BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press

Washington (CNN) — Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort by Democrats to pass a bipartisan bill that would give journalists greater protections under federal law – a move that comes in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump opposing the measure. Trump called on Republicans to “kill this bill” in a Truth Social post last month. Known as the PRESS Act, the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act would prevent the government from forcing journalists to reveal their sources and limit the seizure of their data without their knowledge. The bill passed the GOP-controlled House earlier this year. After Trump’s reelection, press advocacy groups redoubled their efforts to get the legislation signed into law before the end of President Joe Biden’s term. But the bill’s failure to pass on Tuesday comes as time is fast-running out before the Democratic president leaves office. The bill is unlikely to win 60 votes, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has prioritized confirming judges during the lame-duck session. Government funding and a must-pass defense policy bill will also take up valuable floor time before lawmakers leave town for the winter holiday break. On Tuesday evening, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon went to the Senate floor and asked for unanimous consent to pass the bill. But GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas objected, blocking the attempt. Any single senator has the power to halt a bill put forward by a unanimous consent request. The Freedom of the Press Foundation said on X that Democrats knew the move would fail and called on the chamber to cut the holiday break short if necessary to try to pass the bill. “Speeches aren’t enough. The senate has had all year to pass this bipartisan bill,” the group said. Schumer spoke in support of the bill on the floor and urged passage, calling the provisions “common sense” and “more important now than ever before when we’ve heard so many in the incoming administration talk about going after the press one way or another.” Cotton argued in remarks on the floor that the bill is a threat to US national security and said its passage would turn the Senate “into the active accomplice of deep-state leakers, traitors and criminals, along with the America-hating and fame-hungry journalists who help them out.” Earlier on Tuesday, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press used the release of a Justice Department’s inspector general report into leak investigations during Trump’s first term to argue for passage of the act. “This investigation highlights the need for a reasonable, common-sense law to protect reporters and their sources,” the group’s executive director, Bruce D. Brown, said. “It’s time for Congress to pass the PRESS Act, which has overwhelming bipartisan support, to prevent government interference with the free flow of information to the public.” The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York , penned a 262-word manifesto railing against the health insurance industry , which has been published in full for the first time. The manifesto was obtained by police when they arrested Mangione on Monday at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Below, find the full manifesto written by Mangione. The document was published to Substack by journalist Ken Klippenstein and law enforcement sources confirmed the text to TMZ. "To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone," began Mangione. "This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience. The spiral notebook, if present, has some straggling notes and To-do lists that illuminate the gist of it." Luigi Mangione pictured in 'suicide prevention gown' as he's charged with CEO killing Luigi Mangione’s explosive nine-word rant as cops drag him by neck and slam him into courthouse door "My tech is pretty locked down because I work in engineering so probably not much info there. I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done," he continued. "Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy." "United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart," he added. "It has grown and grown, but as our life expectancy? No the reality is, these [indecipherable] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it." "Obviously the problem is more complex, but I do not have space, and frankly I do not pretend to be the most qualified person to lay out the full argument," stated Mangione. "But many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: Rosenthal, Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain. It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty." In addition to the manifesto, it was reported by the arresting officer that the man was carrying a passport and $10,000 in cash, $2,000 of it in foreign currency inside of a backpack. It was also noted that, in addition to the cash and passport, Mangione was also reportedly carrying a box of blue surgical masks and a black 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed silencer. Despite the cutting words, Mangione never named Thompson personally. Mangione is currently fighting to be extradited to New York where he had been charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Just before the hearing on Tuesday, it was reported that the Maryland native, who was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffed, shouted and struggled with officers as he was led into a Pennsylvania courthouse. According to the Associated Press, the words shouted by Luigi Mangione were unintelligible, however, it claimed that it was something to the effect of “This is extremely unjust, and an insult to the intelligence of the American people .” DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.LAKE CHARLES, La. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wavegate Corporation, a pioneering developer of neuromodulation technology for chronic pain management, has secured a lead investor in their $26 million Series A funding round led by UCEA Capital Partners Ltd., a London -based investment firm. This financing will accelerate the development of Wavegate's proprietary Ellipse TM platform, featuring StimuLux TM technology, designed to provide breakthrough therapeutic solutions for chronic pain patients. Wavegate's Ellipse TM spinal cord stimulator uses optical reflectometry to provide closed-loop adaptive modulation, uniquely adjusting stimulation in real-time based on spinal cord movement. This technology, which received FDA Breakthrough Device designation, offers significant potential to improve the lives of chronic pain sufferers by maintaining consistent pain relief across a range of patient activities using either paresthesia-based or paresthesia-free neuromodulation. Wavegate also recently achieved successful first-in-human data, further validating the clinical promise of its Ellipse TM platform. "Securing this funding represents a pivotal moment for Wavegate as we continue to push the boundaries in neuromodulation technology," said Dr. Erich Wolf , CEO of Wavegate Corporation. "UCEA's investment validates the potential of our innovations and supports our vision of advancing effective, patient-centered pain management solutions." The investment by UCEA Capital Partners aligns with its strategic focus on supporting transformative healthcare technologies. "Wavegate's approach to neuromodulation reflects exactly the type of high-impact, innovation-driven opportunity we seek to champion. We are thrilled to support their journey in addressing a critical area of unmet medical need," noted Joao Teixeira , Chairman of UCEA Capital Partners Ltd. The Series A funding will be instrumental in expanding Wavegate's R&D efforts, clinical trials, and preparations for regulatory approvals, marking a significant step forward for the company as it progresses toward commercialization. For more information on Wavegate Corporation, visit wavegate.us . Media Contact: Marla Miller , JD, LLM Corporate Secretary marla@wavegate.us +1-337-419-1360 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wavegate-corporation-announces-26-million-series-a-funding-round-led-by-ucea-capital-partners-ltd-302328197.html SOURCE Wavegate Corporation

Sydneysiders who want to live in a suburb along the Metro line for the convenient commute will have to pay top dollar to either rent or buy. The fast-rail system stretches from Sydenham to the CBD, lower north shore, Hills district and Tallawong, with a journey from North Sydney to Barangaroo in just three minutes. Castle Hill residents can get to Martin Place in 35 minutes. But convenience comes at a premium. Bella Vista residents can get to the CBD in 41 minutes, but face a median house price of $2,477,500, while a house will set renters back around $975 per week. Waterloo’s median unit price is $925,500, and median unit rent $935, for a commute of just six minutes to Martin Place. Rents are also high at $780 for a unit in Chatswood (11 minutes to Martin Place) and $720 for Castle Hill (35 minutes). Castle Hill house buyers would pay a median of $2,312,500. Ray White agent Peter Iann said the Metro had driven greater demand for Bella Vista and that he could not limit the buyer pool to one specific region of Sydney. “We are now seeing interest from all over Sydney,” he said. “There is not enough stock for the demand and sellers now have higher price expectations.” Geoffrey Clinton, senior lecturer in transport and logistics management at the University of Sydney Business School, said that while the Metro had a significant impact on social cohesion, it was just one piece of the puzzle. “Just building train lines alone is not going to create nirvana for Sydneysiders,” he said. “In the next five to ten years we will see mini CBDs pop up. People will be living in fairly small apartments, and they’ll be more likely to dine and go out, similar to what happens in other high-density areas like Singapore.” Sydneysiders who want to live along the Metro line in suburbs such as Bella Vista, pictured, will need to pay top dollar. Credit: Nick Moir Clinton said that while people wanted to live near public transport, pricing came down to the timing of developments. “If apartments are built ahead of demand, prices may be softer. But if they’re slow to be built, then prices will be higher.” He suggested the Metro and its surrounding high-rises are part of the solution to the housing crisis, but that we also need standalone houses and townhouses. “By opening up transport opportunities, it makes it easier to develop density around these areas.” Professor of civil engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, Buddhima Indraratna, said that while he would like to see young professionals living closer to the Metro, there was a lot of wishful thinking about how much the train line could improve housing affordability. “With the high cost of living, people are living further away from the CBD because they can’t afford it. Even a two-bedroom [CBD] apartment can cost up to $3 million,” he said. “Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. We might not see the advantages of the Metro yet, but they will be there for the next generation.” Marriott Lane Crows Nest agent Stephen O’Sullivan said that while the Metro has enhanced the appeal of the suburb, it hasn’t changed the buyer pool. “There’s more appetite, but the buyers tend to be locals or downsizers from the upper north shore that are seeking convenience to the CBD,” he said. O’Sullivan said buyers are limited by price. However, the Metro allows for more choice when priced out of Crows Nest, as residents of nearby St Leonards and Wollstonecraft can walk to the station. O’Sullivan said we are yet to see an uptick in prices for Crows Nest since the introduction of the Metro, as there are few homes for sale and prices are high. An extension from Sydenham to Marrickville, Lakemba and Bankstown, will open in 2025, further connecting Sydney’s suburbs. BresicWhitney Lower North Shore agent Louise Barton said buyers from the eastern suburbs have moved to North Sydney in the past few months, but not because they’re priced out. “They’re just interested to explore North Sydney, and it makes a lot of sense as you’re just over the other side of the bridge,” she said. Barton said sellers are not driving up their prices due to the Metro. “Sellers remain realistic about the market. But given how the Metro has impacted other suburbs such as North Ryde, we’ve seen prices increase over time. Sellers are excited about what it means for them.” North Ryde’s median house price rose 10.9 per cent to $2,495,000 in the year to September on Domain data.

About 22,000 remain without power in Northern Ireland following Storm Darragh

TOKYO , Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives from China and Japan shared their insights on promoting artificial intelligence (AI) governance and data sharing at a sub-forum of the 20th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo recently. The sub-forum contributed eastern wisdom to AI governance and digital social development, demonstrating the significance of international cooperation for the development of the digital economy, according to Gao Shaolin, advisor at Peking University's Legal Artificial Intelligence Research Center. AI governance framework The participants agreed that the next 10 years will be a critical period for the development of AI. Gao Wen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), said since China's State Council issued a guideline on developing AI in 2017, the nation has made significant progress in AI research and development and industrial layout, especially in computing power and 5G network construction. By the end of 2023, China had over half of the world's 1.57 billion 5G users, according to the World Internet Development Report 2024. It ranked second globally in AI and computing power scale, which has laid a solid foundation for the rapid development of AI. Tatsuo Yamazaki , project professor at the International University of Health and Welfare, said it was very meaningful for Japan and China to discuss strengthening AI governance rules. Fumihiko Kamio , research director of the Nomura Research Institute, echoed his view. He emphasized that the core goal of AI technology is to improve productivity and eliminate obstacles to social development, and called on Chinese and Japanese experts to work together to build an AI governance framework to cope with the global challenges. Deepening international cooperation China put forth the Global AI Governance Initiative in October last year. In July, the UN General Assembly adopted a China -sponsored resolution on enhancing international cooperation on AI capacity-building. The participants spoke highly of the Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative recently proposed by China . They agreed that AI governance requires global collaboration, especially in the formulation of international standards and the construction of ethical frameworks, where China and Japan can play an active role. Ding Wenhua, academician of the CAE, said China and Japan have both similarities and differences in technology development and governance priorities, so deepening cooperation will bring unique value to global AI governance. " China and Japan should deepen AI technology cooperation between enterprises, work together in AI security research, talent exchange, and jointly explore more possibilities for the application of technology," Wang Zhongyuan , president of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, said. Balancing development & risks AI governance refers to the guardrails established to ensure AI systems and tools remain safe and ethical and respect human rights. Xu Zhilong , editor-in-chief of Science and Technology Daily, stressed that AI, as a revolutionary technology, has far-reaching impacts on all areas of society and economy. However, its potential risks such as data leakage and the spread of false information should not be ignored. "Technological progress and security ethics should be developed in a balanced way to ensure that AI technology always serves the progress of human civilization," Xu said. AI governance should not only heed the current technological ethics issues, but also prevent possible long-term risks, such as AI going out of human control, according to Toshio Iwamoto , senior corporate advisor of NTT DATA. He said AI R&D and application should abide by the principles of fairness, transparency, safety and availability. Yuan Yue, chairman of Beijing Dataway Horizon, shared his view from the perspective of regulatory models. "Policy choices should be based on the current status and goals of national technological development," Yuan said, adding that China prefers to provide a more friendly development environment for enterprises while ensuring an effective response to risks. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/science-and-technology-daily-promoting-ai-governance-jointly-302332050.html SOURCE Science and Technology DailyJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warNone

NEW YORK : Policymakers aiming to recommend safeguards for artificial intelligence are facing a formidable challenge: science that is still evolving. AI developers themselves are grappling with how to prevent abuse of novel systems, offering no easy fix for government authorities to embrace, Elizabeth Kelly, director of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, said on Tuesday. Cybersecurity is an area of concern according to Kelly, speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. Ways to bypass guard rails that AI labs established for security and other topics, called "jailbreaks," can be easy, she said. "It is difficult for policymakers to say these are best practices we recommend in terms of safeguards, when we don't actually know which ones work and which ones don't," Kelly said. Technology experts are hashing out how to vet and protect AI across different dimensions. Another area regards synthetic content. Tampering with digital watermarks, which flag to consumers when images are AI-generated, remains too easy for authorities to devise guidance for industry, she said. The U.S. AI Safety Institute, created under the Biden administration, is addressing such concerns via academic, industry and civil society partnerships that inform its tech evaluations, Kelly said. She said AI safety is a "fundamentally bipartisan issue," when asked what will happen to the body after Donald Trump takes office in January. The institute's first director, Kelly recently presided over the inaugural gathering of AI safety institutes from around the world, which took place last month in San Francisco. Asked about the outcome of these meetings, Kelly said the 10 country members were working toward interoperable safety tests with the help of more technical, hoodie-wearing experts than in a typical diplomatic meeting. "It was very much getting the nerds in the room," she said.HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- The glittering lights of Downtown Houston shone even brighter on Saturday, December 7, 2024, as ZT Corporate hosted its highly anticipated Chairman’s Gala at the Hilton Americas. With over 1,000 of Houston’s most distinguished guests in attendance, the event not only celebrated the company’s remarkable achievements but also set the stage for a bold future, unveiling ZT Corporate’s visionary roadmap for 2030. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210034150/en/ ZT Corporate’s 27th Annual Chairman’s Gala: Taseer Badar & Robin Thicke (Photo: Business Wire) The night was a dazzling celebration of ZT’s growth and success, underscored by a commitment to philanthropy and community. ZT Corporate’s Founder and CEO, Taseer Badar , expressed his gratitude, saying, “This year’s milestones were made possible by the passion, dedication, and innovation of our team. We’ve achieved exceptional growth across our healthcare and automotive portfolios, and with the continued confidence of our investors and the tireless efforts of our people, the future is incredibly bright. Our roadmap for the next five years is bold, ambitious, and driven by the ‘ZT Way’—a blend of strategy, excellence, and vision.” A Night to Remember: Luxury, Entertainment, and Giving Back This year’s Gala took opulence to a whole new level, offering guests an evening packed with entertainment, luxury, and excitement. The highlight of the night was an electrifying performance by Robin Thicke , the five-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstar and The Masked Singer judge. Thicke’s smooth, soulful hits and commanding stage presence set the tone for a night full of unforgettable moments, leaving the crowd dancing long into the night. But the excitement didn’t stop there. DJ Esther Anaya , a singer/songwriter, music producer, and classically trained violinist whose unique sounds and imaginative performances captivate audiences worldwide. She had guests on their feet as she spun an unforgettable set that kept the energy flowing throughout the evening. Chester Pitts , the original Houston Texan and community leader, teamed up with the dazzling Miss Universe 2022, R’Bonney Gabriel , as co-hosts, guiding the event with charisma and flair. The duo’s infectious energy had the audience on the edge of their seats as they navigated through the evening’s many thrilling moments. Exclusive Auctions and Unmatched Generosity Guests had the chance to bid on auction items that was donated from luxury brands including Prada, Maison Margiela, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, and more. The live auction, led by Pitts and Gabriel, featured once-in-a-lifetime experiences that had the crowd buzzing with excitement. The Bruno Mars meet-and-greet experience in Las Vegas, donated by Richard and Michelle Knoll , was so hot and in such high demand that the bidding quickly got heated . The couple, clearly moved by the fierce generosity in the room, decided to sweeten the deal —donating an additional Bruno Mars package , giving even more lucky guests the chance to experience the ultimate VIP encounter with the superstar. This gesture sent the crowd into a frenzy, and the auction raised even more for the night’s philanthropic efforts. Other high-end auction items included a Napa Valley wine experience at The French Laundry (donated by Dr. Doug Yarris and The French Laundry) and a VIP Houston Texans & Mastro’s experience paired with wines from Wine Spectator Grand Award wine list (courtesy of Chester Pitts, The Texans Organization, and Landry’s Inc.) offering guests a chance to indulge in exclusive, world-class experiences. In total, over $100,000 was raised from the auction items for the ZT Baseball Foundation, a cause close to the heart of Taseer Badar and the entire ZT Corporate family. The foundation’s mission is to ensure that young athletes have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities to succeed in baseball, no matter their financial background. A heartwarming moment of the night came when over 20 ZT Baseball players, back-to-back Gold Medalists at USA Baseball & Champions of the Perfect Game Invitational, were honored for their exceptional achievements on the field and in the classroom, showcasing the power of hard work and determination. Looking Toward the Future As the evening concluded, the anticipation for ZT Corporate’s future was palpable. The Gala not only celebrated the past year’s incredible achievements but also set the stage for a bold new era of growth and impact. With a clear vision for the next five years, ZT Corporate is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, leadership, and community impact—both in business and beyond, the ZT Way. A Champion Mindset for 2025 In his keynote address, Badar unveiled a bold five-year vision for ZT Corporate. Celebrating past milestones, he outlined a forward-thinking path, emphasizing focus and strategic growth as key drivers of the firm's future. Badar outlined how the ZT Way will unite and propel the business forward into 2025, defining its future through core areas of entrepreneurship, a champion mindset, community and doing the right thing. These pillars were on display throughout the Chairman’s Gala as ZT recapped another dynamic year. Special recognition was spotlighted on the 2024 growth of the healthcare portfolio through diversification as well as transformation of the automotive business through expansion into new markets and boosting retail unit sales . “We are not afraid to take calculated risks, innovate and push boundaries. At ZT, we thrive on creating possibilities not just for ourselves, but for our investors, our community and most importantly, our team,” said Badar. “As much as we grow with new corporate structures and create processes and management teams, will never lose the essence of who we are. We empower our employees to think like entrepreneurs – it’s in our DNA.” Badar highlighted the firm’s commitment to staying one step ahead and delivering continuous improvement in an ever-evolving landscape. By emphasizing the importance of action alongside outcomes, he inspired and motivated guests, reinforcing ZT Corporate’s dedication to forging a path toward future successes. About ZT Corporate Established in 1997, ZT Corporate is a Houston-based private equity firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The firm focuses on healthcare and auto dealerships as core investment verticals. ZT Corporate’s investment team collaborates with its operators to support the day-to-day operations of the firm’s portfolio investments. This close collaboration drives value creation by developing stronger operator-investor relationships, cross-functional expertise, and a deeper understanding of the target industries. Since its founding, ZT Corporate has successfully completed more than 60+ investments, including platform companies and follow-on opportunities with multiple liquidity events for its investors. For more information: www.ztcorporate.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210034150/en/ CONTACT: Thuylan Chang, ZT Corporate thuylan@ztcorporate.com KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER HEALTH OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AUTOMOTIVE OTHER ENTERTAINMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT MUSIC FINANCE CONSULTING BANKING ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTERTAINMENT PERSONAL FINANCE HEALTH EVENTS/CONCERTS OTHER AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY SOURCE: ZT Corporate Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/10/2024 06:01 PM/DISC: 12/10/2024 06:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210034150/en

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The Edo State Chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are at loggerheads over allegations of party secretariat destruction. The Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that the APC thugs invaded his party secretariat destroying and carting away properties worth millions of naira. He said the thugs also destroyed doors, windows, and office equipment at the Secretariat, adding that several electronics, computers and other valuable items were also carted away by the thugs, who ransacked the building with the plan to attack any person found in it. Nehikhare condemned the attack, describing it as a desperate and reckless attempt by the APC to intimidate the PDP and frustrate the party’s efforts at reclaiming its mandate stolen at the September 21 governorship election. He said, “It is quite disappointing and unfortunate that the APC, on Thursday, mobilised thugs to attack our party Secretariat in their desperation to frustrate and halt efforts by our great party to reclaim the mandate duly given to it by the Edo people at the September 21 governorship election. “The thugs invaded the secretariat, destroying and carting away properties worth millions of naira. “If the APC are confident that they won the election free and square, and have nothing to hide, why are they jittery and mobilising thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat? “This is barbaric and condemnable and we urge relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attack and ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book. Related News PDP NWC rejects suspension of Cross River chairman DSS releases Adebutu from detention, says allegations baseless Ogun LG poll: PDP decries late distribution of materials “The PDP remains resolute and will not be intimidated or deterred in its pursuit for justice and the restoration of our mandate.” He charged party members and supporters to remain calm and resolute in the face of the provocations as the party explored every legal channel to reclaim its mandate. Responding in a phone interview with our correspondent, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, described the allegation as baseless and urged the PDP to settle its internal problems, warning them not to drag the APC into their messy affair. He said it was absurd to label those who allegedly attacked the PDP office as APC thugs wondering if the thugs wore APC uniform or had APC paraphernalia on them. He noted that the APC government in the state has already embarked on a project the PDP government failed to carry, adding that his party was still basking in the euphoria of their victory and putting the state in the right part. He said, “How can the PDP say that the thugs that attacked their party secretariat are that of APC? Did the people have anything on them to show that they were APC members? The allegation is baseless and there is no proof. “The allegation is weighty and criminal in nature so the PDP should be sure they have proof before making the allegation. We will urge the PDP to sort out its internal problem and not drag the APC into it. “The APC government in the state is already embarking on a project that the PDP failed to do. These are projects that will better the lives of the people.”Iowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level Media

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