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Voters in three states this year sent important signals that the answer to parents’ frustration about public education is not universal school vouchers, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Mary Ellen Klas writes. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in an ambush in New York, police say A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in an ambush in New York, police say The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News Amazon same-day delivery center opens in Hampton — the 1st of its kind in Hampton Roads Amazon same-day delivery center opens in Hampton — the 1st of its kind in Hampton Roads Here are the top 50 high school football recruits in Hampton Roads’ Class of 2025 Here are the top 50 high school football recruits in Hampton Roads’ Class of 2025 Williamsburg Christmas parade to feature Commanders marching band Williamsburg Christmas parade to feature Commanders marching band No arrests made in Newport News triple shooting as police continue investigation No arrests made in Newport News triple shooting as police continue investigation Newport News retiree warns of losing access to doctors under city’s insurance provider Newport News retiree warns of losing access to doctors under city’s insurance provider Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck says great things lie ahead in his final State of the City address Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck says great things lie ahead in his final State of the City address Langley Speedway to honor late employee with benefit at track on Saturday Langley Speedway to honor late employee with benefit at track on Saturday Trending Nationally Tijuana once again sets up additional checkpoint at border crossing Fox News contributor Dr. Kelly Powers dead at 45 Disneyland offers discount tickets for Southern California residents in 2025 UK rock band robbed at gunpoint outside Bay Area coffeehouse Florida axes Boy Scouts and other low-selling specialty license platesLionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns. Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber returning to Cleveland Guardians on 1-year deal, AP source says CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that right-hander Shane Bieber is returning to the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts and undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions, but will be back after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner made just starts in 2024 before having the surgery on his troublesome elbow that bothered him the previous campaign. The 29-year-old Bieber has spent all seven big-league seasons with Cleveland. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again. Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler used a big run of birdies to take a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Scheffler had seven birdies on the front nine for a 29. The world No. 1 added one birdie on the back nine to lead by two over Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. Scheffler found no need to apologize for only one birdie on the back nine. He says it simply was a matter of the ball being a little closer to the hole and a few more putts going in. Scheffler already has eight victories this year, including Olympic gold. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football’s most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia’s pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm. The Big Ten and SEC are set to gobble up CFP bids. That could squeeze the ACC and other leagues The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences are set to gobble up the majority of the bids to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. That could squeeze the Atlantic Coast Conference and other leagues trying to maintain their footing. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told The Associated Press he wants clarity on the process that put two-loss Miami behind three-loss Alabama in the latest rankings. Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she wouldn't support future changes for guaranteed numbers of bids to power conferences. The Mountain West is set to have its champion in the playoff as a Group of Five winner. NFL's next coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates: Analysis The next NFL coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of recognizable names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen, Bills OC Joe Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore are among a lengthy list of young offensive-minded coaches who will garner plenty of interest.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- CUPRA, the unconventional challenger brand that inspires the world from Barcelona, has begun preliminary talks with Penske Automotive Group to explore a new partnership ahead of entering the U.S. market by the end of the decade. Since its launch in 2018, CUPRA, the first new automotive brand created within the Volkswagen Group, has sold over 750,000 cars. The brand, which has already proven to be a success in Europe, will now take its unstoppable impulse to the United States by the end of the decade. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120532152/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) A brand for the new generation Positioned between the mass and premium segments, CUPRA is a brand for the new generation that wants to challenge the status quo. With its range of ICE, PHEV and BEV cars that combine bold design and great performance, CUPRA has established itself as one of Europe’s fastest growing car brands. The brand has also found great success outside Europe, in markets including Mexico and Turkey. In 2022, CUPRA took its first major step in globalization, when it launched in Australia. Now, it is ready to undertake its most ambitious expansion to date by entering the U.S. market. With this goal in mind, CUPRA is in early stage talks with Penske Automotive Group. “CUPRA’s ambition is to be a truly global brand and expanding into the United States represents one of the greatest milestones on our journey,” said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA. “We have great respect for the U.S. market, recognizing that a strong distribution and retail strategy is essential for success. By entering into preliminary discussions with Penske Automotive Group, we are exploring opportunities with the best possible partner, one with the right distribution network to introduce CUPRA to a new generation of American car lovers. Penske Automotive Group’s leadership in the industry and experience with the Volkswagen Group make this a very promising potential partnership” continued Wayne Griffiths. CUPRA’s journey to the U.S. market CUPRA will enter the U.S. market by the end of the decade in key states that are aligned with the brand. Its range of products are expected to include ICE, PHEV and BEV. CUPRA will leverage synergies within the Brand Group Core by producing one of the models in Volkswagen factories in the North America region. To lead CUPRA into the U.S., Bernhard Bauer, the former Managing Director of CUPRA Germany, has been appointed as the new Managing Director of CUPRA USA. The final location for its headquarters and details of the specific model lineup will be announced at a later date. A proven success story Since its launch in 2018, CUPRA has disrupted the European automotive industry with its fully-fledged lineup of vehicles. The range includes the CUPRA Ateca, a sporty SUV; the CUPRA Leon, recently redesigned with 100% CUPRA DNA; and the CUPRA Formentor, the brand’s bestselling model and modern icon. Both the CUPRA Formentor and the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first 100% electric vehicle, were finalists for the European Car of the Year Award. This year, CUPRA embarked on its biggest product offensive to date with the launch of the CUPRA Tavascan, the brand’s first all-electric SUV coupe and the CUPRA Terramar, a sporty and electrified SUV, that was recently included on the 2025 European Car of the Year list of finalists. Next to come will be the CUPRA Raval, the brand’s radical interpretation of an urban EV. CUPRA is a design led and performance driven brand that has achieved significant success internationally, earning over 200 awards, including top Red Dot Award: Best of the Best for the DarkRebel Showcar, the most radical interpretation of what CUPRA can be. It has been named the 2nd trendiest brand by 'Auto Motor und Sport' in Germany. It has achieved a brand value of 2.1 billion USD and has more than 900 points of sale worldwide, including 9 flagship CUPRA City Garages in major global destinations: Mexico City, Munich, Milan, Lisbon, Rotterdam, Sydney, Berlin, Paris and Madrid. CUPRA has also made a name for itself beyond the automotive, by branching into the worlds of sports, music, cinema and fashion forming partnerships with organizations including Spanish soccer club F.C. Barcelona and the Primavera Sound music festival. CUPRA is the unconventional challenger brand that brings together emotion, electrification, and performance to inspire the world from Barcelona. Launched in 2018, CUPRA has become one of Europe’s fastest growing car brands and has a global network of specialised points of sale. CUPRA proves that electrification and sportiness are a perfect match, and in 2023 the brand hit new heights with more than 230,000 vehicles delivered. Each successive launch of a model has marked a new milestone in defining the brand’s character, with a challenging and original design: the CUPRA Ateca, a unique model in its segment; the CUPRA Leon, redesigned and enhanced as a standalone CUPRA model; the CUPRA Formentor, the first model to be developed exclusively by the brand and the company’s best-selling vehicle to date; the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first 100% electric vehicle; the CUPRA Tavascan, an all-electric SUV coupe; and the CUPRA Terramar, the brand’s sporty SUV. CUPRA is FC Barcelona's official automotive and mobility partner, the Premier Padel Tour's premium sponsor and the official sponsor of the eSports Club Finetwork KOI. CUPRA is also proud to participate in the Formula E racing competition. The CUPRA Tribe is made up of a team of ambassadors who want to be the driving force of change. Its members include Oscar nominated film director J.A. Bayona, Formula E driver Lucas Di Grassi, Street Artist TvBoy, Olympic gold medallists Adam Peaty and Saul Craviotto, the German goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen, and two-time Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Award-winning footballer Alexia Putellas. www.cupraofficial.com View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120532152/en/ CONTACT: Cécilia Taieb Global Director of Communications T: +34 690 09 59 30 cecilia.taieb@seat.es Helena Mariscal de Gante Global Head of Corporate Communications T: +34 660 24 24 77 helena.mariscal@seat.es http://seat-mediacenter.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA EUROPE SPAIN UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE: CUPRA Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 05:38 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 05:38 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120532152/en
Adele says it is time to ‘move on’ after completing her Las Vegas residencyPolice hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.
Blowout loss to Packers leaves the 49ers on the playoff brink
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Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legTrump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the PentagonAP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST
McMichael Middle School food drive delivers 60 boxes of food to familiesMIKEL ARTETA is facing calls to SELL Kieran Tierney - from Arsenal's own fans. The Scotland international defender - integral to Steve Clarke 's national team set-up - looked set to return to the Gunners' team for the first time since last August after a spate of injuries . 6 The defender looked forlorn on the bench at the Emirates Credit: Getty 6 He has been training with team-mates since returning from injury - but last played in the Community Shield Credit: Getty 6 His summer dream with Scotland also ended in agony Credit: Kenny Ramsay But he watched the 3-0 win over Monaco from the bench. Arteta had given a clue the injury-ravaged 27-year-old could have a chance of featuring with several other first-team players sidelined. But he flirted with the wrath of his own fans by leaving the defender out again - playing Thomas Partey in a rare defensive berth and handing kid Myles Lewis-Skelly only his second ever top-team appearance. And that's led for frustrated fans to call for a sharp exit. Read More football stories DIFFERENT LEAGUE Rangers boss Clement told 'don't make excuses' after surprising admission WELCOME BACK 'I know the reception I'll get at Ibrox - I love it' says Ange Postecoglou Not for the manager - but for the defender's own good. One said: "Martinelli, Merino, why in the heavens sake did he have Tierney on the bench only to let Partey play his unnatural position!! I don't get it!" Another added: "Personally thought a little disrespectful to not give Tierney some minutes tonight but there we are." A third said: "Honestly feel sorry for Kieran Tierney . He doesn't deserve to be frozen out like this, especially with Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and Calafiori injured." Most read in Football WELCOME BACK 'I know the reception I'll get at Ibrox - I love it' says Ange Postecoglou TOTT-AL RECALL I had results v Real Madrid & PSG, Gers can beat Spurs to make more memories GET OUT I'm an ex-Gers star who was sacked after one game - I was surprised I got that long WORLD ORDER World Cup 2030 & 2034 confirmed with latter part of £2.5TRILLION Saudi project Arteta had hinted the former Celtic star may get his chance in his pre-match press conference. He said: “He is ready, he’s training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure. Kieran Tierney visits animal rescue centre and fans can't get enough of former Celtic and Arsenal star's 'cute' puppy cuddles “The way the team is looking at the moment [with injuries], he is going to do that for that reason and because he’s earned it. "The way he’s behaved, the way he’s been with us because he’s willing to do it and when that happens, you have to give those opportunities to players.” But it was simply a watching brief, even when Jullien Timber replaced Lewis-Skelly for the final half hour. Another fan tweeted: "Poor old Tierney eh. MLS definitely took his chance well. Exciting player." 6 Arsenal won comfortably to book a place in the knock-outs Credit: Getty 6 Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed on his big chance Credit: Getty 6 But fans brutally reckon Arsenal's mascot has more chance of game-time than Kieran Tierney Credit: Guardian News & Media But others raged: "I do not like how Kieran Tierney is being treated at Arsenal . If he cannot get game time then release him. Set him free." Another bluntly posted: "Happy for him [Lewis-Skelly], but Arteta would rather play Gunnersaurus than give Tierney minutes." Arsenal won the clash 3-0 thanks to a double from Bukayo Saka and a late goal from Kai Havertz . The win guarantees their place in the Champions League knock-outs and leaves them third overall, behind leaders Liverpool and second-placed Barcelona . Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW JOKE Snow maps reveal the Scotland areas forecast to have a white Christmas OFF THE AIR 'Gutted to hear this', fans cry as BBC Scotland series axed after 19 years Tierney moved to Arsenal from Celtic in 2019 for a then club record £25m fee. He spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad before playing for Scotland at this summer 's Euros . Keep up to date with ALL t h e latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Pheu Thai Party has proposed a bill to amend the Defence Ministry Administration Act, which would reduce the military's power to conduct coups d'etat. The law will empower a cabinet-appointed committee to consider and appoint generals instead of allowing armed force commanders to appoint officials close to them as generals. "People who are not part of the group lose the opportunity to advance in their military career, and the appointment of generals lacks transparency. Therefore, the cabinet should oversee the appointment of generals," said the source. In addition, the prime minister would be the Defence Council chairman instead of the defence minister, he said, adding that the bill also added criteria that must be met by all those seeking to become generals under Section 25, including not being known for exerting undue influence or having links to illicit drugs, human trafficking or destruction of natural resources and the environment. Other qualifications include not being under disciplinary investigation or criminal prosecution, except for offences committed through negligence, defamation or minor offences, and must not be a contractual party with any unit under the Ministry of Defence or conduct business or activities related to the ministry. In addition, the bill also amends Section 35 by adding a prohibition on the use of military force or military personnel in cases of seizing or controlling the administrative power of the government, including obstructing the performance of duties of various government agencies, prohibiting the use of it for business or activities that are of personal benefit to the commander, and committing other unlawful acts. It was also stipulated that military officers ordered to lead such acts had the right not to comply and risked being considered a party to the violation of military criminal law. It also increases the penalty for military officers who violate or are found to be preparing to violate Section 35 by temporarily suspending them as ordered by the Prime Minister to allow for an investigation. "The amendment to Section 35 is important in preventing the military from abusing its power and being hostile to a democratic regime with the King as head of state," he said. The bill proposed by Pheu Thai MP, Prayut Siripanich, is one of three to amend the Defence Ministry Administration Act, and it is now open to public opinions until Jan 1 on parliament's website. The other two are from the People's Party and former defence minister Sutin Klungsaeng.
(The Center Square) – Prosecutors introduced secretly recorded audio and video along with a troubled star witness at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis returned to the Everett McKinley U.S. Courthouse Monday. Solis is facing one federal count of bribery under a deferred prosecution agreement. The ex-alderman began cooperating with federal investigators in 2016. Separately Monday, former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Madigan codefendant Michael McClain enter the federal court building in Chicago Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. U.S. government attorney Diane MacArthur first introduced a recording of Madigan and Solis nearly two years before the alderman started cooperating with the government. The recording involved a conversation with Chinese developer, See Wong, who wanted to build a hotel on a parcel of land in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The land was owned by the state of Illinois at the time, but Solis said a zoning change would be required from the city in order for a hotel to be built. At Madigan’s request, Solis said he facilitated the meeting on Aug. 8, 2014, at Madigan’s law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner, about the land along Wentworth Avenue between Archer Avenue and Cermak Road. Madigan’s law partner, Bud Getzendanner, discussed how successful the firm had been in working with hotels to make sure they were not taxed more than necessary. ”A large component of your expense for hotels is real estate taxes,” Getzendanner said during the recorded meeting. Getzendanner said the firm charged 12.5% of the tax savings obtained. Madigan told Wong and an interpreter about the quality of service his firm provided. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. The developer then asked for a picture with Madigan and Solis. Solis told the group that Wong would benefit from working with Madigan. “If he works with the Speaker, he will get anything he needs for that hotel,” Solis said on the recording. Solis testified that he meant the city would provide the zoning change the developer needed from the city if the developer hired Madigan’s law firm. Solis said the zoning change was approved, but the proposed hotel was never built. MacArthur asked Solis about the bribery charge he is still facing, which Solis said involved the redevelopment of a property in Chicago from a restaurant to a residential building in 2015. Solis said two problems prevented the project from moving forward: labor unions’ perceived lack of representation in the development and residents' concerns in the ward. The former alderman admitted that he solicited a campaign contribution from the developer or from one or more of the developer’s vendors while the project’s zoning change was still under consideration. Solis said he believed the developer was on board and that he would be getting donations from the developers’ vendors. The zoning change was approved by the city council, Solis said. He testified he solicited and accepted campaign contributions from other developers who had matters pending before the city council’s zoning committee. Solis then testified about about a variety of things like massages that turned sexual, trips to Las Vegas, tickets to professional sporting events, no-paperwork six-figure loans he'd paid back. He even admitted to an extramarital affair he had with an interpreter. Solis said he was separated from his wife for about five years and their house went into foreclosure. He also confessed that he lied to a collection agency by saying he was out of work. MacArthur asked Solis about his sister, Patti Solis Doyle, who worked on campaigns for former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York. Solis Doyle also managed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008. Solis said his sister was involved in a hotel project in which the developer offered her $100,000. Solis said his sister offered to split the sum with her brother. As chairman of the city’s zoning committee, Solis said he told his sister he could not accept money regarding a hotel development. Solis said his sister told him there would be another way she could compensate him. The former alderman said he did receive funds from his sister for referring her to his friend Brian Hynes’ state vendor assistance program. Monday afternoon, Solis testified that FBI agents visited his home on June 1, 2016, and played audio and video recordings. After considering an attorney, Solis said he decided to cooperate with the FBI a few days later and agreed to let investigators tap his phone. Solis also said he told an attorney friend that he was cooperating with the FBI in regard to an investigation of an organization he was involved in. Solis said he made recordings for several investigations he was involved in as part of his deferred prosecution agreement. He began communicating with Madigan after receiving a voicemail message on June 12, 2017. Solis said he discussed the Chinatown land deal, his interest in getting a state board appointment, and referring clients to Madigan’s law firm while cooperating with the government from June 2016 to December 2017. Solis admitted that he was not really interested in a state board appointment, but he raised the issue with Madigan at the direction of law enforcement. Solis said he began communicating with Madigan codefendant Michael McClain about the Chinatown parcel in the fall of 2017. He said he had to continue to perform his duties as an alderman while cooperating with the FBI because of “the farce” that he was involved in. Solis discussed a 2017 redevelopment project that required a zoning change involving a Union West development in Chicago’s West Loop. MacArthur played a recording, dated June 12, 2017, of Madigan asking Solis about the development. During the call, Solis told the speaker he would try to arrange an introduction for Madigan with the developers. In a subsequent call, Solis promised to arrange a meeting and said, “I think these guys get it, the quid pro quo and how it works.” When MacArthur asked Solis why he said that, Solis said he didn’t know and said it was “dumb.” MacArthur asked Solis if he used the words “quid pro quo” at the direction of law enforcement. “No,” Solis said. Union West developer Andrew Cretal agreed to meet with Madigan and told Solis, “confidentially,” that his company was working with Goldman Sachs as an equity partner and that he would “circle back” with Solis. MacArthur played a recording of Madigan privately telling Solis not to use the words, “quid quo pro.” The conversation immediately preceded the meeting Cretal and the Union West group had at Madigan's and Getzendanner’s law office. During the meeting, Madigan repeated to Cretal’s group what he had said to See Wong. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. Solis said he met with Madigan again privately after the meeting with the intention of discussing the Chinatown parcel. Solis said he had been having frequent meetings about the land with potential developers. During the recording, Solis said that nothing could really happen until the state transferred the land. Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, served as an expert witness at the corruption trial of longtime Chicago Democrat Ed Burke, who served on the city council from 1969 to 2023. A jury convicted Burke in December 2023 on 18 counts of racketeering, bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity. Mixon said that Solis also testified as a cooperating witness during Burke’s trial. “It seemed as if, in the sentencing for the Burke trial, the judge did take a bit of exception to the fact that Solis, who also had potential criminal charges, was essentially getting away without any sort of repercussions,” Mixon told The Center Square. Mixon described Solis as a damaged witness. “He’s absolutely damaged, but as much as he’s damaged, you have the words on the wiretap. Having the defendants’ words played in the courtroom, they are really the witness against themselves when you have those wiretaps,” Mixon explained. Before the jury was seated Monday morning, prosecutors said they would provide the court with revised jury instructions by Dec. 3. Judge John Robert Blakey said he could deny admittance of new materials after that date if he deemed them to be untimely. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning in Chicago.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.
AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTBlowout loss to Packers leaves the 49ers on the playoff brink
Today’s news headlines and Thought for the Day for school assembly: 26 November 2024