Philippe Clement warned Rangers interviews are 'killing' him as Celtic hero snaps back at 'silly' cash claimsDonald Trump Has NOT Won a Majority of the Votes Cast for President
It's been a stop-start opening to the A-League season, and given the potential train strike mooted for this weekend, those intending to partake in Unite round festivities at Allianz Stadium might get a bigger dose of "Stop" than they might hope for. Login or signup to continue reading Ah, the best laid plans ... I get the concept, and it's hard to plan for unforeseen circumstances, but you are already taking a risk, scheduling multiple games in a potentially stormy Sydney in late November, for a code whose quality of product is reliant on the playing surface. Fortunately the weather forecast seems good for the majority of the weekend, fingers crossed. If the projected strike goes ahead protesters may be the main source of discontent. I speak of course of visiting Novocastrians who hate paying to park at the best of times, and face inconvenience, delay and some pretty steep prices to park in adjacent parkland. Cancel all police leave Mr Minns ... I'm joking I guess, but with an eye to the sanctity of home games, as well as quirky Novocastrian values. In round five last season the Jets were due to take on a Mariners side who had zero points, and a coach under enormous pressure, at McDonald Jones Stadium. Enter a chap called McCartney on the Tuesday night prior, and suddenly we are swapping home games with the Mariners, after his concert damaged the pitch. A sensible decision in the interests of player welfare, and product, but one that "could change the course of the Mariners season" wrote your scribe at the time. I don't know if the Jets would have won if it had been played up here, nor would I have suggested mortgaging the house to back them, but surely the ground swap at a critical moment in the Mariners season helped them and an under-pressure coach? The fact that after the Mariners won that game 2-0, and then went on a glorious 3000-game unbeaten run, picking up silverware ad nauseum, suggests they had a lot going for them, but perhaps board-level patience might have dissolved with one more defeat, and history told another story? Maybe not, we shall never know. But fast forward 12 months and here we are in round five, the Jets are playing their allotted home derby fixture against the Mariners at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Not quite deja vu, but in the same postcode, and with both sides on three points and struggling for rhythm the Jets lose their territorial advantage. I realise others foresaking home advantage will travel a lot further to Unite-round matches, but early ticket sales suggest Mariners fans may outnumber Jets fans three to one on the night. And if our mob find out public transport could be a shambles and it could cost $25 to $30 to park at Moore Park ... it may get worse! The Jets are in ninth position , three points from three games, three points from bottom, and seven points from the leader. They face a trip to unbeaten Auckland next weekend, so to say this clash is important is a classic understatement. Their mental application has been excellent in one of their three matches to date, and below par in the other two. Coach Rob Stanton will need his troops fully concentrated for this fixture. Injuries have probably dictated that his best combination hasn't started a game this season, and to be fair he hasn't had much time, in real competition matches, to assess what 11 provides the best balance. It is an important match for the player-fan connection for the Jets as well. Is the team going to be good enough to escape the "almost", and "nearly" tags of recent seasons? Or are we in another rebuilding phase? Friday night can, and probably will paint a clearer picture, and call me old-fashioned, but I'd prefer it was at home. Is the team going to be good enough to escape the "almost", and "nearly" tags of recent seasons? DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — With Mitt Romney set to exit the U.S. Senate, Washington will be without one of its strongest conservative critics of Donald Trump when the president retakes the White House in the new year. At a final news conference Friday in Salt Lake City, the retiring senator reflected on his two-decade political career, which included the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, a term as Massachusetts governor and several skirmishes with Trump loyalists in Congress. In what could be his final jab at Trump, Romney reiterated his concerns about the incoming president's character and “relaxed relationship with the truth.” He said he hopes his own legacy will be that he stayed true to his values. Romney, 77, chose not to run for reelection this year after representing Utah in the Senate since 2019. He said he has reached the end of his career as an elected official and wants to focus on getting more young people involved in politics after he leaves office in January. Once the standard-bearer of the Republican Party, Romney watched his brand of moderate conservatism shift from establishment to outlier as Trump took hold of the party. “I’m a narrow slice, if you will, of what we used to call the mainstream Republicans,” Romney told reporters Friday. “The stream has got a little smaller. It’s more like the main creek Republicans. At some point, it’s going to be under the sand, and we’ll have to dig it up.” He became the voice of Congress' centrist core, leading negotiations for the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law — one of the Biden administration's crowning achievements — and a major COVID-19 relief package. Political observers worry his departure may create a vacuum of strong centrist voices who can keep bipartisanship alive at a time of increased polarization in Washington. Bipartisanship could very well go dormant under Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress, Romney said. But he does not think moderates should lose hope that the GOP could reverse its rightward shift. “There’s kind of a fissure that exists between Republican voters and Republican policy, and that may present an opportunity for some kind of realignment,” he said, noting that the party is now composed of many working-class voters but tends to oppose minimum wage increases and pro-union policies. Romney will be succeeded in the Senate by Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis , who has developed a reputation for pushing back against party leaders such as Trump who falsely claim climate change is a hoax. Eyes will be on Curtis and other moderate Republicans who might break with the party in votes to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks. In 2020, Romney became the first senator in U.S. history to vote to convict a president from their own party in an impeachment trial. He was the sole Republican in Congress to vote to convict Trump at both of his impeachment trials. Trump was acquitted by the Senate both times. Earlier this year, Romney pledged not to vote for Trump but declined to join some other high-profile Republicans in endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris , saying he wanted to preserve his future ability to help reshape the Republican Party.
Freelance photographer arrested on Capitol riot chargesNEW YORK (AP) — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. “The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position.” With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. “I'm not a watch guy, but I like it,” said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football’s answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. “I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways,” Hunter said. “It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery.” Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. “It just goes to show that I did what I had to do,” Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. “I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football,” Hunter said. “Being here now is like a dream come true.” Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. “I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind,” Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. “I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position,” Ward said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football'Fraudster Tales' book review: Diving into the murky world of scandals
Nigeria-Brazil agribusiness deal to attract $4.3bn private sector investmentUS added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO quickly left NYC on a bus after shooting NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny says video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding through Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal, directly across from New Jersey. Police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting. Investigators on Friday found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.
None
Let us all strive to be part of the solution by debunking rumors and ensuring the dissemination of accurate and reliable information. Together, we can uphold the integrity of communication and protect the public from the harmful effects of false information.
Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 seasonAruba Airport nominated for prestigious Routes Americas 2025 AwardsThe abduction of four-time presidential candidate and opposition strongman, Dr Kizza Besigye and his political associate, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya from Kenya last month has rekindled the role that Uganda’s neighbour has played in the country’s chequered political history. Besigye and Lutale were kidnapped on November 16 at an apartment in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital where they had gone to meet an associate. The duo was in Nairobi to attend a book launch of a veteran politician Martha Karua. They were driven back to Kampala through the Malaba border and detained at Makindye military barracks. Later, they were paraded before the General Court Martial and charged with four crimes related to being found in illegal possession of firearms. But Besigye’s arrest from Kenya without following the laid down procedures of either extradition or deportation, has brought back the memory of Kenyan authorities assisting their Ugandan counterparts to illegally arrest and extradite political opponents. This practice was commonplace during the reign of President Milton Obote. Among those who feared to be abducted from Kenya where they had sought asylum is none other than President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s family. In her book, , Janet Kataaha Museveni, now the first lady writes that the reason they had to relocate to Sweden at the height of her husband’s war against the government of Obote was because she had got actionable intelligence that there was a plan to abduct her and the children back to Uganda to force Museveni out of the bush. “As Obote’s troops lost ground to the NRA, they got more desperate to find some weak point to leverage against my husband. They thought that if they had the family of Yoweri Museveni arrested, and in custody, in Kampala, they would have the right bait to draw Yoweri out and thus weaken the NRA,” Mrs Museveni writes in her book. To follow through this, the future first lady writes that in 1983, people came to her gate and rang the bell which was answered by their house help she only identifies as John. John was bundled in a car that sped off with him. Mrs Museveni was then told that those who had abducted John were instead looking for her. Mrs Museveni said at daybreak, she called her friends; Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and Mathew Rukikaire who were also part of the external wing of the NRM to help her look for John. These two, Mrs Museveni writes, informed her that John was not the only Ugandan who had been kidnapped. They said that Barak Kirya who was the leader of the Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM) had also been abducted and handed over to the Ugandan government at Busia. “I was alarmed and shaken by the news. I knew that our enemies were closing in on us and we had to act immediately,” she writes. She adds that she consulted with a friend of hers who was working at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Nairobi who also confirmed that the Kenyan government was working closely with the Obote regime to deport political refugees back to Uganda and that her family was the first on the list. “Dr Rugunda and Mr Rukikaire helped me to get John released from prison and narrated to me his harrowing account of the night he was kidnapped from my doorstep,” Mrs Museveni writes. “We said goodbye to a few friends because we could not tell many people about our plans to leave. I had initially tried to get entry to England and I called John Kazzora to see if he would help. He explained that the UK government considered Yoweri Museveni a guerrilla and would not give political asylum to his family for fear of being ostracised by the Obote regime. I hung up the phone as if my world was turning upside down,” Mrs Museveni said. She was later helped to relocate to Sweden in November 1983 even though she did not think it was a good option she had to leave Kenya immediately for the safety of her family. “It was the first time since leaving Uganda that I did not feel afraid that people knew our name; here it did not matter.”
Are Trump’s Jan. 6 charges over? Special counsel asks to dismiss
6. Coffee IV: College students rely heavily on caffeine to fuel their late-night study sessions and early morning exams. The term "coffee IV" humorously suggests that students need a continuous infusion of coffee to stay awake and alert during Finals Week.
Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Alphabet. Our analysis of options history for Alphabet GOOGL revealed 45 unusual trades. Delving into the details, we found 55% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 15 were puts, with a value of $1,256,958, and 30 were calls, valued at $1,436,733. Expected Price Movements After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $110.0 and $300.0 for Alphabet, spanning the last three months. Volume & Open Interest Development Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Alphabet's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Alphabet's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $110.0 to $300.0 over the preceding 30 days. Alphabet Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Noteworthy Options Activity: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume GOOGL PUT TRADE BULLISH 12/19/25 $4.85 $4.7 $4.7 $130.00 $305.5K 591 662 GOOGL PUT TRADE BEARISH 06/20/25 $24.0 $23.95 $24.0 $185.00 $144.0K 1.0K 60 GOOGL CALL TRADE BEARISH 06/20/25 $41.9 $41.85 $41.85 $130.00 $125.5K 1.1K 30 GOOGL PUT SWEEP BULLISH 04/17/25 $8.0 $7.9 $7.9 $160.00 $115.3K 3.3K 318 GOOGL CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/16/26 $10.85 $10.85 $10.85 $200.00 $108.5K 4.3K 431 About Alphabet Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Alphabet, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Present Market Standing of Alphabet With a volume of 23,824,736, the price of GOOGL is down -1.64% at $164.88. RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Next earnings are expected to be released in 67 days. What The Experts Say On Alphabet Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $202.8. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Hold rating on Alphabet with a target price of $185. * An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Alphabet, maintaining a target price of $187. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for Alphabet, targeting a price of $215. * An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Alphabet, which currently sits at a price target of $210. * Reflecting concerns, an analyst from BMO Capital lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $217. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Alphabet, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The recent surge in Chinese assets has also been fueled by a wave of positive news, including the successful initial public offerings (IPOs) of several Chinese companies on U.S. exchanges. Companies such as Tencent-backed music streaming service Tencent Music, e-commerce platform Pinduoduo, and electric vehicle maker Nio have all seen their stock prices soar following their public debuts.WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weekslong delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transition of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff. People are also reading... The announcement came a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House issued both public and private appeals for Trump's team to sign on. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts emphasized to Trump's team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) Brandon Bell President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction Republican Senators also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump's nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers were particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump's designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. "That's why it's so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday. John Thune, incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team "understands there's going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees." Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. George Walker IV, Associated Press Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Derik Hamilton Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Matt Kelley, Associated Press Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Evan Vucci Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. John Bazemore, Associated Press Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Oded Balilty, Associated Press Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Will Riley scored his 19 points in the second half and No. 25 Illinois beat Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40 on Saturday. Kylan Boswell added 13 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 11 and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Illini (4-1), who shot 25% (10 for 40) from 3-point range but committed just nine turnovers. Tre White grabbed 11 rebounds and Kasparas Jakucionis seven for Illinois, which outrebounded the Hawks 59-38. Jalen Ware scored 10 points and Christopher Flippin had 10 rebounds for Maryland Eastern Shore (2-6), which had its lowest point total of the season. The team's previous low came in 102-63 loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 4. Illinois is unbeaten in four home games. Maryland Eastern Shore is winless in six road games. Illinois: Coming off a 100-87 loss Wednesday to No. 8 Alabama, the Illini had no trouble dominating the overmatched Hawks. They led 35-15 at halftime and extended the lead to as many as 52 points in the second half. Maryland Eastern Shore: The Hawks couldn’t match Illinois’ height and depth and were slowed by 15 turnovers. After struggling at the start of the game, the Illini went on a 17-0 run over a seven-minute stretch to move in front 25-8 with 5:15 to go in the first half. Maryland Eastern Shore struggled from the field, shooting 22% (15 for 68), including 5 for 20 on 3-pointers. Illinois hosts Little Rock on Monday. Maryland Eastern Shore plays at No. 20 Arkansas on Monday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballChapman, UCLA economists see clouds ahead in Trump’s policies
Authorities have since responded to the incident, stating that they are aware of the video circulating online and are taking the matter seriously. They have promised to launch a full investigation into the alleged enforcement scene and ensure that appropriate action is taken against any individuals found to have engaged in misconduct.On the other hand, age is a significant factor to consider in professional football. As players get older, their physical abilities may decline, leading to reduced speed, agility, and stamina. In a demanding league like La Liga, where the pace of the game is fast and intense, the player's fitness and durability could be a concern. Barcelona relies heavily on quick transitions and high pressing, and it is essential for players to be able to keep up with the demanding physical requirements of the game.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped nearly 400 points on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, laid out his priorities – including tax cuts. In his first interview as Treasury nominee with The Wall Street Journal , Bessent said he will also focus on imposing tariffs, cutting spending and keeping the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. By Monday afternoon, the Dow was up 0.9% and the S&P 500 was up 0.3% following the news. The longtime hedge fund manager said he is focused on making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, as well as eliminating taxes on tips, social security benefits and overtime pay. “Bessent himself is a very prominent investor and has a stellar track record which makes him a great choice, and the markets are responding to the excitement about how they think he will handle fiscal policy and interest rates,” Ted Jenkin, co-founder and business consultant at oXYGen Financial, told The Post. On Friday, Trump nominated the seasoned hedge fund manager , who has studied economic history for around 40 years, as US Treasury Secretary. That’s despite protests from Elon Musk, who donated millions to Trump campaign efforts and rallied in swing states on the president-elect’s behalf. Musk had dogged Bessent as a “business-as-usual choice,” and threw his support behind Howard Lutnick , who Trump ended up nominating to head the Commerce Department instead. Investors and Wall Street bigwigs have largely applauded the nomination of Bessent, who worked at George Soros’ firm before starting his own, because he is seen as the “moderate” choice, Mahoney Asset Management CEO Ken Mahoney said. Trump has ruffled feathers with some of his controversial nominations, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the health department , former Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general and former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense . “Disruption is the goal when it comes to ripping DEI out of government, or getting the politics out of the Justice Department, but not when managing our banking system or world financial markets,” Kenin Spivak, chief executive at SMI Group, told The Post. “Bessent is an experienced, steady, capable expert in all aspects of the department he has been chosen to lead.” Spivak said investors view Bessent as the wise choice and expect him to advise Trump to use restraint when implementing some of his economic policies. The president-elect has pushed for massive tariffs of 10% on all imports and 60% on goods from China. Economists have warned the outsize tariffs could reheat inflation. Bessent, meanwhile, had viewed tariffs as a negotiating tool, saying earlier this year that the “tariff gun will always be loaded and on the table but rarely discharged.” “[Bessent] talked about gradual tariff changes, which had been a fear and a talking point of Trump adversaries,” Mahoney told The Post. “This ideology of ‘massaging’ in tariffs and seeing how things go makes much more sense.” Mahoney said less intense tariffs could help foreign policy – which was “a mess in every way with the Biden administration” – by encouraging fair trade practices while still gaining leverage over other countries. Another one of Bessent’s popular proposals is what he calls the 3-3-3 rule, inspired by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who revitalized Japan’s economy with a threefold policy. Bessent’s three goals are to slash the budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product by 2028, boost GDP growth by 3% through deregulation and produce an additional 3 million barrels of oil per day, according to the Journal. “We also like to hear his policies around reducing the budget deficit and getting that under control, as we know there is a massive debt and spending problem within the government,” Mahoney said. “He also wants to increase oil production...so it is possible lower energy costs balance out the possible inflationary effects of tariffs.”
Election data suggest shifting political landscape in IndianaBuffalo Bills' week is already off to an interesting start thanks to latest injury update
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
NoneRockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto series has a massive following, with each new installment breaking sales records and setting new benchmarks in the gaming industry. The upcoming release of "GTA 6" is no exception, as fans eagerly await the next chapter in the open-world, action-packed franchise.Söyüncü's support for his former teammate and his well wishes for Inter Milan reflect his sportsmanship and respect for the game. As a seasoned defender, Söyüncü understands the challenges and pressures of competing at the highest level, and he recognizes the value of unity and camaraderie both on and off the pitch.Alderman calls for investigation into school board’s role in teachers union talks
In retrospect, there were perhaps warning signs that all was not well. Rumors of suspicious behavior and questionable decisions had circulated within footballing circles, but the true extent of the referee's transgressions was not fully known until it was too late. The adage "hindsight is 20/20" rings true in this case, as many are left lamenting that they did not see the red flags sooner.
Wheel of Fortune’s most prized tradition is the bonus round, where each episode’s winner is faced with one last puzzle and a mere 10 seconds to come away with an even bigger bundle of cash (or not). But fans want a word with host Ryan Seacrest about how he’s presenting the prizes after giving a puzzling amount of build-up to a player’s $40,000 win. On Friday, November 22’s episode, Brittany Brock, a kindergarten teacher from Chicago, Illinois, was the player to proceed to the coveted bonus round. By then she had won $17,300 in cash, a trip to Kauai, and selected “Living Thing” as her category. With the savvy additional letters of “DPBI” the two-word puzzle read as, “‘_ _ DDL_’ ‘P_PP_'”. Near-instantly, she correctly solved it as “Cuddly Puppy.” The broadcast cut to Seacrest and an excited Brock, and it was time to reveal how much she won from the prize wedge she picked. Seacrest opened the gold prize card and glanced at the figure. “And...” he told her with a surprised grin (below). After a few seconds he added, “Ready?” Broke clasped her hands over her mouth in anticipation as Seacrest then revealed she won an extra $40,000, the least one can win in the bonus round. “$40,000!” he exclaimed. This brought her to a grand total of $57,381 and she was overjoyed nonetheless, embraced her husband. On Social media, many fans celebrated the big win while left wondering why Seacrest presented the prize with such a prolonged rollout that it seemed like a bigger value and as if the confetti was about to overflow onto the Sony Pictures Studios parking lot. “Ryan acting like it’s $75,000 or $100,000 with the slow way he shows the amount,” one fan wrote when the game show shared the clip to YouTube. Over on the WoF Reddit, a fan dedicated a discussion thread to the moment titling it, “Bonus Reveal... lolz.” They continued, “I like Seacrest, but gotta admit, I’m not a fan of the dramatic 40K reveals lol.” “Agreed...” a second user wrote, arguing that a contestant in the future could be “disappointed” it’s not more. “The Mrs. and I commented on that last night. He presents it like it’s something more than the minimum prize amount! One of these days, the contestant is going to react disappointedly.” A third wrote, “He also contorts his body awkwardly and bounces around to just flip the card open. Then says ‘it was this much’ as if he can’t say the amount. Kind of weird. But the lack of higher amounts lately is noticed. I’m glad it’s been all cash so far. A lot of the cars prior were 30k, which is nice, but they were lowest prize.” Related Chuck Woolery Dies: Former ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Love Connection’ Host Was 83 “I agree, feels like he’s forcing it,” wrote a fourth. A fifth was even more critical, “I’m sorry I know a lot of people are going to get mad at me but I just don’t like him. There’s something about him, that I just don’t enjoy watching him in anything at all.” Meanwhile , Seacrest, of course, had huge shoes to fill replacing the legendary Pat Sajak alongside the iconic Vanna White after four decades for Season 42. His debut month was the strongest ratings month for WoF in the past three years, and viewers were already treated to a viral moment (via a round of sausage) . That said, there have been some other questionable moments according to fans. In September, Seacrest suffered what fans dubbed his “first blooper” , involving a prolonged reaction to rewarding a bonus round. Fans also called out the host for ruling against another player before the timer was up. There have also been a few on-screen “glitches,” and a minor spelling error in a Thanksgiving puzzle . Many fans also blamed a lack of experience on Seacrest’s mishandling of a contestant’s $1million wedge, which she instantly forfeited. Wheel of Fortune , Weeknights, Check your local listings More Headlines: ‘Outlander’: Richard Rankin Teases ‘Shock After Shock’ for Roger & Buck’s Season 7 Adventure ‘Countdown’: Jensen Ackles Shares Look at Filming New Prime Video Show (PHOTOS) Courtney B. Vance Is ‘Percy Jackson’s New Zeus: See His Tribute to Lance Reddick ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Beg Ryan Seacrest to Change His ‘Forced’ Bonus Round Move ‘The Boys’ Season 5 Begins Filming & Everything Else We Know About the Final ChapterIn conclusion, the story of the former Barcelona superstar serves as a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of football and the fragility of a player's career. Despite experiencing a drastic decline in his market value, the player's determination, talent, and perseverance ultimately led to a remarkable comeback and a new chapter in his footballing journey. His journey from riches to rags and back to riches is a testament to the resilience and spirit of a true champion, and a reminder that in football, as in life, anything is possible with hard work and belief.
In response to the public outcry and demands for transparency, the National Health Commission issued a statement affirming their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Liu Dameili's untimely passing. The Commission expressed deep condolences for her family and friends, and emphasized the importance of protecting the health and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their social status or online presence.( MENAFN - The Conversation) Five years ago, I began a research project into emotional labour , compassion fatigue and burnout in Alberta's educational workers. The results from the earliest study suggested a wide scope of emotional and mental distress among teachers, educational assistants, school leaders and support staff. This distress has been documented globally and across Canada , suggesting educator mental and emotional well-being continues to decline and interventions are needed. Read more: Commit to a 'wellness streak' to help manage work stressors Recently, my research team analyzed the specific interventions that our 4,000 survey respondents used to manage their symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout. Educational worker respondents were recruited online through Alberta Teachers' Association and internal newsletters and social media. Responses were collected across three periods (2020, 2021 and 2023). We defined intervention as a practice or strategy used to address distress or suffering. Overwhelmingly, our respondents indicated that they used self-directed or individual interventions to deal with workplace distress such as going to a gym, walking alone, talking to friends and spouses or pursuing hobbies. While individual interventions are one part of dealing with distress, a single person cannot self-care themselves out of the effects of a toxic workplace or organizational culture. In their recent book, The Burnout Challenge: Managing People's Relationships with their Jobs , workplace burnout experts and emeriti professors of psychology Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter used the canary in the coal mine metaphor to illustrate this point. Similar to how miners used canaries to indicate the presence of toxic gas in the mine, the large number of absences of adults from their workplaces suggests a toxic environment. But, here's the catch: you can rescue the canary by bringing it to fresh air, but if you put that canary back into the toxic mine, it will become sick again. So, while individual interventions can help temporarily relieve workplace stress, the workplace itself also needs to address the root problems. In our survey, we asked participants to share strategies they use to support workplace well-being. Over 40 per cent of respondents added“improving work and classroom conditions” when asked if there was anything else they wished to tell researchers about their experiences with compassion fatigue, emotional labour or burnout. In addition to prioritizing adequate resourcing for schools, there are clear opportunities for educational systems to integrate organizational and school-based interventions for employees, such as providing professional development opportunities or micro-programs that target and relieve workplace stressors. Such organizational resources were the least-mentioned forms of support our survey participants currently use, but improving school and system culture could have the greatest impact on employee attraction and retention . A opportunity for building well-being appeared as a new trend in the most recent analysis of our data. Over the three data collection points, more respondents wrote“getting outside” as an“other” form of intervention they were using to feel better. This insight led me, with collaborators Nadeen Halls, a teacher consultant, and Patrick Hanlon, from the Werklund School of Education Academic Support Offices, to develop a pilot a“Walk and Learn” professional learning workshop for burned out educators. We mixed two interventions, environmental and organizational, to create a walk for local teachers so they could learn about compassion fatigue and burnout while going for a walk on trails outside Calgary in Treaty 7 territory , also home to Métis Regions 5 & 6 . As a part of the walk, we carefully selected sit-spots along the trail for reflective journaling on workplace well-being. This combined experience of physical activity and quiet reflection appeared to have a positive effect on the participants. In our post-walk feedback, 100 per cent of participants expressed appreciation for this type of professional learning. At our most recent walk in October, we had two returning participants - high praise from teachers who do not like to take the same session twice! The design of the walks has been critical. We are flexible about the trail we select, making changes to suit the abilities of all our walkers. We arranged the walks through a local chapter of the Alberta Teachers' Association and also some school staff teams so that the walks were scheduled during the regular school day rather than during the evening or on weekends. I also secured some funding to purchase items such as mittens, toques, tissues, and bleacher-style cushions to ensure the overall comfort of the walkers. After listening and reflecting on compassion fatigue and burnout, participants would walk and discuss the impact of these psychological hazards with their peers and colleagues. They shared their strategies to support their own and their students' well-being. Read more: Heartbreak becomes burnout for teachers when work is turbulent Maybe of the highest importance, participants have noted that the walks have helped them realize they are not alone in their suffering. These conversations between walkers created social support , a starting point for improving workplace culture. The popularity of the walks led us to design a podcast learning series so others could enjoy the benefits of movement and learning. The HEARTcare Podcast and Learn series aims both to teach about important concepts related to workplace well-being while prompting listeners to be physically active and mentally engaged. Unprompted feedback from podcast listeners has been positive. Our next step is to investigate the podcasts' usefulness as a professional learning tool and strategy for stress relief. Taking one walk or listening to one podcast is not the magic wand or cure-all that will save education. But evidence suggests that higher daily step counts have positive mental health benefits and connecting with other people through activity can improve physical well-being. So, don't be afraid to walk into stress in this year - and be sure to bring a friend or colleague. It might be the only steps you need to take to feel better. MENAFN23122024000199003603ID1109025349 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Furthermore, the partnership between Gaode Maps and Lenovo Baiying reinforces the importance of customer-centric innovation. By prioritizing the needs of users and creating solutions that enhance their overall experience, both companies have solidified their positions as leaders in the tech industry.None
Manson Market, known for its thriving illegal trade in stolen data, malware, and other cybercriminal tools, had been a hub for hackers looking to buy and sell illicit goods and services. The platform operated on the dark web, offering a cloak of anonymity to its users and making it difficult for authorities to track and shut down the illegal activities taking place on the site.Daily Post Nigeria SEDC: Tinubu’s choice of Board members phenomenal – Ohanaeze Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News SEDC: Tinubu’s choice of Board members phenomenal – Ohanaeze Published on December 8, 2024 By Emmanuel Ugwueze Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described the team members of the South-East Development Commission, SEDC, as round pegs in square holes. It could be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday announced Board members of the Commission, with Dr Emeka Nworgu as chairman. Another key member of the Board is Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects. In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the calibre of people chosen by President Tinubu showed the seriousness the government attached to the Commission. He said, “we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the serious attention he has given to the South-East Development Commission, which manifested in the calibre of people he has appointed in the Board. “It is clear from the list of the members that these are renowned Igbos with a track record of experience both in private and public service. “The Chairman of the Board, Dr Emeka Nworgu, CON, is a one time chairman of Abia South local government area, former political adviser to former Gov of Abia State and a two term minister under the administration of goodluck Jonathan. He performed creditably in these offices. “Also of particular mention is Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects, a former member of the National Assembly, who was synonymous with attracting quality projects to his constituency and beyond during his time in the National Assembly. He was known as Mr project during the time in question. “The former Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is a man of with capacity when it comes to infrastructural development and human empowerment. “No wonder he was the Chairman, House Committee on Works in the 8th House of Representatives and capped it up as Deputy Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives. He was a leader in the 9th Assembly and greatly admired by his people. “As the chairman house committee on works, he contributed a lot to the progress of work at the second Niger Bridge, rehabilitation of Abuja – Kano federal highway and Lagos – Ibadan expressway, etc. “Another distinguished member of the Board is Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, Chief of staff to the president of the 10th Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio. “With these calibre of men in the helm of affairs at the SEDC, Mr President deserves kudos; it’s a phenomenal choice; he has no doubt set the ball rolling.” Okwu said now that the Commission was totally in place, the expected rebuilding of the South-East after the civil war should commence in earnest. “The people of the South-East had all along cried out over the high level of marginalization against us; it became manifestly high that our people could no longer bear it, leading to a resurgence in agitation for Biafra. “However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a giant leap towards addressing all the injustice against the South-East. The starting point is this quality of Board members of the SEDC. “We, however, urge Mr President to go a step further by making good funding available to the Commission through the 2025 budget, which is in the process. “Without adequate funding all the expectation and joy of our people will be cut short. “But we are upbeat and quite positive that the much-awaited good time for the people of the South-East is here. “We assure the President of the support of Ndigbo, now and in future,” Okwu concluded. Related Topics: Ohanaeze SEDC Tinubu Don't Miss Nigerian Govt disowns circulating list of ambassadorial nominees You may like Ghana election: Tinubu congratulates President-elect Mahama I’ll go after ‘bad’ Nigerians, they are in trouble – Tinubu threatens Duk da ba’a son mu,mun kawo gyara a Najeriya – Tinubu Economy tough, Nigerians facing challenges – Tinubu Many states now enjoy 22hrs electricity – Yul Edochie claims as he hails Tinubu Masu sukar Tinubu makiyan Najeriya ne – Umahi Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
None
BOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
In the realm of football, there are few players who have generated as much hype and excitement as Kylian Mbappé. With his blistering pace, impeccable technical skills, and natural goal-scoring ability, Mbappé has been hailed as one of the brightest stars in the sport. However, recent performances and criticisms have sparked debates about whether he is truly living up to the massive expectations placed upon him. Some have even gone as far as labeling him as the most overrated player in the world. But is that really the case, or is there more to Mbappé's story that we are missing?Porsche, the iconic German automotive manufacturer, has always been synonymous with luxury, performance, and innovation. With a rich heritage dating back to 1948, Porsche has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering, delivering a unique blend of power, style, and precision. The brand's motto, "The Porsche Principle," embodies its commitment to superb craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
President El-Sisi’s Speech at the Joint Press Conference with the Prime Minister of Denmark
Samsung’s One UI has consistently pushed the boundaries of Android customization, and the latest iteration, One UI 7, is no exception. This time, Samsung is tackling app navigation head-on with a brand-new vertical scrolling app drawer. Forget the old days of swiping through pages of apps; One UI 7 lets you seamlessly scroll through your entire app library in one fluid motion. This seemingly simple change has the potential to significantly impact how Galaxy users interact with their devices. This article delves deep into the new vertical scrolling app drawer in One UI 7, exploring its functionality, benefits, and potential drawbacks. We’ll examine how this change aligns with broader trends in mobile user interface design and share our personal experiences with the updated navigation. Get ready to discover how this seemingly small tweak could revolutionize your app browsing experience. Scrolling into the Future: Reimagining App Navigation For years, Samsung users have navigated their app drawer by swiping horizontally through pages of apps. This approach, while familiar, can feel cumbersome and inefficient, especially for users with a large number of apps. One UI 7 addresses this issue by introducing a vertical scrolling app drawer, mirroring the design philosophy seen in many popular launchers and iOS. This shift towards vertical scrolling aligns with a growing trend in mobile UI design, prioritizing single-handed usability and intuitive navigation. With One UI 7, browsing your app library becomes akin to scrolling through your social media feed. This intuitive approach allows for quicker access to your apps, eliminating the need to swipe through multiple pages. Imagine searching for an app buried deep within your phone; with vertical scrolling, you can swiftly glide through your app list, locating your desired app in seconds. A Hands-On Experience: Smooth, Swift, and Surprisingly Intuitive Having spent some time with the One UI 7 beta, I can confidently say that the vertical scrolling app drawer is a welcome change. The transition from horizontal swiping to vertical scrolling feels surprisingly natural. The scrolling itself is buttery smooth, and the app icons are neatly organized, making it easy to locate the app you need. One of the most noticeable benefits is the speed at which you can now find and launch apps. No more endless swiping; just a quick scroll and tap, and you’re in. This enhanced efficiency is particularly beneficial when multitasking or when you need to access an app quickly. Beyond Scrolling: Enhanced Organization and Customization One UI 7 doesn’t just introduce vertical scrolling; it also brings enhancements to app organization and customization. You can still create folders to group similar apps, and the search bar remains readily available for those who prefer to type out the app name. Furthermore, you can customize the app drawer’s appearance, including icon size and grid layout, to suit your preferences. Samsung has also retained the ability to hide apps, a feature I frequently use to declutter my app drawer. This combination of vertical scrolling and robust customization options makes One UI 7’s app drawer a truly personalized and efficient experience. Addressing Potential Concerns: Muscle Memory and Folder Navigation While the vertical scrolling app drawer is a significant improvement, it’s worth considering potential drawbacks. For long-time Samsung users, the shift from horizontal swiping to vertical scrolling might require a brief adjustment period. Years of muscle memory might initially lead to accidental horizontal swipes. However, in my experience, the learning curve is minimal, and the intuitive nature of vertical scrolling quickly becomes second nature. Another potential concern is navigating folders within the app drawer. While accessing and scrolling through folders remains smooth, some users might find the nested vertical scrolling within folders slightly less intuitive than the previous horizontal paging. However, this is a minor issue that is easily overcome with a little practice. One UI 7: A Step Towards a More Intuitive Mobile Experience The introduction of vertical scrolling in One UI 7’s app drawer is more than just a cosmetic change; it represents Samsung’s commitment to refining the user experience. By embracing vertical scrolling, Samsung aligns with broader industry trends, prioritizing efficiency and single-handed usability. This change, coupled with enhanced customization options, makes One UI 7 a significant step towards a more intuitive and personalized mobile experience. While there might be a minor adjustment period for some users, the benefits of vertical scrolling far outweigh any initial hiccups. Looking Ahead: The Future of App Navigation As technology continues to evolve, so too will the way we interact with our devices. One UI 7’s vertical scrolling app drawer is a glimpse into the future of app navigation, where efficiency and intuitiveness reign supreme. We can expect to see further refinements and innovations in this area as smartphone manufacturers strive to create seamless and user-friendly experiences. Samsung’s bold move with One UI 7 sets a precedent for other Android manufacturers to follow. It will be interesting to see how this change influences the broader Android landscape and whether vertical scrolling becomes the new standard for app navigation. Embracing the Change: A Call to Action If you’re a Galaxy user eligible for the One UI 7 update, I encourage you to embrace the change and experience the benefits of vertical scrolling firsthand. While it might feel slightly unfamiliar at first, you’ll quickly appreciate the enhanced speed and efficiency it brings to your app navigation. One UI 7 is a testament to Samsung’s dedication to innovation and user satisfaction. By reimagining app navigation, Samsung has once again demonstrated its ability to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of Android customization.10 Bangladeshi Hindus who feld to India held in Tripura for illegal entry
Venus Williams continues to be one of the most profitable women's athletes, even besting some of her younger contemporaries like Simone Biles . On Dec. 18, Forbes released their list of the highest-paid female athletes of 2024, and six of the 10 highest earners of the year played tennis. Leading the way was American star Coco Gauff , reportedly earning more than $34 million, with over half of that coming from her off-court ventures, as the highest-paid female athlete of the year. Gauff 's earnings eclipse the No. 2 earner, fellow tennis star Iga Swiatek. On the court, Swiatek was reported to have earned $8.8 million while off it, she earned $15 million, bringing her total to almost $24 million ($23.8m). Venus Williams wants tennis star to 'win every match' - even if she beats Serena record Venus Williams appears to snub Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at ESPY Awards Just a handful of spots below the two was the elder Williams sister, who was the ninth highest-earning female athlete of the year. The 44-year-old is reported to have earned $12.1 million in 2024, with most of her earnings coming from her off-the-court ventures, earning just $0.1 million from her time on the court. Williams played in only two tournaments this year, at Indian Wells and Miami, losing in the first round of both tournaments. Still, her presence was enough to make her the ninth most-paid female athlete, showing how her name still carries weight in the sports world, despite her lack of success. And while her career begins to wind down, especially with her sitting at No. 977 in the world tennis rankings, Williams' off-the-court endeavors are plentiful. When not defeating her foes, she often partakes in speaking engagements, reportedly earning more than six figures per appearance. She also is a main figure in Palazzo, an AI-powered interior design platform and was the model of a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll for its 65th anniversary celebration. With that in mind, it makes sense why Williams continues to be one of the most profitable athletes, just ahead of Biles. At 27 years old, Biles cemented herself as one of the best gymnasts of all time, winning four medals - three gold and one silver - during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The most decorated gymnast in history, Biles has 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, showing just how dominant she is. Don't Miss Simone Biles set to miss family Christmas over husband Jonathan Owens commitments Coco Gauff and Serena Williams on same page over Simone Biles stance Pickleball star, 17, to earn more than Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese with staggering contract Despite her Olympic performances, only a fraction of her earnings come from her performances. Reported to have made $11.2 million this year, over 90 percent of her earnings were amassed off the mat, with only $0.2 million coming directly from her Olympic dominance. Still, Biles has many notable endorsement deals with giants in various industries including Athleta, Nike, GK Elite, Uber Eats, Hershey's, and Beats by Dre, among many others. Of note, Biles is the only gymnast on the list, most of the list being comprised of tennis players. For Biles to be on the list in the first place makes sense, considering how many of her fellow athletes believe the star is the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.). Williams' younger sister, Serena, called Biles the GOAT after the tennis legend spent time with her at an event in early December. "Yesterday, I sat with the GOAT Simone Biles at an evening of impactful conversation with Audemars Piguet, Vanity Fair and The Female Quotient," Serena said in an Instagram post. "A house full of women. I love to see it."NoneCOLLEGE BOWL
The self-discipline challenge, which has gained popularity in recent years, requires participants to adhere to strict rules and guidelines designed to promote personal growth and development. Participants are often required to engage in activities such as daily exercise, meditation, journaling, and goal-setting to improve their mental and physical well-being. The premise of the challenge is to instill discipline and create positive habits that can lead to long-term success and fulfillment.Liu Shao'ang: Once a Rival of the Chinese Short Track Team, Now a Surprising Contender Rising in the Last LapThroughout the game, Wu Qian's presence on the court was felt on both ends. His offensive prowess allowed him to score points in a variety of ways, whether it be driving to the hoop, hitting mid-range jumpers, or knocking down three-pointers. His ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates was a key factor in Zhejiang's success.
Malayalam actress Pragya Nagra became the subject of major controversy after a private video allegedly featuring her went viral on social media platforms. The unfortunate news comes amidst a troubling trend in Pakistan, where popular social media figures have been targeted with digitally manipulated videos falsely depicting them in compromising positions. Pragya Nagra has now released a statement reacting to the MMS leak. Pragya Nagra’s S*x Video Leaked Online? Malayalam Actress Caught in MMS Scandal After Alleged Private Clip Goes Viral. Pragya Nagra Reacts to Her Leaked Intimate Videos Just hours after several intimate videos and pictures claiming to be of Pragya Nagra, the actress reacted to the same and denied the rumours and penned a long note expressing her discomfort regarding the controversy. Taking to her X (previously Twitter) handle, she wrote, "Still in denial, and still hoping that it’s just a bad dream that I will wake up from. Technology was meant to help us and not make our lives miserable. Can just pity the evil minds who misuse it to create such AI content and the people who help spread it!" Still in denial, and still hoping that it’s just a bad dream that I will wake up from. Technology was meant to help us and not make our lives miserable. Can just pity the evil minds who misuse it to create such AI content and the people who help spread it! Trying to stay strong... — Pragya Nagra (@PragyaNagra) December 7, 2024 Pragya shared that the recent incident has been really stressful, and she is trying to stay strong through it. The actress also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the people who have shown support to her during this difficult period and prayed that no other woman should ever go through something similar." Who Is Pragya Nagra? Pragya Nagra is a South Indian actress who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. She was born into a Punjabi family on December 14, 1998, making her 27 years old. Pragya Nagra started her career with modelling and also featured in several ads before debuting as an actress. She made her acting debut opposite Jiiva in the 2022 Tamil film Varalaru Mukkiyam. Pragya later went on to star in many Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu movies. Mathira Private Video Controversy: Pakistani Influencer Claims MMS Leak Was AI-Generated, Says ‘I’m Bold, but I Know My Limits’. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pragya Nagra (@pragyanagra) Previously, alleged sensitive videos featuring Pakistani social media influencers, including Kanwal Aftwab, Minahil Malik, Mathira and Imsha Rehman, were leaked online training concerns about safety and privacy in this digitally advanced world. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 08, 2024 07:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).Donald Trump wants to put tariffs on Canadian goods: What exactly is a tariff and what does it mean for Canadians?In conclusion, the official launch of Sora by OpenAI heralds a new chapter in the evolution of video generation technology, showcasing the power of AI to blend creativity, intelligence, and human ingenuity in unprecedented ways. With Sora at the forefront of this revolution, the possibilities for innovation and storytelling are truly limitless, opening doors to a future where imagination is the only limit to what can be achieved through the fusion of AI and visual media.The decision to sell their beloved home comes as a surprise to many, given Chow Yun-fat's enduring popularity and successful career in the entertainment industry. However, sources close to the couple indicate that they are looking to downsize and simplify their lifestyle, opting for a more manageable residence that better suits their current needs.
Leading the charge in the FIFPRO Best 11 lineup are two of the brightest young talents in the game: Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Both players have been in scintillating form for their respective clubs and national teams, dazzling fans with their speed, skill, and goal-scoring prowess. Mbappe, the French forward who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, has been a key player in his team's success, while Haaland, the Norwegian sensation at Borussia Dortmund, has been setting the Bundesliga alight with his incredible goal-scoring record.Critical Survey: Swiftmerge Acquisition (IVCP) versus Its Competitors
Fans of Liu Shishi and Celine can look forward to exciting initiatives and projects that showcase the synergy between the actress and the brand. From exclusive collections to groundbreaking campaigns, the partnership between Liu Shishi and Celine promises to be a celebration of creativity, style, and elegance.
Title: "Montolivo: Conte Should Trust Substitutes More and Give Them More Playing Time"
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have traded guard D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton. The Lakers also sent forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks to Brooklyn on Sunday. Russell averaged a career-low 12.4 points for the Lakers this season in a diminished role under new coach JJ Redick, who had vowed to unlock the point guard's formidable offensive game. Instead, Russell was removed from the starting lineup early in the season, and he struggled to make a consistent impact as a reserve, with his shooting percentages declining significantly. The 6-foot-7 Finney-Smith isn't a top scorer, but he is a steady 3-and-D wing who fills an obvious need for the Lakers. Los Angeles has had inconsistent wing play and has lacked an effective defender at the key position during the long-term injury absence of Jarred Vanderbilt , who hasn't played since Feb. 1. Finney-Smith averaged 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds this season for the Nets, who acquired him from Dallas in the February 2023 in the trade of Kyrie Irving. Finney-Smith has been limited to five games this month by a sprained ankle and a bruised calf, but the 31-year-old played 27 minutes against San Antonio on Friday. Redick and Finney-Smith were teammates with the Mavericks during the 2020-21 season, and Redick has expressed admiration for Finney-Smith's hard-nosed game. Milton is joining his sixth NBA team in less than two years, including his third trade in 11 months. He is averaging 7.4 points and 2.4 assists per game this season as a Nets reserve. Russell is being traded by the Lakers to the Nets for the second time in his career. He also made the move in 2017 after spending his first two NBA seasons with Los Angeles, which drafted him in 2015. Russell earned the only All-Star selection of his career during his two seasons in Brooklyn. Russell has been traded five times in the past 7 1/2 years. The 10-year pro excelled for the Lakers during their run to the 2023 Western Conference finals after returning to the team in February of that season, although he got benched during that final playoff series against Denver. Russell remained a fairly consistent scorer last year while setting a new franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season, but his career-long problems with offensive inconsistency and defensive ability kept him out of Redick's plans this year. With Russell's departure, Gabe Vincent is the only true point guard left in the Lakers' rotation, although LeBron James often fills the role of initiating their offense. The Lakers (18-13) have won five of six heading into their visit from Cleveland on New Year's Eve. The trade continues a roster restructuring by the Nets, who traded former Lakers point guard Dennis Schröder to Golden State two weeks ago. Schröder was Brooklyn's third-leading scorer, while Finney-Smith was its fourth-leading scorer. The Nets have been one of the NBA's lowest-scoring teams this season, so Russell should have plenty of chances to make an offensive impact. Brooklyn has lost three of four heading into its road game against Orlando on Sunday. Russell's $18.7 million contract expires this summer, while Finney-Smith has a $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Lewis was the Lakers' second-round pick in 2023, but he played in just 41 games over the past two seasons while shuttling to the G League. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
A Biden administration plan to extend a $6 billion loan for an electric vehicle manufacturer to build an E.V. factory in Georgia sent MAGA world into a tailspin Tuesday. The plan announced Monday is reportedly part of a push to lock in Democratic climate policies before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House . But not everybody was on board, with the move stoking speculation that the loan was a veiled political attack at one of Trump's main supporters – Tesla CEO Elon Musk . “Biden is forking over $6.6B to EV-maker Rivian to build a Georgia plant they’ve already halted,” Vivek Ramaswamy wrote to his followers on X. “One ‘justification’ is the 7,500 jobs it creates, but that implies a cost of $880k/job which is insane. This smells more like a political shot across the bow at @elonmusk & @Tesla.” That sentiment was echoed by numerous conservative social media users. ALSO READ: Merrick Garland and his 'Justice' Department should never be forgiven “It’s clearly an attack on Musk for his endorsement of Trump,” X user Paul A. Szypula wrote in a reply to Ramaswamy. Notably, Ramaswamy and Musk were both tapped by Trump to lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE , to explore ways to slash government spending. And at least one Republican member of Congress thinks the federal loan to Rivian is a waste of government money. “Why not just cut each person a $880,000 check?!” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) posted on social media. “The absurdity of this is the exact type of insanity that we have to stop. I can tell you right now Georgians do not support Rivian and are sick and tired of seeing tax dollars handed over to this FAILING company, federal & state!” Greene was recently named chair of the new subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, which is expected to work with Musk's DOGE.
The Apple TV has a lot going for it, but the , to say the least. If you like telling a half-smart robot what to do, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better remote. However, if you want a traditional TV-watching experience, the voice controls might not be your cup of tea. And this alternative Apple TV remote gives you all the buttons you might miss from the good old days. The Function101 Button Remote was designed as a replacement remote for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, and it makes it easier for you to use all the features built into your set-top streamer. For a limited time, you can get the (regularly $29.95). Suppose you’re watching television late at night while the rest of your house is asleep. In that case, the last thing you want to do is loudly say, “Siri, play Netflix” when you just want to silently stream something. There’s also a certain irony to waking up your family by telling your TV to turn the volume down. The Function101 Button Remote requires no voice commands and features buttons for most common functions like volume control, power, mute and menu access. Connecting it to your TV is simple and seamless. The infrared technology only requires a line of sight within 12 meters to work with your TV. As our own Leander Kahney wrote in his , it’s a pleasing option if you’re not down with the Siri Remote. “I’m kinda old-school and often too lazy to learn new ways of doing things, which is why I like the Button Remote,” he wrote. “It’s all extremely familiar and easy to use, even in the dark. This alternative Apple TV remote is reliable, and it’s easy to find if it gets lost in the couch cushions.” Users love this replacement Apple TV remote A Cult of Mac Deals customer also raved about the remote, saying it allow their household to have multiple remotes for one TV. “The remote is amazing,” they wrote. “I purchased 3 and so glad I did. Works wonderfully with Apple TV. What is crazy is my husband and I each have to have a remote. Would recommend this to everyone.” Just make sure you and any other remote holders agree on what to watch, or it’s going to be a channel-flipping fight. Save on Function101 Button Remote Let your Apple TV do the talking. For a limited time, you can get the on sale for $19.97 (regularly $29.95).Illegal Alien Accused of Child Rape While Colorado Democrat Mayor Vows to Protect Illegals from Deportation
NOVONIX Offered Conditional Commitment for US$754 Million Loan from the U.S. Department of Energy for New Synthetic Graphite Manufacturing Plant in Tennessee
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fresh off one of its best showings of the season, the Baltimore defense now has another problem to worry about. Roquan Smith missed practice again Friday because of a hamstring injury. Although the Ravens didn't officially rule him or anyone else out — they don't play until Monday night — the All-Pro linebacker's status seems dicey. “Definitely it will be a challenge if Roquan can’t go,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We’re holding out hope and everything like that. I think it’ll just be by committee. Not one person is going to replace Roquan. Roquan’s an every-down linebacker.” Although the Ravens lost 18-16 last weekend, Baltimore didn't allow a touchdown. That was an encouraging sign for a team that ranks 26th in the league in total defense. Baltimore is on the road Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens appear to have dodged one potential nightmare. Star safety Kyle Hamilton injured an ankle against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, but he was able to play almost every defensive snap the following week against Pittsburgh. But Smith was injured in that game and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Malik Harrison had a season high in tackles last weekend and figures to have a significant role if Smith can't go. “We tell these guys, ‘You’re one play away to going in there — you never know, so you got to stay ready.’ Malik — he was ready,” Orr said. “I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That’s what we expect from him.” It's hard to tell whether last week can be a significant turning point for Baltimore's defense. The Ravens allowed only 10 points in a dominant win over Buffalo in Week 4, then yielded 38 against Cincinnati the following game. After allowing 10 against Denver, the Ravens were picked apart by the Bengals again a few days later. So they still haven't shown they can play a good game defensively and then build on it. “I think it’s easier said than done. It’s something that we kind of got caught up saying against Buffalo and then coming up the next week and not doing," Hamilton said. "We’re aware of it now and know that we played a good game, but I think we can get a lot better, and I think that’s kind of the mindset everybody on defense has right now.” Hamilton's ability to make a difference all over the field is part of what makes him valuable, but positioning him deep is one way the Ravens can try to guard against big passing plays. Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson threw for only 205 yards against Baltimore. That's after Joe Burrow passed for 428 and four touchdowns in the Ravens' previous game. “I’ve always seen myself as a safety. A versatile one, but at the end of the day, I think I play safety,” Hamilton said. “If I’m asked to go play safety, I feel like that’s not an issue for me to play safety if I’m a safety.” NOTES: In addition to Smith, WR Rashod Bateman (knee), DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle) C Tyler Linderbaum (back) and CB Arthur Maulet (calf) missed practice Friday. WR Nelson Agholor (illness) returned to full participation after missing Thursday's practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming “border czar” on Thursday, with the Democratic mayor expressing an enthusiasm to work with the incoming administration to pursue violent criminals in the city while Trump promises a mass deportation strategy. The mayor's meeting with Tom Homan, who will oversee the southern and northern borders and be responsible for deportation efforts in the Trump administration, came as Adams has welcomed parts of the president-elect's hardline immigration platform. Adams told reporters at a brief news conference that he and Homan agreed on pursuing people who commit violent crimes in the city but did not disclose additional details or future plans. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers. That was my conversation today with the border czar, to figure out how to go after those individuals who are repeatedly committing crimes in our city,” Adams told reporters. In the weeks since Trump's election win, Adams has mused about potentially scaling back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on immigration. He has also said migrants accused of crimes shouldn't have due process rights under the Constitution, though he later walked back those comments. The mayor further stunned Democrats in the city when he sidestepped questions in two televised interviews last week on whether he would consider changing parties to become a Republican, telling journalists that he was part of the “American party.” Adams later clarified that he would remain a Democrat. For Adams, a centrist Democrat known for quarreling with the city's progressive left, the recent comments on immigration follow frustration with the Biden Administration over its immigration policies and a surge of international migrants in the city. He has maintained that his positions have not changed and argues he is trying to protect New Yorkers, pointing to the law-and-order platform he has staked out throughout his political career and during his successful campaign for mayor. At his news conference Thursday, Adams reiterated his commitment to New York’s generous social safety net. “We’re going to tell those who are here, who are law-abiding, to continue to utilize the services that are open to the city, the services that they have a right to utilize, educating their children, health care, public protection,” he said. “But we will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” While the education of all children present in the U.S. is already guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling, New York also offers social services like healthcare and emergency shelter to low-income residents, including those in the country illegally. City and state grants also provide significant access to lawyers, which is not guaranteed in the immigration court as they are in the criminal court. Still, Adams’ recent rhetoric has been seen by some critics as an attempt to cozy up to Trump, who could potentially offer a presidential pardon in his federal corruption case. Adams has been charged with accepting luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty. Homan, who was Trump’s former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, also met this week with Republicans in Illinois, where he called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, to start negotiations over how Trump's mass deportation plans, according to local media. Separately, New York City officials this week announced continued efforts to shrink a huge emergency shelter system for migrants because of a steady decline in new arrivals. Among the planned shelter closures is a massive tent complex built on a federally owned former airport in Brooklyn, which advocates have warned could be a prime target for Trump's mass deportation plan. Elsewhere, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y.Veteran singer, Eldee The Don, has revealed that his father was the pioneer behind Nigeria’s connection to the Internet. He added that his father opened the first cyber cafe in Lagos and provided internet services to oil companies and government agencies. The musician claimed his early access to technology provided him an advantage in the music industry. READ MORE: “This Year’s Xmas Assistance Requests Are Record-Breaking, Support If You Can” – I Go Save Speaking on the Adesope Live show, shared on X Monday , Eldee said, “Thankfully, I had a dad who was in technology. My dad was a pioneer in his own space as well. “That man [my Dad] was the first person to connect Nigeria to the internet. This is something people argue about because they don’t know his name. He wasn’t that guy who wanted to put himself out there. “The very first cyber cafe in Lagos was set up by my dad. The very first connection for Mobil, CBN and government agencies, my dad was doing all of that. “At that time, we had access to technology that wasn’t really available. So having all of that, I had a studio in our house where the music is being produced.”
California is battling the future to protect performersAutomotive Window Sealing Systems Market Unidentified Segments - The Biggest Opportunity Of 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — It was a season of Iowa State comebacks. And fittingly, that's how it ended for the Cyclones. Game MVP Rocco Becht scored from a yard out on fourth-and-goal with 56 seconds remaining and No. 18 Iowa State capped the best season in school history by rallying past No. 15 Miami 42-41 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday. Becht finished with 270 passing yards and three touchdowns for Iowa State (11-2), a program that entered this season — the 133rd year of Cyclone football — never having won more than nine games in a year. “If you look at this team, it’s really who they’ve been all year,” coach Matt Campbell said. The win marked the fourth time in 2024 that Iowa State got a winning score with less than two minutes remaining. For this one, the Cyclones rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half — with Miami quarterback Cam Ward watching after a record-setting first half — to get win No. 11. Carson Hansen rushed for a pair of touchdowns for Iowa State. And as the MVP, Becht got the honor of choosing which flavor Pop-Tart was to be sacrificed in a giant toaster. “There's only one,” Becht said. “Cinnamon roll.” Ward passed for three touchdowns in his final college game, while Damien Martinez rushed for a career-high 179 yards for Miami (10-3), which dropped its sixth straight bowl game and lost three of four games to end the season — those three losses by a combined 10 points. "Disappointed that we couldn't pull out a victory," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “These guys have always fought and always competed and this was no exception. ... It's painful. It's as painful as it gets when you don't win. But there's a lot to build on.” NEBRASKA 20, BOSTON COLLEGE 15: Dylan Raiola passed for 228 yards and a touchdown as Nebraska built an 18-point lead through three quarters and hung on for its first bowl victory since 2015. Raiola hit Emmett Johnson with a 13-yard TD pass on fourth down with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter for a 20-2 edge and the Cornhuskers (7-6) held on for the win at Yankee Stadium. Raiola completed 23 of 31 passes in front of a sizable Nebraska crowd that celebrated the team's first bowl win since topping UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl and first winning season since 2016. Raiola completed passes to 10 receivers, including Jahmal Banks, who finished with four receptions for 79 yards. Grayson James finished 25 of 40 for 296 yards as Boston College (7-6). MILITARY BOWL EAST CAROLINA 26, NC STATE 21: Rahjai Harris broke free for an 86-yard touchdown run with 1:33 remaining, giving East Carolina a pulsating victory over NC State in the Military Bowl in a game that descended into a wild brawl in the final minute in Annapolis, Md. Harris had 220 of ECU's 326 yards rushing, and his sensational sprint near the end of the game gave the Pirates (8-5) the lead back after they'd blown a 13-point advantage in the fourth. But after an interception by Dontavius Nash ended NC State's final drive, East Carolina's attempt to run out the clock was interrupted by large-scale fight between the two in-state rivals — who play each other again to start next season. Three players for ECU and five for NC State (6-7) were ejected. ECU trailed 21-20 and took over the ball at its own 14, and after two incompletions, the Pirates decided to run the ball with Harris. He had a good hole to the left for a big gain, then cut back past the final defender on his way to the end zone. ARIZONA BOWL MIAMI (OHIO) 43, COLORADO STATE 17: Kevin Davis had a career-high 148 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just nine carries, and Jordan Brunson also ran for two TDs to help Miami (Ohio) wrapped the season at 9-5 by beating Colorado State (8-5) in Tucson, Ariz. Davis scored on a 4-yard run with 12:35 left in the third quarter, Matt Salopek forced a fumble that was recovered by Silas Walters and quarterback Brett Gabbert's first rushing touchdown of the season — a 10-yard scramble that capped a 47-yard drive — made it 22-3 about 2 minutes later. UCONN 27, NORTH CAROLINA 14: Joe Fagnano threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help the Huskies (9-4) beat the Tar Heels (6-7) at Fenway Park, embarrassing incoming coach Bill Belichick's new team in his old backyard. Mel Brown rushed for 96 yards for UConn and Skyler Bell caught three passes for 77 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown that gave the Huskies a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Chris Culliver returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but that would be Carolina's only production in the first half. TCU 34, LOUISIANA 3: Josh Hoover passed for four touchdowns as the Horned Frogs (9-4) routed the Ragin' Cajuns (10-4) in Albuquerque. Hoover was 20 for 32 for 252 yards with an interception. Eric McAlister had eight catches for 87 yards and a TD for the Horned Frogs. TCU's defense also had a solid day, holding Louisiana-Lafayette to 209 yards, including 61 on the game's final possession. LATE FRIDAY LAS VEGAS BOWL USC 35, TEXAS A&M 31: Jayden Maiava threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Ford with eight seconds left to give Southern California the victory over Texas A&M (8-5) in the Las Vegas Bowl. A graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, Maiava helped the Trojans (7-6) overcome a 17-point deficit.F.P. Report LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advisor and senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah on Saturday stressed the importance of dialogue between political leaders to resolve the ongoing crisis in Pakistan. Speaking at a seminar held to mark the anniversary of Khawaja Rafique in Lahore, Rana Sanaullah suggested that it would be beneficial for Nawaz Sharif, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Asif Zardari to sit down for negotiations. He stressed that politicians must first acknowledge their past mistakes and shortcomings before engaging in meaningful discussions. The senior politician noted that the Charter of Democracy, signed after the 1973 Constitution, holds a significant place in the political history of Pakistan, calling it a “sacred document.” He also highlighted that both the PML-N and PPP had previously admitted their mistakes in the spirit of collaboration and progress. Rana Sanaullah further remarked on the ongoing debate regarding the alleged false cases against PTI, drawing a parallel with the cases that had been levied against his own party. “If you are asking us to accept your truth today, you must also acknowledge our truth from yesterday,” he stated. “At least express regret.” The PML-N leader elaborated on the long-standing political crisis in the country, explaining that its resolution is only possible through joint efforts and dialogue. He mentioned that the members of the negotiation committee are mere “actors,” with Khawaja Saad Rafique playing the role of the “producer” in this ongoing process. Rana also addressed the prevailing political climate, reiterating that political activities should be carried out within the bounds of the constitution and law. He condemned acts of violence, including setting fire to people’s houses and taking the lives of political opponents. “Such actions are not political acts, and they must be reviewed under constitutional and legal frameworks,” he said. Pakistan is trapped in “remote-controlled democracy” Meanwhile, Khawaja Saad Rafique criticised the current political environment, suggesting that the country is trapped in a “remote-controlled democracy.” “The state cannot continue to function in such a way,” he remarked, emphasizing that while politicians may bear the brunt of the fallout, the general public will also feel the repercussions of ongoing instability. He pointed out the growing influence of actions taken by non-political groups, referring specifically to recent protests where public spaces, like the Kohala bridge, were blocked and symbols of national identity, such as the Pakistani flag, were taken down. “If such incidents continue, who will we listen to? If the public is mobilized under various banners, there will be a question of legitimacy and control,” he stated, expressing concern over the erosion of national unity. Rafique also discussed the Kashmir issue, highlighting the deep connection between Pakistan and Kashmiris, who, according to him, are “bigger Kashmiris than Pakistanis” in their loyalty to the country. He criticized the appointment of officials who, in his view, have little to do with Kashmiri politics, suggesting that this has contributed to the current tensions. Reiterating his party’s stance, Rafique called for dialogue among political leaders. He suggested that political figures such as Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Aftab Khan Sherpao, Pir Pagara, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and others, should be part of a national committee to address the ongoing crisis. “Politicians must come together and think carefully about how to steer the country away from further losses,” Rafique stressed. “We cannot afford to insult state institutions any further, and there must be clarity on who is truthful and who is not.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Malachi Jeffers-Viera, center, moves through the the Delran defense to score during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North coach Luke Beesely talks to his team during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Blake Amos Whitfield, left, shoots the ball over the defense of Delran’s Jack Jordan, right, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Aaryan Dadan, left, shoots the ball over the defense of Delran’s Andrew Reim, right, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Blake Amos Whitfield looks to move the ball against Delran during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Delran’s Jackson Veneziano, left, goes to pass the ball as he’s trapped by West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Malachi Jeffers-Viera, center, and Blake Amos Whitfield, right, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Malachi Jeffers-Viera shoots a 3-pointer against Delran during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Blake Amos Whitfield, right, lays the ball in the basket as Delran’s Dean Kneib, left, defends during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Delran’s Jack Jordan, left, pulls down a rebound in front of West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Aarav Mohan, right, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Delran’s Shane Kingsmore, left, brings the ball up the floor as he’s defended by West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Ronit Joneja, right, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Ryan Jean-Baptiste, center, puts up a shot between two Delran defenders during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Delran’s D.J. Reissman, 2, puts up a shot over three West Windsor-Plainsboro North defenders during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Cameron Jones, right, looks to drive to the basket as Somerville’s Brian Palko, left, defends during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Adriel Dominguez, right, shoots a 3-pointer as Somerville’s Tim LaCanna, left, leaps to block it during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Kokulnath Ramasamy, right, tries to move around the defense of Somerville’s Spencer Carran, left, during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Josiah Cureton passes the ball to a teammate against Somerville during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Will Yang passes the ball to a teammate during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Malachi Jeffers-Viera, center, moves through the the Delran defense to score during a Knights Holiday Classic game on Friday afternoon at West Windsor-Plainsboro North in Plainsboro. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) PLAINSBORO — There aren’t many players in New Jersey who are literally in the middle of everything a team does on the court — from scoring, to rebounding, to pushing the floor and finding open teammates. Malachi Jeffers-Viera is playing that Superman role brilliantly for West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys basketball, only he doesn’t exactly view it that way. “I’m just playing with my friends,” Jeffers-Viera says. Well, the 6-foot-5 senior forward sure accomplished a lot while playing with his friends Friday as he dropped 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host team past Delran, 70-40, in the first round of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Holiday Classic. “I think one of his best attributes is he’s not looking for stats, he’s not looking for this or that — he’s trying to win,” coach Luke Beesley said. “I think his best game he played all year was the Robbinsville game. He scored four points, but he just controlled the game. You could see it. He just controls the game.” WW-P North is off to the program’s first 4-0 start in at least two decades, but the Knights had to overcome a fairly stiff challenge against Delran (1-2) and a slow start in their first game of the holiday break. The contest was tied at halftime and then the Bears took their first lead in the opening minute of the third quarter, but the Knights took control after that with a 16-2 run. “Steals and defense,” Jeffers-Viera said. “Our motto is ‘defense to offense,’ so once we get our steals and get out in transition, we start scoring and we start flowing. If you’ve seen all our games, second half we turn the other team over a lot, so I think just using that and getting out in transition (makes it) easy.” North had three other players score double figures including Ryan Jean-Baptiste (11 points), Kai Gibson (10 points) and Blake Amos-Whitfield (10) points). Amos-Whitfield is a junior transfer from WW-P South, but this veteran squad has eight seniors and is looking to make history that hasn’t been done at North. “I’ve been playing with them since I’ve been 13 years old,” Jeffers-Viera said. “Some of them are my best friends. We play basketball outside of school, so it’s just a chemistry thing. After practices we go get food, so we’re just really comfortable playing with each other. We compete at practice, so we just have a really tight bond.” In four seasons under Beesley, North has improved from a record of 2-18 to 4-19, to 14-13, and to possibly even more wins this winter. “We were a deep last year, but I think it’s confidence and their abilities,” Beesley said. “A lot of these guys were on the team last year, so they played last year and maybe didn’t score as much, but this year they’re very confident that they can score, and if they take a shot from the perimeter, they’re gonna make it and it’s a good shot.” Jeffers-Viera says Beesley makes practices fun in a way that everyone develops a love for basketball, regardless of whether you’re a starter or coming off the bench. “It’s just a crazy shift because if you think about our school, you don’t really think about our basketball team being very good or really any sport, necessarily,” Jeffers-Viera said. “But he came in, he started making changes instantly. We’re playing games over the summer — we didn’t ever do that before. So we’re just constantly getting work in over the summer, and he’s also bringing guys in. My freshman year, no one would come to summer workouts. This year, everyone wants to be at summer workouts. So he’s just changing the culture around here.” As for the opportunity to do something special this year, Jeffers-Viera thinks back to when he was starting as a sophomore and other teams with seniors bullied the Knights. Now the opposite effect has taken place, and North is the only remaining undefeated team in the CVC. Two of North’s wins are against Robbinsville and Hopewell Valley, who both moved up to the conference’s Colonial Division while North stayed in the Valley Division. So the Knights want to be that breakout team that no one saw coming. “None of them think we’re capable of beating them,” Jeffers-Viera said. “They think it’s gonna be a walkover when they see us, so I think we take that personally and we just want to show we’re a top team in this division and it’s not gonna be an easy game.” Tournament Notes North advanced to face either Delaware Valley or Palmyra in Saturday’s semifinals, with the winner of that game moving to Monday’s championship. Earlier on Friday, WW-P South fell to Somerville by the score of 48-30 despite 16 points from Cam Jones. South will play again in consolation games Saturday and Monday. Adriel Rodriguez added 11 points and Isaiah Cureton netted a 3-pointer for the Pirates (1-5), who are young and have depth issues with only three players on their bench throughout Saturday’s game because of three players being out. “It’s a work in progress,” South coach Chris Gero said. “The last two years we’ve graduated all of our size (that) we haven’t really been able to replace. We’ve been battling a little bit of injury and illness, which leads to only having eight guys dressed today which definitely makes it tough.” Gero praised Jones, a senior and third-year varsity player who has the upside to play in college. “This year it’s his team,” Gero said. “He’s continued to develop. He’s gotten bigger, stronger. He’s a kid that works out every day in the offseason, so I think it’s definitely on the table (playing in college). It’s something that he and I are talking about and kind of weighing out his options.” This is the second year of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Holiday Classic, which last year was played at South while the girls teams played at North. The plan is to alternate each year going forward. “Jeff (Reilly) and Kate (Dobinson) have a really good job of running this,” Gero said. “This year we were able to have seven of the eight teams back. We only had one change from last year on the boys’ side, so I think it’s worked out really well.”Earlier this year, Steve Cohen laid out his principles as the owner of the New York Mets, saying it was a “philanthropic” endeavor, in an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin . “I don’t care about the cost side,” Cohen said, adding: “If I can make millions of people happy, how cool is that? I actually do it as a civic responsibility.” That attitude helps explain how outfielder Juan Soto ended up agreeing to the richest-ever contract in baseball on Sunday, and among the most lucrative signed by any professional athlete in the world. The deal for Soto, who's 26 and from the Dominican Republic, comes to $765 million over 15 years and includes a $75 million signing bonus and has the potential to increase to more than $800 million, according to MLB.com . What’s especially notable about the contract is that none of the money is “deferred” — meaning it must be paid each year that Soto is on the Mets’ active roster. Besides the dollar amount, the lack of deferrals is what makes Soto’s contract even more eye-popping than the $700 million deal signed just last year by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani: $680 million of Ohtani’s deal will not be paid until after 2034. For Soto, it means taking all the money up front. “It actually makes little sense why (Soto) would get such a big contract without deferrals,” Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University, said in an interview with NBC News. Given the hefty combined personal income tax rates — approximately 15% for the wealthiest residents — levied by the city and state of New York, Soto’s ultimate payout will be somewhat diminished. Yet Soto retains the potential to earn even more money: According to MLB.com , he can opt out of his contract after his fifth year with the Mets if he believes he can command higher sums on the free market. However, the Mets can override that opt-out by increasing his annual salary by $4 million a year, from $51 million to $55 million for the final 10 years. And Soto’s contract does not include the amount the Mets and Cohen will have to pay to satisfy Major League Baseball’s luxury tax. Though ostensibly designed to create a more even playing field between large- and small-market teams, deep-pocketed owners like Cohen have not flinched at paying that penalty to acquire the most coveted players. The simple answer to unlocking Soto’s contract may simply be Cohen. Despite regularly carrying some of the most expensive contracts in baseball this century — including a $340 million deal signed with shortstop Francisco Lindor in 2022 — the Mets have been thwarted time and time again, including crushing losses in the playoffs and World Series. The team is nearing the 40th anniversary of its last championship. The outlook seemed to change five years ago, when Cohen, a longtime hedge fund manager, purchased the team for $2.4 billion. Cohen has been an unusually accessible owner, meeting with fans on multiple occasions and often weighing in on social media . More importantly: Cohen, worth as much as $21.3 billion according to Forbes, has been among the most profligate owners in baseball since he took the reins of the team. According to data from Spotrac, a website that monitors sports spending, the Mets have held the largest annual payroll since 2023. A separate index from TheScore.com that tracks payrolls versus teams’ approximate revenues shows Cohen may actually be operating the team at a loss. Despite the annual ratcheting of payrolls, the winner of the World Series has often been unpredictable. But the baseball gods have been notoriously cruel to the Mets, despite their outsize spending. After crashing out of the first round of the playoffs in 2022 with a roster full of veterans, Cohen blew up the team and traded for prospects while loading up on another set of expensive free agents. But that team still only tied for second in the National League East Division this year and barely made the playoffs. While they nevertheless made it to the National League Championship Series, they were ultimately bested by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who went on to win the World Series in October. Yet over time, payroll does seem to equate to winning — belying the infamous “Moneyball” approach to spending efficiently on under-used players. With Soto’s contract, it seems Cohen will not be denied again. According to reports, the New York Yankees, baseball’s long-running big spenders, offered Soto only $5 million less than the Mets. But despite making the World Series this year, the Bronx Bombers have faced roster turmoil in recent years , while continuing to employ a manager, Aaron Boone, now loathed by many fans. Ironically, Soto is coming over from the Yankees, where he was traded in December 2023. Soto is entering his peak years and continues to draw comparisons to the hitting legends Ted Williams and Barry Bonds. That combination of youth and potential helped clinch the salary record. Another key to Soto ending up with such a massive contract was simply timing. He took advantage of a year lacking in other mega free agents and was able to command a premium on the open market. It’s possible Soto’s contract will be surpassed in just one year. Analysts say Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, is expected to command massive numbers when he enters free agency after the 2025 season. Even if no one ends up reaching or surpassing Soto’s figure, MLB will continue to lead all professional sports in titanic deals for contracts, for one simple reason: Unlike the NFL and NBA, it doesn’t have a salary cap. According to Michael Ginnitti, Spotrac’s founder and managing editor, “Baseball’s luxury tax system ... allows billionaires to spend billions on their team if they choose.”
Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military didn't immediate respond to questions about the WHO chief's statement. Israel's plan to double the number of settlers in the Golan Heights is met with conflicting emotions EIN ZIVAN, Golan Heights (AP) — Earlier this month, Syrian leader Bashar Assad was ousted after nearly 25 years in power. Within hours, Israeli tanks rolled into the Golan Heights' demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Days later, the Israeli government approved a plan to double the population of settlers in the Golan Heights. Israel seized the mountainous region from Syria in 1967, and most of the world considers it occupied Syrian territory. In the towns and kibbutzim of Israeli-controlled Golan, the news has been met with a mixture of skepticism, excitement and shock. Previous attempts to encourage more settlement in the Golan have received a lukewarm response. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home.". He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Pope brings Holy Year and prayers for better future to Rome prison, a 'cathedral of pain and hope' ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is bringing his Holy Year to Rome’s main prison. Francis traveled to Rebibbia prison Thursday on a frigid morning. He knocked on the door to the chapel and walked across the threshold. It was reenacting the gesture he performed at St. Peter’s Basilica two nights earlier on Christmas Eve. The opening of the Basilica's Holy Door officially kicked off the Jubilee year. It's a church tradition dating to 1300 that nowadays occurs every 25 years and involves the faithful coming to Rome on pilgrimages. About 32 million people are expected in Rome in 2025. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday. What is known about a plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 of 67 people on board The crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan has killed 38 of 67 people on board. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons that aren’t fully clear yet. It crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea. Officials in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia haven't commented on a possible cause of the crash pending an official investigation. Some commentators pointed out holes in the plane's tail section pictured after the crash as a sign that it could have been fired upon by air defense systems.GRAND FORKS — The latest defense authorization bill expands mental health care access for North Dakota’s military service members and adds new provisions for countering threats posed by unmanned drones. Those are among the provisions touted by North Dakota’s two U.S. senators in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law Monday after it passed by divided votes in the House and Senate. ADVERTISEMENT Language in the latest NDAA includes an order to establish a counter-UAS task force combatting drone incursions onto U.S. military bases and several provisions for current service members’ mental health care, including measures singling out pilots of U.S. combat drones. Drone incursions have been reported in recent weeks over U.S. military bases in England and Germany, while residents of several eastern states have reported seeing numerous unidentified lighted drones flying overhead, though U.S. officials say most of the latter incidents have been manned aircraft. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the NDAA “helps formalize what (the Defense Department) is already doing” to combat unwanted drone use, citing the counter-UAS goals of Project ULTRA and ongoing efforts to integrate drones into U.S. airspace at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. Project ULTRA — which stands for UAS logistics, traffic, research and autonomy — seeks to boost national security and operational efficiency of unmanned aerial system operations. “The interesting thing about Grand Forks is we’ve built an ecosystem where, I’ve talked about us being the tip of the spear against China; we’re the tip of the spear in developing drone and counter-drone,” Hoeven said. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has championed a provision that expands the number of mental health providers certified under military health insurance provider TRICARE. Cramer said he pushed for the expanded access in response to a pair of suicides among Grand Forks Air Force Base personnel in the past several years. “The standards to join TRICARE are so stringent now, they don’t take into account that some states like North Dakota only have certain accreditations and certifications that are available to them,” Cramer said. “If you don’t get the right credential — it’s not that it’s a better credential, just the right one — your providers don’t meet the standard for TRICARE.” ADVERTISEMENT He’s also pushed for a provision creating a combat status identifier for pilots of remotely piloted aircraft involved in combat operations. Cramer cited as inspiration the 119th Wing of the North Dakota National Guard, which flies MQ-9 Reaper unmanned planes. “Our remote pilots are treated differently when it comes to things like PTSD potential or depression or mental health challenges as the result of, say, a kill shot,” he said. “I wanted to make sure the remote pilots are given the same type of consideration as somebody that’s in the cockpit of an airplane.” This year’s NDAA also authorizes $1.9 million in planning and design funding for maintenance on Grand Forks Air Force Base’s runway — one of Cramer’s pet projects — and reauthorization for the Space Development Agency’s mission, including its recently-established Operations Center North at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Hoeven said his office is working to appropriate another $450 million toward an advanced fire control system built off the SDA’s network of low-Earth orbit satellites. Other North Dakota-specific provisions in this year’s NDAA include authorization for funding to update the UH-72 Lakota helicopters used by the North Dakota National Guard and funding authorization to modernize Minot Air Force Base’s nuclear capabilities. Policy measures, like more provider options for mental health care or the counter-UAS task force, became law with the passage of the NDAA. ADVERTISEMENT However, NDAA provisions that require funding — like nuclear modernization or the runway study — will need to pass in a separate defense appropriations bill. “An authorization just says that it’s approved,” Hoeven explained. “In defense appropriations, we allocate the dollars to do it, and if we don’t provide those dollars for the NDAA, for those authorizations or programs, then obviously they don’t advance.” The federal government is currently operating at last year’s funding levels via a continuing resolution set to expire in March. Congress will have to attempt to pass a defense appropriations bill before then or pass another continuing resolution. The NDAA usually passes with significant bipartisan support. This year, however, the bill passed with significant dissent from both House and Senate Democrats after a last-minute amendment by House Speaker Mike Johnson added language barring TRICARE from covering some gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. Both Hoeven and Cramer expressed support for Johnson’s amendment, which blocks gender-affirming care “that could result in sterilization” — though medical professionals say hormone therapy (like puberty blockers) generally does not cause infertility. Cramer said providing gender-affirming care did not support military readiness and dismissed concerns about the mental health impact of denying that care to minors. “(The amendment) has a much lower priority than caring for people who are stressed out by the fact that they’re a warfighter,” he said. “We need them to be healthy, we need them to be ready for war, and puberty blockers, gender-affirming care, just simply don’t do either of those things.” ADVERTISEMENT Hoeven said gender-affirming care was hurting military readiness and recruiting and decried providing gender-affirming care as a “social experiment,” a phrase also used by Cramer. President-elect Donald Trump is widely expected to reinstate a ban on transgender service members in the U.S. Armed Forces, as he did in his first administration. North Dakota’s U.S. senators also dismissed concerns that the Johnson provision could affect bipartisanship or productivity in the next Congress. The Senate ultimately passed the NDAA 85-15, while less than half of the House’s Democrats supported the act. More Democrats attacked Johnson’s last-minute addition while saying they felt compelled to vote for the broader bill. “I’m hopeful Democrats will come around and join us with what we’ve always done with our military, which is support our professional, great men and women in uniform who do such an outstanding job, not a bunch of social policies that shouldn’t be in there,” Hoeven said. He also said he expects the embattled House speaker, who holds one of the smallest House majorities in history, to be reelected next year. ADVERTISEMENT Cramer called this year’s NDAA a loss for the political left but said he “wouldn’t read a whole lot” into the dissent, pointing out the bill had continued its decades-long streak of passing into law despite partisan gridlock. The 118th Congress, which ends Jan. 3, has been called one of the least productive Congresses in decades, and is by some counts the least productive in U.S. history.SAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds shareholders that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors that purchased or otherwise acquired ASML Holding N.V. ASML ordinary shares between January 24, 2024 and October 15, 2024. ASML is a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry, providing chipmakers with hardware, software, and services to mass produce integrated circuits (i.e., microchips). For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) Misled Investors About How Issues in the Semiconductor Industry Would Impact the Company According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the issues being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. As a result of these acts, ASML stock has declined significantly, harming investors. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against ASML Holding N.V. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against ASML Holding N.V. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact: Aaron Dumas, Jr. Robbins LLP 5060 Shoreham Pl., Ste. 300 San Diego, CA 92122 adumas@robbinsllp.com (800) 350-6003 www.robbinsllp.com https://www.facebook.com/RobbinsLLP/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/robbins-llp/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a5fd11c-859b-4575-b6f4-862a0506d704 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Rajasthan Govt Issues Advisory On Protection From Deepfakes
None
Social media and certain pundits may have “retired” Constitution Hill twice this autumn but Nicky Henderson’s outstanding seven-year-old proved he is still the one to beat by winning – and led his jockey to call out some who had got it so wrong. The pundit in the spotlight was former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Paddy Brennan, who declared on Sky Sports Racing that: “I can’t see him [Constitution Hill] coming back to a peak. No, just no. I think it’s impossible to beat something like Lossiemouth the way things stand today.” That prediction was made to look foolish as guided his charge to a comprehensive victory, before the jockey made his point in blunt fashion. “He felt fantastic,” he said. “He’s going to improve an awful lot. There is still a bit of ring rustiness after a year or so. I think all the credit has to go to the guv’nor because that is some training performance. It’s been a long time coming and definitely worth the wait.” He paused and then added: “And one more thing. Paddy Brennan, you can shove that where the sun don’t shine!” That just underlined what a win this was for a horse who had not raced for exactly a year after a series of unfortunate events including a cough, mild colic, and a poor racecourse gallop at Newbury in November. Now, though, make no mistake – Constitution Hill is back sprinkling star dust over the two-mile hurdle division. His big rival, the Irish mare Lossiemouth, was getting a 7lb mares’ weight advantage and had the benefit of a previous start this season but her three previous starts were all over two-and-a-half miles and she seemed to find the strong pace set by Burdett Road plenty quick enough over the first half mile. Though Paul Townend professed afterwards to having never having been happy with her she warmed into it but never got closer to the popular winner than two-and-a-half lengths at the finish. Constitution Hill, however, had a good blow going to the last in the race and a long one afterwards and it would be very surprising if he did not improve a lot for his first run for a year. “He is him,” said an emotional Henderson, winning the race for the 13th time. “The great thing is that he’s back and, I think, very nearly as good as he was. Nico said he had a good blow going to the last and he was entitled to – they went a Grade one gallop in that. There should be a lot of improvement to come from that. “Everyone at home has played their part in the jigsaw of getting him back; it’s been entertaining. We’ve done a lot of things differently and some of it’s been a bit of a struggle but the last three weeks it’s been very good. The Newbury gallop wasn’t what we were hoping for but, in a way it may have helped. It forced us to miss the Fighting Fifth and get him ready for this. “I was preparing for defeat and hoping with normal improvement we could turn it round at Cheltenham. I’d like to see how he has taken the race before deciding if we go again before the Champion. I’d like to but if he says ‘no’ we’ll go straight there. Horses like him don’t come around very often, he’s seriously talented.” It was a former human rather than equine pupil of Henderson’s, Ben Pauling, who took the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novice Chase with The Jukebox Man, a first Grade One winner for jockey Bern Jones and owner Harry Redknapp. Greater character that he is, Redknapp really has a horse to go to war with now after The Jukebox Man beat Hyland a fairly untroubled two and a half lengths. Having had to deal with the six-year-old’s cracked heels, Pauling will now take The Jukebox Man straight to Cheltenham in March.Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh (Reuters Photo) NEW DELHI: Sports fraternity on Thursday condoled the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders. Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions, AIIMS informed. In a post on X, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh said that his thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh, his friends and relatives. "Saddened by the news of sudden demise of former Prime Minister, a thorough gentleman, and a visionary leader, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. What truly set him apart was his calm and steady leadership in times of crisis, his ability to navigate complex political landscapes, and his unwavering belief in India’s potential," he wrote on X. "Nation will always remember Dr. Saheb for his contributions. My deepest condolences to his family and relatives," he added. Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag also expressed condolences over the demise of former PM Singh. "My heartfelt condolences on the passing away of our former Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh ji," Sehwag wrote on X. Ex-Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed his deepest condolences to Singh's family and said that he worked tirelessly for India’s progress. "Sad news of the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. A visionary leader and a true statesman who worked tirelessly for India’s progress. His wisdom and humility will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones," the former left-handed batter posted on X. Tributes continue to pour in from the world of sports and beyond, reflecting the profound impact of the loss. Manmohan Singh, who retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after an illustrious 33-year tenure, leaves behind a legacy of dedication and service. Born in Punjab in 1932, Singh served as India’s Prime Minister for two consecutive terms, from 2004 to 2014. He first assumed office following the Congress party's victory in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections against Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA. Singh’s second term, from 2009 to 2014, saw him steering the nation through significant challenges before being succeeded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The former PM’s journey, marked by his soft-spoken demeanour and economic acumen , has been etched into the nation's history, inspiring generations to come.
Pope Francis said the story of Jesus' birth as a poor carpenter's son should instil hope that all people can make an impact on the world, as the pontiff on Tuesday led the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas. Francis, celebrating the 12th Christmas of his pontificate, presided at a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and opened the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which the Vatican expects will bring some 32 million tourists to Rome next year. In a sermon focused on the virtue of hope, which is also the theme of the Holy Year, the pontiff said hope "is a summons not to tarry, to be kept back by our old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness". "Hope calls us ... to be upset with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them," he said. A Catholic Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, is considered a time of peace, forgiveness and pardon. They normally occur every 25 years. Pilgrims coming to Rome during the year can obtain special indulgences, or remission of their sins. This Jubilee will run through Jan. 6, 2026. At the beginning of Tuesday's ceremony, Francis oversaw the opening of a special bronze-panelled "Holy Door" at St. Peter's, which is only open during Jubilee years. The Vatican expects up to 100,000 pilgrims to walk through the door each day next year. At the papal Mass for an estimated 6,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica and 25,000 more watching on screens in the square outside, the pope also repeated an earlier call for developed nations to use the Jubilee to reduce the debt burden faced by low-income countries. "The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world," said the pontiff. "A time of jubilee for the poorer countries burdened beneath unfair debts; a time of jubilee for all those who are in bondage to forms of slavery old and new." A call for direct debt cancellation made by the late Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee year in 2000 sparked a campaign that resulted in $130 billion of debt cancellation between 2000 and 2015. Francis, who turned 88 this month, has been suffering from what the Vatican has described as a cold. He appeared on good form Tuesday evening, although his voice was a little raspy. On Wednesday, the pope will deliver his Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message and blessing. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The screen fills with images of migrants dodging highway traffic. "They keep coming," says a narrator. "The federal government won't stop them yet requires us to pay billions to take care of them. ... Enough is enough." This message might sound familiar, but it isn't new. It's a 1994 campaign ad in support of Republican politician Pete Wilson's run for reelection as California governor. At the time, California was experiencing its worst recession in decades. Although immigrants living in the state illegally did not cause California's economic crisis, they were a convenient scapegoat. By blaming immigrants for California's financial woes, Wilson turned his faltering campaign around and won reelection in November 1994. Thirty years later, the United States is in a similar political moment, with many Americans worried about the cost of living and immigration. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly – and misleadingly – blamed immigrants for crime, high housing costs and other problems. He is promising to quickly close the U.S. southern border and deport the nearly 12 million immigrants without legal authorization to remain in the country. As a scholar of migration in the Americas, my research shows that Trump's approach is unlikely to stop migrants from trying to enter the U.S. but very likely to enrich criminals. Migrants will keep fleeing desperate circumstances under even more treacherous conditions that leave them vulnerable to exploitation by criminal groups. Prevention through deterrence A few months after Wilson's campaign ad hit the airwaves, the U.S. Border Patrol issued its strategic plan for 1994 and beyond. In this plan, the Border Patrol proposed a strategy called "prevention through deterrence" that was designed to make illegal entry across the southwest land border so risky that potential migrants would decide to stay home. By concentrating border enforcement in the urban areas where most migrants were trying to cross, the plan aimed to force them "over more hostile terrain" in the desert and to increase the cost of hiring a smuggler. Today, illegal migration to the U.S. is far more deadly and expensive than it was 30 years ago, just as the authors of the 1994 Border Patrol plan anticipated. But the report's authors believed that potential migrants would forgo the dangers of migrating to the U.S. without authorization, as well as the high costs of getting there. They thought potential migrants would simply stay in their home countries. They were wrong. Fortified borders The strategy of discouraging migrants from coming to the U.S. by making it more difficult required a large federal investment in border enforcement and cooperation from other countries, especially Mexico. Over the past 30 years, the Border Patrol's budget has grown more than sevenfold, and the number of agents stationed along the southwest border has quadrupled. The U.S. government has also built physical infrastructure to stop migrants from entering the country, including massive walls that extend into the Pacific Ocean. In more remote areas, drones, surveillance towers and extreme temperatures do the work of border control, often with deadly consequences for migrants. The U.S. also provided more than US$176 million in funding between October 2014 and Sept. 30, 2023, to support Mexico's immigration control efforts. There is some evidence that stricter border enforcement deterred Mexicans from crossing illegally into the United States after the 1990s. The number of migrants apprehended by the Border Patrol along the southwest border plummeted from 1.6 million between October 1999 through the end of September 2000, to 327,577 between October 2010 and the end of September 2011. But the deterrent effect of increased enforcement did not last. Migrant apprehensions at the southwest border began to rise again in 2012 and spiked to 851,508 between October 2018 and Sept. 30, 2019. After falling briefly during the pandemic, total apprehensions averaged 1.9 million per year between October 2020 and Sept. 30, 2024. These numbers exceed the historic peaks in 1986 and 2000 – despite the much greater costs and dangers of migrating illegally today. Illusory deterrence In 2023, my research team and I interviewed over 130 migrants in Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico to understand why they were taking such enormous risks to get to the United States. What we found is that deterrence isn't working because of shifts in who is migrating and why they are leaving home. Until 2011, the vast majority of illegal border crossers were Mexicans, mostly young men seeking higher incomes to support their families. As the Mexican economy recovered and fewer young people entered the labor market, Mexican workers had less need to migrate. Those who made it to the United States stayed put instead of going back and forth. Today, more than 60% of the migrants who cross the U.S. border without legal authorization are from places other than Mexico, including Central America, Venezuela, Ecuador and Haiti. Forty percent of them are parents traveling with children. Many of these migrants are fleeing chronic violence, rampant corruption, natural disasters or economic collapse. For these migrants, it is worth the risk of being kidnapped, dying in the desert or being deported to escape a desperate situation. "If they deport me, sister, I will come back," a Honduran mother of three told us in Tijuana in June 2023. "If you go back, you die. So you have to go forward, forward, forward all the time." Increased criminality While prevention through deterrence has not stopped migrants, it has enriched smugglers, corrupt government officials and other criminals who take advantage of vulnerable migrants on their way to the U.S. border. "Before I would charge you $6,000," explained a Salvadoran smuggler to an Associated Press reporter in December 2019. "Now I am charging you double. And depending on the obstacles on the way, the price can go up." This doesn't include the fee to cross the heavily fortified U.S.-Mexico border, which increased from a few hundred dollars in the 1990s to between $2,000 and $15,000 today. According to one estimate, smuggling revenues in the Americas grew from $500 million in 2018 to $13 billion in 2022. "Criminals have shifted from their primary business, which was drug trafficking," the director of an anti-kidnapping unit at an attorney general's office in Chihuahua, Mexico, told a journalist in June 2024. "Now 60 to 70% of their focus is migrant smuggling." It's not just smuggling that is lucrative. As Mexico's own immigration policy has become more restrictive, migrants have fallen into the clutches of an extensive extortion racket that involves kidnapping migrants once they set foot in Mexico. Prevention through deterrence is a failed policy with a tragic human cost. It doesn't stop migrants who are fleeing dire conditions, and it fuels violence and criminality. Drug cartels, armed groups and corrupt officials get rich while insecurity spreads, fueling more migration. It is a vicious cycle that will likely only get worse with stricter enforcement and mass deportations. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
PENN STATE 85, FORDHAM 66
‘Cong to devote coming year for organisational revamp’KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: The issue of preserving Kuwaiti national identity continues to be a top priority, with authorities taking rigorous measures to address cases of citizenship forgery. Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, who also chairs the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, confirmed during an appearance on the “60 Minutes” program on Al-Akhbar Channel that citizenship withdrawal and revocation fi les are being reviewed with meticulous precision. The committee holds weekly meetings (every Thursday) to evaluate these cases, following a detailed study conducted by the Nationality Department and a preliminary review by the Council of Ministers. The following are the key developments: Rigorous Investigations — Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri, Director of the Nationality Investigations Department, highlighted the complexity of uncovering forgery cases, especially those involving documents that are decades old. External and internal correspondences are often required to verify claims, particularly when the forgery involves foreign entities. Impact of Loopholes — Loopholes in the Nationality Law, such as those allowing the naturalization of Kuwaiti wives under Article 8, have been exploited. Al-Amiri revealed statistics showing that women from 66 different nationalities were naturalized under this article. Cases of forgery related to “unknown parentage” and fraudulent birth registrations outside Kuwait were also identified. Technological Advancements — The adoption of biometric fingerprinting has significantly enhanced the ability to detect forgeries and duplication. For instance, discrepancies in fingerprints uncovered cases of dual identities and forged citizenship. Widespread Forgery Cases — A single individual was found to have facilitated citizenship for 132 people, with 56 of them fraudulently employed, costing the state over KD 400,000 annually. One woman obtained citizenship under two separate articles using dual identities, allowing her to access additional social welfare benefits. Statistics and Future Measures — Colonel Turki Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Nationality Department, disclosed that 4,447 individuals have had their citizenship withdrawn or revoked as of now, with investigations ongoing and numbers expected to rise. Amendments to the Nationality Law have addressed previous loopholes, including suspending the automatic naturalization of Kuwaiti spouses. Authorities stressed that reviewing nationality files is a meticulous, multistage process requiring extensive research and verification. Public cooperation and the strengthening of department capabilities have been crucial in intensifying these efforts. The government remains committed to addressing all cases of forgery to safeguard Kuwait’s national identity and legal integrity. Meanwhile, Colonel Turki Mishaal Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Nationality Department at the Ministry of Interior, has stated that foreign wives of Kuwaiti citizens are no longer automatically naturalized and any new loopholes identified in the future will be addressed, reports Al-Seyassah daily. He explained the criteria for loss or withdrawal of nationality applies to those who voluntarily acquire foreign citizenship; naturalized individuals who obtained it fraudulently, engaged in acts against public order or national interests, or were convicted of crimes compromising honor or integrity. This is in addition to dependents of these individuals may also face withdrawal. He further detailed exclusions under Article 5, which includes naturalization based on noble deeds, at the discretion of the HH the Amir; individuals born to Kuwaiti mothers; individuals registered in the 1965 census awaiting decrees for naturalization. Colonel Al-Sabah also pointed to instances of fraud, such as divorced women remarrying their former spouses abroad to secure citizenship for their children and cases involving forged census data or illegal residency. He stressed that negligence in registering a child’s birth or obtaining their citizenship could lead to criminal investigations, child neglect charges and denial of the child’s citizenship rights. The Colonel underscored the importance of vigilance and compliance with nationality laws to uphold the integrity of citizenship records in Kuwait. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
‘Fragile’ City collapse, Arsenal’s 5-star display, OGs take Baller League globalThe Americas Trailer Previews Tom Hanks-Narrated Nature Docuseries By NBC has released the first , previewing the upcoming 10-part nature docuseries narrated by acting legend . What happens in The Americas trailer? The new trailer previews the upcoming docuseries, which comes from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the producers of Planet Earth and Blue Planet. The series will showcase the various wonders, secrets, and things found across the supercontinent. The Americas is set to premiere on NBC with a special two-hour episode on February 23, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Following the premiere, the series will begin to air weekly on March 2, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Episodes will also be available to stream on Peacock after they air. Check out the new The Americas trailer below (watch other trailers and clips): Each hourlong episode of the series will feature a different location across the Americas: “The Atlantic Coast,” “Mexico,” “The Wild West,” “The Amazon,” “The Frozen North,” “The Gulf Coast,” “The Andes,” “The Caribbean,” “The West Coast” and “Patagonia.” “The Americas showcases the wonders, secrets and fragilities of the world’s greatest supercontinent,” reads the series’ official synopsis. “For the first time, the Americas stars in its own incomparable series, using cutting-edge technology to uncover never-before-seen behavior, and highlight the extraordinary, untold wildlife stories that will deeply connect with millions around the world. Five years in the making and filmed over 180 expeditions, this groundbreaking series reveals the spectacular landscapes of Earth’s most varied landmass – the only one to stretch between both poles. “The Americas” unprecedented scale and ambition delivers remarkable world firsts; new species, new intimate courtship, dramatic deep-sea hunting and some of nature’s strangest stories – even a frog that seems to defy death every day.” Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash. Share article
Big Ten shouts out Penn State legend who achieved feat last accomplished by Walter Payton in the NFL | Sporting NewsCHICOPEE — Sam Shumsky, city councilor for Ward 6, has posted a statement today on social media that he has received physical and online threats from the public. “I have received numerous phone calls, with two that included threats of acts that go as far as to wish severe injury and even death against me,” he said.Texans look to get on track before playoffs after lopsided loss to RavensA controversial AI monitoring software designed to track employee productivity and recommend automation replacements has sparked significant backlash on social media. According to an international media outlet, this tool, which tracks detailed metrics of employee performance, has been widely criticised for its invasive and dystopian implications. The uproar began when a post on Reddit described a sales pitch for the AI monitoring software, highlighting its extensive monitoring capabilities. Beyond traditional productivity tools, the AI evaluates employees based on various metrics, such as typing speed, mouse movements, and program usage. It categorises workers, creates detailed productivity graphs, and flags underperformers for management review. The software’s features include keylogging, heat maps of user activity, and real-time monitoring. It also captures periodic desktop screenshots and records interactions with programs, generating comprehensive insights into employee behaviour. If an individual’s performance falls below a certain threshold, an alert is sent to their superiors, requiring an explanation through an internal system. What has particularly alarmed users is the dual functionality of the AI monitoring software. In addition to monitoring employees, it analyses workflows to identify areas for automation. The company behind the software also markets AI automation solutions, creating concerns about job security for those flagged as less productive. The viral Reddit post has attracted widespread criticism, with many social media users describing the AI monitoring software as a harbinger of a toxic work culture. Critics argue that such intense scrutiny could stifle creativity and promote inefficiency by encouraging employees to focus on meeting arbitrary metrics rather than performing meaningful work. The controversy underscores the growing debate around workplace surveillance and the ethical implications of AI monitoring software in employment practices. Many have urged workers to reconsider their career paths if their employers adopt such invasive technologies. Read More: Employees fired for pretending to work through fake keyboard activity Back in June 2024, several employees were fired from their jobs after they were found fooling their company through fake keyboard activity. The incident occurred at US bank Wells Fargo, which terminated the employment of several workers who were found faking keyboard activity to pretend that they were working when they were not, a US media outlet reported. While it was not clear whether the workers sacked were working from home or on office premises, the US bank said staff had been fired after “review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating the impression of active work”. A spokeswoman for the firm said: “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behaviour.”
Canadians respond to Trump's offer of huge tax cuts to become 51st state: 'Sounds good to us!'OTTAWA — Defenceman Cole Hutson had five assists as United States opened its defence of its gold medal with a resounding 10-4 win over Germany on Thursday as the 2025 world junior hockey championship got underway. James Hagens had two goals and two assists while Gabe Perreault and Brodie Ziemer also scored twice for the Americans, who are considered among the favourites in Ottawa. Trevor Connelly, Brandon Svoboda, Carey Terrance and Cole Eiserman also scored for the Americans. Julius Sumpf, David Lewandowski, Lenny Boos and Timo Ruckdaschel scored for Germany. Trey Augustine made 18 saves for the U.S., while a busy Nico Pertuch stopped 46 shots. Germany next plays Finland on Friday, while the U.S. has a day off before facing Latvia on Saturday. Earlier, defenceman Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a natural hat trick as Sweden kicked off the tournament with a 5-2 rout of Slovakia. Sandin Pellikka, a Detroit Red Wings prospect playing in hist third world juniors, added an assist for Sweden, which is looking for its first title since 2012. Rasmus Bergqvist and Linus Eriksson had the other goals for Sweden. Dalibor Dvorsky had a goal just under 12 minutes into the game to open the scoring for Slovakia, which was then held without a goal until Daniel Jencko scored on a power play with 85 seconds left in regulation. Sweden plays Kazakhstan and Slovakia meets Switzerland on Friday. In other games Thursday, Czechia played Switzerland and host Canada took on Finland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. The Canadian Press
But it is not the largest prize a person has won in this country. Here are the 10 biggest UK lottery winners – all from EuroMillions draws – and what some of them did with their fortunes. – Anonymous, £195,707,000 A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time. – Joe and Jess Thwaite, £184,262,899.10 Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, scooped a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on May 10 2022. At the time, Joe was a communications sales engineer, and Jess ran a hairdressing salon with her sister. – Unclaimed ticket holder, £177 million Tuesday’s winner is wealthier than former One Direction member Harry Styles and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who are both worth £175 million, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. Players have been urged to check their tickets to see if they can claim the prize. – Anonymous, £170,221,000 The fourth biggest winner of the National Lottery to date scooped £170 million in October 2019, after matching all the numbers in a Must Be Won draw. – Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000 Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs, North Ayrshire, bagged their historic winnings in July 2011, making them the biggest UK winners at the time. Colin used £2.5 million of his fortune to invest in his beloved Partick Thistle Football Club, which led to one of the stands at the stadium being named after him. He later acquired a 55% shareholding in the club, which was to be passed into the hands of the local community upon his death. He died in December 2019, aged 71. The couple also set up the Weir Charitable Trust in 2013 and donated £1 million to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. They divorced in the same year as Colin’s death. – Adrian and Gillian Bayford, £148,656,000 Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million. The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021, some years after the pair divorced, as reported by The Mirror. – Anonymous, £123,458,008 The seventh biggest National Lottery winner won a Superdraw rollover jackpot in June 2019, and decided not to go public with their success. – Anonymous, £122,550,350 After nine rollovers, one lucky anonymous ticket-holder bagged more than £122 million in April 2021. – Anonymous, £121,328,187 Another of the UK’s top 10 lottery winners found their fortune through a Superdraw jackpot rollover, this time in April 2018. – Frances and Patrick Connolly, £114,969,775 Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband won almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019. She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family. She considers helping others to be an addiction, saying: “It gives you a buzz and it’s addictive. I’m addicted to it now.”
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.