President-elect Donald Trump issued a stark warning Monday over the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza , as regional tensions escalated with the first reported Hezbollah attack since implementation of a ceasefire along Israel's northern border. In a message posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas , warning of unprecedented retaliation if the order goes unheeded by his inauguration date of January 20. "Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East," Trump said, adding that "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!" Newsweek contacted the Trump transition team via email on Monday for comment. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who advises Trump on foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East, previously told Axios that the president-elect wants a ceasefire and hostage deal before taking office. "Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now," Graham said following recent meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . President Joe Biden and Trump discussed the Gaza hostages during a two-hour Oval Office meeting just two weeks ago. Additional meetings occurred between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump's incoming national security adviser, U.S. GOP Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, as well as between Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. At the moment, 101 hostages remain in Gaza, including seven American citizens, with Israeli intelligence services believing roughly half are still alive. The crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in more than a year of war. Trump's warning coincided with fresh violence along the Israel-Lebanon border. On Monday, the Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched two projectiles toward Mount Dov, a contested area in the Shebaa Farms region. Israeli military correspondent Yoav Zeyton confirmed the projectiles fell in open areas, causing no casualties or damage. Hezbollah characterized the attack as a "defensive and warning response" to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations. Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Axios that Trump "was reelected because the American people trust him to lead our country and bring stability and peace back to the Middle East." White House officials say Biden intends to continue pushing for a hostage deal until his last day in office, even if Trump ultimately gets credit for a deal. A Hamas delegation is scheduled to visit Cairo on Saturday to discuss new Egyptian proposals for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
Slovakia protests against minister who tests culture, LGBT limits
Steep price hikes could be on the way if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to impose sweeping new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China. He threatened to implement the tariffs on the country’s top three trading partners on his first day back in office, including a 10% tariff on products from China. In a pair of social media posts, he explained the decision as a way to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he said. “It is time for them to pay a very big price!” Ultimately, consumers could end up absorbing the brunt of those costs. When tariffs are levied on imports, American companies have to pay taxes to the U.S. government on their purchases from other countries; the companies often pass on those extra costs to customers. “This is a bully effort to put everybody on notice,” said economist Chris Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. “One of the reasons he uses tariffs is because it’s one of the few places that he actually has some leverage.” Though Thornberg noted it’s still a “giant remains-to-be seen” whether and how Trump’s proposed tariffs are implemented, consumer goods across the board could be dramatically affected. Here are a few top categories: Mexico was the U.S.’s top goods trading partner last year, surpassing China. Mexico is a major manufacturer of passenger vehicles, light vehicles, trucks, auto parts, supplies and electric-vehicle technologies. Eighty-eight percent of vehicles produced there are exported, with 76% headed for the U.S., the International Trade Administration says. Automakers with manufacturing operations in Mexico include General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Audi, BMW, Honda, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. “If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer,” Phil Daniele, chief executive of AutoZone, said in the company’s most recent earnings call. “We’ll generally raise prices ahead of ... what the tariffs will be.” Last year, China accounted for 77% of toy imports — about 25 times greater than the total value of toy imports from Mexico, the next largest foreign source of supply, according to the National Retail Federation. U.S. producers account for less than 1% of the toy market. The federation recently released a study that found the tariffs Trump proposed during his campaign — a universal 10% to 20% tariff on imports from all foreign countries and an additional 60% to 100% tariff on imports specifically from China — would apply to a wide range of toys imported into the U.S., including dolls, games and tricycles. “Prices of toys would increase by 36% to 56%,” the study concluded. The National Retail Federation study also analyzed more than 500 items of clothing and found prices “would rise significantly” — as much as 20.6%. That would force consumers to pare spending on apparel. Low-income households would be hit especially hard, the group said, because they spend three times as much of their after-tax income on apparel compared with high-income households. “U.S. apparel manufacturers would benefit from the tariffs, but at a high cost to families,” the study said. “Even after accounting for domestic manufacturing gains and new tariff revenue, the result is a net $16 billion to $18 billion loss for the U.S. economy, with the burden carried by U.S. consumers.” Imported footwear products already face high U.S. duties, particularly those made in China. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America expressed concern that new tariffs would make it more difficult for consumers to afford shoes and other everyday essentials. Trump’s proposed tariffs would increase the costs of several imported fruits and vegetables, said Jerry Nickelsburg, faculty director of UCLA Anderson Forecast, an economic forecasting organization. The vast majority of U.S. produce imports come from Mexico and Canada, including avocados, cucumbers, potatoes and mushrooms. The U.S. spent $88 billion on agricultural imports from the two countries in fiscal year 2024. Big-ticket electronic products such as televisions, laptops, smartphones, dishwashers and washing machines — many of which are manufactured in Mexico and China, or made with parts imported from those countries — likely would become more expensive. The U.S. imported $76 billion worth of computers and other electronics from Mexico in 2023, and more than a quarter of U.S. imports from China consist of electronic equipment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!The story of the supervised southern potatoes wearing cotton pants in minus 20 degrees was not just a tale of survival, but a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of the small but mighty potatoes from the south.
Title: An Elderly Man Squeezes Through the Dog Hole to Enter the Subway Station
Manchester City's recent struggles in the Champions League have left fans and pundits alike questioning the future of the team under Pep Guardiola. After a shocking defeat to Lyon in the quarterfinals of the 2019-2020 Champions League, the pressure was on Guardiola and his squad to bounce back stronger in the following season. However, the start of the 2020-2021 campaign has been far from ideal for the Citizens.One of the key highlights of this collaboration is the integration of Intuit's popular financial software, such as QuickBooks, with Amazon's seller platform. This integration will provide small businesses selling on Amazon with seamless access to essential financial tools, including accounting software, invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. By streamlining these processes, businesses can save time, improve accuracy, and make more informed decisions to drive growth.BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout ( see: unicorn ) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage."
Commentary: What 11.11 Singles' Day sales no longer say about China’s economyMajor retailers in UK and Ireland pull products associated with Conor McGregorDespite the young player's speed and agility, Haoshuai's composure and veteran savvy proved to be the deciding factor in the match. As the game progressed, the tension mounted, and the stakes grew higher with each point scored. Spectators watched in awe as the two players battled it out, each refusing to back down in the face of adversity.The shooting has also reignited calls for stricter gun control measures, as the suspects were able to easily obtain firearms and carry out their plan without detection. Advocates argue that tragedies like this could be prevented with tighter regulations on gun ownership and more comprehensive mental health screenings.
Recently, rumors have been swirling around the alleged breakup of Hong Kong celebrity couple Kenneth Ma and Roxanne Tong, following the release of photos showing Tong spending time with another man. The speculation sparked a wave of public interest and gossip, with fans speculating about the state of their relationship.
It appears that our bodies possess a remarkable ability to "remember" past episodes of weight gain, which can significantly impact our ability to maintain a healthy weight in the future. This concept of weight memory is based on the physiological changes that occur in response to periods of excess weight, leading to a predisposition towards weight regain.Furthermore, Turkey has also taken proactive steps to address the root causes of the refugee crisis by promoting political dialogue, conflict resolution, and humanitarian assistance in Syria. The President reiterated Turkey's commitment to working with the international community, including the United Nations and regional partners, to find a peaceful solution to the conflict and ensure the safe return of refugees to their homes.
Professional associations play a crucial role in numerous industries by providing networking opportunities, continuing education, and resources for their members. These organizations often serve as a hub for professionals to connect, learn, and advance in their careers. However, the integrity of these associations can be compromised when they prioritize monetary gain over ensuring the highest standards of professionalism within their ranks.