lol646 website US sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay. At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocket LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday’s doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City’s 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA’s five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.Buffalo approves 60-day moratorium on permits for some short-term rentalsBelarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has not ruled out that self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko could lose power in Belarus through a coup, which could potentially involve fighters from the Kalinouski Regiment. Source: Tsikhanovskaya in an interview with Sergiy Sydorenko, editor of European Pravda Details: Tsikhanovskaya said the Kalinouski Regiment, which is fighting on Ukraine's side in the ongoing war against Russia, is held in "great respect and hope" in Belarus, as they are seen as the future foundation of the Belarusian army. Quote : "Many people also expect that eventually, it will be fighters from the Kalinouski Regiment who will liberate Belarus. Of course, there could be many scenarios. Ideally, it would happen peacefully, but who knows how it will play out." The politician emphasised that she hopes for a peaceful transfer of power in Belarus through fair elections. Quote : "But of course, there could be other scenarios. A palace coup is one possibility. In that case our soldiers currently in Ukraine could play a role. But we must be prepared." Tsikhanovskaya also stressed that free elections in Belarus would only be possible if all political prisoners were released and freedom of speech and thought restored. The next so-called "presidential elections", during which Alexander Lukashenko is expected to engineer another victory for himself, are scheduled to take place in Belarus on 26 January . Tsikhanovskaya has previously urged Belarusians to avoid participating in these "elections" and to refrain from protests to prevent further repression. Support UP or become our patron !

GM to stop funding development of Cruise robotaxisChina unveils 450 km/h high-speed train prototypeDonald Trump again trolls Canada and Justin Trudeau in Christmas message; here's what he posted on social mediaFrom wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turn

IDT Corporation: Irrespective Of Spin-Off Plans, Poised To Surge Again In 2025

Chandigarh, December 30 : Farmers have announced a 'Punjab Bandh' on Monday leading to the expected closure of all shops across the state and disruptions in road and rail services. However, emergency services will continue to operate. There will also be no supply of milk, fruits, and vegetables until the protest ends on Monday evening as several trade organisations lent their support to the bandh. "Farmer union leaders will enforce a chakka jam on roads and rail lines from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Government and private institutions are requested to stay closed. Only emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, marriage vehicles, or anyone in a dire emergency, will be allowed to pass," reports quoted a senior farm leader as saying. Tripura: Protest Rally by Samyukta Kisan Morcha Held in Agartala to Support Farmers' Demands. SKM, KKM Call for Bandh The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). Sarwan Singh Pandher -- who happens to be the coordinator of both forums -- said traders, transporters, employees unions, toll plaza workers, labour, ex-servicemen, Sarpanches and teachers' unions, social and other bodies, and some other sections have lent their support to the bandh. Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. With Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite hunger strike entering its 34th day on Sunday, farmer leaders at Khanauri said they have been following the Gandhian way to continue their protest and it is up to the government to decide whether it wants to use force to evict their senior leader. Farmers Protest: ‘Fight Will Last Till Last Breath’, Says Jagjit Singh Dallewal Whose Fast Completes 28 Days for Kisan’ Rights. Roads and Railway Services To Remain Closed He further said the farmers wanted to make it clear that whatever situation arises the responsibility will lie with the Centre and the constitutional bodies. Rail movement and road traffic will remain closed on Monday. In support of the farmers' Bandh call, bus services in Punjab will remain suspended on Monday. While the PRTC bus services will be shut for four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the private bus operators have announced their full support, thus declaring the suspension of services across the state from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Besides a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands. This bandh, the farmer leader said, will force the Centre to accept the demands of farmers. He slammed the Union government for failing to accept the demands of farmers. Farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after security forces stopped their march to Delhi. A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8, and again on December 14. Security personnel in Haryana prevented them from proceeding. There will be a complete bandh on December 30, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said. However, emergency services will remain operational. Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the call for a 'Punjab bandh' on December 30 is getting good support from various sections. The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. To ensure the success of the bandh, SKM (Non-political) and KMM convened a meeting of transporters, employees, traders and others at the Khanauri protest site last Thursday. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 08:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

AN astonishing “new aristocracy” of couples, relatives and nepo-babies runs the Government. More than two dozen ministers including Rachel Reeves , Pat McFadden and Wes Streeting all have spouses or relatives on the taxpayer or Labour Party payroll, analysis shows. Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is littered with husband and wife ­politicians, sisters in top roles and the offspring of Labour powerbrokers. Seven members of the Cabinet, including the Defence and Business Secretary, are related to either another minister, a Labour-appointed ­special adviser or a civil servant. The Government finally published their first set of transparency returns yesterday outlining any potential conflicts of interest around the Cabinet table and across Whitehall. And it showed an unprecedented 28 ministers are related to each other, married to other Labour politicians or have their partner also on the public purse. READ MORE ON LABOUR Under Rishi Sunak’s Tories, that figure was 11. Chancellor Ms Reeves’ husband is a powerful Whitehall mandarin, while Cabinet Office boss Pat McFadden’s wife was appointed by Sir Keir as a political aide. Ms Reeves’ MP sister Ellie now attends Cabinet, while Ellie’s ­husband John Cryer is a Labour minister in the House of Lords. Health Secretary Mr Streeting’s partner is paid by Labour as a spin doctor, while minister Georgia Gould’s husband is an adviser to Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. Most read in The Sun Ms Gould is considered Labour royalty, as her father Philip was the architect of New Labour and her mother serves as a Labour peer. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander’s husband is a senior figure at media regulator Ofcom. The lower ranks are also heaving with ministers whose partners and family also serve Labour or the taxpayer. Foreign Office minister ­Hamish Falconer’s father is a ­Labour peer, while fellow minister Baroness Chapman’s husband Nick Smith is a Labour MP. The Eagle sisters, Angela and Maria, serve Home Office and Defence Ministers respectively. Meanwhile, Treasury Minister Lord Livermore’s partner Seb Dance is London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s deputy. Fellow peer Baroness Smith, who serves as Advocate General of Scotland, is the youngest daughter of the former Labour leader John Smith and her mother is also a Labour peer. And Baroness Blake, who is a whip in the House of Lords, has a daughter, Olivia, who was elected as a Labour MP in July. Housing minister Alex Norris’s wife Emma Foody was elected for Labour in July. And fellow newbie MP Imogen Walker — the Chancellor’s Commons aide — is married to Sir Keir’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney. He ousted former Chief of Staff Sue Gray, whose son Liam Conlon was elected to Parliament this year as a Labour member. Last night Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart said: “Here’s Labour’s new aristocracy laid bare — it’s all who you know or are related to.” A Labour insider said: “People tend to get into Labour politics quite young, and then spend their time hanging out with their ­Labour comrades so often that it makes sense to marry one. “For others, the parental or spouse connections can help them get a foot in the door or a leap up the ladder.” Read More on The US Sun A Downing Street spokesman said: “To rebuild Britain and deliver the change our country needs will require talent, expertise and creativity. We won’t hesitate to make sure the right people are around the table.” THE new ministerial register of interests also revealed Energy Minister Kerry McCarthy has donated to Greenpeace — whose controversial tactics have included scaling the roof of Mr Sunak’s family home last year. By Harry Cole CAN you imagine the howls of fury from Labour if those evil Tories had hired their mothers, brothers, lovers and come-all-ye-others into plum roles in the Government? It’s remarkable just how much of Sir Keir Starmer’s frontbench seems to be related to, married to, or descended from another Labour figure of note. And it’s fascinating how many Labour households are getting a double-dipping from the public purse as a result. They insist that it’s the best man or woman that has got the job but does that really pass the sniff test? Can they really say that every single member of this so-called “new aristocracy” got where they are on merit alone?

2 big inflation reports may affect Fed's interest-rate decision

BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know

Tweet Facebook Mail As Syrians rejoiced across the country this week, many began the frantic search for missing loved ones who had been forcibly disappeared under Bashar al-Assad's brutal dictatorship. Crowds have descended on the notorious Saydnaya prison, which had become synonymous with arbitrary detention, torture and murder. Under the glaring sun, people poured toward the notorious facility north of Damascus, as traffic stretched for miles and some left their cars to walk the last stretch uphill, past barbed wire fences and watchtowers. READ MORE: 'Terror and devastation' in Sydney vandalism attack, Jewish leader says People gather at the Saydnaya prison near Damascus, Syria, on December 9, 2024. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images) Just as Assad's palaces revealed the extent of the family's opulent wealth and luxurious lifestyle, his prisons have confirmed horrors that Syrians have known all too well over the past five decades. The Assad regime's notorious detention facilities were black holes where, as far back as the 1970s, anyone deemed an opponent disappeared. Saydnaya was one of the most infamous sites, known as "the slaughterhouse" – where as many as 13,000 people were hanged between 2011 and 2015, according to Amnesty International. Unsurprisingly, it was one of the first locations rebels focused on as they swept toward Damascus in a lightning offensive. After rebel fighters toppled Assad on Sunday, sending the dictator fleeing to Russia, images surfaced of Saydnaya prisoners being released – prompting many Syrians to flood social media seeking help to locate their loved ones. By Monday, many had taken matters into their own hands and surged into the prison, spurred on by rumours that thousands were still imprisoned in deeper levels of the facility, an underground area known as the "red section." Luxury cars, selfies and guns: Assad's palace, home looted View Gallery When CNN arrived on scene on Monday, a huge crowd was gathered outside and inside the prison. Cries of "Allahu Akbar" and bursts of celebratory gunfire rang through the air. One woman, Maysoon Labut, came from Dara'a, the southern Syrian city that became the epicentre of anti-regime protests at the start of the Arab Spring and experienced the full force of Assad's brutal response as he launched a crackdown that tipped the country into 13 years of civil war. Labut was looking for her three brothers and son-in-law. She was breathless and emotional as she spoke. "The red section of the prison, they have been trying for days to reach it," she told CNN. "There's no oxygen because the ventilation went out and so in the end all of them may die. For the sake of Allah, help them." READ MORE: Flirty moment suspected shooter made 'one of his biggest mistakes' A long traffic jam as people gathered at the Saydnaya prison in Syria on December 9, 2024. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images) A desperate search fueled by fear This was the rumour that spurred the crowds on Monday – the idea that somewhere buried inside Saydnaya was a warren of undiscovered holding cells packed with missing Syrians. But it's not clear if the area even exists, deepening fears that those deemed missing may never be found. The volunteer organisation Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, deployed special teams to the prison who drilled and hammered through concrete on Monday. Rebel fighters shouted for people to be quiet so that the voices of any detainees trapped inside might be heard by the rescue workers. A hush fell over the crowd and some got down on their knees as they waited for confirmation. A sniffer dog lent support. But no entrance was found. In a statement later Monday, the White Helmets said they'd found "no evidence of undiscovered secret cells or basements," or any "unopened or hidden areas within the facility." They said the search for possible prisoners at the prison had ended and urged people on social media to avoid spreading misinformation. The Association of Detainees and the Missing in Seydnayah Prison (ADMSP) said all prisoners had been released by midday Sunday, and that claims about detainees trapped underground were "unfounded" and "inaccurate." Mounir Al-Fakir, a former Saydnaya detainee and a founding partner at ADMSP, told CNN the facility contains one underground level of cells, but he does not believe it likely that there are hidden layers below that. About 3,000 detainees had been released after the liberation of Damascus, he estimated. But the desperation of families combing through the prison on Monday – sifting through the vast trove of documents left behind, using cellphone flashlights in the darkness – reflects the agony of waiting for years with no clue what had happened to their loved ones within Saydnaya's cramped and dingy cells. One woman held up a photo of her brother, taken 12 years ago, his fate unknown. He would be 42 by now, she said. READ MORE:  Netanyahu vows to challenge 'absurd' corruption charges at trial People wait as the volunteer group Syrian Civil Defense investigated the inside of Saydnaya Prison after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on December 9, 2024. (Anagha Subhash Nair/Anadolu/Getty Image) "He has two girls and a son he has never met. We just want to be sure if he's dead or alive. God knows," she said. Some of the newly freed have reunited with their ecstatic families – but it's bittersweet after their long detention. Suheil Hamawi, 61, spent more than three decades imprisoned in various Syrian jails, and finally returned home to his northern Lebanese village of Chekka on Monday. "It's a very beautiful feeling, a truly beautiful feeling," Hamawi told the news agency AFP. "I've discovered that love is still here, and family is still here." However, returning home made the former prisoner realise how many years he had missed out on. "I have grandchildren, but I never felt my age until my son's daughter called me 'Grandpa,'" Hamawi said. "That's when I realised I had lost such a long period of time."Ex-minister says CSIS's national security fears were key to his decision to deny Canadian a passport

Lipscomb secures 112-54 win against Division-III Asbury