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spinph99 Israeli Citizenship Has Always Been a Tool of Genocide — So I Renounced MineWhat Jaylin Noel said about his last game at Iowa State

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At Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. But one check-in desk remains flush with travelers: the one serving flights to the United Arab Emirates, which have kept up a bridge for Israelis to the outside world throughout the war. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering airlines' bottom lines, have shined a light on the countries' burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office. "It's a political and economic statement," said Joshua Teitelbaum, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Israel's BarIlan University. "They are the main foreign airlines that continue to fly." Since the wars began with Hamas' initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, many international airlines have halted, restarted and halted again their flights into Israel's main gateway to the rest of the world. The concern is real for the carriers, who remember the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine 10 years ago and Iran shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 after takeoff from Tehran in 2020. But FlyDubai, the sister airline to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has kept up multiple flights daily and kept Israel connected to the wider world even as its other low-cost competitors have stopped flights. Abu Dhabi's Etihad has continued its flights as well. While maintaining the flight schedule remains politically important for the UAE after its 2020 diplomatic recognition of Israel, it also provided a further shot in the arm for revenues — particularly for FlyDubai. Since the Israeli's wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon started, international carriers such as Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, Germany's Lufthansa and other major airlines halted their flights. Some resumed, only to stop again after Iran's Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel and Israel's Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has threatened to strike Israel again. That's brought major business to Israel's national carrier El Al, which had struggled in the coronavirus pandemic and prior years. The airline posted its bestever half-year results this year, recording a $227 million profit as compared to $58 million profit in the same period last year. El Al stock has risen by as much 200% over the past year, as compared to a 29% rise in the wider Tel Aviv 125 stock market index. El Al, however, lacks the routes and connections of major international carriers. Low-cost carriers as well have stopped flying into Israel during periods of the war, sending the price of El Al tickets ever higher. Passenger numbers through Ben Gurion halved compared to the same period the year before, El Al said in its second-quarter financial results. However, FlyDubai has kept flying. The carrier has operated more than 1,800 flights to Israel since October 2023, cancelling only 77 flights overall, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. In September alone, it flew more than 200 flights. As a line snaked toward the FlyDubai check-in counters at Ben Gurion Airport, UAE-bound Motti Eis said the flights were "a symbol that the Emirates countries decided to keep the peace." FlyDubai declined to answer questions from The Associated Press about the flights. Etihad, the flag carrier for Abu Dhabi, has kept flying into Tel Aviv, but the number of its flights has been dwarfed by FlyDubai. FlyDubai had 3.6% market share at Ben Gurion, compared to El Al's 43.2% in the second half of 2024. However, at least two of the foreign low-cost airlines with greater market, Wizz Air and Blue Bird, stopped flying for extended periods this year. Etihad said it maintains a close watch on the situation in the region, but continues its daily flights to and from Tel Aviv. "Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, employing best practices in safety and security practices, enabling Etihad and other airlines to provide essential air connectivity as long as it is secure to do so," the airline said in a statement. Beyond the financial impact, the decision also takes root in the UAE's decision to recognize Israel in 2020 under agreements brokered by President Donald Trump known as the Abraham Accords. While Abu Dhabi has repeatedly expressed concern and outrage at Israel's conduct during the wars, Israel's consulate in Dubai and embassy remain open in the country. And while Dubai, broadly speaking, remains focused on business in the country, Abu Dhabi's focus long has been on its geopolitical aims — which since the 2011 Arab Spring have been squarely focused on challenging Islamist movements and those who back them in the wider region. The UAE, a hereditary autocracy, long has viewed those groups as serious challenges to its power. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Bany John is struggling to hold its own at the box office. The film, after opening at more than Rs 11.25 crore on Christmas, has continued to fall each day. At the end of three days, the film has not managed to touch Rs 20 crores. Baby John continues to fall According to Sacnilk’s early estimates, Baby John earned approximately Rs3.65 crore on the third day at the box office. The first-day collection was Rs 11.25 crore and there was a drastic drop on day 2. The third day saw a bigger drop. Despite being a major holiday release, the movie struggled to attract audiences for Kalees' mass entertainer. Here’s looking at Baby John’s total collection after three days at the box office: Baby John Box Office Collection DayBaby John Box Office CollectionBaby John Box Office Collection Day 1Rs 11. 25 CroreBaby John Box Office Collection Day 2Rs 4.75 Crore Baby John Box Office Collection Day 3Rs 3.65 Crore * early estimatesBaby John Box Office TotalRs ₹ 19.65 Crore ALSO READ: Baby John Box Office Collection Day 1: Atlee-Varun Film FAILS To Beat Pushpa 2, Earns Rs 12 Crore On Christmas More about Baby John Zoom's in-house reviewer gave the film 2.5 stars. The review states, "Baby John has Atlee’s classic touch. It has strong political flavours wrapped in the sweet coating of a commercial actioner. Over the years, the definition of mass has changed and Atlee has a pivotal role to play in the shift. It comes as no surprise that Theri has inspired Baby John. Coated with Bollywood masala, the film offers nothing new in terms of story. Following the success formula of Theri, director Kalees relies too much on Varun’s stardom and jarring loud action sequences. It’s a been there, done that situation." The film is facing stiff competition from Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 as well! Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Box Office, Entertainment News and around the world.From Corner Stores To Community Hubs, NRS Is Helping Small Retailers Thrive

Kashmiri pandits on Saturday hit out at the BJP-led central government for not acknowledging their displacement from Kashmir over three decades ago as ‘genocide’ and reiterated their demand for the implementation of ‘Margdarshan resolution’. Observing the 33rd homeland day anniversary here, the displaced community also demanded enhancement of relief measures, adequate security for PM-package employees working in the valley and ample employment opportunities for the youth of the community in Jammu. The Kashmiri pandits highlighted the demands in two resolutions passed at the 33rd ‘National Homeland Day Convention’, hosted by Panun Kashmir, one of the leading organisations representing Kashmiri migrant pandits, a spokesperson of the group said. He said the event, themed ‘Kashmiri Hindus caught between Jehad (holy war) and denial of genocide’, marked 33 years since the ‘Margdarshan resolution’, which was passed by the community on this day in 1991 after mass migration from Kashmir. The spokesperson said the first resolution strongly condemns the ‘denial of the genocide’ and calls for urgent measures to address the frequent terrorist attacks targeting the community in the valley. “It reaffirms the commitment to the Margdarshan resolution, demanding the creation of a separate Union Territory for the permanent rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus,” he said. He said the second resolution deals with the alleged state’s apathy towards displaced Kashmiri Hindus, urging the Indian government to withdraw the humiliating “migrant” label and to take immediate action to enhance relief measures, provide security for Prime Minister-package employees working in the valley, and create employment opportunities in Jammu. Earlier in his address, a prominent Kashmiri pandit leader, Tito Ganju acknowledged the significant contributions of all those who have fought for the cause of Kashmiri Hindus and reaffirmed the collective resolve to not rest until justice is served. “The road ahead may be long, but we will continue our fight for justice, dignity and a secure homeland. We are united in our cause, and together, we will make our voices heard,” Ganju said. Amidst the solemn reflections and speeches, the convention also featured remarkable cultural performances, underscoring the strength and unity of the Kashmiri Pandit community. A soulful rendition of Kashmiri folk songs – transporting the audience to a time before exile and traditional Kashmiri music filled the atmosphere with energy and vibrancy during the event, the spokesperson said. Chairman of Panun Kashmir, Ajay Chrungoo condemned what he called denial of the genocide faced by Kashmiri Hindus, criticising both the state’s indifference and the world’s silence. “The fight for justice was not merely about land but about acknowledging the pain and suffering that the community has endured,” he said. He reaffirmed the Margdarshan Resolution for the permanent rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus. He said such a move was not just an aspiration but a necessity, given the continuing terror threat and the alleged inability of the current political establishment to address the community’s plight.A global affairs expert has sounded the alarm, predicting that the countdown to World War Three will begin in 2025 due to a "big grab" by Vladimir Putin. As the world simmers with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas , the conflict in Ukraine , and accusations of Chinese espionage in Western nations, two international relations experts concur that 2025 is poised for further deterioration. With Donald Trump 's return to the White House, they foresee increased tensions, reports the Mirror UK. And if that is the case, it will line up with Baba Vanga's terrifying predcitions for 2025. NATO chief warns Putin wants to 'wipe Ukraine off the map' WW3 fears rise as NATO jets get ready for 'immediate response' to Russia Prof Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham asserts that Putin is likely to pursue his ambition of reclaiming former USSR territories. Meanwhile, Prof John Strawson from the University of East London warns that 2025 could bring the most significant challenges to global stability since the end of World War 2, eighty years prior. Prof Glees is convinced that although Trump will aim to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine , it wont curb Putin 's territorial aspirations. He suggests that the best defense for the West is to gear up for conflict, which he says is the "most important thing we can do to prevent one". In his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict within a single day. Reports have emerged from his staffers indicating that Trump's approach would be to cement the current front line, establishing an 800-mile buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine . Prof Strawson elaborates on the precarious state of global affairs: "The dangers stem from the rise of great power rivalry and the decline of international cooperation. DON'T MISS: Living Nostradamus claims his WW3 prophecy is imminent Donald Trump issues chilling WW3 threat as he rings bell at NYSE for first time Putin risks 'ending human history' says Russian hitman in WW3 nuke warning In 1945 the Allies created the United Nations even before the war ended with the aim of promoting a new world order, in the 2020's that order has effectively collapsed as we can see in the wars in Ukraine , the Middle East and the tensions over Taiwan." "Trump's victory in the US elections is a symptom that international instability is having an impact on domestic politics. Trump's well-known unpredictability symbolizes this and underlines how the domestic situation of the main powers has an impact on international relations. All this makes 2025 a dangerous year." Reportedly integral to Trump's strategic plan is an agreement to keep Ukraine out of NATO for two decades, a move that would ostensibly save face for Putin by almost ensuring that Ukraine wouldnt join NATO during his term. The strategy supposedly includes the US equipping Ukraine with robust armaments to deter any future Russian invasion attempts. Prof Glees warns of a grim future, suggesting that conflict may draw nearer by 2025, even if it doesn't erupt immediately. "I do not believe for one second that Putin will stop with this deal. Putin also said today that Russia was now well-placed to 'establish our primary goals in Ukraine '," he remarked. Prof Glees said: "Please note the word 'primary' because there are also 'secondary' goals. They are even more horrific than his 'primary' ones. By 2027 he will be busily undermining the rump Ukrainian state in all the usual ways and I also think we will go out of his way to kill Zelensky." He then predicts Putin's "big grab" which could trigger WW3. "He will turn to his strategic plan of re-establishing the USSR and its satellite system in all but name by turning on all the post-1997 NATO states," Prof Glees added. "We're talking about Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia; Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and West Macedonia. In other words, a really big grab by Putin, so big that I am confident we will oppose him by force and that will be how WW3 will develop. This will shape our deteriorating relations with Russia . Trump's foolish and false peace deal will start the clock for the countdown to war." "He's said it is his intention to force them to leave NATO and I believe we should take the threat very seriously, as we should have taken all his threats seriously but signally failed to do."

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Eddie Howe says ‘a lot more to come’ from Newcastle striker Alexander Isak

FORMER President Jimmy Carter has died at age 100. Carter , the 39th president of the United States , died today after nearly two years in hospice care. 10 Former President Jimmy Carter has died Credit: Getty - Contributor 10 Jimmy Carter's death comes months after the death of his wife and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Credit: Rex 10 Jimmy Carter served as the 39th president of the United States Credit: Getty - Contributor 10 Jimmy Carter pictured at the funeral service of his wife, Rosalynn Carter, on November 29, 2023 Credit: Getty His son Chip Carter confirmed the former president died on Sunday around 3:45 pm ET. Carter died peacefully surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader. His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. Read more on Jimmy Carter TOUCHING TRIBUTE President Jimmy Carter's heartbreaking tribute to wife Rosalynn "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and a state funeral will be held, The Carter Center confirmed. The former president decided to live out the remainder of his days at his home in Plains, Georgia . Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Most read in The US Sun baby joy Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan announce she's pregnant with first baby NEIL BY MOUTH Moment Rangers hero says he needs RESCUED on live TV during Motherwell clash GER OUT Moment raging Rangers fans BOO their own players and say 'go away' at Motherwell WELL 2 GERS 2 Shambolic display leaves Clement on brink as horror Christmas week continues He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old. Carter's death came over a year after the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter , who died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. Two days before her death, Rosalynn joined her husband in hospice care at their home in Georgia. The former first lady and fierce advocate for mental health was diagnosed with dementia in early 2023. Before his death, Jimmy Carter was the first to pay tribute to his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me." During Rosylann's service in late November 2023, Amy, the Carters' daughter, read her father's love letter he dedicated to his wife while he was in the Navy. "My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are," Carter penned more than 70 years ago. "While I am away I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not, be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. "But when I see you I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn't to me. "Goodbye darling, until tomorrow, Jimmy." Jimmy Carter is survived by his four children, James, Donnel, Amy, and Jack, as well as 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. PRESIDENT CARTER Carter served in the White House from 1977 to 1981. Prior to his presidency, he served as a Georgia State Senator from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. Carter was considered a longshot for the presidency when he announced his presidential campaign in December 1974. As a dark-horse candidate, Carter was not well-known outside of the home state of Georgia. However, Carter's two-year campaign trail paid off when he won the Democratic nomination and narrowly defeated incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford during the 1976 presidential election. Carter, who entered office in January 1977, took over a nation that was still reeling from the events of the Vietnam War, where approximately 59,000 US troops died on the frontlines. Two days after being sworn in as president, Carter famously pardoned all the draft evaders from the Vietnam War. But, his presidency was marred by rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions with foreign adversaries, including the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Carter's hopes for reelection eventually crumbled due to the Iran hostage crisis. On November 4, 1979, a group of militarized Iranian college students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. The American public turned on Carter for his soft approach to the crisis, which lasted 444 days. The hostage crisis paralyzed his presidency and hampered his efforts at a second term. Carter would eventually lose the 1980 presidential election in a landslide to Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. 10 Jimmy Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981 Credit: AP:Associated Press 10 Carter's final year in the White House was married by the 1979 Iran hostage crisis Credit: Getty 10 Carter lost the 1980 presidential election in a landslide to Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan Credit: AP LIFE AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE After leaving the Oval Office, Carter devoted his life to diplomacy and human rights work . He founded the Carter Center in 1982, an organization with a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering, according to their website. The non-profit has worked to improve the quality of life for people in countries all over the world. In 2002, Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work seeking peaceful resolutions to global conflicts, advancing human rights and democracy, and promoting economic and social development. The Carter Center also devoted some resources to ensuring free and fair elections and monitored the 2020 elections in the United States . Carter had mostly retired from the public eye in recent years, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and a cancer diagnosis in 2015. While Carter lived a more private life in his latter years, he was vocal in his opposition to certain political moves of the presidents who followed him. He disagreed with Reagan’s handling of peace in the Middle East and was opposed to the Iraq War under George W Bush. Carter criticized the Trump administration but also disagreed with his fellow Democratic president, Barack Obama, regarding the use of drone strikes against suspected terrorists. On his 96th birthday , the former president was honored with a parade of golf carts and other vehicles by local residents, which he and his wife observed from their residence while wearing masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the 2020 presidential election, Carter endorsed Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention and said via video, "Joe Biden was my first and most effective supporter in the Senate ... For decades, he’s been my loyal and dedicated friend." To mark his first 100 days in office, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at their home in Plains, Georgia. "We sat and talked about the old days," Biden told reporters afterward. Jimmy Carter was the longest-lived US president in history, surpassing George HW Bush, who was 94 at the time of his death. Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine 10 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and their four children Credit: Getty - Contributor 10 Jimmy and Rosalynn were college sweethearts Credit: The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum 10 Jimmy Carter's love letter, which he penned more than 70 years ago, was read at Rosalynn Carter's service in late November 2023 Credit: Getty - Contributor More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSunStocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 6 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 1:52 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Micron Technology was up 1% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, Amazon was down 0.6%, and Netflix gave up 1.1%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.9%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.7% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.8%, Best Buy was up 2.2% and Dollar Tree gained 2.7%. Retailers are hoping for a solid sales this holiday season, and the day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4% and 16%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.57% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.

How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Stock market today: Stocks waver in thin trading after US markets reopen following a holiday pause Stocks are wavering on Wall Street in light trading as U.S. markets reopen following the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite were down by less than 0.1% in afternoon trading Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up less than 0.1%. Gains in technology companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market, including a pullback by some heavyweight Big Tech stocks. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell. U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military hasn't responded to questions about the WHO chief's statement. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean was attacked, owner says MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian operator of a cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria says it has been hit by a series of explosions in an act of sabotage. Oboronlogistica is a state-controlled company that operated the Ursa Major freighter. The company said the vessel was wrecked by three powerful explosions just above the water line in what it described as a “terrorist attack” that caused it to sink on Monday. The company said in a statement carried by Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday that the explosions left a hole in the ship’s starboard and filled the engine room with acrid smoke. That hampered the crew’s attempts to access it. Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia. Petteri Orpo said on X that power transmission through the Estlink-2 cable suffered an outage Wednesday. Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic after two international data cables were severed in November and the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were blown up in September 2022. Japan to maximize nuclear power in clean-energy push as electricity demand grows TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government panel has largely supported a draft energy policy calling for bolstering renewables up to half of Japanese electricity needs by 2040. It also recommends maximizing the use of nuclear power to accommodate the growing demand for power in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. Cabinet is expected to formally approve the plan by March following a period of public consultation. The policy says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, with renewables expanded to 40-50% and coal-fired power reduced to 30-40%. Working Well: Returning to the office can disrupt life. Here are some tips to navigate the changes NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of workers are facing an unsettling reality heading into 2025. After years of working from the comfort of home, they're being told it’s time to return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. That can bring a host of challenges, including losing time with family. Workers at Amazon, AT&T and other companies have been called back to the office five days a week. Experts have advice to share about how to navigate the changes when an employer calls you back to the office. Workers can convey what they need, seek flexibility and if all else fails, consider other options. US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. The US Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21. That’s fewer than the 223,000 analysts forecast. Continuing claims, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, climbed by 46,000 to 1.91 million for the week of Dec. 14. That’s more than analysts projected and the most since the week of Nov. 13, 2021. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs.

Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic looks set to win a second term in office according to an early election tally. With 63 per cent of all votes counted on Sunday evening, the former social democrat Milanovic was clearly ahead with 50.1 per cent. His challenger Dragan Primorac, who is supported by the conservative ruling party HDZ, had meanwhile collected 21.8 per cent of the vote. Post-election polls suggested an even clearer lead. According to figures from the public broadcaster HTR, Milanovic received 50.7 per cent of the vote. If none of the candidates achieve more than 50 per cent of the vote, a presidential run-off will be called on January 12. As president, he soon adopted a populist rhetoric, appealing not only to his core left-wing voters, but also to right-wing and far-right voters.Abortion has become slightly more common despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, and the legal and political fights over its future are not over. It’s now been two and a half years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and opened the door for states to implement bans. The policies and their impact have been in flux ever since the ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Here’s a look at data on where things stand: Abortions are slightly more common now than before Dobbs Overturning Roe and enforcing abortion bans has changed how woman obtain abortions in the U.S. But one thing it hasn’t done is put a dent in the number of abortions being obtained. There have been slightly more abortions each month across the country recently than there were in the months leading up to the June 2022 ruling, even as the number in states with bans dropped to near zero. “Abortion bans don’t actually prevent abortions from happening,” said Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist at UC San Francisco. But, she said, they do change care. For women in some states, there are major obstacles to getting abortions — and advocates say that low-income, minority and immigrant women are least likely to be able to get them when they want. For those living in states with bans, the ways to access abortion are through travel or abortion pills. Pills become a bigger part of equation — and the legal questions As the bans swept in, abortion pills became a bigger part of the equation. They were involved in about half the abortions before Dobbs. More recently, it’s been closer to two-thirds of them, according to research by the Guttmacher Institute. The uptick of that kind of abortion, usually involving a combination of two drugs, was underway before the ruling. But now, it’s become more common for pill prescriptions to be made by telehealth. By the summer of 2024, about 1 in 10 abortions was via pills prescribed via telehealth to patients in states where abortion is banned. As a result, the pills are now at the center of battles over abortion access. This month, Texas sued a New York doctor for prescribing pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. There’s also an effort by Idaho, Kansas and Missouri to roll back their federal approvals and treat them as “controlled dangerous substances,” and a push for the federal government to start enforcing a 19th century federal law to ban mailing them. Travel for abortion has increased Clinics have closed or halted abortions in states with bans. But a network of efforts to get women seeking abortions to places where they’re legal has strengthened and travel for abortion is now common. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than twice as many Texas residents obtained abortion in 2023 in New Mexico as New Mexico residents did. And as many Texans received them in Kansas as Kansans. Abortion funds, which benefited from “rage giving” in 2022, have helped pay the costs for many abortion-seekers. But some funds have had to cap how much they can give. The abortion map has been in flux Since the downfall of Roe, the actions of lawmakers and courts have kept shifting where abortion is legal and under what conditions. Florida, the nation’s second most-populous state, began enforcing a ban on abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy on May 1. That immediately changed the state from one that was a refuge for other Southerners seeking abortion to an exporter of people looking for them. There were about 30% fewer abortions there in May compared with the average for the first three months of the year. And in June, there were 35% fewer. While the ban is not unique, the impact is especially large. The average driving time from Florida to a facility in North Carolina where abortion is available for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is more than nine hours, according to data maintained by Caitlin Myers, a Middlebury College economics professor. The bans have meant clinics closed or stopped offering abortions in some states. But some states where abortion remains legal until viability — generally considered to be sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy, though there’s no fixed time for it — have seen clinics open and expand. Illinois, Kansas and New Mexico are among the states with new clinics. There were 799 publicly identifiable abortion providers in the U.S. in May 2022, the month before the Supreme Court reversed Roe vs. Wade. And by this November, it was 792, according to a tally by Myers, who is collecting data on abortion providers. But Myers says some hospitals that always provided some abortions have begun advertising it. So they’re now in the count of clinics — even though they might provide few of them. Lack of access to abortions during emergencies is threatening some patients’ lives How hospitals handle pregnancy complications, especially those that threaten the lives of the women, has emerged as a major issue since Roe was overturned. President Biden’s administration says hospitals must offer abortions when they’re needed to prevent organ loss, hemorrhage or deadly infections, even in states with bans. Texas is challenging the administration’s policy and the U.S. Supreme Court this year declined to take it up after the Biden administration sued Idaho. More than 100 pregnant women seeking help in emergency rooms were turned away or left unstable since 2022, the Associated Press found in an analysis of federal hospital investigative records. Among the complaints were a woman who miscarried in the lobby restroom of Texas emergency room after staff refused to see her and a woman who gave birth in a car after a North Carolina hospital couldn’t offer an ultrasound. The baby later died. “It is increasingly less safe to be pregnant and seeking emergency care in an emergency department,” Dara Kass, an emergency medicine doctor and former U.S. Health and Human Services official told the AP earlier this year. Abortion rights are popular with voters Since Roe was overturned, there have been 18 reproductive rights-related statewide ballot questions. Abortion rights advocates have prevailed on 14 of them and lost on four. In the 2024 election, they amended the constitutions in five states to add the right to abortion. Such measures failed in three states: In Florida, where it required 60% support; in Nebraska, which had competing abortion ballot measures; and in South Dakota, where most national abortion rights groups did support the measure. AP VoteCast data found that more than three-fifths of voters in 2024 supported abortion being legal in all or most cases — a slight uptick from 2020. The support came even as voters supported Republicans to control the White House and both houses of Congress. Mulvihill and Vineys write for the Associated Press. AP writers Linley Sanders, Amanda Seitz and Laura Ungar contributed to this report.APC stalwart says Tinubu’s govt exacerbated Nigeria’s woes

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