Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gentex Co. ( NASDAQ:GNTX – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 12,263 shares of the auto parts company’s stock, valued at approximately $373,000. Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new position in Gentex during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Gentex by 173.1% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,341 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 850 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. increased its position in Gentex by 227.8% during the third quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 1,826 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,269 shares during the period. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gentex in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $67,000. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its stake in shares of Gentex by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 5,664 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $168,000 after purchasing an additional 667 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.76% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Gentex from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Gentex from $39.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on Gentex from $35.00 to $34.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Gentex from $33.00 to $31.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on Gentex in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $34.00 target price on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $35.13. Gentex Price Performance Gentex stock opened at $29.21 on Friday. Gentex Co. has a 1-year low of $28.30 and a 1-year high of $37.58. The company has a market cap of $6.64 billion, a PE ratio of 15.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.91. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $30.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.88. Gentex Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 8th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. Gentex’s dividend payout ratio is presently 25.67%. Gentex Company Profile ( Free Report ) Gentex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and supplies digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass, and fire protection products in the United States, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, and internationally. It operates through Automotive Products and Other segments. The company offers automotive products, including interior and exterior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, automotive electronics, and non-automatic-dimming rearview mirrors for automotive passenger cars, light trucks, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans for original equipment manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and various aftermarket and accessory customers. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Gentex How Investors Can Identify and Successfully Trade Gap-Down Stocks S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains How to Calculate Options Profits How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 Stock Market Holidays 2022-2025 – Here’s When the NYSE and NASDAQ Will be Closed Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Receive News & Ratings for Gentex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gentex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Bill Clinton hospitalized with fever but in good spirits after eerie premonitionThe US Navy is to transform three, white elephant, stealth destroyers by fitting them with first-of-their-kind shipborne hypersonic weapons. The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.

AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTThe is offering some of the retailer's best deals of the year. Everything is up to 50% off, making this a buy-a-whole-new-wardrobe kind of sale. Admittedly, it takes a lot to impress us shopping editors (since we shop and research deals for a living), but Old Navy is doing just that with its major discounts. You can find items for as little as $5, and you don't even have to dig. From cozy sweaters and warm puffer coats to soft pajamas and basic T-shirts — these are some good savings. SoSoft Crop Cable-Knit Sweater High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans Oversized Double-Breasted Pea Coat High-Waisted PowerSoft Full-Length Leggings Quilted Puffer Jacket Cozy Crew-Neck Sweater EveryWear Slub-Knit T-Shirt Soft Knit Beanie For Women Flannel Pajama Set 3-Pack Text-Friendly Gloves for Women That said, there are hundreds of items on sale, so we scrolled for hours to find the best Old Navy Black Friday deals for women. Here, we're listing the things you can wear again and again and the items you can gift to someone on your holiday shopping list. Some stuff we're eyeing: The brand's were just marked down to $18, and this is just $30. You can also stock up on , and , starting at just $5 each. Keep scrolling for the best Old Navy Cyber Monday deals. And if you're looking for more savings on clothing, we've compiled a big list of from across the web. This cable-knit sweater will become your festive go-to for work, dinners out and more. It has a slightly cropped cut that's meant to hit just below the waist of your jeans for a more flattering cut (without showing any skin). These jeans have over 10,000 five-star reviews, so you know they're good. The high waist helps suck everything in for a slimming fit, but the wide leg gives the illusion of mile-long legs. They're slightly stretchy, lightweight and come in seven shades. This pea coat features oversized lapels on the front with double-breasted buttons for an effortlessly cool style. It comes in four colors, all on sale for just $40. Don't sleep on Old Navy's athletic wear! Its leggings are super soft, and these have a little bit of compression to suck everything in. They're also available in three lengths so you can find your ideal full-length fit. Looking for a sporty puffer? This one is just $35 and comes in black, pink, taupe and light gray. It has a double closure that zips and snaps to keep the wind out — and a slightly elevated neck if you want to leave your scarf at home. Just like the name says, this sweater is cozy! With a relaxed fit and soft knit fabric, it will surely become your go-to sweater on chilly days. In fact, at this price, you may want to get more than one — it comes in four neutral colors you can rotate on a regular basis. You can never have enough T-shirts! Grab this 100% cotton one for just $8 to layer under sweaters, wear with jeans, pair with leggings and more. It comes in eight colors. You can always use a new beanie in the wintertime. Pick up one or a few while they're on sale for just $5! This one comes in gray, black, white, orange, blue, hot pink, neon green and camel. Christmas jammies just make every day feel more festive leading up to the big day. This flannel set comes in a few holiday and winter prints. And if you're the type of family that likes matching sleepwear, you'll be glad to know these are part of a family set (sold separately). Every year, we buy these gloves and every year, we lose at least one pair. Restock your home with this soft knit set with built-in text-friendly fingers (so you can still use your phone). Just an idea — these are also great stocking stuffers!

For nearly a decade, navigating Nvidia’s GeForce Experience drove many tech enthusiasts mad, but now, a bold shift from Nvidia promises a brighter future. The Nvidia App steps into the spotlight, aiming to transform how gamers manage their GPUs. Initially met with skepticism, this new app quickly won over skeptics thanks to a range of improvements. The tangled experience of using GeForce Experience had become notorious among tech users, often compared to third-party antivirus software in terms of frustration. The need to log in, captcha puzzles, and relentless notifications made it cumbersome and obsolete. Even gamers found its settings recommendations unnecessary and ignored its game optimization features. But the Nvidia App is ready to change the narrative, offering streamlined features and a hassle-free experience that feels like a breath of fresh air. Combining legacy features from GeForce Experience with an overhaul of the Windows XP-style Nvidia Control Panel, the Nvidia App integrates necessary features in one accessible package. This app doesn’t force users to sign in or complete captchas, instead providing driver updates, graphics settings, and monitor control in a user-friendly interface. Although it doesn’t yet outshine AMD’s impressive Adrenalin software, Nvidia’s new app takes a step forward, bringing convenience to loyal Nvidia users. It’s clear that the clunky days of GeForce Experience are fading, but future updates will determine if Nvidia can leave its cumbersome legacy behind for good. Nonetheless, the absence of traffic light captchas is a triumph in itself. Nvidia App Revolutionizes GPU Management: What You Need to Know In a significant development for technology enthusiasts and gamers, Nvidia has launched the Nvidia App, signaling a major change in the way users manage their GPUs. This shift comes after years of user frustration with the GeForce Experience, which often drew comparisons to cumbersome and intrusive software. Here’s a look at the new features, pros and cons, and what this innovation means for Nvidia’s future. Features and Benefits of the Nvidia App The Nvidia App presents a refined and user-friendly interface, marrying the most useful elements from both GeForce Experience and the traditional Nvidia Control Panel. Unlike its predecessor, the app does not require users to log in or deal with captcha challenges, significantly reducing user friction. Here are some key features: – Driver Updates : Seamlessly integrates driver updates to ensure users’ systems are running with the latest optimizations and security patches. – Graphics Settings : Offers simplified access to tweak graphics settings, allowing even novice users to enhance their gaming experience effortlessly. – Monitor Control : Includes intuitive monitor control settings that streamline the process of adjusting display properties. User Insights and Reviews Early adopters of the Nvidia App have applauded its user-centric design and ease of use. Gamers who previously ignored the GeForce Experience’s game optimization features are now finding value in the Nvidia App’s streamlined approach. While it doesn’t yet surpass AMD’s Adrenalin software, users appreciate Nvidia’s efforts to innovate and improve their experience. Pros and Cons Pros : – Eliminates the need for annoying logins and captchas. – Intuitive and accessible interface. – Combines critical features in one app. Cons : – Still trails behind some competitor solutions in terms of advanced features. – Future updates are needed to completely move past legacy issues. Innovations and Future Predictions Nvidia’s new app marks the beginning of an era where user convenience is prioritized. The focus on integrating essential features while eliminating unnecessary obstructions might set a trend for other tech companies, pushing for simplicity and functionality in software design. Expect future updates that may see the Nvidia App incorporating advanced features to rival industry leaders like AMD. Conclusion The release of the Nvidia App represents a pivotal moment for GPU management, emphasizing user-friendly design and streamlined functionality. While not perfect, it is a promising step forward for Nvidia, potentially heralding more innovations in the future. As the app evolves, it may well become a dominant force in user experience among dedicated Nvidia consumers. For more information about Nvidia and their products, visit the official Nvidia website.

Lions head into NFC title game rematch vs. 49ers seeking top seed more than revenge

Seth Meyers on Leaving Politics Behind in His New Stand-Up Special and Finding Out How Much He Can Joke About His FamilyJHVEPhoto TSMC's ( NYSE: TSM ) stock had a good run throughout most of 2024, but 2025 could be greatly different. Although the company reported great numbers during the latest earnings call, the rise of geopolitical risks and the gradual normalization of Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Punjab farmers call for 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' on Jan 4 Dallewal says no pressure to be on fastHCP-1803 is under clinical development by and currently in Phase III for Idiopathic (Essential) Hypertension. According to GlobalData, Phase III drugs for Idiopathic (Essential) Hypertension does not have sufficient historical data to build an indication benchmark PTSR for Phase III. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. HCP-1803 overview HCP-1803 is under development for the treatment of essential hypertension. It is administered through oral route as tablets. Hanmi Pharmaceuticals overview , a subsidiary of Hanmi Science Co Ltd, develops prescription drugs and over the counter (OTC) drugs. The company’s prescription drugs include antibiotics, antidiarrheal, drugs for osteoporosis, liver supplements, and antiemetics. It provides OTC products such as nutritional supplements, calcium supplement, and vitamins, among others. The products of are used in the treatment of cancer, depression, dementia, dermatology, diabetes, inflammation, cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, hepatitis, osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, and others. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Hwaseong, Songpa and Pyeongtaek, South Korea. It supplies its products and APIs in various countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. For a complete picture of HCP-1803’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .

NoneThe Bears will see the return of defensive tackle Gervon Dexter on Thursday night. He was questionable with a knee injury that kept him out of the Week 16 loss to the Lions. Dexter has 44 tackles, five sacks, 16 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries in 13 games this season. The Bears’ inactives are left guard Teven Jenkins (calf), defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, running back Travis Homer (hamstring), safety Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot), linebacker Noah Sewell and safety Tarvarius Moore (knee). The Seahawks’ inactives are quarterback Jaren Hall, tight end Brady Russell (foot), offensive tackle Michael Jerrell, wide receiver Cody White, linebacker Patrick O’Connell and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett. Hall will serve as the emergency, third quarterback.

NEW YORK — The rumbling buses echoed for blocks on the quiet campus at Fordham University. Nebraska’s sprawling football operation had arrived. This isn’t the typical home team, the FCS-level Rams that just completed a 2-10 season. The Huskers took the practice field on a cold and sunny Thursday afternoon flanked by social-media cameras and a host of staffers. A post-practice grab-and-go buffet line greeted players afterward as they headed the few miles back toward downtown Manhattan and an evening at a high-profile ping-pong club. “Just looking around, spending time with each other,” freshman linebacker Vincent Shavers said of more time in New York City. “I ain’t never did this before with no other team so I’m very happy. I’m grateful for them.” Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” played on the sound system as Nebraska went through workouts two days before the Pinstripe Bowl. The Huskers practiced at Joe Moglia Field — Moglia, a Fordham alumnus, was once the executive advisor to former NU coach Bo Pelini in 2009 and 2010 — on an artificial surface shared also by the Fordham soccer and baseball teams. Baseball’s press box named after another famous graduate, Vin Scully, was only yards away as the visiting Big Ten team went through drills. People are also reading... Beatrice house suffers severe damage from Christmas fire Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway Beatrice church starts construction on fellowship hall At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Gage County supervisors vote down FOP contract offer Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Main Street welcomes new director Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple Beatrice Humane Society: Keeping your pet merry this season The gated campus — just a couple blocks away from bustling neighborhood streets in the Bronx — was covered with small piles of snow scattered throughout. Temperatures in the sun felt perhaps in the mid-40s while shady conditions felt closer to 20. New Nebraska assistant coaches Daikiel Shorts (receivers) and Phil Simpson (outside linebackers) spoke with a smattering of reporters afterward along with a few players. Coach Matt Rhule will talk midday Friday as part of a Pinstripe availability before kickoff Saturday at noon eastern time. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Wolves-Rockets game preview: TV-radio information, injury report, key players

In the two years since its formation, ’s 13th National Guard Brigade – called “Khartiya” – has gained a reputation not only for prowess in battle but also for its culture of respect and innovative approach to technology. Khartiya helped to halt Russian forces who launched a surprise incursion last May that threatened to overwhelm , from where many of its original members come. The brigade was deployed to confront the Russian incursion around the village of Lyptsi, north of Ukraine’s second-largest city, last June; the forested area has since been a pivotal battleground. And it was there last week that the Khartiya announced it had fought a battle for the first time using only drones – both unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic ground vehicles that sprayed the enemy using remote-control machine guns and laid anti-tank mines, inflicting large casualties and preventing a Russian attack without the loss of a single Ukrainian life. The brigade’s spokesperson, Sergeant Volodymyr Dehtyarev, said Khartiya is committed to creating a “new Ukrainian army” using Nato standards of training that, unlike the Soviet-style hierarchical structures that still linger in many parts of the Ukrainian military, show respect for every member of the fighting force and use education and discussion to cultivate, rather than suppress, individual initiative. He said that the brigade had particularly benefited from British training that emphasised the need for every soldier, of whatever rank, to be able to take part in the planning of a mission or battle and, if necessary, to take over leadership from a superior trank. On Christmas Eve, was taken in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to one of Khartiya’s drone units covering a section of the brigades’s trenches and bunkers in the Lyptsi area. After leaving the highway northwards from Kharkiv, our vehicles headed along country roads and largely deserted villages cloaked in fog as the temperature dipped toward freezing. Along the way, we visited two bases where Khartiya brigade members were resting for a few days before returning to the front lines. As in many other European countries, Ukrainians have their main festive meal on Christmas Eve rather than 25 December. Dinner traditionally consists of 12 dishes, one for each of the disciples. All 12 courses were not a practical proposition in the spartan conditions of the village houses being used by the resting soldiers. But the brigade provided some dishes while the soldiers themselves prepared others. An essential ingredient of the traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal is kutia, an ancient sweet dish of grains, honey and poppyseed. Dehtyarev, accompanying , distributed some. The mood was subdued but not sad. A company commander with the call sign “Czech” said: “Of course tonight everybody is thinking about the families they have left behind. I have a wife and a girl aged 18 and a boy 14 years old. I miss them and this is the third Christmas I will not be with them. But I have to be here as long as is needed and I know my family understands that.” Czech said he and his men spent seven days at the front followed by seven days rest. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers have occupied trenches and tunnel networks abandoned by Russians they have driven out. Others they have dug themselves. In a pattern repeated everywhere along the front lines, small groups of Russians, sometimes brought close to Ukrainian lines in armoured personnel carriers, or riding off-load bikes or quad vehicles, try to press forward despite horrendous losses. Ukrainian and western sources estimate ’s daily losses are at 1,200 dead and 1,500 wounded. Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his generals are indifferent to the high losses because Putin has eliminated all opposition voices so there is no political blowback for him. Czech said: “The fighting is intense and the enemy is sometimes only 25 or 50m away. We can see them. There is no let up and after seven days everyone needs a rest. “On a night like this, we’re also thinking about our comrades that have been killed and will never see their families again or those who have been badly wounded.” One of the brigade’s chaplains, protestant Pastor Oleksandr, visited the bases talking with those who wanted to speak with him and leading a short prayer meeting. A family of four, dressed in traditional costumes, also visited the bases to sing carols. Moving along narrow roads that had been turned to mud, Dehtyarev drove to a concealed location that is home to a drone unit. As the fairy lights on the Yuletide tree in their bunker twinkled in the closing minutes of Christmas Eve, two soldiers, working above ground, adorned a large “Vampire” drone with a deadly 20-pound bomb intended to deliver a lethal greeting behind the Russian lines. The black, lorry wheel-sized drone with six propellers is called Vampire because it is equipped with a thermal imaging camera allowing it to operate by night. The two soldiers worked using red lights that are less visible for an enemy to spot and which bathed the scene in a bizarre, almost festive glow. Controlled by a third member of their unit, the Vampire’s propellers churned the air generating a surprisingly loud, intimidatory clatter as it lifted off the ground, momentarily hovered, and then swung toward its target in the battlegrounds around the village of Lyptsi. Inside the bunker, everyone watched as the lorry wheel-sized Vampire was guided by an operator called Sova – owl, in Ukrainian – using a tiny joystick to keep the drone on course, plotted in blue on one of three screens. Two other screens showed a different version of the map with information about the drone’s height and speed. The drones are called Vampires because they are equipped with thermal imaging cameras enabling them to “see” at night. But the skies over Lyptsi this Christmas Eve were murky with low clouds and fog. The target was a Russian bunker, spotted earlier by another unit operating reconnaissance drones. However, the camera showed the flashes of tracer bullets as the Russians, alerted by the noise of the Vampire’s propellers, tried to down the unmanned craft with machine gun fire. Sova released the bomb around 20 minutes past midnight and into Christmas Day as the monitors showed the drone was precisely above its target. This is only the second Christmas since Ukraine adopted the modern Gregorian calendar that celebrates Christmas on 25 December rather than 27 January. Even without direct sight of the bunker, Sova was confident some of the Russians 130ft below the drone would not live to see the remainder of Ukrainian Christmas Day, let alone the Russian one. The unit’s commander, with the call-sign Makalatura, explained there had been unusually fierce battles raging all day on Christmas Eve as waves of Russian troops accompanied the Khartiya Brigade section he is responsible for protecting. He said that usually, his unit launched planned attacks against targets that had been spotted by reconnaissance drones and scheduled for bombing days or even weeks before by the Khartiya Brigades headquarters. But on Christmas Eve he had sent Vampire drones on three unplanned flights in support of his fellow Khartiya brigade members whose positions had been in danger of falling to Russian forces. In between lethal bombing runs, Makalatura said they use the Vampires to fly food, water and other supplies to their comrades in outposts where deliveries by vehicles on the ground are suicidally vulnerable to the Russians’ own formidable drone forces. The third member of the unit calls himself “Bandera”. Like the other two, he is in his early twenties and like them was thinking of family and friends far away. He said: “My wife and I had a child three and a half months ago, a girl. I’ve only seen her briefly once.” And like most of the Ukrainian soldiers spoke to, Bandera longs for the war to end but only on terms that guarantee Ukrainian independence and security. “We have to make sure that my child and her generation don’t face another future Russian war.” A few hours after returned to Kharkiv on Christmas morning the city was hit by at least six missiles as part of an intense aerial attack affecting much of Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had launched more than 180 missiles and drones which caused many casualties and had targeted energy-generating facilities. Moscow said it had “carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones.”The war in Gaza has become a new flashpoint between Canada’s largest protestant church and Jewish groups, who say that the famously activist church is dividing Canadians with its “unhealthy obsession with Israel and Jews.” In recent months, the church has made a number of statements vociferously opposing Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, launched in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks. In August, Rev. Michael Blair, the church’s general secretary, wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , urging Ottawa to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel until it complied with an opinion from the International Court of Justice , which concluded that Israel’s “continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful,” referring to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. “This is the first time that we are asking for Canada to issue this kind of sanction on the State of Israel, because, clearly, quiet diplomacy is not working,” Blair wrote. Then, in mid-November, it called upon the Canadian government to implement a complete arms embargo, adopt sanctions against Israel and officially declare Israel an apartheid state just weeks after it endorsed the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and recognized Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank as apartheid. The statement, calling Israel’s war in Gaza “ethic cleansing and genocide,” and its reference to “Israeli state-sponsored terror,” represent the outcome of a years-long process of the church attempting to sort out its positions on the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. Richard Marceau, the vice-president, external affairs, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said that the United Church is on a “problematic trajectory,” and that it began many years ago. “Nobody in Israel cares what the United Church of Canada says or does. No one. Where it can have an impact is in Canada,” said Marceau. “So, instead of bringing people together, to get people to closer together, despite fundamental differences, what the United Church is doing is actually pulling people apart. It is singling out Israel, which is central to Canadian Jewish identity.” While it is dwarfed by the number of Catholics in the country, who numbered nearly 11 million in 2021, about 1.2 million Canadians are affiliated with the United Church. The tension between the United Church and Canadian Jewish groups isn’t new. Japhet Ndhlovu, the United Church’s head of mission who oversees global justice work, said in an interview that the church has been consistent for years. The church condemned the October 7 attacks and has been “consistent in asking for the release of all those that were abducted by the terrorists,” Ndhlovu said, but it has also spoken out against the death toll from Israel’s military operation against Hamas in the Gaza strip and the expansion of the conflict into neighbouring Lebanon. “I would say that the United Church stand has never changed,” said Ndhlovu. “Of course, the reactions to what the United Church has said over the years has taken different twists and turns, and it depends on the people that are responding.” After the Second World War, as the revelations of the Holocaust became better known, support within the church for Israel grew, though not officially; the church had been conflicted in its stance on Zionism and Jewish persecution in Europe. “The horror of our people expressed itself in the support of the establishment of Israel. The only guard against a repeat of such mass destruction was a strong Israeli nation with secure borders,” A.B.B. Moore, a prominent United Church minister, wrote to Israeli academic Haim Genizi in 1995. Still, by 1954, the church was objecting to the way Israel had expanded, according to Genizi’s book, The Holocaust, Israel and Canadian Protestant Churches. The church’s Committee on Church and International Affairs condemned the use of force that accompanied Israel’s expansion, while imploring Israel’s Arab neighbours to accept Israel and “learn to live with her as a neighbour.” Within a couple years, though, Genizi writes that the church had “adopted a position that delegitimized Israel’s right to exist, on the grounds that the establishment of the State was based on moral injustice to the Palestinians.” The church’s newspaper — editorially independent but indicative of the trends of the time — the United Church Observer, was “almost without exception unsympathetic to Israel and to the Zionist movement” by the time Israel fought the Six-Day War in 1967. The newspaper, and prominent church members and editorialists, were denounced by some Jewish, Christian and Catholic thinkers for criticisms of Zionism that veered into antisemitism. Anti-Zionism sooner or later reveals a distressing tendency to shade into antisemitism “Anti-Zionism sooner or later reveals a distressing tendency to shade into antisemitism,” wrote Alan T. Davis, a United Church minister, in a 1970 essay in the Christian Century, a magazine publishing in Chicago. The internal church debates seemingly quieted for a few decades as the church dealt with other issues, including reckoning with its role in the residential school system, declining church membership and its approach to social issues. Judaism more broadly, however, did receive some attention in 1997, when a church report concluded that Christians should stop trying to convert Jews to Christianity. But over the past 20 or so years, the church has once again taken positions on the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. In 2003, the United Church adopted a report that sketched out the centuries of Christian antisemitism. “We know that the Christian tradition for over 1,900 years plus, can be condemned to be antisemitic,” said Ndhlovu. It also affirmed that Israel had a right to exist and that criticisms of Israel “that dwell on its Jewish identity rather than the exigencies of power as the cause of its real or imagined misdeeds are highly suspect.” However, relations between the United Church and Canadian Jewish organizations deteriorated in 2012, when the church urged Canadians to not purchase goods made by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs promptly announced its own boycott of the United Church and called on Canadian Jews, including rabbis and community organizations, to make a “wholesale break” with the church, including severing ties with interfaith groups that include the United Church and ending any educational interactions. Since then, attempts have been made to reknit those ties, including in 2022 when the church vowed to build an antisemitism education campaign. Since it was founded in 1925 by way of a merger between a handful of other mainline protestant organizations, the United Church has championed many progressive political causes, including universal health care, sanctuary for Vietnam draft dodgers and, since the 1980s, LGBT rights. In the background to all of this, the church had been working to develop what it calls justice-based principles that guide its stance on issues in foreign nations, where it has numerous partners and local connections. This includes its perspective not just on Israel and the Palestinian territories, but on other governments and areas, such as the Philippines and El Salvador. Back in 2021, the church’s general council — the top decision-making body — received a report on how the church should approach the tensions between Israel and Palestinians. Martha ter Kuile chaired the task force that authored the report and recalled to the National Post that the last time the policy had been updated was in 2012, and it was necessary to revisit the policies. “The 2012 policy wasn’t quite meeting the need,” ter Kuile said. The report her task force produced, after three years of work, suggested the United Church could support the principles of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (and rejected the idea that BDS is inherently antisemitic) and refer to Israel as an apartheid state, though the report stopped short of calling on the church to take particular actions. It also developed a set of overall justice principles that inform the church’s social justice work. “Christ does not call us to be polite or to walk some middle line until all parties are appeased, but rather, Christ calls us to stand in costly solidarity with those who seem most at risk of losing the fullness of life that God intends for all people,” the report says. That report also grapples with whether or not the United Church should continue to refer to Israel as a Jewish state. “Using the language of ‘Jewish state’ vis á vis Israel will likely be interpreted as implying support for Israel’s Nation State Law,” the report says. That law, passed in Israel’s Knesset in 2018, says that Israel’s right to self-determination is “unique to the Jewish people.” The objection of the church report’s authors is, essentially, that this does not grant equal rights to non-Jews in Israel, and that the church’s support of Israel as a Jewish state “is specifically qualified as a state which extends equal rights and dignity to all its citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity.” Those proposals were not adopted at the church’s 2022 general council, although a later proposal, which called on the church to further the ideas contained in the 2021 report, was adopted. By October 2024, the church’s general council adopted a policy declaring Israel an apartheid state and supporting BDS as a means of non-violent protest. “When they accuse Israel of being an apartheid state, what they’re doing, in effect, is negating the right of Jews to self determination, and saying that their their right to self determination, which is a state of Israel, is inherently racist and tainted,” said Marceau. “The next step is that it should not exist. They’re not saying it out loud but when you decode the language, that’s where it leads.” Pro-Israel groups have also long argued that the BDS movement is antisemitic. “It has become like any criticism, any criticism of the nation of Israel, the pro-Israel lobby groups will come up with antisemitism,” countered Ndhlovu. “So all we are supposed to do is maybe keep quiet and just allow the violence to continue, and then we’ll be told, ‘Yes, now you are in support of Israel.'” Marceau called the church’s stance an “unhealthy obsession with Israel and Jews,” and that it could in part explain the church’s declining influence in Canada. “The negative comments are an indication that there is actually an effect there,” said Ndhlovu. “The very fact that they have responded, I think, for us, is a sign that there is some success there. They are listening, they’re hearing, and that’s why they are reacting the way they are reacting.” Even within the church, however, there isn’t entirely a consensus on the Middle East. John Ryerson, a Toronto social justice activist and United Church member, has criticized the church for its use of the term “genocide,” in particular, calling it a “trigger word.” “They jumped on the genocide bandwagon very early. They took a side and stopped conversation,” said Ryerson. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here .10 Industrials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session