BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian authorities have suspended the issuance of temporary work visas for BYD in the wake of accusations that some workers at a site owned by the Chinese electric vehicle producer had been victims of human trafficking, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The announcement came days after labor authorities said they found 163 Chinese workers in "slavery-like" conditions at the BYD factory construction site in the northeastern state of Bahia. The workers were employed by contractor Jinjiang Group, which has denied any wrongdoing. Later, the authorities also said the workers were victims of human trafficking. According to the foreign ministry, the workers entered Brazil on temporary work visas. Labor authorities had said earlier in the week that the workers had been brought to Brazil irregularly. BYD did not immediately respond to request for comment on the ministry's decision. In a social media post on Thursday, which was reposted by a BYD spokesperson, Jinjiang Group rejected the Brazilian authorities' accusations about the work conditions at the Bahia site. The contractor said the portrayal of the workers as "enslaved" was inaccurate and that there had been translation misunderstandings. BYD has said it plans to start production in Brazil early next year with an initial annual output 150,000 cars. Nearly one in five cars BYD sold outside China in the first 11 months of 2024 was in Brazil. BYD and Jinjiang Group have agreed to assist and house the 163 workers in hotels until a deal to end their contracts is reached, Brazil's Labor Prosecutor's Office said in a statement on Thursday, after meeting representatives from both firms. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; additional reporting by Fabio Teixeira in Rio de Janeior; Editing by Christian Plumb)A musical inspired by the viral Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn — known in competition as Raygun — has been canceled after producers received a legal warning. Raygun: The Musical creator Steph Broadbridge confirmed on social media that the show, which was set to debut at Kinselas in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on Saturday (December 7), had been axed after she received a notice from lawyers. “They were worried I was damaging her brand, which I would never do,” the comedian, who was also set to star in the show, said in a video shared on Instagram. She said the show would be “back soon with a whole new story arc” and that ticket holders would receive a $10 refund. In a statement to The Guardian , Gunn’s legal and management team said it was committed to protecting her intellectual property. “While we have immense respect for the credible work and effort that has gone into the development of the show, we must take necessary steps to safeguard Rachael’s creative rights and the integrity of her work,” they said. “This action is not intended to diminish the contributions of others, but rather to ensure her brand is properly represented and protected in all future endeavours.” They added that the trademark application for “Raygun” was currently under examination and anticipated that it would soon be officially registered. “The use of the ‘Raygun’ name by a comedian without approval has caused confusion among the public, potentially leading them to believe that ‘Raygun The Musical’ had Rachael’s endorsement or approval,” they said. “This misuse of intellectual property is not only misleading but also jeopardises Rachael’s other commercial ventures, which rely on the integrity of her brand.” Gunn, also known as “B-girl Raygun,” shot to internet notoriety almost overnight in August after she performed unusual moves at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including a kangaroo hop and a wriggle on the floor. The 37-year-old university lecturer failed to score a single point in the competition, losing all three of her round-robin battles by a combined score of 54-0. In the five months since her Olympic debut, Gunn and her dance moves have made it to the NFL, been imitated by Rachel Dratch on The Tonight Show , been declared “the best thing that happened in the Olympics ” by Adele, and become the inspiration for thousands of Halloween costumes. There was a dark side to the fame too, however. Gunn announced her retirement from the sport last month due to the abuse she received about her performance. “I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was. I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems really difficult for me to do now,” Gunn told local radio station 2DayFM. “I think the level of scrutiny that’s going to be there, and people will be filming it, and it will go online.” In her Instagram video, Broadbridge said the dancer’s lawyers were “very concerned that people would think that Rachael Gunn was affiliated with the musical.” “I want to assure everyone that she will not be part of the show. She’s very welcome to come; I would love for her to see it.”AP News Summary at 3:32 p.m. ESTNick Fuentes facing battery charge after ‘your body, my choice' confrontation at his Illinois home

Looking at the threat of drone intrusions in the border areas of the country, the central government is working to establish a comprehensive anti-drone unit on the border. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated this at the 60th Raising Day Parade of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on Sunday. Shah said that the problem of drones is set to become more significant in the coming days. He mentioned that, recognizing this challenge, a laser-equipped anti-drone gun mount system has been developed through a 'Whole of Government Approach' involving all border security forces guarding the nation’s borders, the Ministry of Defense, DRDO, and various research departments of the Government of India. आज जोधपुर, राजस्थान में सीमा सुरक्षा बल के 60वें स्थापना दिवस परेड समारोह में वीर जवानों से संवाद किया। देश की सीमाओं की सुरक्षा और अंतरराष्ट्रीय अपराधों को रोकने के लिए कटिबद्ध सीमा सुरक्षा बल के जवान रेगिस्तानों से लेकर दुर्गम जंगलों और बर्फीले पहाड़ों पर भी राष्ट्ररक्षा के... pic.twitter.com/ykwH0FJTRp '55% of drone intrusions along the international border with Punjab have been intercepted and neutralized, a significant improvement from around 3% earlier. Within a few years, a comprehensive anti-drone unit will be established to protect the country from threats posed by drones,' said Shah. Elaborating the initiatives made to strengthen the border security, Shah said that the BSF has established the country’s first National Coastal Police Academy in Okha, which trains state police and border guarding forces deployed to secure maritime boundaries. Additionally, the Modi government has introduced a comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) for monitoring sensitive areas along the international border. He mentioned that the CIBMS has been implemented as a pilot project in Dhubri, and the initial results have been very encouraging. After some improvements, this system will be applied across the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. He also highlighted that efforts have been made to strengthen border fencing, construct roads on the Indian side of the border, and undertake several other infrastructure projects.Mentioning the border security policy, Shah said that for many years, our border security policy lacked clarity. An integrated approach to border management and the “One Border, One Force” policy was introduced during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government Which became even more defined after Modi became Prime Minister. "Steps have been taken to develop robust infrastructure in border areas, ensure 100% implementation of welfare schemes in villages, and establish excellent connectivity through rail, road, waterways, and technology in the country's first villages along the borders,' said Shah.Highlighting the contribution of BSF to the security of the borders of the country, Shah said 'contribution of the BSF personnel will be written in Golder words. Fo over six decades, the BSF has strengthened the nation’s first line of defence through courage, valour, and sacrifice. BSF has faced all challenges at the borders and empowered the country’s first line of security,'Unveiling of Patel statue Amit Shah unveiled an 11-foot tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Jodhpur as well. In his address Shah said that Sardar Patel is the personality to whom both history and the country did not do justice. नाम और प्रसिद्धि की चिंता किये बिना बीमारी की अवस्था में भी देश के सामने खड़ी कठिन से कठिन विपदाओं से देश को मुक्त करने वाले सरदार साहब के कारण ही आज हम भारतीय संघ के रूप में खड़े हैं। pic.twitter.com/I26dP4izXI 'The virtues, sacrifices, hard work, and foresight of a great man like Sardar Patel are benefiting the country today, but he did not receive the proper recognition and respect earlier. For decades, a party steeped in devotion to one family never even built a memorial of Sardar Patel. Such a great personality was overlooked due to the dominance of one family and the party’s vindictive approach, fueled by internal disagreements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Sardar Patel by constructing the world’s tallest Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat,' said ShahBrazil shares lower at close of trade; Bovespa down 1.50%Australia news LIVE: PM believes synagogue firebombing was act of terrorism; New polls spell trouble for Labor

NC Republicans are struggling to get enough votes to pass huge new power grab: reportNEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans police arrested on Friday a man accused of killing two people during a large parade where within an hour left two dead and at least 10 wounded. Curtis Gray, 19, faces two counts of second-degree murder tied to the Nov. 17 shootings along a crowded parade route, according to a news release from the New Orleans Police Department. Gray allegedly fatally shot Rasean Carter, 21, and Malachi Jackson, 19, at the Almonaster Avenue Bridge, authorities say. Carter, an aspiring photographer who lived in Marrero just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, had planned to document the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club's annual outing and was accompanied by Jackson, his friend and uncle, reported. The parade was part of New Orleans' long-running tradition of “second-lines” where revelers follow brass bands marching through the streets and has deep ties to the city's Black culture. The deaths of Carter and Jackson were among a series of recent lethal shootings in New Orleans. While most violence has been on the , there were three people killed and eight wounded in six shootings over the past weekend . On Thursday, New Orleans police arrested two men, Darrell Fairley Jr., 18, and Cornelius G. Tillman, 19, in connection with a Nov. 30 double homicide in New Orleans East. Associated Press, The Associated Press

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country. Assad’s departure on Sunday brings to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto power in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Assad’s exit stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000, when many hoped he would be a young reformer after three decades of his father’s iron grip. But faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to his father's brutal tactics to crush dissent. A long stalemate was quickly broken when opposition groups in northwest Syria launched a surprise offensive late last month. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors have detained a former defense minister who allegedly recommended last week’s brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol. Local media say that ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun voluntarily appeared on Sunday at a Seoul prosecutors’ office, where he had his mobile phone confiscated and was detained. A law enforcement official says Kim was later sent to a Seoul detention facility. Kim's detention came a day after Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most ruling party lawmakers boycotting a floor vote to prevent a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. First 12-team College Football Playoff set, Oregon seeded No. 1 and SMU edges Alabama for last spot SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs (11-2), losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama (9-3) of the SEC but one fewer loss. The first-of-its-kind 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.Your Legacy, Ponguleti Slams Harish’s Remarks on State’s Financial Situation

Qatar tribune Agencies The US economy added more jobs than expected last month, government data showed Friday, bouncing back from a dramatic slowdown triggered by hurricanes and labor strikes. The world’s biggest economy gained 227,000 jobs in November, up from a revised 36,000 in October, said the Department of Labor. The rise in hiring was likely due to a return of Boeing workers and others who had gone on strike, and came as the cumulative impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton faded. “This has been a hard-fought recovery, but we are making progress for working families,” said President Joe Biden in a statement. Analysts warn, however, that job growth has been narrowly based across just a few sectors. Friday’s figure “marks only a moderate-sized bounce back” from the strikes and disasters, said Nationwide chief economist Kathy Bostjancic. Average job gains over the last two months remains soft, she added. Last month “employment trended up in health care, leisure and hospitality, government, and social assistance,” said the Labor Department. But the retail trade sector lost jobs, the department added in its report. The hiring figure was above a market consensus expectation of 200,000 according to Briefing.com. Average hourly earnings rose more than expected too from a month prior, by 0.4 percent to $35.61. From the same period a year ago, wages were up 4.0 percent. Strong wage growth should help boost consumer spending during the holiday season, Bostjancic said. EY senior economist Lydia Boussour said in a recent note that she expects job growth to settle “below trend” as the labor market cools gradually. But she believes “a labor market downturn isn’t on the near-term horizon” with layoffs remaining relatively low. Companies have also been managing their workforces using other means like holding back wages and resizing instead of letting people go. The report is one of the final major economic indicators that the US central bank is taking into consideration as officials enter a policy meeting in the coming weeks. Many expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates a third time in a row, after its meeting from December 17-18. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell said this week that policymakers could “afford to be a little more cautious,” noting that the US economy remains strong. One factor is US inflation data, which came in a little bit hotter than expected recently, ZipRecruiter chief economist Julia Pollak told AFP. Copy 09/12/2024 10YORK — Dale Sweek took a job at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services because it paid well. He only stayed there, though, because he thought he could help people. But after six years of working at the women’s prison in York, Sweek said, he had been through so much physical and mental stress that he was “broken down.” He thought of the coworker who had a heart attack shortly after retiring. He read research that indicated correctional staff have higher rates of heart disease and higher blood pressure than even other law enforcement officers. Another major reason Sweek said he left his position in 2023 was the way things were run at the women’s prison. Guards like Sweek are more than just security. During his time at the prison, Sweek provided emergency medical care, took care of individuals experiencing mental health episodes and inspected buildings for safety and sanitation. The way the prison handled issues in those areas worried Sweek and was echoed in the stories of a handful of incarcerated individuals at the prison interviewed by the York News-Times. People are also reading... 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Driver of car dead after crash in downtown Lincoln; part of O Street closed Nebraska medical marijuana petitions ruled valid; law set to go into effect Dec. 12 One incarcerated woman said she was locked in a shower cell for 20 hours with no food or bedding after refusing to go to the mental health unit. Another individual provided records suggesting the prison’s administration willingly ignored over 20 complaints about ventilation and air conditioning in one of the facility’s buildings. Sweek did not speak to the specific concerns detailed by the incarcerated individuals for this story, but he shared the incarcerated individuals’ frustration about the prison’s available mental health resources and the sanitation and safety of the facility. Warden Angela Folts-Oberle declined an interview request, but a spokesperson for the prison answered questions over email. “NCCW has a mental health department that supports the needs of individuals in all areas of the facility, including individual therapy, group therapy and clinical programming. NDCS policy also establishes specific timeframes for mental health professionals to meet with certain individuals,” wrote the department’s spokesperson, Dayne Urbanovsky. “The NCCW safety and sanitation officer completes rounds and inspections consistently throughout the facility and holds quarterly meetings with facility leadership to review data and recommendations,” she said. Urbanovsky said the facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association, most recently in February 2024. She said the accreditation process involves “file reviews, evaluations and an on-site inspection of the facility by ACA auditors.” Locked in a shower cell for 20 hours Maya Shields, 24, said she was locked in a shower cell with no bedding or food for 20 hours in September of this year. Shields is currently housed in the prison’s Behavior Intervention and Programming Unit, or, BIPU, which is women’s prison’s highest security unit. BIPU consists of a series of secure, single-person cells along a hallway. The showers in BIPU are also secure, individual cells, Shields said. Shields said she went into the shower cell and refused to come out after guards said they were taking her to a different unit at the prison, a unit focused on mental health that she said is for individuals who are incapable of taking care of themselves. Eventually, Shields said, the guards decided to leave her in the shower cell. But when she then asked to leave or at least be given food or bedding, she said, she was given nothing and had to stay there for almost a full day. They told her to use the shower water to drink and the drain to relieve herself, she said. Urbanovsky did not directly respond to a question about Shields’ situation but said BIPU is “mission-specific housing that addresses an individual’s behavior and risk posed to others.” She said individuals incarcerated in BIPU get six hours outside their room each day, time that may be spent with other people. Shields said the prison uses both BIPU and the mental health unit to put away people who have mental health or behavioral issues. “They don’t know what to do with people that have behavioral issues so they just lock them away,” Shields said during a phone interview. Carol Wilkins, who has been incarcerated in York since 2010, said in an in-person interview that she has spent time in both BIPU and the mental health unit. She said she struggled with isolation in BIPU but said the mental health unit, which has unit-specific programming, was actually “a really good program” for her — the first time she was there. She said going through the programming again hasn’t helped her. Sweek said that as a guard one of the hardest things about working at the women’s prison was working with people struggling with mental health issues, especially people in the mental health unit. “Seeing those inmates — they’ve committed crimes, but you know they shouldn’t be there because their mental health is so bad. They should be in a mental health facility,” Sweek said. That’s something that Shields has argued in an essay for the Nebraska Criminal Justice Review about the use of segregation on people with mental health issues, writing, “I feel people with severe mental health issues should reside in a facility with actual proper medical care & treatment.” “This prison has potential,” Wilkins said, praising some staff members, including the warden, but felt like more resources needed to go toward it, as opposed to the men’s prisons. She said this was especially true of BIPU and the mental health unit. For one thing, Wilkins said, the mental health unit needs a new coat of paint and a new intercom system. ‘It starts at the top’: Air quality in the A+B wings of North Hall For over two years, Sweek said, he was in charge of doing safety and sanitation inspections at one of the prison’s buildings. He said it felt like the administration never listened to the suggestions he made – whether it was about rusty metal bunks, mold on the ceiling or issues with the prison’s water. “You are supposed to report these things, and then you go to the top and then it’s supposed to trickle down into maintenance and things are supposed to get fixed or replaced and they don’t want to listen to you,” Sweek recalled. In April and May of 2022, Chris Henderson, a transgender man incarcerated at the prison, and 20 other individuals incarcerated at the women’s prison wrote grievances to Folts-Oberle about problems with the exhaust system and air conditioning in the A+B wings of the prison’s North Hall. Sweek said the air in North Hall was a regular issue when he was there. “They usually get it fixed as soon as they can, but they usually put a Band-Aid on it,” he recalled. Each of the grievances, copies of which Henderson shared with the News-Times, received the same response, saying there were no issues with the air temperature and that a contractor had been contacted to service the exhaust system. At the bottom of each grievance appears to be a signature from the prison’s warden, Folts-Oberle. Henderson also wrote to the Office of the Ombudsman, which investigates civilian complaints against state agencies and employees, about the heating and cooling systems in the A+B wings of North Hall. The ombudsman office’s reply in July 2022, Henderson said, disappointed him. “I addressed your concerns with Warden Folts-Oberle, and she stated that the facility has not received any complaints about the air conditioning not working in North Hall,” an assistant ombudsman wrote to Henderson, according to a copy of the letter Henderson shared with the News-Times. The warden’s claim to the ombudsman that she had received no complaints appears to contradict the more than 20 responses to grievances about air conditioning with her signature. But over email, Urbanovsky doubled down on Folts-Oberle’s assertion that there were no grievances filed about the air conditioning in North Hall during that time. “We completed a search of our grievance records and there were no grievances located regarding a non-working air conditioner in North Hall A & B wings from March 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022,” Urbanovsky wrote. Henderson was disappointed by what the warden told the ombudsman’s office. “If the warden is doing this, what does that mean for people under her? She sets the standard,” Henderson said. The ombudsman’s response also bothered him. “I was pissed, but I wasn’t surprised by it. The people who are supposed to help us didn’t go past the warden,” Henderson said, referring to the ombudsman’s response. Ombudsman Julie Rogers said her office encourages incarcerated individuals to use the grievance process on any issues to see if they can get issues handled themselves. If that’s not working, then her office intervenes. They are mainly focused on seeing if the agency is going to solve the problem — whatever the problem is, she said. Rogers said her office does not currently have any complaints about heating or air at the women’s prison. Sweek suggested cases like this weren’t uncommon — things regularly didn’t get fixed. Eventually, for Sweek, trying to improve prison conditions and help incarcerated individuals suffering with mental health issues caused his own health to suffer. That’s why he felt like he ultimately had to leave. He blamed prison leadership for not taking the suggestions of the people under them seriously enough. While he felt that a lot needed to change, Sweek said, “It starts at the top. It starts at the warden, and that trickles down.”

Arsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling Ipswich

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:30 p.m. ESTUS to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the United States is expected to announce it will send another $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. It's part of a push by the Biden administration to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. Officials say the large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The officials say they expect the announcement will be made on Monday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105 HONOLULU (AP) — The oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah has died. He was 105. Warren Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California. Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, says he suffered a bout of pneumonia. The Utah was moored at Pearl Harbor when Japanese planes began bombing the Hawaii naval base in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1941. The attack propelled the U.S. into World War II. Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the territory's north and forced many of the staff and patients outside. Then they had to remove their clothes in winter weather. Friday's incident was the latest assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Staff say it has been hit multiple times in the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in the surrounding neighborhoods. Israel's military says Hamas uses the hospital as a base. It did not provide evidence, and hospital officials have denied it. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people. The statements from Rashad Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday raised pressure on Russia. Officials in Moscow have said a drone attack was underway in the region that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was destined for but have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Chechnya on Wednesday when it crashed, killing 38 people and leaving all 29 survivors injured. Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. It's part of a inquiry into whether Willis has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad before Willis responds. A Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year and sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify during its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. Willis argued that the committee didn’t have the power to subpoena her. US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness. What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio) TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — When Snoop Dogg agreed to become the sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, he had a demand: It must have a NIL component. Other bowls have provided NIL chances for single players the past few years, but the Arizona Bowl is believed to be the first to offer NIL compensation to every player on both Colorado State and Miami (Ohio). The players participated in youth clinics before Saturday's game and will be compensated for their time. Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky.

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. The start of a new year can bring a surge of motivation around setting new goals, including financial resolutions. One way to help those goals become reality, financial experts say, is to make them as specific as possible. Then, track your progress, while allowing flexibility for unexpected challenges. “It’s easier to track progress when we know where we are going,” says Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner and founder of The Financial Grove in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That’s why she encourages her clients to set clearly defined goals, often related to paying off a specific debt, saving a certain amount per month or improving their credit score. Here are more tips from financial experts about crafting 2025 financial goals : Trying to accomplish too much can feel overwhelming. Instead, pick your priorities, says Cathleen Tobin, CFP and owner of Moonbridge Financial Design in Rhinebeck, New York. She suggests focusing on those big, often emotionally-driven goals to find motivation. “It’s more compelling than just a number,” she says. For example, do you want to make sure you’re on track for retirement or save money for a house? “Start there.” Scowcroft says she sees clients get tripped up by selecting overly broad goals, such as “get better with money.” Instead, she encourages people to select specific action items, such as “sign up for a budgeting tool and set aside time each month to learn where my money is going.” That level of specificity provides direction so you know what steps to take next, she adds. For example, if your top priority is to become debt-free, then your specific goal might be to pay off an extra $200 of your debt balance each month. Tobin says labeling savings accounts so they correspond with goals can also help. An emergency fund could be named something like “Peace of mind in 2025,” so you remember why you’re saving every time you make a transfer. “It’s more motivating than just ‘emergency fund,’” Tobin says. Measuring your progress as the year unfolds is also a critical component of successful goal setting, Tobin says. She compares it to weight loss. If you want to lose 20 pounds by June, then you need to lose about a pound a week for the first six months of the year. Similarly, she says it helps to break savings goals into microsteps that specify what you need to do each week. Schedule a weekly or monthly check-in with yourself to make sure you are meeting those smaller goals along the way. You might want to review your debt payoff progress or check your credit score , for example. “Being able to break it down into steps that can be done each week or twice a month really helps,” Tobin says. If your goal is to save more money , then setting up an automatic transfer each month can help turn that goal into reality, as long as you know you have the money in your checking account to spare. “It reduces the mental load,” says Mike Hunsberger, CFP and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning in St. Charles, Missouri, where he primarily supports veterans and current members of the military. He recommends starting small to ease into the change. “I wouldn’t jump to double what you’re currently saving,” he says. For example, when it comes to saving in a retirement account, if you’re starting with a 3% contribution, you might want to bump it up to 4%, then slowly increase it from there. “My number one piece of advice is to start small, but make sure you scale over time,” Hunsberger adds. “Because it’s gradual, you probably won’t notice it impacting your lifestyle.” “Stay flexible,” Scowcroft says. “Part of it is just being kind to yourself and not being too rigid.” When unexpected challenges come up, such as a big unplanned expense, you might have to pause making progress on your goal and reset. You might even need to change your goal. Scowcroft says that doesn’t mean you “failed,” just that life changed your plans. Dwelling on any negativity won’t help your forward progress. Sharing your goals with a friend can also make it easier to reach them, Scowcroft says. “It really helps to have an accountability buddy,” she says. She suggests putting a regular “money date” with your friend on the calendar so you can ask each other how you’re doing, brainstorm any challenges or even budget together side-by-side . “It’s a fun excuse to meet up with a friend.” More From NerdWallet Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions originally appeared on NerdWallet .