Investors worried about a stock market sell-off may feel the urge to sell out of their positions and run for the exits. But long-term investors know that it's a mistake to overhaul your investing strategy based on emotion. A better approach is to ensure you are invested in companies that suit your risk tolerance and can help you achieve your investment objectives. Dividend stocks are a great way to generate passive income without the need to sell out of a position. Particularly safe options include companies like Lockheed Martin ( LMT -0.21% ) , American Water Works ( AWK -0.69% ) , and Kenvue ( KVUE -0.88% ) , which have recession-resistant business models and emphasize dividend raises. Here's why all three dividend stocks are worth buying in 2025. 1. Lockheed Martin After its stock price reached an all-time high earlier this year, Lockheed Martin and its defense contractor peers have sold off considerably over the last few months, possibly due to valuation concerns. Lockheed's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is now back down to 17.6 -- right around its 10-year median P/E of 17.9. Despite a broad portfolio of segments spanning aeronautics, missiles and fire control, rotary and mission systems, and space (mainly satellites), Lockheed Martin tends to have a relatively low valuation because of its mediocre growth prospects. With the vast majority of sales going to the U.S. government, Lockheed's top customer is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the defense budget overnight. However, investors can pencil in slow and steady growth for Lockheed over time, making it a reliable dividend stock. Lockheed just raised its dividend for the 22nd consecutive year and features a yield of 2.7% -- which is considerably higher than the S&P 500 's yield of just 1.2%. Investors worried about a stock market sell-off in 2025 can rest easy knowing that Lockheed has an extensive order backlog and can do well no matter what the economic situation might be. Lockheed finished the quarter ended Sept. 29 with a $166 billion order backlog spread across its four segments. For context, Lockheed is guiding for 2024 sales of $71.25 billion. Add it all up, and Lockheed is a safe dividend stock at a good value to buy in 2025. 2. American Water Works The regulated water utility provides drinking water and wastewater services to customers in California, Hawaii, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the South. The business model is fairly straightforward. American Water Works delivers essential services to a growing population and works with regulators and government agencies to set prices so customers aren't overcharged. Still, American Water Works earns enough to maintain operations and invest in new infrastructure. The investment thesis is centered around a growing, healthy dividend. The company targets an annual growth rate of 7% to 9% per year while keeping a payout ratio of 55% to 60%. By keeping a lid on its payout ratio, the company maintains a healthy balance sheet and still has money left over to reinvest in the business. Shares of American Water Works have sold off about 13% in the past three months, bringing the yield back up to 2.5%. American Water Works isn't the type of company that will gush growth. Still, it can do well no matter what the economy or broader stock market are doing, making it a reliable dividend stock to buy in 2025 for risk-averse investors. 3. Kenvue Consumer healthcare company Kenvue is about as boring as American Water Works. However, nothing is boring about the passive income opportunity for Kenvue investors, who can get a 3.8% yield from the stock. The company's brands include recognizable names like Aveeno, Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena, and Tylenol. There's not a lot of new innovation at Kenvue; rather, the idea is to maintain industry leadership of existing brands to foster moderate volume and price increases over time. Kenvue spun off from Johnson & Johnson in August 2023, inheriting J&J's Dividend King streak. Kenvue's first dividend raise as an independent company came on July 25, when it announced a modest 2.5% increase to the quarterly payout. It's not sizable by any means, but Kenvue already has a high yield, even compared to other consumer staples stocks . Activist investor Starboard Value acquired a stake in Kenvue , believing there's value to unlock from its top brands. It remains to be seen if Kenvue will enter a faster pace of dividend growth and buybacks in the future. But Starboard's stake is an encouraging sign that Kenvue has more potential than meets the eye. Kenvue is a high-yield stock worth buying for passive income investors. Demand for Kenvue's products should hold fairly steady no matter what the economy is doing, making it a good choice for folks focused on dividend income and capital preservation rather than capital appreciation.
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South Korean Finance Minister vows bold and swift measures to address financial mkt swingsAn eight-year-old boy from Charters Towers has become the first child in Queensland to undergo robotic-assisted surgery. Kruze Bott suffered from stomach pain for weeks that would come and go, before an ultrasound revealed one kidney was twice the size of the other. Doctors then discovered he had two ureteropelvic junction obstructions, which stopped urine flowing to his bladder. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “Kruze had a blockage of the plumbing system of his kidney,” Mater Private Hospital urologist, Dr Janani Krishnan told 7NEWS. “He had blood vessels crossing the plumbing system, which caused a blockage from the outside, plus he had a blockage on the inside.” She said without intervention the blockages could lead to urinary tract infections and irreversible kidney damage. Kruze was originally due to undergo open surgery, which would have meant a long recovery and a big scar for an active little boy, which his mother, Jade Bott, wasn’t keen on. After being referred to Dr Krishnan, the family was excited to learn the eight-year-old was the perfect candidate for a robotic-assisted pyeloplasty. “She rang and said, ‘Hey there’s a new surgery, can we give it a go on Kruze?” Bott said. “We were thrilled for the opportunity for him to have it.” But while his mother was excited, Kruze admits he was nervous. Paediatric robotic-assisted surgery is performed all over the world in large numbers, but only one had been performed in Australia before this and none in Queensland. The $3.3 million da Vinci XI surgical system was purchased in 2021 by the Mater Foundation, using funds donated by Queenslanders. While almost 1,000 public and private adult patients have undergone surgery using the technology, in a partnership between Mater and Townsville University Hospital, extensive approvals were needed before children could undergo robotic surgery. With support from Cairns Urologist Dr Stefan Antoniou, Dr Krishnan removed the blockage and fixed the ‘plumbing’ of Kruze’s kidneys by taking healthy parts of the ureters and putting them together. She said the robot has better magnification than a laparoscope and she was able to perform the fine suturing required for a pyeloplasty with extreme precision. “He had minimal scarring,” Bott said. “He was up and out of hospital the next day, and a couple of days later you couldn’t even tell he had surgery.” Now fully recovered, Kruze has four small scars and said he was thankful to the doctors and the game-changing surgical technology. “I definitely wouldn’t be able to ride a bike, climb a tree, or swing on rope (if I’d had open surgery).” Dr Krishnan is now eager to set up a curriculum for paediatric robotics across Australia, as a blueprint for other centres to follow. “He was the perfect case and what made it even more so perfect was Jade, his mum, was extremely keen, extremely supportive of this,” she said. “To see him come this far, I’m very grateful that his body has done magic to heal himself well.”'A potential for clashes' as 'big egos' in Trump's Cabinet begin to maneuver: report
SC State men fall after Georgia rallies for winMost Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement “good news” and expressed hope the pause in more than 13 months of fighting will be the catalyst to also end the war in Gaza. Biden made his comments in a Rose Garden speech. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah broke the terms of the truce. US President Joe Biden administration has been trying to calm relations with Beijing. Credit: AP Biden added that the deal between Israel and Hezbollah “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”. The president’s comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet 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 announce 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. Read more about the ceasefire deal in the full story here. Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. It’s likely to be another cloudy day in Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers throughout the day. And the temperature is forecast to reach a maximum just short of 30 degrees. The weather bureau predicts a slight breeze throughout the day also, dropping off into the evening. Here’s the seven-day outlook: Stories making the rounds further afield this morning: The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have returned to Australia with the bodies of their daughters after living every parents’ nightmare. The Australian economy has been destabilised by incoming US president Donald Trump’s declaration of a tariff war on three of America’s biggest trading partners. Natalie Harp watches Donald Trump. Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump has always demanded loyalty from his aides but few have answered the call quite like Natalie Harp . A 33-year-old former far-right cable TV host, Harp is nearly always at Trump’s side and has written him a series of devotional letters. Now she is poised to play an influential role in his White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will recommend a proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah to his cabinet for approval, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. And from January 8, Australians will need an electronic travel authorisation to enter the UK. You can apply for yours now. Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Wednesday, November 27, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 29 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Did Brisbane’s buses get more crowded after 50¢ fares? What impact has working from home had on public transport? We have the latest figures from Translink . Queensland’s new LNP government will push a regular end-of-year budget update into early 2025 to give it time to “get our head around” Labor’s cost blowouts, says Treasurer David Janetzki. Queensland remains in the grip of a whooping cough outbreak , with staff at Brisbane public hospitals reporting up to 28 times the number of cases normally seen by this time of year. Thirty-four years ago, former umpire Ian Stewart was viciously assaulted . As he reflects on the damage caused by an angry player, a Queensland academic explains why decision-makers shouldn’t be surprised by “concussion crises”. And it took just a $30 investment and a tug on his heartstrings to convince former St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt that he belonged back at the Broncos , where his career began. Ben Hunt has agreed to a two-year Broncos deal worth about $550,000 annually – significantly less than what he was earning at St George Illawarra. Credit: Getty
When Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans missed three games with a hamstring injury earlier this season, it looked like he might not have a chance at extending his streak of seasons with 1,000 receiving yards but he’s within range heading into Week 18. Evans had 97 yards in Sunday’s 48-14 win over the Panthers and heads into the finale with 915 receiving yards. If he can get 85 yards against the Saints, Evans will have hit the milestone in all 11 of his professional seasons and quarterback Baker Mayfield said the team will head into the game knowing what’s at stake. “Obviously Mike’s a huge part of this offense and the record is pretty important for us to get — for him to achieve it but for us to make sure it happens,” Mayfield said in his postgame press conference. “Having it right there in front of us and not having to force things. When he’s in the game, he’s a huge part of that and he creates the explosive plays in the passing game. Looking forward to seeing what happens next week.” The Bucs will win the NFC South with a win and a Falcons loss in either of their final two games, so there’s plenty at stake on the team level. The good news for the Bucs is that feeding Evans has generally been a good way to earn victories over the course of his time in Tampa.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter: A brief bio Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine.Taylor Swift to take final bow in Vancouver as Eras Tour concludes at BC Place
PARIS For years, the world knew them only as “Caesar” and “Sami.” Since 2014, these pseudonyms have become synonymous with exposing torture in Syrian prisons under the Bashar al-Assad regime. The gruesome images they smuggled out shocked global consciences, prompting the US to enact the Caesar Act sanctions against Syria. Their photos have also been used in Western courts to convict Syrian officials accused of torture and human rights abuses during their time in power. -Who is Sami, the ‘twin witness’ alongside Caesar? In his first public interview using his real name and image, Sami, now revealed as Osama Othman, shared his story with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. Othman, currently chairman of the Caesar Files Group, was a civil engineer when the Syrian uprising began in 2011. Initially peaceful, the revolution spiralled into a bloodbath as Assad's forces brutally suppressed it. Sami lived in rural Damascus, where areas were divided between opposition forces and government troops. His area was controlled by factions within what became known as the Free Syrian Army. But someone very close to him, later known as “Caesar,” worked in regime-controlled areas. His job was far from ordinary. His mission was to document the deaths in Syrian security branches, documenting them through photos: a headless corpse, a body without eyes, another marked with signs of severe torture. Some bore marks of starvation. Naked corpses carried numbers. Thousands of photos. Women, men and children. Many of their “crimes” were officially classified as “terrorism.” But how could the crime of a child be labelled “terrorism”? The brutal nature of the crimes led both Sami and Caesar to work together to document what was happening in Syrian prisons and detention centers, particularly in Damascus, where Caesar worked, often documenting the deaths of at least 70 people daily. The two men began collaborating in May 2011, with Caesar smuggling photos via USB drives and handing them over to Sami in opposition-controlled areas. ‘Daddy...why are they sleeping without clothes?’ The smuggler of the Syrian torture archive, Sami, often hesitated to speak about himself and avoided answering questions on this topic. However, after some pressure, he shared a glimpse of his experience. He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Even my children didn’t know they were the children of this man (Sami) carrying the secret code. Sometimes, by accident, as I was watching and searching for a photo late at night, I was surprised to find my little son entering and coming to me while I was looking at the computer and asking, 'Daddy, why are these people sleeping without clothes?' In his innocence, he thought they were just asleep. This pain is hard to bear, especially when you have to make your child live in such anxiety and stress. It was necessary to protect our children by protecting ourselves.” He further reflected on his emotions of that time, saying: “You made a very dangerous decision, so why should others bear the responsibility of this decision? People you didn’t consult when you left. People who were very young and others who were much older, and you burdened them with fear without asking them, at a moment when you decided your responsibility was greater than your love for your family.” The efforts of Sami and Caesar resulted in the smuggling of tens of thousands of photos of torture victims’ bodies out of Syria. The photos were first revealed in 2014, after they had escaped Syria. Today, these images are part of the “indictment” against the security agencies of Bashar al-Assad's regime. In fact, the crimes were not limited to one prison or another. Torture practices were widespread, leaving little doubt that this was a systematic policy likely backed by the highest levels of the regime. When asked why he decided to break his silence and reveal his true identity, he responded: “Syrians know the answer to this question. I think the answer is obvious to most Syrians, both inside and outside the country. The nature of the work and the nature of the file we brought out of Syria, which went through many complicated stages and steps until we reached this blessed day, made it necessary for me to conceal my identity and that of many of the team members.” “Today, thank God, we are in a completely different situation. We are in a different place. A new Syria. I wanted Syrians to know what happened, and I also want to address them and the authorities in Damascus, expressing what we hope for regarding human rights issues related to documenting and archiving data and evidence that will lead us to a stage of accountability and transitional justice for stability in Syrian society. I believe this matter is worth speaking out about so we can tell the world what we know, so future generations do not face the same problems,” he added. “I never thought, honestly, that I would live to say these words. Congratulations to our people in Syria on the fall of Assad. And congratulations to all the righteous people in the world on Assad's fall. Thank you to all who stood by our revolution, and shame on those who stood against it. After 14 years of working in secrecy, facing fear and anxiety, the sun of freedom is now rising over Syria, a freedom for which our people have paid a heavy price. A team of unsung heroes led a complex, risky task, with dangers not only from the regime but from other sources as well. Today, we vow to continue defending the dignity of the Syrian people, wherever they are.” The necessity of accountability Sami stressed the importance of “accountability” in Syria today, after the fall of the previous regime. “At this crucial moment in Syria’s history, as we prepare to enter a new phase after more than five decades of the Assad family's rule, we call on the new government to work diligently to achieve justice, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure the dignity of human rights as a foundation for building a better future that all Syrians dream of,” he said. “In recent days, and in the events preceding them, we have witnessed a significant increase in the likelihood of chaos resulting from the remnants of the Syrian regime. The random entries of citizens into prisons and detention centers has led to the destruction or loss of critical documents and official records that reveal violations from decades ago.” He emphasized that “the full responsibility for the destruction of evidence and the loss of the rights of detainees and survivors falls on the shoulders of the security officials of the former regime, both those who have left and those still in office, as well as the current forces preparing to take control of Damascus.” “Although what is happening now is expected after the country's liberation from the Syrian regime, urgent intervention is necessary to gather the evidence and documents from the archives of the previous security institutions, ministries, and other government bodies. This raises our concern that the former regime’s employees are still working, which allows them to destroy or erase critical files related to exposing the crimes of the fallen regime,” he added. Fate of the ‘Baath Party’ files Sami believes that “all institutions of the former regime contain files of great significance, whether security, civil or military. We are also concerned about the erasure of files from the Baath Party branches and affiliates, which, as all Syrians know, were essentially security institutions that practiced all forms of physical and psychological intimidation against our people throughout the years of the revolution.” “We hope that this step will involve human rights organizations concerned with investigating and addressing human rights violations. The delay in uncovering the locations of official and secret detention centers, especially in liberated areas or those not yet reached by armed opposition forces, in addition to circulating testimonies and information about detainees being transferred to unknown locations just before the regime's fall, reflects a disregard for the lives of these individuals.” Sami called on the current authorities to “take immediate and transparent steps to disclose the fate of detainees and victims who died under torture in Syrian prisons and to arrest all those responsible for managing and operating the prisons.” “They must urgently provide documents showing the names and numbers of victims to ensure families’ right to know the fate of their loved ones. The Syrian people's right to access the truth cannot be compromised; it is a duty for all concerned parties. Tolerating those responsible for these crimes under any pretext is a direct violation of humanitarian and legal standards and gives the green light to reproduce the tools of oppression and violations practiced by the security apparatuses that remain in place.” The Syrian activist emphasized that “achieving justice requires holding accountable everyone involved in the crimes committed against the Syrian people, and that achieving peace and stability in Syria depends on transitional justice as a core principle at this stage.” “We call for a national reconciliation based on the principles of justice and accountability, ensuring the rights of all components of the Syrian people in a safe and stable environment that respects their dignity and meets their needs while guaranteeing that no one escapes punishment under any guise,” Sami added. Opposition ‘imposed’ on the people Sami criticized certain factions within the Syrian opposition without naming them, speaking about their “failures.” “Given the past political failures of the opposition that were imposed on the Syrian people, we stress the need for immediate reassuring statements regarding their vision and how they intend to involve the people in decision-making and initiate the process of building a society in a manner that respects the will of the Syrian people and guarantees their right to self-determination.” He called on the current authorities “to strengthen and facilitate the work of all civil society organizations operating both inside and outside Syria. We also urge all these organizations to actively support efforts to achieve transitional justice in Syria, involve the Syrian people in developments regularly, contribute to providing humanitarian and medical support to survivors of detention and enforced disappearances, and ensure that all those involved in crimes are held accountable without impunity.” He demanded the “publication and circulation of the names of the officers responsible for the crimes and who are known to the Syrian people, monitoring both official and unofficial crossings, and calling on the official Syrian media institutions, which have long contributed to the oppression of Syrians, distorting facts and glorifying murderers, to return to their natural function as a tool that strengthens the citizens' trust in state institutions and as a source of accurate information.” “It pains us to see our people searching for the names of their missing loved ones on social media while the state's media is absent from performing its task, which was created solely as a public service institution, not a political tool.” ‘Crimes that do not statute-bar’ Sami reiterated that “crimes against humanity and genocide are not subject to statutes of limitations and cannot be forgiven under any circumstance. The Syria we dream of is a free Syria built on justice and equality. Transitional justice, preceding comprehensive national reconciliation, is the only way to build the Syria of the future.” “We all hope that Syria is now in a better place (than) the Syria our team left 11 years ago, along with thousands of tortured faces and mutilated bodies, hundreds of faces whose eyes had dreamed of being with us today,” he said. “I am not alone. There are many unsung heroes who contributed to reaching this stage. The Caesar File required tremendous efforts in Europe through the courts and in the US through Syrian organizations that worked tirelessly until they managed to push the US administration to issue the Caesar Act or the Civilian Protection Act, which is one of the outcomes of the Caesar File.”
A Comprehensive Guide to Gold Investment CompaniesPrinceton 66, Rutgers 49
Coleen Rooney set to be new queen of daytime TV with HUGE pay deal after I’m A Celebrity finalIf you get your phone wet, your first thought is probably to put it in rice. But please don't. You shouldn't use rice to dry out a wet smartphone , period. Experts have been saying for years that the rice method actually works slower than simply setting the phone on a counter. It can even make the situation worse by leaving goopy, wet grains stuck in your phone's crevices. Yet this myth is so pervasive that Apple explicitly told people to stop doing it as late as 2024. People keep doing it despite all the warnings against it. Case in point, smartphone myths don't take much to get started and become almost impossible to debunk once they do. And trust us, the rice myth is only one in a very, very long list. Some myths are more or less harmless. Others could put your entire digital life in peril. Here are 12 smartphone myths that we all need to stop believing yesterday. For many people, it's become a sort of end-of-the-day ritual to open the app switcher and close all the background apps they've used during the day. The logic comes from computers — open background programs consume resources, so closing them frees those resources. Except, smartphones work differently. This one has been known to be wrong for a long time. Back in 2016, an Apple executive confirmed there was no reason to do it. Apple's support page on closing an app corroborates this, recommending it only if an app is unresponsive. The same goes for Android. In fact, experts say closing background apps probably makes things worse. Smartphones are extremely efficient with their limited horsepower, automatically freeing up system resources by suspending apps as necessary. To actually limit which apps are running in the background and eating up resources, go to General > Background App Refresh on your iPhone and toggle off any offending apps. On Android, go to Battery > Battery Saver and enable Adaptive Battery. If you want to go even further, go to the app's setting page and disable Allow background usage. Just be aware that this could cause notification problems . Sometimes, a myth starts as good advice, then time goes by, and it becomes problematic. You've probably been told by tech-savvy people over the years that leaving your phone plugged in overnight will ruin the battery. It used to be that your phone was effectively topping itself off nonstop throughout the night — dropping from 100% to 99%, charging back up to 100%, and ad nauseam — which is bad news for a lithium-ion battery's health. Nowadays, though, optimized battery charging modes are commonplace. Optimized charging should be enabled by default, but just in case, head to Settings > Battery > Charging and enable Optimized Battery Charging on iPhone. On Android, it's in Settings > Battery > Charging optimization. Your phone learns from your daily sleep schedule, charging up to 80%, then waiting to charge the rest of the way a few minutes before you wake up. Really, the bigger issue here is that people shouldn't be charging their phones to 100% and letting them drop to 0%. Lithium-ion batteries last the longest when you keep them in the Goldilocks zone of 20% to 80% — or, if you're especially dedicated, 40% to 80%. Hopefully, new revolutionary battery technologies will make all this fussing with charging optimization a thing of the past. Yet another piece of wisdom that, if someone told you this 15 years ago, was probably true to an extent. Phone manufacturers used to ship proprietary charging bricks and cables with their devices and often recommended only charging with same-brand hardware for safety reasons. Perhaps you heard a secondhand story or two of someone's phone dying after plugging into a mystery charger. Times have changed. Nowadays, you can charge an iPhone or Android device without the proprietary brick or cable. Smartphones have improved drastically, with built-in protections to prevent battery damage if a brick supports a higher charge level than the phone. It's only when you need fast-charge speeds that using the right brick matters. The real issue is using cheap bricks and cables from questionable companies. In other words, maybe skip that $5 charger you found at the gas station or on Alibaba. Buy from a highly-rated third-party brand like Anker. Invest in that iPhone 3-in-1 charger , and your phone will thank you for it. This goes double for a wireless charger, which can be bad for your phone's battery even if it's a brand-name product. One thing that most certainly is not a myth is how dangerous it is to click on unknown download links. All it takes is opening one malicious executable on your desktop computer to blow the doors wide open for a hacker. Fortunately, smartphones get most of their apps from the tightly regulated, closely controlled Google Play Store and Apple App Store, so they're safe ... right? Not exactly. For years, both app stores have been negligent enough to allow outright malware and scams to be distributed through their platforms. In 2024, Zscaler found 90 malicious applications that had gotten 5.5 million downloads on the Google Play Store — and this is only one report in 2024. The situation isn't necessarily better on Apple's famously strict App Store. In 2019, 18 malware-laden apps slipped through Apple's defenses. In 2021, The Washington Post reported that 2% of the top 1,000 App Store apps were effectively scams. We could keep giving examples, but the evidence makes the point: just because an app is on the official store doesn't mean it's safe. The takeaway here is to "drive defensively" online. Avoid the worst cybersecurity mistakes , whether it's using simple passwords or thoughtlessly clicking on links. Check an app's user reviews and use common sense. If you're getting a weird gut feeling, heed it and keep your distance. Smartphones have given DSLRs a run for their money in the past decade, and you only need a handful of photography tips to take great photos. Thing is, progress has stagnated. Cheap Android phones can take excellent shots, while flagship devices from this year produce only marginally better pictures than their predecessors from five years ago. Despite this, cameras remain the marquee selling point of just about every smartphone these days, and the big statistic they always focus on is the megapixel count. For the layman, it seems fairly straightforward: more megapixels, better pictures. But this isn't necessarily true. More megapixels do produce bigger, more detailed images. Zooming in, you will find more detail in a 24 MP picture compared to a 12 MP one. However, what really makes a good smartphone picture is the onboard processing. The Google Pixel doesn't necessarily have the biggest or best camera sensor, but it did win the top three spots in Marques Brownlee's blind smartphone camera test. It's not about how much money you spend, either. The $1,200 Sony Xperia 1 V produced some of the worst portrait shots in Brownlee's testing. At the end of the day, what matters is choosing a smartphone with processing that produces pictures you like, not a smartphone with top-of-the-line camera specs. Aside from having a phone that supports fast charging, there's not much else you can do to speed up charging. That is (some might say) unless you disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, turn on low power mode, set screen brightness as low as it will go — and most importantly, turn on airplane mode. Airplane mode is touted as a one-tap way to do most of that without creating a shortcut or changing a whole bunch of settings that you'll have to revert later. Or is it? CNET tested this theory way back in 2014. According to them, enabling airplane mode only reduced charging time by about four minutes, and in some cases, 11 minutes. That might seem like an open-and-shut case, but there are a couple of things to consider. One, airplane mode isn't technically charging your phone faster. It disables settings (like Wi-Fi and cellular) that consume energy, allowing more power to go toward charging. But those settings are going to consume varying amounts of energy depending on how strong your Wi-Fi and cellular signal is in a given place. Two, this test was conducted 10 years ago. Smartphones have become much more efficient since then, and the test would need to be replicated on dozens of modern smartphone models to reach a definitive conclusion. Finally, most smartphones take about an hour to charge anyway — making an 11-minute improvement almost negligible — and you'd be robbed of the smartphone's functionality in the meantime. Over the past decade or so, it's come to light (pun intended) that blue light from your phone's screen disrupts your circadian rhythm, making it difficult to fall asleep after exposure to it. To combat this, smartphone manufacturers introduced dark mode and features like Night Shift on iPhone that give your screen an orange hue to help you sleep better. It seemed like we had the problem solved — until recent research. A 2019 study by the University of Manchester suggested that blue light has less impact on sleeping patterns than yellow light, and a 2023 study published in Nature Human Behavior concurred. We may have gone on this blue-light-eradicating craze based entirely on earlier, misunderstood research. So what's keeping us awake, then? Short answer: screens, regardless of color. It makes sense when you think about it. Light (like the sun) tells your body to wake up and be alert, so shining a bright light in your face — your screen — clearly isn't going to help you feel sleepy. Get away from those screens a couple of hours before bedtime. Read a book, listen to some relaxing music, and give your poor eyes a break for once. When 5G started rolling out in 2019, it was supposed to revolutionize mobile data. Instead, many people disable it because it drains battery. What 5G did revolutionize, however, was a new era of disinformation — particularly the scary idea that 5G emits dangerous radiation that causes cancer and headaches. To all the people who believe this, let's be abundantly clear: 5G has no proven, conclusive negative health effects. None. Nada. Zilch. Some studies have claimed to find a link between 5G and potential health issues, but they haven't been replicated enough and are often contradicted by other studies. This isn't to say more research won't change the paradigm later, but extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. A raft of independent, replicable studies would be needed before anyone can credibly claim that 5G is harmful. Anyone who champions the claim of harm despite this is either acting in bad faith or is dangerously misinformed. Humans have been exposed to electromagnetic radiation from cell towers (and many, many other sources) for decades, and there's still no evidence that it's hurting us. If you're worried about harmful radiation, then you are much better off focusing on wearing sunscreen. The evidence is indisputable: UV rays from the sun damage your DNA and increase your skin cancer risk. Never open banking apps or sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi, people often say, unless you're using a VPN. Otherwise, hackers will intercept your information, steal your money, and leave you high and dry. Except ... no, not really. This used to be true when HTTP (unencrypted web traffic) was the norm and Wi-Fi protocols were weak. These days, the vast majority of websites use HTTPS (encrypted web traffic), and most web browsers warn you before connecting to an unencrypted website. Further, modern devices notify you if the network security is weak. Using HTTPS on properly configured Wi-Fi networks is generally enough to stay safe on public Wi-Fi. The real threat isn't hackers lurking on trustworthy public Wi-Fi networks — it's hackers pretending to be trustworthy public Wi-Fi networks. This is known as an "evil twin" attack. According to NordVPN , hackers go to places with free public Wi-Fi and create a false network with the exact same name — or better yet, provide a free network where none exists. Once you connect to an evil twin, the hacker redirects you to fake websites that mimic the ones you use, like your email or bank account. They skim your credentials when you try to log in, using them to access your accounts. Evil twins pop up anywhere you'd expect to find free Wi-Fi — airports, universities, even your nearby Starbucks — and it's virtually impossible to differentiate a legitimate network from an evil twin. Basically, you should avoid public Wi-Fi as much as reasonably possible. If you can't avoid it, at least don't log in to sensitive accounts or services while using it. Aside from putting bags under seats, buckling up, and watching tired flight attendants teach you how to strap on an oxygen mask, you know you'll inevitably be required to put your phone in airplane mode. We've been told for years that cellphone signals interfere with sensitive equipment, conjuring a scary image of the plane dropping out of the sky just because you were too lazy to toggle it on. But is there any truth to this? No, not really. According to CNN , smartphones not set to airplane mode don't pose a threat to the airplane's signal-sensitive gear. There was some concern in the early days of mobile phones about this theoretical interference, but studies have yet to demonstrate any issues — even after the rollout of 5G, which has so far proven harmless despite its proximity to airline frequencies. One reason for airplane mode may be to avoid disrupting the flight crew. According to Britannica , smartphones occasionally provoke audio artifacts that, while not risky to the plane, can annoy the pilots. Another reason may be to prevent inconsiderate people from being more disruptive than they already are. Imagine how annoying it would be to have a whole bunch of loud, chatty passengers taking calls during a flight that's already uncomfortable. It's a recipe for so-called "air rage." The EU has already allowed in-flight phone usage, so it may only be a matter of time before the myth gets debunked and the U.S. allows the same. Until then, the biggest reason to enable airplane mode (aside from complying with the flight crew) is to save your battery. Your phone wastes a ton of energy searching for signals, which could leave you with a dead battery on arrival. We've discussed how efficient phones are and why it's pointless to close background apps unless they are misbehaving. But this has led to another myth that requires debunking: your phone never needs to be restarted except for updates. This isn't true. Phones, like computers, have apps that suffer memory leaks, experience bugs, and don't always succeed in clearing RAM or resolving issues. These problems can accumulate and worsen performance. Restarting is a quick and easy way to freshen up a sluggish phone. So how often should you restart? About once a week is ideal. It only takes a minute, so set a reminder to do so each weekend. Another reason for this weekly restart comes from the NSA. Ostensibly, certain types of cyberattacks can be thwarted just by powering off regularly. Restarting keeps your phone fast and protected in one simple step. We saved the best for last: The biggest myth that needs debunking is this – updating your phone slows it down. Over the years, we've seen various seeming confirmations that smartphone manufacturers quietly slow older devices in an effort to get people to buy new ones. Apple famously got busted big time with "Batterygate," where it confirmed it was slowing down older iPhones. Many people took this as a cue to stop updating their phones to prevent being throttled by software updates. However, this myth is a misunderstanding of a well-intentioned decision, and heeding it puts you in grave digital danger. It's hard to defend Apple's anti-consumer practices, but as far as Batterygate goes, they were in the right. Worn-out batteries in old devices don't just lose capacity; they also put out less current, which could cause random shutdowns. To prevent this, Apple underclocked older devices. Replacing the battery on an old device is all it takes to bring it back to maximum performance. Updates don't just include new features and bug fixes — they also patch known vulnerabilities. Failing to update puts you at the mercy of hackers, who scan for vulnerable devices within 15 minutes of a vulnerability becoming public. Finally, the apps you use will eventually drop support for outdated operating systems. Trust us, updating your phone is in your best interest.
NoneThe much-anticipated inaugural World Iyan Carnival took center stage in Ekiti State, showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of the region through captivating performances. With the theme “Agrotourism: A New Frontier for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development,” the event featured a rich blend of cultural displays by the Ekiti and Idoma people, yam presentations, Oriki Iyan recitations, panel discussions, and performances by dancers adorned in stunning traditional attire. The highlight of the carnival was the renowned Omoge Iyan pageant. Prince Ade Ajayi, Founder of World Iyan Carnival, while speaking at the carnival, said the carnival is aimed at showcasing Ekiti rich culture and changing the economic perception of the State. According to him, the carnival is anchored on four transformative initiatives including; 50 million yam tubers cultivation initiative, documenting the origin of Iyan in partnership with Netflix, Aafin Iyan Resort and the annual Iyan Carnival. He equally noted that the carnival will boost the economy of the State and the country in general adding that 27th December has been mapped out as World Iyan Day. “We are excited to see this initiative and it’s Pillars come to life today. The 50 million Tubers cultivation; the Origin of Iyan Epic Documentary; the Aafin Iyan Resort and the Carnival proper. “We also announced the launch of a groundbreaking initiative in agricultural financing, Office to Farm Agric Credit—the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history. “This initiative is the result of a 7-year research journey focused on developing innovative financing models in agriculture under the platform of the World Iyan Carnival (WIC). “It aligns with one of our core pillars—cultivating 50 million tubers of yam—while expanding the opportunities for civil servants, private sector workers, NGOs, and organizations to invest in and benefit from agricultural wealth creation. “Through strategic partnerships with financial institutions and Africa’s leading blockchain technology company, we have developed a platform that bridges the gap between the office and the farm. “It allows salary earners and institutions to actively participate in financing and trading not just tubers but other crops as well, fostering a new era of agricultural wealth in Nigeria. “This initiative is a key contribution to the Renewed Hope Campaign, which aims to revitalize Nigeria’s agricultural sector and unlock its potential for sustainable economic growth. “Beginning in the first quarter of 2025, we will launch this initiative across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, starting from the western region. We are inviting financial institutions, public and private sector players, and all stakeholders to join us in making this vision a reality. “Members of the World Iyan Cooperative will be the first to enjoy these benefits, and we encourage others to register and become part of this transformative journey.” The maiden world Iyan carnival was well attended by Government functionaries including Senior Special Adviser on Agric Extension Dr Olowoyo Sikiru and many of his SSA team together with Director General Of Ekiti Bureau of Tourism, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre.Dec 12 (Reuters) - Editas Medicine (EDIT.O) , opens new tab said on Thursday it would cut around 180 jobs, representing 65% of its workforce, over the next six months as part of the company's transition towards becoming a developer of therapies that edit genes within the body. Shares of Editas rose 2.12% to $1.93 in after-market trade. Editas is shifting focus to developing in-vivo treatments that edit stem cells inside the human body after recent pre-clinical data showed promise in blood-forming stem cells and the liver, and plans to share data and development timelines in the first quarter of 2025. In-vivo gene editing, which alters genetic material within the patient, could expand the potential of CRISPR-based gene editing, Editas said. The company said it aims to demonstrate proof of concept in humans in about two years. The gene editing company was earlier developing an ex-vivo treatment for sickle cell disease called reni-cel, which used a similar technology as that of Casgevy, the U.S.-approved gene therapy by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX.O) , opens new tab and partner CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP.BN) , opens new tab . Both gene therapies involved editing a patient's blood-forming stem cells outside the body using CRISPR, a promising technology that is a type of molecular scissors that can trim away unwanted pieces of genetic material and replace them with new ones. The company would be discontinuing development of reni-cel after extensive search did not yield a commercial partner. As part of the company's workforce reduction, several members of its management team will depart, including Chief Medical Officer Baisong Mei, effective Dec. 31. It expects to incur costs of $55 million to $70 million for discontinuing and winding down reni-cel's clinical development. Editas anticipates costs of $14 million to $18 million related to the workforce reduction. The cost-saving measures are expected to extend Editas' cash runway into the second quarter of 2027. Sign up here. Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
M/I Homes CEO Robert Schottenstein sells $573,404 in stock