NoneSurveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigration

Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday the government "would not accept any pressure" from the new US administration led by President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or release its party founder Imran Khan. When questioned about potential pressure from the Trump administration in view of its loyalist Richard Grenell's tweet demanding Imran's release, Sanaullah replied: "We would not work under pressure of Donald Trump [...] if any intervention is made then we would consider it as interference in our sovereignty." Grenell, who has been picked by Trump as "envoy for special missions" earlier this month, had called for release of former premier Imran — who remains incarcerated at the Adiala jail since August last year — via writing "Release Imran Khan" on X last month. The premier's aide, who is also one of the members of the government's negotiation committee, further said that they did not commence dialogue with the major opposition party due to Trump. He stressed that negotiations should be held bilaterally between the treasury and the opposition. He also said that Pakistan had witnessed ups and downs in its bilateral ties with the US, however, Islamabad would not accept anything against its national interests. To another question, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader replied that the federal government would not create obstacles if the Imran Khan-founded party seeks "conclusive and time-bound" talks. He, however, said that it won't be possible if both sides agreed on all demands during the talks, adding that the government was not in haste to summon meetings immediately. He was pointing towards the recent statement of the embattled PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan in which he sought government's “timeframe” in connection with progress on their demands after the latter met Imran at Adiala Jail today. “Dialogues should be held within [a specified] timeframe,” Gohar said, quoting the incarcerated PTI founder, urging the incumbent government to make progress. The PTI founder expressed his satisfaction over initiating the negotiation process, he added. Responding to a question, the PTI chairman said that matters related to the civil disobedience movement were not discussed in the meeting. The development came a day after the ruling coalition and the PTI came to table to defuse political tensions in the cash-strapped country. Negotiating committees, formed by the government and the PTI, conducted their much-hyped meeting in a conducive environment and resolved to continue dialogue process a day ago. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who presided over the meeting, had said that the next session will be held on January 2 and PTI’s team would present a charter of their demands in the huddle.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia's coach on Dec. 12, announced Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.” Under Rodriguez, Alley spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021 when Rodriguez was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator. In Alley’s lone season at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, allowing 318 yards per game. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Rod, as I’ve seen how he develops players and builds a program,” Alley said. “I look forward to working with the players and doing my part to help WVU be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference and the nation.” Alley worked under Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2015 to 2018 when Venables was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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JI launches ‘Farmers’ March’ from Mandi Bahauddin today JI top leader says no political party other than JI prioritises issues related to agriculture and small-scale farmers ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced the launch of a “Farmers’ March” starting from Mandi Bahauddin on December 25 to advocate for the rights of small farmers and expand the movement nationwide. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the JI top leader said that no political party other than JI prioritized issues related to agriculture and small-scale farmers. Naeemur Rehman also announced a “Palestine Solidarity Million March” to be held in Islamabad on December 29 urging the public to participate wholeheartedly in support of the Palestinian cause. He issued warning to the government against rising electricity bills, saying that the JI would only tolerate the situation until the end of winter. “Decrease the power tariffs or get ready to face the protest movement in next couple of months.” He credited JI’s movement for pushing the government to initiate negotiations with IPPs, despite earlier claims that IPP contracts were untouchable. Welcoming ongoing negotiations between the government and PTI, he urged both sides to make decisions in the best interest of the nation. He stressed the inclusion of Form-45 in PTI’s agenda and demanded the formation of a judicial commission to address electoral irregularities. He also criticized government’s policy resulting slow internet speed, saying that poor connectivity and slow speeds are affecting the livelihoods of millions of youth. Highlighting security concerns, he said the deteriorating situation in Kurram and Balochistan requires immediate attention. “Operations are not a solution; these issues should be resolved through dialogue involving federal and provincial governments,” he said. He also called for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul for peace in region. He said the US is supporting Israeli terrorism and cited historical examples like Hiroshima and Nagasaki to highlight America’s destructive policies. He called on Arab and Islamic countries to take concrete steps in support of Gaza rather than fearing US influence. The JI chief welcomed the Syrian interim government’s progress and its general amnesty but stressed the need for more efforts to establish peace. He condemned atrocities committed by former Syrian leaders Hafiz al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad, expressing hope for a stable Syria free of foreign proxies. Naeemur Rehman criticized the state of economy, blaming the elite class for the financial woes. He highlighted JI’s commitment to systemic change, advocating for the protection of public rights and supremacy of the Constitution. JI central Naib Ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam and Islamabad Ameer Nasrullah Randhawa were also present on the occasion.North Korea vows 'toughest' anti-US policy weeks before Trump enters White HouseColts Notebook: Richardson again delivers in clutch

Op-Ed: People don’t want to work? Guess again, morons.

At least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank around the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including three people it said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a second somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Tuesday. The ministry reported three of the dead were killed by airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. An Associated Press photojournalist captured images of Israeli forces detonating an explosive device planted by Palestinian militants during a raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Israel has carried out several large-scale raids in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. While airstrikes were once rare in the West Bank, they have grown more common since the outbreak of war as Israeli forces clamp down, saying they aim to prevent attacks on their citizens. Israeli fire has killed at least 800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, Palestinian health officials say. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. SAYDNAYA, Syria — A large crowd of Syrians gathered near a historic monastery in Saydnaya on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights. Tuesday's celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and an infamous prison , where tens of thousands were held. Families and friends stood beneath the illuminated tree — some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops — while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky “This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee. Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed hope for unity across all sects and religions in Syria, dismissing recent Christmas tree vandalism as “isolated incidents.” Earlier in the afternoon, pilgrims visited the historic Our Lady of Saydnaya Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, believed to be built in the sixth century. In Homs, a similarly grand Christmas tree was illuminated as security officers patrolled the area to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering, according to Syria’s state media. UNITED NATIONS -- Recent attacks on hospitals in North Gaza, where Israel is carrying out an offensive, are having a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians still in the area, the U.N. humanitarian office says. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern at reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital on Tuesday, forcing its evacuation. The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, also expressed deep concern at attacks reported in recent days in and around the two other hospitals in North Gaza that are minimally functioning – Al Awda and Kamal Adwan. OCHA said the Israeli siege on Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and parts of Jaballiya in North Gaza continued for a 79th day on Tuesday, and while the U.N. and its partners have made 52 attempts to coordinate humanitarian access to besieged areas in December 48 were rejected by Israel. While four missions were approved, OCHA said the U.N. and its partners faced impediments as a result of Israeli military operations and “none of the U.N.-coordinated attempts to access the area have been fully facilitated.” Throughout the Gaza Strip, OCHA said that Israeli authorities facilitated just 40% of requests for humanitarian movements requiring their approval in December. WASHINGTON — A leading global food crisis monitor says deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in north Gaza as soon as next month. The U.S.-created Famine Early Warning System Network says that’s because of a near-total Israeli blockade of food and other aid in that part of Gaza. The finding, however, appears to have exposed a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputes part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calls the intensified famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn recent missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and to condemn the group's Iranian allies for allegedly providing the group with weapons. Gideon Saar said in a letter Tuesday to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council presidency this month, that the Houthis are violating international law and council resolutions. “This Iranian-backed terrorist group continues to endanger Israel’s and other nations’ security, as well as the freedom of maritime navigation, in flagrant violation of international law,” Saar said. “All of this malign activity is done as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.” The U.S. Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to an email asking when the council meeting will be held. The Houthis have said they launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – and on Israel -- with the aim of ending Israel’s devastating air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war in Gaza followed Hamas’ deadly October 2023 attacks in southern Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military investigation has concluded that the presence of troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths of six hostages killed by their Hamas captors in Gaza. The hostages' bodies were discovered in a tunnel in late August, an event that shook Israel and sparked some of the largest anti-war protests since the war began. The investigation found that the six hostages were killed by multiple gunshots from their captors after surviving for nearly 330 days. The Israeli military’s “ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists’ decision to murder the six hostages,” the report found. According to the investigation, the Israeli military began operating in the area where the hostages were being held in southern Gaza about two weeks before their discovery, under the assumption that the chances of hostages in the area was medium to low. On August 27, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was found alone in a tunnel , causing the Israeli military to halt operations for 24 hours to determine if there could be other hostages in the area. The military discovered the opening leading to the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were located on August 30. A pathological report estimated the six hostages were killed on August 29. The six hostages killed were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin , whose American-Israeli parents became some of the most recognized spokespeople pleading for the hostages’ release, including addressing the Democratic National Convention days before their son’s killing. “The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal,” the Hostages Families Forum said in response to the investigation. “Every passing moment puts the hostages’ lives in immediate danger.” JERUSALEM — The Israeli negotiating team working on a ceasefire returned from Qatar to Israel on Tuesday, the prime minister’s office said, after what it called “a significant week” of talks. After months of deadlock, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to reach a deal. According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the proposed agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages, over one-third of whom are believed to be dead. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “some progress” in efforts to reach a deal, but added he did not know how long it would take. CAIRO — Israeli soldiers took control of a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday. Some of the patients had to walk to another hospital while others were driven by paramedics, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi. He did not specify how many patients had evacuated. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. The army later said its soldiers had left the hospital. The military said it had assisted with evacuating the patients and had not ordered the hospital closed. However, al-Wahidi said only one doctor and maintenance person were left behind. The Indonesian Hospital is one of three hospitals left largely inaccessible in the northernmost part of Gaza because Israel has imposed a tight siege there since launching an offensive in early October. The Israeli army said Tuesday’s operation at the Indonesian Hospital came after militants carried out attacks from the hospital for the past month, including launching anti-tank missiles and planting explosive devices in the surrounding area. The Health Ministry accused Israel of “besieging and directly targeting” the three hospitals in northern Gaza. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said Israeli drones detonated explosives near the hospital and that 20 people were wounded, including five medical staff. The Israeli military declined to comment on the operation around the hospital. DAMASCUS — Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. Many of the insurgents who now rule Syria are jihadis, although Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and spent years depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. It remains unclear who set the Christmas tree on fire Monday, which was condemned by a representative of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community. “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations," the HTS representative said in a video widely shared on social media. "The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.” On Tuesday, protesters marched through the streets of Bab Touma in Damascus, shouting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses. “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country,” said Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church as he addressed the crowd in a church courtyard, assuring them of Christians’ rights in Syria. Since HTS led a swift offensive that overthrew President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Syria’s minority communities have been on edge, uncertain of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government. “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation,” another protester said. “We stand united — Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.” DOHA — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza were ongoing in Doha in cooperation with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators. “We will not leave any door unopened in pursuit of reaching an agreement,” said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. Al Ansari added that rumors the ceasefire would be reached before Christmas are “speculation.” The ceasefire negotiations come at a time when winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. Families of the approximately 100 hostages who have been held for 445 days in Gaza are also worried their loved ones will not survive another winter. In a press conference, al-Ansari also called on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria as quickly as possible on Tuesday. “The reason was the crimes of the previous regime, and that regime, with all of its authority, is no longer in place, therefor the causes for these sanctions no longer exist today,” he said. DAMASCUS, Syria — American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group. Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead. Zakka told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive. Zakka said he believes Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating. Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip. Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, although he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. TEL AVIV, Israel — Hannah Katzir, an Israeli woman who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and freed in a brief ceasefire last year, has died. She was 78. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families of people taken captive, confirmed the death Tuesday but did not disclose the cause. Her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement that her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since Oct. 7.” Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the attack by militants who raided their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son Elad was also kidnapped and his body was recovered in April by the Israeli military, who said he had been killed in captivity. She spent 49 days in captivity and was freed in late November 2023. Shortly after Katzir was freed, her daughter told Israeli media that she had been hospitalized with heart issues attributed to “difficult conditions and starvation” while she was held captive. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said the projectile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, but it set off air raid sirens overnight in the country's populous central area, sending residents looking for cover. Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said a 60-year-old woman was seriously wounded after being hurt on her way to a protected space. There was no immediate comment from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third time in a week that fire from Yemen set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile slammed into a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16, after Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept it. Earlier last week, Israeli jets struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city, killing nine. Israel said the strikes were in response to previous Houthi attacks.

We all want power and control over our own lives. The irony of power and control over others is that it almost always results in violence and destruction of the other. We see this on the interpersonal level, when someone trying to control their partner usually results in domestic violence. We see this on the international stage with wars between countries: Isreal's desire to control the Palestinians is destroying Gaza; Putin's desire to control Ukraine is destroying Ukraine. Here in our country, power over results in discrimination and bias against others we fear and try to control, resulting in their misery and death. The ultimate irony is that power and control over others also destroys those who try to control. We're likely to see lots of politically controlling actions with the new federal administration over women, immigrants, and other marginalized communities who already lack control over their own lives. Tim Wernette Foothills Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

Daniel Bwala , Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has defended the controversial tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, stating that they are in line with the President’s manifesto and campaign promises. Speaking on the matter, Bwala emphasized that the reforms, including the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, reflect Tinubu’s vision for a more equitable tax system in Nigeria. The bills are: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country; and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes. Others include: the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman. Speaking on Trust Tv’s Sunday Politics programme, Bwala said that it was not an obsession, but actually part of the mandate of the president. Bwala said, “Remember when he went on campaign, he campaigned on those promises. And it is encapsulated in his manifesto, actually. So he is trying to make good his promise to the Nigerian people. And so there is no obsession there. It is passion to deliver on good governance. “And the reason why you hear the outcry and the belief that the tax bill is against the North is because some stakeholders in the North lend their voice in that regard. In other words, people peddle the politicization of the bill because quite frankly, a lot of them have not looked at the bill. I mean, some of the proponents of the bill are Northerners. “If you carefully look at that bill, actually, it is the harmonization of all the tax laws in the country to deliver efficient tax administration in Nigeria. Let me just tell you a few things about that. It is classified into four different enactments. You have the Nigerian tax bill, which is, of course, the model or the grown-up of all the tax administration. “So it is, apart from the tax bill, you have the Nigerian tax administration bill. We have the revenue service establishment bill. We also have the joint revenue board establishment bill. “In the tax bill, Nigerians will benefits a lot. For instance, the exemption of individuals earning below N800,000 from paying tax. Isn’t it wonderful? Because before now, even if you’re earning N800,000 or you’re earning below N800,000, you will have to pay certain tax. “But in this tax administration, if your earning per annum is less than N800,000, you are not required to pay tax. And that has nothing to do with the north or the south. And those earning N50m, for example, will pay 25% of their income rate. “But under the current law, even if it is N3.2m, you will still be required to pay tax. That is the exemption of business from paying income tax. If the business’s annual income is less than N50m, you also have the reduction of company income tax rate from 30 to 25.” The presidential aide also listed some of the benefits of the harmonization of the tax bill. “First, private citizens. Secondly, income earners, people who work, were working class. And the third one, those who do small-scale business, like the SMEs, because we need to encourage small and medium-scale businesses. “And the fourth one, of course, companies that are either small or big in their own right. And then, of course, the coordination of tax, so that we do not have all these tax embellished in different laws that at the end of the day, the implementation or administration of the tax becomes incumbent on the Nigerian people,” Bwala said.​Damning silence: on India’s Pegasus probeAgilyx ASA ( OTCMKTS:AGXXF – Get Free Report )’s stock price was up 8.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $3.20 and last traded at $3.20. Approximately 23,000 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 123% from the average daily volume of 10,313 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.95. Agilyx ASA Stock Up 8.5 % The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.10 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.95. Agilyx ASA Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Agilyx ASA, a technology company, engages in the chemically recycling of difficult-to-recycle post-use plastic streams. The company operates through two segments, Agilyx and Cyclyx. Its conversion technology utilizes pyrolysis without a catalyst and converts mixed waste plastic to naphtha and fuels, as well as depolymerizes plastics, which include polystyrene and PMMA back into virgin-quality products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Agilyx ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agilyx ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia's coach on Dec. 12, announced Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.” Under Rodriguez, Alley spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021 when Rodriguez was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator. In Alley’s lone season at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, allowing 318 yards per game. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Rod, as I’ve seen how he develops players and builds a program,” Alley said. “I look forward to working with the players and doing my part to help WVU be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference and the nation.” Alley worked under Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2015 to 2018 when Venables was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

When Target’s ( TGT -0.71% ) earnings fell drastically short of expectations on Wednesday, executives pointed to the U.S. port strike as a key factor. However, the retailer’s troubles – which pushed its stock down 21% to a one-year low – go much deeper than shipping costs and an inventory glut. Target imported a similar number of cargo containers during the key summer months as it did in 2023, well before the strike became a major problem , as reported by CNBC ( CMCSA +1.30% ), which cites trade data from ImportGenius, a firm specializing in the international trade industry. During Target’s Nov. 20 earnings call, CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged that the company “faced supply chain challenges” tied to the East Coast and Gulf port strikes, but explained Target had adjusted by “changing shipment timings and rerouting deliveries to other ports,” as a way to ensure it had stock for the fourth quarter. These changes, coupled with weaker demand in discretionary categories, led to higher-than-normal inventory levels earlier in the year, resulting in increase cost’s for the company’s supply chain, Cornell noted. Still, imports during the summer months – especially July and August – were consistent with past years, with no major surge to suggest a rush of goods to preempt the strike. Target actually increased the number of containers arriving thorough its West Coast ports. If the strike isn’t too blame for Target’s big earnings miss, what is? Analysts at Jefferies ( JEF +3.37% ) said in a research note that Target misjudged consumer demand and pricing. Despite importing more goods than Walmart ( WMT +1.33% ) by $1.2 billion, the retailer struggled to attract customers in key categories, even as shoppers increasingly turned to competitors for essentials like groceries, apparel, and personal care items. In May, Target revealed plans to slash prices on 5,000 items , and by October, the company expanded this initiative to include an additional 2,000 products , covering categories like food, cold medicine, and baby essentials. Target said it aims to slash prices on 10,000 items during the holiday season. However, some items – like deodorant and undergarments – will remain locked behind glass shelves due to theft concerns. While Target hasn’t traditionally been seen as a price leader, analysts told Quartz earlier this week that its emphasis on competitive pricing has helped the retailer attract more budget-conscious shoppers in today’s cautious consumer environment. That, however, hasn’t been enough to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Target’s main rival, Walmart, reported strong quarterly earnings on Nov. 19, continuing its success , by catering to all consumer income levels –especially those with household incomes over $100,000, and who accounted for 75% of its sales this quarter. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.JERUSALEM/BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement fired heavy rocket barrages at Israel on Sunday, and the Israeli military said houses had been destroyed or set on fire near Tel Aviv, after a powerful Israeli airstrike killed at least 29 people in Beirut the day before. Israel also struck Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, where intensified bombardment over the last two weeks has coincided with signs of progress in U.S.-led cease-fire talks. Hezbollah, which has previously vowed to respond to attacks on Beirut by targeting Tel Aviv, said it had launched precision missiles at two military sites in Tel Aviv and nearby. Police said there were multiple impact sites in the area of Petah Tikvah, on the eastern side of Tel Aviv, and that several people had minor injuries. The Israeli military said a direct hit on a neighborhood had left “houses in flames and ruins.” Television footage showed an apartment damaged by rocket fire. The IDF said Hezbollah had fired 240 rockets at Israel, of which many were intercepted, with sirens sounding across most of the country. At least four people had been injured by shrapnel. Video obtained by Reuters showed a projectile exploding as it smashed into the roof of a building in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. The military warned on social media that it planned to target Hezbollah facilities in southern Beirut before strikes that demolished two apartment blocks, according to security sources in Lebanon. Afterwards, the IDF said it had hit command centres “deliberately embedded between civilian buildings." On Saturday, it had carried out one of its deadliest and most powerful strikes on the center of Beirut. Lebanon’s health ministry on Sunday raised the death toll from 20 to 29. It said 84 people had been killed in all on Saturday, taking the death toll to 3,754 since October 2023. The IDF did not comment on Saturday’s strike in the capital or say what it had attacked. Israel went on the offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in September, pounding the south, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs with airstrikes after nearly a year of hostilities ignited by the Gaza war .

The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team has gotten off to a fast start this season in more ways than one. The No. 16 Bearcats have raced to a 5-0 record while outscoring their opponents by more than 31 points per game, with just one team (Northern Kentucky) coming within 16 points. Cincinnati is averaging a robust 87 points per game with one of the more efficient offenses in college basketball. Cincinnati will look to continue that hot streak when it plays host to Alabama State in nonconference action Wednesday evening. Cincinnati has punished opposing defenses in a variety of ways this season. Despite being the No. 14 offense in the nation in Ken Pomeroy's efficiency ratings, the Bearcats aren't among the nation's leaders in pace. Still, they take advantage of those opportunities when they are there. "Us playing fast is something we want to do," Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell said. "When I was being recruited here, that was something Coach (Wes) Miller wanted to do. "There could be games where we're not making shots or something is off, but one thing is we're gonna push the ball, play hard and play fast. That's something he preaches. We'll be in shape and get rebounds." Mitchell is fresh off a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in Cincinnati's 81-58 road win at Georgia Tech Saturday. He is one of four Bearcats to average double figures in scoring this season. That balance was on display once again against the Yellow Jackets, with Connor Hickman and Jizzle James also scoring 14 points each and Simas Lukosius contributing 12 points. In that game, Cincinnati sank 51.6 percent of its shots while regularly getting out into transition with 16 fastbreak points, while winning the rebounding battle 36-29. "Any time you get a road win over a quality, Power 4 team, you're gonna feel good about it," Miller said. "I was pleased with our effort." Lukosius is scoring 16.6 points per game, while James is at 14.0 points, followed by Mitchell at 12.4, while he also grabs a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Alabama State (3-3) has a tough task ahead, especially when considering its 97-78 loss at Akron Sunday, which ended a three-game winning streak. The Hornets allowed the Zips to shoot 46.4 percent from the field and were 53-32 in the rebounding battle. Alabama State gave up a season high in points, after playing the likes of LSU and UNLV earlier this season. Akron standout Nate Johnson lit up Alabama State for 25 points, as the game got away from the Hornets in the second half to keep them winless in true road games. Alabama leading scorers CJ Hines and TJ Madlock still got theirs against Akron, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively. They were joined in double figures by reserve Tyler Mack (18 points), but recent history says they'll need more help to keep up with the Bearcats. Hines leads the Hornets with 15.7 points per game, while Madlock contributes 14.5 points. In previous Akron Basketball Classic wins last week against Omaha and Lamar, Alabama State featured at least four double-digit scorers in each game. --Field Level MediaLow prices. Wide selection. Tough-to-beat convenience. Those have been crucial keys to Amazon’s e-commerce dominance for the past two decades. Now the tech titan seems to be doubling down on this winning playbook by borrowing pieces of it to propel a new AI strategy from its Amazon Web Services division that is focused in part on low prices and wide selection. To be clear, it’ll be a long time before the business world can judge the effectiveness and financial sustainability of Amazon’s approach. But, if successful, the game plan would go a long way toward both quieting critics who argue Amazon is playing catch-up in the AI wars, while also future-proofing the company’s standing as one of the world’s most powerful and influential technology corporations for decades to come. Amazon executives have been unveiling crucial pieces of their AI strategy at their flagship AWS Re:Invent conference in Las Vegas this week. One key element is a new portfolio of in-house-built foundation models, known as FMs or LLMs, dubbed Nova, that can handle text, image, and video queries, respectively. The introduction of a new class of Amazon’s own AI models could, on the surface, be confounding since the company has already invested $8 billion into Anthropic , maker of the popular Claude family of gen AI models. But, as my colleague Sharon Goldman recently noted , Amazon is betting that there is “never going to be one tool”—or AI model—to rule them all. In short, Amazon believes that enterprises will want choice in models, whether from Amazon, Anthropic, or other tech giants like Meta. Amazon actually started pushing this idea of offering a selection of AI models through a single API to business customers when its AWS division introduced a service called Amazon Bedrock last year. Through Bedrock, business customers could choose from a relatively limited selection of AI models—but a selection nonetheless—to train for their own needs and to serve as a foundation for their own gen AI applications. On Wednesday, Amazon doubled down on the strategy by announcing Bedrock Marketplace, which offers a total of 100 AI models. The LLMs in the marketplace come from a host of different companies, with some designed for specialized purposes. “Finding and evaluating these models can be challenging and costly,” Amazon said in its blog post announcing the marketplace. “You need to discover them across different services, build abstractions to use them in your applications, and create complex security and governance layers. Amazon Bedrock Marketplace addresses these challenges by providing a single interface to access both specialized and general-purpose [foundation models].” Looking back to Amazon’s e-commerce business, a core piece is the Amazon Marketplace, where hundreds of thousands of outside merchants list products for sale that make up 60% of all the goods sold through Amazon. Amazon complements the selection of these marketplace sales by also selling its own inventory of goods, including some under its own brand names when a certain product category or price point isn’t being filled by the marketplace sellers or Amazon’s brand partners. Similarly, Amazon is offering businesses an enterprise AI version of the marketplace that one could imagine will only expand in selection in the future. (It’s also worth noting that Amazon’s core AWS business offers a marketplace of more than 10,000 software tools covering categories from cybersecurity to data analytics.) Low prices have also been another hallmark of Amazon’s retail business. Amazon aggressively matches prices from other retailers, and throws two giant discount events that attract heavy spending and new Prime customers. (The FTC has argued in its antitrust suit against Amazon that the e-commerce giant artificially inflates consumer prices around the web by penalizing merchants who sell products for less at other retailers, but that’s a topic for another day.) And sure enough, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy ’s slide deck unveiling the new Nova AI models started with price: “75% more cost effective,“ was the first feature called out. Simon Willison, an independent AI researcher, ran a quick test and agreed, writing on the social network app Bluesky that Amazon’s “price and performance [are] competitive with the Google Gemini family, which means they are _really_ inexpensive.” “With this release I think Amazon may have earned a spot among the top tier of model providers,” Willison added . “Maybe we need a new FAANG acronym that covers OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Amazon. I like GAMOA.” Amazon leaders won’t care what the new acronym is called as long as they earn a place in it. If they do, the company’s longtime hallmarks of low prices and selection will likely be key reasons why. Are you a current or former Amazon or AWS employee with thoughts on this topic or a tip to share? Contact Jason Del Rey at jason.delrey@fortune.com , jasondelrey@protonmail.com , or through messaging apps Signal and WhatsApp at 917-655-4267 . You can also message him on LinkedIn or at @delrey on X . This story was originally featured on Fortune.comFocus on Baguio for 80th year marking end of WWIIPresident-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.

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Asaduddin Owaisi congratulates Mohammed Ismail Abdul Khalique on Malegaon Central winPresident-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency's supervision. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden's AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, "limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people "may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.

How co-writing a book threatened the Carters’ marriageArsenal make Mikel Arteta proud after smashing Sporting LisbonSeoul, Dec 30 (IANS): South Korean companies are poised to showcase their advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at CES 2025, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT trade show, scheduled to open in Las Vegas next week. Not only will major home appliance companies like Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. participate, but other prominent Korean firms, such as SK hynix Inc., SK Telecom Co. and Hyundai Mobis Co., will also unveil cutting-edge innovations. AI is expected to dominate this year's CES, scheduled for January 7-10, at the Las Vegas Convention Center under the theme "Dive In,” reports Yonhap news agency. Samsung Electronics, the world's largest mobile phone and memory chipmaker, will present its AI-powered smart home concept, "AI for All: Connectivity in the Age of AI." The company plans to introduce its latest home appliance lineup, including the new Bespoke refrigerator, washer and dryer, all integrated with its AI-driven SmartThings connectivity, enabling seamless integration and remote monitoring of its devices. In addition, Samsung will preview its first air-to-water heat pump lineup for the North American market at CES 2025, aiming to expand its footprint in the growing U.S. heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector. Currently available in Europe under the Eco Heating System (EHS) brand, these energy-efficient systems use ambient air heat for heating and hot water. Affiliates of Samsung Electronics -- Samsung SDS Co. and Samsung Display Co. -- will have separate booths to showcase their innovations to potential global clients. LG Electronics, which has been expanding its business portfolio to business-to-business segments, including automotive electronics and air solutions businesses, will also spotlight its latest AI-powered technologies. The company will host an interactive space featuring its in-cabin sensing solutions, designed to detect driver behavior and the interior conditions of vehicles. Visitors can experience a driving simulator that monitors not only their motions but also emotions, as well as heart rates, to provide alerts in case of emergencies. Additionally, LG will display its AI-powered refrigerators and dishwashers, further demonstrating its commitment to smart home solutions. SK Telecom and SK hynix will share a booth to present their efforts in AI data centres and chips. SK Telecom will feature a 6-meter LED pillar at the centre of its exhibit, highlighting four AI data centre solutions: energy, AI, operations and security. The company will also showcase its AI assistant, aster, slated for launch in the North American market next year, and announce its service plans. SK hynix, a leader in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sector, will show off its 16-layer HBM3E chips, currently the most advanced HBM products available in the world. Hyundai Mobis Co., an auto parts-making affiliate of South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Group, also plans to join the upcoming CES to showcase its cutting-edge technologies, including its holographic windshield display and human-centric interior lighting system.