WASHINGTON — After dealing devastating blows to militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel is now directing its military prowess at another key force backed by Iran : the Houthi rebels in Yemen. On Friday, Israel said it had attacked Yemen’s international airport in the capital of Sanaa as well as several power plants and seaports, all under Houthi control. That followed Houthi firing of rockets into Israel, one hitting a school. And later Friday, the Houthis said they had targeted Israel’s airport, although that missile was apparently intercepted. At least nine people were reported killed in Yemen and 16 were injured in Israel in attacks and counterattacks over the last week or so as the two sides ramped up their long-simmering conflict. The Israeli attack on Yemen’s airport on Thursday took place as the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, waited to board a flight. He was not injured but United Nations officials said aid supplies destined for besieged Yemenis would be interrupted. Israel said the airport was being used by Iran to smuggle weapons to the Houthis. Israel sought and will receive a rare hearing at the U.N. Security Council on Monday to discuss the Houthi conflict, Israel’s ambassador to the world body, Danny Danon, told The Times. Normally other countries call for sessions to criticize Israel, but Israel was able to take advantage of the U.S. position as the rotating chair of the Security Council. Danon said he would ask the council to formally condemn the Houthis but remained skeptical of any meaningful action, especially given the veto power held by China and Russia. “We intend to point out to Iran and the Houthis what happened to Hamas,” Danon said in a telephone interview from New York, site of U.N. headquarters. “It seems that the Houthis have not yet understood what happens to those who try to harm the State of Israel. ... We are not playing around.” The battle in Yemen has often taken a back seat to other explosive, roiling conflicts in the Middle East. For more than a decade, the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and other Western powers, has fought Houthi rebels backed by Iran. More than a quarter of a million people have died in attacks and because of food shortages and other humanitarian crises. The Houthis are one piece of the so-called axis of resistance , a constellation of Iran proxies arrayed around Israel and dedicated to its destruction as well as their own nationalist causes. Over the last 14 months, Israel has pounded Hamas in the Gaza Strip, killing tens of thousands of fighters and civilian Palestinians. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. This fall, Israel destroyed much of the leadership and infrastructure of Hezbollah , a militant and political faction in Lebanon that had increased rocket attacks into Israel that it says are in support of Hamas. Israel has also exchanged missile barrages with the main backer of Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran. Airstrikes reportedly crippled much of Iran’s defensive capabilities. Separately, Israel’s other Iran-backed nemesis, the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, collapsed this month under pressure from an assortment of rebel groups, the strongest backed by Turkey. “The Middle East has changed,” Danon said. What remained were the Houthis. Also claiming they were acting in support of Hamas in the Gaza war, they launched a series of missile attacks on ships traversing the Red Sea as part of a major commerce chain. The Biden administration also launched airstrikes on the Houthis earlier this year in response to the attacks on sea vessels and has tried to assemble a collection of countries to protect shipping lanes from the Houthis. “We’ve tried to raise the consciousness of countries, not only in the region but well beyond, of the damage that the Houthi actions are having to international commerce in real and meaningful ways,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said at the Council on Foreign Relations this month. ” The rise of the Houthis ... has gotten them to a place where they have assets that have built up, that they have not been shy about using,” Blinken said. “My concern ... is that even when we get to the point where the conflict in Gaza is over, [the Houthis] may well continue, because they put themselves on the world stage.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to an Israeli television news channel this week, made clear that the Houthis in Yemen are the next front line. “We will strike them to the bitter end, until they learn,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas learned, Hezbollah learned, and Syria learned. The Houthis will learn, too.”Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump’s ongoing 51st state comments
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DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. Khalil Hamra, Associated Press In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. Matias Delacroix, Associated Press At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) Roni Rekomaa People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) Jonas Ekströmer A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros Karadjias Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros Karadjias
Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . Tetris is perfection. It is not merely one of the most important video games of all time, but, I would argue, one of the greatest works of anything of the past half-century. Considering the international scope of its influence, one could make the case for the game as the final major piece of Soviet art. It’s the embodiment of interactive artistic design. Tetris posits a simple vocabulary of seven differently shaped blocks of four units each, and an even simpler grammar: Blocks fall, one unit at a time, stacking at the bottom of the screen, and vanish if you manage to fill an entire row. From this premise springs mesmerizing displays, infinite variations of symbols in motion. Over the years, there have been hundreds of different versions of Tetris released for any device with which you can play a video game, but no matter what twists in rules or variations on gameplay they throw in, the core is unchanged from what Alexey Pajitnov devised all that time ago. This year, the Tetris Company observes the 40th anniversary of the game. In celebration, developer Digital Eclipse released Tetris Forever , a tribute game that incorporates 17 of those hundreds of versions in the third entry in its Gold Master Series , which has been testing ways to build out games as documentaries. Tetris Forever includes an interactive timeline that allows players to inspect primary documents like photos and advertising. It also includes roughly an hour and a half worth of interviews with figures like Pajitnov and his longtime friend and collaborator Henk Rogers, who was key to bringing the game to consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Tetris Forever struggles under some of the same constraints as those of a traditional linear documentary, most notably problems of access. Digital Eclipse clearly found terrific cooperation from the Tetris Company and Rogers’s studio Blue Planet Software, (previously Bullet-Proof Software), evident in the fact that the majority of Tetris versions included are courtesy of BPS. But there are also notable gaps. Despite how much time the game spends talking about the process by which Tetris came to platforms like the NES and Game Boy (both of which were crucial for its worldwide proliferation), neither version can be played here. There’s so much Tetris out there that a labyrinth of rights issues run around and between them — it’s difficult for a project like this to be even close to comprehensive. Still, within its restrictions, Tetris Forever works as a documentary game because it lets each part of that descriptor inform the another. A player has complete freedom to navigate the timeline of Tetris ’s development, spread, and evolution, and they can play variations of the game that allow them to viscerally understand interviewees’ explanations of how Tetris es work. There’s a remarkable recreation of Pajitnov’s original 1985 conception of the game, which, due to the vagaries of technological change, can only be played via emulators like this. You can then skip to, say, any of the releases of Bombliss , which is Tetris but with blocks that can blow up whole parts of the screen, or Hatris, a goofy 1990 variation in which you stack hats on different characters’ heads, which Pajitnov developed with his friend Vladimir Pokhilko. (One of the many stories sadly left out of this narrative is Pokhilko’s, who was the first to conduct psychological experiments on people playing the game, and who died in a murder-suicide in 1998.) The overarching story of Tetris is distilled into the game’s new Tetris variant, Tetris Time Warp. It plays as fully traditional Tetris, except at certain moments, it will briefly shift into an earlier version, posing the player a challenge before it returns to “the modern day.” You might be transported into a game of Bombliss with the task of detonating a large bomb, or be commanded to clear two lines in the MS-DOS version of Tetris. As this newest iteration shows, Tetris is endlessly malleable and yet always recognizably itself, the gravitational center of interactive art. Tetris Forever (2024) is available now on multiple platforms. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookReport: Liverpool make €40m offer for Barca star with 35 goals & 48 assists; Arne Slot pushing for move
NoneFox Business' Lauren Simonetti has more on the day dedicated to acts of generosity and charitable giving on 'America's Newsroom.' Black Friday is behind us, but holiday shopping season is still in full swing. Winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to 2023, according to the National Retail Federation. "That equates to between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in total holiday spending in November and December, compared with $955.6 billion during the same timeframe last year," the same source stated. In addition to having to navigate crowds, consumers can face some health challenges during the hectic retail season. 6 WAYS TO PREVENT HOLIDAY ILLNESS: ASK A DOCTOR To help ensure safety during long shopping stints, Fox News Digital asked a medical doctor for tips on shopping without dropping. 1. Eat before you go It’s never a good idea to go anywhere starving, and Christmas shopping is no exception. Experts recommend packing some healthy snacks to sustain your energy. Winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to 2023, according to the National Retail Federation. (iStock) If you don’t eat something a few hours after your last meal, energy levels and blood glucose levels could dip, according to Harvard University. "I always recommend a combination of nuts, seeds and fruit as snacks, since they are filling and healthy for everybody," Matthew Badgett, MD, a primary care physician at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. 4 HOLIDAY NUTRITION TIPS FROM DR. NICOLE SAPHIER "Also, plan to also eat a healthy meal before you hit the road." Packing healthy snacks is a better option than grabbing fast food at the food court, he said. If you plan to take a break during shopping to grab lunch or dinner, Badgett recommends planning ahead to explore eating options and possibly make a reservation. 2. Know your physical limits If you aren’t accustomed to being on your feet for extended periods of time, a long shopping trip could prove to be strenuous. Packing healthy snacks is a better option than grabbing fast food at the food court, the expert said. (iStock) "If you aren't regularly on your feet, limit how long you are walking — otherwise you could find yourself quite sore the next morning," Badgett advised. "If you normally only walk 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day, I wouldn't walk more than 10,000 steps in a day of shopping." 3. Refrain from lugging packages Carrying a few packages is OK, but lugging around several heavy packages is not advised. "Don’t carry too much weight and injure yourself," Badgett warned. "If you normally only walk 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day, I wouldn't walk more than 10,000 steps in a day of shopping." Some stores may have shopping carts to reduce the load, but if that’s not an option, it’s worth heading back to the car or even home to drop off some of the weight, he recommended. It’s recommended to stay up to date on vaccines and wear a mask if you are in a high-risk group, the doctor advised. (iStock) "Carrying too much, especially when you aren't used to it, can place a strain on the arms, shoulders, neck and back and lead to injuries ," the doctor cautioned. "Try to carry manageable weights, balanced between both arms, and take breaks and drop off stuff as needed." 4. Take proactive health measures It’s recommended to stay up to date on vaccines and wear a mask if you are in a high-risk group. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I recommend N-95 masks over surgical masks, as they are better at preventing germs from getting through," Badgett told Fox News Digital. For those who are sick, the doctor recommends staying home or wearing a mask while out in public. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Use hand sanitizer, try to social distance and wash hands as needed, experts advise. Some of the germiest spots at shopping venues include elevator buttons, handrails, escalators, public water fountains, ATMs, shopping carts, door knobs and the restroom, according to WebMD. 5. Dress appropriately Experts caution against wearing a heavy coat and accessories while shopping indoors. Overdressing is "is uncomfortable and sweaty," the doctor told Fox News Digital. He recommends dressing in layers to stay as comfortable as possible while shopping. (iStock) Overdressing is "is uncomfortable and sweaty," Badgett told Fox News Digital. He recommends dressing in layers to stay as comfortable as possible while shopping. 6. Limit the duration of shopping trips Breaking up shopping over multiple sessions may be better in terms of health outcomes , Badgett said. Not only will this allow you to maintain better stamina, but you can also take your time shopping and enjoy the experience more. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health Overdoing it is a bad idea, said Badgett, "since many of us are not used to this much carrying and walking around." Erica Lamberg is a contributing writer for Fox News Digital.
Baltimore (8-5) at New York Giants (2-11) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 16. Against the spread: Ravens 6-6-1; Giants 4-9. Series record: Ravens lead 5-3. Last meeting: Giants beat the Ravens 24-20 on Oct. 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. Last week: Ravens had a bye; Giants lost to Saints 14-11. Ravens: overall (1), rush (2), pass (5), scoring (3) Ravens defense: overall (22), rush (1), pass (32), scoring (23) Giants offense: overall (26), rush (15), pass (28), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (16), rush (29), pass (6), scoring (T14) Turnover differential: Raven plus-2; Giants minus-8. K Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his outstanding career, and the potentially windy conditions in East Rutherford could post another challenge for him. Baltimore would love to see some signs that he's rounding into form as the playoffs draw closer. QB Tommy DeVito. He is probably going to get his second start of the season with Drew Lock in a walking boot. The New Jersey product didn't do much in a 30-7 loss to Tampa Bay in his first start. He was 21 of 31 for 189 yards and no touchdowns. Playing without Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence and fellow defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches, the young line held its own against Alvin Kamara and the Saints last week, limiting the team to 92 yards rushing on 33 carries. Slowing down the league's No. 1 offense and No. 2 running game led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will be a lot tougher. Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman (knee) practiced this week, and Balticmore is generally pretty healthy following its open date. NT Michael Pierce (calf) and LB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) practiced as well. Giants: CB Deonte Banks (ribs), ILB Bobby Okereke (back), Nunez-Roches (shoulder-neck), T Chris Hubbard (knee), CB Dru Phillips (shoulder), LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) all missed last week and could be out again. ... QB Drew Lock (heel), LG Jon Runyan Jr. (ankle) and CB Tre Hawkins (back) were hurt in the game. Hawkins and S Tyler Nubin (ankle) were placed on injured reserve. Runyan is week to week. Lock is unlikely. T Evan Neal (hip-ankle), T Josh Ezeudu (knee), S Dane Belton (knee), WR Malik Nabers (hip), DL Jordon Riley (knee) are on the injury report. The Giants have won the past three games, including the most recent one in Brian Daboll's first season as coach. The Ravens won the biggest game, beating New York 34-7 in the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2001. The Ravens are coming off a bye week. ... Baltimore averages an NFL-leading 422.5 yards of offense. ... Jackson has had an NFL-best eight games of two or more touchdown passes and no interceptions. He's had no picks in 6 of 7 road games this season. ... WR Zay Flowers leads the team with 74 catches. ... Mark Andrews is tied for second among NFL tight ends with seven touchdown receptions. ... LB Roquan Smith aims for his fourth game in a row with at least 11 tackles. He is tied for fifth in the league with 121 tackles. ... LB Kyle Van Noy recovered a fumble for touchdown in his only game against the Giants. ... LB Odafe Oweh has had a sack in his past two road games. ... Nabers leads the Giants with 80 catches, 819 yards and three touchdown receptions. Fellow rookie RB Tyrone Tracy leads the team with 664 yards rushing and five TDs. ... WR Wan’Dale Robinson is second behind Nabers with 67 catches. The Giants are the only team with two players with at least 67 receptions. ... The Giants have an NFL-low eight touchdown receptions. ... Nubin led all rookies with 97 tackles before going on IR. ... Hawkins had an interception last week, the Giants' first since the season opener. ... OLB Brian Burns had a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble against the Saints. .... ILB Micah McFadden had a team-high 11 tackles, including five for losses last week. He is the fifth player in the past five seasons with five TFLs in one game. ... OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux had sack and two TFLs last week. Ravens RB Derrick Henry. He rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns in only road game against the Giants. He is tied for the NFL lead with 15 overall TDs, 13 rushing. The 30-year-old is second in the league with 1,407 yards rushing and 1,532 yards from scrimmage. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
As most countries in South-east Asia are still developing and have relatively weak economic foundations, climate finance is necessary for the region to take climate action. SINGAPORE – To the rest of the world, Pari Island may be just another of the thousands of islands that make up the vast Indonesian archipelago, some so tiny they do not have names. But non-profit Friends of the Earth Indonesia is fighting for more visibility for the plight of its 1,500 inhabitants, who are facing the loss of their homes and fishery livelihoods as sea levels rise. The island was partially inundated an unprecedented 10 times in 2023 by exceptionally high tides. Island communities in South-east Asia, like those on Pari, have long grappled with worsening climate impacts, but often find it difficult to access the funds they need to become resilient against floods and typhoons. Countries in the region also need assistance to phase out coal. The Indonesian island of Pari lies just above sea level, making it highly prone to flooding from high tides. PHOTO: ZVG But the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference COP29 could offer some hope, with developed countries agreeing to channel US$300 billion (S$402 billion) a year to developing countries by 2035. The ultimate aim is to raise US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for countries in need, through various forms of finance. But the US$300 billion core amount was criticised as woefully insufficient by climate-vulnerable countries and civil society, who expected richer countries – who were historical emitters – to commit more. It is also uncertain how the amount will be raised. While developed countries will take the lead, the COP29 decision stated that the amount will come from “a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources”. Mr Gao Xi, a research associate at the NUS Energy Studies Institute (ESI), said: “Most South-east Asian countries are coastal, making them particularly vulnerable to threats such as typhoons, floods and droughts caused by climate change. Frequent extreme weather events often result in significant financial losses and social disruptions.” In 2024 alone, the Philippines was struck by six typhoons within a span of 30 days – between October and November – killing more than 170 people, displacing more than 214,000 people and causing damage worth about 470 million pesos (S$10.8 million). While the archipelago is prone to tropical storms, such back-to-back typhoons within a month is unusual. An aerial view shows submerged homes at a village in Ilagan, Isabela province in the Philippines on Nov 18 due to continuous heavy rains from Super Typhoon Man-yi. PHOTO: AFP As most countries in South-east Asia are still developing and have relatively weak economic foundations, climate finance is necessary for the region to take climate action, added Mr Gao, with money particularly needed for clean energy generation, low-carbon transport and coastal defence. According to the International Energy Agency, Asean will need US$21 billion in investments annually from 2026 to 2030 just to upgrade its energy infrastructure. And to build resilience against climate impacts, the region needs US$422 billion until 2030. The finance outcomes from the UN conference in Azerbaijan could also benefit other developments in South-east Asia, such as the future regional power grid and carbon trading, which can also benefit Singapore. Funding the Asean power grid The funds pledged at COP29 could provide crucial support for accelerating the development of the Asean power grid. One of the region’s decades-long ambitions, the complex power interconnection will enable electricity trade across borders – for both energy security and access to greener energy. The regional ambition made progress with the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore electricity import pilot in 2022, which transmitted 100MW of hydropower from Laos to Singapore, via Malaysia and Thailand. This was later extended to include another 100MW from Malaysia’s electricity grid in October 2024, but this includes a mix of energy sources, including coal and natural gas. Singapore is also laying the groundwork for the regional grid by committing to import 5.6GW of clean electricity from Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Asean envisions a power grid by 2045, and climate finance has the potential to address the unique challenges of financing such a large-scale, multi-country initiative, said Mr Beni Suryadi, acting executive director at the Asean Centre for Energy based in Indonesia. Several key challenges make traditional financing for the Asean power grid difficult. One is cross-border investment risks, since the giant grid will involve multiple countries with different regulatory frameworks and tariffs. Another is the high upfront capital required, especially for building the grid and transmission infrastructure. The resulting long payback periods can put off traditional investors, who seek quicker returns, noted Mr Beni. Climate finance can loosen these gridlocks. These funds often come in the form of concessional loans with low interest rates, grants, or guarantees which lower the financial risks for private investors. When forms of finance like green bonds, blended finance and funding from the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank are injected into a mega-project first, the risks are lowered for private investors to participate. Blended finance refers to bringing together monies from the public sector, the multilateral development banks, philanthropies and the private sector. “This is where climate finance can step in – by bridging these gaps, mitigating risks, and enabling investments that otherwise might not materialise,” he added. As a wealthier developing country, Singapore would not be a recipient of the US$1.3 trillion, and instead would contribute voluntarily to climate finance. But the island-state would be a beneficiary, nonetheless, of the Asean power grid, which would enable it to import low-carbon and renewable electricity to reduce its carbon emissions. Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) said the Asean power grid would maximise the region’s diverse renewable energy potential by matching renewable resource-rich areas with those that need to buy clean energy. “By doing so, it can reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels, increase resilience against fluctuations in global energy markets and make progress towards our decarbonisation targets,” the NCCS spokesperson added. But while the Asean power grid is undoubtedly a worthy project, directing climate finance to it would not be straightforward, as it would be considered an electricity transmission project, said Mr Beni. Whether transmission projects are considered to be green and contribute to reducing carbon emissions is still a question to be settled. “At the moment, climate finance for transmission infrastructure projects is still nascent, while the needs are huge,” he added. The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. Singapore is laying the groundwork for the regional grid by committing to import 5.6 gigawatts of clean electricity from Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. PHOTO: REUTERS South-east Asia: Between the devil and the deep blue sea South-east Asia is in a tricky position when it comes to receiving climate finance as stipulated by COP29. On the one hand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia were, until 2019, among the 20 countries most exposed to climate risks, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, which is published by non-profit organisation Germanwatch. But South-east Asia is expected to continue its fast economic growth, accompanied by more greenhouse gas emissions, noted Dr Kim Jeong Won, a senior research fellow at ESI. This growth has reclassified many Asean nations as middle-income countries, reducing their eligibility for development financing, she added. Among the developing nations, the least developed countries and small island developing states are recognised as having the greatest need for support. Given the competition for funding, a significant gap already exists between the required investments and actual finance that the countries have received. For example, only 9.7 per cent of investments from the UN’s Green Climate Fund – the world’s largest fund of its kind – has been channelled to South-east Asia. Similarly, only 6.3 per cent of investments from the UN’s Adaptation Fund has been allocated to Asean countries, said Dr Kim. She added: “South-east Asian countries are expected to compete for limited bilateral and multilateral public funding with other low-income developing countries.” If they want to attract a greater share of private funding, it is vital that countries develop more innovative finance models and attractive climate-related projects, she noted. Ms Lau Xin Yi, sustainable finance lead for South-east Asia at the Carbon Trust consultancy, is looking at a newer type of finance tool called climate transition bonds. The proceeds from these bonds can be used for a wider range of decarbonisation projects, including those in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement and petrochemicals. Despite guidelines to prevent greenwashing, Ms Lau noted that about 90 per cent of the transition bonds issued globally has been dominated by Japan’s issuances. “Climate transition bonds can help South-east Asia unlock more capital needed for its low-carbon transition. More capital will be channelled towards clean technologies, but how transition is achieved will vary across sectors and regions,” said Ms Lau. More incentives to protect Asean forests A bright spot at COP29 was an agreement on carbon trading , achieved after nearly 10 years of negotiations. Carbon trading is governed under a segment of the Paris Agreement known as Article 6, which was finalised at COP29. This means countries can trade carbon credits in two ways – either under a UN-managed carbon programme or through bilateral agreements. Singapore is currently collaborating with more than 20 countries in carbon markets, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. With Article 6 in place, NCCS said countries that do not have their own national registry to transfer credits can also now use an international registry or receive support from the UN to create their own system. “This reduces the barriers to entry, encouraging more countries to start engaging in carbon markets cooperation, including with Singapore.” Mr Anshari Rahman, director of policy and analytics at Temasek-backed investment platform GenZero, said that carbon markets can unlock financing for deserving and untapped technology, and nature-based solutions in the region. South-east Asia, which is home to the world’s third-largest tropical forest basin after the Amazon and the Congo, would have more incentives to protect it, if it were to receive carbon credits arising from nature-based projects. South-east Asia is home to the world’s third-largest tropical forest basin after the Amazon and the Congo. PHOTO: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Mr Olivier Levallois, founder of Hamerkop Climate Impacts, said some examples are a peat swamp conservation project in Indonesia’s Tanjung Puting National Park, and a carbon forestry programme in Timor-Leste that also benefits small-scale farmers. Singapore has also mandated that carbon project developers must contribute 5 per cent of their share of proceeds from carbon credits towards the host country’s adaptation efforts. This is another way of raising climate finance. “Considering Singapore’s position as a regional carbon trading hub, it should benefit from this early-stage excitement, with more project developers getting involved and capital flowing into carbon projects,” added Mr Levallois, who is also senior director at Chooose, a Norwegian company that helps airlines with their sustainable aviation fuel and carbon programmes. Mr Anshari noted that progress on Article 6 at COP29 helped to shore up market confidence for carbon markets, which have been under scrutiny for years. Mr Levallois said the next steps are to work towards carbon projects, set up regulatory frameworks and develop carbon monitoring methods. A crucial aspect of this process is to increase demand for credits. “The market needs to have stronger demand signal, and it is unclear yet whether companies will suddenly trust these (Article 6) mechanisms and make funding available to address their climate impacts,” he added. Mr Anshari said: “We are closely tracking the development of the infrastructure and tracking systems required to operationalise Article 6 decisions, and we expect to see meaningful progress in 2025 with the first few (carbon) projects to be registered under the (UN) by COP30 in Brazil.” Paying up for climate PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ADOBE STOCK, LIM YONG At COP29, nations set an ambitious goal to channel US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to developing countries to help them reduce carbon emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change. The Straits Times breaks down the layers of finance needed to achieve this target based on insights from independent experts, who suggest raising US$1 trillion annually by 2030 as the first step. 1. Developed nations (US$80 billion to US$100 billion) 2. Multilateral development banks (US$240 billion to US$300 billion) 3. Voluntary contributors (US$30 billion to US$50 billion) 4. Innovative sources (US$140 billion to US$160 billion) 5. Private sector (US$450 billion to US$550 billion) SOURCES: INDEPENDENT HIGH-LEVEL EXPERT GROUP ON CLIMATE FINANCE, UN CLIMATE SUMMIT NEWS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowNone
Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbersThe former FBI informant who claimed he could prove that then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden were paid $5 million a piece by the owners of Ukrainian energy company Burisma now admits he made the whole thing up. Alexander Smirnov lied when he told the FBI that Hunter Biden, who sat on Burisma’s board while President Joe Biden was serving as No. 2 in the Obama White House, used his father’s political position to force the Ukrainian company into making payments to both Bidens in 2015 or 2016, he admitted in a plea deal revealed Thursday. “In truth and fact. Defendant had contact with executives from Burisma in 2017, after the end of the Obama-Biden Administration and after the then-Ukrainian Prosecutor General had been fired in February 2016 — in other words, when (Biden) could not engage in any official act to influence U.S. policy,” the plea deal reads, in part. According to the plea, which serves as an admission to guilt on a felony count of lying to investigators and three more of tax evasion, Smirnov, took issue with the Bidens in 2020 for political reasons and told his FBI handler he had knowledge of corruption, but investigators later learned he was embellishing his access to company officials and inside information. “Defendant transformed his routine and unextraordinary business contacts with Burisma in 2017 and later into bribery allegations against Public Official 1, the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties for President, after expressing bias against Public Official 1 and his candidacy,” the plea reads, in part. Smirnov’s entirely-made-up version of events served as the backbone of a year-long effort by Congressional Republicans to drum up impeachment charges to levy against President Biden over his alleged role in the bribery scheme. Ohio’s U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said Smirnov’s assertion got to the “ heart ” of the GOP’s investigation into the Bidens, while House Oversight Chair U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-KY, called it “ a very crucial piece of our investigation. ” After Smirnov was arrested in February, prosecutors revealed much of the information he was sharing with his FBI handlers was coming from the Kremlin. “Smirnov admitted that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story about Businessperson 1,” they wrote , referring to Hunter Biden. Smirnov’s exact claims were made public in June of 2023, after U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley published a redacted version of the FBI form he used to spin his lies to his handlers. Ranking House Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik told Fox News that the allegations represented “the biggest political corruption scandal, not only in my lifetime, but I would say the past 100 years.” Hunter Biden was recently pardoned by President Biden for any and all crimes he may have committed while working for Burisma and in the years that followed. ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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