Israeli expert seeks new crime against humanity for waging violence against familiesNewly captured satellite imagery shows what the Russian military in Syria is doing following the collapse of the Assad regime. The images taken this week by Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider show Russian aircraft are still present at the Khmeimim airbase, but Moscow's warships are no longer stationed at its . Russia supported Syria's longtime dictator, Bashar Assad, in his brutal civil war. But Moscow's military footprint in the country fell into uncertainty over the weekend after and ousted Assad following a rapid offensive that lasted just days. Assad has since fled to Moscow. The Kremlin to project its power, and losing them would be a major setback, not something that Russia needs amid its war in Ukraine. Tartus is Russia's main naval base abroad, and it provides the country with crucial access to a warm-water port. Meanwhile, Moscow uses Khmeimim to shuttle military forces in and out of Africa. A satellite image captured on Monday shows Russian aircraft, helicopters, and military equipment at the Khmeimim airbase near the coastal city of Latakia. At the adjacent civilian Bassel Al-Assad International Airport, lots of activity was spotted. It is unclear at this time if assets have already left and whether Russia will hold its position at this base. Imagery captured on Tuesday shows that Russia's warships missing from its naval facility in Tartus, a port city located on the Mediterranean Sea. At least two frigates were spotted several miles off the coast. Five Russian surface vessels — three frigates and two replenishment oilers — and a submarine were spotted at the Tartus base earlier in the week, but they had left the facility by Monday and were still gone the next day. It's unclear if and when the warships will return to port; their presence out in the Mediterranean could be for safety reasons amid all the uncertainty on land rather than a full evacuation from Tartus. The new imagery comes amid questions over Russia's future control of the Tartus and Khmeimim bases, which it has held for years. The country's defense ministry has not publicly signaled any major force posture changes. Ukraine's military intelligence agency said that Moscow was withdrawing from its bases and evacuating its forces. BI was unable to confirm this independently. The Kremlin said that it is taking steps to through conversations with the new Syrian leadership as details of the transition government become clearer. Russian state media has said rebel forces control the province where its facilities are located. If Russia is unable to retain access to these bases, it could spell trouble for Moscow in the region. Conflict analysts with the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, on Monday that "the potential loss of Russian bases in Syria will have major implications for Russia's ability to project power in the Mediterranean Sea, threaten NATO's southern flank, and operate in Africa." Read the original article onInvestigation into Liam Payne's tragic death intensifies with new CCTV footage analysis
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This deal won't last very long. HP is currently offering an HP Envy Intel Core i5-1440F RTX 3050 gaming PC for $629.99. That's not a very spectacular deal. However, you can upgrade to the RTX 4060 GPU on the configuration page and the price actually drops $10. That means you can pick up an HP Envy RTX 4060 gaming PC for only $619.99 . That is definitely one of the best budget gaming PC deals I've seen for all of November and December, including Black Friday. Even if the deal doesn't prematurely expire, this is a flash sale that's set to expire in a few hours. HP Envy RTX 4060 Gaming PC for $619.99 The HP ENVY is a compact, unassuming PC that doesn't feature the ostentatious tempered glass panels or RGB bling that adorn many gaming PCs. But really, it's the internals that count. This particular system is equipped with an Intel Core i5-14400F CPU, an RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 SSD. The Intel Core i5-14400F processor is a 14th generation Intel CPU and features a Max Turbo frequency of 4.7GHz with 10 cores, 16 threads, and 20MB of total cache. This is a good gaming chip that won't bottleneck your RTX 4060 GPU. The case measures only 12" deep and 14" high, so it won't take up much desktop space. It features a decked out front I/O panel which includes four USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and even a 3-in-1 memory card reader. At this price, there's not much more you can ask for. Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.Hello and welcome to Yahoo's live news blog this Tuesday. says a deal over an ongoing pay dispute with workers at distribution centres is no closer to being resolved as more and more shelves are stripped bare. The supermarket says the strike has so far cost them $50 million. The White House has defended Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, sparing him a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions. The outgoing president previously stressed he would not make such a move. A factory at the centre of the methanol poisoning investigations in Laos has been shut down. Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day. In a rare move away from Labor's careful approach to China matters, Senator Raff Ciccone has called on other countries to take a stand against China, while hailing former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial 2022 Taiwan visit. Senator Ciccone, who is head of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, was speaking at a Melbourne event with Douglas Hsu, Taiwan's top diplomat in Australia where he was reassured there are plenty of people who reject China's advances to reunite the sovereign island with the mainland. "I genuinely believe that if there are enough of us to provide a deterrent to countries like China then I think Taiwan and its people can rest assured and sleep very well at night," Senator Ciccone said, according to the ABC. "With the growing support of like-minded countries including Australia, Taiwan is well positioned to write its own success story." He praised Pelosi for defying China's warnings not to visit Taipei, a move which Foreign Minister Penny Wong carefully navigated and declined to endorse. "The Chinese went berserk about it but, you know, quite frankly good on [Nancy Pelosi] for actually standing up [for] what she believes in. It's good to see America ... making a stance." China has long warned countries like Australia to stay out of what it describes as "internal matters". Woolworths says ongoing strikes at distribution centres has cost the supermarket giant $50 million in sales. And that number is expected to grow without an agreement being struck with workers seeing better conditions and pay. “Until the industrial action is resolved, a further impact to sales is expected. The full financial impact at this stage is unknown. It will be dependent on the duration and extent of the ongoing industrial action across the affected sites and the time taken to rebuild inventory ahead of the Christmas trading period,” Woolworths said in a statement to the ASX. While the cost is significant, it is worth remembering just months ago Woolworths announced a $1.7bn profit and a special dividend of 40 cents per share for shareholders. How's this for a way to celebrate 50 years married. A Logan couple has scooped $2.3 million from the Keno 10 Spot jackpot last night on their golden jubilee wedding anniversary. “We went [to the hotel] to treat ourselves to a celebratory lunch and a game of Keno. We always play the same numbers, which are our birthdates," the winning wife told lottery officials. “I’m absolutely speechless. We’re over the moon!” Well summer has just started and temperatures are already surging. The Pilbara community of Paraburdoo is set to reach 46C in the coming days, very close to its December record. It comes the same year the town set its highest ever temperature, recording 48.1C in January. With summer temperatures consistently nearing 50C, Shire of Ashburton president Audra Smith told the ABC it "is a concern because with what's happening with global warming". Read more about the sweltering conditions . Parents are being urged to keep an eye on their car keys after the NRMA revealed the majority of its callouts for help came from keys being locked inside vehicles with their keys. NRMA patrols received 1846 calls about children or pets being locked in a car in the past 12 months. NRMA Road Safety Expert Dimitra Vlahomitros said the temperature inside a hot car could almost double the temperature outside and it would not take long for children or pets to be in serious danger. “Whether you’re packing the car full of groceries or packing the car for a holiday, make sure you know where your keys are and don’t leave your keys with children to play with while loading up the car,” Ms Vlahomitros said. “Many people believe cars with modern technology don’t allow you to lock the keys inside the car, but that’s just not the case, particularly if there’s a young child using the keys as a toy. “We know life gets busy in the lead up to Christmas but it’s important to be extra vigilant when getting in and out of the car with young children.” Woolworths appears to be losing patience over a near two-week strike at several distribution centres and have reached out to the Fair Work Commission in the hope they can intervene. The supermarket giant wants to ban United Workers Union members blocking entrances to a distribution centre in suburban Melbourne and three other sites, with workers striking for better conditions and pay. Plans to bring in staff on Monday never eventuated, but picketers at the Dandenong South site turned away logistics trucks trying to enter. Woolworths Group has filed an urgent application with the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday. "The application comes after the UWU refused to give any assurance of safe passage for team members seeking to return to work at our Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre (MSRDC) yesterday and this morning," Woolworths said in a statement on Tuesday morning. The application to Fair Work alleges a breach of the Good Faith Bargaining requirements in the Fair Work Act. Woolworth says the majority of staff at the Dandenong South site are not members of the union, and want to return to work and get paid. - With AAP While most likely elated, a man in Victoria is probably thinking what could have been after he was one number away from winning a truly mammoth lottery jackpot. While the 28-year-old won close to A$1 million on Saturday's USA Mega Lotto draw, he was one number away from scooping the top prize of A$789 million. I'm sure he'll be doing just fine with his A$950,000 though. The factory that produces the vodka at the centre of the Laos methanol poisoning investigations has been shut down. Six tourists, including Australian women Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, died after they drank spirits in the backpacker town of Vang Vieng last month. It comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updates its travel warning advice to urge Australians not to drink Tiger vodka or whisky saying its sale had been banned in the Southeast Asian country. The ABC understands the owner of the factory has been arrested, while three more people connected to the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the deceased stayed, have been arrested, taking the tally up to 11 from the hostel. No charges have been laid. The RSPCA in South Australia says its had a difficult start to its busiest period of the year. Fifty kelpies were surrender from a single property last week with extensive resources were used to treat the dogs and find them homes. RSPCA says an investigation into the dogs is ongoing. It marks the start of the busy festive period where the RSPCA expects 2,000 animals from the state to come into their care over the summer. US President-elect Donald Trump says there will be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza Strip are not released prior to his January 20 inauguration. During their deadly 2023 attack on Israel, Hamas-led militants captured more than 250 people, according to Israeli tallies, including dual Israeli-American nationals. Around half of the 101 foreign and Israeli hostages still held incommunicado in Gaza are believed to be alive. Making his most explicit comments on the fate of the hostages since his election in November, Trump said on social media: "(If) the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity." Trump added: "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America." Hamas has called for an end to the war and total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal to release remaining hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated and poses no more threat to Israel. A manhunt continues in Victoria after a man and woman were found with fatal gunshot wounds at a home on the Mornington Peninsula early Monday morning. Police said yesterday they were "very concerned" about the gunman responsible and urged the public not to approach the man if identified. Police believe a man and a woman arrived at the Rye home and became involved in an altercation with those inside. Emergency services found a 29-year-old occupant of the home seriously injured, while the woman who is believed to have arrived at the home also suffering gunshot wounds. They both died at the scene. Police believe the other man to arrive at the property fled the scene. They believe the shooting was "targeted". The White House has moved to defend Joe Biden's bombshell decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden and possibly spare him a prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions. The outgoing president previously stressed he would not make such a move. There was a wave of criticism after the decision, led by President-elect Donald Trump who called such a move an "abuse and miscarriage of justice". Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has now addressed reporters to explain the decision. She said Biden had deliberated over the decision over the weekend during a family Thanksgiving break. "He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that the raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice," she said, adding Biden felt his son had been "singled out". A deal between striking Woolworths workers and the supermarket giant is no closer, with defiant employees at several distribution continuing to down tools as more and more shelves sit bare in stores. “As long as they continue to block access to our site, our customers will continue to face shortages on shelves in Victoria," Woolworths said as part of their latest statement. “We call on the union to do the right thing and let us re-open this site.” Workers are protesting against "unrealistic performance expectations" which they claim lead to frequent injuries, demanding better wages, and an agreement that workers at different sites are paid the same amount. A unionist on the picket line said the industrial action would “intensify” unless their demands were met. - With wires
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Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be betterPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The United Nations raised the death toll of a recent massacre in which dozens of older people and Vodou religious leaders were killed by a gang in Haiti, and called on officials to bring the perpetrators to justice. The U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti said in a report published on Monday that between Dec. 6 and 11 more than 207 people were killed by the Wharf Jeremie gang. The gang took people from their homes and from a place of worship, interrogated them and then executed them with bullets and machetes. Earlier this month, human rights groups in Haiti had estimated that in the massacre, but the new U.N. investigation doubles the number of victims. “We cannot pretend that nothing happened” said María Isabel Salvador, the U.N. secretary-general’s special representative in Haiti. “I call on the Haitian justice system to thoroughly investigate these horrific crimes and arrest and punish the perpetrators, as well as those who support them,” she said in a statement. Human rights groups in Haiti said the after the son of Micanor Altès, the leader of the Wharf Jeremie gang, died from an illness. The Cooperative for Peace and Development, a human rights group, said that according to information circulating in the community, Altès accused people in the neighborhood of causing his son’s illness. “He decided to cruelly punish all elderly people and (Vodou) practitioners who, in his imagination, would be capable of casting a bad spell on his son,” the group said in a statement released shortly after news of the massacre emerged. In Monday’s report, the United Nations said that people were tracked down in their homes and in a place of worship by Altès’ gang, where they were first interrogated and then taken to an execution site. The United Nations said that the gang tried to erase evidence of the killings by burning bodies, or by dismembering them and throwing them into the sea. The massacre is the latest humanitarian tragedy in Haiti, where gang violence has intensified since the nation’s president was killed in . Haiti has struggled to organize an election that will fill the power vacuum and restore democratic rule. The Caribbean nation is currently governed by a transitional council that includes representatives from the business community, civil society and political parties, but its government has no control over many areas of the capital city, and gangs are constantly fighting over ports, highways and neighborhoods. According to the United Nations, more than 5,350 people have been killed in Haiti’s gang wars this year. The Haitian government acknowledged the massacre against older people in a statement issued earlier this month, and promised to persecute those responsible for this act of “unspeakable carnage.”Following are reactions from around the world to events in Syria. Syrian rebels ousted President Bashar Assad and seized control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing him to flee and ending his family's decades of rule after more than 13 years of civil war in a seismic moment for the Middle East. European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen "The cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed. This historic change in the region offers opportunities but is not without risks. Europe is ready to support safeguarding national unity and rebuilding a Syrian state that protects all minorities." EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas "The end of Assad's dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad's backers, Russia and Iran." "Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners, in Syria and in the region." European Parliament President Roberta Metsola "The dictator has fallen. It is clear that Bashar al-Assad's brutal 24-year rule of Syria is over as his regime lies in tatters. This is a critical period for the region and for the millions of Syrians who want a free, stable and secure future. What happens in the next hours and days matters." Iran Foreign Ministry The ministry said in statement Iran respects Syria's unity and national sovereignty and called for "the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialog" with all sectors of Syrian society. Tehran said it would continue to support international mechanisms for pursuing the political process, adding that long-standing and friendly relations between the Iranian and Syrian nations are expected to continue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The fall of Assad, a major link in the Iranian axis, is an historic day and a direct result of blows dealt to Hezbollah and Iran by Israel, Netanyahu said. "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," he added. U.S. President Joe Biden "President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," the White House said in a statement. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success." Russian Foreign Ministry The ministry said in a statement, Syrian President Bashar Assad has left office and departed the country after giving orders for there be a peaceful handover of power. The ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around his departure. It said Russia's military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time. Moscow is in touch with all Syrian opposition groups and urges all sides to refrain from violence. Iraqi government spokesperson Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi said Iraq was closely following developments and reaffirmed the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria or supporting one party in favor of another. Jordan's King Abdullah King Abdullah said Jordan respected the choices of the Syrian people. He urged the avoidance of any conflict in Syria that might lead to chaos and stressed the need to protect the security of his country's northern neighbor, according to a statement published by the Royal Hashemite Court. French President Emmanuel Macron "The barbaric state has fallen. Finally. I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I wish them peace, freedom and unity," Macron said in a post on X social media. "France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer "The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure." "Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored." "We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days." Qatar Foreign Ministry Qatar's foreign ministry renewed its call to end the crisis in Syria along the lines of the 2015 U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254 which laid out the steps for a ceasefire and political transition. The foreign ministry said it is following developments in Syria with interest and called for the preservation of the unity of the state. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has been communicating with all regional actors on Syria and is determined to do what is possible to avoid a chaotic outcome for the country, a Saudi official told Reuters. "We have been in contact with all actors in the region. We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved," the official said, adding that the kingdom was not aware of Bashar Assad's whereabouts. Foreign Ministry of Egypt Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions, the Egyptian foreign ministry said. The foreign ministry affirmed its support for the Syrian people and the country's sovereignty and unity. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country, today there is hope, Fidan said in a news conference in Doha. The Syrian people cannot do this alone. Turkey attaches importance to Syrian territorial integrity. A new Syrian administration must be established inclusively, there should be no desire for revenge. Turkey calls on all actors to act with prudence and to be watchful. Terrorist organizations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation. Opposition groups must be united. We will work for stability and safety in Syria. The new Syria should not pose a threat to neighbors, it should eliminate threats. Any extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) cannot be considered a legitimate counterpart in Syria. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha "Assad has fallen. This is how it has always been and will always be for dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him. The main goal now is to restore security in Syria and effectively protect its people from violence." Konstantin Kosachyov, Russian Lawmaker Syrians will have to cope with a full-scale civil war alone, deputy chairman of Russia's upper house of parliament Konstantin Kosachyov said, the Interfax news agency reported. Afghanistan Taliban Administration's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Afghanistan congratulates the leadership of the movement and the people of Syria on the recent developments, which have resulted in the removal of key factors contributing to conflict & instability." "The capital, Damascus, has come under control of Syrian people under the leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and we express hope that the remaining phases of the revolution will be managed effectively to establish a peaceful, unified, & stable governance system." Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro "The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and respect international norms. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock "It is impossible to say exactly what is happening in Syria now. But one thing is clear: for millions of people in Syria, the end of Assad means the first big sigh of relief after an eternity of atrocities committed by the Assad regime." "Assad has murdered, tortured and used poison gas against his own people. He must finally be held accountable for this. "The country must not now fall into the hands of other radicals — regardless of the guise. We therefore call on the parties to the conflict to live up to their responsibility for all Syrians. This includes the comprehensive protection of ethnic and religious minorities such as Kurds, Alawites or Christians and an inclusive political process that creates a balance between the groups." German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz "Bashar al Assad has brutally oppressed his own people, has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee Syria, many of whom have also come to Germany. The Syrian people have experienced appalling suffering. The end of Assad's rule over Syria is therefore good news. "What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani "We are calling for a peaceful handover between the fallen regime and the new reality, so for a peaceful rather than military transition. It seems to me that at the moment things are going in this direction," Tajani said in a press conference. U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen Special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, a statement said. He urged all Syrians to prioritize dialog, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future. "Today marks a watershed moment in Syria’s history — a nation that has endured nearly 14 years of relentless suffering and unspeakable loss... This dark chapter has left deep scars, but today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one— one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians." U.N. Aid Chief Tom Fletcher "Events in Syria moving at remarkable pace. More than [a] decade of conflict has displaced millions. Now many more are in danger. We will respond wherever, whenever, however we can to support people in need, including reception centers —food, water, fuel, tents, blankets."
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Turkish-Australian celebrity chef Somer Sivrioglu sentenced to prison in IstanbulA completed wetland mitigation project in Calhoun County. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Agricultural Mitigation) Iowa Agricultural Mitigation Inc. is restoring wetlands in Iowa and offsetting the costs by selling the credits back to farmers who farm wetland acres on their farms. Recently the nonprofit was awarded just under $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore 75 acres of wetland in Wright County as part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Mitigation Banking Program. Eric Rector, the Wright County Conservation Board director, said he wanted to start a water quality project in his county because he doesn’t think “the needle is moving very fast on those statewide.” According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources , 11% of Iowa’s surface area was wetland prior to European settlement of the state. Since then, 95% of wetlands have been drained in the state, and a recent study from the Union of Concerned Scientists reported Iowa has 640,000 acres of wetlands. The same report found that wetlands in Iowa alone could mitigate $477 million worth of flood damage to residential areas, if the ecological systems are protected from agricultural practices that drain, fill or divert water from the wetlands. The project in Wright County would restore 75 acres of wetlands and stock the Iowa Agricultural Mitigation bank with wetland credits for farmers to purchase and offset affected wetlands on their properties. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Kevin Griggs, the program manager for Iowa Agricultural Mitigation , has been part of the project since its inception in 2010. Griggs said the nonprofit was founded with a mission to restore wetlands in Iowa and generate mitigation credits for farmers at a low cost. A wetland conservation provision of the 1985 Farm Bill, commonly called “ swampbuster ” discourages agricultural production on wetlands by restricting a farmer’s ability to receive USDA benefits if they engage in any activities that alter the wetland. Farmers who have drained or altered wetlands on their property to create more productive farmland can purchase credits from the wetland mitigation bank, acre-for-acre, to stay in compliance with swampbuster. “They’re able to solve an important issue that they’ve got in their farming operation by simply writing a check and filling out a form,” Griggs said. Farmers always have the option to restore wetlands on their own property, but Griggs said the farmed and tilled acres are usually “low quality” wetlands. Union of Concerned Scientists pushes for wetland protections in Farm Bill “Our intent all along was, well, maybe it’s okay to replace those low quality wetlands with high quality wetlands someplace else,” Griggs said. Griggs looks for areas that could result in a more substantial wetland. Most of the time, that’s in north central Iowa, also known as the Des Moines lobe, where the majority of tile drainage occurs in the state. “That’s the most common place to find the need for mitigation credits, so appropriately, that is where most of our mitigation sites are located,” Griggs said. The mitigation bank aims to restore wetlands that are in the same watershed as the farmers who are buying the mitigation credits, but has accommodated some credit-purchasers who aren’t directly in the same watershed. “Until we have established mitigation sites in multiple watersheds across the state, (NRCS) are allowing us to mitigate wetlands from other places, at the existing sites,” Griggs said. A spokesperson for NRCS said in a statement landowners “play an important role in restoring and protecting wetland health on working agricultural lands” and wetland mitigation banking “provides an alternative option to agricultural producers looking to compensate for impacts to wetlands on their lands.” To generate a mitigation credit, a wetland site has to be improved. For example, Griggs explained an easy project would be to take a historically wet field and remove or plug any drainage systems installed by a farmer in order to “restore the natural hydrologic regime of that landscape.” Other projects are more intensive and require some construction to restore the landscape and seed native wetland plants. Landowners are paid for a permanent easement, meaning once the wetland is established, “it has to remain wetland forever.” He said most of the landowners the bank works with are looking for a way to restore their land and have been happy to work with the mitigation bank program. The payments farmers make for the credits go straight to the next mitigation project, which is why Griggs said they decided to run the organization as a nonprofit. “The fear was that if it was run as a commercial operation, that the credit prices would deter people from using the program,” Griggs said. “So the goal of the project is to keep our credit prices as low as we can so that we get more people to participate.” To date, Griggs said the mitigation bank has over 10 “bank sites” or restored wetlands, and has sold credits to more than 300 farmers in Iowa. Iowa Agricultural Mitigation was recently a partner in a large project with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to close the last remaining agricultural drainage wells , and redirect drainage to a restored wetland site. Griggs said the organization provided most of the construction costs for the restored wetland and in return will sell the mitigation credits. “And that just continues to perpetuate the ability that we have to find the next site and produce more credits and restore more wetlands,” Griggs said. Iowa Agricultural Mitigation has made use of several grants from USDA. The nonprofit was the only Iowa project in the recent $7 million allocation from the department. Other winning projects were in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. Griggs said the goal of the project is to restore wetland in an area between Lake Cornelia and Elm Lake in Wright County. A goal is to eventually include a connection to Elm Lake, which is on the Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters for high algal growth and turbidity . “So that’s exciting for us in a number of ways, because we can see another big water quality success story,” Griggs said. Rector, in Wright County, said the project is just beginning. As of early December, he did not have commitments from landowners for the proposed 75-acre site which is currently used as crop land. “We can expand a little bit and move out away from this area, as long as it provides the same type of results or more,” Rector said regarding the potential of landowners who are unwilling to sell for the project. Rector said the wetland restoration project would “kill a lot of birds with a few stones” because it would give Iowans another area for outdoor recreation in the county and help improve the quality of the lakes, which prior to recent conservation efforts, weren’t “worth a darn” for fishing. Rector said he hopes folks in his county will see the importance of projects like this that will improve water quality issues. “Instead of hanging back and letting everybody else do it, let’s take a proactive approach instead of reactive approach,” Rector said. “Our water is polluted with nitrogen and chemicals, and our soil is blowing away every year, and we need to do something about it now, instead of later.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLEOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — For Iran’s theocratic government, it keeps getting worse. Its decadeslong strategy of building an “Axis of Resistance” supporting militant groups and proxies around the region is falling apart. Hamas has been batttered by Israel's campaign in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli bombardment has crippled Iran’s most powerful ally, Hezbollah, even as Israel has launched successful airstrikes openly inside of Iran for the first time. And now Iran’s longtime stalwart ally and client in Syria, President Bashar Assad, is gone. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world. In the end, though, democracy prevailed. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he was declaring martial law and giving his government sweeping powers to crack down on protesters, ban political parties and control the media. Members of the military blocked lawmakers from using the legislature's constitutional power to cancel the power grab. But the National Assembly within hours unanimously voted to do so. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.
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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Six-time Miami Heat All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler is apparently at least open to being traded to another team this year. The 6-foot-7 Marquette product has reportedly listed the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks among his preferred postseason destinations. Read more: Heat Star Jimmy Butler Open to Trade, Lists Warriors Among Teams He is Targeting Following a three-game winning streak primarily buoyed by the efforts of Butler and 2022 Sixth Man of the Year shooting guard Tyler Herro, the Heat have improved to a 12-10 record on the year, good for the Eastern Conference's fifth seed. The Heat may boast a record above .500 record again at last, but Miami clearly seems to be a tier beneath the 21-4 Cleveland Cavaliers, the 19-5 Boston Celtics, the 17-10 Orlando Magic, and the 15-10 New York Knicks — the East's top four squads. All-Defensive Heat center Bam Adebayo has struggled mightily to score from anywhere. The 27-year-old Kentucky product, a five-time All-Defensive Teamer and three-time All-Star is averaging 16.0 points on a rough-for-a-center 43.9 percent shooting from the field, 10.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks a night. He's making just 38 percent of his shots from within 3-10 feet, a brutal mark and a steep dip from his 51.5 percent conversion late just last year (and his 46.3 percent shooting efficacy from that distance over the course of his career). Point guard Terry Rozier also seems to have declined from his Charlotte Hornets-era prime. The 6-foot-1 Louisville product is averaging 12.1 points on .406/.364/.886 shooting splits, 3.7 boards, 3.1 dimes, and 0.6 swipes a night in his 20 healthy games. He was recently demoted to a bench role by head coach Erik Spoelstra after 12 starts. Herro has been shifted to a role as the club's starting point guard, while swingman Duncan Robinson has been promoted to a gig as Miami's starting two-guard. After a first-round elimination last spring, it appears Butler is concerned he can't win a title with this current bunch. He has a $52.4 million player option on his 2025-26 season salary when he'll be 36. The five-time All-NBA honoree and five-time All-Defensive Teamer remains a remarkably effective two-way force. He's averaging 19.0 points on .557/.360/.787 shooting splits this year, along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals a night. Beyond the three aforementioned squads, the capped-out Phoenix Suns have also controversially been floated as a possible destination for Butler. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the rumor, only to see it refuted by Butler's own agent, Bernard Lee. Charania clapped back at Lee on Thursday, claiming that his intel was thoroughly sourced. Read more: Shams Charania Fires Back at Jimmy Butler Agent Over Trade Rumor Drama Now, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix backs up Charania's contention that the Suns have indeed been sniffing around. Shams is not incorrect. From what I have heard Jimmy Butler is interested in the Phoenix Suns. "Shams is not incorrect. From what I have heard Jimmy Butler is interested in the Phoenix Suns," Gambadora writes. "I don't rush on these things I take my time to make sure what I report is correct." Under the league's restrictive new CBA, it would be incredibly tough for Phoenix to add Butler. Obviously, the $50.2 million contract of former All-Star Suns shooting guard Bradley Beal would be a good match for Butler's $48.8 million salary. But Butler, not Beal, is the asset in that transaction. Though Beal is still a solid scorer when healthy, he rarely can avoid injuries for long and is not nearly the same two-way, clutch postseason presence. The Suns would need to, presumably, attach a lot of assets in an exchange. But Phoenix possesses no tradable first-round selections. At all. The team does have three second-rounders it could deal with and could offer up a pick swap in 2021. That kind of package would hardly appeal to the Heat, however, who could easily add more future equity in a trade with one of the three aforementioned other squads. Naturally, adding Butler to a roster headlined by two other likely future Hall of Famers, All-Star power forward Kevin Durant and All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, could help lift the Suns above the play-in fray in which they currently find themselves. But would it be enough to push the team into true contention status, with 35-year-old Butler and 36-year-old Durant being no spring chickens, health-wise? For more on the Heat and Suns, check out Newsweek Sports.
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutionsUnions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachers
Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be betterReal Madrid got a much-needed 3-2 Champions League win at Atalanta on Tuesday thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham as the holders snapped a two-game loosing run in the competition. Real handed the Serie A leaders their first defeat in this season's revamped Champions League after Mbappe gave them the lead with a strike from inside the box in the 10th minute before he was forced off with an injury. Charles de Ketelaere equalised with a penalty after Aurelien Tchouameni tripped Sead Kolasinac from behind just before the break but Vinicius Jr stroked home a rebound in the 56th minute to put the visitors back in front. Bellingham extended their lead after a counter attack three minutes later but Ademola Lookman reduced the deficit in the 65th before Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois worked his magic with a string of saves to secure a hard-fought win. With two games left, Real are 18th in the 36-team table on nine points, three points off the top eight spots which secure direct qualification to the last 16. Atalanta are ninth on 11 points. Michael Olise netted a second-half brace as Bayern Munich came back from conceding an early goal to win 5-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk, their first away victory in this season's competition. Shakhtar went ahead in the fifth minute through Kevin but Bayern levelled six minutes later with Konrad Laimer scoring and they took the lead with a Thomas Mueller goal on the stroke of half time. A penalty converted by Olise in the 70th minute eased the Bayern nerves before Jamal Musiala added a fourth goal three minutes from time and Olise netted again in added time to round off the win. Bayern's third successive win moves them up to eighth in the standings on 12 points while Shakhtar are in 27th on four points. Bayer Leverkusen's Nordi Mukiele scored a 90th-minute goal to give his team a 1-0 win over Inter Milan and move the Germans closer to qualification. It was the first goal Inter conceded in the competition this season and they dropped to fourth on 13 points, behind Leverkusen who are second, also on 13. The Germans, who enjoyed more than 60% of possession, were the better side for most of the game, hitting the post through Nathan Tella early in the match before going close again with shots from Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah. But they had to wait until the final minute for Mukiele to slot in after a goalmouth scramble. A fine finish from Goncalo Ramos, a goal from Nuno Mendes and a late strike from Desire Doue gave Paris St Germain a vital victory, as they beat RB Salzburg 3-0 to move into the playoff spots. Luis Enrique's side looked sharp in the first half and Hakimi set up Ramos for the opener on the half-hour mark. Mendes doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute with a thunderous left-footed shot from Doue's pass, before the Frenchman added the icing on the cake with a third five minutes from time. PSG, who have made a terrible start to their campaign, now sit 24th in the standings just inside the playoff positions, with seven points from six games, while Salzburg are 32nd. In the remaining two games Brest defeated PSV Eindhoven to continue their impressive debut European campaign while Club Brugge beat Sporting Lisbon 2-1.
Madison Metals Announces $2.0 Million Non-Brokered Private PlacementWASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can’t guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” A look at some of the issues covered: Trump hems on whether trade penalties could raise prices Trump has threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn’t believe economists’ predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. households won’t be paying more as they shop. “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That’s a different approach from Trump’s typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying they are “going to make us rich.” He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened additional tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. “All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field,” Trump said. Trump suggests retribution for his opponents He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. “Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump’s role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: “I have the absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that.” At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who had investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. “Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, “No,” and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. “I want her to do what she wants to do,” he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump’s inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, “I’m not looking to go back into the past.” Swift action on immigration is coming Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. “I think you have to do it,” he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end “birthright” citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — although such protections are spelled out in the ConstitutioAsked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and have been shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, “I want to work something out,” indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not “want to be breaking up families” of mixed legal status, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” Trump commits to NATO, with conditions Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he “absolutely” would remain in the alliance “if they pay their bills.” Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies’ commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated “fairly” on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin’s invasion. “Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure,” Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire . Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged: “I haven’t spoken to him recently.” Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to “impede the negotiation.” Trump says Fed’s Powell is safe, but not Wray at FBI The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell’s term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy , including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: “Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious” that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as his pick for FBI chief, then “he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? Somebody is the man that you’re talking about.” Trump is absolute about Social Security Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. “We’re not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient,” he said. He added that “we’re not raising ages or any of that stuff.” He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would “probably” not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, “Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change.” Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had “concepts” of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called “lousy health care.” He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for “better health care for less money.”
Taurus – (20th April to 20th May) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Risks make you powerful Look for happy moments with the lover and consider performing the best at work. Expect minor troubles from seniors. Prosperity will be at your side today. Diligent handling of romantic affairs is the need of the hour. Minor issues will be there at the workplace but nothing will stop you from performing brilliantly. Do not invest money blindly and instead go for professional help in financial handling. Health is good. Taurus Love Horoscope Today Do not let egos impact the relationship. Devote more time for the partner and during the conversations, avoid delving into the unpleasant past. Your parents may be supportive today and some females may also take a call on marriage. Single females will be the point of attraction at events or functions and can expect a proposal. Some married lives will see the interference of a third person which may cause turbulence. Some natives will see the partners getting highly emotional and you need to handle this as per the need. Taurus Career Horoscope Today Keep tremors at the office aside and focus on the tasks assigned. Your commitment is crucial as some tasks may also require you to work additional hours. Some clients will not be happy with performance and you will need to pull up the socks to accomplish every assigned task. Those who have interviews lined up can confidently attend them to receive an offer letter. Marketing and salespersons will struggle to convince clients. Taurus Money Horoscope Today Wealth will be your companion today. A previous investment would bring in a good income which will reflect in the lifestyle. You may utilize the money to buy electronic appliances and even a vehicle. The second part of the day is good to seriously consider real estate. Ensure you have proper guidance while trying your fortune in stock, trade, and speculative business. Businessmen will succeed in raising funds through promoters. Taurus Health Horoscope Today Do not let the lifestyle impact your health. Make a balance between the personal and professional life. Start the day with exercise and keep oil and fat off the plate. Some children will develop viral fever, sore throat, or digestion issues today. Female natives may also develop migraine or severe headaches in the second half of the day. Taurus Sign Attributes Strength - Passionate, Practical, Meticulous, Patient, Artsy, Compassionate Weakness Intolerant, Reliant, stubborn Symbol Bull Element Earth Body Part Neck & Throat Sign Ruler Venus Lucky Day Friday Lucky Color Pink Lucky Number 6 Lucky Stone Opal Taurus Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)NEW DELHI: The Nifty Bank index traded around 10:19AM(IST)on Wednesday in a weak market. Federal Bank Ltd.(up 0.35 per cent) and State Bank of India(up 0.03 per cent) were among the top gainers. ICICI Bank Ltd.(down 1.0 per cent), Punjab National Bank(down 0.9 per cent), IDFC First Bank Ltd.(down 0.64 per cent), HDFC Bank Ltd.(down 0.41 per cent) and Canara Bank(down 0.38 per cent) were the top losers on the index. The Nifty Bank index was 0.41 per cent at 53357.75 at the time of writing this report. Benchmark NSE Nifty50 index was up 8.96 points at 24619.0, while the BSE Sensex was 15.09 points at 81494.96. 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Shares of Vodafone Idea, NTPC Green Energy, Sagility India, YES Bank and Vedanta were among the most traded shares on the NSE. Shares of Laxmi Goldorna House, Precision Camshaft, Lambodhara Text, Kridhan Infra and Orient Press hit their fresh 52-week highs in today's trade, while Zenith Exports, Transwarr Fin, Shree Vasu Logistics, WABCO India and Smartlink Holdings hit fresh 52-week lows in trade. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )