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Dead End for Europe

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

After the unspeakable atrocities of last week, Israel will never be the same, and this also holds for Gaza and the Palestinians. An emotionally shattered Israel is united in the determination to destroy the terror infrastructure constructed over 17 years (following the violent Hamas takeover from the PLO in 2007), regardless of criticism. Meanwhile, Hamas is blocking escape routes and using Israeli survivors as hostages in order to retain the missiles and underground terror network – writes Gerald M Steinberg, emeritus professor of politics at Bar Ilan University and president of NGO Monitor.The response from the Americans to this horror was immediate, including deploying a naval carrier group, supported by additional vessels from the UK. Washington made it clear that if Iran and its Hezbollah terror proxy joins in murdering Israelis, they are prepared to intervene.Europe, which has no significant security capabilities to add, sent some leaders to demonstrate relevance, including EU...

Bills coach says running back Harris has full movement after taken to the hospital with neck injury

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott expressed relief in saying initial tests indicate Damien Harris is trending in a positive direction after a neck injury led to the running back being transported by ambulance to the hospital on Sunday night.“It’s my understanding he has full movement,” McDermott said following a 14-9 win over the New York Giants. “Fortunate that he is seemingly heading in a good direction, with the reports we are getting. So I am very thankful to God for that.”McDermott also said quarterback Josh Allen was examined for an injury to his throwing shoulder, with tests revealing no damage.Harris flashed a thumbs up sign with his left hand as he was being loaded into the ambulance after being hurt in the second quarter. He lay still on his back on the turf for several minutes after being tackled by linebacker Bobby Okereke on a 1-yard gain up the middle to convert a third-and-1 situation.Harris’ helmet appeared to hit Okereke squarely in the le...

New York Giants come up a yard short — twice — in dropping to 1-5 following loss to Buffalo

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Tyrod Taylor and the undermanned New York Giants were twice 1 yard away from reaching the end zone. Both times they fell short in what proved the difference in a 14-9 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.Rather than celebrating what would’ve been their second victory of the season in a game they entered as two-touchdown underdogs, the Giants instead were left to lament dropping their fourth straight.“You don’t get trophies for trying,” coach Brian Daboll said.New York is 1-5 through six games for the fifth time since 2017, which is in contrast to last year when the Giants started 5-1 in their first season under Daboll, the former Bills offensive coordinator.The outcome was decided on an untimed down to end the game. Driving 57 yards in the final 1:25, the Giants got to the 1-yard line when Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard was called for pass interference in the end zone. Taylor’s pass over the middle on the final play was too high for tight e...

Middle East is ‘on the verge of the abyss,’ says UN chief

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres late Sunday urged restraint as Israel gets ready for a ground invasion of Gaza, amid increasing concerns the Israel-Hamas conflict will turn into a regional war.“We are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East,” Guterres warned. He called on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group and political party, to “immediately” release the people it is holding hostage in the Gaza Strip, and asked Israel to allow for “rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid” in Gaza.At least one million people have fled their homes in Gaza over the past week ahead of an expected Israeli invasion in retaliation for Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis and during which the militants kidnapped 150 people who are currently being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel has declared a siege of Gaza, restricting access to energy, food and water, and launched thousands...

Indonesia’s top court rules against lowering age limit of presidential, vice presidential candidates

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s top court on Monday ruled against lowering the minimum age of presidential and vice presidential candidates as the country gears up for election in 2024.The court’s decision is final and can’t be appealed. In August, seven politicians — including from the Indonesian Solidarity Party chaired by the youngest son of current President Joko Widodo — filed a petition against the current age limit for candidates, asking it to be lowered to 35 instead of 40, arguing it was discriminatory. The 7-to-2 decision by the nine-judge panel of the Constitutional Court rejected the arguments, saying it wasn’t the court’s role to change the age limit for candidates and that it was up to the parliament to set such laws.Two judges argued that while the court should uphold the age limit as is, it could add a special exception to those who “served or been elected as regional leaders.”Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, currently serves...

A top EU official convenes a summit to deal with a fallout in Europe from the Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday as concerns grow that the war between Israel and Hamas could fuel inter-communal tensions in Europe and bring more refugees in search of sanctuary. “This conflict has many consequences, including for us in the European Union,” EU Council President Charles Michel said in a video statement announcing that he had convened the virtual meeting. “The conflict could have major security consequences for our societies.”Since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern on Oct. 7, triggering the latest Gaza war, France has ordered a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the number of antisemitic acts has risen. Low-level rallies have been held in other EU countries. Both the the 27-nation bloc and the United States consider Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Louvre Museum in Paris and Versailles Palace evacuated visitors and staff after receiving bomb threats over the weekend, and the French gove...

Stock market today: Asian shares sink, oil slips as investors brace for Israeli invasion of Gaza

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares fell and oil prices edged lower as investors braced Monday for an expected invasion by Israel in the Gaza Strip.The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials edged 0.1% higher. Germany’s DAX shed 0.5% to 15,104.87 and the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.5%, to 6,965.51. Britain’s FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 7,589.92. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region and the call-up of some 360,000 reservists, have positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group Hamas. More than a million people have fled their homes in the besieged enclave in the past week, ahead of the expected invasion meant to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly Oct. 7 attack. “Who can blame markets for being jittery,” RaboResearch Global Economics and Markets said in a commentary. “The world now holds its breath as Israel prepares for a full...

French schools hold a moment of silence in an homage to a teacher killed in a knife attack

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Schoolchildren and educators will hold a moment of silence in French schools on Monday after a teacher was fatally stabbed and three other people wounded last week in an attack by a former student suspected of Islamic radicalization.The homage on Monday afternoon will also pay tribute to another teacher, Samuel Paty, killed exactly three years ago near his Paris area school. He was beheaded by a radicalized Chechen later killed by police.In a message to teachers and other school workers posted on X, formerly Twitter, French President Emmanuel Macron said “we took action, we are taking action and we will continue to take action to ensure that school remains a sanctuary for our students and for all those who work there.” “To blind hatred, we will always oppose the inextinguishable thirst for teaching. The thirst for knowledge. The thirst for living free,” he added.The French government heightened the national threat alert and ordered up to 7,000 soldiers to be...

In the news today: Fifth Canadian dies in Israel after Hamas attacks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Global Affairs confirms death of fifth Canadian in Israel after Hamas attacksGlobal Affairs Canada has confirmed the death of a fifth Canadian in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants, while Canadians in the besieged Gaza Strip still have no way to get out.Three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened Oct. 7 are still missing, officials said Sunday. Global Affairs did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy reasons.More than 6,800 Canadians are registered in Israel, and more than 450 in the West Bank and Gaza. Canada is currently assisting about 3,300 permanent residents, Canadians and their families.Zexi Li to testify in ‘Freedom Convoy’ trialThe woman who went to court to get an injunction against the “Freedom Convoy” last year is set to testify today ...

Citytv touts all-Canadian cast for spinoff ‘Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:14:49 GMT

TORONTO — The Canadian cop show spinoff “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent” has its cast.Citytv says Aden Young of “Rectify” and Kathleen Munroe of “City on Fire” will play elite detectives who investigate “high-profile crimes and homicides in metro Toronto.”“Schitt’s Creek” and “Pretty Hard Cases” alumnus Karen Robinson plays Insp. Vivienne Holness.The network touts its cast as all-Canadian. The show is currently in production amid an ongoing Hollywood actors strike.Also in the leading cast is K.C. Collins of “The Cleaning Lady” as a deputy Crown attorney, Nicola Correia-Damude of “Shadowhunters” as a forensic pathologist and Araya Mengesha of “Anne with an E” as a tech expert. Citytv says 10 one-hour episodes are slated for a spring 2024 launch and will deliver “original Canadian stories written, produced by and starring Canadians.”Earlier this year,...