The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at and which he called the Oreshnik — Russian for hazelnut tree. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities,” Putin said in his first comments since President Joe Biden this month to use U.S. to strike at limited targets inside Russia. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia’s missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate range missile based on it’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. “This was new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield, so that was certainly of concern," Singh said, noting that the missile could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. The U.S. was notified ahead of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, she said. The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro came in response to Kyiv's use of U.S. and missiles in strikes Tuesday and Wednesday on southern Russia, Putin said. Those strikes caused a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia's Bryansk region and killed and wounded some security services personnel in the Kursk region, he said. “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in kind,” the Russian president said, adding that Western leaders who are hatching plans to use their forces against Moscow should “seriously think about this.” Putin said the Oreshnik fired Thursday struck a well-known missile factory in Dnipro. He also said Russia would issue advance warnings if it launches more strikes with the Oreshnik against Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate to safety — something Moscow hasn’t done before previous aerial attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially said Russia hadn’t warned the U.S. about the coming launch of the new missile, noting that it wasn't obligated to do so. But he later changed tack and said Moscow did issue a warning 30 minutes before the launch. Putin's announcement came hours after Ukraine claimed that an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack, which wounded two people and damaged an industrial facility and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, according to local officials. But American officials said an initial U.S. assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the use of the missile was an "obvious and serious escalation in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter.” He also said there had been “no strong global reaction” to the use of the missile, which he said could threaten other countries. “Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners,” Zelenskyy wrote. “If there is no tough response to Russia’s actions, it means they see that such actions are possible.” The attack comes during a , as the U.S. eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-made longer-range missiles inside Russia and Putin for launching nuclear weapons. The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that the Dnipro attack was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. “Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is,” Zelenskyy said hours before Putin's address. “And how afraid he is.” Russia was sending a message by attacking Ukraine with an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of releasing multiple warheads at extremely high speeds, even if they are less accurate than cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles, said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. “Why might you use it therefore?” Savill said. "Signaling — signaling to the Ukrainians. We’ve got stuff that outrages you. But really signaling to the West ‘We’re happy to enter into a competition around intermediate range ballistic missiles. P.S.: These could be nuclear tipped. Do you really want to take that risk?’” Military experts say that modern ICBMs and IRBMs are extremely difficult to intercept, although Ukraine has previously claimed to have stopped some other weapons that Russia described as “unstoppable,” including the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile. David Albright, of the Washington-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, said he was “skeptical” of Putin’s claim, adding that Russian technology sometimes “falls short.” He suggested Putin was “taunting the West to try to shoot it down ... like a braggart boasting, taunting his enemy.” Earlier this week, the Biden administration to use the U.S.-supplied, to strike deeper inside Russia — a move that drew an angry response from Moscow. Days later, Ukraine into Russia, according to the Kremlin. The same day, Putin that allows for a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. In response, Western countries, including the U.S., said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Russia’s for nuclear weapons use did not prompt any changes in U.S. doctrine. She pushed back on concerns that the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike deeper inside Russia might escalate the war. ′′They’re the ones who are escalating this,” she said of the Kremlin — in part because of a flood of sent to the region. More than , Russia has the upper hand, with its larger army advancing in Donetsk and Ukrainian civilians suffering from relentless drone and missile strikes. Analysts and observers say the loosening of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and could complicate the logistics that are crucial in warfare. Putin has also warned that the move would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. “It is an important move and it pulls against, undermines the narrative that Putin had been trying to establish that it was fine for Russia to rain down Iranian drones and North Korean missiles on Ukraine but a reckless escalation for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons at legitimate targets in Russia,” said Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Lawless and Emma Burrows in London, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine atNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points, or 1%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent , a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has argued for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44% immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.26% Monday, down from 4.41% late Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. That helped stocks of smaller companies lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped 1.5%. It finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set three years ago. Smaller companies can feel bigger boosts from lower borrowing costs because of the need for many to borrow to grow. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also eased sharply. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders had reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump’s preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8% last month from 2.7% in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4%, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 16.5% after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $154 million in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 2.2%. Among the market’s leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday’s drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 5.9%. Homebuilders, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and Lennar all rose at least 5.6%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 18.03 points to 5,987.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 440.06 to 44,736.57, and the Nasdaq composite gained 51.18 to 19,054.84. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading below $95,000 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Lifestyle Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Every now and then as I passed the kitchen sink, I would get this strange sewage type of smell. It wasn't blocked or too offensive, but was just giving off a strange smell. Likely a build-up of grease and food scraps that inevitably make their way down there when washing up. I tried all the viral cleaning hacks - vinegar, bicarb, and other concoctions that people swore worked but still the smell lingered. I needed another solution. Something that has been appearing on my social media feed for months now. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. The viral cleaning product everyone is raving about I remember seeing a video on TikTok that showed a gross flow of pink foam coming out of a drain opening. It was weirdly satisfying to watch - in the same way that I find animals eating weirdly satisfying to watch. Yes, my algorithm is warped. I knew this was the product that I needed to tackle my manky drain. Yugou Foam Drain Cleaner is the name of the product and lucky for me, it is available at The Reject Shop - a 450mL retailing at $11.5o. The cleaning product, perfect for kitchens and bathrooms, promises to "keep your drains clear and fresh" thanks to the "powerful foaming formula which helps to dissolve clogs and remove grime." The result? Clear pipes free from blockages and weird smells. I had to have it. RELATED: 10 quirky cleaning hacks that actually work a treat Yugou is the viral cleaning product that people swear works. Image: Supplied Grossly satisfying to watch I hate complicated instructions so the directions on the bottle were perfect. Simply shake the bottle, place the nozzle over the drain, and push down. The foam is pushed through the pipe and release when you see the pink foam oozing back up. The foam is to be left for 30 minutes while it does its thing and you gently wipe the excess away once the time is up. Rinsing off any residue you need. The process was simple but I knew the real test would come the next day after I had blasted the drain. The smell was not there in the morning and I decided to give it a few days to see if it returned. I'm happy to share that it hasn't. The viral product actually works! The pink foam coming out of the drain is so satisfying to watch. Image: Supplied Yugou is viral for a reason Looking online, I wasn't the only satisfied customer. "I couldn't get the smell off, and after I used this product it got the nasty stuff out. Love it so much♥️," one person shared on TikTok. "Great Stuff works too!" another added. Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. When Kidspot reached out to The Reject Shop, who is currently exclusively stocking the item in Australia, they admitted they weren't at all surprised by my reaction. "We're all aware that our kitchen and bathroom drains build up dirt over time, but are traditionally a tricky and yucky area of the home to clean," a spokesperson for the bargain retailer shared. "The Yugou Foam Drain Cleaner offers a simple, effective and cost-friendly solution to this. We also think a huge part of this product's success is that it is so much fun to watch and results are almost instant!" Since the product went viral on social media, the company admits they've seen a "significant uptick in sales." Watch it sell out now. More Coverage This is what happens when you put off cleaning your toaster Eleanor Katelaris Mum's simple cleaning act divides the internet Cassidy Pearce Originally published as The viral $11.50 cleaning product that cleared my stinky drains More related stories Lifestyle We tried this viral trolley to see if it makes shopping easier The Clax Cart is supposed to be the ultimate product to ensure your shopping trip runs smoothly. But, is it really worth the money? Read more Lifestyle ‘So handy’ This Kmart product is a must-have for caravanning With over 50, 5-star reviews, you should be asking yourself why you don't have it yet. Read moreAEW Rampage ratings up for Full Gear go-home show

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Stephon Castle's mom Quannette comments on son's stellar role in Spurs' victory over Curry's Golden State Warriors: "Stay hungry son!"TORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada’s main stock index to close higher in the shortened Christmas Eve trading session, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 97.84 points at 24,846.82, as most sectors rose other than telecoms and health care. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 390.08 points at 43,297.03. The S&P 500 index was up 65.97 points at 6,040.04, while the Nasdaq composite was up 266.24 points at 20,031.13. The gains added to increases in recent days to help offset the drop in markets last week after the U.S. Federal Reserve released its latest outlook. The climb however was more likely related to year-end balancing than any change in sentiment, said Dustin Reid, chief fixed income strategist at Mackenzie Investments. “I think it’s mostly just year-end flows that are driving it. I don’t think there’s anything that’s particularly reversed in terms of sentiments since the Fed meeting,” said Reid. There’s reallocation by geography, moving asset classes and other adjustments to align portfolios that is likely affecting markets, he said. “I find that price action around month end, quarter end, and year-end, you shouldn’t try and ascribe a ton of fundamental cause as to why things are moving, because there’s a lot of flows happening below the surface that are probably driving the price action that are not necessarily fundamentally based.” The U.S. Fed guided for only two rate cuts in 2025 at its Dec. 18 meeting, which pushed down markets for the day. But Reid said the guidance was largely in line with expectations, and the strong U.S. economy has likely since helped boost markets. The Canadian market, meanwhile, might be benefiting a little from the expectations of even more rate cuts needed here than expected as the economy is showing softness. On Monday, Statistics Canada said its early estimate for November suggests real GDP for the month edged 0.1 per cent lower for the first drop this year. “The negative flash print for November really suggests that the bank is going to have a fair bit more work to do,” said Reid. “I think that the market is not pricing in enough easing for calendar ’25 for the Bank of Canada.” There was no economic data releases Tuesday to sway markets, he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.51 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 86 cents at US$70.10 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 16 cents at US$3.50 per mmBTU. The February gold contract ended up US$7.30 at US$2,635.50 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound.High surf and flooding in California claims one life, threatens Christmas Eve for resident

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Six FIRs filed for sharing ‘edited’ videos of KejriwalLAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson wasn’t all that interested in discussing any bright spots or reasons to have hope for the Chicago Bears. The star cornerback made his feelings clear. “I’ve been in slumps four, five years in a row now,” Johnson said Monday. “So, I mean at the end of the day, I don’t look for, ‘OK, what is going to be better in the future?’ ... It will be better when it’s better. So, right now, it’s not better. That’s all I can go off of.” The Bears (4-7) are last in the NFC North and have five straight losses after falling 30-27 to Minnesota in overtime. They wiped out an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation, only to come up short again when the Vikings’ Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal. It was the third game during this skid that came down to the final play. The Bears also lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8 and had a game-ending field goal attempt by Cairo Santos blocked by Green Bay in Week 11. Players have openly questioned some of the coaching decisions in recent weeks. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired before the game against Green Bay. And coach Matt Eberflus’ game management came under more scrutiny against Minnesota. RELATED COVERAGE Rams WR Demarcus Robinson arrested on suspicion of DUI after loss to Eagles Jackson accounts for 3 TDs, John Harbaugh moves to 3-0 vs. brother as Ravens beat Chargers 30-23 Chargers struggle to score after RB J.K. Dobbins hurts his knee in his reunion game with Ravens With the Bears trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, there was some confusion on a fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 27. Eberflus said he didn’t do a good enough job communicating on the previous play that they would go for it on fourth down. That led to a chaotic sequence in which Santos and long snapper Scott Daly ran onto the field, only to get waved off by a lineman. Quarterback Caleb Williams had to rush to get everyone lined up properly in order to avoid a delay of game. He wound up barking out the wrong play because he misheard the call from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and threw an incomplete pass. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . Receiver DJ Moore said Eberflus had not addressed that play with the team. The Bears were scheduled to meet later Monday. “That moment was just like, like a ‘what is going on’ moment that we could have avoided,” he said. What’s working The passing game. Williams has clearly looked more comfortable in the two games since Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The No. 1 draft pick followed up a solid performance against Green Bay by throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. What needs help Field goal protection. One week after his game-ending 46-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay got blocked, Santos had a 48-yarder rejected on his first try against Minnesota. It happened from the same area, in the middle of the line, when the Vikings’ Jerry Tillery knocked down the kick. “I just think it’s technique,” Eberflus said. “It’s getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. ... We just have to do a better job there with that.” It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. He had a 43-yard try blocked in a win over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. Stock up Moore. The Bears have done a better job getting Moore involved under Brown. Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games, compared to 13 for 104 yards over the previous four. Johnson’s 27-yard catch down the middle set up Santos’ tying field goal at the end of regulation. But it’s not just deep shots. The Bears are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, allowing him to turn short passes into bigger gains. He also had a 13-yard run. Stock down RB D’Andre Swift. After a string of solid outings, Swift had just 30 yards on 13 carries. To be fair, he has been dealing with a groin issue, and he was going against the NFL’s No. 1 run defense. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number 5-18 — The Bears’ record in one-possession games in nearly three seasons under Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. They are 14-31 overall during Eberflus’ tenure. Next steps The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a Thanksgiving matchup at NFC North leader Detroit. The Lions (10-1) have won nine straight since losing to Tampa Bay in Week 2. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLS.Africa's Breyten Breytenbach, writer and anti-apartheid activistAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

With our daily tarot card reading, you will not only feel the energies that will be influencing your day but will also bring you messages to give you clarity for the day ahead. Here's what the day has in store for you, based on your zodiac sign. Aries At work you will achieve your goals with self efforts. Travel plans made today will be well budgeted. Singles will come across alliances who are talented. On the health front you are likely to take control of your health. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in organizations that will expect them to undertake multiple responsibilities. Taurus Stress will increase. At work you will be lost in thoughts. Travel plans made today will be slow. Singles will come across alliances who are sluggish. Jobseekers will be asked to wait or will face delays in interviews. On the health front you are likely to not take initiatives or will experience a slow down in your body. Gemini Avoid getting involved into others matters. On the health front you are likely to be addicted or consume something that will create habit formation. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in IT, social media and or in AI sector. Travel plans made today will be affected due to someone’s negligence. Cancer At work you will achieve a lot of opportunities to achieve your goals. Travel plans will be expensive on pocket. On the health front you are likely to do multiple things at a time. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in organizations of choice. Singles will get physically to attracted to someone. Leo Someone will try to manipulate you. Travel plans made today will be expensive on pocket. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in sales and marketing fields. On the health front you are likely to have issues due to blood pressure. Singles will come across alliances who are flirtatious or have the habit of lying. Virgo Jobseekers will come across opportunities in organizations that will be family businesses. At work you will be able to complete your tasks. On the health front expect some changes. Travel plans will be well researched. Singles will come across alliances who are financially struggling. Libra At work you will have setbacks due to difference of opinions with others. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in departments like customer care. On the health front you are likely to have issues related to blood pressure. Singles will come across alliances who are their twin flames. Scorpio At work someone will push you harder to achieve your goal or organizational targets. Travel plans made today will be will come across opportunities in organizations that are male dominated. On the health front you are likely to be ignorant about your health matters. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in lifestyle and luxury category. Singles will come across alliances who are spendthrift. Sagittarius Avoid getting into people’s matters or signing any papers. Travel plans can suffer documentation issues. On the health front you are likely to have issues related to blood pressure or may suffer spasm issues. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in organizations that are into delivery, security services, legal firms and or in housekeeping. Singles should avoid getting into show off. Capricorn At work you will achieve your targets. On the health front you are likely to have issues related to sleep or stress. Singles will come across alliances who will either be from foreign country or will be fraud in nature. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in home appliance categories. Travel plans made today will be influenced by women or working professionals. Aquarius At work you will set long term goals. On the health front you are likely to benefit by Ayurvedic and or herbal medicines. Travel plans made today will be to long distance places. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in multinational companies. Singles will come across alliances who are from different city or state. Pisces At work you will receive a lot of tasks to complete. On the health front you are suggested to set health goals and take baby steps to achieve them. Travel plans made today will be expensive on pocket. Singles will come across alliances who are emotionally imbalanced. Jobseekers will come across opportunities in organizations that won’t offer a good hike. Also See: Horoscope Predictions for 2025Aries Horoscope 2025Taurus Horoscope 2025Gemini Horoscope 2025Cancer Horoscope 2025Leo Horoscope 2025Virgo Horoscope 2025Libra Horoscope 2025Scorpio Horoscope 2025Sagittarius Horoscope 2025Capricorn Horoscope 2025Aquarius Horoscope 2025Pisces Horoscope 2025 Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Astrology and around the world.Moving To Costa Rica: A Guide For North American Retirees

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