New York: Employees of the tech giant Google staged sit-in protests at the company’s New York and Sunnyvale, California offices, lasting for over nine hours and resulting in their subsequent arrest.

The demonstrators asserted that they would not disperse until Google terminates its involvement in a $1.2 billion artificial intelligence and surveillance contract with Israel, along with Amazon.

Taking over the office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in California, the protesters occupied the space for more than eight hours.

In a 'notech4apartheid' video, an individual informed the employees of their placement on administrative leave, urging them to vacate voluntarily. However, the protesters declined, leading to their arrest by law enforcement.

Google staff members have consistently voiced opposition to project “Nimbus,” with Palestinian employees highlighting what they perceive as "institutionalized bias" within the company.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals, including children, as part of the ongoing bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Reports indicate that since October 7, Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 33,843 Palestinians, with 76,575 others sustaining injuries.

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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): As rains lashed many parts of Kerala, authorities on Sunday urged people, particularly those living in hilly and coastal areas, to exercise vigil.

The Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts for Sunday and Monday, and sounded orange alerts for four other districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam, for these days.

The Met office predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h at one or two places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts of Kerala till 1 pm on Sunday.

The Idukki District Collector has ordered a ban on night travel through the hilly areas of the district from Sunday until the red and orange alerts are withdrawn.

"Strict instructions have been issued to the District Superintendent of Police, Sub Divisional Magistrates, Regional Transport Officers, and Tehsildars to implement the ban effectively," an official statement said.

Mining activities have been banned in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts in view of the forecast for heavy rain.

The southern district of Thiruvananthapuram experienced heavy rains on Saturday night, leading to waterlogging in the city and its suburbs, affecting normal life.

Visuals aired by news channels showed that houses and shops were flooded in some parts.

Due to the non-completion of the Smart City Road, waterlogging has worsened in many places.

In some areas, canals crisscrossing the capital city and its suburbs overflowed.

The affected people alleged that the lack of pre-monsoon cleaning of canals and drainage systems was the reason for the waterlogging in the capital city and its suburbs.