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Hubris is the characteristic of demagogues and autocrats. Chaos, paralogism and the eclipsis of democracy should not become the antidote to political ethos, symmetry, logic and harmony. In the Bible’s, the Talmud’s and the Koran’s historic gaia, the oikos of the Israelis and the Palestinians, the ellipsis of anthropocentric policies and the catachresis of polemical rhetoric and practices, should not become the canon. Peace and empathy cannot be an anathema. Tragedy and catastrophe prevail in the Ukrainian polis –martyrs of Mariupol, Kyiv, Kherson, Kharkiv and many others. Episodes of despotic apophasis and the antidrome to democracy. The pandect of Russia’s pathetic polemics result from monocratic and autocratic policies. They aim at expanding the spheres of energy, emporium and echo the geopolitics aiming at the dichotomy of Europe. Peace can be elliptic, shattered or glοοmy. Yet, “true peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” This is my preferred definition proposed by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace is not the prologue or the epilogue to an armed conflict and should not be confronted to a truce or to a ceasefire. There is no genuine peace while your neighbor illegally occupies your territory or threatens you daily with the declaration of war (casus belli). Peace is based on international law and justice. Therefore, peace cannot be limited to a ceasefire agreement between the aggressor and the aggressed. Ukraine should not be compelled by Kremlin or advised tomorrow by its Euro-Atlantic friends who today help them to preserve their territorial integrity to concede territory, sovereignty or its residuals. Such an “occupy my territory for peace” agreement exclusively rewards the aggressor. Yes to pragmatism, no to unprincipled docility. If defeatism, fatigue and docility prevail only a handful of states will feel and be secure. Six points on the Western Balkans: 1. Notwithstanding gentle talk, our region will not look much different tomorrow unless a genuine sense of political accountability is developed. Politics is meant to serve, not the other way around. Change will require the eradication of unreliable and corrupted politics. Political egotism, nepotism and corruption adversely affect legitimate citizen aspirations and expectations. In some cases leaders appear to be failing their peoples, jeopardizing thus the European Union accession process. 2. An unprecedented population exodus – mostly of the young, educated, skillful and talented generation – from Western Balkan countries shows an alarming lack of confidence and trust. Those political leaders appealing to them to return back home are those who are mostly responsible and should be held accountable for this exodus, generally faced with fatalism and apathy. 3. The rule of law and independent judiciaries are needed as in much of the Western Balkans the courts are subject to political and partisan influence. In one case (Albania) a special anticorruption court was misused to persecute and sentence the elected ethnic minority mayor. 4. Today’s regional architecture is founded on a set of agreements and treaties – including the Dayton and Paris accords, the Ohrid and Prespa agreements and the arrangements between Belgrade and Pristina. Therefore, their systemic and systematic violation leads to crisis and potential instability. 5. Initiated by the June 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, the EU accession process offers the appropriate stick-and-carrot policy. Aristotle put it well in his “Nicomachean Ethics”: “Impose punishments and penalties upon malefactors and bestow honors on those doing fine actions.” Compliance to the conditionality will be rewarded. Any deviation will be reprimanded. 6. Fresh ideas and talk for new changes in borders in Southeast Europe, including territory and population swaps, will open the Pandora’s box in Europe. It will become pandemic. The bad precedent will become the prototype. It always starts from a known beginning but goes on with an unpredictable end. I am aware of arguments echoing that history recent or past and relevant agreements were unfair. This is exactly the “rationale” behind Mr Putin’s revisionist dogma and expansionism in Europe. Border arrangements, territory and population swaps may not stand and may not be recognized unless they are: a) Proposed and approved by the United Nations Security Council; b) Take the shape of a multilateral treaty and are endorsed by the means of a relevant UNSC Resolution with the formal consent of directly interested and concerned parties. Attachment to the principles and purposes enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and in the November 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, adopted in the aftermath of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, has eroded. Restoring the international collective security system has a name: the United Nations. As long as the permanent members of Security Council are reluctant or unable to act as mandated by the charter, it will be impossible to prevent threats against peace, justice and stability. The Aristotelian metron and ethics are the antidote to hubris. Alexandros P. Mallias is a former ambassador of Greece to Washington, Skopje and Tirana. The comment is based on his remarks at the relevant High-Level international conference organized by Greece’s Ministry of National Defense on November 28.
Britney Spears felt like something wasn't right in the United States. Which is why the "Baby One More Time" singer revealed on her 43rd birthday that she'd made the decision to move to Mexico in an effort to get away from the paparazzi. "It really kind of hurts my feelings," Britney shared in an Instagram video Dec. 2 , "that the paparazzi make my face look like I'm wearing, like a white Jason mask. It doesn't even look like me." The "Stronger" singer added that the paparazzi have "always been incredibly cruel to" her and that while she knows she's "not perfect at all by any means," she believes the way that they've treated her has been "extremely mean and cruel." As she explained, "And that's why I've moved to Mexico." Britney—who shares sons Sean , 19, and Jayden , 18, with ex-husband Kevin Federline —was seen landing in Cabo San Lucas on Dec. 2 in photos obtained by TMZ and appeared to be all smiles sporting a white trench coat, black hat and sunglasses. In another Instagram video shared the same day , Britney joked that she wasn't actually getting older, saying, "I'm turning 5 this year. I'm turning 5-years old, and I have to go to kindergarten tomorrow." But it wasn't just her birthday and move to Mexico that made Dec. 2 a big day for the Grammy winner, as it was also when she became a legally single woman following her split from ex-husband Sam Asghari in August 2023 . A post shared by XILA MARIA RIVER RED (@britneyspears) Although the former couple settled their divorce in May , legal documents obtained by E! News confirmed the date upon which their marital status officially ended was Dec. 2, 2024. Despite the split, Sam has looked back fondly on his time with Britney. "You learn so much from being in relationships in general," the 30-year-old told E! News in July . "I appreciate all the amazing experiences that I got." He added that his time with Britney is "something that's always going to be a part of me." "I wish her the best," he said. "She's an amazing person and a huge part of my life and I always appreciate the moments we had together." For a look back at Sam and Britney's romance, keep reading. Britney Spears met Sam Asghari on the set of her super sexy "Slumber Party" music video, which dropped in November 2016. Onscreen chemistry? Check! About five months after filming, they began dating, making joint appearances at places like NBA games and on social media. Britney wished her fans a very Merry Christmas from her cozy spot in bed next to Sam. The lovebirds rang in 2017 by each other's side, and Brit-Brit couldn't help but share this adorable snapshot in celebration of New Year's Eve. Britney and Sam are huge fans of Snapchat, especially the puppy dog filter! In March 2017, the couple supported Sam's sister as she walked in a show at Los Angeles Fashion Week. Sunny Malibu has never looked better thanks to these two! Britney celebrated her main man's birthday with a picturesque hike. The personal trainer supported Britney backstage at one of her Las Vegas shows in March 2017. The pair got close for a photo opp ahead of Britney's Sin City performance. In June 2017, Sam surprised Britney by flying to Japan for some sightseeing between concerts. Sam tagged along with Britney and her two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James Federline , as they enjoyed a day at Disneyland. "So in love with this puppy @samasghari," Britney captioned the photo. The lovebirds stepped out for a good cause at the 2018 GLAAD Media Awards . "Having the best time with my other half," Britney wrote alongside this photo of the pair in June 2018. Britney and Sam made a rare public appearance at the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premiere. "Felt like a little trip to paradise for an early birthday celebration," Britney captioned a photo of the duo flying to Hawaii amid the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020. Following the February 2021 release of "Framing Britney Spears," Sam released a personal statement : "I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves. I am thankful for all of the love and support she is receiving from her fans all over the world, and I am looking forward to a normal, amazing future together." In February 2021, a source close to the pop star offered rare insight into their shared private life. "Sam is very good to Britney and she's crazy about him," the insider told E! News . "She loves when they get to travel together and take a romantic vacation... They work out together and both are very into staying fit and taking care of their bodies. They love watching movies together and hanging out at home. But Britney also loves going out to dinner, especially for sushi." The lovebirds get attended Asghari's best friend's wedding in April 2021. Due to what a source described as "restrictions" involving the pandemic and her dad, Jamie Spears , an insider told E! News she "finally had an opportunity to get out and she took it." Ahead of his girlfriend's bombshell court testimony in June 2021, Sam shared his support for the social media movement calling for an end to her years-long conservatorship. During the June 23 conservatorship hearing, Britney testified to wanting what she described as the "real deal," marriage and a baby. According to the singer, the conservatorship prevents her from creating the future she wants. She told the judge, "I deserve to have the same rights as anybody does by having a child, a family, any of those things." As Britney continued to make positive strides in her conservatorship battle, a source close to Sam indicated a proposal was just over the horizon. "Engagement has always been in the cards for Sam and Britney, without question," the insider shared with E! News in September. "It's the direction their relationship has been heading for nearly two years now. It's always a discussion and it's not a question of if, it's when." The source explained further, "Things are evidently becoming better for Britney with her conservatorship and she's never felt this liberated in all aspects of her life. The closer she gets to freedom, the closer she is to seeing all of her dreams become an actual reality. Marrying Sam is high on that list and loving him the way she wants, how she wants, on her own terms." On Sept. 12, 2021, the music superstar announced her engagement . In a video shared to Instagram, Brit showed off her bling as Sam asked, "Look at that! Do you like it?" "Yes!" she told him. "Happy Birthday to my Fiancé ... I love you so much," Britney captioned a photo of the couple on a romantic getaway in March 2022. "... I want a family with you ... I want it all with you !!!!" On April 11, 2022 the Princess of Pop announced on Instagram that she and Sam had a baby on the way, writing, "I thought 'Geez ... what happened to my stomach ???' My husband said 'No you're food pregnant silly !!!' So I got a pregnancy test ... and uhhhhh well ... I am having a baby." The following month, Sam announced with the "deepest sadness" that they'd lost their "miracle baby early in the pregnancy." Britney and Sam tied the knot in Los Angeles on June 9, 2022. For her husband's 29th birthday, the singer shared a tribute to him on Instagram , writing, "Happy Birthday!!! I love you so much and hope you get all your birthday wishes and more!!!" Parting Ways Sam filed for divorce from Britney in August 2023. "After 6 years of love and commitment to each other my wife and I have decided to end our journey together," he wrote on Instagram Story Aug. 17. "We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always." Their divorce was finalized in May 2024 and their marital status officially ended on Dec. 2, 2024 —Britney's 43rd birthday.MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As 2024 comes to a close, new reports from Zillow 1 and Houzz 2 indicate that Cottage Chic style will be a dominant design trend of 2025. But homeowners don't need to wait until 2025 to get in on the trend, because The Tile Shop is ready to help you embrace Cottage Chic design right now with Wexbord and Coralie , the newest tiles in its exclusive collaboration with British brand Laura Ashley. "Cottage Chic design draws inspiration from the rustic charm and cozy style of the English countryside," said Kirsty Froelich, director of design, The Tile Shop. "The Laura Ashley aesthetic was built on these elements, so it's a perfect fit for our new tiles." Wexbord is based on a popular upholstery pattern launched in 1981, while Coralie is adapted from Laura Ashley's beloved wallpaper of the same name. The patterns feature floral details found in nature and evoke an organic feeling of comfort and happiness. In translating these archival designs to tile, "We modified the scale, layout and colors of these heritage prints for our customers," explained Froelich. "We made the lines feel more organic with curved touches and updated the color palettes, so they're fresh and on-trend. These tiles will work well in traditional, transitional, city cottage and modern farmhouse designs." The updated colorways—midnight blue, fresh green and dove grey—are also inspired by the English countryside. "These colors are fresh and energizing, but also soothing, and embody that feeling of a cozy cottage and being in nature," said Froelich. To get the look, Froelich suggests combining multiple colors and prints to give your space a cozy, vintage feel with lots of visual interest: "One of the hallmarks of Cottage Chic style is the mixing and layering of different elements. You can use these tiles with neutrals and let the beautiful Laura Ashley patterns be the focal point, or you can go for a more eclectic look and mix several patterns and colors." Laura Ashley is one of several exclusive collaborations between The Tile Shop and its world-class design partners, among them Nikki Chu, Alison Victoria, and Morris & Co. All pieces in the Laura Ashley tile collection are available now at tileshop.com and all Tile Shop U.S. locations . Visit tileshop.com/collection/laura-ashley to explore the complete collection. ABOUT THE TILE SHOP Tile Shop Holdings, Inc. TTSH is a leading specialty retailer of natural stone, man-made and luxury vinyl tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Tile Shop offers a wide selection of high-quality products, exclusive designs, knowledgeable staff and exceptional customer service in an extensive showroom environment. The Tile Shop currently operates 142 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The Tile Shop is a proud member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). Visit www.tileshop.com . Join The Tile Shop (#thetileshop) on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest and YouTube . ABOUT LAURA ASHLEY Established in London in 1953, Laura Ashley is one of the world's best-loved fashion and home furnishings brands. The company's iconic floral prints and designs epitomize the essence of quintessential British style. Laura Ashley offers a complete range of lifestyle products, including home furnishings, women's fashion and sleepwear, children's apparel, and hospitality experiences. In 2020, Gordon Brothers acquired the Laura Ashley brand, bringing their expertise to grow Laura Ashley's product offerings and leading licensees across the world. For additional information, visit www.lauraashleyusa.com . ABOUT GORDON BROTHERS Since 1903, Gordon Brothers ( www.gordonbrothers.com ) has helped lenders, management teams, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to provide maximum liquidity, put assets to their highest and best use and mitigate liabilities. The firm conducts more than $100 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short- and long-term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invests in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond its market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents. 1 New technology, old-world style: Zillow reveals 2025's home trends 2 Houzz 2025 U.S. Home Design Predictions report Tile Shop Media Contact: mark.davis@tileshop.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58c25097-83f5-4ce1-84b0-26b9c8813b21 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1eae46d-9135-4a70-9520-f8e0124c2198 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2b776a1c-4b0d-4e1e-bade-8775b1799add https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9747d25e-0ab0-4263-8431-60bcebdef190 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Connor Kasin took to the ice for a hockey game that was being held to raise money for a charity that helps parents cope with the loss of a child. Little did the New York teen know his parents would be in that tragic group before the night was out. The 17-year-old Massapequa High School senior “experienced a sudden medical event” on Nov. 30 and later died at a hospital. “It is heartbreaking to report that Connor did not survive. His passing is devastating to the Massapequa community, and we offer our deepest condolences to Connor’s family and friends,” a letter from his school to students said, according to cable station . We join the rest of the hockey community in mourning the passing of Connor Kasin, a New York high school hockey player. — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) Nassau police said “medics and officers responded to the Town of Oyster Bay Skating Center ...for a 17-year-old male who had lost consciousness on the ice during an intermission of a hockey game.” Police said those in attendance worked to Kasin until first responders arrived. Kasin was playing in a charity game in memory of Sabrina Navaretta of nearby Syosset, New York, who died last year in a car accident, according to the . A in Navaretta’s name raises scholarship money and helps whose children have died. The cause of Kasin’s collapse was not known as late as his Dec. 6 funeral, according to . “He was an incredible child, an incredible hockey player, and just by today, you can see how wonderful he was. It hits hard when ... you see these kids walking around in these jerseys,” Lisa Stella, a family friend, said. “He taught everyone a lot of things — how to be kind, how to be a good person,” Nicholas Stella, among the teammates wearing their hockey jerseys at the funeral, said. A New York high school hockey player has tragically died suddenly after suffering a “sudden medical event” in the middle of a game, leaving onlookers horrified. Connor Kasin was just 17 years old when he died. — TheTexasOne (@TexasRepublic71) “Connor was very close with everyone. He was a great person, and it definitely is going to take a toll on the community,” classmate Reilly Cereghino said. A priest who spoke at the funeral recalled Kasin as a positive force in the world. “We can look at this young man, Connor, at his life and say, anybody you speak to [said] he walked into a room with kindness, his smile lit up the room,” Rev. Joseph Fitzgerald said. His mother said the comments of her son’s friends were one of the few things to which she could cling in her . “I always knew he was a great kid, but it’s so great ... to hear others say it,” Mary Kasin said. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .‘Makes headline’- Postecoglopu refuses to ‘dismiss the fact’ that Tottenham fail to get their due credit
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TORONTO — Canada's main stock index moved lower Monday, led by losses in technology and utilities stocks, while U.S. stock markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 66.38 points at 25,625.42. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 240.59 points at 44,401.93. The S&P 500 index was down 37.42 points at 6,052.85, while the Nasdaq composite was down 123.08 points at 19,736.69. “It started pretty positive in the morning. It's just been slowly, slowly grinding down ever since,” said Michael Currie, senior investment adviser at TD Wealth. Some of the market direction Monday was driven by two separate news stories out of China, he said. “The (Chinese) central bank says they're starting to buy gold again, and they're looking to loosen their monetary policy a bit. So that helped oil a lot, helped gold a lot,” said Currie. China also said it’s investigating semiconductor giant Nvidia over suspected violations of anti-monopoly laws, which sent the company’s stock lower. Nvidia’s share price was down 2.6 per cent Monday at US$138.81. Otherwise, “it’s all about interest rates today,” said Currie. In the U.S., investors are awaiting the latest update on inflation later in the week. However, given that the slowing job market is more of a concern for the U.S. Federal Reserve at this point, the data is unlikely to change what investors currently expect from the Fed next week, said Currie: a quarter-percentage-point cut. “Unless there's something really crazy out of the inflation numbers, there’s no reason to expect anything different is going to happen next week,” he said. In Canada, where the central bank is gearing up for a rate decision Wednesday, a larger half-point cut is more likely, he said. Expectations for a bigger cut rose after last week’s jobs report, which saw the unemployment rate jump to 6.8 per cent in November. “The more we're cutting rates, especially the accelerated rate compared to the States, the more that just keeps beating up our dollar,” said Currie. He expects more buzz in the coming months about the divergence between interest rates in Canada and the U.S. as the loonie continues to weaken. “We're seeing it already, and as the gap gets bigger, it'll become more of a story.” However, Currie noted the TSX briefly touched an all-time high earlier in the day. “Basically since the US election, it's just been a non-stop rally,” he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.77 cents US compared with 70.74 cents US on Friday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.17 at US$68.37 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up 11 cents at US$3.18 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$26.20 at US$2,685.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was up eight cents at US$4.28 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press
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By Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.TTM Technologies, Inc. To Exhibit at the 2024 International Electronics Circuit Exhibition in Shenzhen, China
The Darnold-Jefferson connection is thriving for the surging VikingsMinisters warned of cuts as ‘every pound’ of spending to face reviewBy Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Former Syrian political prisoners have recalled the horrors of being detained and tortured under Assad's regime and expressed happiness over the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad dynasty in Syria. Omar Alshogre, a human rights advocate who was detained and tortured for three years in Assad's notorious Sednaya prison , told the ABC's The World program that there is unprecedented joy in his home country. "This family has been in power for 50 years. They have tortured, they have starved, they have killed and displaced millions of Syrians. There is nothing that could bring a Syrian more joy than the fall of this family." Mr Alshogre, who is now living in Sweden, told The World about the "miserable" conditions he and other prisoners experienced in Syria. "Under torture, they force you to give false confessions and torture includes things like pulling out your fingernails and hanging from the ceiling ... Under torture, you were not allowed to scream. "Imagine the guard coming in to your room of 35 prisoners and telling you you have to choose a few to be executed tomorrow ... We have to choose who of us is going to be executed." 'They break your soul' Former Syrian prisoner and co-founder of the Ta'afi Initiative Ahmad Helmi said the downfall of Assad's regime is a liberating and historic moment. "I can't express enough how happy I am at the moment. The mere fact that Human Rights Watch and some other UN entities are going to Syria tomorrow, after 14 years of being blocked from being the watchdog on the violations during the the reign of the Assad regime, is fantastic." Mr Helmi, who now lives in the Netherlands, was detained for three years in nine different prisons in Syria. He told The World that the torture he experienced while imprisoned was designed to be soul-destroying. "They try to break your soul. They use torture, sexual violence and all kind of psychological violence and torture to break your soul, to break who you are. "I am free and I'm released, but it makes a scar in your soul — just the mere fact that you were tortured by another human being ... only today that scar is starting to heal." Mr Helmi said while he has some "concerns" about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that spearheaded the offensive to oust the regime, he is optimistic about Syria's next chapter. "If the new government or the new leaders commit the same crimes and do not respect human rights, we will break them down," Mr Helmi said. "We will keep a close eye on them." 'The road to justice is shorter than ever before' Former Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad and his family have reportedly fled to Russia. Mr Alshogre told The World he is hopeful that the former leader will face justice for his regime marked by decades of fear, surveillance, and murder. "The road to justice is shorter than ever before. Even though [Assad] is in Russia, I think at some point we'll be able to grab a hold of him and bring him to justice," he said. Mr Alshogre said he is hopeful of democracy being restored to Syria. "Regardless of what group came and won this war, what the Syrians are heading for is an election. That's what we want. That's what we're going to fight for. "I think there's a lot of potential for Syria, a lot of hope. And as long as the Syrians are working hard to make sure democracy is achieved, we will have it." Mr Alshogre said he is looking forward to returning home to Syria and reuniting with loved ones. "I love my hometown. I miss my grandma ... I'm very excited for the day to be able to return to my home, to the house where I grew up. Even though it's burned, we will rebuild it. So I will definitely return."Middle East latest: Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital wound 3, Netanyahu vows 'iron fist' in LebanonIsraeli drone strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital on Tuesday, wounding three medical staff at one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza , the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In Lebanon, a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has held despite Israeli forces carrying out several new drone and artillery strikes on Tuesday, killing a shepherd in the country's south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed keep striking “with an iron fist” against perceived Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire. Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel last year in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,500 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here's the Latest: US forces in eastern Syria conduct a self-defense strike, Pentagon says WASHINGTON — U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike Tuesday in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Euphrates, a U.S. base in eastern Syria, against three truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and mortars that Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said presented “a clear and imminent threat” to U.S. troops. The self-defense strike occurred after rockets and mortars were fired that landed in the vicinity of the base, Ryder said. The Pentagon is still assessing who was responsible for the attacks — that there are both Iranian-backed militias and Syrian military forces that operate in the area. Ryder said the attack was not connected to the offensive that is ongoing in Aleppo, where Syrian jihadi-led rebels taken over the country’s largest city. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. Israeli drone strikes hit a hospital in northern Gaza, wounding 3 medical staff CAIRO — Israeli drone strikes hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday, wounding three medical personnel, the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital, located in the town of Beit Lahiya. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In comments released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, Abu Safiya said one of the injured was in critical condition and was undergoing a complex surgery. “The situation has become extremely dangerous,” he said. “We are exhausted by the ongoing violence and atrocities.” Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months as Israeli forces have waged a fierce offensive in the area, saying they are rooting out Hamas militants who regrouped there. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. Abu Safiya was wounded in his thigh and back by an Israeli drone strike on the hospital last month. Israeli court orders Netanyahu to take the stand in his long-running corruption trial TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court has ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the stand next week in his long-running corruption trial, ending a long series of delays. Netanyahu’s lawyers had filed multiple requests to put off the testimony, arguing first that the war in Gaza prevented him from properly preparing for his testimony, and later that his security could not be guaranteed in the court chamber. In Tuesday’s decision, judges in the Jerusalem district court said that following a security assessment, his testimony will be moved to the Tel Aviv district court. Israeli media said the session would take place in an underground chamber. His testimony in the trial, which began in 2020, is expected to begin on Dec. 10 and to last at least several weeks. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. Lebanese civilians who came back to war-damaged towns are skeptical that Israel will abide by the ceasefire NABATIYEH, Lebanon — In destroyed areas of southern Lebanon, residents clearing away rubble on Tuesday said they didn’t trust Israel to abide by the week-old ceasefire with Hezbollah. “The Israelis are breaching the ceasefire whenever they can because they are not committed,” said Hussein Badreddin, a vegetable seller in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, which was pummeled by Israeli airstrikes over several weeks. “This means that they (can) breach any resolution at any time.” Since it began last Wednesday, the U.S.- and French-brokered 60-day ceasefire has been rattled by near daily Israeli strikes, although Israel has been vague about the purported Hezbollah violations that prompted them. Imad Yassin, a trader who owns a clothing shop in Nabatiyeh, said Israel was constantly breaching the ceasefire because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the displacement of residents of southern Lebanon. “The Israeli enemy was defeated and the truth is that he is trying to get revenge. Netanyahu is trying to displace us as citizens of southern Lebanon,” Yassin said. They spoke as bulldozers cleared streets strewn with rubble and debris from destroyed buildings. Electricians worked to fix power lines in an effort to restore electricity to the city. Both men were displaced by the war and returned to Nabatiyeh on Wednesday, the day the ceasefire went into effect. Yassin found his clothing shop had been destroyed. He said he would wait to see if the state will dispense compensation funds so that he can repair and reopen his business. Israeli strikes kill at least 9 people in Gaza City GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two separate Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in Gaza City on Tuesday, Palestinian medical authorities said. Six people, including two children, who were killed when an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people Tuesday afternoon in the Zaytoun neighborhood, according to the Health Ministry’s emergency services. A second strike hit a residential building in the Sabra neighborhood, killing at least three people, the services said. Israeli forces have almost completely isolated northernmost Gaza since early October, saying they’re fighting regrouped Hamas militants there. That has pushed some families south to Gaza City, while hundreds of thousands more live in the territory's center and south in squalid tent camps, where they rely on international aid. Israel says it killed a Hezbollah representative to the Syrian military JERUSALEM — Israel's military confirmed it killed a senior member of Hezbollah responsible for coordinating with Syria's army on rearming and resupplying the Lebanese militant group. Syrian state media said a drone strike on Tuesday hit a car in a suburb of the capital Damascus, killing one person, without saying who was killed. Israel's military said he was Salman Nemer Jomaa, describing him as “Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military,” and that killing him “degrades both Hezbollah’s presence in Syria and Hezbollah’s ongoing force-building efforts.” Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges its actions in Syria, but it has said that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups. Iran supports both Hezbollah and the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad, which is currently fighting to push back jihadi-led insurgents who seized the country’s largest city of Aleppo . Israeli soldiers open fire inside a West Bank hospital while searching for militants' bodies, doctor says TUBAS, West Bank — Israeli soldiers opened fire inside a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to seize the bodies of alleged militants targeted in earlier airstrikes, a Palestinian doctor working at the hospital told The Associated Press. Soldiers entered the Turkish Hospital complex in Tubas after the bodies of two Palestinians killed and one wounded in airstrikes in the northern West Bank on Tuesday were brought there, said Dr. Mahmoud Ghanam, who works in the hospital’s emergency department. The troops briefly handcuffed and arrested Ghanam and another doctor. “The army entered in a brutal way, and they were shooting inside the emergency department,” said Ghanam. “They handcuffed us and took me and my colleague.” The military confirmed that its troops were operating around the hospital searching for those targeted in the airstrikes, which they said had hit a militant cell near the Palestinian town of Al-Aqaba in the Jordan Valley. It denied that troops had entered the hospital building or fired gunshots inside. The soldiers left after learning that the wounded man had been transferred to another hospital, Ghanam said. The soldiers wanted to take the bodies of the two men killed in the strike, but the hospital’s manager refused to hand over the bodies, Ghanam said. Israeli raids on hospitals in the West Bank are rare but have grown more common since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In Gaza, Israeli troops have systematically besieged, raided and damaged many hospitals. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis — attacks which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for an independent state. Hamas and Fatah are near an agreement on who will oversee postwar Gaza CAIRO — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war . It would effectively end Hamas’ rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel. The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007. Israel has meanwhile ruled out any postwar role in Gaza for either Hamas or Fatah, which dominates the Western-backed Palestinian Authority . A Palestinian Authority official on Tuesday confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached following weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The official said the committee would have 12-15 members, most of them from Gaza. It would report to the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and work with local and international parties to facilitate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. A Hamas official said that Hamas and Fatah had agreed on the general terms but were still negotiating over some details and the individuals who would serve on the committee. The official said an agreement would be announced after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, without providing a timeline. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media on the talks. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and scores of hostages are returned. He says Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza , with civilian affairs administered by local Palestinians unaffiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. No Palestinians have publicly volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with the Israeli military. The United States has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood. The Israeli government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed. Palestinians get food aid in central Gaza, some for the first time in months NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip — Palestinians lined up for bags of flour distributed by the U.N. in central Gaza on Tuesday morning, some of them for the first time in months amid a drop in food aid entering the territory. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, gave out one 25-kilogram flour bag (55 pounds) to each family of 10 at a warehouse in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as well as further south in the city of Khan Younis. Jalal al-Shaer, among the dozens receiving flour at the Nuseirat warehouse, said the bag would last his family of 12 for only two or three days. “The situation for us is very difficult,” said another man in line, Hammad Moawad. “There is no flour, there is no food, prices are high ... We eat bread crumbs.” He said his family hadn’t received a flour allotment in five or six months. COGAT, the Israeli army body in charge of humanitarian affairs, said it facilitated entry of a shipment of 600 tons of flour on Sunday for the World Food Program. Still, the amount of aid Israel has allowed into Gaza since the beginning of October has been at nearly the lowest levels of the 15-month-old war. UNRWA’s senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge told The Associated Press that the flour bags being distributed Tuesday were not enough. “People are getting one bag of flour between an entire family and there is no certainty when they’ll receive the next food,” she said. Wateridge added that UNRWA has been struggling like other humanitarian agencies to provide much needed supplies across the Gaza Strip. The agency this week announced it was stopping delivering aid entering through the main crossing from Israel, Kerem Shalom, because its convoys were being robbed by gangs. UNRWA has blamed Israel in large part for the spread of lawlessness in Gaza. The International Criminal Court is seeking to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over accusations of using “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel rejects the allegations and says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid. Netanyahu vows an ‘iron fist’ against Hezbollah if they break the ceasefire, and thanks Trump for tough talk on Gaza hostages JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war isn't over against Hezbollah and vowed to use "an iron fist" against the Lebanese militant group for any perceived violations of a week-old ceasefire. “At the moment we are in a ceasefire, I note — a ceasefire, not the end of the war," Netanyahu said at the start of the government meeting Tuesday. He said the military would retaliate for “any violation — minor or major.” Netanyahu also thanked U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his recent demands for Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. Trump posted on social media Monday that if the hostages are not freed before he takes office in January there would be “HELL TO PAY.” Netanyahu convened Tuesday's meeting in northern Israel, where around 45,000 Israelis had been displaced by the war as of last week, according to the prime minister’s office. Netanyahu said the government was focused on getting them back in their homes and rehabilitating the area. Germany arrests a Lebanese man accused of being a member of Hezbollah BERLIN — German authorities have arrested a Lebanese man accused of being a member of Hezbollah and working for groups controlled by the militant organization in Germany. Federal prosecutors said the suspect, identified only as Fadel R. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in the Hannover region on Tuesday. The man is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and is not accused of direct involvement in any violence. Prosecutors said he joined Hezbollah in the summer of 2008 or earlier and took part in leadership training courses in Lebanon. From 2009, he allegedly had leadership duties in two groups controlled by Hezbollah in the Hannover area, organizing appearances by preachers close to the militants. According to prosecutors, he was briefly a correspondent for a Hezbollah media outlet in 2017 and was tasked with coordinating building work at a mosque. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel. It is also home to a Lebanese immigrant community of more than 100,000. Lebanese army launches recruitment drive to bolster presence in the south BEIRUT — The Lebanese army is looking for more recruits as it beefs up its presence in southern Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Lebanon’s army is a respected national institution that kept to the sidelines during the nearly 14-month conflict. During an initial 60-day truce, thousands of Lebanese troops are supposed to deploy in southern Lebanon, where U.N. peacekeepers also have a presence. Hezbollah militants are to pull back from areas near the border as Israel withdraws its ground forces. The army said those interested in joining up have a one-month period to apply, starting Tuesday. The Lebanese army has about 80,000 troops, with around 5,000 of them deployed in the south. Drone strike hits car in Damascus, Syrian news agency says DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s state news agency says a drone strike hit a car in a suburb of the capital, Damascus, killing one person. The agency did not give further details or say who was killed. It said the attack occurred Tuesday on the road leading to the Damascus International Airport south of the city. The area is known to be home to members of Iran-backed militant groups. Israel is believed to have carried out a number of strikes in the area in recent months as it has battled Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge such strikes. Israel warns the Lebanese state over ceasefire JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister warned that if the shaky ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, Israel will widen its strikes and target the Lebanese state itself. He spoke the day after Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes that killed nearly a dozen people. Those strikes came after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles as a warning over what it said were previous Israeli violations. Speaking to troops on the northern border Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said any violations of the agreement would be met with “a maximum response and zero tolerance.” He said if the war resumes, Israel will widen its strikes beyond the areas where Hezbollah’s activities are concentrated, and “there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.” During the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which came to an end last week with a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France, Israel largely refrained from striking critical infrastructure or the Lebanese armed forces, who kept to the sidelines . When Israeli strikes killed or wounded Lebanese soldiers, the Israeli military said it was accidental . The ceasefire agreement that took effect last week gives 60 days for Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and for Hezbollah militants to relocate north of the Litani River. The buffer zone is to be patrolled by Lebanese armed forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Israel has carried out multiple strikes in recent days in response to what it says are violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days by launching airstrikes, demolishing homes near the border and violating Lebanon’s airspace. Berri, a Hezbollah ally, had helped mediate the ceasefire. Israeli airstrike in northern West Bank kills two Palestinians JERUSALEM — Palestinian officials say an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank has killed two Palestinians. Israel’s military said it struck a militant cell near the town of Al-Aqaba, in the Jordan Valley. It did not immediately give more details. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the two deaths and said a third person was moderately wounded. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis, which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for an independent state. Iran's ambassador to Lebanon reappears after pager attack BEIRUT — Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon made his first public appearance in Beirut since he was wounded in an attack involving exploding pagers in mid-September. Mojtaba Amani, who returned to Lebanon over the weekend after undergoing treatment in Iran, visited on Tuesday the scene south of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27. Speaking about the airstrike that destroyed six buildings and killed Nasrallah and others, Amani said Israel should get for its act “the highest medal for sabotage, terrorism, blood and killing civilians.” Amani suffered serious injuries in his face and hands when a pager he was holding exploded in mid-September. The device was one of about 3,000 pagers that exploded simultaneously, killing and wounding many Hezbollah members. A day after the pager attack, a similar attack struck walkie-talkies. In total, the explosions killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 3,000, many of them civilians. Last month, a spokesperson for the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pager attack was approved by Netanyahu.
President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, faces scrutiny over his plans to overhaul the agency. "We are on a mission to annihilate the deep state," Patel said. Patel, a Trump ally, has criticized the FBI and pledged to shut down its headquarters in Washington on his first day. "And I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals, go be cops," Patel said. Patel also plans to target media members and federal employees who leak information to reporters, separate the bureau's intelligence assets, and institute major surveillance reforms. "If you're hostile to the agency you're going to head, that can cause a lot of concerns for the people who work there, and also for the people who have to approve you in the Senate," said Todd Belt, of George Washington University. Some worry Patel could use the FBI to serve Trump's political interests. "Kash Patel is the danger because he's unqualified and because he is out for revenge on behalf of Donald Trump," said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y. Others believe Patel is the right person for the job. "There's a lot of good people in the FBI but it needs to be overhauled just like the military. I think Kash Patel would be very good at it," said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Analysts suggest Patel may face an easier confirmation due to other controversial nominees. "Republicans will probably not want to deny the president his administration for more than one nominee," Belt said. Current FBI Director Christopher Wray has three years left on his term. He must either resign or be fired after Trump takes office for Patel to assume the role.
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?GM is pulling the plug on its robotaxi effortsALTOONA, Pa. — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted while being led into court Tuesday as new details emerged about his possible motivation behind the ambush. In his first public words since a five-day search ended with his arrest at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car shouting about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside a courthouse. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York to face a murder charge in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione carried a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to increase while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. In social media posts, Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski — who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology — a “political revolutionary,” according to the bulletin. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors began to take steps to bring Mangione to New York, but at a brief hearing Tuesday, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said his client will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released. “You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” Dickey said afterward. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of New York City, after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. An image of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. New York police officials said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. A law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said a handwritten document found with Mangione included a line in which he claimed to have acted alone. “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,” the document said, according to the official. It also said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus. Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege. His grandfather was a real estate developer and philanthropist. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Mangione Mangione Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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