'Make transitional justice victim-friendly'
NDMC to revamp infra in its 15 schools for 9.5 crore
Daylight Saving Time To End Soon? Trump Calls It 'Inconvenient And Costly For Nation'
A new round of Israeli air strikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports while the World Health Organisation’s director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few metres from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. Advertisement He added that he and UN colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said. UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the UN Humanitarian Air Service. Advertisement Israel’s army later told The Associated Press it was not aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military in a statement said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel’s military added it had “capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively”. Advertisement The strikes, carried out over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned” as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The US military has also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The UN has said the targeted ports are important entry points for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Advertisement Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor in what it says is an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN Security Council has an emergency meeting on Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them with weapons.
JonBenét Ramsey case gets renewed attention 28 years after her murder
Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtfulFBI arrests man charged with planning an attack on the New York Stock ExchangeDUBAI, United Arab Emirates , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) unveiled its first TWS earbuds under the HUAWEI SOUND brand, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4, at the HUAWEI Flagship Launch Event in Dubai on December 12 . Drawing inspiration from classical design and Huawei's dedication to audio innovation, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 aims to "Catch the Sound," delivering lossless, pure, and immersive listening experiences. The earbuds feature powerful hardware including Dual-driver True Sound and proprietary algorithms to ensure stable and clear calls with effective background noise elimination. Outstanding Acoustic Precision: Dual-driver True Sound HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 incorporates Dual-driver True Sound working with Digital Cross-Over technology to deliver rich, authentic sound experiences. The Dual Independent Sound Output System precisely allocates audio signals to each driver, while the 11mm Quad-Magnet Dynamic Driver Unit ensures stable and accurate real-time audio reproduction. Featuring Polar Code technology and Huawei's proprietary L2HC 4.0 codec [1] , it achieves 2.3Mbps lossless [2] TWS audio transmission, supporting 48kHz/24-bit high-resolution audio. Users can select between professionally tuned EQ modes, including Classic and Balanced, to accurately recreate live music essence. Stable and Clear Call Experience Equipped with Huawei's AI noise cancellation algorithm, it eliminates up to 100 dB of external call noise. The quad-microphone system, combined with multi-channel deep neural network (DNN) algorithm, accurately distinguishes human voices from environmental sounds. Whether at concerts, sports events, or cafes, the system intelligently isolates your voice. Head Motion Controls allow call answering and rejection through nodding or head shaking. Enhanced Noise Cancellation Features Shape Memory Foam ear tips, offering 30% [3] improved noise reduction compared to the previous generation. Intelligent Dynamic ANC generates customized noise-cancellation parameters based on real-time environment for a pure immersive listening experience. Elegant Design Inspired by Classical Instruments Adopts the Spectrum Silver Strings design, available in Black, White, and refreshing Green. Each earbud features a meticulous 6-layer protective lacquer coating, with the golden HUAWEI SOUND emblem emblazoned on its surface, signifying flagship quality. [1] L2HC 4.0 is only available on HUAWEI phones/tablets running EMUI 15 or a later version. [2] The earbuds support up to 2.3 Mbps of lossless audio transmission when connected to a HUAWEI Mate X6 phone running EMUI 15 or a later version. The 2.3 Mbps transmission capability is certified by HWA. This feature is only available on certain phone models running certain operating systems. For details, see https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us15900030/ . The earbuds support up to 1.5 Mbps of lossless audio transmission when connected to a HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro/HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra phone running EMUI 14 or a later version. Data comes from Huawei labs. When connected to other phone models, the earbuds support up to 990 Kbps of HD audio transmission [3] Data comes from Huawei labs, and is a comparison with the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3. Actual performance may vary by individual. The Shape-Memory Foam ear tips for HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 come in three sizes. You can perform a tip fit test to select the size that best fits your ears for optimal noise cancellation performance. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2581430/HUAWEI_FreeBuds_Pro_4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2581431/HUAWEI_FreeBuds_Pro_4_1.jpg
Lopsided loss sinks the reeling Saints further into evaluation modeA Democratic state senator’s errant email is shedding light on new taxes that she and her colleagues may pursue in 2025 as well as a strategy to sell them to the public. Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, sent the missive last Friday as a follow-up to discussion during a Washington state Senate Democratic Caucus retreat. But she inadvertently blasted it out to every Republican senator too. You can predict what happened next. Her email and attached PowerPoint presentation found their way onto social media. A furor followed. Conservative podcaster Brandi Kruse, a former television journalist, led the way, calling the materials “worse than getting a lump of coal in your stocking.” “Probably the worst email and ideas in state history,” wrote Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, on X. He will be the lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee next session. Frame on Monday described the email mixup as a “very simple error.” She said her presentation was intended as an “education exercise” for her Democratic colleagues. With the state facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, she said her role as vice chair of finance on the Senate Ways and Means Committee is to explore tax options while others try to identify savings. “I wanted to get the conversation started early. Not this early. Now, every legislator is better prepared,” she said Frame’s email says the quiet part out loud. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen have said voters’ preserving of the capital gains tax in the November election is a sign they’re comfortable with requiring super-wealthy individuals and large businesses to pay a little more. And Democratic budget writers in the two chambers have already indicated that they plan to consider all revenue options to erase a shortfall estimated between $12 billion and $16 billion over the next four-and-a-half fiscal years. They’ve just not itemized tax policies in the manner Frame did. For example, there have been private conversations on attempting a statewide version of Seattle’s JumpStart tax levied on companies with large payrolls and high-paid employees. Frame puts it atop her list. The idea is employers would pay a tax on the total compensation paid to employees making more than $168,600 annually. It would affect companies with an annual payroll of $8 million or more in Washington. A “wealth tax” is on her list as well. Last year, she proposed a 1% levy on intangible assets above $250 million such as cash, bonds and stocks. Gov. Jay Inslee last week called for a similar tax on wealth above $100 million. Frame’s PowerPoint includes a guesstimate of what might be raised if the threshold is lowered to $50 million. In addition, Frame suggests the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate could make another run at a 1% real estate transfer tax on any portion of property sales above $3.025 million. That proposal didn’t reach the finish line last session. Her roster includes a 1% surcharge on taxes paid by the state’s largest corporations, an excise tax on guns and ammunition sales, a lift of the 1% cap on annual property tax increases, and a sales tax on self-storage unit rentals. “We can fund world-class schools, affordable housing, and more by making the wealthy few pay what they owe,” reads the PowerPoint. “We have to identify the villain and the problem blocking our progress and how we can take action to solve the issue.” Pedersen said Monday he doesn’t think it’s “necessarily a bad thing” the email got out. Democrats are trying to be transparent on the pluses and minuses of different revenue options, he said, adding that there will be months of discussion “before we get to the answer.” Even so, Pedersen distanced himself from the content. “The PowerPoint contained language that Sen. Frame was trying to sell the caucus on and I’ll say that reflects Sen. Frame’s viewpoint, and that’s not necessarily the viewpoint of any other member,” he said. Frame also outlined tax relief ideas such as a renters’ credit and a property tax exemption for one’s primary residence. A margin tax for businesses is on the list too. This would allow a company to choose a major deduction — like the cost of labor — before tax is calculated on its gross receipts. In her email, Frame invited her Democratic colleagues to reach out if they had interest in sponsoring a revenue bill. “Let’s spread that tax policy love around!” she wrote.TEHRAN – Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have urged the international community to safeguard Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning ongoing Israeli aggression in the war-torn country. In a phone call on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the escalating tensions in Syria following the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Both ministers stressed the critical need to preserve regional peace and stability and avoid provocative actions that could disrupt cooperation and harmony among neighboring nations during this fragile period. Since Assad's government fell, Israel has conducted nearly 500 airstrikes across Syria, targeting essential civilian and military infrastructure. Israeli forces have also advanced into the buffer zone east of the occupied Golan Heights, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria. Although the Israeli regime claims it is not advancing toward Damascus, its military operations have raised significant regional concerns. Israeli forces have reportedly destroyed up to 80% of Syria’s strategic military capabilities, significantly weakening the country. This military push has been condemned by the Arab League, which described Israel’s actions as illegal attempts to exploit Syria’s instability for territorial expansion. The recent resurgence of armed militants in Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has further complicated the situation. The terrorist group launched a swift two-week offensive, capturing Damascus and prompting Assad’s government’s downfall. The chaos created by HTS’s advance has provided an opening for Israel to escalate its military actions and expand its occupation in Syria. Both Araghchi and Al Nahyan condemned these developments, emphasizing the need to restore stability and prevent further destabilization in the region. In a separate phone conversation, Araghchi and Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani reiterated the necessity of ending Israel’s attacks on Syria and supporting efforts to stabilize the country. The two diplomats discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral consultations aimed at helping Syria establish an inclusive political framework that reflects the will of its people. The Iranian and Qatari foreign ministers highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts to counter foreign aggression and protect Syria’s sovereignty. They also condemned Israel’s attempts to annex Syrian territory and undermine international agreements.