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Pact inked to establish 4IR centre in OmanNoneOn Tuesday morning, Sheila Gonzalez was reading news reports about the arrest of a man charged with killing Greensboro Police Officer Michael Horan a day earlier in the Lawndale Food Lion. She immediately recognized Tarell McMillian's mugshot. Why? Because he was at the same Food Lion on Monday morning filling her Instacart order, she says. Instacart is a delivery company where users of the platform can pay someone to buy and deliver their groceries to their home. "My Instacart shopper yesterday was Tarell McMillan!" she posted on Nextdoor , the neighborhood social media app. Horan was shot inside the store yesterday morning around 11 a.m. after responding to a call about a man with a firearm inside the Food Lion according to law enforcement. People are also reading... According to screenshots from Gonzalez's post, she had received a message from Instacart at 10:32 a.m. saying McMillian had begun shopping for her. At 11:48 a.m. she had received a notification that her order was running late. Ramona Miller, 63, who was in the store at the time of the shooting, said Tuesday a man who looked like McMillian was rushing through aisles and pushing carts aside to pass. She said she heard five or six gunshots coming from near the produce section. Gonzalez's post goes on to say that McMillan "was at Food Lion and stopped shopping halfway through my order, and my order was reassigned. I thought it was unusual at the time, but didn't think much of it until I saw a news alert about a police officer being shot. My first thought was that my shopper was present when the incident occurred." Gonzalez was shocked to find out it that the person shopping for her was the person being held responsible for the shooting. "It’s chilling to think someone dangerous was almost at my doorstep," she wrote. "I'm now rethinking using these services, especially during the busy holidays. Please stay alert and safe!" Reporter Susie Spear contributed to this report. camdyn.bruce@greensboro.com 336-373-7094 Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has revealed he played over an hour with a broken ankle against Manchester City. Spurs beat the reigning Premier League champions 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday in what was a major shock. However, what has turned out to be more of a shock is that Vicario played through the majority of the game with a fractured bone. The Italian picked up a knock on his ankle around the half-hour mark but he went on to play the full game and make five saves. Nothing seemed too noticeable at the time, although as he left the Etihad, he was spotted limping away from the dressing room. And then on Monday afternoon, Tottenham announced that he had suffered a serious injury and was forced to undergo surgery. A statement read: "We can confirm that Guglielmo Vicario has today undergone surgery for a fracture of his right ankle. "Guglielmo will be assessed by our medical staff to determine when he can return to training. We're all behind you, Vic." Then later on the same day, Vicario himself posted an update and revealed more details about his ankle problem. The shot-stopper confirmed that he suffered the fracture during their win over Man City , playing on for an hour after the injury. He wrote on Instagram: "Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect. "I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. Unfortunately, there was no way around this one...I needed surgery. "I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team for a while. "A massive thank you to the doctors and the staff. The operation went well, and from tomorrow I’ll be working hard to come back stronger, fitter, and ready to give my all for you again. "Thank you to the Spurs fans for all the love. See you soon on the pitch." So, Vicario looks set for a potentially long spell on the sidelines with what looks to be a serious injury. That is news that will come at the wrong time for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham who already have their two best centre-backs to worry about. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both missed the Man City game with injuries, as Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies started. It means the makeshift defence will be getting even more jumbled unless the two defenders can make a recovery. If they don't, then Fraser Forster , Dragusin and Davies will be set to start in the Europa League against Roma on Thursday, live on talkSPORT 2. For Forster, that will be the first of a few fixtures in goal as he steps in for the period that Vicario will be out of action. Postecoglou will not be looking forward to being without his No.1 who has the joint-third most clean sheets out of any goalkeeper in the Premier League. The game against Man City was Vicario's 50th in England, and he's been a mainstay in the team since joining last summer from Empoli. That has meant Forster has barely featured in the top flight, not starting a single league game so far this season. He has played in the Europa League though, keeping one clean sheet and letting in three goals in two games. Forster will be back in European action on Thursday now Vicario is out and the game is going to be live on the talkSPORT network. Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England striker Dean Ashton. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream . You can also listen via the talkSPORT app , on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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By Abby Badach Doyle, NerdWallet It won’t be impossible to buy a house in 2025 — just be prepared to play on hard mode. According to a November 2024 report from ICE Mortgage Technology, the monthly principal and interest payment on an average-priced home is $2,385. While that’s not the highest it’s ever been, it’s still a sharp increase — nearly 80% — from just three years ago. In November 2021, when mortgage rates averaged 3%, the monthly principal and interest on an average-priced home was $1,327 per month. So here’s the key to buying in 2025: Look ahead, not back. Regret won’t help you budget for today’s new normal. And with this year’s election also in the rearview mirror, so is some uncertainty among buyers and sellers that historically slows the market during every presidential election cycle. “People have just been kind of sitting waiting to see what’s going to happen,” says Courtney Johnson Rose, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an industry group for Black real estate agents. “I’m hopeful that the new year will bring more attention to real estate, more excitement to real estate, and more opportunities for first-time home owners to get in the game.” Preparing to buy a house is a lot like dressing for the weather. It’s easier when the outlook is sunny — but with some planning, you can gear up to face any condition. Here’s what housing market experts are forecasting for the upcoming year. First, home prices: We’ll likely see more modest growth in 2025, a change from skyrocketing prices in recent years. After 16 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, the median existing-home sales price hit $407,200 in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. In 2025, with more supply trickling in to temper price increases, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun forecasts a median existing-home sales price of $410,700, up just 2% over this year. Next, housing inventory: Demand still outpaces supply. While we don’t expect a return to a buyer’s market, competition should be less cutthroat. Realtor.com forecasts a balanced market in 2025 with an average 4.1-month supply of homes for sale, up from an average 3.7-month supply so far in 2024. That would make 2025 the friendliest market for buyers since 2016, which had an average 4.4-month supply. Finally, mortgage rates: After topping 8% in October 2023, the 30-year mortgage rate has slowly eased into the 6.5%-7% range this year. Rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have helped nudge that downward. Despite earlier optimism, forecasters’ latest consensus is for rates to effectively plateau above 6% throughout 2025. That said, every year has its wild cards. In 2025, it’s still uncertain how President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-led Congress might shake up regulations and tax policies that affect the U.S. housing market. National forecasts don’t analyze what matters most: Your personal cash flow. To get ready to buy, first meet with a financial advisor or use an online calculator to determine how much house you can afford . You can also get free or low-cost advice from a housing counselor sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Next, look into down payment and closing cost assistance from state housing finance agencies, local governments, nonprofits and mortgage lenders. Your employer or labor union might offer assistance, too. First-time buyers with income below their area median have the most options, but repeat or higher-income borrowers can qualify for some programs as well. “I think that there’s a lot of free money being left out there,” Rose says. Your not-so-secret weapon for buying in 2025 just might be an experienced buyer’s agent. “Anybody can write a contract,” says Sharon Parker, associate broker with Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, New Hampshire. “But you need somebody who’s seen the market, the ups and downs, who knows how to get creative because every transaction is different.” Following a settlement with the NAR , buyers can now negotiate their agent’s compensation up front. (Previously, home sellers took on that task.) While new norms are still shaking out, Rose says she hasn’t seen too much drama since the change took effect in August. “So as long as buyers remember that we have to talk about this in the beginning of our relationship, everything typically works out fine,” she says. Finally, it’s time to shop for a mortgage. To get the best interest rate, get a quote with at least three different lenders. You could also delegate the shopping to a mortgage broker, who can compare quotes and even negotiate a lower rate on your behalf. Though brokers charge a fee, their access to more mortgage options and lower rates can often mean net savings overall. With a mortgage preapproval in hand, it’s go time. And you don’t have to wait until spring: If you’re ready to buy now, buyers have less competition and more negotiating power from December through February, so you could snag a deal. “The people who are selling and the people who are buying in the off season are very serious,” Parker says. “They’re not just lookie-loos.” However, lower inventory means fewer choices for buyers. So start your search prepared to compromise — a “good enough” house will still help you build equity. If a down payment or monthly mortgage payment is financially out of reach, there’s no shame in postponing your search to pad your savings. And owning a home isn’t the right lifestyle choice for everyone, with the ongoing commitment of money and time. But once you’re ready to buy — whether for the first time, or to upgrade or downsize — avoid the trap of waiting for a dip in mortgage rates. “Nobody can predict what the market, or the world, is going to do,” Parker says. “There is no better time than right now.” Mortgage rates will always fluctuate, and if they drop significantly, you can refinance. For first-time buyers, homeownership is a major financial glow-up — and the sooner you jump in, the longer you’ll have to build home equity. “Time value of money is really, really critical when it comes to real estate,” Rose says. “So I would always encourage somebody to buy as soon as you can and get the clock ticking.” More From NerdWallet Abby Badach Doyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: abadachdoyle@nerdwallet.com. The article Buying a House in 2025: Your How-To Guide originally appeared on NerdWallet .

Gen Faiz vehemently denies charge of guiding PTI: sources Sources say authorities have evidence of these contacts, which include some alleged guidance to PTI ISLAMABAD: Political contacts of former DGISI Faiz Hamid, who has been formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act, vehemently deny the charge of guiding the PTI in political or other matters. Informed sources said that Gen Faiz’s contacts with politicians included some belonging to the PMLN and PPP. The News had reported while quoting sources that Gen Faiz was in contact with around 50 politicians, mostly belonging to the PTI. The authorities, as claimed by the sources, have evidence of these contacts, which include some alleged guidance to the PTI. Certain aspects of these contacts are under probe. However, according to the sources, Gen Faiz is of the view that these political contacts were routine social interactions. In some cases, this correspondent is told, these contacts were allegedly meant for some personal tasks like employment of someone and award of ticket to some person known to him. On Tuesday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the former ISI chief has been formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act. The ISPR stated these violations have compromised state security and interests. According to the ISPR, Gen Faiz has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of Official Secrets Act detrimental to safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority and government resources and causing wrongful loss to a person(s). Although some federal ministers alleged that Gen Faiz and Imran Khan were involved in the May 9 riots, the ISPR clearly said that the former spymaster’s role in May 9 “in collusion with vested political interests” was also being investigated. Meanwhile sources had told this correspondent that the nature of Faiz-Imran links, direct or indirect, was also under investigation. Involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (R), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, leading up to multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th May 2023 incident for fomenting instability, at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, is also being separately investigated, the ISPR statement had added.LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1."Court visits Robert Mugabe’s grave and mausoleum amid exhumation row

Williams Cos. stock falls Monday, underperforms marketdemaerre/iStock via Getty Images The last time I wrote about The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD ), I downgraded it to a Hold on November 9, 2024, shortly after it reported third-quarter earnings. My analysis usually includes a section on company fundamentals. However, everything Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TTD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

The history photo this week says so much about simpler times. It’s a photo of Vernon’s Jeff Hurmuces in his home on Christmas Eve, 1952. Look at the fantastic black-and-white photo courtesy of the Museum and Archives of Vernon. Look closely. Photos of family framed, hanging on the wall, some level, some askew. The Christmas tree in the corner, clearly a live tree with a star on top, minimal lights and the always-present tinsel at the time. Christmas cards were regularly hung from string going wall to wall, and you can see Mr. Hurmuces received at least 19 cards that year. And the food. My word, the food. The drink. Something for every palate in this pic. Hurmuces was the co-owner of the highly successful National Cafe, in the old National Hotel, according to his niece, Gayle, who lives on Vancouver Island and who pays tribute to her uncle on her website, Eatinscanada.com. Hurmuces owned the cafe with another Vernon legend, Nick Alexis, as well as Tom (Curly) Pulos and Gus Haros from 1935-1963. Curly’s daughter Evinia (Pulos) Bruce wrote a letter to The Morning Star in 2004 explaining how the National Cafe had a chocolate factory in the back and a soda fountain up front, where such concoctions as the Graveyard Milkshakes ( a mix of every available flavour) and the Three Men In A Tub original sundaes were created and dished out. The National Cafe, said Bruce, was the “largest and most known restaurant in the block (2900-30th Avenue) all during the Second World War due to the thousands of soldiers training at the army camp on Mission Hill.” On Dec. 9, 2021, the highly popular Facebook page Vintage Vernon ran the exact same photo, courtesy of the museum. Gayle commented that her uncle Jeff was her best friend when she was a little girl. The same photo hangs in her home, she said. And a man named Ronald Smith commented that “Jeff was a real gentleman, and was always very kind and polite with my mother and me.” Smith also mentioned that he worked for Capitol Taxi as a kid and had many interactions with Curly Pulos.MyPillow owner Mike Lindell said in a lawsuit this week that his company took on a loan at an annual interest rate of 409%, contributing to the company's dire financial straits, according to a report. The suit is accompanied by 18 other corporate entities that say Cobalt Funding Solutions and another company involved in the loan, Streamline Advance, committed racketeering, according to Yahoo Finance . The agreement for the loan was reached in September for $1.6 million, which would require a significant payback at a 409% annual interest rate. MyPillow was recently involved in a few court cases related to finances, according to the report, including accusations of defaulting on a $600,000 loan in October and a $2 million loan in July. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Both cases are still pending in New York. Lindell has been a colorful character in right-wing politics, including shaving his trademark mustache off to go undercover at the Democratic National Convention , offering a "Prove Mike Wrong" $5 million prize for anyone who could dispute his claims the 2020 election was stolen from now-President-elect Donald Trump , and facing defamation lawsuits from voting system companies .

Buying a house in 2025: your how-to guideIsraeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. The United Nations reported heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Four Italian peacekeepers were lightly wounded when a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, hit their base, the U.N. said. A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict. More than 3,640 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,350 wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation and ground invasion, the Health Ministry said Friday. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of the territory, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, the hospital director said Friday. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed the director of a university hospital and six others at his home in northeastern Lebanon, state media said. The strike targeted Dr. Ali Allam’s house near Dar Al-Amal Hospital, the largest health center in Baalbek-Hermel province, which has provided vital health services amid Israel's campaign of airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. State-run media reported that the strike came without warning. The ministry described his death as a “great loss,” and provincial governor Bachir Khodr said in a post on X that, “Mr. Allam was one of the best citizens of Baalbek.” In two separate episodes on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five paramedics with Hezbollah's medical arm, the Health Ministry said, describing it as “war crime.” The militant group provides extensive social services, including running schools and health clinics. In a report published Friday, the World Health Organization said nearly half of all attacks on health care in Lebanon since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in fatalities. “This is a higher percentage than in any active conflict today across the globe,” WHO said. In Lebanon, 226 health workers and patients were killed and 199 were injured between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 18, 2024, the report said. The Health Ministry said Friday that 3,645 people have been killed in nearly 14 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, while 15,356 were wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The death count includes 692 women and 231 children. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, its director said Friday. Hossam Abu Safiya said the strikes before dawn Friday hit the entrance of the emergency unit as well as in the hospital courtyard. He said two members of the nursing staff suffered critical injuries. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Abu Safiya said the strikes caused damage to the functioning of the generator and disrupted oxygen supplies. The hospital is currently treating 85 wounded, 14 children in the pediatric ward and four newborns in the neonatal unit, he said. During the past month, Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit several times, was put under siege and was raided by Israeli troops, who are waging a heavy offensive in the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp and towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military says it detained Hamas fighters hiding in the hospital, a claim its staff denies. UNITED NATIONS – Two rockets hit a headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, the United Nations says. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah militants or by affiliated groups Friday, impacting a bunker and a logistics area in the southwest headquarters at Chamaa. One of the structures that was hit caught fire, and the blaze was swiftly put out by U.N. staff, he said. According to Italy’s Defense Ministry, some glass shattered due to the explosion, hitting the four soldiers. Dujarric said the four injured peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the medical facility of the mission, known as UNIFIL. “Thankfully, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” he said. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL base “intolerable.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace, and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Dujarric said Friday’s attack was the third on Chamaa in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Chamaa and Naqoura areas in recent days. UNIFIL’s main headquarters is in Naqoura. Friday’s attack follows a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base east of the village of Ramyah on Tuesday that injured four peacekeepers from Ghana. Dujarric said UNIFIL strongly urges Hezbollah and its affiliates and Israel to avoid fighting near its positions, which are supposed to be protected. “We remind all parties that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law” and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, he said. BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, after the Israeli army issued several evacuation warnings saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites. The strikes in Beirut came dangerously close to central Beirut and Christian neighborhoods. One strike hit a building housing a gym and medical and beauty clinics, located just meters (yards) from a Lebanese army base. “What is there in the building to target? This attack they carried out on us in this building is a criminal and vile act,” resident Hassan Najdi told The Associated Press. “Because if their intention is targeting Hezbollah, this building has nothing to do with Hezbollah.” Najdi said he purchased an apartment in the building last year but had not yet moved in. He allowed a displaced family to move in and urgently asked them to evacuate after receiving the Israeli warning. The blasts sent plumes of smoke into the air and shattered glass in the vicinity. No casualties have been reported, but the strikes caused damage to nearby infrastructure and a key road connecting central Beirut to its southern suburbs. “We remain steadfast,” said Ali Daher, an employee at a mall facing the targeted building. “Everything that is lost can be replaced, and whatever is destroyed can be rebuilt in (no time).” In Tyre city, the Israeli military conducted multiple airstrikes after a series of warnings, claiming the targets belonged to Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, accusing it of firing projectiles into Israel. The Israeli military carried out other airstrikes across Lebanon, many without warnings, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in villages along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. ROME — Italy said Friday it plans to discuss the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over the Israel-Hamas war when it hosts Group of Seven foreign ministers next week. Premier Giorgia Meloni insisted that one point remained clear for Italy: “There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas.” Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Meloni’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement Friday, Meloni said Italy would study the reasonings behind the decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy respects the ICC and supports it. “But at the same time we are also convinced that the court must have a judicial role, and should not take up a political role.” Tajani will host G7 foreign ministers Monday and Tuesday outside Rome for the final meeting of the Italian G7 presidency. “As far as decisions are concerned, we will take them together with our allies,” Tajani said. During the G7 meetings, “we will talk about this with my allies there, and we will see what to do next.” Another member of the governing coalition, the outspoken Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was more defiant in supporting Israel. “If Netanyahu comes to Italy he will be welcomed,” Salvini was quoted by Italian media as saying. This item has been updated to correct that Salvini spoke of a potential Netanyahu visit to Italy, not Israel. ROME — Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the United Nations' peacekeeping mission base on Friday in Chamaa in southern Lebanon, Italy's defense ministry said. Initial information suggested that two rockets hit a bunker and a room of the mission base, damaging the surrounding infrastructure, the ministry said. Shattered glass hit the four soldiers. The incident was the latest in which UN peacekeeping posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called Friday's attack “intolerable.” He said he will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister to ask him “to avoid using the UNIFIL bases as a shield.” Crosetto said the conditions of the four Italian soldiers “did not cause concern.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she learned about the new attack with “deep indignation and concern.” Meloni reiterated that “such attacks are unacceptable,” renewing her appeal for the parties on the ground “to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible.” GENEVA — The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world. The U.N. health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more. WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat. Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah militants in the country two months ago. The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday. JERUSALEM — Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory. Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways. The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial. Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7. Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.” Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common. An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. “All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell. BERLIN — A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement Friday that it is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters, but “at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel.” The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that “we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps.” It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were “foreseeable.” Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It’s hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are “insignificant” for Russia, which doesn’t recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow’s eyes they’re “null and void.” Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: “Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That’s the first thing. And secondly, we don’t see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant.” DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. “I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread ... I have children to feed,” said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to $16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs $4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly $14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. “The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. “It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food.” BEIRUT — Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of U.N. peacekeepers. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring “heavy clashes” in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL’s headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon’s southern edge close to the border with Israel. “We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: “Yes for the moment.” Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded.

MUMBAI: A 53-year-old Andheri resident working in an insurance firm was duped of ₹ 5.70 crore in an online share trading cyber fraud. The professional has been transferring money from September in an app he was asked to download under the assumption that he was investing. A case was registered by cyber police on Saturday in connection with the matter. According to the police, the complainant works in an insurance firm. On September 12, he allegedly received a WhatsApp message from someone who went by Aman Malik. Malik offered guidance on stock market investment promising high returns. The victim expressed interest in this and received a call from an unknown person who claimed to be a representative of an investment firm. He then sent him a link to join a WhatsApp group which was named ‘Y21-VIP-WTIC World Top Investor Competition’, where Malik was the group admin. Malik sent messages in the group with tips and guides to invest. Other members of the group allegedly posted screenshots showing they received huge returns on their investments. Convinced by the screenshots and lured by high returns, the complainant decided to invest through the firm and downloaded an app from a link Malik sent. He transferred ₹ 5 lakh through the app and in two days, he saw a profit of ₹ 70 thousand and began trusting the app, said a police officer. From October 18 to November 8, he transferred a total ₹ 5.70 crore in over 20 transactions to the scammers. On November 11, when he tried to withdraw money, he was asked to pay more under the pretext of processing fee among others. He found this suspicious and contacted cyber helpline number. An FIR was registered in the West Cyber police station on Saturday and investigation is underway, said the officer.F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26

Live updates: High school football state championships

Gophers football players are preparing to play Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Friday, but three key pieces peered beyond the blinders to shore up their commitment to Minnesota on Monday. Quarterback Max Brosmer and offensive lineman Quinn Carroll — two sixth-year seniors — said they will play in the Gophers’ to-be-determined bowl game, bucking a growing trend of players skipping postseason games to prepare for shots in the NFL. ADVERTISEMENT Brosmer, a transfer from FCS-level New Hampshire, said he will “definitely” suit up. “It’s another opportunity for us to play as a team,” said Brosmer, who threw for 2,426 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 games this season. “It’s a compilation of what you have worked on all season.” Carroll said he respects higher-level prospects who might opt out and protect their draft stock, but he wants to get back to a “standard” of players not skipping the games. “My goal ever since I came here was to be the leader, be the standard all the time, and I don’t want it to become a standard that we don’t play in the bowl game if we have NFL aspirations,” said Carroll, who has played three seasons at Minnesota after three years at Notre Dame. “Obviously it’s different for guys who are maybe touted a little bit higher or think it will be better off for them to start working on the next step, whether that is combine training or what have you. But that is one opportunity that I’m blessed with to play with the guys and I’m going to take full advantage of it.” Left tackle Aireontae Ersery is a prime candidate of a Gophers player who might want to safeguard a higher draft stock and limit injury exposure by sitting out the bowl game. The possible first- or second-round pick has not said what he might do. For example, former U center, John Michael Schmitz opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl in 2022; he was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Gophers fifth-year defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding said he will return to Minnesota for 2025, instead of trying his luck in the NFL. “Coming back next year is definitely going to be the best for me and being able to maximize all my opportunities and exhaust eligibility,” Logan-Redding said. Logan-Redding said he talked with fellow D-lineman Deven Eastern, who has one more year remaining, about pairing up in 2025. ADVERTISEMENT “We talk a lot about it,” Logan-Redding said. “... We are excited for it, honestly. Not only continuing to build the D-line, but just continuing to build on the experience that we already have. We’ve seen the amount of destruction that we can create when we are focused. Me, Dev and, of course, (Anthony Smith). He would be pissed if I didn’t shout him out.” Smith, who has two more years of eligibility, has been one of the U’s best players in the last month. He has 23 total pressures and five sacks, including one sack in each of the last three weeks. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Health Calendar published Dec. 25, 2024

Madison (US), Dec 12 (AP) The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could leave her and their children and meet a woman in Eastern Europe filed court documents Thursday seeking to end their marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court seeking a legal separation from Ryan Borgwardt. According to the petition, the marriage is “irretrievably broken". The document doesn't elaborate. Also Read | 'Maverick Diplomacy': Donald Trump Invites China's President Xi Jinping to Inauguration for 'Open Dialogue' Despite Tariff Threats. A woman who answered the phone at the office of Emily Borgwardt's attorney, Andrew Griggs, on Thursday said he would have no comment. Online court records don't list an attorney for Ryan Borgwardt. The separation petition states that the couple has been married for 22 years and Emily Borgwardt wants sole custody of their three teenaged children. The document adds that Emily works at a private school in Watertown. Ryan is listed as self-employed and currently residing at an “unknown address”. Also Read | Donald Trump Named Time Magazine’s Person of Year, Rings New York Stock Exchange’s Opening Bell. A hearing in the case has been set for April. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was reported missing on Aug 12 after telling his wife the night before that he was kayaking on Green Lake, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. His disappearance was first investigated as a possible drowning. But subsequent clues — including that he obtained a new passport three months before he disappeared — led investigators to speculate that he faked his death to meet up with a woman he had been communicating with in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Investigators made contact with Borgwardt in November and convinced him to return to the US. He turned himself in at the Green Lake County sheriff's office on Tuesday and was charged Wednesday with obstructing the search for his body. According to the criminal complaint, he travelled 50 miles from his family's home in Watertown to Green Lake on Aug 11. During the night, he overturned his kayak on the lake, paddled back to shore in an inflatable raft that he brought with him — dumping his identification in the lake along the way — and rode an electric bicycle 70 miles to Madison, where he caught a bus to Toronto, flew to Paris and then to an unspecified country in Eastern Europe. He told investigators that a woman picked him up and they spent several days in a hotel before he took up residency in the country of Georgia, according to the complaint. Borgwardt was released from jail Wednesday in Green Lake County on a signature bond. He told a judge Wednesday that he would represent himself because he had only $20 in his wallet. The judge told him the court could appoint an attorney for him, but online court records didn't list one as of Thursday. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)On Friday, Nasdaq Inc’s NDAQ annual reconstitution of the Nasdaq-100 Index will become effective before the market opens on December 23 . Illumina, Inc. ILMN was removed from the index . Year to date, the stock has increased around 8%, underperforming iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF IJH . The provider of DNA sequencing and array-based technologies has been in the news due to its controversial multi-billion dollar deal to acquire cancer test maker Grail Inc GRAL . Also Read: European Court Rules In Favor Of Illumina In Fight Against Probe Into Grail Deal, Asks Not To Pay $478M Fine Nearly four years after pitching for Grail, Illumina finally separated the cancer blood test developer . To expand its reach in single-cell analysis and multiomics research, Illumina acquired privately-held Fluent BioSciences. Also in March, activist investor Carl Icahn opted against pursuing a fresh challenge to Illumina’s board, which spares the U.S. gene sequencing company from facing its second proxy battle in consecutive years. Previously, Icahn had expressed intentions to remove additional directors from Illumina’s board, attributing the company’s substantial market value decline and the ill-fated $7.1 billion Grail acquisition to mismanagement by the existing board members . Most recently, Illumina reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.14, beating the consensus of $0.88, with sales of $1.08 billion, almost in line with the consensus of $1.08 billion . “During the third quarter, the Illumina team delivered strong operating results, and revenue met our expectations,” said Jacob Thaysen, Chief Executive Officer. “The near-term macroeconomic environment remains constrained, and we are slightly lowering our 2024 revenue guidance,” Thaysen added. Price Action: ILMN stock is down 0.12% at $143.70 at the last check on Monday. Also Read: What’s Going On With Moderna Stock On Monday? Photo via Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Jim and John Harbaugh's parents have a very good reason for missing their sons' Ravens-Chargers matchup