CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have found all manner of ways to lose close games this season. Sunday's 44-38 loss to AFC North rival Pittsburgh can be blamed on a defense that missed tackles and allowed 520 yards of offense, and three turnovers by Joe Burrow. It's become a familiar story in this disappointing season. Cincinnati (4-8) keeps scoring lots of points but can't close out games. Seven of the Bengals’ eight losses this year have been by one score. Burrow has stopped talking about the possibility of going on a run and making the playoffs. He'd just like to win another game or two. “Playoffs are the furthest thing from my mind,” the fifth-year quarterback said. “You never know what can happen, so I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other and try to be the best player I can be for the rest of the season, week in and week out.” The Bengals allowed Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson to throw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns. After Wilson threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, the Steelers (9-3) scored on seven of their last nine possessions. They didn't punt until early in the fourth quarter. Burrow lost two fumbles and threw an interception. “We haven’t done enough to earn the win,” coach Zac Taylor said. “It’s a simple as that. It’s nobody else’s fault but our own. We haven’t earned it.” Turnovers aside, Burrow had another strong game, finishing with 28 for 38 for 309 yards with three touchdowns. Burrow is having a great season statistically, and he hasn't hidden his disappointment and frustration about Cincinnati's narrow losses. ... WR Ja'Marr Chase had a touchdown catch to bring his league-leading total to 13. The defense missed tackles and couldn't hold off the Steelers, even with Burrow keeping the game close. It didn’t help that LB Logan Wilson (knee) and DT Sheldon Rankins (illness) had to sit out. The Bengals have allowed 34 or more points six times, including in four of the past five games. Cincinnati became the first NFL team to lose four games in a season in which it scored 33 points or more. RB Chase Brown has been dependable as the featured back since Zack Moss went down with a neck injury. He rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. He also had three catches for 30 yards. The second-year back has 677 yards rushing and six TDs. “He’s really coming along, improving his game every single week,” Burrow said. “Pass game, run game, running hard, understanding his protection responsibilities. He’s a guy that practices hard, plays hard, and a guy you can count on.” The Bengals' coaching staff. Something has got to give. There was no excuse for the defense to play this badly after a bye week. The unit gave up 500-plus yards for the second time this season. None were reported in the game. 30.3 — The average points per game by the Bengals against teams with a .500 or better record this season. They are 0-7 in those games. The Bengals will try to regroup before facing the Dallas Cowboys (5-7) next Monday night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLUS: Biden pardons son Hunter, prepares handover
Yeida finalises blueprint of development for New AgraMIAMI (AP) — The top United Nations human rights watchdog on Tuesday ordered Venezuela to avoid destroying tally sheets and other electoral material as it investigates allegations that President Nicolás Maduro stole this summer's election . The U.N. Human Rights Council announced the opening of the probe in a letter to several Latin American jurists who in October petitioned the U.N. agency to take action in the face of what is said was widespread evidence of electoral fraud that violates the political rights of millions of Venezuelans. Maduro claimed he won the July contest by a large margin and is preparing to start a third, six-year term in January. But electoral authorities have so far refused to publish voting records to back such claims, as they have in the past, amid calls by the U.S., European Union and even leftist allies from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to do so. Meanwhile, the opposition has published online what appear to be authentic tallies from 80% of polling machines showing that its candidate, Edmundo González , won by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The October petition, made on behalf of a regular Venezuelan citizen, alleges that Maduro officials committed multiple human rights violations by restricting the ability of millions of Venezuelans abroad, publishing false results and blocking any challenges in court. Paulo Abrao, a Brazilian attorney who was among those behind the complaint, said the decision comes as a crucial time, as the Maduro government is seeking to "normalize its nebulous electoral process” in the hopes the rest of the world will move on amid so many other pressing international crises. “We cannot allow that to happen,” said Abrao, the former head of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. “Now there is a formal case being processed in an international body with binding force. Venezuela has the obligation to comply with the decision.” Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Who is Azeez Al-Shaair? What to know about Houston Texans star after brutal hit on Trevor Lawrence READ MORE: Video of Azeez Al-Shaair going for Tom Brady's throat goes viral By OLIVER SALT Published: 20:14, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 20:17, 2 December 2024 e-mail View comments Azeez Al-Shaair caused major controversy in the NFL on Sunday after brutally wiping out Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence while wearing a controversial political message on his cleats. The Houston Texans linebacker was ejected from their 23-20 win over Jacksonville for his vicious hit on Lawrence , who was left motionless on the floor before being carted off the field with a concussion. And amid the outrage over his illegal tackle, eagle-eyed fans spotted that Al-Shaair - who is of muslim faith - had a pro-Palestine statement on his cleats during the game. A number of social-media users piled in on him for using the sport to share his political views, while one right-wing commentator even called on people to boycott the NFL. So who is Azeez Al-Shaair? DailyMail.com is on hand with everything you need to know about the player at the center of contention. Azeez Al-Shaair caused major controversy in the NFL after brutally wiping out Trevor Lawrence The Houston linebacker (second from left) was ejected from their 23-20 win over Jacksonville Who is Azeez Al-Shaair? Read More BREAKING NEWS Azeez Al-Shaair punishment revealed after vicious Trevor Lawrence hit sparked Texans-Jaguars brawl Al-Shaair was born on August 4, 1997, in Tampa, Florida to Naadhirah Lennon (mother) and James Tokley Jr (father). The future NFL player spent his childhood moving back and forth between Tampa and Saudi, where his father worked as an English instructor. After his parents eventually divorced, he grew up with his mother and seven siblings in Section 8 - a rental housing assistance for low-income households in the US. However, while he was a sophomore in high school Al-Shaair became homeless when his family home burned down, forcing him to commute two hours by bus to Hillsborough High School. It was there where the linebacker's football career took off, before Florida Atlantic University came calling with a college scholarship in 2016. And three years later, after entering his senior college year on the Butkus Award shortlist, Al-Shaair landed his big move to the NFL when he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Why is his last name Al-Shaair? When Al-Shaair's parents converted to Islam before he was born, they took on that name and gave it to all of their children. Al-Shaair, who is a devout muslim, spent his childhood going between Tampa and Saudi Arabia The name Al-Shaair means "son of a poet" in Arabic. The Texans defender's grandfather, James Tokley Sr., was the first poet laureate of Tampa and Hillsborough County, a position he has held for over 30 years. Is he married? Al-Shaair did tie the knot four years ago when he married his childhood sweetheart Yahaira Onofre. Yahaira, a dental assistant from Atlanta, first started dating the football player in 2015 and he proposed three years later, before their big day came in 2020. However, four years on from their wedding Al-Shaair now has a new partner in Kaya Coverson, who is from the Bay Area in San Francisco. It is still unclear when and why his marriage to Yahaira came to an end, but Kaya was first spotted at one of Azeez's NFL games back in November 2022. Al-Shaair was still playing in San Francisco with the Niners at the time. After previously being married the NFL player is now in a relationship with Kaya Coverson Al-Shaair was still playing in San Francisco with the Niners when he started dating Coverson How has his NFL career gone so far? After being drafted in 2019, Al-Shaair eventually became a starting linebacker for the Niners two years later. His first full season was a positive one, with the Tampa Bay native making 102 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 13 games. Yet after suffering an MCL sprain in October 2022, his second year as a starter did not prove as successful, meaning he was released at the end of the season. Since leaving San Francisco Al-Shaair has enjoyed a season with the Tennessee Titans - where he started all 17 games and finished fifth in the league with 163 tackles - and signed a three-year, $34million contract with the Texans. So far in Houston he has made 55 tackles in eight games to help the team amass an 8-5 record. Houston Texans Share or comment on this article: Who is Azeez Al-Shaair? What to know about Houston Texans star after brutal hit on Trevor Lawrence e-mail Add commentIt was the final day, at the 2024 edition of the annual Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio Public Lecture, which was part of the events scheduled for Gwandu Emirate Annual Horse Racing and Cultural Festival in Birnin Kebbi, concluded last Saturday. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar chaired the occasion, attended by some first class traditional rulers, prominent politicians, captains of industries, distinguished academics and highly respected Islamic Scholars from different parts of the country. The testimonies of the dignitaries at the event, centred on the unique leadership qualities of Sheikh Abdullahi Ibn Fodio, some of which were identified in the leadership approach of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris. Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar spoke first with clear elements of surprise, stating that it was uncommon to see a serving state Governor bringing all his predecessors together in the overall interest of the state, since the inception of the present democratic dispensation. He observed that the unimaginable exhibition of wisdom by Comrade Governor Nasir Idris in uniting leaders for unity of purpose was responsible for the glaring unity among the leaders in Kebbi State, revealing that it was such important attributes he noted that made him conferred the prestigious traditional title of “Gwarzon Daular Usmaniya” on Kauran Gwandu. He advised the present generation of Nigerian politicians to emulate the important virtues of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris. Professor Bello Bada of Usman Danfodio University sokoto, who was the first guest speakers observed that the ability to assembled nationally recognised bureaucrats, academics and highly respected religious and traditional leaders from different sectors of human endeavour to reappraised the works of Sheikh Abdullahi Ibn Fodio,underscores the commitment of the Governor Idris to Abdullahi Fodio’s project. A Sokoto based renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Isah Talata Mafara who delivered the second paper couldn’t mince words while relating Comrade Nasir’s reception, educational development policies, fairness and equity in governance to some of the qualities of Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio. Another university Don Professor Jafar Kaura presented the last paper in which he extolled the leadership qualities of Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio and was of the opinion that Comrade Kauran Gwandu was on the part of promoting the good works of Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio which remained important and very useful to the Muslim Ummah. In their separate goodwill messages ,the Chairman of Enugu state council of traditional rulers, His Majesty Igwe Samuel Ogadagidi of fEdem Aniogwugwu Kigdom and his Ekiti state counterpart His Majesty Oba Adekunle Adeagbo Oore of Otun Ikiti were on the same page on what they described as humility and foresight of Comrade Governor Nasir they were of the opinion that from the beautiful roads and standard edifice of different shapes and sizes they have seen in the state capital, in addition to the hospitality and warm reception of the people, they strongly believed that the people of Kebbi State are undoubtedly, enjoying the dividends of of democracy. In his brief remarks, the visibly overwhelmed Comrade Governor Kauran Gwandu could not hide his joyful feeling of the encomium poured on him by the various speakers at the ceremony. Comrade Governor Nasir Idris, however, attributed the cordial relationship between him and his predecessors to mutual respect and genuine commitment to peace and development of Kebbi State, which he stressed has come to stay,adding that ” after all, i had happily worked with all of them at different times and capacities “ He assured that the Argungu Annual Fishing and Cultural Festival, the Regatta Festival in Yauri and the Annual Uhola International Cultural Festival will not only be sustained but also improved in order to attract more international tourists and investors. He concluded his address by announcing the renaming of the State University of Science and Technology to Abdullahi Fodio University.
A user manual for yeast's genetic switches December 19, 2024 Kobe University When introducing genes into yeast to make it produce drugs and other useful substances, it is also necessary to reliably switch the production on or off. Researchers have found three gene regulation design principles that provide a flexible guideline for the effective control of microbiological production. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email When introducing genes into yeast to make it produce drugs and other useful substances, it is also necessary to reliably switch the production on or off. A Kobe University team found three gene regulation design principles that provide a flexible guideline for the effective control of microbiological production. It's said that DNA is the blueprint of life, telling our cells what to produce. But DNA also contains the switches telling those cells when to produce something and how much of it. Therefore, when introducing new genes into cells to produce useful chemicals such as drugs or raw materials for chemical production, it is also necessary to include a genetic switch, a piece of DNA called a "promoter," that tells the cells to start production as needed. Kobe University bioengineer TOMINAGA Masahiro says: "The problem is that these promoters cannot be used in a plug-and-play manner unless researchers deeply understand how they interact with other genetic elements. Indeed, there are not so many cases in which researchers use artificial promoters to precisely control the cellular production and achieve their research purpose." Sometimes the production is too low, sometimes it is "leaky," meaning that it cannot be turned off at will. This is especially true for bioengineering yeast, which is more complex in its genetic regulation compared to bacteria. But this increased complexity also enables its use to produce many useful chemicals. As experts in modifying yeast cells, Tominaga and colleagues from the team led by ISHII Jun took a systematic approach to working out how to design effective promoters. "We came up with the idea that by carefully describing our process of improving a prototype promoter, we could prepare a 'user manual' for how to achieve high-performance and precise control so that these genetic systems could be more widely used," Tominaga explains. In a paper now published in the journal Nature Communications , they describe three design principles for yeast promoters. First, if researchers not only need large amounts of the product but also the ability to switch the production on or off at will, they should introduce multiple copies of the regulatory elements enabling this within the promoter. This reduces leakiness and increases the productivity. Second, the distance between promoter elements should be as small as possible to enhance the productivity even more. And third, the promoter should be insulated from surrounding DNA by including extra DNA before it to further reduce leakiness. Tominaga says: "We showed that a promoter's performance can be improved more than 100-fold by simply modifying its surrounding sequence. This is the first study to clearly propose a solution to the problem why potent yeast promoters work in some environments and not in others." The Kobe University bioengineers demonstrated the usefulness of their system by showcasing the production of two pharmaceutically useful proteins, so-called "biologics." Not only could they produce these two biologics in separate yeast strains but also in the same strain and with the ability to independently control which biologic is produced at any time. The latter is important because it has potential applications in hospitals, as the team explains in the study: "In addition to the conventional fermentation of single biologics, the rapid and single-dose production of multiple biologics with a single yeast strain at the point of care is crucial for emergencies that require production speed and flexibility rather than purity and productivity." They also achieved the notoriously difficult production of a coronavirus protein that can be used for the production of treatments, further showcasing both the usefulness and the flexibility of their design principles. Tominaga explains his wider outlook on the implications of this study: "Synthetic biology advocates creating new biological functions by rewriting genome sequences. The reality is however that we are often confused by unexpected changes resulting from our edits. We hope that our study is the first step towards the ability to design every single base in the genome with clear intentions." This research was funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (grants JP21ae0121002, JP21ae0121005, JP21ae0121006, JP21ae0121007, JP20ae0101055 and JP20ae0101060), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (grants JPMJCR21N2 and JPMJGX23B4) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (grants JP23K26469, JP23H01776 and JP18K14374). It was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Pharma Foods International Co. Ltd and National Institute of Health Sciences. Story Source: Materials provided by Kobe University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :Chromosomal chaos promotes therapy resistance in leukemia cells and opens up new treatment approachesIn a surprise twist, the first domino to fall in ‘s free agency wasn’t a top option like Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes or Alex Bregman. Instead, it was . Kikuchi became the first big signing of the off-season when he agreed to a three-year deal worth $63 million (U.S.) with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday morning. The contract, , is pending a physical and has yet to be officially announced. The 33-year-old Kikuchi is set to cash in following a career season with the Jays and Houston Astros. He was one of the top pitchers available at this year’s trade deadline and his stock soared after he produced a . The contract was close to what had been predicted. At the start of the off-season, , while . The contract will carry Kikuchi through his age-36 season. When the Jays began shopping Kikuchi in mid-July there was speculation they would attempt to re-sign him during the off-season. At the time, right-hander Alek Manoah half-jokingly told him, “Hey, go get us a couple prospects and then come back in the free agency.” The first part of that statement came to fruition on July 30, when for promising righty Jake Bloss, infielder Will Wagner and outfielder Joey Loperfido. Bloss immediately became one of the Jays’ top pitching prospects, while and Loperfido offers upside off the bench. As we wait for the Jays and the rest of Major League Baseball to make moves this off-season, Gregor Chisholm answers readers’ questions. As we wait for the Jays and the rest of Major League Baseball to make moves this off-season, Gregor Chisholm answers readers’ questions. However, the second part never gained much traction. The Jays have been linked to other prominent free-agent pitchers this winter, but there was hardly any talk about Kikuchi. It wasn’t immediately known if he received an offer from his former team. If he did, the one from the Angels was apparently much better. Where this leaves the Jays isn’t clear. While general manager Ross Atkins reportedly has interest in Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves lefty isn’t going to be cheap. The 30-year-old has been projected by MLB Trade Rumors to sign a six-year deal worth $156 million. Burnes, Blake Snell and are the other starters at the top end of the market. If the Jays miss out on that group, they could turn their attention to the likes of Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea, Nathan Eovaldi and Walker Buehler. It’s also possible they will look to save money by targeting a lesser known starter, or forgoing that market entirely to focus on offence. The Jays have four of their five starting rotation jobs accounted for. José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Bowden Francis all figure to be back, while swingman Yariel Rodríguez remains an option for the final spot. If Atkins adds a starter, Rodríguez would move to the bullpen. Team president Mark Shapiro has said the Jays are . In 2024, they had an estimated opening day payroll of about $225 million. After rather than paying him a projected $7.75 million through arbitration, the Jays are on track for $181 million. Jays GM Ross Atkins didn’t make reliever Jordan Romano an offer by Friday’s deadline, making the former all-star a free agent. Jays GM Ross Atkins didn’t make reliever Jordan Romano an offer by Friday’s deadline, making the former all-star a free agent. That means there should be about $44 million to spend, but the Jays are also more than $65 million below the second competitive balance tax apron, creating additional flexibility. In 2024, they had a tax payroll — the annual average of all fees for players on the 40-man roster — of $237 million. That number currently sits at $194.5 million. Kikuchi’s signing could be an indication that MLB’s free agency is gaining steam. Another few deals should trickle out before teams take a break on Thursday for American Thanksgiving. Next week figures to bring even more action, as clubs prepare to converge in Texas for the annual winter meetings from Dec. 9 to 12. There’s no denying Kikuchi would have been welcomed back to Toronto with open arms. During his three years, he became a favourite among teammates and the coaching staff. He also deserves credit for turning his career around after being dubbed a flop with a 5.19 ERA in his initial run. Re-signing Kikuchi would have been an undeniable upgrade, but it would have taken up about half their off-season budget. With multiple upgrades required in the everyday lineup, that money can and should be put to better use. Kikuchi got what he needed by securing a lucrative multi-year deal. The Jays got what they wanted by using his expiring contract to increase their minor-league depth. The much-talked about reunion didn’t come to fruition, but this was still a win-win for everyone involved.
Stonehenge's purpose may have been to unify ancient Britain after scientists make discovery about stones' originsINDIANAPOLIS — IMPD and the Indianapolis FOP have reached a tentative deal for new contracts. Indy FOP President Rich Snyder posted details of the deal online. He said the contract runs four years and focuses on retaining existing IMPD officers. Snyder said the starting salary for IMPD will be one of the best, and that mid-career IMPD officers will have some of the best pay in the state. Snyder says under this new agreement, the average salary for an IMPD officer would increase by 24% over four years. “After many months of hard work and good faith negotiations by the FOP and the City of Indianapolis, we have set the stage for the IMPD to first retain the officers we have, compete with surrounding agencies for new officers, and provide better wages and benefits for our officers and their families," Snyder said in a statement. “Our FOP Executive Board UNANIMOUSLY recommends ratification of this contract and we thank Mayor Joe Hogsett and his team for their work to invest in police.” 🚨 BREAKING: Indy FOP reaches Tentative Agreement on IMPD Contract 🔘4 Year package 🔘Focuses on Officer RETENTION 🔘Makes IMPD one of top starting salaries 🔘Makes Mid Career IMPD Officers some of Top Paid in State 🔘Achieves Average Salary Increase of 24% over 4 yrs #FOP pic.twitter.com/5D0yQyiUdP A vote on the contract is expected to be completed by IMPD Officers on Dec. 5, 2024. A representative for the city could not confirm the details that Snyder included, but did confirm that a tentative deal had been reached. The city stressed that several more reviews would be needed before the contract was a "done deal." IMPD has struggled to fill the department's many vacancies. In September, Chief Chris Bailey told the City-County Council he did not have enough officers, and that staffing was at its lowest level ever . The Indy FOP has hammered the city on the issue, even buying a billboard before the Indy 500 that read "we can't help, if we're not there." Snyder has repeatedly said improved officer retention would be a critical part of a solution.UVM looks to transition dialysis care to new provider; 40 patients affected in St. AlbansConcerns have also been raised about the “renormalisation” of smoking. Dr Rachel O’Donnell, senior research fellow at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, said restrictions on smoking in outdoor places can “reinforce” a message that smoking “isn’t a socially acceptable thing to do” and could also help smokers to kick the habit. In November, it emerged that the UK Government is to scrap plans to ban smoking in the gardens of pubs and restaurants in England. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the hospitality industry has “taken a real battering in recent years” and it is not “the right time” to ban smoking outside pubs. But smoking and vaping could be banned in other public places in England – such as in playgrounds or outside of schools – under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. According to the World Health Organisation, there is no safe level of second-hand smoke exposure. In a briefing for journalists, Dr O’Donnell said decision-making “should be on the basis of all the evidence that’s available”. She added: “Any debate about legislation on smoking in outdoor settings shouldn’t only focus on air quality and second-hand smoke exposure levels, because the impacts of restrictions in outdoor settings are also evident on our social norms.” Smoke-free outdoor environments “reinforce smoke-free as the acceptable norm”, she said. “This, I think, is a critically important point at a time where in the media, over the last year, we’ve seen various reports and questions as to whether we might be on the cusp of renormalisation of smoking for various reasons, and so smoke-free public environments still have a critically important role to play. “If you reduce opportunities to smoke, it can also help individuals who smoke themselves to reduce the amount they smoke or to make a quit attempt.” Dr O’Donnell said visibility of tobacco products and smoking is a “form of marketing for tobacco companies” as she pointed to studies highlighting the increasing number of tobacco depictions on screen. She went on: “The more often young adults observe smoking around them, the more likely they are to believe that smoking is socially acceptable, which feeds back into this idea of renormalisation of smoking. “So, restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places have other positive knock-on effects, potentially for young people as well, just sending out that clear message that this isn’t a socially acceptable thing to do and see, and this could help to discourage smoking initiation among young people at quite a critical time.” On being exposed to second-hand smoke at work, she added: “I think sometimes when we think about exposure to second-hand smoke in outdoor settings, in pubs, in restaurants, we think about that sort of occasional customer exposure, the nuisance element of it when people are out enjoying a meal with friends, but we also need to be reminded that this is a repeated occupational exposure for those who are working in hospitality and serving drinks and food. “Now, as we’ve already seen, concentrations of second-hand smoke in these settings are generally low, and they’re likely to present a low risk to health for most healthy people. “But ... there’s no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and so any individual with pre-existing heart, lung or respiratory conditions may be particularly vulnerable even to low levels of exposure. “We know that second-hand smoke is its known carcinogen, and on that basis those exposed in the hospitality sector have a right to be protected. “On that basis, there’s a need to protect them, as there is anybody in any workplace setting from second-hand smoke exposure in all areas of workplaces and spaces.” Sean Semple, professor of exposure science at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, said: “I think that if I were a policy-maker, which I am not, then I would be looking at those occupational exposures as well. “I have asthma, if I was being occupationally exposed to SHS (second-hand smoke), and knowing that I was one of a very small number of workers now being legally exposed to SHS in the workplace, then I might not be very happy about that.” A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “As part of our 10 Year Health Plan we are shifting focus from sickness to prevention, including tackling the harms of smoking and passive smoking. “The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the biggest public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track towards a smoke-free UK.”
MIAMI (AP) — The top United Nations human rights watchdog on Tuesday ordered Venezuela to avoid destroying tally sheets and other electoral material as it investigates allegations that President Nicolás Maduro stole this summer's election . The U.N. Human Rights Council announced the opening of the probe in a letter to several Latin American jurists who in October petitioned the U.N. agency to take action in the face of what is said was widespread evidence of electoral fraud that violates the political rights of millions of Venezuelans. Maduro claimed he won the July contest by a large margin and is preparing to start a third, six-year term in January. But electoral authorities have so far refused to publish voting records to back such claims, as they have in the past, amid calls by the U.S., European Union and even leftist allies from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to do so. Meanwhile, the opposition has published online what appear to be authentic tallies from 80% of polling machines showing that its candidate, Edmundo González , won by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The October petition, made on behalf of a regular Venezuelan citizen, alleges that Maduro officials committed multiple human rights violations by restricting the ability of millions of Venezuelans abroad, publishing false results and blocking any challenges in court. Paulo Abrao, a Brazilian attorney who was among those behind the complaint, said the decision comes as a crucial time, as the Maduro government is seeking to "normalize its nebulous electoral process” in the hopes the rest of the world will move on amid so many other pressing international crises. “We cannot allow that to happen,” said Abrao, the former head of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. “Now there is a formal case being processed in an international body with binding force. Venezuela has the obligation to comply with the decision.” Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-americaNeed a research hypothesis? Ask AI
VERIFYING photos claiming to show South Korea protests against martial lawTexas defense backing up claim as nation's best heading into SEC title game against Georgia
Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, and within hours, Israel’s military carried out a string of strikes in southern Lebanon, state media reported. There was no immediate word on casualties or what was struck. Israel has said its strikes in since the ceasefire began Wednesday have been in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Hezbollah began launching its attacks in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here’s the Latest: WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack on Nov. 12 . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-warsTuofa CNC Machining Expands Precision Services For The Medical IndustryDonald stays winning, thanks, in part, to Joe. Throughout the latter half of 2024, President Joe Biden kept handing his arch nemesis, Donald Trump, easy political victories. From the pardon of Hunter Biden to the first presidential debate early in the campaign season, Biden has demonstrated an uncanny ability to help Trump at pivotal moments, both before and after the latter’s re-election. Hunter Pardon By pardoning his son Hunter, Biden gave Trump “ carte blanche ” to pardon whomever he pleases in the next four years. Biden also sucked the wind out of the Kash Patel news cycle. Not a day before the pardon, Trump announced that he nominated Patel, an experienced and capable anti-Deep Stater, to helm the FBI. For conservatives, this was great news. For liberals, not so much. However, all the panic and propaganda spouting out from corporate media and cable news outlets is now drowned out by the pardon — that’s a victory for Trump and Patel. American Garbage In late October, President Joe Biden called Trump’s supporters “garbage,” ticking off half the electorate and setting off a torrent of well-deserved criticism. Not only did he force his vice president, Kamala Harris, into cleanup mode for the offensive remark, but he also gave Trump incredible ammunition for one of his more iconic campaign events. Outside of his shift working the fryer at McDonald’s and, of course, his iconic fist pump after he was nearly shot in the head, Trump pulled a hilarious and poignant campaign event by posing in a garbage truck after Biden’s insult. (RELATED: ‘Cleaning Up Kamala’ | WATCH NOW) Former President Donald Trump responded to President Joe Biden’s recent ‘garbage’ jab by hosting a press conference Wednesday from inside a garbage truck in Green Bay. (Screenshot/CNN) Hurricane Politics Biden threw Harris under the bus in early October amid Hurricane Milton, giving Republicans and Trump a perfect line of attack to frame the vice president as churlish and unserious, more concerned with stirring up drama than effectively leading in a time of crisis. While Harris played hurricane politics with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, claiming he was “refusing” to answer her phone calls, Biden himself was on the line with the governor discussing the disaster response. Biden also praised the governor’s handling of the storm and said he was doing a “great job,” undercutting Harris’s claims. (RELATED: Joe Biden Appears To Throw Harris Under The Bus For Second Time In Just A Month) Impromptu Presser Again, it’s early October. A historic longshoreman strike and a union leader is threatening to “cripple” the United States economy. Harris is set to speak to union workers in the battleground state of Michigan, both a crucial demographic and venue. She was ready to speak on ending the strike and double down on her support of the dock workers. Well, too bad, Biden seemed to say. On the very same day, Oct. 4, Biden made his first-ever appearance in the White House briefing room, forcing all of the media to beam in and broadcast live from the capital. It couldn’t have been worse timing for Harris — and yet another boon for Trump. CNN was about to take Kamala Harris LIVE when all of a sudden Joe Biden simultaneously takes the podium from the White House: “She’s trying to appeal to union workers, and yet you have the President of the United States come out, clearly overshadowing her...” “Is that a... pic.twitter.com/xs64k9c719 — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 4, 2024 “We were about to actually go live with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is speaking right now in Detroit, Michigan. And apparently, she is talking about this port strike ending,” CNN host Boris Sanchez said on air. “She’s trying to appeal to union workers, and yet you have the President of the United States come out, clearly overshadowing her answering significant questions. Is that a communications mistake? Is the left hand not talking to the right hand in this situation?” Early Debate This one is a bit murky, but with 20-20 hindsight, Biden’s decision to debate so early before the Democratic National Convention ended up helping Trump. Why? Biden’s disastrous performance set in motion the coup that would see him replaced by Harris, arguably a worse candidate due to her lack of charm, off-putting personality and inability to discuss policy and ideas in an interesting manner. To be clear, Biden was not much better as a candidate. Despite his age, however, he still had far more charm and personal appeal than Harris. And after the results of Election Night and Trump’s total victory, it’s apparent the replacement of Biden, which started post-debate, was a blessing. (RELATED: ‘Cleaning Up Kamala’ | WATCH NOW) Transition Meeting For all the talk about Trump being a threat to democracy, for all the comparisons to a fascist dictator, one single meeting post-election erased months and months of Democratic propaganda. Biden sat down with Trump in the Oval Office to ensure that the president-elect would have a smooth transition into power. The two shared a handshake and a laugh. Is this how you treat someone who wants to destroy the country from within? Is this how you treat someone who has been likened to Hitler? Of course not. Biden gave Trump a huge gift by honoring the tradition of meeting with the newly-elected POTUS, helping rehabilitate his image with Americans more skeptical of Trump’s character and agenda — or, in other words, less skeptical of the White House and media’s anti-Trump propaganda. WATCH: President Donald J. Trump and President Biden meet in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/ZD9xPt4nyo — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 13, 2024 Did you enjoy this post? Consider checking out John’s full weekly newsletter, Mr. Right, available here: MrRight.DailyCaller.com
Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, and within hours, Israel’s military carried out a string of strikes in southern Lebanon, state media reported. There was no immediate word on casualties or what was struck. Israel has said its strikes in since the ceasefire began Wednesday have been in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Hezbollah began launching its attacks in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here’s the Latest: WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack on Nov. 12 . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars