Feds say SC peach farm pressured workers to make political donations
The Labor Department says it is working to pay over $130,000 in wages recovered from a South Carolina peach farm. The agency says Titan Farms illegally deducted money from migrant workers’ paychecks by charging cleaning fees and soliciting political donations.
The Labor Department did not say what the donations related to but did say the total deductions brought employees’ paychecks below the required minimum wage.
Titan Farms participates in the H-2A visa program, which allows it to hire seasonal migrant workers from other countries. The program requires companies to pay at least $11.13 an hour when factoring in benefits and fees.
A company spokesperson told two local newspapers in South Carolina that the company did not require donations from employees or deduct such money from their wages. The company also denied any wrongdoing related to the cleaning fees that the Labor Department alleges it collected.
Affected workers who the Labor Department hasn’t located yet can check their status on the agency’s database at DOL.gov.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
Five wildfires now burn in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, leaving death, destruction and devastation in their paths. And the infernos led President Joe Biden to cancel his final international trip in office. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
At least five wildfires were burning in the heavily populated Los Angeles area of California on Thursday, Jan. 9, destroying thousands of homes and putting millions of lives in danger. At least five people died from the blaze and more than 100,000 evacuated their homes.
Dry conditions and strong winds continue to fuel the flames.
The newest fire, the Sunset Fire, sparked Wednesday night in the famous Hollywood Hills region. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s latest update at 11:50 p.m. PST on Wednesday, the blaze engulfed 60 acres at 0% contained.
The Palisades Fire remains the biggest threat, covering over 17,000 acres at 0% containment.
Officials said it destroyed at least 1,000 buildings, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.
The deadly Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena spanned more than 10,000 acres at 0% contained. All five reported deaths were linked to the Eaton Fire.
Fire crews made headway on the Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley, containing about 10% of the blaze that spread to almost 900 acres, according to CalFire.
Crews made the most progress in fighting the Lidia Fire in Acton, about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. That fire scorched about 350 acres, but CalFire said it was 40% contained.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 7,500 firefighters, including crews from Oregon, New Mexico, and Washington state, are battling the flames.
More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California's ongoing historic wildfires.
Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you're…
While mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for certain areas, officials told everyone in the area to pack a go-bag and be prepared to leave.
Celebrities among victims to lose homes in California wildfires
With tens of thousands of people impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California, come countless personal stories of loss, grief, shock and, in some cases, gratitude. Among those affected in the Los Angeles County and Hollywood area are some famous names.
Celebrities shared their accounts of the devastating scenes, something many said is like out of a movie.
“This Is Us” star Mandy Moore posted videos to her Instagram account of the fiery destruction in Altadena, writing, “I love you, Altadena. Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late. Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all, so many have lost, including my family … our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”
“Seeing our home burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking,” Hilton wrote.
Actor Billy Crystal released a statement with his wife after losing his Pacific Palisades home.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979,” Crystal said. “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
James Woods, who once starred on the television show “Shark,” openly wept in a CNN interview as he talked about his immense loss and the search for his neighbors.
As the fires spread across the hub of the entertainment world, organizers postponed multiple movie premieres, TV productions and award shows.
The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12, have been moved to Jan. 26. The Oscar nominations announcement was pushed back two days to Jan. 19.
An NHL hockey game involving the Los Angeles Kings was postponed Wednesday night. The NFL said it is monitoring the conditions as the Los Angeles Rams are slated to host a playoff game Monday night, Jan. 13.
Biden to deliver eulogy at Carter’s funeral, Trump to attend
On Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral.
President-elect Donald Trump will also attend the funeral. Trump, along with his wife Melania, were among those to pay their respects as the 39th president was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday.
After the funeral, Carter’s body will take one final trip back to his home state of Georgia where he will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
While in Washington on Wednesday, Trump held a private meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol to discuss a strategy for top priorities heading into his second term. While speaking to reporters, Trump called the wildfires in California “a true tragedy.”
Biden announced Wednesday he canceled his final international trip of his presidency. He said he will remain in Washington, D.C., to monitor the deadly fires in Southern California.
Biden was set to take part in a three-day trip to Rome and the Vatican where he would meet with Pope Francis and the Italian president. His announcement came just hours after meeting his first great-grandchild, born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Capitol police arrest man who brought machete to Jimmy Carter viewing
As thousands of Americans paid their respects to Carter at the Capitol, authorities arrested a man Wednesday at a security screening for people waiting to view the late president as he lies in state in Washington.
Capitol police said the man, identified as Washington resident Mel Horne, carried a machete and three knives in a bag. Authorities spotted the weapons as the bag went through an X-ray machine. Horne now faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon.
Capitol police also said officers arrested a Virginia man who lit a bag containing accelerants on fire on top of his car near the Capitol. They do not believe the two incidents were connected.
Port strike averted after tentative deal reached
Longshoremen reached a tentative new contract deal Wednesday with shipping and port companies along the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., averting a potentially crippling strike for now.
The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ship lines and port operators, and union International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said they’ve agreed on a six-year deal. However, the agreement is not official until ratified by union members.
The ILA represents 50,000 members who fill 25,000 jobs at 14 ports from Maine to Texas. If this deal wasn’t reached, port workers were set to go on strike beginning next Thursday, Jan. 16.
Details of the agreement have not yet been publicly released, but sources close to the matter said it addresses a key sticking point for workers: automation.
In October, Longshoremen agreed to a wage increase of 62% over six years, and the two sides pushed other issues into 2025 to end a three-day strike.
Airbnb.org providing free, temporary housing for displaced California residents
Airbnb.org, the nonprofit founded by Airbnb, is providing free, temporary housing for people displaced by the Los Angeles County fires. The organization partnered with the non-profit 211 LA to connect those who lost their homes or have been forced to evacuate with a free place to stay.
More Americans plan to tip this holiday season, but amounts not going up
It’s that time of year again, when people plan to give those who go above and beyond a little something extra. According to a new report, in 2024, the holiday spirit of generosity is alive and well.
Every year, Bankrate looks at how people plan to tip workers across six sectors: housekeepers, child care providers, teachers, mail carriers, trash and recycling collectors and outdoor maintenance workers, like landscapers, gardeners and snow removers. They found that this year, people plan to tip the most to workers in sectors that include “people that we see and interact with regularly.”
Overall, this year’s median tip rates stayed the same compared to last year, but they did drop in two categories.
Bankrate found people plan to tip housekeepers and child care providers $50 dollars, teachers $25 and mail carriers $20. However, outdoor maintenance workers and trash and recycling collectors will get less than in 2023. Americans said they planned on tipping outdoor workers a median of $30 dollars this year, down from $37 last year. Additionally, trash and recycling collectors will see a $5 drop and can expect a median of $20.
However, more people plan to tip this year than the last four years. More than half of the survey’s respondents said they plan to tip their housekeepers, teachers and child care providers. The amount of people planning to tip trash and recycling collectors also went up, with 26% saying they would, compared to last year’s 20%.
Just like last year, about a third of people were tipping their mail carriers. But some outdoor maintenance workers won’t be getting a little holiday bonus this year, with the amount of people planning to tip them dropping by 1%.
Alabama inmates sue state, say alleged forced labor is ‘modern-day slavery’
Current and former inmates in Alabama are suing the state, alleging they were forced to work at jobs for “next to nothing.” The lawsuit claimed the prisoners were forced into “modern-day slavery” by working jobs at fast food restaurants, meat packing plants and city offices.
Though inmates make at least $7.25 an hour, the state siphons 40% off the top of all wages and charges fees, including $5 a day for rides to their jobs and $15 a month for laundry, according to The Associated Press.
The AP report found the cheap and reliable labor has generated more than $250 million for the state since 2000 just through money garnished from prisoners’ wages.
While the inmates can refuse to work, they face punishment if they do. Inmates can be denied family visits or sent to higher-security prisons in the state. Those prisons are so dangerous that the federal government filed a lawsuit four years ago, calling Alabama’s treatment of prisoners unconstitutional. That lawsuit is still pending.
Turning down work can also impact an inmate’s chances of getting an early release, with only 8% of eligible prisoners granted parole in 2023. The lawsuit also said the prisoners forced into this “modern-day slavery” are disproportionately Black.
Disneyland owes back pay to 50,000 employees in $233 million settlement
Years after Disney was first accused of violating minimum wage laws at its California resort, the “happiest place on Earth” has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for $233 million. A lawyer representing Disneyland workers confirmed the settlement to Straight Arrow News.
Based on the law firm’s research, it’s believed to be the largest wage and hour class-action settlement in California history.
“For this to be the result, and all of the money to go back to the workers, and the interest on top, it doesn’t quite get better than this,” attorney Cornelia Dai told SAN. “Especially when you have a long fight like this, five years.”
Dai said the settlement will cover 100% of back pay, plus interest and penalties, owed to more than 50,000 Disney employees since 2019. If a judge approves the settlement next month, workers will then find out how much they get.
The five-year fight
Back in 2018, Anaheim voters approved Ballot Measure L, which specifically required employers in Disneyland and Anaheim resort zones that had tax rebate agreements with the city to pay a higher minimum wage. Starting in 2019, that was $15 an hour. It increased $1 every year to $18 an hour by 2022. From there, it started rising by the rate of inflation. In 2024, the rate is $19.90 an hour.
The ballot measure got a boost from this 2018 survey of Disneyland employees, “Working for the Mouse.”
The report said, “Disneyland employees report high instances of homelessness, food insecurity, ever-shifting work schedules, extra-long commutes, and low wages … Almost three-quarters (73%) say that they do not earn enough money to cover basic expenses every month.”
The ballot measure passed with 54% of the vote, but Disney’s lawyers were already on the case. Disneyland argued it didn’t fall under the “living-wage law” because the 1996 expansion deal it had with the city didn’t qualify as a tax rebate. The Anaheim city attorney agreed, but workers filed a class action lawsuit anyway.
Years into this legal battle, a judge also sided with Disney in 2021. But by 2023, the district court of appeal reversed the ruling, saying Disney did fall under the living-wage law and therefore was illegally evading it for years. The California Supreme Court declined to hear the case, effectively ending Disney’s fight.
Disneyland today
“Disney is meeting the Measure L hourly rates and going forward, they’re going to match the increase,” Dai said. “So this is going to change lives in a real way. And I’m not just saying those words. It’s really going to change the lives of the Disney employees and their families. So it’s a big deal. It’s a real big deal.”
“We are pleased that this matter is nearing resolution. Currently, all cast members make at least the Measure L requirement of $19.90 per hour, and, in fact, 95% of them make more,” Disneyland spokesperson Suzi Brown said in a statement to Straight Arrow News.
This summer, Disneyland staved off a strike by agreeing to a three-year contract with unionized workers that pays a $24 minimum wage for 2024.
San Francisco has highest rate of million-dollar jobs in US: Report
Where are the most million-dollar jobs in the U.S.? They’re not in New York, nor Los Angeles, but in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area.
The Bay Area leads in offering the biggest share of high-salary jobs, offering the largest percentage of jobs of any city making $500,000 or more per year, $1 million or more per year and $2 million or more per year. That’s according to new data from the payroll company ADP.
About 1 in every 185 jobs in the Bay Area, about one-half of one percent, pay $1 million or more. That’s a ways ahead of second-place Naples, Florida, where the rate is 1 in every 313 jobs.
Both are well above the national average. Across America, 1 in every 455 jobs pays $1 million or more each year.
Why San Francisco? The short answer is tech.
The Bay Area is heavily reliant on tech jobs and a global hub for both tech’s top employees and companies.
The report noted that tech employees, particularly engineers and executives, can command high salaries from companies. Unlike other high-paying jobs like doctors and lawyers, tech employees don’t have their income limited to how many patients or clients they see.
Beyond the tech industry’s dominance, researchers found two other factors at play. And both relate to the city’s cost of living.
Part of why high earners make up such a large share of the population and San Francisco is a major spike in the cost of living there in recent decades.
Home prices in San Francisco itself have more than doubled since 2012, with the average rising from about $700,000 to $1.65 million. Those prices are growing at a considerably higher rate than home prices nationwide.
Both that and the rise of remote work have pushed lower- and middle-income people elsewhere.
It’s created a big gap between the rental market and the housing market. Data from Zillow and Apartment List shows that in both the San Francisco Bay Area and in neighboring San Jose, it’s now roughly twice as expensive to buy a home at the median home price than it is to rent for 20 years. Nationwide on average, those two options cost about the same.
With fewer lower-income people moving in, million-dollar earners now make up a bigger chunk of the population.
Trump says Wray resigning as FBI director is ‘a great day for America’
President-elect Donald Trump reacts to Christopher Wray’s resignation announcement. And the Pentagon responds to claims that an “Iranian mothership” is behind the mysterious drones over New Jersey. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.
Trump says Wray resigning as FBI director is ‘a great day for America’
The dust is still settling at the top of the FBI after Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11, he would be resigning at the end of the Biden administration. This paves the way for President-elect Donald Trump to pick his director. Wray, who was nominated by Trump during his first administration, still had three years remaining on his 10-year term.
Earlier this month, Trump announced he would nominate Kash Patel to lead the bureau, leaving Wray with two options: resign or get fired. During a town hall with FBI employees, Wray said although leaving isn’t easy, it’s the right thing to do for the bureau and for Americans.
“This is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work,” Wray said.
Reacting to the news on Truth Social, Trump called Wray’s resignation “a great day for America,” saying it “will end the weaponization” of the FBI. He said the agency “illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America.”
Wray took the helm in 2017 when Trump appointed him, receiving an overwhelming confirmation by U.S. lawmakers. His leadership came on the heels of the former director’s investigation into Trump associates and their connection to Russia’s interference during the 2016 presidential election.
Distance grew between the former president and Wray when the FBI conducted searches of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in order to recover classified documents. That warrant and what agents recovered led to Trump’s federal indictment on several criminal charges.
Under Wray’s watch, the FBI also launched an investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, ending up with more than 1,500 people accused of breaking the law.
In a recent sit-down interview with NBC News, Trump said he’s unhappy with Wray and crime levels in the U.S. and vowed to fire the director once in office.
Rumors about Wray’s tenure preceded Wednesday’s announcement as incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley questioned his leadership. The Iowa senator released a letter criticizing how the FBI has handled things like congressional oversight cases, sexual harassment claims by female FBI employees and the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The Justice Department released a statement from Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday following the announcement praising Wray’s efforts and his ability to keep America safe. Garland said Wray has “led the FBI’s efforts to aggressively confront the broad range of threats facing our country — from nation-state adversaries and foreign and domestic terrorism to violent crime, cybercrime, and financial crime.”
Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds also expressed support for Wray and had no complaints about how he led the FBI. Rounds said the former president picked a good man to lead the FBI during his first term.
The bureau’s deputy director, Paul Abbate could take over the FBI while a permanent director is confirmed by the Senate once Trump is officially sworn into office.
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed Wednesday night it donated $1 million to President-elect Trump’s inaugural fund. It comes two weeks after CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a private meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donates $1,000,000 to President-elect Trump's inaugural fund. pic.twitter.com/GcC3PF4sp2
The move is a major reversal from nearly four years ago when Meta banned Trump from its platforms after the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump labeled Facebook an “enemy of the people” in a March interview with CNBC. He also threatened to punish Zuckerberg if he tried to influence the election against him.
House passes defense bill banning gender-affirming care for trans children
The House passed a critical defense policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, with a controversial caveat on Wednesday.
The $895 billion measure includes a ban on gender-affirming care for trans children under TRICARE, the military’s health insurance program. That means TRICARE will not cover puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children of service members.
While past attempts to include the ban in the NDAA have failed, this one was overshadowed by bipartisan provisions including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.
Wednesday’s vote was 281-140, with 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against the legislation. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.
Pentagon says ‘Iranian mothership’ is not behind mysterious drones
As questions swirl over the dozens of drone sightings in New Jersey and other locations along the East Coast, the Pentagon has shot down one theory circulating at the Capitol. During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing Wednesday, New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for not taking action, before giving his opinion on what’s going on in the skies.
What we’ve uncovered is alarming—drones flying in from the direction of the ocean, possibly linked to a missing Iranian mothership.
This is a national security crisis we cannot ignore.
“I’ve learned for real that there is circumstantial evidence that there is an Iranian mothership off the east coast of the United States and that’s launching these drone incursions,” Van Drew said. “They are from high, good sources, individuals who are reputable, individuals who speak with authority unfortunately are concerned with identifying who they are at this point, who are saying this, but this is true. It’s unacceptable and it’s frightening and our government has to act.”
“There is not any truth to that,” she said. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there’s no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones towards the United States.”
Singh said there is no evidence that the drone activity is coming from a foreign entity or is the work of an adversary. She said the Pentagon will continue to monitor the situation.
Our Ray Bogan spoke with New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, R, who requested U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin provide a state military base with the tools it needs to take down the mystery drones. Watch Ray’s report here.
Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashifound safe
Family members say Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who’d been at the center of a missing persons investigation in California, has been found safe.
Police in Los Angeles stopped looking for her on Dec. 2, saying she traveled to Mexico to “disconnect” and reclassified her case as one of a “voluntary missing person.” On Wednesday, the 30-year-old’s mother and sister put out a statement saying she had been found safe but did not say where.
Relatives reported her missing on Nov. 13, after she failed to get on a connecting flight from L.A. to New York City on the 8th. Police later said they found video of her crossing into Mexico via the San Diego land port at Tijuana a few days after her missed flight.
During the search for the missing woman, her family suffered a tragedy as Kobayashi’s father, who traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to join the search party, took his own life. The family said he died of “a broken heart.”
UNC officially names Bill Belichick as next head coach
Belichick coached the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2023, creating a dynasty alongside quarterback Tom Brady. Belichick currently sits at No. 2 on the NFL all-time coaching wins list with 333, behind Don Shula’s 347 victories.
Belichick’s five-year deal with UNC is pending approval by the board of trustees, which is set to hold an emergency meeting Thursday, Dec. 12.
Belgium first country in world to give sex workers employee rights
It might be considered the “world’s oldest profession,” but treating sex work as a real profession is very new. On Sunday, Dec. 1, Belgium became the first country in the world to decree sex work must be treated like any other job, meaning official employment contracts, health insurance, pensions, maternity leave and sick days.
It’s estimated there are tens of millions of sex workers worldwide. Sex work is legal in some places, like Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Turkey, and it was decriminalized in Belgium in 2022, but this is the first time ever sex workers have been entitled to employment rights and contracts.
The new law also guarantees fundamental rights for sex workers, like the ability to refuse clients, set the conditions of an act and stop an act at any moment. In addition, it establishes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures.
Critics say the law won’t prevent trafficking, exploitation and abuse, especially since independent sex work is still allowed. They also say it won’t remove the stigma and other risks around such work.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
The settlement stems from a 2019 lawsuit brought by a woman who worked for Disney. She claimed six men with the same job title earned substantially more than her, including one man with several years less experience, who was earning $20,000 more than she did annually.
About 9,000 women who were current or former employees joined the lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, Disney must hire a labor economist to analyze pay equity among full-time, non-union California employees below the vice president level for three years and fix the differences. The settlement still has to be approved by a judge before it’s official.