA 0.023 BMO MSCI Canada Value Index ETF ZVC 0.578 BMO MSCI China ESG Leaders Index ETF ZCH 0.000 BMO MSCI EAFE ESG Leaders Index ETF ESGE 0.000 BMO MSCI EAFE Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZDM 0.092 BMO MSCI EAFE High Quality Index ETF ZIQ 0.000 BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETF ZEA 0.000 BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF ZEM 0.781 BMO MSCI Europe High Quality Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZEQ 0.028 BMO MSCI Global ESG Leaders Index ETF ESGG 0.000 BMO MSCI India ESG Leaders Index ETF ZID 0.000 BMO MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index ETF ESGY 0.000 BMO MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index ETF (Hedged Units) ESGY.F 0.000 BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF ZUQ 1.251 BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZUQ.F 0.445 BMO MSCI USA High Quality Index ETF (USD Units)* ZUQ.U 0.966 BMO MSCI USA Value Index ETF ZVU 0.098 BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZQQ 0.000 BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Index ETF ZNQ 0.000 BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Index ETF (USD Units)* ZNQ.U 0.000 BMO Real Return Bond Index ETF ZRR 0.000 BMO S&P 500 Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZUE 0.000 BMO S&P 500 Index ETF ZSP 0.019 BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD Units)* ZSP.U 0.015 BMO S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF ZIU 3.626 BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF ZCN 0.000 BMO S&P US Mid Cap Index ETF ZMID 1.659 BMO S&P US Mid Cap Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZMID.F 0.000 BMO S&P US Mid Cap Index ETF (USD Units)* ZMID.U 0.447 BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF ZSML 0.181 BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZSML.F 0.130 BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (USD Units)* ZSML.U 0.131 BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF ZCS 0.022 BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF (Accumulating Units) ZCS.L 0.241 BMO Short Federal Bond Index ETF ZFS 0.048 BMO Short Federal Bond Index ETF (Accumulating Units) ZFS.L 0.195 BMO Short Provincial Bond Index ETF ZPS 0.000 BMO Short Provincial Bond Index ETF (Accumulating Units) ZPS.L 0.126 BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF ZSB 0.113 BMO Short-Term US IG Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZSU 0.053 BMO Short-Term US TIPS Index ETF ZTIP 0.000 BMO Short-Term US TIPS Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZTIP.F 0.000 BMO Short-Term US TIPS Index ETF (USD Units)* ZTIP.U 0.000 BMO Short-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF ZTS 0.083 BMO Short-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZTS.U 0.083 BMO US Aggregate Bond Index ETF ZUAG 0.438 BMO US Aggregate Bond Index ETF (Hedged Units) ZUAG.F 0.329 BMO US Aggregate Bond Index ETF (USD Units)* ZUAG.U 0.342 BMO US Preferred Share Hedged to CAD Index ETF ZHP 0.000 BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF ZUP 0.000 BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF (USD Units)* ZUP.U 0.000 BMO US TIPS Index ETF TIPS 0.122 BMO US TIPS Index ETF (Hedged Units) TIPS.F 0.492 BMO US TIPS Index ETF (USD Units)* TIPS.U 0.000 BMO All-Equity ETF ZEQT 0.353 BMO Balanced ESG ETF ZESG 0.663 BMO Balanced ETF ZBAL 0.489 BMO Balanced ETF (Fixed Percentage Distribution Units) ZBAL.T 0.000 BMO Canadian Banks Accelerator ETF ZEBA 0.000 BMO Canadian Dividend ETF ZDV 0.683 BMO Canadian High Dividend Covered Call ETF ZWC 0.000 BMO Conservative ETF ZCON 0.000 BMO Corporate Discount Bond ETF ZCDB 0.014 BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF ZWB 0.000 BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (USD Units)* ZWB.U 0.000 BMO Covered Call Dow Jones Industrial Average Hedged to CAD ETF ZWA 0.000 BMO Covered Call Energy ETF ZWEN 0.249 BMO Covered Call Health Care ETF ZWHC 0.031 BMO Covered Call Technology ETF ZWT 0.828 BMO Covered Call US Banks ETF ZWK 0.000 BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF ZWU 0.000 BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call ETF ZWP 0.000 BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF ZWE 0.000 BMO Floating Rate High Yield ETF ZFH 0.670 BMO Global Agriculture ETF ZEAT 0.000 BMO Global High Dividend Covered Call ETF ZWG 0.949 BMO Gold Bullion ETF ZGLD 0.000 BMO Gold Bullion Hedged to CAD ETF ZGLH 1.584 BMO Gold Bullion ETF (USD Units)* ZGLD.U 0.000 BMO Growth ETF ZGRO 0.523 BMO Growth ETF (Fixed Percentage Distribution Units) ZGRO.T 0.000 BMO International Dividend ETF ZDI 0.000 BMO International Dividend Hedged to CAD ETF ZDH 0.217 BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF ZLB 1.116 BMO Low Volatility Emerging Markets Equity ETF ZLE 0.000 BMO Low Volatility International Equity ETF ZLI 0.163 BMO Low Volatility International Equity Hedged to CAD ETF ZLD 0.183 BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF ZLU 1.897 BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (USD Units)* ZLU.U 1.718 BMO Low Volatility US Equity Hedged to CAD ETF ZLH 0.000 BMO Monthly Income ETF ZMI 0.593 BMO Monthly Income ETF (USD Units)* ZMI.U 1.365 BMO Premium Yield ETF ZPAY 1.170 BMO Premium Yield ETF (Hedged Units) ZPAY.F 1.201 BMO Premium Yield ETF (USD Units)* ZPAY.U 1.015 BMO Short-Term Discount Bond ETF ZSDB 0.279 BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF ZST 0.000 BMO Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (Accumulating Units) ZST.L 0.640 BMO Ultra Short-Term US Bond ETF (USD Units)* ZUS.U 0.000 BMO Ultra Short-Term US Bond ETF (USD Accumulating Units)* ZUS.V 0.720 BMO USD Cash Management ETF ZUCM 0.000 BMO USD Cash Management ETF (USD Units)* ZUCM.U 0.000 BMO US Dividend ETF ZDY 0.976 BMO US Dividend ETF (USD Units)* ZDY.U 0.595 BMO US Dividend Hedged to CAD ETF ZUD 0.000 BMO US Equity Accelerator Hedged to CAD ETF ZUEA 0.850 BMO US Equity Buffer Hedged to CAD ETF – January ZJAN 0.195 BMO US Equity Buffer Hedged to CAD ETF – April ZAPR 0.056 BMO US Equity Buffer Hedged to CAD ETF – July ZJUL 0.243 BMO US Equity Buffer Hedged to CAD ETF – October ZOCT 0.066 BMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETF ZWH 0.134 BMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETF (USD Units)* ZWH.U 0.016 BMO US High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CAD ETF ZWS 0.257 BMO US Put Write ETF ZPW 0.258 BMO US Put Write ETF (USD Units)* ZPW.U 0.294 BMO US Put Write Hedged to CAD ETF ZPH 0.000 BMO Money Market Fund (ETF Series) ZMMK 0.000 BMO Core Plus Bond Fund (ETF Series) ZCPB 0.121 BMO Global Strategic Bond Fund (ETF Series) ZGSB 0.000 BMO Sustainable Global Multi-Sector Bond Fund (ETF Series) ZMSB 0.000 BMO ARK Genomic Revolution Fund ARKG 0.000 BMO ARK Innovation Fund ARKK 0.000 BMO ARK Next Generation Internet Fund ARKW 1.194 BMO Brookfield Global Real Estate Tech Fund (ETF Series) TOWR 0.116 BMO Brookfield Global Renewables Infrastructure Fund (ETF Series) GRNI 0.000 BMO Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (Active ETF Series) BGDV 4.642 BMO Global Enhanced Income Fund (ETF Series) ZWQT 0.760 BMO Global Equity Fund (Active ETF Series) BGEQ 2.854 BMO Global Health Care Fund (Active ETF Series) BGHC 0.000 BMO Global Infrastructure Fund (Active ETF Series) BGIF 0.478 BMO Global Innovators Fund (Active ETF Series) BGIN 0.468 BMO Global REIT Fund (Active ETF Series) BGRT 0.338 BMO SIA Focused Canadian Equity Fund (ETF Series) ZFC 0.000 BMO SIA Focused North American Equity Fund (ETF Series) ZFN 4.099 BMO Tactical Dividend ETF Fund (ETF Series) ZZZD 0.000 BMO U.S. All Cap Equity Fund (ETF Series) ZACE 0.000 BMO U.S. Equity Growth MFR Fund (ETF Series) ZUGE 0.705 BMO U.S. Equity Value MFR Fund (ETF Series) ZUVE 0.191 BMO Women in Leadership Fund (ETF Series) WOMN 0.000 *Reinvested distribution per unit ($) amounts are USD for ZJK.U, ZPR.U, ZTL.U, ZIC.U, ZTM.U, ZUQ.U, ZNQ.U, ZSP.U, ZMID.U, ZSML.U, ZTIP.U, ZTS.U, ZUAG.U, ZUP.U, TIPS.U, ZWB.U, ZGLD.U, ZLU.U, ZMI.U, ZPAY.U, ZUS.U, ZUCM.U, ZDY.U, ZWH.U, ZPW.U, ZUS.V 1 BMO ETFs are managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds are managed by BMO Investments Inc., which is an investment fund manager and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index CAD Hedged is a product of Dow Jones Opco, LLC ("Dow Jones Opco"), a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use. "Dow Jones®" and "Industrial Average Index CAD Hedged" are service marks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings, LLC ("Dow Jones"), and have been licensed to Dow Jones Opco and sublicensed by BMO Asset Management Inc. in connection with ZWA and ZDJ. ZWA and ZDJ are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Dow Jones Opco, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates, and they make no representation regarding the advisability of trading or investing in ZWA and ZDJ. S&P®, S&P/TSX Capped Composite®, S&P 500® are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"). "TSX" is a trademark of TSX Inc. These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed to BMO Asset Management Inc. in connection with ZCN, ZUE, ZIU, ZCN, ZSP, ZSP.U, ZMID, ZMID.F, ZMID.U, ZSML, ZSML.F, and ZSML.U. These BMO ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones LLC, S&P, TSX, or their respective affiliates and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P, TSX and their affiliates make no representation regarding the advisability of trading or investing in such BMO ETFs. NASDAQ®, and NASDAQ-100 Index® Hedged to CAD and BMO NASDAQ 100 Equity Index ETF, are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by BMO Asset Management Inc. BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability and is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. The corporations make no warranties and bear no liability with respect to the BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF and BMO NASDAQ 100 Equity Index ETF (including USD Units). The BMO ETFs or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by MSCI Inc. ("MSCI"), and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such BMO ETFs or securities or any index on which such BMO ETFs or securities are based. The prospectus of the BMO ETFs contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with BMO Asset Management Inc. and any related BMO ETFs. Further information about BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds can be found at www.bmoetfs.com . Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds. Please read the applicable ETF Facts document or prospectus before investing. BMO ETFs and ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs or ETF Series of the BMO Mutual Funds, please see the specific risks set out in the prospectus. Units of the BMO ETFs and ETF Series securities of the BMO Mutual Funds may be bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange and brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. "BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)" is a registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. About BMO Global Asset Management BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. Certain of the products and services offered under the brand name, BMO Global Asset Management, are designed specifically for various categories of investors in Canada and may not be available to all investors. About BMO Financial Group BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.41 trillion as of October 31, 2024. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States , and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life , BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society. SOURCE BMO Financial Group View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2024/18/c9842.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Medical Imaging Workstations Market to Exhibit a Remarkable CAGR of 8.72% by 2030, Size, Share, Trends, Key Drivers, Demand, Opportunity Analysis and Competitive Outlook
Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal , which Israel's Cabinet approved late Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike slammed into the Lebanese capital. Residents of Beirut and its southern suburbs have endured the most intense day of Israeli strikes since the war began nearly 14 months ago, as Israel's nationwide onslaught of bombings signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold. At least 42 people have killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT — The Health Ministry in Lebanon says 18 more people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across the country, bringing the total death toll on Tuesday to at least 42 people. Eleven people were killed by Israeli bombing in eastern Lebanon, four were killed by strikes on border crossings between northern Lebanon and Syria, and three people were killed in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said early Wednesday. In the hours before a ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel launched its most intense wave of strikes on the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict. Strikes have targeted what Israel said were Hezbollah-related targets in several other parts of the country as well. Israel’s military issued a record number of evacuation warnings in Beirut, sending people fleeing from their homes. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, and hopes it can end the violence and suffering of people in both countries, the U.N. spokesman says. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Hezbollah to swiftly implement all commitments under the agreement, and take immediate steps toward fully implementing the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday. Resolution 1701 called for the deployment of Lebanese forces throughout the south, which borders Israel and is now mainly controlled by Hezbollah, and it calls for all armed groups including Hezbollah to be disarmed. Neither has happened in the past 17 years. Dujarric said U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon “both stand ready to support the implementation of this agreement, in line with their respective mandates.” WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s senior national security team was briefed by the Biden administration as negotiations unfolded, according to the senior U.S. official. The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity in a White House-organized call, added that the incoming Trump administration officials were not directly involved in the talks, but that it was important that the incoming administration knew “what we were negotiating and what the commitments were.” The official said “all fire will stop from all parties” at 4 a.m. local time. The next step would be what the official described as a “phased withdrawal” by the Israeli military. As the Israelis pull back, Lebanese national forces will occupy the territories. The process is slated to finish within 60 days. Lebanese forces is supposed to patrol the area and remove Hezbollah weaponry and infrastructure there. “Hezbollah is incredibly weak at this moment, both militarily and politically,” the official said. “And this is the opportunity for Lebanon to re-establish its sovereignty over its territory.” The official said the ceasefire agreement will strengthen what’s known as the “tripartite mechanism” by including the United States and France. The goal is to address violations of the ceasefire without a return to hostilities. UNITED NATIONS – The top U.N. envoy for Lebanon welcomed the ceasefire announcement and urged Israel and Hezbollah militants to take concrete actions to fully implement the 2006 agreement that ended their last war. U.N. Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the agreement “marks the starting point of a critical process” that must see both sides fully implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. It called for the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in the south bordering Israel and the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah – neither of which has happened in the past 17 years. “Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required,” Hennis-Plasschaert said. “Neither side can afford another period of disingenuous implementation under the guise of ostensible calm.” She commended the parties for “seizing the opportunity to close this devastating chapter,” stressing that “Now is the time to deliver, through concrete actions, to consolidate today’s achievement.” UNITED NATIONS — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for urgent international intervention to stop what he described as “an ongoing genocidal war” in Gaza. Abbas heads the Palestinian Authority which has limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but not Gaza, which has been controlled by Hamas. The U.S. and others want a reinvigorated Palestinian Authority to run Gaza when the war ends. In a speech on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Abbas accused Israel of repeating what happened to the Palestinians in 1948 and 1967 – displacing them and seizing their land and resources. Abbas demanded to know how long the world will remain silent and refuse to compel Israel to abide by international law. The speech to U.N. member nations was read by Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour. “The only way to halt the halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” Abbas' speech said. This must be done in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions which call for a two-state solution, he said. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, describing it as a crucial step toward stability, the return of displaced people to their homes and regional calm. Mikati made these comments in a statement issued just after U.S. President Joe announced the truce deal. Mikati said he discussed the ceasefire agreement with Biden by phone earlier Tuesday. The prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, and cooperating with the U.N. peacekeeping force. He also called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance the U.N. resolution. JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announced details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be national security adviser, credited Trump’s victory with helping bring the parties together toward a ceasefire in Lebanon. “Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.” He added: “But let’s be clear: The Iran Regime is the root cause of the chaos & terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.” BEIRUT — Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike on Hamra is around 400 meters (yards) from the country’s central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood in the country’s capital Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties from either strike, part of the biggest wave of attacks on the capital since the war started. Residents in central Beirut were seen fleeing after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for four targets in the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 people were injured in the strikes on the southern suburbs. BEIRUT — Hezbollah has said it accepts the ceasefire proposal with Israel, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Among the issues that may remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal 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. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The guy on the Philly sports talk radio station had something to say, and he started to vent about the perceived strained relationship between star quarterback Jalen Hurts and standout wide receiver A.J. Brown. Why weren’t these two Pro Bowl Eagles on the same page? Why had their personal and professional relationship changed even with Philadelphia enjoying tremendous success? It was football gossip usually ripe for a hot-take host or fed-up fan to stir up on the air — only in this instance, the temperature check came from inside the locker room. Normally respected team leader Brandon Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, noted in a radio appearance that “ things have changed ” between Hurts and Brown in the wake of a stale passing game in last week’s win over Carolina. An apologetic Graham walked back his comments. Hurts and Brown both insisted their relationship was cool in front of media hordes more appropriate for the Super Bowl. As for the rest of the Eagles, they were ready to squash the so-called controversy. “We are moving on,” offensive lineman and Christmas song crooner Jordan Mailata said. “It is the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. Not the A.J. Brown and Jalen Show. It is the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s it.” Oh yeah, the Steelers! Lost in the brouhaha ignited in a Philly sports bar is the fact that sitting — and winning — on the western side of Pennsylvania are the Steelers (10-3). Unlike most matchups in series history, this one Sunday at the Linc comes with the tantalizing appeal of a potential Super Bowl preview. The Steelers have won seven of eight, and the Eagles (11-2) have won nine straight and could clinch the NFC East with a win and a Washington loss or tie. It's the first time the teams — among the original eight NFL teams — will play each other when they both have a double-digit win total. Both teams are in strong position for a playoff run — the Eagles led by Saquon Barkley and his pursuit of Eric Dickerson's NFL season rushing record; Russell Wilson and the soft-schedule Steelers atop the AFC North in large part thanks to six wins against teams that currently have losing records. “I do like playing really good people, I think there's growth in it,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “You've got to get the job done. But man, I think there's significant growth in pitting your collective talents and skills versus big-time opponents and they're certainly that.” Will the drama out of Philly this week affect the Eagles? They certainly don't think so and neither do the oddsmakers — the Eagles are 5 1/2-point favorites, per BetMGM. “What I’ve noticed about this football team is they’re so locked in and determined to get better each day,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We don’t really want anyone else talking to us about anything other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.” Good luck with that, Coach. Maybe playing the Steelers on Sunday at home can snap the Eagles out of their offensive malaise. Hurts threw three TD passes to Brown in a 35-13 win in 2022. Barkley leads the NFL in rushing with 1,623 yards, 216 yards ahead of Baltimore’s Derrick Henry. He is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace, and with one more game to play than Dickerson had, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. Barkley is on pace for 2,122 yards, which would put him just 17 yards beyond Dickerson’s 2,105 in 1984. Barkley doesn’t need much of a reminder from his 2020 performance when, while playing for the New York Giants, he ran into a Pittsburgh defense that seemed reminiscent of its famed Steel Curtain. The Steelers held Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries. The Steelers will have to find a way forward against the NFL’s toughest defense without wide receiver George Pickens, who will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh survived last week against Cleveland, with Mike Williams and Scotty Miller — afterthoughts of late — coming off the bench to make an impact. While Tomlin believes “the strength of the pack is the pack,” the reality is the Steelers don’t have anyone who can stretch the field like Pickens, who leads the team in receptions (55) and yards (850) by a wide margin. It’s a challenge, but considering the way Wilson has spread the ball around — eight players caught passes against the Browns — he won’t lack for options. “Everybody in the receiver room has a different skill set, different strengths,” Calvin Austin III said. “The coaching staff knows that and they know how to put us in position to be able to show that.” The cross-state trip to Philadelphia, where the Steelers haven’t won in nearly 60 years, is the start of an 11-day stretch in which Pittsburgh faces three teams likely bound for the playoffs. While Tomlin is leaning into the “nameless, gray faces” mantra he uses for every opponent, his players know facing the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs in such a short period is a litmus test for what’s to come in January. “That’s why I’m in the league, period,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “When you sign up to play football, you want to play at the highest level. ... I love to play the game the right way. I think these next few games is going to show that and it starts with the Eagles.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
In a heartwarming incident that unfolded recently in a bustling city, an 83-year-old woman found herself lost and disoriented, embarking on an unexpected 18-kilometer journey on foot before finally breaking down in tears. The incident took place on a busy Saturday afternoon, when Mrs. Smith, a local resident, set out for a leisurely stroll in her neighborhood but lost her way due to the unfamiliar surroundings.The idea of emotional value driving economic transactions is not limited to the world of celebrity memorabilia. From vintage cars to designer handbags, people are willing to pay exorbitant prices for items that hold emotional value for them. This emotional attachment can be rooted in nostalgia, status, personal history, or a myriad of other factors.