30 jili slot game WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland announced Monday that he will run to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee next year, directly challenging fellow Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler as the party prepares to fight a second Trump administration and an emboldened Republican majority. "House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy," Raskin wrote in a letter to colleagues. “That is our historic assignment now. We dare not fail.” Raskin said in the letter — obtained by The Associated Press — that he decided to run for the post after spending the week consulting with House Democrats and “engaging in serious introspection” about where the party is following their stunning electoral defeat last month that handed Republicans control of Congress and the White House. While currently the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Raskin said that come next year, the Judiciary Committee under his leadership would become "the headquarters of Congressional opposition to authoritarianism" as well as other efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to thwart the Constitution. Being the face of the resistance against Trump is not new territory for Raskin who spent the last two years on Oversight as the most vocal defender of President Joe Biden and his family as they faced a sprawling Republican investigation — encouraged by Trump — into their various business affairs. Raskin, who is a former constitutional law professor, also helped draft articles of impeachment against the incoming president for his encouragement of the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021, and led the impeachment prosecution in the Senate. But by throwing his hat in the ring, Raskin is inviting what a bitter intra-party fight with Nadler, who is currently serving his 17th term in Congress and who has held the top spot on Judiciary since 2019. Democrats have over the years rarely broken from the seniority system for committee assignments, no matter how long someone has held a position, making the outcome of the race uncertain. Both men did not respond to requests for comment but Raskin closed his letter by praising Nadler, saying that he made this decision “with respect and boundless admiration” for him. “If I’m lucky enough to be chosen for this responsibility in the 119th Congress, I will turn to Jerry first and throughout for his always wise counsel and political judgment,” Raskin added.Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

Israeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. The United Nations reported heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Four Italian peacekeepers were lightly wounded when a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, hit their base, the U.N. said. A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict. More than 3,640 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,350 wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation and ground invasion, the Health Ministry said Friday. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of the territory, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, the hospital director said Friday. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: Israeli airstrikes kill a hospital director and 5 paramedics in Lebanon BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed the director of a university hospital and six others at his home in northeastern Lebanon, state media said. The strike targeted Dr. Ali Allam’s house near Dar Al-Amal Hospital, the largest health center in Baalbek-Hermel province, which has provided vital health services amid Israel's campaign of airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. State-run media reported that the strike came without warning. The ministry described his death as a “great loss,” and provincial governor Bachir Khodr said in a post on X that, “Mr. Allam was one of the best citizens of Baalbek.” In two separate episodes on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five paramedics with Hezbollah's medical arm, the Health Ministry said, describing it as “war crime.” The militant group provides extensive social services, including running schools and health clinics. In a report published Friday, the World Health Organization said nearly half of all attacks on health care in Lebanon since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in fatalities. “This is a higher percentage than in any active conflict today across the globe,” WHO said. In Lebanon, 226 health workers and patients were killed and 199 were injured between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 18, 2024, the report said. The Health Ministry said Friday that 3,645 people have been killed in nearly 14 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, while 15,356 were wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The death count includes 692 women and 231 children. Israeli strike on besieged hospital in northern Gaza wounds 6 medics DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, its director said Friday. Hossam Abu Safiya said the strikes before dawn Friday hit the entrance of the emergency unit as well as in the hospital courtyard. He said two members of the nursing staff suffered critical injuries. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Abu Safiya said the strikes caused damage to the functioning of the generator and disrupted oxygen supplies. The hospital is currently treating 85 wounded, 14 children in the pediatric ward and four newborns in the neonatal unit, he said. During the past month, Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit several times, was put under siege and was raided by Israeli troops, who are waging a heavy offensive in the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp and towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military says it detained Hamas fighters hiding in the hospital, a claim its staff denies. UN offers details on rocket fire that wounded 4 Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon UNITED NATIONS – Two rockets hit a headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, the United Nations says. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah militants or by affiliated groups Friday, impacting a bunker and a logistics area in the southwest headquarters at Chamaa. One of the structures that was hit caught fire, and the blaze was swiftly put out by U.N. staff, he said. According to Italy’s Defense Ministry, some glass shattered due to the explosion, hitting the four soldiers. Dujarric said the four injured peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the medical facility of the mission, known as UNIFIL. “Thankfully, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” he said. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL base “intolerable.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace, and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Dujarric said Friday’s attack was the third on Chamaa in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Chamaa and Naqoura areas in recent days. UNIFIL’s main headquarters is in Naqoura. Friday’s attack follows a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base east of the village of Ramyah on Tuesday that injured four peacekeepers from Ghana. Dujarric said UNIFIL strongly urges Hezbollah and its affiliates and Israel to avoid fighting near its positions, which are supposed to be protected. “We remind all parties that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law” and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, he said. Israeli airstrikes pound southern Beirut and Tyre BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, after the Israeli army issued several evacuation warnings saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites. The strikes in Beirut came dangerously close to central Beirut and Christian neighborhoods. One strike hit a building housing a gym and medical and beauty clinics, located just meters (yards) from a Lebanese army base. “What is there in the building to target? This attack they carried out on us in this building is a criminal and vile act,” resident Hassan Najdi told The Associated Press. “Because if their intention is targeting Hezbollah, this building has nothing to do with Hezbollah.” Najdi said he purchased an apartment in the building last year but had not yet moved in. He allowed a displaced family to move in and urgently asked them to evacuate after receiving the Israeli warning. The blasts sent plumes of smoke into the air and shattered glass in the vicinity. No casualties have been reported, but the strikes caused damage to nearby infrastructure and a key road connecting central Beirut to its southern suburbs. “We remain steadfast,” said Ali Daher, an employee at a mall facing the targeted building. “Everything that is lost can be replaced, and whatever is destroyed can be rebuilt in (no time).” In Tyre city, the Israeli military conducted multiple airstrikes after a series of warnings, claiming the targets belonged to Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, accusing it of firing projectiles into Israel. The Israeli military carried out other airstrikes across Lebanon, many without warnings, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in villages along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. Italy plans to discuss Netanyahu arrest warrants with G7 ministers ROME — Italy said Friday it plans to discuss the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over the Israel-Hamas war when it hosts Group of Seven foreign ministers next week. Premier Giorgia Meloni insisted that one point remained clear for Italy: “There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas.” Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Meloni’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement Friday, Meloni said Italy would study the reasonings behind the decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy respects the ICC and supports it. “But at the same time we are also convinced that the court must have a judicial role, and should not take up a political role.” Tajani will host G7 foreign ministers Monday and Tuesday outside Rome for the final meeting of the Italian G7 presidency. “As far as decisions are concerned, we will take them together with our allies,” Tajani said. During the G7 meetings, “we will talk about this with my allies there, and we will see what to do next.” Another member of the governing coalition, the outspoken Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was more defiant in supporting Israel. “If Netanyahu comes to Italy he will be welcomed,” Salvini was quoted by Italian media as saying. This item has been updated to correct that Salvini spoke of a potential Netanyahu visit to Italy, not Israel. 4 Italian soldiers injured after UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon was hit ROME — Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the United Nations' peacekeeping mission base on Friday in Chamaa in southern Lebanon, Italy's defense ministry said. Initial information suggested that two rockets hit a bunker and a room of the mission base, damaging the surrounding infrastructure, the ministry said. Shattered glass hit the four soldiers. The incident was the latest in which UN peacekeeping posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called Friday's attack “intolerable.” He said he will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister to ask him “to avoid using the UNIFIL bases as a shield.” Crosetto said the conditions of the four Italian soldiers “did not cause concern.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she learned about the new attack with “deep indignation and concern.” Meloni reiterated that “such attacks are unacceptable,” renewing her appeal for the parties on the ground “to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible.” Almost half of attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly, WHO says GENEVA — The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world. The U.N. health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more. WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat. Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah militants in the country two months ago. The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday. Israeli defense minister says he will end detention without charge of Jewish settlers JERUSALEM — Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory. Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways. The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial. Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7. Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.” Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common. An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. “All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell. German official suggests Germany would be reluctant to arrest Netanyahu on ICC warrant BERLIN — A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement Friday that it is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters, but “at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel.” The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that “we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps.” It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were “foreseeable.” Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It’s hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis.” Kremlin calls ICC warrant decision ‘insignificant’ for Russia Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are “insignificant” for Russia, which doesn’t recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow’s eyes they’re “null and void.” Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: “Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That’s the first thing. And secondly, we don’t see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant.” Crowds in Gaza are desperate for bread amid food shortages and huge price hikes DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. “I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread ... I have children to feed,” said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to $16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs $4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly $14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. “The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. “It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food.” UN monitoring heavy clashes in south Lebanon locations BEIRUT — Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of U.N. peacekeepers. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring “heavy clashes” in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL’s headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon’s southern edge close to the border with Israel. “We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: “Yes for the moment.” Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded.New Delhi, December 30: The share of Ola Electric fell around 3 per cent on Monday after some fresh high-level exits at the company, including its Chief Marketing Officer Anshul Khandelwal and Suvonil Chatterjee, Chief Technology and Product Officer. On Monday, the share was trading less than Rs 86 apiece, after falling nearly 3 per cent. Khandelwal and Chatterjee stepped down from their roles at the company, effective December 27, citing personal reasons. Both executives initially joined Ola's ride-hailing business before transitioning to Ola Electric Mobility. Ola Electric Sees 2 High-Level Resignations, CMO Anshul Khandelwal and CTO Suvonil Chatterjee Resign Citing 'Personal Reasons'. Several top executives of the company have tendered their resignations this year as the company faces mounting pressure. N Balachandar, Group Chief People Officer, left the EV company in November after overseeing HR for Ola Electric, Ola Cabs, and Krutrim AI. In October this year, Ravi Jain, Business Head of Krutrim AI, and Sidharth Shakdher, CBO of Ola Mobility, left the company. After a blockbuster sales figure in October due to the festive season, Ola Electric vehicle registrations dropped by 33 per cent in November. According to Vahan portal data, the number of registrations of Ola Electric vehicles in November fell by 33 per cent on a month-on-month (MoM) basis to 27,746 units. In October last year, this figure was more than 40,000 units. Xiaomi SU7 Surpasses Annual Delivery Target of 1,00,000 Units and Company Sells Around Total 1,30,000 Electric Sedans: CEO Lei June. Due to fewer registrations, the company's market share dipped to 24 per cent in November, which was 30 per cent in October. However, the company still maintains the first position in the electric two-wheeler market by sales. Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric has seen volatility in sales in recent months. The reasons for this were attributed to increasing competition in the market and poor service and product quality. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 11:05 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, went head-to-head with a former governor of Rivers State, and his estranged benefactor, Dr. Peter Odili, saying he brought Odili back to life, after his retirement into oblivion. Wike, the immediate past governor of the state, warned that as an elder statesman, Odili should not be a trader and sycophant all the time. He said he had shown immense respect to Odili all along, including refusing to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo to commission projects in the state when he was governor, just to avoid embarrassing Odili. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike dropped the firestorm on Sunday, at a Special Thanksgiving Service organised by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt. The no-holds-barred riposte on Odili was in response to the latter’s praises for Governor Siminalayi Fubara for stopping Wike from converting Rivers State to his private fiefdom. The FCT minister said it was unfortunate for Odili, who was supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father, to reduce himself to a sycophant and trader. He stated, “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for? You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night, and told me what someone said in the social media. “I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said. What did he say? He said the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a Chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, his other daughter is a judge and he is the general overseer. “Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son, that was recommended for commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?” The FCT minister said it was painful that Odili, out of political sycophancy, forgot all that he had said in the past. He stated that when he was governor, the same Odili had praised him to high heaven, and said all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than him (Wike). According to Wike, “In 2007 after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the state because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about PAMO University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called PAMO University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5 million. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, ‘come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love.’ He was taking them round the house. “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock? People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talks like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed.” Wike asked what could be learned from such a sycophantic elder statesman. “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him? This moment you are saying something; the next moment you are saying something else,” he stated. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” The minister also weighed in on the River State governorship issue, saying, “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? “Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. “We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all these sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he will not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it will humiliate him.” Olawale Ajimotokan Follow us on:

The man who ended Nadal's career helps the Netherlands beat Germany to reach the Davis Cup finalVijay pens emotional letter to students over Anna University sexual assault incident

THE United States government has been accused of leading the public astray as the New Jersey drone mystery continues to leave people dumbfounded. Worried Americans are still searching for answers after the number of unusual sightings in the sky increased in several states, most notably New Jersey. Officials claim people could be seeing civilian aircraft, government, military, or drones used by any of the one million registered users in the US. MOUNTING FEARS The Pentagon has stressed that they are not dangerous while suggesting there is no evidence to suggest the drones belong to another country . However, NJ officials are demanding answers , and confusion is deepening as public trust in the government agencies tasked with solving the mystery continues to erode. State Senator Jon Bramnick wants the Department of Defense to “come clean" and tell everyone what's happening. Read more on drone mystery World-renowned UFO expert Nick Pope has been following the developments closely and has little faith in blundering officials keeping the nation up to speed. The House Intelligence Committee held a classified, closed briefing on Tuesday, which was another alarming development for Pope. "One question people should be asking is this: given that this week's official statement said the sightings were caused by people misidentifying ordinary drones, aircraft, helicopters, and stars, why was the House Intelligence Committee briefing classified?" he told The U.S. Sun. MASSIVE ISSUES Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been urged to use special drone technology to investigate the crisis. Most read in The US Sun Pope, however, has serious reservations about Mayorkas. "While I don't want to make this a party political issue, there's no getting away from the fact that one of the people assuring us there's no threat is Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who's been responsible for the chaos at the Southern border for the last few years," he continued. "This hardly inspires confidence." Pope says the "near-hysteria" about the bizarre influx of drones, which has seen speculation "reach fever pitch" - he believes rumors that the US government is using the drones to search for a missing nuclear device are way off the mark - has exploded because of its proximity to three overlapping communities. UFO, drone, and conspiracy theory fanatics have driven massive interest in the story, which has gained worldwide attention. "This straddles all those subjects," Pope continued. "It's a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts." "The problem is that government statements on this are contradictory: on the one hand, they say there's no danger to the public, while on the other, they say they don't know what these things are. "Then they dismiss rational theories, such as the idea that some drones could belong to a foreign adversary, with little more than a statement that there's no evidence to support the claim. "As the saying goes, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and such a potential threat to the US shouldn't be dismissed so quickly. " Read More on The US Sun The idea that aliens, however, are behind the issue is far off the mark, according to Pope. "Whatever's going on here," he said. "It's more likely terrestrial than extraterrestrial; more likely Russian than Martian."

“We meet in the name of Osiris.” With these words, solemnly intoned, members of the MIT Osiris Society began their clandestine meetings for nearly 70 years. Created in 1903 as a “senior society” and modeled on both the fraternities of Cornell and the mythology of ancient Egypt, Osiris gave MIT’s senior leadership an opportunity to speak frankly and off the record with a group of handpicked student leaders. Its existence was acknowledged, and names of its members appeared in MIT yearbooks, but the deliberative purpose of the society remained secret for decades. Rather than being based on inductees’ wealth or their family’s political power—common criteria for senior societies at other schools—membership was designated “for those undergraduates who have shown in their daily life an especial love and devotion to the Institute,” reads the once-secret history of Osiris that now resides in MIT’s archives. This history was written by Edward Pennell Brooks, Class of 1917, as a speech he gave at several Osiris initiations in the early 1950s, but its factual content is attributed to Alfred Edgar Burton, MIT’s first dean of students. If the organization’s purpose were not kept secret, Burton warned, MIT’s leaders wouldn’t be able to have such frank and open discussions with the students. “It was a very interesting organization—the word I would use is ‘private’ rather than ‘secret,’” says William J. Hecht ’61, SM ’76, who was inducted into Osiris in 1961 and went on to serve as executive vice president and chief executive of the MIT Alumni Association for 25 years. “If something controversial were to come up—a faculty gripe about something—it was a way that the administration or the faculty could air it in front of a small group (we were around a dozen) of ‘student leaders’ and be candid about what’s what.” Osiris was started by Arthur Jeremiah Sweet, Class of 1904, who transferred to MIT after having a run-in with the fraternities at Cornell. Sweet wanted to create a society without the baggage of the Greek system, so he settled on Egyptian mythology, choosing the god credited with teaching the ancient technology of agriculture to humans. Sweet then assembled an impressive group of student leaders. “When once launched, however, there became a need of finding out what it was to do,” Brooks wrote. In stepped Dean Burton, who suggested that Osiris could help President Henry Smith Pritchett better understand MIT’s student body. Pritchett certainly needed help: Shortly after he was inaugurated in 1900, the annual “cane rush” competition between freshmen and sophomores had resulted in a student death. Pritchett then angered many students with his near-successful attempt to merge MIT with Harvard. “Pritchett grasped this as a chance, so I have been told, to reestablish good relations with leaders of undergraduate life,” the history reads. Pritchett and Burton thus became the first honorary members of Osiris. In years that followed, names of inductees appeared occasionally in , which referred to Osiris as one of many senior societies. Given the growing number of MIT honorary societies, it was a good cover story. Ten MIT presidents and numerous deans and vice presidents would become honorary members of Osiris; full members included student government leaders and many editors of , most notably James Rhyne Killian ’26, who became MIT’s 10th president (see “ ,” , July/August 2024). Burton warned in 1907 that Osiris faced three big dangers. First, “the natural tendency for the meetings to lapse into merely social gathering of congenial spirits.” Second, the possibility that the society would become well known among undergraduates, who would seek to gain membership as a student honor. Third, the way proximity to power might limit the frankness of the discussions. The solution, Burton wrote, was careful guidance of alumni and honorary members to keep Osiris focused on its mission—and to keep its purpose a secret. Secrecy was so paramount that even using the name Osiris was discouraged. In several letters that Paul E. Gray ’54, SM ’55, ScD ’60, then dean of the School of Engineering, wrote to Osiris member Gregory Jackson ’70 in March 1971, Gray refers to Osiris by the number 270. (Gray had been inducted as an honorary member in 1965 and would become MIT’s 14th president in 1980.) The number referred to 270 Beacon Street, the address of the University Club, where many Osiris members were inducted until the club moved to 40 Trinity Place in 1926. Later, Osiris initiations moved to the Club of Odd Volumes at 77 Mt. Vernon Street, a private club for bibliophiles of which Killian was a member. “I joined Osiris in my junior year at a meeting of the entire group at a formal dinner at the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston,” recalls Tom Burns ’62, SM ’63. “At the time, we were asked to be somewhere in Boston in a tuxedo [and] were blindfolded and driven around for a while by a senior member of the Society, ending up at the Club to be confronted by a large group of faculty and student members.” (A written description of initiations in the 1960s says that tuxedo-clad initiates typically were told to perform a stunt­—such as flying paper airplanes in front of a ticket counter at Logan—while waiting to get picked up.) While two annual meetings were held at the club, Burns says faculty members typically hosted the regular dinner meetings, many in Killian’s penthouse apartment at 100 Memorial Drive. Student members were responsible for selecting the topics and leading the discussions, he says, and picked the next year’s inductees. Of course, inviting many successive editors of the MIT student newspaper to join a society with such a secret purpose was inherently risky. Sure enough, on February 18, 1955, ran a front-page article with the headline “Student Leaders Meet With Administration and Faculty In Secret Society, Osiris.” The article was unsigned, as were all news articles at the time, but Stephen N. Cohen ’56, then editor of , appears on the Osiris membership rolls. (Tellingly, the next three editors—John A. Friedman ’57, Leland E. Holloway Jr. ’58, and Stewart Wade Wilson ’59—do not.) A week later, Eldon H. Reiley ’55, president of MIT’s Undergraduate Association, president of the Institute Committee, and a member of Osiris, published an 11-paragraph statement in saying, among other things, that “Osiris is an informal group of faculty and students who meet from time to time over dinner and discuss issues pertaining to the welfare and betterment of MIT. The group has no power in itself.” Reiley wrote the truth: Nowhere in the archives or in interviews with surviving members is there a hint that the student members of Osiris decided anything other than the names of the next year’s recruits. Howard Wesley Johnson was inducted as an honorary member in 1965, shortly before becoming MIT’s 12th president in 1966. Johnson clearly took his Osiris duties seriously: Its meetings were entered into his appointment book, and when he missed the initiation in 1968, he wrote “to the men of OSIRIS,” apologizing that “business in defense of M.I.T. demands that I be absent.” Johnson’s letter hints at the forces that ultimately put an end to the organization: Osiris was a relic of the past—for example, it had no female members until 1969—and MIT was under attack in the present. “I was added in 1969 when I was vice president of the Graduate Student Council,” recalls Marvin Sirbu Jr. ’66, ’67, SM ’68, EE ’70, ScD ’73. “I remember how remarkable it was that students and faculty/administrators met and talked informally in the way that they did at Osiris meetings.” Today Howard Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his deft handling of student unrest, including three days in November 1969 when more than a thousand people protested the Institute’s relationship with the US Department of Defense. The documentary includes film from meetings of a joint committee of faculty and students that helped defuse the situation. While many of the students were members of Osiris, they were present because they were elected student leaders, not because they belonged to the secret society. But Sirbu suggests that the Osiris meetings may explain why those in the room felt so comfortable with each other. Handwritten minutes from two meetings in the spring of 1971 reveal that topics discussed included marijuana, civility in Osiris meetings, and the possible reemergence of McCarthyism on campus. An article in reported that topics such as research policy and housing were also typical. But Osiris was in decline. That March, Gray had observed that 34 people had RSVPed “yes” for the March 16 meeting, but only 27 had shown up­—and that “actives” (student members) were outnumbered by “over thirties” by about three to one. A few weeks before Provost Jerome Wiesner became MIT’s president in July 1971, a letter signed by Killian and Johnson went out to members asking for financial donations, signaling the end of the Institute’s financial support for Osiris. “At the end of my junior year, I was apprised by Dan Nyhart, then MIT’s dean for student affairs, that Osiris was in arrears to the Institute and needed to pay its debt,” recalls Lee Giguere ’73, who joined in 1972 with fellow editor Alex Makowski ’72. “In those days—the early 1970s—the atmosphere was pretty radical,” he says, and accessing a “private channel to the powers that be” ran counter to his understanding of his role as a reporter. Although he remembers compiling a list of new initiates, there are no records showing that those students were ever invited to join. But the exact date of Osiris’s demise remains unclear. Burns recalls a conversation with Frederick Fassett, former dean of residence, about the subject in the early 1970s. “He merely said that it had outlived its value, partly as a result of changes experienced in the 1960s,” he says. “I never received any formal notice of its end.”

Why Is Dynatrace (DT) Stock Rocketing Higher Today

Mumbai, December 30 : The Indian stock market opened lower on Monday as selling was seen in the auto, IT, PSU bank, financial service, FMCG, media, energy and metal sectors on Nifty in early trade. At around 9:30 am, Sensex was trading at 78,523.25 after declining 175.82 points or 0.22 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 23,758.20 after declining 55.20 points or 0.23 per cent. The market trend remained negative. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 815 stocks were trading in green, while 1,454 stocks were in red. According to experts, "as investors leave 2024 behind and look forward to the New Year, there will be more concerns than confidence, at least in the early days of 2025." "The biggest concern for stock markets, globally, is uncertainty surrounding Trump 2.0. The concern is that since market valuations are high any negative news might cause corrections," they added. Stocks To Buy or Sell Today, December 30: HDFC Bank, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra Among Shares That May Remain in Focus on Thursday, Know Which Stocks to Buy or Sell on December 30. Nifty Bank was down 74.80 points or 0.15 per cent at 51,236.50. Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 56,796.90 after dropping 182.90 points or 0.32 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 18,673.75 after dropping 82.10 points or 0.44 per cent. On the sectoral front, buying was seen in the Pharma and Healthcare sector. In the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, M&M, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Finserv, Titan, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Reliance were the top losers. Adani Ports, Bharti Airtel, ITC, Zomato, Nestle India, ICICI Bank, NTPC and UltraTech Cement were the top gainers. The Dow Jones declined 0.77 per cent to close at 42,992.21. The S&P 500 declined 1.11 per cent to 5,970.84 and the Nasdaq declined 1.49 per cent to close at 19,722.03 in the previous trading session on Friday. JSW Energy Share Price Today, December 30: JSW Energy Stock Opens in Green in Early Trade, Surges 5.50%. In the Asian markets, Bangkok and Seoul were trading in green while China, Japan, Jakarta and Hong Kong were trading in red. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,323.29 crore on December 27, while domestic institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 2,544.64 crore on the same day. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Adou Thiero scored 23 points, and Boogie Fland added another 21 to lead No. 20 Arkansas to a 79-67 win over Little Rock on Friday night. Thiero scored 16 of his 23 in the second half to put the Trojans away after they cut Arkansas’ lead to seven points. The Razorbacks never trailed and improved to 4-1 under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari. Along with Thiero's second half, Arkansas used a 7-0 run to keep Little Rock at bay. DJ Wagner and Zvonimir Ivisic scored 11 and 10, respectively. Mwani Wilkinson led the Trojans with 18 points. Takeaways Little Rock: The Trojans were picked as preseason OVC favorites and largely looked the part against a power-conference foe before stumbling late. Arkansas: The Razorbacks are maintaining position as they near the toughest portion of their nonconference schedule. Arkansas will play No. 25 Illinois and Miami in back-to-back games around the Thanksgiving holiday. Key moment Arkansas went on a 7-0 run just as Little Rock cut the lead to seven points in the second half. Arkansas forward Adou Thiero (3) and Little Rock guard Mwani Wilkinson (5) fight for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods Key stat The Razorbacks were not good at holding on to the ball, committing 19 turnovers. The difference came on scoring off those miscues as Arkansas scored 28 points off Little Rock’s 19 giveaways while the Trojans managed just 17 off the Razorbacks' mistakes. Up next Little Rock travels to Illinois on Monday, the same day Arkansas hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Lesco power losses on top in Punjab Lesco’s power losses stand at 13.1% against Multan Electric Power Company’s 11.9% by end of November 2024 Technicians work on high-voltage power lines. — AFP/File LAHORE: Despite running much-touted year-long drive against power theft, Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has emerged as primary offender in power losses, according to latest official data. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Lesco’s power losses stand at 13.1 percent against Multan Electric Power Company’s (Mepco) 11.9 percent by end of November 2024 as it becomes the biggest power pilferer in the Punjab province, according to Power Information Technology Company (PITC) data. Despite persistent efforts to curb power theft by the incumbent government, Lesco continues to grapple with significant losses. Lesco has a higher monthly and progressive T&D loss percentage compared to Mepco. This indicates that Lesco is losing a larger portion of electricity during transmission and distribution. While still having significant T&D losses, Mepco has shown some improvement in recent months, as indicated by the negative monthly losses. This suggests that Mepco is making concerted efforts, unlike Lesco, to reduce its losses. Headquartered in provincial capital, Lesco is a public sector power distribution company that supplies electricity to more than 6.4 million consumers in the districts of Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura, Nankana and Kasur in the province of Punjab. The power utility is one of the largest distribution companies and feeds electricity in the heart of the country where better law and order situation and other factors warrant efficient distribution system with least power losses. According to the data, Lesco’s T&D losses for November 2024 progressively swelled to the top if compared other distribution companies working in the province. In comparison, Gujranwala Electric Power Company’s (Gepco) losses stand at 6.7 percent, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) at 6.0 percent, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) 4.6 percent and MEPCO at 11.9 percent. Lesco’s performance has been a subject of scrutiny and criticism for several years. The company has consistently struggled with high transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, low recovery rates, and unreliable power supply. When contacted, Lesco spokesperson did not offer any comment on company’s abysmally poor performance. Without denying the rising trend in power utility losses, he said he could share company’s version tomorrow.

Rourke 2.0: Nathan’s brother Kurtis named NCAA’s top Canadian

Samantha Ruth Prabhu's baby bump photos go viral: Know truth behind THESE picturesLuigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

LONDON, Dec. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StealthCore, a company recognized for developing tools for game modifications, has officially ceased creating scripts for League of Legends. The decision stems from mounting difficulties in circumventing modern anti-cheat systems, particularly Riot Games' Vanguard. The StealthCore team outlined the increasing complexities introduced by current anti-cheat technologies. "Vanguard has fundamentally changed the landscape," a spokesperson stated. "Bypassing these measures now requires intricate modifications, such as adjusting BIOS configurations. Many users lack the technical expertise to handle these steps, and others face hardware limitations, especially on laptops. These challenges have created barriers that significantly impact both developers and users." Vanguard employs sophisticated techniques to prevent unauthorized modifications in gaming environments. Among these are hardware bans enforced through TPM chips, which make circumventing detection increasingly difficult. Even tools designed to evade such restrictions, like spoofers, have a short lifespan and are often rendered ineffective within days of deployment. Additionally, Vanguard's hardware bans, which typically last 120 days, serve as a strong deterrent to repeated infractions. The growing effectiveness of anti-cheat systems underscores the heightened focus on ensuring fair play in online gaming. Developers of modification tools are finding it increasingly difficult to keep pace with the advancements in detection and prevention technologies. As Vanguard continues to secure Windows platforms, some developers have turned their attention to macOS systems, where similar anti-cheat measures are not currently enforced. While this shift provides a potential alternative, its viability is limited. "The number of gamers using macOS for competitive play is minimal," the spokesperson explained. "Few players are likely to invest in a Mac solely for this purpose, making it an impractical solution for most users." Private cheat tools have also seen increased interest. These are typically distributed to a restricted group of users, often capped at 25 participants, to reduce the likelihood of detection. However, their exclusivity and high cost make them inaccessible to the broader gaming community. StealthCore highlighted deceptive practices within this space where public tools are falsely marketed as "private" at elevated prices. "Such claims mislead users," the representative added. "These tools are no safer than public options and often result in quick bans." The cumulative challenges associated with anti-cheat advancements have led to a significant decline in StealthCore's user base, which has reportedly dropped by 95%. In light of these developments, the company has opted to terminate its support for League of Legends scripts entirely. StealthCore's decision mirrors broader trends within the game modification community. As security technologies evolve, the feasibility of creating undetected tools has diminished, signaling a shift toward more secure gaming ecosystems. For players, this change reflects the growing emphasis on integrity and fairness in competitive gaming. The increasing sophistication of anti-cheat systems leaves little room for unauthorized modifications, reinforcing the importance of adhering to established rules. About StealthCore StealthCore has been a longstanding developer of tools for game modifications, recognized for its contributions to enhancing gameplay experiences. The company's decision to discontinue League of Legends scripts underscores its acknowledgment of the challenges posed by evolving security technologies and its alignment with the broader movement toward fair play in gaming. Media Contact Company Name: StealthCore Contact Person Name: Matthew Mason Email: admin@stealth-core.com Phone: +44 7882 152671 Address: 1 Clove Crescent, London, E14 Website: https://stealth-core.com/ Disclaimer: This content is provided by the StealthCore. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.