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51 Secret Santa Gifts That’ll Work For Your Under-$20 Budget (Shipping Included)Speaking from the House floor Wednesday morning, Rep. Michelle Steel , R-Seal Beach, reflected on her past four years in Congress. Related links Derek Tran defeats Michelle Steel in California’s 45th congressional district How Young Kim and Michelle Steel helped in South Korean president’s US visit Rep. Michelle Steel speaks in House panel on U.S.-China relations, calling it ‘personal’ In the race for Rep. Michelle Steel’s seat, how abortion is shaping up to be a key issue Most Influential: Young Kim and Michelle Steel pave way for Asian American women in Congress “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Orange and Los Angeles counties in Congress,” Steel said. Steel, who lost her re-election bid this year , gave her farewell speech Wednesday, Dec. 18. She thanked her constituents and colleagues and highlighted accomplishments during her tenure, from securing funding for sand replenishment projects in Orange County to championing a bill expanding access to telehealth services for non-English speakers. “On behalf of my beautifully diverse district, my team and I have accomplished a great deal,” she said. Derek Tran , an attorney from Orange, defeated Steel in the race for California’s 45th congressional race , one of the closest House races in the country this year . He’s set to be the first Vietnamese American to represent the district that is home to the country’s largest Vietnamese population and Orange County’s Little Saigon. The 45th congressional district spans both Orange and Los Angeles counties, including Buena Park, Cerritos, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster. When Steel was elected in 2020, she became one of the first Korean American women sworn into Congress. Fellow Orange County Rep. Young Kim , R-Anaheim Hills, was also part of that inaugural group. Steel, 69, served on a House committee created to focus on threats China could pose to the U.S. And in her farewell address, she encouraged her colleagues to continue to protect the country against influence from the Chinese Communist Party, calling it “truly America’s No. 1 adversary.” She highlighted efforts to remove CCP influence from education and her own bill banning the military from using seaports reliant on Chinese technology. “Congress must keep their eye on the CCP and build on this progress,” she said. During her speech, Steel thanked Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as well as Reps. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana; Tom Emmer, R- Minnesota; Elise Stefanik, R-New York; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington; Jason Smith, R-Missouri; and Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina. “For now, I’ll be heading back to my home in sunny Southern California,” Steel said. “But while my time in Congress is ending, I will always look for ways to serve the country that I love.” “I will always treasure the friendships I’ve made, both in Washington and Southern California,” she continued. “Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.” Steel’s last day in office is Thursday, Jan. 2. Staff writer Hanna Kang contributed to this report. Related Articles
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. “I can tell you that it will remain an honor for me to have served France and the French with dignity,” Barnier said in his final speech before the vote. “This no-confidence motion... will make everything more serious and more difficult. That’s what I’m sure of,” he said. Wednesday's crucial vote rose from fierce opposition to Barnier's proposed budget. The National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, is deeply fractured, with no single party holding a majority. It comprises three major blocs: Macron’s centrist allies, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front, and the far-right National Rally. Both opposition blocs, typically at odds, are uniting against Barnier, accusing him of imposing austerity measures and failing to address citizens’ needs. Speaking on TF1 television after the vote, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said “we had a choice to make, and our choice is to protect the French” from a “toxic” budget. Le Pen also accused Macron of being “largely responsible for the current situation,” adding that “the pressure on the President of the Republic will get stronger and stronger.” Speaking at the National Assembly ahead of the vote, hard-left lawmaker Eric Coquerel had called on the government to “stop pretending the lights will go out,” noting the possibility of an emergency law to levy taxes from Jan. 1, based on this year’s rules. “The special law will prevent a shutdown. It will allow us to get through the end of the year by delaying the budget by a few weeks,” Coquerel said. Macron must appoint a new prime minister, but the fragmented parliament remains unchanged. No new legislative elections can be held until at least July, creating a potential stalemate for policymakers. Macron said discussions about him potentially resigning were “make-believe politics” during a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week, according to French media reports. “I’m here because I’ve been elected twice by the French people,” Macron said. He was also reported as saying: “We must not scare people with such things. We have a strong economy.” While France is not at risk of a U.S.-style government shutdown, political instability could spook financial markets. France is under pressure from the European Union to reduce its colossal debt. The country’s deficit is estimated to reach 6% of gross domestic product this year and analysts say it could rise to 7% next year without drastic adjustments. The political instability could push up French interest rates, digging the debt even further. Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING Bank, said uncertainty over France’s future government and finances is deterring investment and growth. “The impact of France not having a government would clearly be negative for the growth of France and hence the Eurozone,” Brzeski said. France has seen bond market borrowing costs rise, bringing back ugly memories of the Greek debt crisis and default in 2010-2012. Analysts say France is far from a similar crisis because much of its outstanding debt does not come due for years, and because its bonds remain in demand due to a shortage of German government bonds. Additionally, the European Central Bank could intervene to lower French borrowing costs in case of extreme market turmoil, though the bar for that remains high. —- AP Journalist David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed to the story.Missouri stuns top-ranked Kansas in 76-67 upsetWhat should Vikings do at QB in 2025? Sam Darnold makes Minnesota's J.J. McCarthy decision tougher | Sporting News
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlExploring a New Era in Gaming Economics In the rapidly evolving world of gaming, a groundbreaking development known as the “PM Stock” system is set to redefine how players perceive in-game economies. PM Stock, short for “Player Market Stock,” merges financial market principles with virtual gaming environments, allowing players to invest in game assets as if they were stocks in the real world. How It Works This innovative concept operates on a dynamic in-game market platform where the value of items, characters, and other assets fluctuate based on player demand, successful gameplay, and periodic market events. Players can buy “shares” in rare items or characters, watching their investments grow as those in-game entities gain popularity or become more potent through updates and expansions. Implications for Players The PM Stock system introduces a layer of strategic depth previously unseen in gaming. Players can analyze in-game market trends, predict shifts, and make informed decisions akin to real-world trading. This challenges gamers’ strategic thinking, encouraging a novel form of engagement that bridges traditional gameplay with the excitement and unpredictability of stock market dynamics. A Glimpse Into the Future As developers embrace this forward-thinking concept, the potential for PM Stock could vastly increase player involvement and community interaction. Future games could see collaborations with real-world stock analysts, creating unique events, or even educational tie-ins for economic literacy. As gaming technology continues to advance, the PM Stock system represents a bold step towards interactive entertainment that thrives on realism and player agency. Transforming Gaming Economies: The Innovative Impact of PM Stock As the gaming industry continues to expand globally, groundbreaking innovations like the “PM Stock” system are poised to revolutionize the economics of virtual worlds. This novel concept merges the mechanics of financial markets with the immersive environments of video games, offering players a unique opportunity to engage with in-game assets in ways similar to investing in real-world stocks. The PM Stock system operates on a sophisticated in-game market platform that mirrors the dynamics of a real stock market. Here, players can invest in various game assets—including items, characters, and upgrades—as if they were buying shares. These assets’ values fluctuate based on multiple factors such as player demand, frequency of use in popular strategies, and changes introduced by game updates or expansions. By embedding financial elements into games, developers are enabling more strategic and nuanced gameplay experiences. The introduction of PM Stock into gaming ecosystems can significantly enhance player engagement and strategic depth. It empowers players to make data-driven decisions by analyzing in-game market trends, predicting asset value shifts, and reacting to market events with calculated strategies. This not only enriches the gameplay experience but also educates players on market fundamentals in a fun and interactive way. Despite its promising potential, the PM Stock system also presents certain challenges. Balancing the in-game economy to prevent market manipulation is crucial, as is ensuring that the market remains accessible to all players, not just those with the financial prowess to invest heavily. Moreover, developers must work to create secure trading environments to prevent exploitation and to maintain fairness among players. Looking ahead, the PM Stock system could pave the way for even more interconnected gaming experiences. Developers may collaborate with real-world financial analysts to integrate more sophisticated trading mechanics, potentially offering educational partnerships that highlight economic literacy. This innovation sits at the intersection of gaming, finance, and education, promising a future where virtual economies are as nuanced and vibrant as their real-world counterparts. In light of these developments, gaming companies are exploring integrations with blockchain technology to facilitate secure, transparent transactions. This movement reflects broader industry trends focusing on player empowerment and decentralization within gaming economies. Such innovations signify a shift towards more player-centric game design, where players have significant influence over virtual market outcomes. For more information on gaming and financial innovations, visit Google Play and Steam , two of the leading platforms in the digital gaming industry.
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Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector. Earlier this month, newly-elected President Donald Trump announced the bold decision to nominate Jared Isaacman for the position of NASA Administrator. The reaction to Isaacman’s appointment has been largely positive, though some concerns have arisen regarding his status as a high-profile SpaceX customer. Similar conflicts of interest did not deter Trump from appointing SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to oversee government agency cuts regulating his companies. Despite these concerns, Isaacman remains an inspirational figure and a strong candidate for the role. Earlier this year, he became the first person to perform a private spacewalk. He is also known for his philanthropy and for founding a billion-dollar business from his parents’ basement at age 16. Supporters argue that any perceived bias towards SpaceX is justified by the company’s world-leading track record. They emphasize that Isaacman chose SpaceX because it is the only US firm capable of conducting crewed orbital missions, rather than opting for any company willing to pay millions for his spaceflight. Isaacman’s NASA nomination Donald Trump announced his nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator on December 4. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump wrote: “Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.” In a reply to Trump’s announcement, Isaacman wrote , “We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.” Astronauts on Mars are a big talking point; for years, NASA has touted Mars colonies as the next big frontier to be breached. And if Trump and Elon Musk are to be believed, we will see a rocket on Mars by the end of Trump’s second term – in an interview with Fox News before his re-election, Trump said Musk “made a promise he’ll get to Mars before the end of my administration.” Even before Trump nominated Isaacman as NASA Administrator, he was set to play an instrumental role in SpaceX’s Mars goals. In a September interview with Interesting Engineering , Isaacman explained how “every objective was supported by data collection, science, and other research to help further humankind’s destiny among the stars during the private spacewalk Polaris Dawn mission.” Polaris Dawn was the first Polaris program mission. The program aims to collect data and further humanity’s scientific understanding of human spaceflight. For the third Polaris mission, Isaacman was expected to fly with a crew aboard the first crewed Starship mission. As humans are likely to first fly to Mars aboard Starship, the data collected by Polaris will be crucial for those future missions. However, now that Isaacman is set to become the next NASA chief, Polaris may be on hold. Isaacman may instead influence the mission to get to Mars from a more powerful and strategic position. At the recent Spacepower conference in Orlando, Isaacman said: “The future of the Polaris program is a little bit of a question mark at the moment. It may wind up on hold for a moment.” Isaacman’s credentials Isaacman has founded two companies: Shift4 and Draken International. The former, a secure payment processing firm, is the company that made Isaacman a billionaire. The entrepreneur started the company as a teenager from his parent’s basement. According to Forbes , Isaacman is worth an estimated $1.8 billion today. Meanwhile, Isaacman’s other company, Draken International, founded in 2012, showcases Isaacman’s love of aerospace. The company trains US Air Force pilots. Crucially, Isaacman has been to space a total of two times. While he isn’t a professional astronaut, his expeditions were not space tourism joy rides. In 2021, Isaacman chartered and flew on SpaceX’s first all-civilian space mission, Inspiration4 . That mission flew a crew of four to orbital space for four days aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. In September this year, Isaacman flew another crew of four for the Polaris Dawn mission. That mission flew to a higher orbit around Earth than any space mission before. It reached a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400.7 km), beating the previous record holder, NASA’s Gemini 11 mission, by 22 miles (35 km). On the third day of the Polaris Dawn mission, Isaacman performed the first private spacewalk in history. For the spacewalk, the Crew Dragon capsule decompressed and opened its hatch, allowing Isaacman to climb out and look out over our planet. As he looked down, he “thought about our potential to be something so much greater than the hardships, suffering and divide we all navigate in our daily lives,” Isaacman told IE in that September interview. For both Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn, Isaacman chartered the misisons and served as commander. Both missions raised hundreds of millions of dollars for research into childhood cancer via the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. What does the space community think? The response to Isaacman’s nomination has generally been positive. Jim Bridenstine, NASA chief during Trump’s first term, was full of praise, stating that, “Jared’s vision for pushing boundaries, paired with his proven track record of success in private industry, positions him as an ideal candidate to lead NASA into a bold new era of exploration and discovery.” Isaac Arthur, president of the National Space Society, said: “Jared is a remarkable individual and a perfect pick for NASA Administrator. He brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurial enterprise as well as unique knowledge in working with both NASA and SpaceX, a perfect combination as we enter a new era of increased cooperation between NASA and commercial spaceflight.” However, concerns about conflicts of interest persist. According to a CNN report , Isaacman’s Shift4 owns a 30 percent stake in SpaceX, having purchased $27.5 million of SpaceX shares in February 2021. As NASA Administrator, Isaacman will be responsible for awarding billion-dollar contracts to SpaceX and its competitors, raising questions about impartiality. Others might view Isaacman’s close ties to SpaceX as beneficial, given SpaceX’s unparalleled track record in rocket launches. The company’s pioneering Falcon 9 program has flown more than 400 missions. Its reusable technology has altered the landscape for the entire space industry. What can we expect from Isaacman’s NASA? Isaacman will have some big decisions to make when he takes up the role of NASA Administrator. Chief amongst these will be deciding the fate of NASA’s incredibly expensive Space Launch System (SLS). SLS is estimated to cost $4.1 billion per launch, according to NASA’s Office of Inspector General. By contrast, Elon Musk claims Starship will cost roughly $10 million per launch once it’s operational – the lower cost will be down to the fact Starship is designed to be fully reusable. Will we see NASA’s Artemis program altered, with more of a focus on SpaceX and perhaps other private contractors? According to Ars Technica senior editor Eric Berger, internal sources suggest SLS could be scrapped, and the Orion crew capsule for the Artemis program could launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. SpaceX’s Starship HLS would continue to serve as the lunar lander for the mission. In his interview with IE earlier this year, Isaacman said, “I feel really fortunate to be able to play a very small part in the history that SpaceX is making.” This was shortly after the billionaire landed back on Earth following Polaris Dawn and long before he was nominated as NASA Administrator. Still, he wasn’t playing a small role back then, and he won’t now. Isaacman will be instrumental in the future of SpaceX and human spaceflight in the coming years.
Oregon beats San Diego State, improves to 7-0Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail as he awaits a sex trafficking trial by a judge who cited evidence showing him to be a serious risk of witness tampering and proof that he has violated regulations in jail. US District Judge Arun Subramanian made the decision in a written ruling following a bail hearing last week, when lawyers for the hip-hop mogul argued that a 50 million dollars bail package they proposed would be sufficient to ensure Combs does not flee and does not try to intimidate prospective trial witnesses. Two other judges previously had been persuaded by prosecutors’ arguments that the Bad Boy Records founder was a danger to the community if he is not behind bars. Lawyers did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the decision. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years, aided by associates and employees. An indictment alleges that he silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. A federal appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan considers his bail request. Prosecutors have insisted that no bail conditions would be sufficient to protect the public and prevent the I’ll Be Missing You singer from fleeing. They say that even in a federal lock-up in Brooklyn, Combs has orchestrated social media campaigns designed to influence prospective jurors and tried to publicly leak materials he thinks can help his case. They say he also has contacted potential witnesses through third parties. Lawyers for Combs say any alleged sexual abuse described in the indictment occurred during consensual relations between adults and that new evidence refutes allegations that Combs used his “power and prestige” to induce female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers known as “Freak Offs”.
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