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....Approves ₦50bn Re-Capitalisation Of LECON Financial Services. The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bank of industry (BoI) Dr. Olasupo Olusi, has stated that the bank has raised the sum of €2bn to enable it meet the growing demand of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) enterprises financing in the country. He said the bank is doing its best to cope with the surge in demand for its service through established strategic partnerships with key local public and private institutions, as well as global financial and multilateral institutions to enable the bank to fulfill its mandate effectively. According to him, the BOI Board has approved a ₦50 billion recapitalisation of LECON Financial Services, one of its subsidiaries, to better respond to increasing customer interest in asset acquisition through leasing as an alternative to outright purchasing equipment at a relatively lower cost and longer tenure, taking pressure off business owners. Dr. Olusi, who made the disclosures at a media parley to announce the 65th anniversary of BOI in Lagos, said: “One key thread in achieving the milestones through the years is our partners. “We are indeed grateful for the legacies bequeathed to us, which we build on to catalyse industrial growth and engender developmental impact. “Starting from our humble beginnings as the Investment Company of Nigeria (ICON) in 1959, to the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) in 1964, and finally our transformation into the Bank of Industry in 2001, the bank has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of Nigeria’s economy. In doing so, we have positively impacted the lives of countless Nigerians by supporting businesses, promoting job creation, and facilitating inclusive economic growth. As Nelson Mandela aptly noted; “The past is not merely a place of reference but also a source of inspiration for building the future”. “This principle guides us as we reflect on our history to chart the course ahead in continuing impacting the lives of countless Nigerians by supporting business, promoting job creation, and facilitating inclusive economic growth. “As we mark this historic milestone, I would like to highlight some of the Bank’s key achievements over time. “In 2007, BOI’s authorised share capital was increased to ₦250 billion to put the bank in a position to address its mandate better; this was subsequently increased to ₦500 billion in May 2023. “In recognition of the pivotal role of MSMEs in national economic development, the Bank in 2014 engaged 122 SME consultants and entered strategic alliances with 10 SME-friendly commercial banks. “Today, we have over 300 Business Development Service providers supporting SMEs nationwide. “The bank also has a robust on lending programme with various financial institutions, including microfinance banks and fintechs. “In 2015, BOI commenced a national footprint expansion by opening eight state offices. This drive has continued through the years, and I am proud to say that today, the bank has a presence in 33 states nationwide. “In 2017, BOI commenced raising funds on the international market with a US$750 million AFREXIM loan. Since then, we have successfully raised over $5 billion from the international capital markets through Eurobonds, loan syndications, and green finance instruments. “This month, we concluded a global loan syndication that raised nearly €2 billion which is the largest fundraising in BOI’s history and indeed the largest syndication in the history of African DFIs. “One key thread in achieving these milestones through the years is our partners. BOI has established strategic partnerships with key local public and private institutions, as well as global financial and multilateral institutions to enable the bank to fulfill its mandate effectively. “BOI partners with State Governments, and Foundations to establish the “Matching Fund” scheme. “We also have partnerships with trade associations, such as the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to deepen real sector financing. “BOI recently signed a partnership agreement with SMEDAN to provide Nano and Micro Enterprises in Nigeria with a ₦1 billion fund at a single-digit interest rate. “We have partnerships with several other public agencies like NCDMB, to support specific sectors. In November 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria appointed BOI as the executing agency for the ₦200 billion FGN MSME Intervention Fund, which includes a ₦50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS), a ₦75 billion Manufacturing Sector Fund, and a ₦75 billion MSME Intervention Sector Fund. “This programme is currently being disbursed and there are numerous stories on the impact on private enterprises. Our strategic partnerships also extend to numerous organisations, such as African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Finance Corporation (AFC), Investment Climate Reform (ICR) initiative, the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the United States Export-Import Bank (USEXIM), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), etc. and several others. “In the last twelve months, we have also revised our strategy to focus on impact and introduced various strategic initiatives in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and in response to emerging macroeconomic issues. In 2024, we introduced our six thematic focus areas to drive developmental impact —Gender, Climate and Sustainability, Youth and Skills, Digital Economy, and Infrastructure. These themes stem from their importance to Nigeria’s overarching development and will guide our financing interventions in the Nigerian economy. “This year, we launched the Rural Areas Program on Investment for Development (RAPID) program, to promote financial inclusion and support the development of micro and small businesses in rural Nigeria, focusing on youth and women. “We are improving on our product offerings with plans to scale up Non-Interest Banking (NIB), Export Credit Agency (ECA) and Supply Chain Finance (SCF) with a view to provide adequate financing to various economic clusters, recognising our national diversity to drive economic growth. “In alignment with Nigeria’s sustainability agenda, BOI has also launched a climate focused initiative. As a testament to this, BOI has been nominated as a Direct Access Entity by the Nigeria Climate Change Commission (NCCC) to access financing for climate projects through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). This designation empowers BOI to spearhead climate initiatives and support sustainable development efforts in Nigeria. In October 2024, the Bank held its first Inaugural Annual Lecture Series & launched two publications, the BOI Journal of Development Finance (Technical) and the BOI Journal of Development Review (Non-Technical); as well as a price intelligence platform for real-time monitoring of price variations of food commodities across the country. This platform seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the food commodity market by providing real-time insights into price trends, stabilising markets, protecting consumers, and informing policy decisions. “Beyond the Bank’s efforts, we have also started to implement steps to ensure our subsidiaries are key contributors to national impact. “All these efforts have not gone unnoticed. In the past year, BOI has garnered multiple awards including the EMEA Award for “Best Social Development Program in Africa” for the Investment in Digital and Creative Economy (iDICE), the SERAS Award for “Best Company in Financial Inclusion” and “Most Effective MDA/Parastatal in Sustainable Development,” and the Philips Consulting Ltd. Award for “Best Website and Overall Best Digital Presence for a Federal Parastatal.” (IoD). As we celebrate our past achievements, we also recognise the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We live in a time of rapid technological advancement, shifting economic dynamics, and growing environmental concerns. Looking into the future, we reaffirm our commitment to driving sustainable industrialisation, supporting clients with innovative financing solutions, expanding our partnerships, strengthening financial inclusion efforts, and working closely with government agencies to advocate for policies that foster a supportive business environment, particularly for MSMEs and start-ups, thus, building a resilient and inclusive economy. “This anniversary is a testament not just to the longevity of our institution but also to the resilience, adaptability, and shared purpose that we carry in our mission. To our partners and stakeholders who have contributed to our journey, thank you for your passion, dedication, and belief in our vision. “As we celebrate our past achievements, we also recognise the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We live in a time of rapid technological advancement, shifting economic dynamics, and growing environmental concerns. Looking into the future, we reaffirm our commitment to driving sustainable industrialisation, supporting clients with innovative financing solutions, expanding our partnerships, strengthening financial inclusion efforts, and working closely with government agencies to advocate for policies that foster a supportive business environment, particularly for MSMEs and start-ups, thus, building a resilient and inclusive economy. This anniversary is a testament not just to the longevity of our institution but also to the resilience, adaptability, and shared purpose that we carry in our mission”.London honored for supporting student mental health and eliminating barriers to care NATICK, Mass. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Business Journal honored Uwill founder and CEO Michael London as part of its 2025 Innovators in Healthcare list . Honorees represent a cross-section of Boston -based innovators addressing some of the most urgent and pressing challenges in the health care industry. London is the founding CEO of Uwill , the leading mental health and wellness solution proudly supporting more than 3 million students at 400 institutions globally. Utilizing its proprietary technology and counselor team, Uwill pioneered the first student and therapist matching platform. The solution offers an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student preferences, all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, wellness programming, realtime data, and support. "It's truly an honor to be recognized among this incredible group of innovators," said Michael London , Uwill founder and CEO. "At Uwill, our mission is to break down barriers to mental health care, delivering immediate and accessible support to students worldwide. This recognition reflects more than innovation—it underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing a vital need for students everywhere." London is a recognized thought-leader and pioneer within social impact entrepreneurship, having created more than one billion dollars in company value throughout his career. In 2013, he founded Examity, a leader in learning validation and online proctoring. Prior, London led Bloomberg Institute, an EdTech start-up funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg . Earlier in his career, he founded College Coach and co-founded EdAssist, both acquired by Bright Horizons Family Solutions. In 2019, he was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award and held a position on the Massachusetts Governor's Commission for Digital Education and Lifelong Learning. Michael is a current Trustee at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is a Member of the Advisory Board at Babson College where he graduated with honors. He also received his MBA from Boston University . About Uwill: Uwill is the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students. As the most cost-effective way to enhance a college's mental health offering, Uwill partners with more than 400 institutions, including Princeton University , the Ohio State University , Santa Fe Community College , and University of Alabama - Online. Uwill is also the exclusive teletherapy education partner for the Online Learning Consortium and teletherapy education partner of NASPA. For more information, visit uwill.com . Contact: Brett Silk bsilk@uwill.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uwill-founder--ceo-michael-london-named-innovator-in-healthcare-302338655.html SOURCE Uwill, Inc

An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said an airstrike targeted Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, without saying if the strike was in Khiam. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.ADB and APU Dairy Partner to Strengthen Mongolia's Dairy Industry and Support Nomadic Herders

Haiti gang attack leaves 2 dead, several woundedWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday offered a $5 million reward for information about an alleged scheme in which North Korean technology workers got jobs at unsuspecting U.S. companies then stole their trade secrets for ransom, with the proceeds used to fund Pyongyang's weapons programs. The U.S. State Department said about 130 North Korean workers got IT jobs at U.S. companies and nonprofits from 2017 to 2023 and generated at least $88 million that Pyongyang used for weapons of mass destruction. Part of the total was the workers' compensation from the employers, which ultimately went to the North Korean government, the U.S. said. The companies were not identified. The North Korea mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The State Department said in a statement it sought information on two sanctioned North Korean companies -- China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology and Russia-based Volasys Silverstar -- that it said handled the workers. The U.S. Department of Justice separately on Thursday announced indictments of 14 North Koreans accused of operating and working for the two companies as part of the scheme. Operating from either China or Russia, the workers stole sensitive company information, including proprietary source computer code, and threatened to leak it unless the employer made an extortion payment, the government said. The 14 people were charged with wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft among other offenses. "To prop up its brutal regime, the North Korean government directs IT workers to gain employment through fraud, steal sensitive information from U.S. companies and siphon money back to the DPRK," Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement, using an acronym for the North Korean state. The people and their unnamed associates used the stolen identities of hundreds of Americans to get hired under the scheme, the government said. People in the U.S. aided the scheme by purchasing laptops or receiving laptops from U.S. employers for the fraudulent workers. The Justice Department has obtained indictments of Americans accused of operating so-called laptop farms in recent months. One North Korean IT defector told Reuters in November 2023 that he would try to get hired and then create additional fake social media profiles to secure more jobs. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and AJ Vicens; editing by Costas Pitas)

Local Organizations Benefit from LGS GrantsShares of International Business Machines Corp. .css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} .css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{display:inline;color:var(--color-interactiveLink010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:200ms,200ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:0ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink020);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink020);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink030);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink030);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-color:var(--outlineColorDefault);outline-style:var(--outlineStyleDefault);outline-width:var(--outlineWidthDefault);outline-offset:var(--outlineOffsetDefault);}@media not all and (min-resolution: 0.001dpcm){@supports (-webkit-appearance: none) and (stroke-color: transparent){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-style:var(--safariOutlineStyleDefault);}}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} IBM inched 0.26% higher to $222.97 Friday, on what proved to be an all-around great trading session for the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index SPX rising 0.35% to 5,969.34 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA rising 0.97% to 44,296.51. This was the stock's fifth consecutive day of gains.

PLZEN, Czech Republic : Manchester United learnt lessons from their bland first half at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday and sped up the action in the second period, allowing them to get a 2-1 win, coach Ruben Amorim said. Forward Rasmus Hojlund scored twice in the second half to allow United to come back from a goal down at six-times Czech champions Plzen for their third consecutive European win. "We improved during the game," Amorim told TNT Sports. "We controlled the game in the first half but without any great chances. "We lacked speed and movement and we didn't control the ball because the pitch was difficult to make the connections with the strikers. Viktoria didn't have chances either. "In the second half, we gave a goal away but we reacted well. We pushed the opponents to their own half and we managed to score. The win is important at the moment and it's good to prepare for the next game." United, still unbeaten in this year's competition, had more possession throughout the game but had to stand up to an initial spell of pressure from the hosts, who ended up taking the lead in the 48th minute through forward Matej Vydra. "The speed improved (in the second half)," Amorim added. "I told the players we need more movement in front because they have to feel we are a danger. "We changed a little bit of our game and the players from the bench also helped. We improved not just the way we play, but also the speed of the game. "We are improving in some details. We controlled the transitions very well. We were aggressive when we lost the ball. We need to spend more time near the opposition goal." The Portuguese manager was happy with the performance of substitute Hojlund, who needed just six minutes to cancel out Plzen's opener before sealing the win with another strike just before fulltime. "He is improving, he is more near the goal now," Amorim added. "He knows better the movement he has to do. He could score more this evening. But he is scoring, working and controlling the ball better." The Danish striker has been involved in six out of 12 of United's goals in the Europa League this season, scoring five of them.Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserveTravis Hunter named AP player of the year

Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews believed to have reached compromise on his health

Despite starting the season 2-8, the Milwaukee Bucks have started to turn things around. Now with a 6-9 record, the Bucks own the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo , the league’s current leading scorer, looks primed for another MVP campaign. Additionally, though he is still ways away from his season debut, Khris Middleton has been medically cleared. Middleton has missed the entire season so far as he recovers from his ankle injury. However, though they are starting to right the ship, the Bucks reportedly have interest in making a trade. More specifically, the Bucks have interest in acquiring Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig in a trade. Per NBA reporter Brett Siegel , the Bucks are interested in acquiring the 33-year-old. Additionally, according to Siegel, the Bucks have made Pat Connaughton and MarJon Beauchamp available for trade. “No team has shown interest in making a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks at this time. MarJon Beauchamp ($2.7 million) and Pat Connaughton ($9.4 million) are the two players the Bucks have made available in trade discussions in order to try and add talent on the wing. Veteran forward Torrey Craig from the Chicago Bulls is a player Milwaukee has shown interest in, sources said.” Milwaukee Bucks Interested in Trade For Torrey Craig How Torrey Craig Can Help the Bucks During the 2020-21 season, Craig played 18 games for the Bucks. In that time, he averaged 2.5 points and 24 rebounds over 11.2 minutes. Craig is a solid 3-and-D player and would help the Bucks tremendously on the defensive side of the ball. So far, the Bucks rank 15th-best in the NBA with a 113 DRTG. Additionally, they are allowing 112.2 points per game, which is just 14th-best in the league. The Bulls forward is in the final year of his two-year, $5.3 million contract, making him a popular trade candidate. Furthermore, he fits the Bucks’ timeline more than Chicago’s as they are in a better spot to contend for a championship right away, even given their slow start to the season. It is unclear how willing Chicago is to move on from Craig. However, given his contract situation and the Bulls’ 6-10 record, trading him is not an unrealistic possibility. The Last Word Earlier this month, Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic wrote that the Bucks are unlikely to make any blockbuster moves. This report is in the wake of numerous trade rumors involving Antetokounpo. Amic and Nehm also wrote that the Bucks could make a trade before the deadline. Trading for Craig could be a move the Bucks make to improve the roster. “I could certainly see the Bucks doing some kind of deal, if not more than one, before the Feb. 6 deadline,” Amick and Nehm wrote. “But in terms of the big stuff that comes with their team’s calculus — Giannis, [ Damian Lillard ], Doc and Khris [Middleton] — I don’t see anything changing.” Regardless of whether a trade happens or not, the Bucks are starting to turn things around. Fortunately for them, they are in the Eastern Conference, which is much more forgiving than the West. As the season progresses, they should continue to climb the standings. Whether Craig becomes a part of this remains unknown. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.Virgo – (23rd August to 22nd September) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, you love risks The love relationship will be free from issues. Handle multiple opportunities at the office and deliver the best results. Prosperity exists & health is fine. Do not let emotions determine your love life and work. Ensure you maintain a good rapport with your coworkers. Go for smart money decisions today. You are good in health. Virgo Love Horoscope Today Be sensitive towards the emotions of the lover and ensure the love life is creative today. Do not let old issues come up, disturbing the pace of love. Your relationship will get the support of your parents. A vacation is a good way to celebrate love and you may make plans today. Spend more time together to share the emotions both good and bad. Those who meet up with an ex-flame will be happy but ensure it does not affect the present romantic relationship. Virgo Career Horoscope Today Be expressive at team meetings and also ensure there is clarity in your ideas. Keep your strategies ready for client meetings and ensure you accomplish all assigned tasks. Job seekers will get the right opportunities today. Some organizations would require you to work overtime and deliver the results. Travel is also on the cards, especially for the people working in the travel and tourism industry. Businessmen handling hospitality, construction, automobiles, and electronics will see good returns. Students will also clear competitive examinations. Virgo Money Horoscope Today No major issue will come up related to funds and Virgos will love buying luxury items and vehicles today. You may also renovate the house and even go ahead with investments in stock and trade. Some Virgos will take this time to settle the pending dues and also resolve a monetary issue involving a friend. You may also require spending for a celebration at home or office today. Seniors can divide the wealth among children. Virgo Health Horoscope Today Keep your health safe by following a balanced lifestyle. Avoid outside food as there are chances of digestion issues. You may also have oral health issues in the second art of the day. Take proper care of your diet and take plenty of water. Those who drive must be careful in the evening hours. Follow all traffic rules. Virgo Sign Attributes Strength: Kind, Elegant, Perfectionist, Modest, Strong-willed Weakness: Picky, Over-possessive Symbol: Virgin maiden Element: Earth Body Part: Intestine Sign Ruler : Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Gray Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone : Sapphire Virgo Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)