lucky rich trading company
lucky rich trading company
lucky rich trading company
No. 1 UCLA vs. Long Beach State women’s basketball matchup is rife with historyConstruction Bosses Complain Trump Will Stop Them From Hiring Illegals
JERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Teenage defender Godwill Kukonki is said to be on track to make Manchester United history after 'catching the eye' of new head coach Ruben Amorim . The 16-year-old was included in the travelling party for Amorim's first game this past weekend, although he did not make the matchday squad for the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road. However, United fans could get a glimpse of Kukonki in the first-team sooner rather than later. The young centre-back was invited to Suffolk as a 'reward' for impressing Amorim in training, according to The Mail . It's noted that Kukonki was due to feature for United's Under-19s in a UEFA Youth League qualifier against AZ Alkmaar but was instead held back to continue working with the first-team after standing out in Amorim's first week of training. And while it's stressed that a first-team berth may not be imminent, sources at Carrington believe Kukonki could go on to become the youngest defender to ever represent United at a senior level given he doesn't turn 17 until February. To date, no United defender has ever played in the Premier League before turning 18. Kukonki isn't the only highly-rated teenager making encouraging noises at United, though, as the club prepare to hand former Arsenal youngster Chido Obi-Martin a professional contract . The 16-year-old only signed for United on scholar terms back in October after electing to leave Arsenal, where he regularly clocked up ridiculous returns for the club's Under-18 team. Join the debate! Do you think Amorim will be a good appointment for Man Utd? Let us know here Obi-Martin, who scored a hat-trick on his first start for United inside 15 minutes against Nottingham Forest , is set to be rewarded with a professional contract when he turns 17 on Friday. That's according to Danish outlet Tipsbladet , who outline that plans are already in place for the prolific teenager to put pen-to-paper later this week. He has been tipped for big things at United after leaving Arsenal, who were desperate not to lose his services. Speaking after his switch to United had been confirmed, Obi-Martin took to Instagram to express his excitement with a social media post. He wrote: "Very happy to sign with this amazing club, time to focus and achieve all my dreams. Thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Academic all-conference awards for the top student athletes in Boise area this fall
While, in the streaming era, there is never a shortage of movies and TV shows to get your heart racing, for those who prefer the thrill of a real-life story, the best true-crime shows deliver. And no need to limit your viewing to Criminal Minds or Law & Order , either—options from Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer and The Keepers to the less-bloody-but-equally-thrilling Inventing Anna and Baby Reindeer abound. Read on for some of the best true-crime shows to add to your queue for your next night in. Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (2024) In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the indie rock duo Tegan and Sara—made up of twin sisters—rose to fame, performing everywhere from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to Coachella. They cultivated a close-knit, passionate fan base online by leveraging the emerging social media platforms of the era to connect directly with their audience. However, their community—and the band itself—was profoundly shaken when a scammer stole Tegan’s identity and began forming fake relationships with fans. This riveting Hulu documentary delves into the trauma of a 16-year-long catfishing ordeal, offering a compelling cautionary tale about the dangers of parasocial connections gone tragically wrong. Baby Reindeer (2024) The Netflix show that took 2024—and the internet—by storm, Baby Reindeer , revolves around the real-life story of a struggling comedian and bartender, Richard Gadd, targeted by a female stalker named Martha ( Jessica Gunning ). It’s dark, nuanced, and twisted—but also, surprisingly funny. “I think life is a comedy-drama,” Gadd explains of the genre-blending show. “Some of the darkest places I’ve been, I’ve found giggles somehow. And some of the funniest places I’ve been, including backstage at comedy clubs with other comedians, can be the most depressing as well. I always think life is a mixture of light and shade. So I wanted Baby Reindeer to be a blend of both.” Love & Death (2023) There’s nothing more mesmerizing than watching Elizabeth Olsen portray Candy Montgomery, a cheerful 1980s Texas housewife who gradually becomes unhinged by her Stepford Wives-esque life. Her descent leads to an unlikely affair with her church friend’s husband and, ultimately, to murdering her friend with an axe. “She was a really beloved woman,” Olsen told Vogue Australia about the real-life Montgomery. “People were so shocked to hear something like this happened.” You’ll be equally shocked watching it all unfold in this seven-part Max series. (And let’s not forget the captivating early ’80s hair, fashion, and sets—they’re absolutely riveting.) Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) The first season of Netflix’s true-crime anthology series follows the string of horrific murders in Ohio and Wisconsin that made Jeffrey Dahmer one of the most notorious serial killers and cannibals in America. Evan Peters ( American Horror Story ; Mare of Easttown ) stars. The Dropout (2022) Based on the podcast of the same name, Hulu’s The Dropout follows the deceit (and self-destruction) of Elizabeth Holmes’s company Theranos. After dropping out of Stanford at 19, Holmes infamously told investors that Theranos—which purported to scan for hundreds of diseases with just a pinprick of blood—would revolutionize biotechnology. But the entrepreneur (portrayed here by Amanda Seyfried in an Emmy-winning turn) was later caught for fraud—and Theranos’s too-good-to-be-true technology deemed just that. Inventing Anna (2022) For those who prefer their true crime with less blood, there’s no better watch than this Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix miniseries based on Anna Delvy , the faux heiress who scammed her way through New York’s arts scene and swindled banks out of at least $100,000. Portrayed by Julia Garner with pitch-perfect accuracy and heavy on Rhimes’ signature fast-paced vivacity, the show makes for a playful romp that will have you wondering if Delvy was merely an intrepid entrepreneur or something far more sinister. The fashion industry references are pretty fun, too. The Staircase (2022) After Michael Peterson’s wife, Kathleen, is found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their home, Peterson, a crime novelist, is accused of her murder. This HBO miniseries—based on the 2004 true crime docuseries of the same name, and starring Colin Firth, Toni Collette, and Michael Stuhlbarg, among others—follows his trial to answer the age-old question: Is it always the husband? Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) Based on the 2003 book by Jon Krakauer, this psychological thriller unravels the chilling true story behind a mother and her baby’s double murder in the Salt Lake Valley in 1984. As investigators— including a Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield)—pursue justice, they shed light on religious extremism within the Mormon community. Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer (2021) Split into four parts, Night Stalker is a documentary series about Richard Ramirez, a serial killer and sex offender who wreaked havoc on Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. A detective and investigator team up to track down the killer and bring him to justice. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020) This gripping five-part docuseries shifts the focus from Ted Bundy to his victims, placing his actions in the context of the feminist movement of the 1970s and underlining Bundy’s extreme misogyny. (Consider it a counter to the rather more glamorous Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile , starring Zac Efron and Lily Collins.) Don’t F**K with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019) This three-part docuseries follows the online manhunt for Luka Magnotta, a former porn actor who posted a video of himself killing two kittens in 2010 before becoming the prime suspect in the murder of Jun Lin, a Chinese international student. The show explores the dark side of the internet and the pursuit of justice by a group of internet sleuths. Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (2018) Trayvon Martin was 17 years old when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in 2012. Claiming that he acted in self defense, Zimmerman was later found not guilty of second-degree murder—prompting a wave of protests against both the trial’s verdict and the American justice system more generally. This series explores the intersections of racism, gun violence, and politics in the United States, while honoring Martin’s life with a touching portrayal of the young man before his tragic death. The Keepers (2017) The Keepers investigates the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a Catholic nun and high school teacher in Baltimore who went missing in 1969 before being found dead two months later. It’s worth a watch, especially now that a related case is making headlines again. American Crime Story (2016- ) The Emmy award-winning anthology series has covered a different crime each season, jumping from the O. J. Simpson trial in 1995 to the assassination of Gianni Versace in 1997 and—most recently—the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal in 1998 to 1999. The latter featured Beanie Feldstein as the young White House intern, Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, and Clive Owen and Edie Falco as the president and first lady. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015) New York real-estate heir Robert Durst is surrounded by death. First, his wife goes missing in the 1980s; then his family friend is murdered; and then his neighbor. But the one thing they all have in common is Robert. The six-part series is the culmination of a decade’s worth of research—through police files, formerly hidden documents, archival footage, and even an interview with the convicted murderer himself.Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
JERUSALEM — The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants began early Wednesday as a region on edge wondered whether it will hold. The ceasefire announced Tuesday is a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. An international panel led by the United States will monitor compliance. The ceasefire began at 4 a.m. Wednesday, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict that in recent weeks turned into all-out war. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. The ceasefire does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. Residents fled. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.The way Microsoft provided the US government with cybersecurity upgrades is under scrutiny. ProPublica published a report that delves into the “White House Offer”: a deal in which Microsoft sent consultants to install cybersecurity upgrades for free. But those free product upgrades were only covered for up to one year. Did this deal give Microsoft an unfair advantage, and what could it take to shift the federal government’s reliance on the tech giant’s services? The White House Offer ProPublica spoke to eight former Microsoft employees that played a part in the White House Offer. With their insight, the ProPublica’s report details how this deal makes it difficult for users in the federal government to shift away from Microsoft’s products and how it helped to squeeze out competition. While the cybersecurity upgrades were initially free, government agencies need to pay come renewal time. After the installation of the products and employee training, switching to alternatives would be costly. ProPublica also reports that Microsoft salespeople recommended that federal agencies drop products from competitors to save costs. Critics raise concerns that Microsoft’s deal skirted antitrust laws and federal procurement laws. “Why didn't you allow a Deloitte or an Accenture or somebody else to say we want free services to help us do it? Why couldn't they come in and do the same thing? If a company is willing to do something for free like that, why should it be a bias to Microsoft and not someone else that's capable as well?” asks Morey Haber, chief security advisor at BeyondTrust , an identity and access security company. Related: 2024 Cyber Resilience Strategy Report: CISOs Battle Attacks, Disasters, AI ... and Dust ProPublica noted Microsoft’s defense of its deal and the way it worked with the federal government. Microsoft declined to comment when InformationWeek reached out. Josh Bartolomie, vice president of global threat services at email security company Cofense , points out that the scale of the federal government makes Microsoft a logical choice. “The reality of it is ... there are no other viable platforms that offer the extensibility, scalability, manageability other than Microsoft,” he tells InformationWeek. The Argument for Diversification Overreliance on a single security vendor has its pitfalls. “Generally speaking, you don't want to do a sole provider for any type of security services. You want to have checks and balances. You want to have risk mitigations. You want to have fail safes, backup plans,” says Bartolomie. And there are arguments being made that Microsoft created a cybersecurity monoculture within the federal government. Related: Next Steps to Secure Open Banking Beyond Regulatory Compliance Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) raised concerns and called for a multi-vendor approach. “DoD should embrace an alternate approach, expanding its use of open-source software and software from other vendors, that reduces risk-concentration to limit the blast area when our adversaries discover an exploitable security flaw in Microsoft’s, or another company’s software,” they wrote in a letter to John Sherman , former CIO of the Department of Defense. The government has experienced the fallout that follows exploited vulnerabilities. A Microsoft vulnerability played a role in the SolarWinds hack . Earlier this year it was disclosed that Midnight Blizzard, a Russian state-sponsored threat group, executed a password spray attack against Microsoft. Federal agency credentials were stolen in the attack, according to Cybersecurity Dive. “There is proof out there that the monoculture is a problem,” says Haber. Pushback Microsoft’s dominance in the government space has not gone unchallenged over the years. For example, the Department of Defense pulled out of a $10 billion cloud deal with Microsoft . The contract, the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI), faced legal challenges from competitor AWS. Related: Beyond the Election: The Long Cybersecurity Fight vs Bad Actors Competitors could continue to challenge Microsoft’s dominance in the government, but there are still questions about the cost associated with replacing those services. “I think the government has provided pathways for other vendors to approach, but I think it would be difficult ... to displace them,” says Haber. A New Administration Could the incoming Trump administration herald changes in the way the government works with Microsoft and other technology vendors? Each time a new administration steps in, Bartolomie points out that there is a thirst for change. “Do I think that there's a potential that he [Trump] will go to Microsoft and say, ‘Give us better deals. Give us this, give us that’? That's a high possibility because other administrations have,” he says. “The government being one of the largest customers of the Microsoft ecosystem also gives them leverage.” Trump has been vocal about his “America First” policy, but how that could be applied to cybersecurity services used by the government remains to be seen. “Do you allow software being used from a cybersecurity or other perspective to be developed overseas?” asks Haber. Haber points out that outsourced development is typical for cybersecurity companies. “I'm not aware of any cybersecurity company that does exclusive US or even North America ... builds,” he says. Any sort of government mandate requiring cybersecurity services developed solely in the US would raise challenges for Microsoft and the cybersecurity industry as a whole. While the administration’s approach to cybersecurity and IT vendor relationships is not yet known, it is noteworthy that Trump’s view of tech companies could be influential. Amazon pursued legal action over the $10 billion JEDI contract, claiming that Trump’s dislike of company founder Jeff Bezos impacted its ability to secure the deal, The New York Times reports.
Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader
Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!IREN Reports Q1 FY25 Results
Got plans over the holidays? Hopefully they include getting a little bit of rest, opening up some presents, and checking out a few new games. With that in mind, we wrapped up a list of the best deals in the Steam Winter Sale for you. Whether you're gonna buy something fun for a friend or stuff it in your own Steam stocking, that's entirely up to you. I couldn't help noticing there are some great deals on city builders in the Steam Winter Sale, too. In particular, there are a handful of tasty sales on city builders from 2024. A few of the games below are the cheapest they've ever been, and a few have been on sale for the same price before, but all of them are at least 25% off. Take a look: 2024 city builders in the Steam Winter Sale Manor Lords: $27.99/£24.59 (30% off) Though it's been on sale at this price several times this year, this is still a nice deal for an early access strategy city builder with a bright future. It can feel grand at times, like when you're marching an army across the map to do battle, but it's also a lovely and highly detailed simulator of medieval life. Citadelum: $16.24/£13.64 (35% off) As mayors we're used to getting feedback on our cities from wee little simulated citizens, but in this Roman city builder you can expect frequent visits from the Gods themselves. And yes, they've got opinions on your work, which they'll demonstrate by dispensing blessings or stomping on your stuff. Worshippers of Cthulhu: $18.74/£15.74 (25% off) The twist in this early access city builder is a fun one: you're not just the mayor, you're the leader of a cult trying to awaken The Old One by creating an efficient city. What, you've never played a city builder where human sacrifice was a feature? Thrive: Heavy Lies The Crown: $20.99/£17.24 (25% off) I haven't played this early access fantasy city builder yet—it's only been out since early November—but it's already got a nice discount. Play alone or with up to four people as you grow and manage your city in a dangerous fantasy world. Will you become a benevolent leader or a ruthless tyrant? Technotopia: $3.34/£2.87 (33% off) This city builder card game is already a steal at full price, which is only $5, but here's your chance to nab it for even less. As an AI attempting to build the perfect society, you'll manage your city while contending with factions bent on taking control. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.Former UFC star Dan Hardy believes Jon Jones’ ongoing dismissals of Tom Aspinall will result in long-term consequences. Jon Jones has repeatedly dismissed interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall , including in the immediate aftermath of his UFC 309 victory. After finishing Stipe Miocic and with a chance to call out Aspinall in his post-fight interview, Jones refused to acknowledge the cage-side Aspinall , although he hinted the door is open if he and the UFC can come to terms. Jones previously teased retirement but pivoted on that stance after his UFC 309 win. Jones, arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time, has been mocked relentlessly by Aspinall and his fans in recent weeks for ‘ducking’ the matchup. But, Jones seemed to embrace this narrative in a post-UFC 309 social media update . Regardless, Jones continues to belittle Aspinall in favor of a potential super fight with Alex Pereira. UFC CEO Dana White isn’t interested in Jones vs. Pereira and is confident he can secure the Jones vs. Aspinall fight next year. A former UFC title challenger, and currently a top analyst, believes Jones’ ongoing Aspinall exclusions will come back to bite him. READ MORE: ’15 shots to the ear’... Michael Chandler addresses most controversial moment of rematch with Charles Oliveira Dan Hardy questions whether or not Jon Jones is world’s top heavyweight after Tom Aspinall belittling During a recent interview with Submission Radio , MMA analyst and former UFC fighter Dan Hardy analyzed Jones brushing aside Aspinall. “This is entirely me speaking as a fan, but I don’t think it was good for his brand to say those things about Tom,” Hardy said of Jones. “What I want for a champion in any division, especially the heavyweight champ, I want to hear them say ‘Any person, put them in front of me, and I’ll destroy them’. That’s what we would want the heavyweight champ to be, we’d want them to be this ultimate destroyer that is the scariest, most dominant person on the planet... “As soon as you hear that person say ‘I don’t want to fight this guy. Who is he? Is it worth my time? Me risking my legacy?’, that was very much a telling statement, I think...it just didn’t seem like a good look to me...maybe he’s not the best heavyweight!” Some, including Jones’ former rival Daniel Cormier, believe Aspinall is the legitimate heavyweight champion after UFC 309. Aspinall defended the interim heavyweight title during Jones’ recent injury recovery and Miocic booking, finishing Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. READ MORE: Daniel Cormier responds to Bo Nickal’s scathing criticism of UFC 309 commentary Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall negotiations will be a hot topic in the coming months After his successful heavyweight title defense, Jones will meet with the UFC brass in hopes of coming to terms on a lucrative contract to return. Jones hasn’t ruled out potentially vacating the heavyweight title in exchange for the promotion granting him a clash with Pereira. Aspinall earned the interim UFC heavyweight title by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich last year at UFC 295. Jones was supposed to headline the card against Miocic before withdrawing due to injury, resulting in the last-second scramble to book the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich interim title bout. As of right now, the Jones vs. Aspinall fight remains in a holding pattern, unless the UFC brass offer Jones a deal he can’t refuse. But according to Hardy, Jones has already done some damage to his image after shunning Aspinall during UFC 309 fight week. READ MORE: ‘Just light’... Khalil Rountree Jr. makes startling admission after potentially life-altering loss to Alex Pereira
