Kentfield resident Heather McPhail Sridharan, one of two candidates in the Nov. 5 runoff election for a Board of Supervisors seat, has conceded the race to rival Brian Colbert of San Anselmo. McPhail Sridharan had fewer votes than Colbert in the preliminary count on Election Day, and she did not gain the lead as more ballots were counted. As of Thursday, Colbert had 14,408 votes, or 51.18%, and McPhail Sridharan had 13,402. The county elections office has tallied all but a few ballots and plans to release the final results on Dec. 3. McPhail Sridharan said she sent Colbert an email Wednesday night to concede and wish him luck. She also sent a message to her supporters: “I feel humbled by your unwavering support throughout the last eighteen months. Many people counted us out during this race and we showed that a grassroots, bottom-up effort led by individuals that care about our community is possible.” Colbert, a member of the San Anselmo Town Council, will become the county’s first Black supervisor. He will succeed Katie Rice, who declined to seek another term in the Ross Valley seat. She endorsed Colbert. Colbert led the field in the March primary but did not reach the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff with McPhail Sridharan, a former Kentfield School District trustee. The other candidates were Larkspur Councilmember Gabe Paulson; Ryan O’Neil, a former Fairfax councilmember; and Sam Friedlander. Two other Board of Supervisors seats were available in this election cycle. In District 4, incumbent Dennis Rodoni outpolled challenger Francis Drouillard by a sufficient margin in the primary to avoid a runoff. In District 3, Stephanie Moulton-Peters was unopposed.

The transfer portal officially opens in a week on Dec. 9. However, that didn’t stop players from announcing their decision to enter their names in the portal as soon as the regular season ended on Saturday. Washington suffered its first portal defection on Monday, when junior Jack McCallister, the team’s starting punter, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in a post on his social media accounts. McCallister was not a scholarship player at Washington. He still has one year of eligibility remaining. McCallister, a 6-foot, 205-pound punter from King’s High School in Shoreline, handled every UW punt except one since the 2022 season. He had 1,585 yards on 36 punts this season, averaging a career-best 44 yards per punt in 2024. "It has been a dream come true to wear purple and gold these past four years," McCallister wrote in a post on his social media accounts. " The Edmonds native arrived at Washington in 2021 as a walk-on. He redshirted his first season on Montlake behind Race Porter, before taking over as the team’s starting punter under coach Kalen DeBoer in 2022. McCallister averaged 40.8 yards on 23 punts as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He handled every single punt during the 2023 campaign, averaging 41.7 yards on a career high 45 punts. He allowed just eight punt returns for 24 yards during the entire season with 21 of his punts resulting in fair catches. Thirteen of his punts were inside an opposing team’s 20-yard line. He continued as the team’s starting punter in 2023 after DeBoer’s departure. McCallister had a career-high eight punts go more than 50 yards in 2024, and kicked a career-long 62-yard punt on Oct. 26 during Washington’s 31-17 loss to No. 10 Indiana However, Washington’s punt coverage — like its kickoff coverage — has struggled. McCallister and the Huskies have allowed 18 punt returns this season for 269 yards, meaning opponents are averaging 14.94 yards per return. UW ranks No. 124 in punt-return defense this season, comparable with Rutgers (No. 125), Marshall (No. 126) and Kent State (No. 127). Washington gave up a 65-yard return against Indiana, a 37-yard return during its 40-16 loss to Iowa on Oct. 12 and a 33-yard return versus Washington State in the 24-19 Apple Cup defeat on Sept. 14. Washington has two other punters on its roster for a potential bowl game: junior Adam Saul and sophomore Troy Petz. Both are also walk-ons and have never seen playing time with the Huskies. However, Saul spent two seasons at Illinois State then was a second-team All-league selection at El Camino College in 2022 before joining UW in 2023. Saul had 55 punts and averaged 42.5 yards per punt in his only season of junior college football. Saul still has one season of eligibility remaining.No More Ration Cards? New system to get food grains via Mobile App; know about Mera Ration 2.0

An ex-detective accused of abusing women died in an apparent suicide as his trial was starting

Troy coach Jim Smith said a month ago when the Trojans ended Southern Columbia's run of seven straight PIAA Class 2A football titles that the win over the Tigers on Nov. 8 at Mansfield University could be the 'biggest win school history." Turns out it wouldn't be. Mason Smith 16-yard touchdown run with 1:15 left in the game, and Gavin Lykon-Leffler's PAT was good to lift to Troy to a 25-24 victory over Central Clarion in a battle of undefeated teams at Cumberland Valley High School on Friday afternoon. In a game that featured six lead changes, the Trojans put together a 12-play, 78-yard drive — Troy rolled up 31:37 of possession time thanks to a 7-of-12 performance on third down — for the tying touchdown. Mason Smith was looking to complete a halfback-option pass as he took a pitch to the right side of the formation. He stopped at the sideline, and with nobody open, cut across the field. He picked up a block from quarterback Evan Woodward at the 5, and dove for the end zone. Lykon-Leffler, who missed a point after in the first quarter, made the extra point to give Troy a one-point lead. Jase Ferguson returned the ensuing kickoff into Troy territory, but a 50-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer fell well short for the Wildcats. Brendan Gilliand ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 20-yard TD catch along with two sacks on defense for the Trojans (16-0), which won just the third state championship by a Northern Tier team (Elkand girls basketball in 1996 and Wyalusing in 2000 in Class 2A wrestling). Ferguson threw for 189 yards and two scores for Central Clarion (14-1). PIAA CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP at Cumberland Valley H.S. Troy 25, Central Clarion 24 Troy (16-0);6;6;0;13 — 25 Central Clarion (14-1);3;0;13;8 — 24 SCORING SUMMARY First quarter CC-FG Tom Uckert 36 T-Brendan Gilliand 4 run (kick failed) Second quarter T-Gilliand 20 pass from Evan Woodward (pass faield) Third quarter CC-Ethan Rex 18 pass from Jase Ferguson (kick failed) CC-Rex 48 pass from Ferguson (Uckert kick) Fourth quarter T-Gilliand 28 run (run failed) CC-Ferguson 11 run (Kohen Kemmer pass from Ferguson) T-Mason Smith 16 run (Gavin Lykon-Leffler kick) TEAM STATISTICS ;T;CC First downs;21;12 Rushes-net yards;54-264;15-53 Passing yards;20;189 Passing;1-5-0;17-24-0 Fumbles-lost;2-1;1-1 Penalties-yards;3-17;3-40 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Troy: Brendan Gilliand 25-152, 2 TDs; Evan Woodward 13-72; Mason Smith 9-43, TD; Kael Millard 6-18. Central Clarion: Jase Ferguson 13-47, TD; Noah Harrison 2-6. PASSING — Troy: Woodward 1-5-0 for 20 yards, TD. Central Clarion: Ferguson 17-24-0 for 189 yards, 2 TDs. RECEIVING — Troy: Gilliand 1-20, TD. Central Clarion: Ethan Rex 7-79, 2 TDs; Mason Burford 5-42; Jesse Siwiecki 3-47; Kohen Kemmer 2-21.

New Era of Growth, Competition, and Community Begins for Mrs Elemental® USA VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mrs Elemental USA , formerly known as Mrs USA Earth, has officially undergone an exciting organizational transformation, marking the beginning of a new era for married women across the country. The competition, now named Mrs Elemental® USA , introduces an international competition tier, offering more opportunities for growth, exposure, and experience for its participants. This change reflects the program's commitment to supporting married women at every stage of their journey, both personally and professionally. The decision to transition Mrs Elemental® USA into a standalone entity was driven by the desire to provide a national competition experience tailored specifically to the demographic and lifestyle of married women. The newly structured program now offers the chance for delegates to compete at the international level should they choose, further expanding the reach and impact of the pageant. Produced by Crown Life Productions, this rebranding allows the Mrs Elemental® USA competition to offer an enriched experience for its contestants and their families. Participants will enjoy exclusive events and opportunities throughout their national competition week, all designed to enhance their personal reigns as state titleholders. The newly announced affiliation with the international Mrs Elemental® pageant ensures that Mrs Elemental® USA delegates have a dedicated, exciting international competition to advance to after their national reign. Empowering Women, Promoting Sustainability Mrs Elemental® USA strives to empower, celebrate, and promote the beauty, intellect, and achievements of married women across the United States , DC and five territories. The pageant's mission is centered around encouraging positive change, fostering personal growth, and advocating for environmental sustainability. By emphasizing the importance of environmental awareness, Mrs Elemental® USA continues to raise consciousness around eco-friendly practices and the need for preservation of our planet for future generations. Delegates are encouraged to serve as champions for environmental causes, using their platform to raise awareness and inspire sustainable practices in everyday life. The program promotes a diverse and inclusive community where every contestant is celebrated for their unique qualities, talents, and personal journeys. Mrs Elemental® USA is committed to fostering positive body image, self-confidence, and self-love among its participants. Championing Change and Building Community The newly rebranded Mrs Elemental® USA also prioritizes building a supportive, empowering community where married women can connect, inspire, and drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond. Whether through philanthropic initiatives or personal advocacy, the delegates of Mrs Elemental® USA are united in their passion to make a difference. As ambassadors of ICONIC USA , a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Mrs Elemental® USA delegates take on a leadership role in promoting environmental sustainability and community impact. The national winner of Mrs Elemental® USA serves as the Chief Ambassador of ICONIC USA , working alongside the organization to address pressing environmental issues and inspire collective action. Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Mrs Elemental® USA With this exciting rebrand and new international pathway, Mrs Elemental® USA is entering a transformative phase that will elevate the pageant experience and provide delegates with the platform they deserve to showcase their achievements, passion, and dedication to positive change. As the program grows, so too will the opportunities for married women to have a lasting impact on their communities and the world. For more information about Mrs Elemental® USA , the competition, and upcoming events, please visit www.MrsElementalUSA.Com or follow us on social media at @ElementalPageants About Mrs Elemental® USA Mrs Elemental® USA is a premier national pageant that celebrates the achievements and contributions of married women. Dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability, personal growth, and community involvement, the program provides a platform for women to empower themselves and inspire others. As a part of its philanthropic mission, Mrs Elemental® USA supports ICONIC USA , a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on environmental advocacy and change. About Crown Life Productions Crown Life Productions is a production company dedicated to bringing impactful and meaningful pageant experiences to life. Known for its commitment to creating enriching opportunities for contestants and fostering positive, empowering environments, Crown Life Productions is proud to produce the Mrs Elemental® USA competition. Contact: Mrs Elemental USA pr@mrsusaearth.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13048020 Press release distributed by PRLog View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mrs-elemental-usa-rebrands-to-empower-married-women-across-the-nation-302320183.html SOURCE Mrs Elemental USA © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league's inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that's perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they'll share Saturday in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy were one of MLS' worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while the Red Bulls were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league's first Cup final between teams from North America's two biggest markets. "Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it's great," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it's a special moment. Couldn't be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game." Everything changed in 2024 after a dismal decade for the Galaxy, who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team's record sixth MLS championship with a roster that's dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn't won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over defending champ Columbus, archrival New York City FC and conference finalist Orlando to storm into the Cup final. "We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean," Schwarz said Friday. "To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it's necessary, because it's a final, and without pressure it's not possible to bring the best quality on the field." The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What's more, they've somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they've collected three Supporters' Shields for MLS' best regular-season record. The Galaxy's trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven't lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club's fans were tired of LA's steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club's roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. "I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit," Vanney said. "It's one thing to have players you like, and it's a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group." Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy's most important player all season, but he won't be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week's conference final victory over Seattle. The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. "He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him," Schwarz said. "But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it's not clear now how they're playing without him." The Galaxy could give some of Puig's responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

I’m not one to get into politics, especially when it comes to sports, but President Elect Donald Trump just made a decision that is sure to infuriate a large portion of the New York tri-state area. No, I’m not talking about the boarder, the economy, or climate change. I’m talking about foreign policy. Namely regarding the United Kingdom. Donald Trump has announced that investment banker Warren Stephens will be his ambassador to UK and not Woody Johnson like he was during the last time Trump was in office. I am pleased to announce that Warren A. Stephens, one of the most successful businessmen in the Country, has been nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, a role in which he will act as our Representative to the United Kingdom. Over the last... The move to go from Johnson to Stephens means that Woody will remain free to continue to run the Jets into the ground for the next four years as he has for the past two decades. The move comes as a surprise to many around the Jets as many were preparing for Johnson to return to his post overseas after Trump was elected back in November. There is still some hope that Johnson will receive some post within Trump’s administration, but Johnson has reportedly coveted a return to the UK after his last posting there. If Woody were to be shipped off as many Jets fans hoped, his brother Christopher Johnson would likely take his place running the New York Jets. Christopher did not do very well in his first go-round running the organization, but the belief is that he is much more level-headed than his brother and would likely have learned from his past mistakes, something Woody is unable or unwilling to do. Woody Johnson’s tenure as the owner of the New York Jets since he bought the team from the Hess family has been filled mostly with terrible decisions and propensity to chase back pages instead of Super Bowls. Woody is someone who knows very little about football, but will not shy away from inserting himself into football decisions as opposed to leaving those decisions to those qualified to make them. This season has been a banner year for Johnson’s ineptitude, starting with forcing his GM to make several moves this offseason that Joe Douglas was against. One of which was signing Tyron Smith to play left tackle, a move that backfired when Tyron was terrible this season and is now likely out for the season . Woody gave much of the power in the organization to Aaron Rodgers, giving him everything he asked for at the expense of the team that was being built prior to his arrival. Woody tried to force the Jets to bench Aaron Rodgers four games into the season. After firing his head coach after only five weeks, Johnson then forced Douglas to make moves he did not think prudent like signing Haason Reddick and trading for Davante Adams. Johnson finally fired Joe Douglas during the bye week and has made a public spectacle of the Jets yet again. It is clear to everyone except Woody Johnson that the thing that is most wrong with the Jets organization, is Woody Johnson. Now it appears that any hope of Johnson leaving the team for a few years is off the table. Johnson will likely continue to hear chants of “sell the team” wherever he goes as fans are beyond frustrated with his tenure as owner. Keep those chants coming Jets fans. If there is one thing we know about Woody Johnson, is he hears everything. So, make sure you keep saying it loud for him. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters awayA wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's main airport Thursday just as the World Health Organization’s director-general said he was about to board a flight there. One of the U.N. plane’s crew was wounded, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by Yemen's Houthi rebels at the international airport in the capital Sanaa, as well as power stations and ports, alleging they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Last week, Israeli jets bombed Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people . The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. Israel's latest wave of strikes in Yemen follows several days of Houthi launches setting off air-raid sirens in Israel. The Houthis have also been targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's war in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Here’s the latest: UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. says at least three people were reportedly killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on the international airport in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. A high-level U.N. delegation led by U.N. World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport Thursday waiting to depart when the airstrikes took place, and a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service crew member was among the injured, U.N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay said. The rest of the U.N. team left the airport and are “safe and sound” in Sanaa, and the injured crew member is being treated in a hospital, she said. Tremblay said an assessment of damage to the airport will be made Friday morning to see whether Tedros and the U.N. team can leave Yemen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the escalation in attacks between Yemen and Israel and says Thursday’s attacks on Sanaa International Airport, Yemen’s Red Sea ports and power stations in the country “are especially alarming,” Tremblay said. The U.N. chief appealed to all parties to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, as required under international law, she said. Guterres called for a halt to all military actions, and for “utmost restraint,” she said. UNITED NATIONS – An estimated 730,000 people living in tents in camps for the displaced in northwest Syria are experiencing dire conditions this winter including from flooding, the U.N. humanitarian office said. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said Thursday that more than 200 family tents in camps in Idlib and northern Aleppo were damaged by flooding from heavy rainfall on Dec. 23. “Since the start of 2024, flooding and strong winds have damaged more than 8,800 family tents – including nearly 2,000 that were fully destroyed – across 260 camps," OCHA said. On another issue, OCHA quoted a report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in Britain, that since Dec. 8 – when Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted -- episodes involving explosive ordnance have killed more than 70 civilians including a dozen children and five women, with scores more injured. OCHA said mine experts have identified 109 new minefields across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia since Nov. 26. So far, it said experts have destroyed more than 850 individual items of explosive ordnance. Elsewhere, OCHA said Israeli forces on Wednesday reportedly wounded six civilians when they opened fire in Al-Suweisah town in Quneitra province, which includes the Golan Heights. It said residents were ordered to evacuate and Israeli forces imposed a curfew. JERUSALEM — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Sara Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aid to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Sara Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. However, earlier Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor’s warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel’s “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told The Associated Press it had asked for and gotten the report’s retraction. USAID officials tell AP that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Humanitarian and human rights officials expressed fear of U.S. political interference in the world’s monitoring system for famines. The U.S. Embassy in Israel and the State Department declined comment. FEWS officials did not respond to questions. FEWS Net said in its withdrawn report that unless Israel changes its policy, it expects the number of people dying of starvation and related ailments in north Gaza to reach between two and 15 per day sometime between January and March. The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. FEWS was created by the U.S. development agency in the 1980s and still receives funding from it. But the monitor is intended to provide independent, neutral and data-driven assessments of hunger crises, including in war zones. By Ellen Knickmeyer TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the main airport in Yemen's Houthi rebel-held capital as well as key energy and port infrastructure. Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said Thursday's Israeli strikes were part of a policy for "destroying and weaking Islamic countries” and urged “immediate action” by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as other regional and international bodies. Baghaei said the U.S. and Britain were “accomplices” in the strikes and had supported them, adding that the attacks were a breach of all international regulations and norms, particularly the U.N. Charter. It also criticized the “passivity” by U.N. about Israel allegedly breaching international law. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched drones and missiles at Israel in recent days, setting off air-raid sirens, and Israeli strikes on Yemen last week killed nine people. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. Israel said the strikes Thursday targeted infrastructure used for military purposes by the Houthis, as well as smuggling in Iranian weapons and the entry of senior Iranian officials. Story continues below video UNITED NATIONS — The head of the U.N. health agency says he and his team were about to board a flight in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa when the airport came under aerial bombardment. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters (yards) from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. He said one of the U.N. plane’s crew was injured but he and his WHO colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.” The Israeli military said Thursday it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport as well as power stations and ports in rebel-controlled areas. Israel’s military didn’t immediately respond to questions about Tedros’ comments but issued a statement saying it had “capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively.” Tedros said the U.N. team was in Yemen to negotiate the release of U.N. staff detained by the Houthis and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the country, which faces one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. JERUSALEM — Houthi rebels in Yemen said Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, following several days of Houthi launches that set off air-raid sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib along with power stations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Wednesday that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned.” The Iran-backed Houthis’ media outlet reported the strikes in a Telegram post, but gave no immediate details. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv . Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. QAMISHLI, Syria — Thousands of people in northeastern Syria attended a funeral Thursday for six fighters from a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force who were killed in ongoing clashes with Turkish-backed militias. The Turkish-backed groups are launching attacks to take the Arab cities west of the Euphrates River that are under the control of the Kurdish group . The Turkish-supported groups helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s rule of Syria, and have since kept pushing eastward against the Kurdish groups. “We thought that Syria today has entered a new stage after the fall and escape of Assad. We thought that we got rid of all of this, but this attack on us changed everything and those who came in are taking orders from Turkey,” said Nihayet Hassan, the uncle of a killed fighter. The fighters were killed during attacks on Tishreen Dam near the strategic city of Manbij in recent days. The bodies were returned to the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria where the U.S.-backed group, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, has a strong presence. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization. Turkish-backed armed groups backed by Turkish jets have for years attacked positions where the SDF are present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the Turkish border. “It is obvious that Turkey’s issue is with the Kurds. It is not about an organization, or the PKK, no, their target are the Kurds,” said Ahmad Ammo, a Qamishli resident who attended the funeral. The U.S. has about 2,000 soldiers in eastern Syria to help fight the Islamic State group and protect critical oil fields there. BEIRUT — The Lebanese military said Thursday that Israeli troops encroached on areas of southern Lebanon, violating a ceasefire agreement that ended the war between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect a month ago called for Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon over a 60-day period as Lebanese army soldiers gradually deploy in the country south of the Litani River. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported incident. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Israeli bulldozers are setting up dirt barricades that would close off the road between Wadi Slouqi and Wadi Hujeir. Lebanon’s military said it brought reinforcements into the areas entered by Israeli troops. NNA said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, sent a patrol unit to an area near the southern town of Qantara where Israeli forces are present. UNIFIL in a statement expressed its “concern at continuing destruction by the IDF (Israeli military) in residential areas, agricultural land, and road networks in south Lebanon.” Lebanese army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier Thursday as part of ongoing efforts by the cash-strapped military to find financial support to deploy in larger numbers. The Lebanese military and government have complained about Israeli strikes and overflights in the country to a new monitoring committee headed by the U.S. that also includes France. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The Israeli army said it had targeted a group of militants. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. The military said it targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel ignited the war. Associated Press video showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. This post has been corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. BEIJING — China has pledged two more shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in an indication of support for the Palestinian Authority, state media reported Thursday. The agreement was overseen in Cairo by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. “To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine,” Liao was quoted as saying. The types and quantities of aid to be delivered via Egypt were not given, but China has previously shipped food and medicine to Gaza. China has longstanding ties with the Palestinian Authority but has also sought to strengthen economic and political relations with Israel. Al-Louh “voiced appreciation for China’s consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions," state media said. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Israel’s request to discuss recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Israel’s U.N. Mission said Wednesday the meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council will condemn the Houthi attacks. He urged the council “to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis’ patron, accountable.” Alluding to Israeli retaliation for the attacks, Danon said ”It seems that the Houthis have not yet understood what happens to those who try to harm the state of Israel.”

Mcap of 6 of top-10 most valued firms climbs Rs 86,847.88 cr; HDFC Bank, RIL biggest gainers PTI Updated: December 29th, 2024, 16:26 IST in Business 0 Pic Credit: Deccan Herald Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin New Delhi: Six of the top-10 most valued firms together added Rs 86,847.88 crore in market valuation last week, with HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest gainers in line with an overall optimistic trend in equities. Last week, the BSE benchmark climbed 657.48 points or 0.84 per cent, and the Nifty rose 225.9 points or 0.95 per cent. Also Read India’s forex reserves drop by $8.478 billion to $644.391 billion 2 days ago CAD moderates marginally to 1.2% of GDP in Q2: RBI data 2 days ago While Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, ITC and Hindustan Unilever were the winners, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) suffered erosion from their market valuation. The market capitalisation (mcap) of HDFC Bank surged by Rs 20,235.95 crore to Rs 13,74,945.30 crore. Reliance Industries added Rs 20,230.9 crore, taking its valuation to Rs 16,52,235.07 crore. The valuation of ITC jumped Rs 17,933.49 crore to Rs 5,99,185.81 crore, and that of ICICI Bank climbed Rs 15,254.01 crore to Rs 9,22,703.05 crore. The market cap of Bharti Airtel soared Rs 11,948.24 crore to Rs 9,10,735.22 crore, and Hindustan Unilever rallied Rs 1,245.29 crore to Rs 5,49,863.10 crore. However, the valuation of State Bank of India tumbled by Rs 11,557.39 crore to Rs 7,13,567.99 crore. The valuation of LIC declined by Rs 8,412.24 crore to Rs 5,61,406.80 crore, and that of Infosys dropped by Rs 2,283.75 crore to Rs 7,95,803.15 crore. The market valuation of TCS dipped Rs 36.18 crore to Rs 15,08,000.79 crore. Reliance Industries remained the most valued domestic firm, followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, State Bank of India, ITC, LIC and Hindustan Unilever. PTI Tags: BSE Business mcap NSE Stock market Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you're human: