After a significant delay, the Trump transition team has signed a key agreement with the Biden White House to ease the transfer of power. "This engagement allows our intended cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power," Susie Wiles, chief of staff to President-elect Donald Trump, said in a statement on Tuesday. The memorandum of understanding was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1 — along with a second MOU with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would provide funding, office space and technology. The deadline and process is set out in a law called the Presidential Transition Act. The transition team said it has ruled out signing the GSA agreement, saying it would use "an existing ethics plan" for its team, and would post it on the GSA website. "The transition already has existing security and information protections built in, which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight," the Trump transition team said in a statement, noting it would disclose its donors publicly. Now that the MOU is signed, authorized members of the Trump transition team can have access to agency and White House employees, facilities and information because it has "agreed to important safeguards to protect non-public information and prevent conflicts of interest, including who has access to the information and how the information is shared," said Saloni Sharma, a spokeswoman for the White House. While the White House would have preferred that the Trump transition team sign the GSA agreement, it decided that a disruption in the transfer of power would be more risky. A third agreement, with the Department of Justice, is required for FBI background checks and security clearances. That agreement has not yet been signed. Those background checks are traditionally required by the Senate during the confirmation process, along with an ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics, and responses to a detailed questionnaire.
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President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the “overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024.” They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’” Trump’s legal team wrote. The Manhattan district attorney, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater “that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump’s attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. A dismissal would erase Trump’s historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Merchan hasn’t set a timetable for a decision. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has pledged to appeal the verdict if the case is not dismissed. He and his lawyers said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes.Share Tweet Share Share Email Ripple (XRP) has long been a staple in the cryptocurrency market, renowned for revolutionizing cross-border transactions with its efficient and scalable blockchain solutions. Now, a new contender, Lightchain AI , is emerging with similar ambitions but a cutting-edge approach to blockchain innovation. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology, Lightchain AI addresses challenges like scalability, privacy, and transparency, setting itself apart as a transformative project. With the Lightchain AI Presale offering tokens at just $0.003, the platform is drawing comparisons to Ripple’s early success, sparking discussions about its potential to become the next major force in the blockchain space. This article examines the legacy of Ripple and how Lightchain AI is poised to surpass it with its groundbreaking innovations. Ripple’s (XRP) Legacy Cross-Border Transactions Ripple entered the blockchain space with a clear mission: to revolutionize global payments. By leveraging its XRP token, Ripple enabled seamless, low-cost cross-border transactions, challenging traditional financial systems that relied on slow and expensive intermediaries. Ripple’s success lies in its ability to partner with financial institutions and provide a scalable solution for real-time payments. However, Ripple’s centralized approach has drawn criticism, particularly from blockchain purists. Regulatory scrutiny has also posed challenges for XRP, highlighting the need for blockchain projects to balance innovation with compliance. Despite these hurdles, Ripple’s impact on the blockchain space is undeniable, establishing it as a pioneer in real-world blockchain applications. Lightchain AI (LCAI) Contender with Cutting-Edge Innovation While Ripple revolutionized payments, Lightchain AI is taking blockchain innovation to the next level by integrating artificial intelligence into its ecosystem. At the heart of Lightchain AI are two groundbreaking technologies: the Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism and the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM). PoI incentivizes nodes to perform meaningful AI computations, such as model training and optimization, replacing traditional mining or staking methods. The AIVM provides a dedicated computational layer for executing AI-specific tasks, enabling developers to build scalable, intelligent applications. Lightchain AI’s roadmap outlines a clear path to growth, with milestones such as the testnet launch in January 2025 and the mainnet activation in March 2025. These innovations position Lightchain AI as a leader in decentralized AI development, offering solutions that go beyond Ripple’s focus on payments. Key Similarities Between Ripple and Lightchain AI Ripple and Lightchain AI share several key similarities that highlight their potential to disrupt traditional systems: Focus on Real-World Utility: Both Ripple and Lightchain AI prioritize solving real-world challenges. Ripple streamlined cross-border payments, while Lightchain AI enables scalable AI computations within a decentralized framework. Innovation-Driven Approach: Ripple’s success lies in its ability to partner with financial institutions, while Lightchain AI introduces groundbreaking technologies like PoI and AIVM to bridge the gap between AI and blockchain. Scalability and Efficiency: Both platforms address scalability issues, ensuring that their ecosystems can handle high transaction volumes or computational workloads without compromising performance. While Ripple has established itself as a leader in payments, Lightchain AI’s broader focus on AI applications gives it a competitive edge in addressing diverse industry needs. How Lightchain AI’s Proof of Intelligence (PoI) Redefines Blockchain Utility The Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism sets Lightchain AI apart from traditional blockchain projects. Unlike Ripple’s consensus algorithm, which focuses on validating transactions, PoI rewards nodes for performing valuable AI tasks. These tasks include training machine learning models, running inference, and optimizing neural networks. By aligning network security with meaningful computational contributions, PoI ensures that Lightchain AI’s blockchain directly advances decentralized AI capabilities. This approach not only enhances scalability but also addresses the energy inefficiencies associated with traditional mining. For developers and businesses, PoI offers a scalable and environmentally sustainable framework for building intelligent applications, redefining what blockchain utility can achieve. Could Lightchain AI Outpace Ripple’s Success? Ripple’s market success stems from its ability to establish partnerships with major financial institutions and create a robust ecosystem for cross-border payments. However, Lightchain AI is targeting an even broader market by addressing the growing demand for AI-driven solutions. Industries such as healthcare, logistics, and finance are increasingly adopting AI to optimize operations, creating significant opportunities for platforms like Lightchain AI. The ongoing Lightchain AI Presale has generated excitement among early investors, with tokens priced at just $0.003 . As the platform progresses toward its mainnet launch, its market potential continues to grow. By combining blockchain transparency with AI’s computational power, Lightchain AI is well-positioned to outpace Ripple’s success and become a dominant force in the blockchain industry. Why Lightchain AI Represents the Future of Blockchain Innovation Ripple set the standard for real-world blockchain applications, but Lightchain AI is pushing the boundaries of what blockchain technology can achieve. With its innovative features, sustainable tokenomics, and ambitious roadmap, Lightchain AI addresses challenges like scalability, privacy, and inclusivity. The LCAI token plays a central role in the ecosystem, enabling staking, governance participation, and AI task execution. A deflationary model, including token-burning mechanisms, ensures long-term value for investors. Additionally, Lightchain AI’s roadmap highlights its commitment to continuous growth, with milestones such as ecosystem expansion in May 2025 and the development of an open-source innovation hub by August 2025. By integrating AI and blockchain, Lightchain AI delivers solutions that go beyond payments, offering real-world applications across industries. This focus on innovation and scalability positions Lightchain AI as the logical successor to Ripple’s legacy. Lightchain AI as the Logical Successor to Ripple’s Throne Ripple revolutionized blockchain with its focus on cross-border payments, setting a precedent for real-world applications. Now, Lightchain AI is building on that legacy by introducing a new paradigm of blockchain innovation. With technologies like PoI and AIVM, a robust roadmap, and sustainable tokenomics, Lightchain AI addresses challenges Ripple could not. The live Lightchain AI Presale, offering tokens at just $0.003, provides investors with a unique opportunity to be part of a platform poised to redefine blockchain utility. As industries increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, Lightchain AI’s ability to combine scalability, transparency, and innovation makes it the next major player in the blockchain space. For investors and developers alike, Lightchain AI represents the future of decentralized technology. 👉 Visit the Lightchain AI Website 👉 Read the Lightchain AI Whitepaper 👉 Follow Lightchain AI on Twitter/X 👉 Join the Lightchain AI Community on Telegra Related Items: Lightchain , press release Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Solana’s Proof-of-History vs. Lightchain AI’s Consensus Mechanism—A Technical Comparison Ethereum Price Could Recapture $4,800 in Under 10 Days as Investors With $10M+ Portfolios Load Up, Here’s What Else They’re Buying Polkadot (DOT) Strengthens Parachain Technology—Can Lightchain AI Compete? Comments
Biden administration to loan $6.6B to EV maker Rivian to build Georgia factory that automaker paused, a stunning move to the college ranks by arguably the NFL’s all-time greatest coach. The move is a leap of faith on both sides. First by the 72-year-old, who owns eight Super Bowl rings, including six as the head coach of the New England Patriots, but he has never worked as a college coach, let alone recruiter — nor has he shown a lot of natural acumen for it. Second, by an ACC program that will hope a new, short-term jolt can pump sustained life into a football program that has long been stuck under a ceiling of good but never great, which fights for relevancy not just in the sport, but on its own basketball-obsessed campus. Mainly it illustrates the new era of college football — where player procurement rests not so much in chasing teenage recruits out of high school, but plucking more focused and mature talents out of the transfer portal with the backing of direct compensation and NIL payments. It is that change program that will go from often ignored (just one 10-win season since 1997) to the center of the spotlight. With Belichick at the helm, expect endless national television broadcasts, sold-out stadiums and massive hype and fan fare upon his arrival. If nothing else, this is fascinating. What would have been foolish even half a decade ago — Belichick suddenly working the traditional recruiting circuit — now makes plenty of sense and possibly plenty of success. UNC couldn’t say no. “Let me put this in capital letters, if, ‘I. F.’ I was in a college program, that college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for players that had ability to play in the NFL," . “It would be a professional program: training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It will be an NFL program at a college level. “I feel very confident that I have the contacts in the NFL to pave the way for those players that would have the opportunity to compete in the National Football League.” Plenty of NFL and NBA coaches have gone to the college ranks and tried to make that pitch — rarely did it work. High school recruiting was as much about glad-handing, long-standing relationships, the brand of your program, the location of your school (both geographic and conference) as well knowing how to work an under-the-table system of payouts. In basketball, Nike and Adidas controlled everything. Not any longer. NIL allows any school with proper backing to sign nearly any prospect — . In football, Deion Sanders has shown at Colorado that good teams can be built with older players who are eager to transfer in. Coach Prime doesn’t do home visits with parents or show up at recruit’s high schools looking to make a personal connection. He sits in Boulder and makes them come to him — drawn in by his NFL pedigree and promise of preparation. He has dismissed even the importance of high school recruiting, noting the low pan-out rate of even hyped prospects. Belichick isn’t as charismatic as Coach Prime and the son he will likely bring to Chapel Hill, Stephen (currently the defensive coordinator at Washington), isn’t an elite quarterback such as Shedeur Sanders, but when it comes to appealing to transfers looking to make the final leap to the pros, his pitch may carry even more weight. Belichick the coach is unquestioned. Same with Belichick the teacher of the game. No NFL team was more prepared than his through the years. None more innovative, smart or effective. Yes, he had Tom Brady — and many other all-time greats — during that two-decade run of success in Foxborough, but to a man they also praise him for simplifying the game and maximizing their potential. This could work. This should work. Getting players shouldn’t be too problematic, and don’t compare the sweeping incoming classes of college — sometimes 40-50 deep — to the precise and limited nature of the NFL Draft. No, UNC’s roster may not reach the status of Ohio State or Georgia — tradition still matters — but it should be an upgrade to what is already a decent situation. Transfers with a couple years of college experience are vastly different people than impressionable high school recruits — which was once the only way to stock a team. Gone are many of the superfluous considerations such as proximity to parents, uniform colors or how cool a recruiting visit was. Entrenched in the business of the sport, the smart ones make business decisions. Playing time. Opportunity. Development. Not all, of course, but enough that getting in the best position to reach the NFL is the first consideration. That should lead them to at least consider Belichick, who can be as personable as he needs to be, especially in individual sessions. With the ability to have a program general manager to handle the details and the money, Belichick can stay out things like recruiting-visit photo shoots and focus on selling himself as something else — the coaching messiah with a shelf full of Lombardis to prove it. If you're serious, then come get coached by a serious man. Potential hurdles are everywhere, of course. Belichick talking to parents who call to complain about playing time? Belichick having to overspend on NIL for someone who hasn’t proven anything? Belichick coaching in his acerbic, sarcastic way to a generation who may not appreciate it? This is going to be wild to watch. Does it work? Maybe? Probably? No one ever truly knows when it comes to a new hire. For UNC, which has been treading water for decades though, the risk is worth it. They just landed the best coach in football. It stands to reason that should be enough in this modern era for some of the best players in football to follow.
THE stars of I'm A Celebrity went wild as they received a surprise boozy trip out of camp. In a long running tradition, the ITV show's famous faces visit pub "The Jungle Arms". After dinner, Maura Higgins delivered the news that they had a chance to visit the Jungle Arms. Excited, the group were left wondering what they would have to do to gain entry. Former Love Island star Maura said: "I'm telling you now, I will go to lengths to get my glass of wine , you watch." Echoing a similar sentiment, social media star GK Barry declared: "Let's get a glass of prosecco! I've never walked so fast in my life." Afterwards, the nine campmates arrived at the Kangaroo Court challenge area. They found a seating area, a DJ booth and three dance booths. To win their place in the Jungle Arms, they had to take part in a game of Jungle Musical Statues. Hosted by Kiosk Kev, the campmates split up into groups of three. Kev played tracks from "Jungle on the Dance Floor" as the celebrities entered the dance booths. In a twist on musical statues, they needed to strike the correct dance pose and hold for ten seconds. Both Maura and GK were respectively put off by critters - putting their treat in jeopardy. While things generally didn't to go plan at first after failed attempts. But by the end, all nine campmates successfully won a place in The Jungle Arms. The thrilled group received a buffet of pizza and chips, accompanied with a drink of their choice. Music was also provided, thanks to a guitar, keyboard and a microphone for singing. In a fun twist, GK Barry sung McFly's Obviously - in front of campmate Danny Jones. The line-up also had a group singalong of The Communards' Don't Leave Me This Way. Of course, campmate Reverend Richard Coles was a member of the 1980s band. Maura took on Celine Dion's power ballad It's All Coming Back To Me Now. MAURA Higgins is a late entry to I'm A Celeb 2024. Yet who is joining her? 2019 Love Island star Maura, 33, will be a late entry to the jungle line-up. She will head into the I'm A Celeb camp , along with the Reverend Richard Coles , 62. The duo will join the likes of Coleen Rooney , Barry McGuigan and Danny Jones in Ant and Dec’s jungle camp a week into this year’s star-spangled series. Yet initially the duo will have their own private base - and a secret mission - before heading into the main compound Down Under. Maura has already described the jungle as "hell." Meanwhile Richard, who has starred on Strictly, has confessed his biggest "fear." Laughing, the reality star quipped: "Celine is going to be obsessed with me!" Danny tackled Livin On A Prayer, while Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse sang I Have Nothing. Melvin Odoom treated his co-stars to a rendition of classic tune Hey Ya, with the group dancing along. I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
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BOSTON , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RapDev, a leader in site reliability and DevOps solutions, has earned a spot on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list for the second consecutive year . To be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary technology that contributes to the majority of their operating revenues, have at least $50,000 in base-year revenues and $5 million in current-year revenues, be in business for a minimum of four years, and be headquartered in North America . RapDev achieved an impressive rank of 171. RapDev's recognition highlights its engineering-first approach and proprietary technology that helps customers build, scale, and maintain enterprise software platforms. Patented solutions like CSDM as Code and the newly launched T ag Generator for ServiceNow, are transforming how customers manage CMDB and configuration data in Platform-as-a-Service environments. On the observability front, RapDev is the pre-eminent Datadog partner and has built 45+ integrations with key platforms, including IBM Cloud , Nutani x , and Ansible , to extend and enrich visibility in customer environments. "Innovation, transformation, and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year's Technology Fast 500 list, and there's no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history," said Christie Simons , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's Audit & Assurance practice. "This year's winning companies have demonstrated a continuous commitment to growth and remarkable consistency in driving progress. We congratulate all of this year's winners — it's an incredible time for innovation." "Our success is driven by our team's focus on creative engineering, helping our customers realize the value of ServiceNow and Datadog investments," said RapDev Founder Tameem Hourani . "This achievement reflects our team's ongoing commitment to our customers and partners, remaining hyper-focused on raising the bar for talent and gaining momentum as an organization." About RapDev Founded in 2019, RapDev is the go-to partner for Fortune 1000 organizations looking to accelerate and optimize their Datadog and ServiceNow implementations. As a trusted Datadog Premier Partner and ServiceNow Elite Partner, RapDev offers unparalleled expertise in implementation at scale. RapDev expertly guides organizations through their Engineering and DevOps transformations from beginning to end. For more information, visit www.rapdev.io . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rapdev-named-one-of-north-americas-fastest-growing-tech-companies-on-the-2024-deloitte-technology-fast-500-list-302313538.html SOURCE RapDev