Providence middle school teacher arrested, accused of inappropriately touching students

Reuters
Israeli military loosened rules of engagement at start of Gaza war, New York Times reports
The Israeli military loosened its rules of engagement at the start of the Gaza war to enable commanders to order attacks on targets despite a heightened risk of civilian casualties, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Immediately after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by groups of Hamas-led gunmen, the military granted mid-ranking officers the authority to strike a wide range of military targets where up to 20 civilians risked being killed, the newspaper said. The order meant for example that the military could target rank-and-file militants while they were at home surrounded by relatives and neighbours, instead of only when they were alone outside, the newspaper said.
Politico
Expect a quieter Jan. 6 this time around — as long as Republicans avert a looming speakership crisis
No Democrats are circulating plans to object to Donald Trump’s victory. Kamala Harris plans to certify his win. Republicans just need to make sure they elect a speaker in time.
CNN
Spending the holiday season alone this year? How to make the most of it
Spending the holidays alone doesn’t have to be lonely. Here’s how to make the most of your time this season.
USA TODAY
Taxi strikes 6 people on NYC sidewalk on Christmas Day near iconic movie location
A taxicab rode onto a Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday afternoon, striking six people, including a 9-year-old boy, police said.
Yahoo Finance
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq fall, bitcoin slumps after Christmas break
US stocks were set to open post-Christmas trading with a bit of a hangover.
Associated Press
Five facts about electric vehicles in 2024
Electric vehicles had another whirlwind year around the globe, driven by buyers in China, and growth in parts of Europe and the United States, despite headwinds. In a milestone for China, the world's biggest auto market, EVs hit 50% of new car sales in July. Electric vehicles also made headway in Europe and the U.S. Uncertainty around purchase subsidies could complicate matters come 2025, especially under the incoming Trump administration in the U.S. But mainstream consumers remain interested in new models, longer driving ranges, better performance and lower prices.
NBC News
Kremlin warns against speculation that Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines flight
The Kremlin on Thursday warned against speculating what may have caused an Azerbaijan Airlines flight to crash, killing 38 of the 67 on board, after an aviation expert said evidence indicated that a Russian anti-missile battery may have brought down the passenger plane.
USA TODAY
Backpacks with estimated $1.1 million of cocaine found in wooded area near US-Canada border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents found 30 brick-like packages containing a white powdery substance in the backpacks.
NBC News
American survivors recall the harrowing moments of the century's deadliest tsunami
Twenty years ago, the world was stunned by the Asian tsunami, whose towering waves killed an estimated 230,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries the day after Christmas.
Yahoo Finance
From Microsoft to Nvidia, the AI agents are coming in 2025
Big Tech will lean heavily into AI agents in 2025. And if the technology works as promised, it could make some tedious tasks a lot easier.
CNN
Utah man triggers avalanche and saves brother buried under the snow
A man rescued his brother from a “large avalanche” he triggered while the pair were snowmobiling in Utah on Wednesday, authorities said.
Associated Press
Christmas shooting at Phoenix airport leaves 3 people wounded, 1 stabbed
Police are investigating a Christmas shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left three people injured by gunfire and another person stabbed. Phoenix police said the evening shooting happened at around 9:45 p.m. at an airport restaurant that is outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. “I do believe that this was a family dispute that escalated,” Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson told reporters.
AFP
Tears, prayers as Asia mourns tsunami dead 20 years on
Tearful mourners prayed and lit candles Thursday at ceremonies across Asia to remember the 220,000 people killed two decades ago when a tsunami hit coastlines around the Indian Ocean in one of the world's worst disasters.After sunset, hundreds of mourners carried candles past the tsunami memorial wall at Ban Nam Khem before watching a fire dance performance.
Popular Science
10 fascinating archeological discoveries of 2024
The end of the year typically brings with it an emotional look back at the days gone by. For archaeologists, looking back into the past is pretty much an every day thing. That said, here are 10 of the most interesting archeological findings that Popular Science covered this year. Neanderthals and early humans intermingled Europe […]
Associated Press
The body of a missing Hungarian hiker is found in Slovenia
Slovenia's mountain rescuers on Thursday found the body of a Hungarian hiker who got lost in a blizzard in the Alps last week. A Facebook post said that a team located the man in a gorge, who was showing no signs of life, and that the transport of the body is underway. Rescuers descended into the gorge using ropes after a Slovenian police helicopter first flew them near the site.
CBS News
Baby found abandoned Christmas morning in Adams County, parents arrested
Two people have been arrested and are facing charges of felony child abuse after a one-month-old baby was discovered in the median of a road Christmas morning.
The Conversation
From new commercial Moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025
From exploring the Moon to revealing mysteries of the solar system, space agencies around the world are gearing up for an exciting year of launches and flybys.
The Conversation
What does 2025 hold for interest rates, inflation and the American consumer?
‘Forecasting is for the weather,’ economists say. But it can be fun anyway.
Associated Press
US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The rising level of continuing claims suggests that some who are receiving benefits are finding it harder to land new jobs.
CNN
Bird flu kills more than half the big cats at a Washington sanctuary
Bird flu has been on the rise in Washington state and one sanctuary was hit hard: 20 big cats – more than half of the facility’s population – died over the course of weeks.

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