Putin apologizes for 'tragic incident' but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. He stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The Kremlin also says Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Israel detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals during a raid DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s military alleges the hospital director is a suspected Hamas operative and says it detained over 240 others. It acknowledges it ordered people outside and that special forces entered the hospital. It says it “eliminated” militants who fired at its forces. Kamal Adwan officials have denied that Hamas operates in the hospital. Abortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel Even with abortion bans in place in most Republican-controlled states, the number of people obtaining them has grown slightly. That's part of a complicated picture of the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago. Abortion pills are more common now. So is traveling to other states for care, often on journeys hundreds of miles long. Public support for the right to abortion has also increased since before the ruling. That's been reflected in most ballot measures to add the right to abortion to state constitutions being adopted. Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Amazon rainforest staggered through another difficult year in 2024. A second year of record drought contributed to wildfires that worsened deforestation across the massive forest, which spans Brazil, Peru, Colombia and other Latin American nations and is a critical counterweight to climate change. There were some bright spots. Both Brazil and Colombia reported lower levels of deforestation compared to prior years. Experts say Amazon countries need to do more to strengthen cross-border collaboration and that the global community who reap the benefits of commodities from the rainforest also need to pitch in. Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more than 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. Afghan forces target Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says its forces hit several points inside Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes. Pakistan last Tuesday launched an operation to destroy a training facility and kill insurgents in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. The strikes killed dozens of people. The ministry said Saturday that its forces hit points “serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan.” Pakistan accuses the Taliban of not doing enough to combat cross-border militant activity, a charge the Taliban government denies. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Sweden embarks on a sober search for more cemetery space in case of war GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Burial associations in Sweden are looking to acquire enough land for something they hope they’ll never have to do. And that's to bury thousands of people in the event of war. The search follows new crisis preparedness guidelines from the country's civil defense agency and the military. The issue is seen in a new light after Russia's invasion of Ukraine led formerly neutral Sweden to join NATO. Sweden and Finland sent out updated civil preparedness guides in November with instructions on how to survive in war. The guides are similar to those in Denmark and Norway, though they don't mention Russia by name. Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73 LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media. She was 73. Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy. “Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting. Decades later, the pair brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over nude scenes in the film they said they were coerced to perform. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions.vip scdkey 。

Buccaneers Halt 4-Game Skid with 30-7 Thumping of Giants

X , “the everything app ”, has it all, according to billionaire owner Elon Musk ’s preferred tagline. On offer today is a catty exchange between Musk, the world’s richest man, and the world’s second richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos . Musk, a rabid supporter of President-elect Donald Trump who denies he goes around offering acquaintances his semen, tweeted on his social network that he’d heard “Bezos was telling everyone [Trump] would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock 🤭.” Musk is the CEO of both companies, while Bezos owns rival space firm Blue Origin. Bezos shot down the claim: “Nope. 100% not true.” The buff-bodied online retail magnate certainly didn’t exhibit any preference for Trump’s opponent , Vice President Kamala Harris , during this year’s presidential campaign. In fact, he kiboshed an editorial page endorsement of Harris at the Washington Post , which he’s owned since 2013, provoking ire from hundreds of thousands of subscribers who canceled their subscriptions en masse. so funny the second richest man is bothering to respond to this pic.twitter.com/Bi4gADndvQ A species of deep sea fish rarely seen at the ocean’s surface has been spotted numerous times on California beaches, and according to Japanese folklore it could be a bad omen. Three oarfish, which can grow over 30 feet long and are also known as “Doomsday Fish,” have been found dead on Southern California beaches over the past few months. Before that, researchers had only documented 19 beached oarfish in the state since 1901, reported The Sun . The most recent oarfish find was collected from Encinitas beach on Nov. 6, while the others were found on Huntington Beach in September and La Jolla in August. While researchers don’t know what’s behind the uptick, Ben Frable, a manager at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told The Sun that it all could be due to a greater number of oarfish in the waters near California. Or it could be a shift in weather patterns. In Japanese folklore, oarfish are called the “messenger from the sea god’s palace” and their appearance is thought to be a precursor to earthquakes. Before Japan’s catastrophic 2011 quake, and following tsunami, dozens of oarfish were spotted on beaches. However, some scientific studies have cast doubt on the folklore. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Made In Cookware is known for quality kitchen tools that look as good as they perform. Its sleek, chef-approved kitchen essentials are for people who know that the plates matter as much as the food. That makes its full sets a great option for anyone looking for a little uniformity in their cabinets. To sweeten the deal, Made In is not only offering up to 30 percent off, but shoppers can also score freebies like Dutch ovens, frying pans, and wine glasses with select purchases. We’ve pulled a few of their best deals just in time for your turkey prep. The 10-piece Stainless Set includes everything a cook needs to get started in the kitchen. Each item was made in Italy and is compatible with gas, electric, and induction cooktops. These also come with a free Non-Stick Frying Pan for a limited time. Free Shipping The 7-Piece Copper Set offers elegance with peak performance. The copper was crafted in France and is safe up to 800° F. Right now, score a free Dutch Oven with your purchase. Free Shipping The Complete Tabletop Set is simple and timeless. Designed in the UK, these dishes are classically English and have a one-year no-chip guarantee. If you refresh your cabinets with these today, you’ll also receive a free Glass Wine Set. Free Shipping Kamala Harris retreated to Hawaii with husband Doug Emhoff for a week-long vacation on Tuesday, further shielding herself from the public eye after her loss to Donald Trump in the presidential election. The Federal Aviation Administration enforced a temporary flight restriction over Kona and Waimea on Hawaii’s big island from Tuesday to noon the next Monday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Harris’ vacation comes as Democrats try to push through more of Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before they lose control of the Senate in January. As the president of the Senate, Harris is often the tie-breaking vote for the Democrats’ slim majority. A Harris aide told NBC News that Harris delayed her trip in case she was needed to vote on any nominees, but the team is now anticipating she’ll be needed in December. “She will definitely be available for any tie votes,” another senior aide said. Chris Cuomo is once again opening up about his firing from CNN. “You only live going forward, and CNN is part of my past,” the anchor told People . Cuomo was axed from the network in December 2021, after advising his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on how to navigate sexual harassment allegations . (The elder Cuomo has continually denied any wrongdoing.) Chris was “livid” over his termination, and eventually sued CNN for $125 in damages. He resurfaced at News Nation , and while he told People that “living in the past is very poisonous because you can’t change it,” he did spend the bulk of the interview talking about the past and defending his decision to help his brother. (For whom, incidentally, he also voted as a write-in candidate for president.) “I never kept any secrets about what I was doing,” he said. “I’ll always help my family.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. With millions of high-quality songs and an unparalleled collection of top ad-free podcasts, the platform’s catalog is curated to capture both your attention and your imagination. Now, Amazon is raising the bar with an exciting update: Audible is officially joining Amazon Music Unlimited, cementing the brand’s status as an all-in-one audio hub . Audible’s industry-leading catalog of audiobooks features an expansive selection of can’t-miss bestsellers, hot-off-the-press exclusives, and timeless classics to immerse yourself in. As an Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you’ll be free to select one book each month (of any length) and listen to it directly in the Amazon Music app . Whether you’re a fiction buff ready to dive into a thrilling new adventure or a non-fiction enthusiast looking to expand your horizons, Audible’s expansive collection is sure to have the right title that matches your tastes. Plus, when you’re ready to take a break from the book, you can seamlessly swap back to your favorite tunes and podcast episodes —all without having to leave the app. It’s all the audio that you’ll ever need, all in one place! Best of all, this game-changing update is arriving just in time for the holiday season: start a new subscription , and enjoy your first three months of Amazon Music Unlimited, completely for free. Audio art, conversation, and storytelling—all in one place. What’s not to love? Sign up today and get lost in the sound . A New York lawmaker eager to cash in on a feud between Whoopi Goldberg and a Staten Island bakery showed up Wednesday at the Capitol with a box of the pastry shop’s signature sweet. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) set out boxes of Charlotte Russe cakes from Holtermann’s Bakery near the steps of the House of Representatives and demanded that The View host apologize for telling viewers the bakery had refused to serve her because of her politics. “This is a small business, and somebody going on national TV like that could break a business,” she told the New York Post . In fact, business has been booming ever since Goldberg accused an unnamed bakery last week of refusing to fill her birthday order. Her team managed to procure the desired dessert—a mini sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream—by calling back and not saying her name. “Perhaps they did not like my politics,” Goldberg said at the time. Fans quickly recognized Holtermann’s packaging, and the bakery disputed Goldberg’s version of events. They’ve arrived! All the way from #StatenIsland New York, Whoopi Goldberg’s FAVORITE Charlotte Russe cakes from our 146-year-old staple Holtermann’s Bakery. Everyone’s been asking me about them so we’ll be handing them out to members and staff on the House Steps at 4:30! pic.twitter.com/5eZhaRJEa1 Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for an end to remote work for federal employees, labeling it a pandemic-era “privilege” that taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund anymore. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday, the two nominees to head Donald Trump ’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time would lead to a wave of voluntary resignations, helping to shrink the government workforce. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them,” they wrote. The proposal could impact more than a million workers, although only about 10 percent of federal employees are working fully remote, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The proposed remote working ban is among the first actual policies laid out for DOGE—named after Musk’s favorite meme-based cryptocurrency. In their op-ed, the pair said they wanted to target the thousands of rules and regulations issued by “unelected bureaucrats” every year as part of their mission to help Trump “cut the federal government down to size.” As the Journal reported , however, there could be a hitch to the remote working ban: DOGE may not have the legal power to order federal employees back to the office. After months on the market, the Los Angeles estate belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs has finally attracted an interested buyer—but they’re offering half the asking price, the New York Post reports. Diddy listed the 17,000-square-foot home—which has 10 bedrooms, a 35-seat theater, and a sinister history—for $61.5 million in September, after purchasing it for $39 million in 2014. Real estate executive Bo Belmont is now offering $30 million ”to remove the stigma and focus on the charming elegance of this remarkable property,” he said in a press release . The Beverly Hills estate is one of the homes the feds raided in September, when they confiscated all that lube ; it’s also believed to be one of the sites where Diddy held his alleged “freak-offs.” An unnamed People source predicted earlier this month that finding a buyer who could “see beyond the headlines” would “definitely” be “an uphill battle.” Belmont, for what it’s worth, seems focused on the “beautiful, bucolic setting” and the “picturesque trees, foliage, and walkways‚” so at least that’s something. The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced in May that he was seeking warrants related to the Oct.7 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military conduct in the Palestinian territory Gaza . Roughly 700 Israeli civilians, and 1,200 people overall, were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, according to Israel social security data. Over 44,000 have died during Israel’s subsequent 13-month siege on Gaza, according to local health officials. Human rights officials with the United Nations estimate nearly 70 percent of the deaths in Gaza have been women and children. “No one is above the law,” said Agnès Callamard, the Secretary General of leading human rights organization Amnesty International, after the announcement. Several Israeli officials hastily condemned the ICC’s decision. “These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism,” said Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid. The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected three resolutions that would have halted some weapons transfers to Israel on Wednesday. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has threatened the ICC with sanctions over its case against Israel. Israel’s military says it killed Deif in August though his death remains unconfirmed by Hamas. Are you an amateur photographer, a curious learner, or a budding entrepreneur? Adobe Creative Cloud can take your photos, skills, or business to the next level. This premium suite encompasses over 20 Adobe apps. Normally, a one-year subscription is $59.99 a month. For Black Friday, Adobe is lowering the cost of a year’s subscription to just $29.99 a month. Adobe Express and Lightroom are great for quickly editing photos–color adjustments, precise cropping, and removing unwanted background elements with generative AI. Use Photoshop and Illustrator to create gorgeous images and rich graphics for use online or in print. In addition to the apps, members also get access to over one million stock images, tens of thousands of fonts, and in-app tutorials to take their skills from novice to expert. Hurry, because this deal will expire on Friday (11/29). Jump in and let your imagination run wild today! If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. Bill Nye , beloved host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, isn’t holding back on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ’s controversial nomination as the nation’s top health official under Donald Trump . Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Capitol, Nye was particularly critical of Kennedy’s stance against the addition of fluoride to drinking water. “I think he’s lost his way,” Nye said, suggesting that fluoride’s benefits in preventing cavities had helped improve his own dental health as he grew up in Washington, D.C., where the mineral is added to the water supply. The 68-year-old, known for his colorful bow ties, was in Washington to give the Food and Drug Administration ”just a bit of a nudge” on a treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disorder affecting motor coordination that runs in his family. As Politico reported, the Science Guy was equally blunt about Kennedy’s other weird and unscientific health claims , including his vaccine skepticism. “His other claims are extraordinary, and I really hope somebody will reconsider his position,” Nye said. Several American Airlines passengers subdued a highly agitated man who reportedly tried to open the cabin door mid-air, according to ABC affiliate station WFAA , which obtained the police report. During a flight from Milwaukee to Dallas-Fort Worth airport on Tuesday, the man allegedly got out of his seat to approach a flight attendant, insisting he needed to get off the plane. When the crew member told him he couldn’t do that, WFAA reports that he became increasingly upset, allegedly charging the flight attendant and hitting them. “He was going for the door,” Doug McCright, one of three passengers who intervened, told ABC News . “So I just grabbed this guy from behind and kept him from pulling the thing.” The trio then bound the man’s wrists and ankles with duct tape and kept him pinned to the floor for the remainder of the flight. He was taken for a mental health exam upon landing, while American Airlines issued a statement thanking its team and customers for “managing a difficult situation.”NoneSouth Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule

Environment Canada forecasts mix of freezing rain and rain for parts of Maritimes

( MENAFN - Live Mint) Amid the heated debate around H-1B visas and US immigration policies, an American claimed on social media that Indian CEOs lay off local employees and replace C-suite with their own countrymen. The post drew widespread reactions on the social media platform. This comes amid a spat with MAGA traditionalist Laura Loomer and Elon Musk on X, with multiple Republicans joining in the debate on the H-1B visa and the US immigration policy. In multiple tweets the Tesla CEO sought to distinguish between“highly skilled workers” and those he claims are taking advantage of the system. United States President-elect Donald Trump has remained silent as his two camps - the hardliners and the technocrats - battle it out publicly on social media. The X (formerly known as Twitter) user, identified only as 'Lucky' said that his wife's company appointed an Indian CEO and claimed that this executive changed things to the disadvantage of locals.“My wife worked for a company that was purchased by a private equity firm that immediately brought in an Indian CEO. He pushed out all the founders and replaced all the C-suite with Indians,” the post alleged. "He used Covid as excuse to force every employee to take a "temporary" 10% pay cut and he froze all promotions. He laid off 15% of the workforce, almost exclusively the most experienced employees," the post added. The user also claimed that the new CEO moved offices to India and reduced staff in the US. He also complained about the work culture and workload.“He shut down one of the satellite offices that did more manual stuff like data entry, and outsourced their work to India . My wife's workload doubled during this time period. The work/life balance and culture created by the founders was gone over night,” Lucky wrote. He added,“Work product also suffered across the company. New leadership placed an emphasis on simply gaining new clients and not providing the same customer support for the existing client base. Client satisfaction drastically decreased as a result. Many clients complained that their account manager who they had a 20 year relationship with was replaced by someone with little experience. This story isn't rare or novel.” “Many Americans have dealt with a similar scenario in the last decade or so. My wife eventually found a job at a company that was still family owned with no intention to sell to PE,” he said. The post drew many reactions on the social media platform, with multiple users agreeing with Lucky, and some others believing that the situation would have been the same regardless of an Indian CEO or American CEO. One user said,“I worked at a large grocery store chain and they would constantly try to get people to train their replacements whether they were about to lay you off or you were about to quit if you gave your two weeks they would have you training the next person that is supposed to replace you” (sic) Another added,“Same thing happened at my company. Indian CEO came in and overnight basically all of the US and European middle management was nuked. The office in India got 5 times bigger. All the talent left was pulling their hair out trying to explain how everything works to the new teams. Who then proceeded to implement 'improvements' that pushed their work back to Europe and made everything easier for them. The European teams are still delivering everything but it's harder now.” The second user however also acknowledged,“Having said that there are some brilliant individuals in our Indian teams, the same as the rest of the world. However I would say the main difference is corporate can exploit the Indian employees more than the rest of world. You will often see people online at 1am 2am working. Not necessarily any more talented than anyone in Europe but if they are told to work till midnight, they will.” (sic) Others also pointed to“corporate greed” as the reason. One said,“Weird cos my company bought in no one new and did exactly the same thing. Our workload is still double and our pay is 15-30% less dependant on role. Nothing to do with Indians. It's to do with corporate greed.” (sic) Another wrote:“Yeah but my CEO is white and he replaced a lot of the staff with more compliant idiots and gave almost every department a pay cut. So this is just ceo behaviour. The problem is corporate greed. This is like saying men have less jobs coz women joined the workforce” (sic) There was also a varying perspective, with one user blaming outsourcing and not visas for loss of American jobs.“My brother is wrapping up a 40+ career as a CPA and more recently, a software engineer, specializing in accounting and finance programs and applications. For the past 15 years, he's been working for a US-based multi-national that has a large IT company among its holdings ... A few months ago, he was told the California office was closing; he would remain with the company, and was free to work from any location with a high speed internet connection. The message in all this: we are exporting tech jobs and have been for years. Wonder why your sons and daughters with IT or engineering degrees can't find work or pay commensurate with their education and experience? In many cases, the jobs they might have filled 10 or 15 years ago are now located in Mumbai , and the trend is accelerating,” the user said. MENAFN28122024007365015876ID1109038185 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.