Author: KnowledgeHippo

A retaliatory strike by U.S. Special Operations in the Iraqi capital on Wednesday killed a senior leader of a militia that U.S. officials blame for recent attacks on U.S. personnel, the Pentagon said, following President Biden’s promise that the response to a series of attacks by The Shia militias will continue.The Pentagon said the man was a leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, the militia that officials said was responsible for a drone strike in Jordan last month that killed three US service members and wounded more than 40.A US official said the strike was a “powerful” blow to the militia commander,…

In the United States, some labor unions, city governments and city councils have weighed in on the Israel-Hamas war, issuing statements in support of the cease-fire — often after strong objections from some of their members and constituents.On Wednesday night, the school board in Ann Arbor, Mich., became one of the first public school districts in the country to vote in favor of such a declaration.Supporters of the resolution, including Palestinian Americans and Jewish board members said the declaration was an urgent moral imperative amid a humanitarian crisis.But the vote — 4 to 1, with two abstentions — was divisive…

Last spring, it looked like Tucker Carlson might have reached the end of his streak route through American media and politics.Fox News canceled his top-rated show, depriving Mr. Carlson of his prime-time nightly platform. But it kept him under a contract, worth more than $15 million a year, that prohibited him from taking a job with a rival.Under the old legacy media rules, Mr. Carlson would have been off the air and out of sight until after the 2024 election, when his contract expired. But Mr. Carlson is no typical TV star. And what was once normal in his industry…

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday banned unsolicited robocalls generated by artificial intelligence amid growing concerns about voter disinformation and consumer fraud facilitated by the technology.The FCC’s unanimous decision cited a three-decade-old law aimed at curbing spam calls, clarifying that spam calls generated by artificial intelligence are also illegal. In doing so, the agency said it expanded the ability of states to prosecute the creators of unsolicited spam bots.”It seems like something from the distant future, but it’s already here,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable…

Cale Yarborough, who won three straight NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships and whose 83 victories tied him for sixth on the all-time wins list, died Sunday. It was 84.He was battling a rare genetic disorder, his family told The Associated Press.At the height of his success, Yarborough won nine races in 1976, nine in 1977 and 10 in 1978, capturing the points championship each time. His feat was tied until 2008, when Jimmie Johnson matched it. Yarborough was also runner-up in the series in 1973 and 1974 and again in 1980.He won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, 1977, 1983…

The damage that air pollution can cause is extensive and well-known: Chemicals produced by human activities can trap heat in the atmosphere, change the chemistry of the oceans, and harm human health in a myriad of ways.Now, a new study shows that air pollution can also make flowers less attractive to pollinating insects. Compounds called nitrate radicals, which can be abundant in nighttime urban air, severely degrade the scent emitted by the pale evening primrose, reducing visits by pollinating hawkmoths, researchers reported in Science on Thursday.This sensory pollution could have far-reaching effects, hindering plant reproduction and reducing the production of…

For a historical overview, I would recommend it “Lagos: A Cultural History” by Kaye Whiteman. It traces the history of the city from the arrival of Portuguese explorers in 1472 to the occupation by the British in 1861 and the modern era. It takes us through the topography of Lagos (the Island-Mainland divide), its streets and their stories, the city’s nightlife and its film, music, art and literary scenes.What books should I bring with me?Teju Cole’s novel “Every day is for the thief” it is designed like a travel guide. The anonymous narrator has just returned to Lagos from New…

European football leaders on Thursday got right behind their powerful president, Aleksander Ceferin, by approving a change to term limit rules that would allow him to keep his post until 2031, years beyond the organisation’s strict 12-year limit.The vote, however, quickly became inconsequential: About an hour after winning the right to seek a new four-year term as president of European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, Mr. Ceferin said he would not seek.”I’ve decided I’m not going to run for 2027,” said a stone-faced Mr. Ceferin, reading from prepared notes in the comments he used to simultaneously explain his thinking and settle…

To the Editor:Re “The ‘Gig’ Label Is Being Used to Exploit Workers,” by Terri Gerstein (Opinion guest essay, January 29):We are the independent writers and publishers that Ms. Gerstein mentioned who are suing the Department of Labor over the independent contractor rule that, she said, “will make it more difficult for employers to treat workers as independent contractors rather than as employees.” So let’s explain.The Labor Department acknowledges in its 339-page rule published Jan. 10 that most of the public comments made by independent contractors expressed opposition according to the rule, “criticizing the Department’s proposed economic reality test as ambiguous…

The graceful art deco buildings that dominate Chicago’s central business district are reporting occupancy rates as high as 17 percent.A set of gleaming office towers in Denver that were packed with tenants and valued at $176 million in 2013 are now largely empty and last valued at just $82 million, according to data provided by Trepp, a research firm that tracks real estate loans. Even Los Angeles’ famous buildings are about half their pre-pandemic prices.From San Francisco to Washington, the story is the same. Office buildings remain trapped in a slow crisis. Workers sent to work from home at the…