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Canada Carbon Inc. ( CVE:CCB – Get Free Report )’s share price was down 33.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$0.01 and last traded at C$0.01. Approximately 859,726 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 283% from the average daily volume of 224,190 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.02. Canada Carbon Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of C$2.05 million, a PE ratio of -1.00 and a beta of 0.69. The company’s 50-day moving average is C$0.02 and its 200 day moving average is C$0.02. About Canada Carbon ( Get Free Report ) Canada Carbon Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of natural resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for graphite deposits. It holds interests in the Miller property that covers an area of approximately 100 square kilometers located to the west of Montreal in the Grenville Township; and the Asbury Graphite property, which includes 22 claims covering an area of approximately 1,205.9 hectares located in the Laurentides region of southern Quebec. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canada Carbon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canada Carbon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The pope is kicking off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Tuesday opens the 2025 Holy Year. It kicks off a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. That will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. At the start of Christmas Eve Mass, Francis pushes open the great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee, in which the Catholic faithful make pilgrimages to Rome. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Middle East latest: Bethlehem marks a somber Christmas Eve amid war in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian city of Bethlehem is preparing for another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza. Most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 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. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 1,447 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed. Twenty-eight flights were canceled. Millions of travelers are expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service. France has a new government, again. Politics and crushing debt complicate next steps PARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister have managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt, pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast. The hallenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. They already had a tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit. It is threatening the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. Legendary Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at age 90 NEW DELHI (AP) — Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after chronic kidney disease. He was 90. His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He came into the limelight with films that challenged mainstream Bollywood by dealing with the social realities of a poor nation. He also was a mentor to top Indian actors. India's prime minister says he is “deeply saddened” by Benegal's death.rich online slots game 777 。

A man who has dumped thousands of used tyres at Border sites in NSW is set to face 10 charges in the Wodonga Magistrates Court over alleged Victorian offending. or signup to continue reading Mark Garry Fair is facing industrial waste allegations alleged to have occurred between July and October, 2023. Fair was charged by staff from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria with the matter listed for mention in court on Tuesday. Fair and his business, Carbon MF Pty Ltd, this year over tyres stored at four properties in North Albury, Lavington and Jindera. He was ultimately found to be responsible for tyres stored at only one site, having stopped paying rent. That meant Fair will appear before the Wodonga court on December 10, with the case listed for a mention. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

U.S. stocks wrapped up Christmas week on Friday with retracements of double-digit uptrends, and, alongside the dollar to a smaller degree, succumbed to profit taking in illiquid markets heading into the last weekend of 2024. Even with its slight loss on Friday, the U.S. dollar was headed for an almost 7% annual gain, as traders anticipated robust U.S. growth, as well as tax cuts, tariffs and deregulation by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, would make the Federal Reserve cautious on rate-cutting well into 2025. Selling in Wall Street’s main indexes gathered steam through the morning, chilling the mood after the week started out showing the hallmarks of a classic year-end rally to crown what was already a stellar year. “The Santa Claus rally came a bit earlier this year, and I think this is profit taking ahead of another holiday-shortened week next week,” said Jeff Schulze, head Of economic and market strategy at Clearbridge Investments. “That’s another reason I think this isn’t causing more apprehension heading into a weekend. It’s not uncommon for the market to hit air pockets when the volumes are light.” Leading the decline were high-flying “Magnificent 7” stocks like Tesla O> which slid 4.9%, along with Amazon.com, Microsoft and Nvidia. The S&P 500 fell 1.11%, leaving Wall Street’s benchmark with a 0.67% weekly gain. The Nasdaq Composite ended down 1.49%, having been down more than 2% during the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.77%. For 2024, the Dow is up 14%, the S&P 500 is up 25% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq is up 31%. “I’ve heard anecdotes that pension funds are rebalancing ahead of year-end, selling stocks and buying bonds,” said Steve Sosnick, chief market strategist at Interactive Brokers, who added he could not verify. “It would explain the sudden sell-off on no news. And of course, if large funds are selling stocks en masse, the megacap tech stocks would bear the brunt because of their heavy weighting in major indices.” MSCI’s broad global share index (.MIWO00000PUS) fell 0.59% on Friday, and was 1.45% higher for the week. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) eased 0.1%, marking a 1.5% weekly rise, while Tokyo’s Nikkei rose 1.8%. Europe’s Stoxx 600 rose 0.67% on Friday and was about 1% higher for the week. “There is some potential upside left for this bull market, but it is limited,” said Luca Paolini, chief strategist at Pictet Asset Management “(Trump’s) inauguration day is a potential inflection point and all the (prospective) good news will be in the price by then,” Paolini added. The dollar index, which measures the currency against six other major currencies, eased 0.06%, with a 0.2% weekly gain, and showed a 6.6% 2024 gain. Dollar/yen was down 0.06%, but near Tuesday’s 5-1/2 month high. The greenback was also showing a 5.4% gain this month against the beleaguered yen and a near 12% advance for 2024. The euro, was steady, not far from November’s two-year low and showing a 5.6% loss year to date. The BoJ held back from a rate hike this month, which weighed on the yen. Governor Kazuo Ueda said he preferred to wait for clarity on Trump’s policies, underscoring rising angst among central banks worldwide of U.S. tariffs hitting global trade. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said earlier this month that U.S. central bank officials “are going to be cautious about further cuts” after an as-expected quarter-point rate reduction. The U.S. economy also faces the impact of Donald Trump, who has proposed deregulation, tax cuts, tariff hikes and tighter immigration policies that economists view as both pro-growth and inflationary. Traders, meanwhile, anticipate the Bank of Japan will keep its monetary policy settings loose and the European Central Bank will deliver further rate cuts, neither positive for their currencies. Traders are pricing in 37 basis points of U.S. rate cuts in 2025, with no reduction fully priced into money markets until May, by which time the ECB is expected to have lowered its deposit rate by a full percentage point to 2% as the euro zone economy slows. Higher U.S. rate expectations pulled the 10-year Treasury yield, which rises as the price of the fixed income instrument falls, to its highest since early May early on Thursday, at 4.641%. It was last up 4.6 basis points at 4.625%. The two-year Treasury yield, which tracks interest rate forecasts, eased 0.4 bp to 4.328%. U.S. debt trends also sent euro zone yields higher, with Germany’s benchmark 10-year bund yield rising 7.6 bp to 2.401% on Friday. Elsewhere in markets, gold prices dipped 0.74% to $2,615.54 per ounce, set for about a 27% rise for the year and the strongest yearly performance since 2011 as geopolitical and inflation concerns boosted the haven asset. Oil prices firmed as investors awaited news of economic stimulus efforts in China, the world’s biggest crude importer. Brent crude futures rose 0.67% on the day to $73.75 a barrel, and was 1.14% higher for the week. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin fell 1.26% to $94,485.00. Source: ReutersThe 10 most bizarre celebrity Christmas traditions: From Chrissy Teigen's annual McDonald's to the Royal Family's time out at breakfast

The team at Goldman Sachs has been busy running the rule over some ASX 200 shares recently. Two that have received big thumbs up are listed below. Here's why they broker thinks they are buys: ( ) Goldman is a fan of this metal detector and communications-focused manufacturer and supplier of electronic solutions. It believes the ASX 200 share is a buy given the growth potential of both its Metal Detection and Communication segments. It explains: We consider Codan to be a high-quality electronics company with multiple levers available to grow both its Metal Detection and Communication segments with our Buy rating centered on: 1) Zetron benefiting from US$10-15bn in required USA government funding for NG911 with annual state expenditure accelerating; 2) Tactical Communications supported by a favourable military spending environment and general industry tailwinds; 3) Metal Detection benefiting from market share gains supported by expansion of distribution points and continued product development; and 4) Codan pursuing accretive bolt-on acquisitions, growing its product portfolio, customer base, and geographical reach in Communications. Goldman Sachs recently initiated coverage on Codan with a buy rating and $18.00 price target. ( ) Another ASX 200 share that gets a big thumbs up from analysts at Goldman Sachs is Pro Medicus. It is a leading health imaging company developing radiology information system (RIS) software and services for hospitals, diagnostic imaging groups, and other related healthcare providers. Goldman likes the company due to its industry-leading Visage platform, which has been winning some major contracts recently. The good news is that the broker believes there's plenty more to come. It said: Key reasons for our positive view: (1) We believe the adoption of Visage is a matter of when, not if, for many US healthcare institutions including academics, IDNs and smaller, independent clinics, with our Visage terminal market share expectations >30% amid increasing competition; (2) As a top 5 US IDN, we expect the Trinity contract to drive a network effect across this cohort which represent >40% of PME's core TAM; (3) We see a significant opportunity to expand customer spend, through existing products (i.e. Cardiology, AI) and new white space products (i.e. other 'ologies'). Amid an intensely competitive AI healthcare market, we believe PME stands out to succeed given its unique partnership with industry KOLs, launching four new solutions with academics at RSNA 2024; and (4) PME has a track record of delivering profitable growth with best in class margins, including >70% under the 'Rule of 40' which we believe is sustainable through the cycle. And while Goldman acknowledges that Pro Medicus shares are not cheap, the broker believes its premium valuation is justified due to its "significant long-term opportunity." The broker has a buy rating and $278.00 price target on the ASX 200 share.

Avante Corp. ( CVE:XX – Get Free Report )’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$1.24 and last traded at C$1.24, with a volume of 12500 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$1.20. Avante Stock Up 3.3 % The company has a 50 day moving average of C$0.96 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.80, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 2.77. The company has a market cap of C$33.03 million, a P/E ratio of -10.33 and a beta of 1.71. About Avante ( Get Free Report ) Avante Corp. develops security technologies, products, and solutions in Canada, the United States, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company provides system design, sales, installations, and monitoring services, including alarm response and patrols, personal protection, house staff training, and secure transportation. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Avante Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avante and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Would the Gupkar Protest Solve the Reservation Riddle?Trump Vows to Expand Death Penalty After Biden Commutes 37 Federal Death Row Sentences

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PUERTO PRÍNCIPE, Haití (AP) — Presuntos miembros de pandillas comenzaron a disparar contra periodistas en la capital de Haití el martes mientras cubrían el intento de reapertura del hospital más grande del país, según una estación de radio local. Radio Télé Métronome informó que siete periodistas y dos agentes de la policía resultaron heridos. La policía no respondió de inmediato a las llamadas. Las pandillas callejeras han tomado el control de aproximadamente el 80% de Puerto Príncipe. Provocaron el cierre del Hospital General a principios de este año durante la ola de violencia que también afectó al principal aeropuerto internacional y las dos mayores prisiones de Haití. Las autoridades habían prometido reabrir la instalación el martes. Pero mientras los periodistas se reunían para cubrir el evento, presuntos miembros de pandillas comenzaron a disparar. Un video publicado en internet mostró a reporteros dentro del edificio y por lo menos a tres de ellos tirados en el suelo, aparentemente heridos. El video no pudo ser verificado de inmediato. Johnson “Izo” André, considerado el líder de pandillas más poderoso de Haití y parte de una coalición de pandillas conocida como Viv Ansanm que ha tomado control de gran parte de Puerto Príncipe, publicó un video en redes sociales reclamando responsabilidad por el ataque. RELATED COVERAGE Marineros impulsan el comercio global, ministerios les llevan alegría navideña Israel expulsa pacientes de un hospital en Gaza Irán restablece acceso a WhatsApp y Google Play tras prohibición por protestas El video indicaba que la coalición de bandas no había autorizado la reapertura del hospital. El ex primer ministro Garry Conille visitó el Hospital de la Universidad Estatal de Haití, mejor conocido como el Hospital General, en julio después de que las autoridades recuperaron el control del mismo. El hospital estaba destruido y lleno de escombros. Las paredes y los edificios cercanos estaban llenos de agujeros de bala, señal de enfrentamientos entre la policía y las pandillas. El hospital está ubicado frente al palacio nacional, escenario de varios enfrentamientos en los últimos meses. Los ataques a manos de las pandillas han llevado al sistema de salud de Haití al borde del colapso, saqueando, quemando y destruyendo instituciones médicas y farmacias en la capital. La violencia ha generado un aumento en el número de pacientes y una escasez de recursos para tratarlos. El sistema de salud enfrenta desafíos adicionales debido a la temporada de lluvias, que probablemente empeorará las condiciones e incrementará el riesgo de enfermedades transmitidas por el agua. Las condiciones de higiene deficientes en campamentos y asentamientos improvisados han aumentado el riesgo de enfermedades como el cólera, en un momento en el que hay más de 84.000 casos sospechosos en el país, según UNICEF. ___ Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

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BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza. The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the West Bank during Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square. Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a departure from their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces arranged barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s income — almost all from the Christmas season. Salman said unemployment is hovering around 50% — higher than the 30% unemployment across the rest of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Finance Ministry. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, noted the shuttered shops and empty streets and expressed hope that next year would be better. “This has to be the last Christmas that is so sad,” he told hundreds of people gathered in Manger Square, where normally tens of thousands would congregate. Pizzaballa held a special pre-Christmas Mass in the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. Several Palestinian Christians told the Associated Press that they have been displaced in the church since the war began in October of last year with barely enough food and water. “We hope by next year at the same day we’d be able to celebrate Christmas at our homes and go to Bethlehem,” said Najla Tarazi, a displaced woman. “We hope to celebrate in Jerusalem ... and for the war to end. This is the most important thing for us and the most important demand we have these days because the situation is really hard. We don’t feel happy.” Bethlehem is an important center in the history of Christianity, but Christians make up only a small percentage of the roughly 14 million people spread across the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The number of visitors to the town plunged from a pre-COVID high of around 2 million per year in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024, said Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry. After nightfall, the golden walls of the Church of the Nativity were illuminated as a few dozen people quietly milled about. A young boy stood holding a pile of balloons for sale, but gave up because there were no customers to buy them. The war in Gaza has deterred tourists and has prompted a surge of violence in the West Bank, with more than 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and dozens of Israelis killed in militant attacks. Palestinian officials do not provide a breakdown of how many of the deceased are civilians and how many are fighters. Since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war, access to and from Bethlehem and other towns in the West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass through Israeli military checkpoints. The restrictions have prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, causing the economy there to contract by 25%. In the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 250 Israeli hostages. Israeli officials believe that around 100 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Elsewhere, Christmas celebrations were also subdued. Syrians protest after Christmas tree burned Scores of Syrian Christians protested Tuesday in Damascus, demanding protection after the burning of a Christmas tree in Hama the day before. Videos and images shared on social media showed the large, decorated tree burning at a roundabout in Suqalabiyah, a town in the Hama countryside. It remains unclear who was responsible for setting the tree on fire. In a video that circulated on social media, a representative of Syria’s new leadership, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, could be seen visiting the site and addressing the community. He said: “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations.” Germans mourn after Christmas market attack German celebrations were darkened by a car attack on a Christmas market on Friday that left five people dead and 200 people injured. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rewrote his annual recorded Christmas Day speech to address the attack. He plans to acknowledge that “there is grief, pain, horror and incomprehension over what took place in Magdeburg,” while urging Germans to “stand together,” according to an early copy of the speech. Heavy snow hits the Balkans A snowstorm in the Balkans stranded drivers and downed power lines, but some saw the beauty in it. “I’m actually glad its falling, especially because of Christmas,” said Mirsad Jasarevic in Zenica, Bosnia. “We did not have snow for Christmas for 17 years here, and now is the time for wonderful white Christmas.” Planes grounded in the United States American Airlines briefly grounded flights across the U.S. on Tuesday due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive. Winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 1,447 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 28 flights canceled. Spanish ministries bring seafarers holiday cheer In the port of Barcelona, Spain, volunteers from the faith-based ministry Stella Maris visited seven ships docked there on Christmas Eve to deliver Nativity scenes and the local specialty of turrón (nougat candy) to seafarers. The volunteers met seafarers from India, the Philippines, Turkey and elsewhere, said Ricard Rodríguez-Martos, a Catholic deacon and former merchant marine captain who leads Stella Maris in this major Mediterranean harbor. ___ Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed to this report. Jalal Bwaitel, The Associated Press

Mozambique’s largely deserted capital was hit yesterday by skirmishes between protesters and police, AFP reporters said, the day after the ruling party was controversially confirmed winners in recent elections. Police in armoured vehicles patrolled the centre of the city, where hundreds of protesters in small, scattered groups threw objects and started fires. Makeshift roadblocks on major thoroughfares were set alight on Monday evening, covering the city with thick smoke, soon after the country’s highest court confirmed the victory of the ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo. Chapo’s main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, has claimed the election was rigged, sparking fears of violence between rival party supporters. Shops, banks, supermarkets, petrol stations and public buildings meanwhile were ransacked, with their windows smashed and contents looted. Some were set on fire and reduced to smouldering rubble. “Maputo Central Hospital is operating in critical conditions, more than 200 employees have not been able to reach the site,” its director Mouzinho Saide told AFP, adding that nearly 90 people had been admitted with injuries. Forty were injured by firearms and four by knives, he added. Main roads leading to Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola were blocked by barricades and burning tyres, while the road leading to Maputo airport was largely impassable. Most local residents stayed at home, with the few who ventured out doing to look at the damage or do last-minute Christmas shopping. Christmas Eve is normally a busy time, with large crowds in central Maputo but shops and even small neighbourhood grocery stores were closed, making petrol and bread unavailable. Public transport was also paralysed, with only ambulances and funeral vehicles running. The unrest spread to several cities in the northern part of Mozambique, local media reported, with violence and vandalism in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia and Tete, where opposition support is strong. More than 100 people have already died in the unprecedented post-election violence, with fears that the toll could increase after Mondlane’s claim of victory. Mozambicans are demanding “electoral truth”, he said in a Facebook post. “We must continue the fight, remain united and strong.” Monday’s confirmation of the result of the October 9 election came despite claims of irregularities from many observers. Chapo won 65.17% of the vote, more than five points lower than the initial results declared by the country’s electoral commission. In the National Assembly, Frelimo has a majority of 171 seats out of 250, down 24 from the announcement in October. “Venancio”, as Mondlane is called on the street, repeated his assertion in a social media message yesterday that the constitutional court was “legalising fraud” and “the humiliation of the people”. “We want to create a People’s Constitutional Court, which will confirm Venancio Mondlane as president,” he said of himself. “I will be sworn in and invested,” he added. Chapo, who is due to take office in mid-January, struck a conciliatory tone in his victory speech on Monday, promising to “talk to everyone”, including his main opponent. Mining disruptionGemfields Group said yesterday disruptions were possible at its largest ruby mine in Mozambique, after people torched buildings in villages nearby in escalating unrest linked to October’s disputed election. Mozambique’s top court on Monday confirmed long-ruling party Frelimo’s victory in the election that has sparked protests by opposition groups that say the vote was rigged. At least 130 people have been killed in clashes with police, according to the civil society monitoring group Plataforma Decide, and the operations of other foreign miners operating in Mozambique, including South32, have been affected. Gemfields said in a statement that “groups associated with the illegal mining and trading of rubies have taken advantage of the political unrest”. It said “instigators” had on Monday set fire to the police station in Namanhumbir, a village close to Gemfields’ Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada (MRM) in the northern Cabo Delgado province. An MRM office, a community centre and a community radio centre built by the company in Namanhumbir were also set ablaze. “Based on the trajectory of the ongoing situation, there may be interruptions to MRM’s mining operations resulting from this unrest,” Gemfields said. In another village near MRM’s operations, a water borehole was sabotaged, and in a third village people torched the police station, the residence of a local police commander and the administrative offices of Namanhumbir district. MRM is 75% owned by Gemfields and employs about 1,400 people, the company’s website says. Frelimo has been repeatedly accused by opponents and election observers of rigging votes, although it has denied those accusations. The electoral commission has not commented on allegations of fraud in this year’s election.

He was the oldest living president and had been out of the White House for more than 35 years, but Jimmy Carter never stopped working to improve the lives of others — much of which included building homes for the needy. Even well into his 90s, Carter put on a hard hat and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization he often partnered with through The Carter Center. The one-term president — who died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia — worked alongside 103,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,331 homes with Habitat for Humanity for more than 35 years. Often, Carter and his late wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, volunteered together. The couple first participated in a Habitat for Humanity project in 1984 in New York City. Carter discovered the organization while on a run. He recalled that he passed by a building and thought, “Rosalynn and I should come up and give them a hand.” “When we left the White House, we could have done anything,” Carter once said . “But our choice was to volunteer as Habitat workers, and that’s been a life-changing experience for us.” In September 1984, the Carters and a dozen other volunteers made their way to New York, where they worked on a six-story apartment building that gave safe and affordable housing to families. For one week, the Carters helped build 19 units and returned the following year to finish the building. The work unknowingly sparked an annual tradition for the Carters to spend one week volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in a different location around the world in what became known as the Carter Work Projects. Habitat for Humanity was founded in Americus, Georgia — near Carter’s hometown of Plains — in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The organization aims to help build or improve homes for families in low-income or communities in need. It relies on volunteers and other Habitat for Humanity homeowners for manual labor, which is called sweat equity. Over the years, the Carters have volunteered in areas impacted by natural disasters or humanitarian crises. In 2008, Carter and his wife joined volunteers in helping rebuild communities along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas after Hurricane Katrina. They traveled to Haiti in 2011 and 2012 to rebuild more than 100 homes for those affected by the devastating earthquake. They helped move more than 150 families from tents or makeshift shelters into safe homes. “One of the things Jesus taught was: If you have any talents, try to utilize them for the benefit of others,” Carter said. “That’s what Rosa and I have both tried to do.” The last Carter Work Project the former president participated in was in 2019. At 95 years old, Carter showed up at the site of the build in Nashville, Tennessee, sporting fresh stitches and a black eye. “I fell down and hit my forehead on a sharp edge and I had to go to the hospital,” Carter told reporters. “They took 14 stitches in my forehead and my eye’s black, if you noticed.” “But I had a number one priority and that was to come to Nashville and build the houses!” Carter said.

Bison have made a historic return to one Manitoba First Nation and are roaming the land for the first time in over a century. According to a social media post from the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, eleven bison, including a sacred white female calf, were gifted to Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. The animals were welcomed in a community celebration earlier in the week and released into their pasture as the bison song was sung. The animals will be cared for by Birdtail’s Jordan’s Principle land-based program.