The United States called Monday for de-escalation in Syria, where an Islamist-led rebel alliance has wrested swathes of territory from the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government in a lightning offensive. The European Union also called on "all sides to de-escalate", while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "alarmed" by the violence and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011. The conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. The conflict had been mostly dormant with Assad back in control of much of the country, until last week when the Islamist-led rebel alliance began its offensive. The attack has seen swathes of Syria fall to rebel control, including second city Aleppo for the first time since the start of the civil war. "We want to see all countries use their influence -- use their leverage -- to push for de-escalation, protection of civilians and ultimately, a political process forward," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. In a statement issued by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, the European Union also called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, while also condemning Assad backer Russia for conducting air strikes in his support. Russia first intervened directly in Syria's war in 2015 with strikes on rebel-held areas. Its help, along with that of Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were instrumental in propping up Assad's rule. On Monday President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian both pledged "unconditional support" for their ally, according to the Kremlin. Aleppo is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies took the city at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They also seized Aleppo International Airport. HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria." One Aleppo resident spoke of panic. "There were terrible traffic jams -- it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs" in central Syria, which is under government control. Normally, he said, it would take a couple of hours. AFPTV footage showed rebels patrolling the streets, some burning a Syrian flag and others holding the flag of the revolution. On Monday, Assad branded the rebel offensive led by HTS an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments came in a call with Iran's Pezeshkian, who in turn pledged continued support and said Iran hoped "Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory". On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said. "The strikes targeted... families living on the edge of a displacement camp," said Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who sought refuge at the camp from fighting in Aleppo province. Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood. AFPTV footage showed rebels pushing into Hama province in central Syria. Syria's defence ministry said troops were clashing with "terrorist organisations" in the northern Hama countryside. Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said. Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement. "I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved," he said. "But I also don't think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the "instability" in Syria and an agreement to stop the civil war. On a visit to Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was crucial "to protect the achievements" of the so-called Astana process to end Syria's civil war, which involves Turkey, Russia and Iran. Several hours later, he said the respective foreign ministers would meet on the matter next weekend in Qatar. "We will try to activate this process again," he said. While the current fighting is rooted in a war that began more than a decade ago, much has changed since then. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with about 5.5 million now in neighbouring countries. Most of those involved in the initial anti-Assad protests are either dead, in jail or in exile. Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been massively weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah played a key role in backing government forces particularly around Aleppo, but it withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel. HTS and its allies launched their offensive on Wednesday, the day a Lebanon ceasefire began. The violence in Syria has killed 514 people, mostly combatants but also including 92 civilians, according to the Observatory. burs-srm-ser/smwThese starter speakers make my records and heart full and warm—and they're 30% off for Black Friday - Popular Science
On November 18, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to declare a “national emergency” to mobilize the military to carry out mass arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants. This may sound intimidating, but does the new president have the legal authority to do this? Since his decisive victory on November 5, supporters of the new president have issued conflicting statements about whether Trump will follow through on one of his central campaign promises: conducting “the largest deportation operation in the country's history.” Certainly, deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants would be a monumental task for which the federal government lacks the funds, personnel, and infrastructure. But don’t be fooled. Just like during his first term in 2017, indiscriminate deportations are likely to affect workers and families without criminal records. Nevertheless, we live in a nation of laws, which guarantee certain rights to immigrants. Is there a legal basis for mass arrests and deportations? If the new administration plans to carry out these mass arrests and deportations, it will have to circumvent multiple laws. Trump has confirmed plans to mobilize the military, federal agents, state, and local police for operations in neighborhoods and workplaces to detain immigrants. However, all these institutions are bound by their laws. The judicial process required to determine whether someone can be deported cannot easily be delegated to other agencies. One alternative to bypass some of these legal and budgetary restrictions is for the White House to collaborate with local agencies in states aligned with Trump. However, this presents additional challenges. Immigration enforcement is not within the purview of the military, sheriffs, or local police. According to the Constitution, it is exclusively the responsibility of the federal government. Another question that arises when discussing raids in neighborhoods and workplaces is: How will officers identify someone as undocumented? By their appearance? Historically, similar operations have resulted in racial profiling and civil rights violations. A well-known example is the case of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona, who was sued multiple times for detaining and investigating individuals based solely on their appearance or language. Alien Enemies Act vs. the Constitution Trump’s team is considering extreme legal measures to expedite deportations. One option is the Alien Enemies Act , legislation from 1789 that has rarely been used in U.S. history. Another is to expand the use of "expedited removal" procedures, which limit immigrants' ability to defend themselves against deportation. The problem is that these measures violate constitutional protections. Organizations like the ACLU and legal experts warn that if the new administration accelerates arrests and deportations, these actions would infringe on multiple rights, including the Fourth Amendment, which protects against searches and arrests without reasonable suspicion. Similarly, they would conflict with the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which guarantee due process and equal protection under the law, prohibiting racial discrimination. Can the military arrest immigrants? Given all the points mentioned earlier, it is highly likely that such measures would face significant legal challenges. Additionally, using the military to carry out these actions could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the military’s involvement in civilian affairs. Trump’s proposals have social and ethical implications and clash with fundamental constitutional principles. Find this article in Spanish here .FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Following his team’s latest setback, a to the Los Angeles Chargers, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo didn’t hold his tongue about what continue to be New England's most glaring deficiencies. “This is what I told the players, there’s really nothing good to take out of that game today. Just the lack of execution,” Mayo said Saturday to begin his postgame news conference. “We just didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game. No complementary football, and that’s what you get.” At 3-13 with a game to go, this has been a lost season for New England. And that frustration is showing in a locker room that has faith in its coach but also recognizes that major offseason changes are likely coming for a team that has failed to meet even modest expectations this season. “I don’t want to use the same excuse, everyone says, ‘Oh, it’s a young team,’” cornerback Jonathan Jones said. “But it’s just learning that everything’s not going to go your way. That’s in football, in life, how you respond to that adversity is what type of team you’re going to have.” Receiver Demario Douglas expects the roster to look much different next season. “I feel like my two years I’ve been losing, and I feel like it’s time to make a change,” Douglas said. “We’ve got some pieces, we’ll add more pieces next year, and I feel like we could come out and do something. I’m trying to be in the playoffs, I’m trying to go for a run and have a winning season. I’m just tired of losing for real.” What’s working The Patriots currently are in position to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. That could change with a game to go, but it's a valuable position for a team that appears set at quarterback with rookie Drake Maye and has several needs to fill. What needs help Turnovers continue to plague the Patriots. They had just one on Saturday, a fumble on a botched pitch by Maye. That’s at least one turnover in eight straight games for the rookie. Stock up Offensive lineman Cole Strange made his first start of the season a week after returning from injured reserve following offseason knee surgery. Strange, who played his first 27 NFL games at guard, started at center after Ben Brown was placed in IR with a concussion. Stock down Cole's presence didn't help the Patriots' struggling offensive line, which allowed four sacks and five quarterback hits on Maye. New England has allowed 51 sacks, the fifth most in the NFL. Injuries Maye was evaluated for a head injury in the first quarter but returned. CB Christian Gonzalez left the game with a concussion. Key number 1-6 — The Patriots' record at home this season. They are 2-14 at Gillette Stadium over the past two seasons. Next steps New England hosts AFC East champion Buffalo next weekend in its season finale. ___ AP NFL: Kyle Hightower, The Associated PressBig compromise by Jennifer Lopez? Amid divorce, she had to let go of this to work with ex-husband Ben Affleck
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Maddie Zimmer and Ilse Tromp both had two goals and an assist in the first half and Northwestern beat Saint Joseph's 5-0 in the championship match of the NCAA Division-I women's field hockey tournament at Phyllis Ocker Field on Sunday. It was the second championship for the second-seeded Wildcats (23-1-0), who have played for the title in four straight seasons. Northwestern beat Liberty 2-0 in 2021 before losing to North Carolina the past two seasons.Meanwhile, the news of Ashworth being linked with Arsenal has taken many by surprise. The highly respected football administrator has a proven track record of success, having previously worked at clubs such as West Bromwich Albion and the English Football Association. His expertise in player development and recruitment could prove to be a valuable asset for Arsenal as they look to strengthen their squad in the coming transfer windows.
STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Keitenn Bristow had 23 points in Tarleton State's 70-60 victory over Florida A&M on Sunday. Bristow also had six rebounds and three blocks for the Texans (5-10). Bubu Benjamin added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Marty Silvera pitched in with nine points, five rebounds and six steals. The Rattlers (3-8) were led by Sterling Young with 16 points. Jordan Chatman added 11 points and Kaleb Washington totaled seven points, eight rebounds and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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New Report Finds Bioscience Sector Generates Over $3 Trillion for U.S. EconomyVentive Hospitality IPO listing date today. GMP, experts signal positive debut of sharesThe resurgence of the "moderately loose" narrative in the current economic landscape could be seen as a signal of a potential shift in monetary policy priorities. Central banks around the world are facing a delicate balancing act as they navigate the post-pandemic recovery, inflationary pressures, and the normalization of monetary conditions. The revisiting of "moderately loose" could suggest a willingness to prioritize growth and employment over inflation containment in the near term.
Billionaire Elon Musk, tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to slash Federal Government spending, lashed out at modern fighter jets on Monday, saying that drones were the future of air combat. “Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed,” said the head of SpaceX, Tesla and X, in a post on his social media platform. Musk singled out the F-35 — a next-generation fighter jet manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin that entered service in 2015 — for criticism. “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,” he posted, alongside a video of hundreds of drones hovering in formation in the sky. The F-35, the world’s most advanced fighter, is stealth capable and can also be used to gather intelligence. Germany, Poland, Finland and Romania have all recently signed deals for the aircraft. Its development, however, has suffered from issues, notably in the design of its computer programs, and its very high operating costs are regularly criticized by its detractors. Related News NATO chief, Trump hold talks on global security COP29 braces for new deal after poorer nations reject climate offer Nigeria ranks seventh globally for international students in US “The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people,” said Musk on Monday, calling it “an expensive (and) complex jack of all trades, master of none.” For Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, “what makes the F-35... expensive is the software and the electronics, not the pilot per se.” This is significant “because a reusable drone would need to get all that flashy electronics of an F-35,” he said on X. He also pointed out that the existence of the F-35 had forced US rivals to develop their own aircraft and advanced radar to match it. “By simply existing, the F-35 and the B-1 force Russia and China into strategic choices they would not have to make otherwise (i.e. budget allocations),” Gilli said, referring to B-1 heavy bomber aircraft. “Even if Musk were right (and he is not), deleting the programs would relax these constraints on them.” AFPWe hinted at it last month, and it’s now official – has re-opened its crowdfunding program, giving fans and believers in the startup’s solar electric vehicle technology the opportunity to invest and help it reach scaled production. Well, that didn’t take long. After in May 2024, Solar EV startup Aptera is once again turning to its posse of loyalists to help keep development going as it continues to inch toward the holy grail of scaled solar electric vehicle production. Up until that point, the startup had raised a staggering $135 million from over 19,000 investors—the most successful crowdfunding raise in history. Never one to shy away from its progress (and hurdles), Aptera said that despite such an inspiring capital raise, it would need another $60 million to begin low-volume SEV production, . To achieve this, Aptera which led a $60 million investment offering of convertible notes of Aptera Motors Corp. that began in July. At the time, US Capital Global executives anticipated the raise would take 60 to 90 days. However, from November 20, 2024, states that the investment round had only garnered $700,000 in convertible notes sold – a mere 1.2% of the targeted amount. As we pointed out during a video tour with Aptera , Aptera co-CEO Chris Anthony briefly mentioned the possibility of a return to crowdfunding. Here’s what he said at the time: We think along the way, we may open the crowdfunding again because right now, the minimum investment for the convertible note is $50,000. So, a lot of people have been waiting to invest in Aptera, but they can’t because the minimum is so high. The cycle continues. Less than a month later, Aptera reopened crowdfunding to the people, allowing you to invest now. Aptera recently announced the return to crowdfunding on , citing a responsibility to protect and restore the environment as a call to action for those willing to part with their hard-earned dollars to join the cause and keep the startup pushing forward. Per the post: Our vision is clear: a world where every journey is powered by the sun. This relaunch provides a way for everyone—everyday people like you—to become part of the solution. Through this campaign, you can invest in Aptera’s mission to revolutionize transportation and significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Prospective investors can sign up on Aptera’s dedicated investor page and purchase shares in the startup priced at $14.80 each. Per Aptera, a minimum investment of $1,000 is required. Per Aptera: Every dollar invested is a statement of hope and determination to shift the status quo. Together, we can lead the way toward a world where clean energy solutions are the norm, not the exception. Your support fuels more than just vehicles—it fuels change. With a fresh crowdfunding campaign in place, Aptera is continuing to develop its en route to low-volume SEV production for those early investors who secured the first builds via the company’s successful accelerator program. The team still needs about $59 million to get there, but the people have already gotten the company this far, and could once again be this startup’s saving grace. We will keep tabs on the company’s progress as we see to see more of the (PI) builds in early 2025. and subscribe to the . Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at scooter@9to5mac.com
‘Everything was documented’: Florida woman allegedly steals from Target self-checkout using fake barcodes and then posts about the haul on TikTok - Law & CrimeHAMILTON, Ontario, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Manufacturing is essential to the Canadian economy, contributing approximately 10% of our GDP. Two of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers is ensuring that their workers have the right skills to support them as they take on new technologies and practices, and onboarding enough new workers to support sustained operations and growth. These challenges will be exacerbated as more of the existing workforce enters retirement. Introducing automation and other digital technologies has been proposed as a solution to address the skills gap, but it poses its own set of unique challenges. Canada’s Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) contains data on the competencies required to work in 900 different occupations, providing the users with a standardized way to understand how competencies vary by level of proficiency across occupations. With the rapid adoption of technologies, can the OaSIS database support the future needs of the manufacturing sector? Also, is there alignment of skills and competencies across manufacturing subsectors? In one study conducted under NGen’s Future Ready program, funded in part by ESDC’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP), the cluster contracted 6 industry associations (APMA, BioTalent Canada, CMISA, DAIR, FPSC, and SIMSA) to engage their members to help generate a snapshot of the current skills and proficiencies of the Canadian manufacturing workforce, and how those skills and proficiencies are projected to evolve through 2040. In total, 157 Canadian manufacturers participated in this study. Projected skill levels for 2030 and 2040 indicate an emerging emphasis on digital literacy, cognitive skills, and soft skills, with the largest changes in projected proficiencies occurring in Digital Literacy, Problem Solving, and Creativity and Innovation. The results paint a picture of a digitally literate workforce that will require cognitive and soft skill enhancement to be effective in the digital work environment of the future. These findings suggest that manufacturing needs to understand and prepare for changes in competencies across all job functions. This will require a strategy of incorporating continuous upskilling and recruitment within and across the manufacturing sector. Another important finding was that there is a great deal of commonality across the various sectors of manufacturing and across regions, meaning that pan-Canadian, cross-sectoral solutions have the potential to drive tremendous economic impact. To read more about NGen’s workforce research initiatives, visit . “We believe that our manufacturing workforce is a critical national asset and must be looked at through a pan-Canadian, cross-sectoral lens. Through our collaboration with six organizations supporting specific manufacturing sectors, we have identified common core competencies as well as common skills challenges facing Canada’s manufacturing sector which provides nearly ten percent of Canada’s GDP.” – Stewart Cramer, Chief Manufacturing Officer, NGen “As the lead skills training organization for Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, we know — as do businesses — that upskilling and continuous learning is fundamental to any successful workforce. Skills training values individuals and supports recruitment and retention.” – Jennefer Griffith, Executive Director, Food Professing SKills Canada “Transitions aren’t only about innovation and technology. The companies that get it right are the ones that will bet on their current workforce with new skills, patience and direction. The jurisdictions that will lead in the new automotive will be the ones that partner with those companies and workers to chart their path.” – Flavio Volpe, President, APMA “The Saskatchewan labour market is very competitive, and the manufacturing market has a difficult time competing with other booming, high productivity markets such as mining, energy and tech. The skill trend analysis we did in partnership with NGen underscores a dynamic shift in occupational competencies, highlighting the move from solely technical skills to a more broadly skilled and adaptable workforce across various sectors. Research of this kind is essential to our ability to build the workforce that we will need to compete and grow not only against our global competitors, but also in the fierce competition for talent in our home province of Saskatchewan. SIMSA greatly appreciates the support of and invaluable work by NGen!” – Eric Anderson, Executive Director, SIMSA NGen is the industry-led not-for-profit organization that leads Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. Its mandate is to help build world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. NGen works to strengthen collaboration among its membership of more than 5,000 manufacturers, technology companies, innovation centres, and researchers, and provides funding and business support to industry-led initiatives that aim to develop, apply, or scale-up transformative manufacturing solutions in Canada for commercialization in global markets. . Robbie MacLeod 613-297-3578KE (NYSE:BEKE) Stock Price Down 3.7% – Here’s What Happened
The decision to offer a free live stream of the match has been praised as a testament to the power of football in bringing people together. Football has the ability to transcend borders and unite fans from diverse backgrounds, all united in their passion for the beautiful game. The free live stream will allow fans to come together, regardless of their location, and share in the excitement of this momentous occasion.USU’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) has been experiencing more traffic recently, and is now relying on student’s and faculty’s competitive spirits to help replenish food stores. SNAC kicked off their Pack the Pantry competition last week. The food drive will last until Dec. 20, and pits university departments against each other to see who can raise the most food poundage. SNAC’s goal for the drive is 5,000 pounds of food donations, and SNAC Student Director Janna Cook said right now they’re about 20% of the way towards that goal. “The Huntsman School of Business just did a huge food drive, and that contributed just over 1,000 pounds on its own,” she said. “So we’re definitely getting there, but we still have a ways to go.” Cook says the pantry has been seeing more students relying on them for food, and pointed to a recent study by the university which found more than half of USU students report food insecurity. Participants also reported that their resulting hunger often made it difficult to focus in class and achieve academic success. But it seems that pantries across the state are all struggling to keep shelves stocked right now. “We’re also seeing a decrease in the amount of food that we’re receiving from a lot of those donors that have, in the past, given us the majority of our food,” Cook explained. She specifically referenced the Cache Community Food Pantry, who put out their own plea for help from the community last month. She said the 1,200 pound weekly donation that SNAC used to receive from the local food pantry has now been slashed in half. “So that was a big trigger for this Pack the Pantry food drive,” Cook said. “Because the Cache Community Food Pantry is at an all time low, we’re only getting five to six hundred pounds of food from them each week.” And when nearly a thousand students visit the pantry per week during peak times of the year, that much food just doesn’t stretch far enough. Items specifically requested for the food drive include peanut butter, pasta sauce, soup, mac and cheese, oatmeal packets, canned foods, — such as vegetables and tuna — and other non-perishables. Drop off locations can be found at USU’s Pack the Pantry Website, as well as a live count of the food drive’s progress.