Authorities found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom on Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the house in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J Blucas, of Erie, was hospitalised in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said on Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak”. Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb, including 1994’s Bullets Over Broadway, starring John Cusack. Haddon left modelling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to re-enter the workforce after her husband’s 1991 death. This time, she found the modelling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,'” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estee Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company’s anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s The Early Show. “I kept modelling, but in a different way,” she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organisation aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalised communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan. Haddon was born in Toronto and began modelling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes – she began her career with the Canadian ballet company, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website. Haddon’s daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many”. “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said.Published 5:13 pm Wednesday, December 11, 2024 By Sarah Stultz An Albert Lea man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday for murdering a 2-year-old boy in July 2023 and injuring his 12-week-old brother. Austin Michael Navarro, 26, in September pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Ahziyas Dampha on July 6, 2023, at Trailside Apartments. He also pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree assault of a victim under 4 tied to injuries caused to the baby. District Court Judge Ross Leuning said he struggled when he reviewed the case, noting he had been in Navarro’s life for a while now with the current case and with others before. Leuning said when Navarro was in trouble before, he did not follow through when things were put forward to help him such as drug and alcohol treatment and domestic abuse programming. “All of those things could and would have made a difference,” Leuning said. Before he turned to the sentence, the judge said he wished there were some comforting words he could say to the families that would make a difference and help them move forward. He said he knows the loss of a child is something parents never get over, and it is a loss they carry with them every day. He encouraged the parents of Ahziyas to seek assistance, counsel and support and asked for family and friends to be strong for them and help them in the days ahead. He also asked that the extended families of both sides have grace and patience with each another. The sentence was in line with the plea agreement between the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the defense, which was outside of the state sentencing guideline range of 204 to 288 months with Navarro’s criminal history score. The judge said there was overwhelming evidence supporting aggravating factors for the departure from the standard guidelines, including that Navarro was in a position of authority, that the child was particularly vulnerable and that he treated the boy with particular cruelty. During the plea hearing, Navarro admitted to punching and kicking the 2-year-old child multiple times, and acknowledged that the boy’s injuries included rib fractures and lacerations to his liver and pancreas. He also admitted he had submerged the child in the bathtub. Navarro was left as the caretaker of the children that day by their mother, who he was in a relationship at the time, and who had gone to work. The 300-month sentence for the murder will be spent concurrently with a 32-month sentence for the assault charge of the infant, who was Navarro’s son. Navarro in his plea hearing admitted to hitting the baby in the stomach, leading to broken ribs. The baby also had bruises on his arm and shoulder. While Leuning acknowledged that Navarro had been candid, direct and honest in accepting responsibility with the plea, he noted it was only a small measure in the scale of the case. When given the opportunity to make a statement, Navarro read a short letter he had written, asking for forgiveness from all of the families. “I know an apology is not enough and it will never be,” he said, noting that serving the prison time is all he can offer. He said he was sorry for all the pain he caused and asked that God have mercy on his soul. Navarro’s lawyer, Dominique Navarro, said the case is a tragic one in which nobody wins and one that brought with it a lot of collateral damage. He referenced parts of the pre-sentence investigation his client had with a Department of Corrections agent and said he was cooperative and answered all of her questions. The lawyer said his client lived a childhood much different than most do with a significant juvenile history dating back to 2011. He told the agent he first smoked marijuana and drank alcohol when he was 8, and by age 13 he had tried methamphetamine and cocaine. Since he has been in jail, he has taken advantage of programming and has a goal to get his GED when he is in prison. The lawyer said there’s no explanation for his conduct, but noted that his client is remorseful. Austin Navarro also expressed a need for help with his mental health, telling the agent, “There are things up there that don’t click.” Mary Russell with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, read aloud four victim impact statements from family of Ahziyas, including his mother. They described how the child would light up any room with his smile and how the impact of his death is continuing. She wrote that she has experienced grief, trauma and social withdrawals from what took place. She said her other son not only lost a brother that day, but he lost his father, too. Russell said Sullivan spoke about Ahziyas’ beautiful future she had imagined and that his family is left mourning — not only for who he was but also for the idea of who he would become. “It wasn’t just his life that was stolen in one cruel moment — but his entire future,” she said.

Transplant recipients show better physical, school, and social functioning than those receiving transfusions and medications alone LBA-5: Outcome of Cerebral Vasculopathy and Cognitive Performances 10 Years Post-Enrollment in the Drepagreffe Trial Comparing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation to Standard-Care in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia and History of Abnormal Cerebral Velocities SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Children who received a stem cell transplant for sickle cell disease (SCD) experienced better quality of life outcomes and cognitive performance 10 years after their transplant compared with children who received chronic transfusion therapy and the SCD drug hydroxyurea but did not undergo a stem cell transplant. This is according to new study results presented during the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. The findings reflect 10-year outcomes from the DREPAGREFFE-1 trial, which ran from 2010-2013 in France, and was the first head-to-head comparison of allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus standard of care for children with SCD. Combined with the study's one-year and three-year outcomes, the 10-year findings further strengthen the evidence in favor of stem cell transplantation for reducing complications and improving the overall outlook for people living with SCD, according to the researchers. "This trial demonstrated that following stem cell transplantation, patients had a better quality of life, not only for physical functioning but also for social and school functioning," said the study's lead author, Françoise Bernaudin, MD, a physician at Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, Université Paris-Est, in France. "We found that these patients can have a greater ability to do sports and run, attained higher academic degrees, are not anxious about their future, and experience less anger and less difficulty with memory compared with those who received chronic transfusions and hydroxyurea." SCD is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, impeding the flow of blood and reducing the ability for blood to carry oxygen to tissues and organs. This results in episodes of acute pain as well as long-term damage, causing a range of complications throughout life and increasing the risk of premature death. One common SCD complication is abnormally high cerebral arterial velocities, an indicator of stenosis presence or reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, which can be associated with a greater risk of strokes and cognitive problems. DREPAGREFFE-1 enrolled 67 children between ages five to 15 who were receiving chronic blood transfusions to prevent complications from abnormal cerebral arterial velocities. Those with a matched sibling donor (n=32) were transplanted while those without a matched sibling donor (n=35) continued their transfusions and then switched to hydroxyurea in absence of stenosis and if their cerebral arterial velocities normalized. At one and three years, those who received a stem cell transplant showed significant improvements in several measures compared with those who did not receive a transplant, but at those timepoints there was no difference in the presence of ischemic lesions (blood clots that block blood flow in the brain) or cognitive performance. In the subsequent years, researchers continued to follow up with study participants, including through clinical evaluations, brain scans, and tools for assessing quality of life and cognitive functioning. At 10 years, quality of life scores related to physical, school, and social functioning were significantly higher among those who received a stem cell transplant. For cognitive performance, participants who received a stem cell transplant showed significantly better performance on tests used to assess working memory and processing speed. There was no difference between groups in terms of verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, or emotional quality of life scores. The researchers also assessed trends in the rate of silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs) – a type of small stroke that is visible on a brain scan but causes no obvious symptoms. While it is unclear whether SCIs influence cognitive functioning, they are considered to be a sign of increased SCD severity and complications. SCIs were found in 18 participants at the time of enrollment; at 10 years, five additional patients had developed silent cerebral infarcts in the standard-of-care arm compared to zero in the stem cell transplant arm. Taken together, researchers said that the study findings suggest that undergoing stem cell transplantation results in better outcomes for children with SCD compared with chronic transfusions and hydroxyurea. While this can offer additional reassurance for patients, families, and physicians who are considering the procedure, Dr. Bernaudin noted that families should also be aware of the risks of undergoing a stem cell transplant, including infertility, which is a common side effect of the conditioning regimen used to clear the bone marrow in preparation to receive a transplant. She said that fertility preservation procedures are available in France for all patients undergoing stem cell transplantation for SCD at no charge to the families, adding, "with this technique, we hope that the patients will be able to have children after the transplantation." Looking ahead, Dr. Bernaudin said that it would be useful to compare outcomes from haplo-identical stem cell transplant to gene therapy, a type of treatment that has become more widely available since DREPAGREFFE-1 was conducted. She also noted that additional work is needed to further improve transplantation techniques to minimize the risk of complications or treatment failure particularly after haplo-identical transplants in children. This study was sponsored by the Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil (CHIC Hospital) in France and was funded by the Agence de Biomédecine and Pfizer. Françoise Bernaudin, MD, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, Université Paris-Est, will discuss this study in the Late-Breaking Abstracts session on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. Pacific time in Hall B (San Diego Convention Center). About the American Society of Hematology The American Society of Hematology (ASH) ( hematology.org ) is the world's largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. Since 1958, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. The Blood journals ( https://ashpublications.org/journals ) are the premier source for basic, translational, and clinical hematological research. The Blood journals publish more peer-reviewed hematology research than any other academic journals worldwide. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/undergoing-stem-cell-transplant-for-sickle-cell-disease-in-childhood-improves-quality-of-life-a-decade-later-302327721.html SOURCE American Society of Hematology Copyright © 2024 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.Fears for Gaza hospitals as fuel and aid run lowRivalry Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Approximately $2.0 Million

SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week. Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said. The medical examiner’s office has not released his cause of death, but police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.” Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company. Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. Its public release in late 2022 spurred a torrent of lawsuits against OpenAI from authors, computer programmers and journalists, who say the company illegally stole their copyrighted material to train its program and elevate its value past $150 billion. The Mercury News and seven sister news outlets are among several newspapers, including the New York Times, to sue OpenAI in the past year. In an interview with the New York Times published Oct. 23, Balaji argued OpenAI was harming businesses and entrepreneurs whose data were used to train ChatGPT. “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” he told the outlet, adding that “this is not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem as a whole.” Balaji grew up in Cupertino before attending UC Berkeley to study computer science. It was then he became a believer in the potential benefits that artificial intelligence could offer society, including its ability to cure diseases and stop aging, the Times reported. “I thought we could invent some kind of scientist that could help solve them,” he told the newspaper. But his outlook began to sour in 2022, two years after joining OpenAI as a researcher. He grew particularly concerned about his assignment of gathering data from the internet for the company’s GPT-4 program, which analyzed text from nearly the entire internet to train its artificial intelligence program, the news outlet reported. The practice, he told the Times, ran afoul of the country’s “fair use” laws governing how people can use previously published work. In late October, he posted an analysis on his personal website arguing that point. No known factors “seem to weigh in favor of ChatGPT being a fair use of its training data,” Balaji wrote. “That being said, none of the arguments here are fundamentally specific to ChatGPT either, and similar arguments could be made for many generative AI products in a wide variety of domains.” Reached by this news agency, Balaji’s mother requested privacy while grieving the death of her son. In a Nov. 18 letter filed in federal court, attorneys for The New York Times named Balaji as someone who had “unique and relevant documents” that would support their case against OpenAI. He was among at least 12 people — many of them past or present OpenAI employees — the newspaper had named in court filings as having material helpful to their case, ahead of depositions. Generative artificial intelligence programs work by analyzing an immense amount of data from the internet and using it to answer prompts submitted by users, or to create text, images or videos. When OpenAI released its ChatGPT program in late 2022, it turbocharged an industry of companies seeking to write essays, make art and create computer code. Many of the most valuable companies in the world now work in the field of artificial intelligence, or manufacture the computer chips needed to run those programs. OpenAI’s own value nearly doubled in the past year. News outlets have argued that OpenAI and Microsoft — which is in business with OpenAI also has been sued by The Mercury News — have plagiarized and stole its articles, undermining their business models. “Microsoft and OpenAI simply take the work product of reporters, journalists, editorial writers, editors and others who contribute to the work of local newspapers — all without any regard for the efforts, much less the legal rights, of those who create and publish the news on which local communities rely,” the newspapers’ lawsuit said. OpenAI has staunchly refuted those claims, stressing that all of its work remains legal under “fair use” laws. “We see immense potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to deepen publishers’ relationships with readers and enhance the news experience,” the company said when the lawsuit was filed. Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.US stocks fall but Alphabet jumps on Google discoveryTrump's Team Cites Fetterman's Truth Social Post As Reason To Dump Hush Money Case

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Amid the persistent challenges of violence and insecurity in Nigeria, Lucky Isaac Chima, a seasoned legal expert and peacebuilding advocate, is shedding light on effective strategies to address insurgency and militancy. With over six years of experience in legal, administrative, and management roles, Chima combines professional acumen with academic rigor to tackle some of Nigeria’s most pressing conflicts. His recent research paper, “Peace Through Amnesty: A Case Study of Niger Delta Militants and Boko Haram Fighters,” explores the successes and shortcomings of Nigeria’s peace initiatives. Nigeria, often dubbed the “Giant of Africa,” is rich in natural resources and boasts a significant population. However, decades of ethnic, religious, and political unrest have hindered its growth. Chima’s work delves into government programs such as the Amnesty Program in the Niger Delta and the Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) in the North, both of which aim to rehabilitate insurgents and militants. He emphasizes the need for sustainable peacebuilding approaches that address the root causes of these conflicts. Chima’s research highlights how violence has ravaged both rural and urban communities, displacing millions and driving poverty. The Amnesty Program, initiated in 2009, provided Niger Delta militants with vocational training and financial support to reintegrate into society. Similarly, OSC focuses on rehabilitating Boko Haram fighters, offering them skills and psychological counseling. While these programs have been praised for their immediate impact, Chima raises critical questions about their long-term effectiveness. In his analysis, Chima underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues such as corruption, inequality, and marginalization that fuel conflicts in Nigeria. He argues that without structural reforms, peace efforts may remain temporary. His findings have been lauded for their balanced critique of government policies and their focus on community-based solutions. Beyond his research, Chima’s professional experience reflects his dedication to peacebuilding. As a Corporate Relations Specialist with Rogerson Communities in Boston, he is spearheading affordable housing initiatives, forging partnerships, and implementing corporate-funded projects to uplift underserved communities. His work in the United States complements his passion for driving social and economic development globally. Prior to his current role, Chima served as a Legal Officer at Structure HQ, Nigeria, where he honed his skills in financial transactions, legal compliance, and corporate strategy. His contributions to standardizing loan documentation and developing debt recovery strategies significantly improved his employers’ operations. These experiences have equipped him with a unique perspective on the intersection of law, finance, and development. Chima’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his role as Co-Partner and Founder of FlintHills Legal Practice, where he provides consultancy services on emerging technologies, private equity, and regulatory compliance. His firm’s focus on protecting clients from legal liabilities and promoting transparency reflects his commitment to ethical practice. As a member of the Board of Trustees for the Reastat Development Initiative, Chima led grassroots peacebuilding programs in conflict-affected communities in Nigeria. His efforts to create gender-inclusive peace processes have been particularly impactful, increasing women’s participation in local governance and conflict resolution. This work aligns closely with the themes of his research paper, which emphasizes the role of marginalized groups in fostering sustainable peace. Chima’s legal and administrative expertise is matched by his dedication to humanitarian causes. He has prepared project proposals for fundraising events, supported small businesses recovering from communal conflicts, and developed strategies to enhance nonprofit operations. His ability to navigate complex social and legal landscapes has earned him recognition as a versatile and compassionate leader. In his work, Chima advocates for an integrated approach to peacebuilding that combines amnesty programs with education, economic empowerment, and political reforms. He calls for greater investment in youth development and job creation, arguing that these measures are essential to breaking the cycle of violence. His insights are informed by his hands-on experience working with affected communities and his deep understanding of legal frameworks. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Chima continues to contribute to global conversations on conflict resolution and development. He is an active networker, using platforms like LinkedIn to share his ideas and collaborate with professionals worldwide. His profile reflects a rich blend of academic inquiry and practical engagement, making him a thought leader in his field. As Nigeria grapples with ongoing insecurity, voices like Chima’s are critical in shaping effective policies. His research serves as a blueprint for addressing the root causes of violence and building a more inclusive and prosperous society. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNESunrise Rotary honors middle school studentsRivalry Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Approximately $2.0 Million

The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, although they reflect world opinion. Israel has faced growing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza as it fights Hamas militants, especially when it comes to humanitarian aid for desperate people in the besieged and heavily destroyed territory. Israeli airstrikes in northern and central Gaza killed at least 33 people overnight and into Wednesday, Palestinian medical officials said. Hospital records show one Israeli strike in northern Gaza killed 19 people in a home, including a family of eight — four children, their parents and two grandparents. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas militant in the vicinity of the hospital, part of a blistering offensive in Gaza’s isolated and heavily destroyed north . The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Here's the latest: JERUSALEM — Israeli hospital officials say a young boy is fighting for his life after a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. An Israeli bus came under fire from a suspected Palestinian attacker late Wednesday, the military said, and Israeli forces are searching for the shooter. Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem says at least three people were wounded in the shooting, which took place just outside the city in an area near major Israeli settlements. The hospital says the boy, who is about 10, is in grave condition. It says two other people, ages 24 and 55, were also hurt. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions. BEIRUT — Israeli forces withdrew from a strategic town in southern Lebanon and handed it back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, the two militaries said Wednesday, marking an important test of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants. It appeared to be Israel's first pullout from a Lebanese border town captured during this fall’s ground invasion, and comes as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire. The Lebanese army said Wednesday it has deployed units to five positions around the town of Khiam coinciding with the Israeli army’s withdrawal. Israel's military confirmed this was the first town it has turned over to the Lebanese army under the truce, which — if it endures — would end nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding. Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said. The Lebanese army warned civilians to stay out of Khiam until it can clear the area of any unexploded munitions. The strategic hilltop town, located less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war returned home two weeks ago after a ceasefire took hold , driving cars stacked with personal belongings and defying warnings from Lebanese and Israeli troops to avoid some areas. WASHINGTON — All Russian naval ships that were docked at the Syrian port of Tartus have left and it appears Moscow is now looking for a new base along the coast now that its key ally, Bashar Assad, has been ousted a ruler of Syria, a U.S. official said. It’s not clear where the ships will go, but Russia may seek a new port on the Mediterranean Sea along the African shoreline, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. assessments. The official did not say how many vessels Russia had in Syria at the time Assad was overthrown. Moscow has dedicated the bulk of its military assets to the war in Ukraine. Asked about Tartus on Wednesday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said that the U.S. is seeing some Russian forces and naval vessels leaving Syria. “They just had one of their key political allies, ousted,” said Singh. “We’re seeing Russia consolidate assets.” — By Lolita C. Baldor UNITED NATIONS – The Palestinians are urging United Nations member countries to vote in favor of resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, which Israel has moved to ban in Palestinian territories. The Palestinian mission to the United Nations issued the urgent appeal to the 193 U.N. member nations ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s votes on the resolutions in the General Assembly, whose members have has been listening to two days of speeches overwhelmingly supporting the measures. Israel and close ally the United States have spoken against the resolutions. The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution last month demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza. It was supported by the 14 other Security Councilmember nations, but the U.S. objected because the resolution did not include a link to an immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The General Assembly resolution being voted on Wednesday mirrors the Security Council language: It “demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly. But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion. The second resolution being voted on supports the mandate of the U.N. agency caring for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA which was established by the General Assembly in 1949. It “deplores” legislation adopted by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Oct. 28 banning UNRWA’s activities in the Palestinian territories, which takes effect in 90 days. It calls on the Israeli government “to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.” JERUSALEM — Israel has lifted restrictions on public gatherings and outdoor activities in areas near the Lebanese border in the northern Golan Heights, two weeks after a ceasefire with Hezbollah. The army’s Home Front Command said it was changing its public safety guidelines to “full activity” from “partial activity.” Israel had tightened restrictions on Nov. 25, reflecting concerns that fighting could intensify ahead of any possible cease-fire between Israel and Lebanese militants. The truce went into effect on Nov. 27. In recent days, Israeli tanks and troops have advanced out of Israeli-held territory in the Golan Heights and pushed into a buffer zone inside Syria — a move Israel said it took to prevent attacks on its citizens. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. BEIRUT - Syria-based Palestinian factions have formed a unified delegation to meet with the country's new rebel-led authorities. The factions said in a statement after their meeting Wednesday at the Palestinian Embassy that they stand by the side of the Syrian people. The factions condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Syria over the past few days that have destroyed much of the assets of the Syrian army. The factions decided to form a joint committee to run the affairs of Palestinians in Syria as well as to be in contact with the new insurgent-led transitional government, following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in Syria, many of them refugees, and the factions that have been based in Damascus were close to Assad’s government. Hamas was based in Syria until it left in 2012 a year after the county's civil war began. PRETORIA, South Africa — The United Nations chief says the fall of Syria’s authoritarian government has brought hope to the troubled Middle East, and pledged the global body’s support to the country's new leaders to ensure a smooth transition. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that the U.N. wants to see “an inclusive political process in which the rights of all minorities will be fully respected, and paving the way towards a united sovereign Syria, with its territorial integrity fully re-established.” The jihadi-led Syrian rebels took control of the capital Damascus after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving many areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. A Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force also controls large parts of northeastern Syria. Guterres said he fully trusts the people of Syria to be able “to choose their own destiny”. “I think it is our duty to do everything to support the different Syrian leaders in order to make sure that they come together and are able to guarantee a smooth transition, an inclusive transition in which all Syrians can feel that they belong," Guterres said. “The alternative does not make any sense.” Guterres is in South Africa to discuss the country’s role as it takes over the G20 presidency, among other issues. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike in central Gaza Strip killed four people and injured 16 others Wednesday, health officials said. Those killed and injured were taken to Awda Hospital after the strike hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the press center at the hospital. Since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October last year, at least 44,805 people have been killed and 106,257 others have been injured, according to the latest update by the Gaza Health ministry. BEIRUT — The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East was in Lebanon on Wednesday meeting with the head of the Lebanese army. In the wake of shocking overthrow of the government in neighboring Syria, the two military leaders discussed the security situation in Lebanon, a statement from the country's army said. U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, met with the head of the Lebanese army Gen. Joseph Aoun to discuss ongoing American support for the implementation of the U.S.-and French-brokered ceasefire agreement, which ended more than a year of war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding. Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said. On Tuesday, Kurilla was in eastern Syria visiting U.S. military bases and meeting with members of a Kurdish-led Syrian force that is backed by the U.S. He was assessing what CENTCOM described as efforts to counter a resurgence of the Islamic State group. He also visited Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials on regional security and counter-IS operations. DAMASCUS — With the fall of Damascus, security forces of the deposed Bashar Assad government and staff withdrew from the Damascus International airport, grounding flights and stranding passengers. The airport has not been functional since. Now, security members of the rebel alliance in control of Syria have taken control of the airport, hoping to restore security, a sense of confidence, and the legitimacy needed to restart flights out of the capital, and from one of the country’s three international airports. “Damascus international airport is the heart of the city because it is the gateway for international delegations and missions,” Omar al-Shami, a security official with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the shock offensive that led to the fall of Assad, told The Associated Press, calling it "the passage for Syria to breathe.” Al-Shami said security was restored at the international airport nearly 12 hours after the fall of Damascus. The factions entered the capital before dawn, and security members of the rebel alliance took charge before sunset on Sunday. He said he hoped the airport would be operational in less than a week. On Wednesday, a handful of engineers were inspecting four planes that were on the tarmac. Cleaning staff were removing broken furniture, glass windows, and trash from ransacking by looters following the fall of Damascus. The attack, reportedly by mobs and looters from the neighboring areas, left parts of the airport halls destroyed, with smashed furniture and merchandise. “There was a lot damage in the airport’s equipment and facilities in 90% of the sections,” Anis Fallouh, the head of the airport, told the AP. Fallouh said the operations to clean up the airport aim to convince international airlines to resume their flights to Damascus. “Soon in the coming days, flights will resume when we reopen air traffic to Syria and inform countries that Damascus airport is operational. We may start with domestic or test flights to ensure that everything in the airport is operational and avoid any mistakes. Then we can resume international flights.” Engineers were inspecting the four planes on the tarmac, from two Syrian airlines. Some administrative staff were visiting the airport as the new administrators of Damascus work to convince state officials to return to their posts. “We are on the Airbus 320, the technical team. Because of the security vacuum that happened on Sunday, some ill-intentioned people tried to cause damage but thank God the plane is fine — the body, the engines and its systems. Some things are missing and we are trying to fix that,” said Bassam Radi, the engineer in charge of maintenance, said. BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday addressed Berlin's reservations but also willingness to work the Syrian militant group in control of Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. “Nobody overlooks the origins of HTS in the al-Qaeda ideology. It is therefore clear that we will measure HTS by its actions,” Baerbock told reporters in Berlin. “Any cooperation presupposes that ethnic and religious minorities are protected, women’s rights are respected and acts of revenge are prevented.” She said that “whether we like it or not, the HTS militia ... is one of the decisive actors for the future of Syria.” “Together with our partners, we are therefore looking for an adequate way of dealing with HTS, with whom many have had no direct contact for good reasons,” she added. Ahmad al-Sharaa, the insurgent leader also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicted himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike near the southern Lebanese town of Bin Jbeil killed one person and wounded another, the state news agency reported. National News Agency said Wednesday’s airstrike hit a home. It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from Israeli military. More than a dozen people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since a ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27, ending the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Assad's departure has sparked new fears of instability in the region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the territory since October 2023. The State Department said Blinken would meet Jordanian officials, including King Abdullah II, in the port of Aqaba on Thursday before flying to Ankara for meetings with Turkish officials Friday. Other stops in the region are also possible, officials said. Blinken “will reiterate the United States’ support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government,” department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. BEIRUT — Insurgents have set on fire the tomb of Syria’s former President Hafez Assad in his hometown in the northwest, a war monitor and a local journalist said Wednesday. Hafez Assad had ruled Syria for 30 years until his death in 2000, when his son, Bashar, succeeded him. Both ruled Syria with an iron fist and were blamed for crackdowns that left tens of thousands dead, mainly in the central city of Hama in 1982, and in much of the country since the civil war in 2011. Bashar Assad was ousted over the weekend and fled to Russia where he was given political asylum. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian journalist Qusay Noor told The Associated Press that the tomb was set on fire Wednesday in the town of Qardaha in Latakia province. JERUSALEM — The United Nations is asking donors for over $4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, most of it earmarked for war-ravaged Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also called for the “lifting all impediments to the entry of aid” in its appeal issued Wednesday. U.N. agencies say aid operations in Gaza are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames the U.N. for not distributing it within the territory. The appeal for 2025 includes $3.6 billion for Gaza and about $450 million for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has destroyed vast areas of the besieged territory and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million. Many have been displaced multiple times and are now crammed into squalid tent camps with little in the way of food or other essentials. Most of the population relies on international aid. JERUSALEM — The president of Paraguay addressed the Israeli parliament Wednesday ahead of the reopening of the country’s embassy in Jerusalem. The decision to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem and recognize the city as the capital of Israel is a diplomatic win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and puts Paraguay in a small group of countries that have taken the move. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn't recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. “Without Jerusalem, the land of Israel is a body without a soul,” President Santiago Peña said in a speech to the Knesset. “So I say here today that without an embassy in Jerusalem, diplomatic relations with Israel do not have a real heart.” He said he hoped the move would inspire other countries to do the same. The embassy is set to open Thursday. Pena’s move was welcomed by Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, along with other Israeli leaders. “Tomorrow we will inaugurate together the embassy of Paraguay in our eternal capital, and that will happen not for the first time, but for the second time,” Netanyahu said. Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Israel reopened its embassy in September. MOSCOW — Russia said Wednesday it has maintained contacts with the new authorities in Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “we are monitoring most closely what is happening in Syria.” “We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.” Peskov wouldn’t give details of those contacts, saying only that Russia has contacted “those who are controlling the situation on the ground.” He wouldn’t give the number of Russian troops in Syria. Asked to comment about Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone on the border with Syria, Peskov called them destabilizing. “The strikes and actions in the Golan Heights area, in the buffer zone area, are unlikely to help stabilize the situation in an already destabilized Syria,” he said. Russia has granted political asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family after they fled rebels who seized Damascus over the weekend. TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the recent events in Syria, including the fall of its government, were part of a joint plan by the United States and Israel. “There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan," Khamenei said in a speech in Tehran on Wednesday that was broadcast on state TV. “We have evidence, and this evidence leaves no room for doubt.” The Supreme leader added: “A neighboring state of Syria has played a clear role in this matter, and it continues to do so. Everyone can see this.” Khamenei also rejected speculation by analysts who have said that Iran will be weakened by the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. “Those ignorant analysts are unaware of the meaning of resistance. They think that if resistance weakens, Islamic Iran will also weaken. But I say, with the help and power of God — by the will of Almighty Allah — Iran is powerful and it will become even more powerful," he said.

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Chipotle's chief customer & technology officer sells $1.01 million in stockValladolid beats fellow struggler Valencia to move off the bottom of La LigaElon Musk has pledged unwavering support for the H-1B visa program, vowing to go to “war” to defend it. He credited the program for bringing “critical” foreign-born, highly skilled workers to the United States—individuals who he said have played pivotal roles. “Take a big step back and [expletive],” Musk continued. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Musk’s defense of the H-1B program comes as debates over immigration policy and workforce competitiveness intensify, with critics arguing the program undermines domestic job opportunities and proponents emphasizing its role in driving innovation and economic growth. During his first term, President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on foreign worker visas and expressed criticism of the program. However, his 2024 campaign signaled a potential shift, indicating a willingness to grant H-1B visas, or even green cards, to foreign-born workers who graduate from U.S. universities. In recent days, Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to jointly lead Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have both ramped up their advocacy of American companies using H-1B visas to hire workers. “Trump’s election hopefully marks the beginning of a new golden era in America, but only if our culture fully wakes up,” Ramaswamy wrote on X. “A culture that once again prioritizes achievement over normalcy; excellence over mediocrity; nerdiness over conformity; hard work over laziness.” Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s views have sparked resistance both from factions within Trump’s political base and from conservatives more broadly. Former U.N. ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley weighed in, criticizing Ramaswamy’s comments and urging Trump to prioritize American workers over foreign-born talent. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, suggested there is common ground between tech industry leaders and immigration restrictionists regarding the H-1B visa program. “Increasing the share of new immigrants selected based on their skills—described as a ’merit-based' system—has long been a goal of President Trump,” Kirkorian wrote, adding that an “obvious win-win” would be to eliminate the visa lottery and what he described as “chain-migration” categories and reallocate roughly half of those visas to skilled categories. “This would result in both an increase in the number and share of new immigrants chosen for their skills and a reduction in the overall level of immigration,” he argued. The bill, which did not receive a vote in the Senate, aimed to cut levels of legal immigration to the United States by 50 percent, eliminating the current demand-driven model with a merit-based points system that gives points for factors such as education level, existing job offer, or extraordinary achievement such as a Nobel Prize. Canada and Australia use similar merit-based systems. Other legislative initiatives similar to RAISE have failed to advance.