By TRÂN NGUYỄN SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.Natixis Advisors LLC Sells 11,071 Shares of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (NYSE:TAK)4070 super game test 。

Daily Horoscope Read today's horoscope, December 24, 2024. Today we'll be taking a closer look at what the stars have in store for each of the 12 zodiac signs. Our astrologer has analyzed the movements of the planets and the alignment of the stars to bring you the most accurate and up-to-date horoscope predictions for the day ahead. Whether you're looking for guidance on love, career, or simply a heads up on what to expect, this has got you covered. Let's dive in to see what the cosmos have in store for you today. Aries Today is favorable for your work. You are likely to perform well, and your boss may entrust you with new responsibilities, possibly leading to promotions. Disputes with your partner may be resolved. You might consider lending money to invest in assets and planning for your children's future. Improved health for your kids adds positivity to the day. Taurus Today, blessings from the moon bring harmony. Love is in the air, and singles may find a suitable match. Professionally, you will excel, with support from friends and subordinates. Investments in gems and jewelry may yield positive gains soon. However, keep an eye on the health of elders in your family. Gemini Today brings happiness due to a favorable planetary alignment. Your energy and positivity will enhance your prestige among peers. You may spend time enriching yourself with intellectual pursuits. Cancer The day might start on a dull note, but positivity will return by late evening. New connections at work could help you revamp business plans. However, exercise caution and carefully read documents before signing them. Leo With divine blessings, you’ll gain control over indecisiveness. Improved health for your children and supportive colleagues will lead to success in projects. Incentives or rewards with your salary might come your way. Those in dairy, water projects, grains, homemaking, art, or culture will perform well today. Virgo You may consider migrating or changing your job today. Think carefully before making decisions about relocation. Peace of mind will prevail, but concerns about your children's health might weigh on you. Avoid speculative investments. Lovebirds are advised to exercise patience before making significant marriage decisions. Libra Today, patience will be your strength. Meditation can enhance focus, helping you accelerate your projects. Subordinates will offer their support, enabling you to meet deadlines. Short work-related travels may arise, and an influential individual might help expand your network. Scorpio Today, family gatherings and social events will keep you busy. Your politeness and charm will boost your reputation. You might spend on artifacts or household items, enhancing your social status. Good news from a relative may brighten your day. Sagittarius Family gatherings and re-establishing networks will bring joy today, offering benefits in the near future. Those in glamour, art, fashion, film, or media might explore new professional ventures. Students will excel in their studies, and lovebirds will enjoy happy moments together. Capricorn Work commitments will dominate your day, potentially leaving you mentally exhausted and affecting your routine. Building overseas networks is on the cards, but exercise caution with investments. Job seekers may find opportunities for promotion. Aquarius Today, situations stabilize. Past investments may bring gains, and your hard work could be rewarded. Stalled projects are likely to resume. You might plan a peaceful religious journey or make charitable donations to a worthy cause. Pisces Today, the moon's unfavorable position may affect your health. Losses in business or past investments are possible, so avoid making new investments. Gains might turn into losses, and it’s best to avoid controversies to prevent negativity. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .In late December, Donald Trump suggested the United States should retake control of the Panama Canal in his second term. He claims Panama is imposing “ridiculous” fees on ships passing through this vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that cuts through central Panama for 51 miles, using a system of locks and reservoirs to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This route saves ships from traveling an extra 7,000 miles around South America’s Cape Horn. “The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security,” Trump said on Truth Social on Dec. 21. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop,” he added. Trump repeated these claims during a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona on Dec. 22. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full quickly and without question,” he said. Following Trump’s comments, Google search data shows there’s been a spike in searches of people asking which country — the U.S. or Panama — has authority over the Panama Canal. Does the U.S. have any authority over the Panama Canal? No, the U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal, but it used to. Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts daily Newsletter! The U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal. The waterway, which was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s, opened in 1914 and remained under U.S. government control until treaties signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter set terms for its eventual transfer to Panama. The two countries jointly operated the canal until December 1999, after which Panama assumed full control. On Dec. 22, in response to Trump’s comments, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted a video on X declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country. Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect’s complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors. “The tariffs are not set on a whim,” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements. “Panamanians may have different views on many issues, but when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag,” Mulino said. A little over an hour later, Trump responded to Mulino’s remarks on Truth Social, saying: “We’ll see about that!” He also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The Panama Canal’s history An effort to establish a canal through Panama began with the French in 1880, but financial troubles made the initiative fail after nearly nine years of little progress, according to the Embassy of Panama in the United States . Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce that was already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle. These conditions eventually cost more than 20,000 lives by some estimates, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian says on its website . At this time, Panama was a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the Panama Canal. President Theodore Roosevelt responded to Colombia’s refusal by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also pre-wrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, which gave American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours on Nov. 3, 1903. The newly-declared Republic of Panama soon signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 , which provided the U.S. with a 10-mile wide strip of land for the canal, a one-time $10 million payment to Panama, and an annual annuity of $250,000. The U.S. also agreed to guarantee the independence of Panama, according to the Office of the Historian. After more than a decade of construction, the U.S. finished building the canal on Aug. 15, 1914. Almost immediately, some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control of the canal, which led to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. annulled its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, the U.S. government spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos, and the two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate , the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. “At noon on December 31, 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the Canal, in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties negotiated with the United States in 1977,” said the Embassy of Panama. “The waterway is now managed by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the Panama Canal’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, says the neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano told the Associated Press. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., agrees. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” Gedan said. The Associated Press contributed to this report .California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

What is it like to come of age under constant threat of war? Director Sareen Hairabedian ’s poignant documentary “ My Sweet Land ” follows an ethnic Armenian youngster named Vrej Khatchatryan from the small village of Tsaghkashen in the Martakert region of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Conflict, displacement and exile color everything in his and his extended family’s lives. Vrej and his peers are raised in a martial atmosphere, from their lessons at school and military camps, to the games they play, the clothes they wear and the songs they sing. Artfully combining lyrical images that she shot with news footage, Hairabedian (herself of mixed Armenian-Palestinian-Jordanian heritage) captures an indoctrination that, sadly, seems destined to keep the situation intractable from generation to generation. With the international news filled with the bloodshed in the Middle East and the Ukraine-Russia conflict, comparatively little time has been spent on what’s happening in the semi-autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and its unresolved territorial issues. Hairabedian provides onscreen text at the beginning to offer context. We learn that the mountainous enclave between Armenia and Azerbaijan has long been home to ethnic Armenians who formed a majority of the population. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991, the Armenian population there declared independence — a status not recognized by the rest of the world — leading to continuing wars with Azerbaijan, which seeks sovereignty over the territory. The ethnic Armenians living there, devoted to their homeland, call it Artsakh. When we first see Vrej in 2020, he’s 11, living in a place so small — just 150 people — that he jokes he is related to half of them. He’s the oldest of three kids, born to a couple whose participation in a mass wedding in 2008, opens the film. The priest who officiates the wedding declares that the offspring of the 700 couples he has blessed will repopulate the area and fight to maintain the homeland. A smart, sensitive, questioning lad, Vrej is born into a heavy destiny. Vrej’s school, where the walls are full of photographs of fallen soldiers, also inculcates blind love for the homeland. The kids learn that the maps of their part of the world are subject to frequent change and war could break out at any moment. A military officer, who comes to the school to teach the children about fighting, notes that it is essentially a kindergarten for soldiers. The pupils accept that by living in Artsakh, they are all considered soldiers because that’s what the situation demands. Nowhere do you hear discussion of any other solution to the territorial disputes apart from fighting. Over the course of the three years that Hairabedian follows the Khatchatryan family, they are displaced from their land twice. In 2020, Vrej’s father, Artak, who like most of the men in the village wears military fatigues, stays behind to fight. Meanwhile, life goes on as usual for the rest of the Khatchatryan clan, in a home some eight hours away from Tsaghkashen. As the women cook and clean, the kids play war games with improvised guns. When Vrej’s maternal grandmother Angela celebrates her 57th birthday, he steps into a patriarchal role, proposing a toast and assuring the others that Artsakh will prevail and lost lands will be recovered. By the time Vrej reaches 13, he holds fewer certainties. He’s learned from military camp that fighting isn’t fun. There, Hairabedian captures a heartbreaking scene of the male campers herded to a lake and allowed a brief moment in the water. Vrej, enraptured, is splashing happily like the kid he is, but never totally allowed to be, only to be rudely directed to get out by one of the soldiers. In the film’s closing conversation, Hairabedian finds the perfect ending as Vrej asks her, “What’s going to happen to the hero of the film at the end?” It’s a question to which only time can tell, but given his education and socialization, the answer seems bleak.Bianca Bustamante is set to join the GB3 Championship with Elite Motorsport. Photo from racerbia/Instagram Wrapping her two-year F1 Academy journey this year, Filipino American motorsport star Bianca Bustamante is set to take her racing career to greater heights as she joins the GB3 Championship with Elite Motorsport in 2025. Known for her stellar performance in the F1 Academy, where she secured podium finishes and victories that earned international acclaim, the first Filipina McLaren Development racer is ready to tackle the next challenge. In an Instagram post, Bustamante shared her excitement and gratitude for this significant milestone. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . A post shared by Bianca Bustamante 🏁 (@racerbia) “Wow, I honestly can’t believe I’m even writing this,” she began, describing her transition to the GB3 Championship as “a major leap forward from the F4 car.” The 18-year-old recently tested with Elite Motorsport in Spain, where she felt an immediate connection with the team and the professional environment they fostered. Driving the GB3 car for the first time was a game-changer for Bustamante. She highlighted the vehicle’s higher downforce and responsiveness, which boosted her confidence behind the wheel. “I spent two days testing with Elite in Spain last week with the old GB3 car, and it was very productive. We got off to a great start together and I felt so connected with the team straight away, a really professional environment,” she added. “It’s also been incredible driving higher downforce cars, the GB3 car is very responsive which gives me confidence to find the limits,” “I absolutely can’t wait to jump into the new car in January,” she shared, brimming with anticipation for the 2025 season. Reflecting on her journey, Bustamante acknowledged the challenges she overcame to reach this point. “Two years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being able to compete at this level,” she admitted, expressing deep gratitude to her sponsors, partners and Elite Motorsport for their unwavering support and belief in her potential. With the new season just weeks away, Bustamante is dedicating herself to rigorous preparation, focusing on building her strength and stamina. “I’m going to be pushing myself hard in the gym over the winter,” she declared, determined to make the next season her most remarkable yet. Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox?Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING

Former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, one of the top offensive players in the transfer portal, announced on social media Tuesday that he will transfer to Nebraska. Key posted a photo of himself in a Nebraska uniform wearing the No. 6 he wore at Kentucky. The simple post contained the letters "GBR," short for "Go Big Red," with an emoji heart. Key led Kentucky this past season with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as the Wildcats finished 4-8. In three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 TDs in 38 games (35 starts). Key has one season of eligibility remaining after he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. --Field Level MediaBethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s online media association confirms that two reporters were killed and others wounded in a gang attack on the re-opening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas eve attack. The killed journalists were identified as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. An unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which was blamed on the Viv Ansanm gang. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.LANSING, MI -- Millington topped North Muskegon, 35-28, in a Division 7 semifinal football game at Lansing Eastern High School on Saturday, Nov. 23. Millington held a 20-14 halftime lead and saw their second half lead grow to 35-14. The Cardinals were able to survive a North Muskegon comeback to secure the win. Millington advances to the state final at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, where they will play Monroe St. Mary CC. MLive was there to document the action, both on and off of the field. Check out photos from the game in the gallery above. Click here for a direct link to the gallery. You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the “Get photo” link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link.