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finally claimed the $100,000 milestone, cementing confidence in further gains to come. The watershed moment has emboldened Wall Street forecasters, some of whom have raised expectations for by the end of 2025. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration has bolstered optimism with to revamp crypto regulation and help . Still, studies show that the vast majority of . For non-crypto investors whose curiosity has been piqued by the popular token, here's a primer on some of the ways to invest. Traditionally, the main way for US investors to join the bitcoin frenzy was, well, to buy bitcoin. Bitcoin can be purchased on many popular brokerage platforms, including Robinhood and Fidelity, and through crypto exchanges like Coinbase. However, January's regulatory approval of spot bitcoin ETFs vastly expanded the options for investors, providing a new avenue for crypto exposure. ETF shares are backed by actual bitcoin purchased by the fund, similar to physical gold ETFs that hold the precious metal. According to Bruno Caratori, the cofounder of Hashdex, which is one of the 11 approved ETF providers, these investment vehicles best serve to mitigate behavioral risk associated with buying actual bitcoin, and might be a more welcoming approach to those who don't invest professionally. "It's all too easy for people to buy bitcoin when it's too high, and then not being able to stomach the losses when it swings down — and it does. It has big time, and then you lose money on this," he told Business Insider. These funds can be included in tax-advantaged accounts, such as Roth IRAs and put in the care of a financial advisor. Not everyone has been sold on the benefits. When the ETFs were first approved, crypto-enthusiast Kevin O'Leary , citing the accompanying fees. Depending on the provider, fees on spot bitcoin ETFs from 0.15% to 0.90%. Early discussions also considered amid heated competition. ETFs may also put off some traditional crypto believers given that they set aside a foundational principle of bitcoin: self-custody. In part, cryptocurrency was founded on the idea of a financial system free of banks and institutional exchanges, giving the buyer complete ownership of the token. Meanwhile, investors who get exposure to crypto through a Wall Street fund are giving up on bitcoin's potential use as a means of exchange. "If you think that the use case for bitcoin is highly centered on this, you need to own it yourself," Caratori said. To buy bitcoin directly, investors can use crypto exchanges, online wallets, or peer-to-peer transactions. However, these methods may also come with fees, Caratori noted, citing that the average US transaction fee on a crypto exchange is about 1%. Once purchased, security becomes a leading concern, and bitcoin owners will often take extensive measures to protect their password and bitcoin key from hacking or loss. Locked wallets can bar owners from cashing in on gains — this year, the crypto rally has sparked a surge in wallet . "Some people who hold it themselves, they write down their keys into these titanium plates that will survive a fire in their home," Caratori said, noting that ETFs free investors from those burdens. In a note published Thursday, Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani said that the new ETFs effectively solve the "messy" complexity with crypto exchanges and crypto wallets. "Also, household financial names marketing Bitcoin ETFs adds a halo of trust, legitimacy and branding to Bitcoin. ETFs become accessible in broker accounts and integrated with wealth advisors and private banks," he said. There's also a whole host of stocks that closely track bitcoin's movements, and can act as reliable proxies for the token. Software firm tops the list of bitcoin-linked stocks. The company's stockpile of , funded through debt issuance and equity sales, has effectively turned it into a gauge for bitcoin demand. The aggressive strategy has paid off, and MicroStrategy is up over 492% year-to-date compared to bitcoin's rise of about 135%. Caratori told BI that regulation has further enhanced the upside. Given that the approved US ETFs don't permit everyone to invest in them, some institutional players have been left searching for alternatives. For instance, Caratori noted that big investors in Europe are still restricted from these ETFs, pushing them toward MicroStrategy's stock or convertible securities issued by the company. "They understand that they're paying a premium, but they would still rather be in than out." Caratori acknowledged that MicroStrategy's use of leverage to buy could expose stockholders to increased volatility, though there's no sign of broader risk absent a major market crash. Investors may also choose to buy crypto mining stocks, which are also highly correlated to bitcoin. So far this year, the CoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF has increased . Individual miners that have gained amid bitcoin's latest rally include Marathon Holdings, which is up 87% in the last three months, and Riot Platforms, up about 96% in that time. Read the original article on
Blockdag Investors Excited About 1Fuel and Quebetics, But What's The Expert Opinion?Milan's Via MonteNapoleone usurps New York's Fifth Avenue as world's most upscale shopping street
“I feel like he will be the difference” – One player could give Arsenal huge boost this weekendSmart Helmets Market to Reach $2.3 Billion by 2031- Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research®When Katja Vogt considers a Jaguar, she pictures a British-made car purring confidently along the Italian coastline — a vision of familiarity that conveys "that dreaming, longing feeling we all love." She's not sure what to think about Jaguar now after the 89-year-old company announced a radical rebranding that featured loud colors and androgynous people — but no cars. Jaguar, the company says, will now be JaGUar. It will produce only electric vehicles beginning in 2026. Bad attention is good attention, Jaguar execs would appear to believe. The car brand has prompted mockery online for posting a glitzy ad without a single car in it. Say goodbye to British racing green, Cotswold Blue and black. Its colors are henceforth electric pink, red and yellow, according to a video that sparked backlash online. Its mission statement: "Create exuberance. Live vivid. Delete ordinary. Break moulds." "Intrigued?" @Jaguar posted on social media. "Weird and unsettled" is more like it, Vogt wrote on Instagram. "Especially now, with the world feeling so dystopian," the Cyprus-based brand designer wrote, "a heritage brand like Jaguar should be conveying feelings of safety, stability, and maybe a hint of rebellion — the kind that shakes things up in a good way, not in a way that unsettles." Jaguar was one of several iconic companies that announced significant rebrandings in recent weeks, upending a series of commercial — and cultural — landmarks by which many modern human beings sort one another, carve out identities and recognize the world around them. Campbell's, the 155-year-old American icon that artist Andy Warhol immortalized in pop culture decades ago, is ready for a new, soupless name. Comcast's corporate reorganization means there will soon be two television networks with "NBC" in their name — CNBC and MSNBC — that will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News, a U.S. legacy news outlet. CNBC One could even argue the United States itself is rebranding with the election of former President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike Trump's first election in 2016, he won the popular vote in what many called a national referendum on American identity. Are we, then, the sum total of our consumer decisions — what we buy, where we travel and whom we elect? Certainly, it's a question for those privileged enough to be able to afford such choices. Volumes of research in the art and science of branding — from "brandr," an old Norse word for burning symbols into the hides of livestock — say those factors do contribute to the modern sense of identity. So rebranding, especially of heritage names, can be a deeply felt affront to consumers. "It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like it's turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology," said Ali Marmaduke, strategy director with the Amsterdam-based Brand Potential. He said cultural tension — polarization — is surging over politics, wars in Russia and the Mideast, the environment, public health and more, creating what Marmaduke said is known as a "polycrisis": the idea that there are several massive crises converging that feel scary and complex. Campbell's soups "People are understandably freaked out by that," he said. "So we are looking for something that will help us navigate this changing, threatening world that we face." Trump's "Make America Great Again" qualifies. So did President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" slogan. Campbell's soup itself — "Mmm Mmm Good" — isn't going anywhere, CEO Mark Clouse said. The company's new name, Campbell's Co., will reflect "the full breadth of our portfolio," which includes brands like Prego pasta sauce and Goldfish crackers. None of the recent activity around heritage brands sparked a backlash as ferocious as Jaguar's. The company stood as a pillar of tradition-loving British identity since World War II. The famous "leaper" cat Jaguar logo is pictured in 2019 at the Auto show in Paris, France. Jaguar said its approach to the rebrand was rooted in the philosophy of its founder, Sir William Lyons, to "copy nothing." What it's calling "the new Jaguar" will overhaul everything from the font of its name to the positioning of it's famous "leaper" cat. "Exuberant modernism" will "define all aspects of the new Jaguar world," according to the news release. The approach is thought to be aimed at selling fewer cars at a six-figure price point to a more diverse customer base. The reaction ranged from bewilderment to hostility. Memes sprouted up likening the video to the Teletubbies, a Benetton ad and — perhaps predictably — a bow to "woke" culture as the blowback intersected with politics. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 , making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as “The Game.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. “I don’t think none of that matters in this game,” Moore said Monday. “It doesn’t matter the records. It doesn’t matter anything. The spread, that doesn’t matter.” How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. “We’re going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “We know they’re going to come in here swinging, too, and they’ve still got a good team even though the record doesn’t indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. “You come to Michigan to beat Ohio,” said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. “It doesn’t necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan.” AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollThe Albanese government will delay its 2035 emissions reduction target beyond the federal election as Donald Trump’s threats to cutting emissions force the Climate Change Authority to delay its call on Australia’s ambitions. Delays to Australia’s climate agenda would create a challenge for the Albanese government before the federal election, as it mounts a campaign against the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan with warnings it would extend the life of coal plants and raise greenhouse emissions. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen (right) with Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Matt Kean, a former NSW Liberal government treasurer and now chairman of the Commonwealth’s independent Climate Change Authority (CCA), revealed exclusively to this masthead that the incoming US president had forced the agency to delay its report by months. “The election of Donald Trump, his statements on climate change and positions on energy policy are likely to have a global impact,” Kean said. “It’s necessary to reassess and recalculate the assumptions that will inform the Climate Change Authority’s advice to the government on Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution. “Due to this extra work, we will require more time to deliver the target’s advice. We expect to be able to deliver this work in several months’ time.” Under the rules of the Paris Agreement on climate change, member nations must set increasingly ambitious emissions reduction targets every five years, and the deadline for Australia’s 2035 contribution is February. However, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen cannot set his target until he considers advice from the CCA, and the election is due by May. Australia is banking on nascent technologies such as green hydrogen for its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution – the official term under the Paris Agreement for a country’s climate target. “We’ll do further work and modelling that will take into account America’s new approach to climate change mitigation, the rest of the world’s response, and their impacts on global supply chains,” Kean said. The US became the first nation to formally withdraw from the Paris Agreement during the first Trump presidency. President Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin it on his first day in office in 2021. Trump declared climate change a hoax in interviews and speeches in 2022 and has pledged to scrap the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Biden’s signature climate policy, after he returns to office on January 20, 2025. The outgoing Biden administration announced on Thursday a target for the US to cut emissions by between 61 and 66 per cent by 2035, but Trump will scrap it. Currently, the IRA has $567 billion of financial assistance on offer for research and development and was set to play a major role in developing green hydrogen and commercialising technologies to help electrify industries that currently depend on fossil fuels. Donald Trump has given calls for urgent climate action short shrift. Credit: AP Green hydrogen – which is made using renewable energy to ensure it is emissions-free – is considered a promising fuel to curb planet-warming emissions due to its ability to displace coal, gas and oil in parts of the economy that are difficult to decarbonise, such as manufacturing and heavy transport. But green hydrogen remains prohibitively expensive to make and is not yet viable at scale. Kean said other countries were also likely to delay their 2035 targets as they come to grips with the potential impacts of a Trump administration. “I met with the climate delegations of over 15 countries, including some of our closest trading partners, it was clear that they were all grappling with the same issues and that most would not be delivering their targets too previous timelines,” he said. Climate action ‘off-track’ The Albanese government is under pressure to deliver on its current commitments amid warnings it is already off-track. Of the 124 projects that have applied for approval under national environmental laws, just 28 have reached a final decision – either approved or rejected – according to the Clean Energy Investor Group, which represents major energy investors such as Macquarie, Neoen and BlackRock. Boosting renewables to 82 per cent of the grid by the end of the decade is a major goal, but this is challenged by hold-ups in project approvals due to onerous environmental assessments for major projects. “There are a number of short-term fixes to the environmental assessment process the federal government could make that will unlock further renewable investments and bring international investors more confidence and predictability in entering this market,” said CEIG chief executive Richie Merzian. However, Australia could attract more green investments if Trump scraps the IRA, as global capital already committed to the energy transition finds new homes outside the US. Johns Hopkins University think tank, the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab, said a US retreat on clean energy policy could open up an $80 billion opportunity for international markets. “This is the time for Australia to lead in embracing the clean energy transition,” Merzian said. Countries are expected to announce their targets before the next United Nations climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belem in November next year. Australia will face pressure from the UK to set an ambitious goal after Keir Starmer’s Labour government committed to cut emissions by 81 per cent by 2035. Australia’s 2030 climate target, to cut emissions from 2005 levels by 43 per cent by 2030, is viewed as a relatively modest aim as it does not comply with the objective of the Paris Agreement for nations to commit to action consistent with limiting global warming to under 2 degrees. Australia’s Climate Change Authority is currently considering responses to a draft target it issued in April to reduce emissions by 65 to 75 per cent by 2035. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .The withdrawal of the ‘no-detention’ policy for Classes 5 and 8, paving the way for schools to fail students who are unable to clear year-end exams, has been opposed by many educationists in the State. They expressed concern that this move by the Union government will particularly affect children from deprived classes such as Dalits, tribal people and those from backward classes and rural areas. They feared it would lead to more dropouts and children getting into labour market. On the other hand, some private school managements and students’ groups have welcomed the government’s decision. What the changed rules say The Ministry of Education, in its gazette notification dated on December 16, titled ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2024’, states that if a child fails to fulfil promotion criteria in Classes 5 or 8 in the regular examination, they can be held back. It also emphasised the need for remedial measures for such students to close learning gaps. They will get an opportunity for re-examination within two months from the date of declaration of results. If the child fails to clear the re-exam, they should be held back. Though the Ministry had amended the Act to this effect in 2019, they had not framed the rules and implemented them till this academic year. Speaking to The Hindu, Niranjanaradhya V.P., development educationist, said that as a result of the continuous struggle for almost 100 years for free and compulsory education, in 2009, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had brought in the RTE Act, 2009, and implemented it from 2010. Section-16 of the Act prohibited holding back or expulsion of a child from school till the attainment of elementary education. The changes in the act brought out now, he said, were a “deliberate attempt to dilute and distort the historic Act.” He urged that the State government reject the detention proposal. “The Chief Minister should take the lead in this,” he said. “Repeating a class does not give the child any special resources to deal with the same syllabus requirements for yet another year. Parents and friends of such children also tend to view them as failures,” he added. He emphasised that the ‘no detention’ provision in the RTE Act does not imply abandoning procedures that assess children’s learning, but putting in place a continuous and comprehensive evaluation procedure. Lokesh Talikatte, president of Karnataka Private Educational Institutions Association (KRUPA), said that the move of the Centre was “anti-student.” He said this might lead to school dropouts. Welcomed by some On the other hand, private school managements, such as those affiliated to Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) and students’ organisations like All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) have welcomed the move. “SSLC students in many government schools cannot read and write English or solve simple mathematics problems since there is a ‘no detention’ policy. Therefore, we welcome the Union government’s move to scrap the policy as it will help to improve the quality of education. So, the State government should immediately implement the new rules,” urged Shashi Kumar, general secretary of KAMS. The AIDSO State committee in a statement called the change in rules “a partial victory to the movement against no-detention policy” and said that parents, teachers as well as several educationists were for a change in the policy. Policy matter Speaking to The Hindu, Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, said that it was a policy matter and a decision would be taken on the matter after discussions with the Minister concerned and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Published - December 24, 2024 11:43 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Karnataka / Bangalore / students / school / test/examination / poverty / discrimination / minority group / dalits / tribals / social issue / right to education / education
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PM orders strict action against tax defaulters
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations, including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department. Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. "Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn't ask for — and that isn't 'charged' for sex is now prostitution?!?" Gaetz wrote in one post Monday. "There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses." Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: 'Sex-for-money arrangements,' drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use." He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the "transactional nature" of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman's request that he send her money, "claiming she only gave him a 'drive by.'" Women interviewed by the committee said there was a "general expectation of sex," the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that "99 percent of the time" that when she hung out with Gaetz "there was sex involved." However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so "some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their "rendezvous," the report said. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled "on several occasions" with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she had a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does "$400 per meet." Greenberg replied: "He understands the deal," along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asked if they were old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him "really cute." "Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. 'Substantial evidence' indicates that Gaetz had sex with an underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with "multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid." The committee pointed to "credible testimony" from the now-woman herself as well as "multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, "which she understood to be payment for sex," according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was "certain" of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and he didn't ask how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for "commercial sex" again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. Gaetz said evidence would 'exonerate' him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would 'exonerate' him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz "continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed." The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as "nosey" and a "weaponization" of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 getaway with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt "to" the destination, but declined to share his return "from" the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would "welcome" the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would "no longer" voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation "frivolous," adding, "Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration." The report said that while Gaetz's obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress "act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House." Justice Department didn't cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn't disclose information about investigations that don't result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, and after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over "publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual," according to the report. "To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses," the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to "relive their experience," the committee said. "They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ's lack of action on their prior testimony," the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! 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Is Palantir Overhyped? Discover Why This AI Star Might Stumble
An Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, Chris Harrison, has urged the Federal Government to invest in Artificial Intelligence Literacy to leverage its numerous advantages. The British-born American Computer Scientist, who made this known to Tribune Online on Friday, also advocated for the investment in curriculum development. He noted that people need to be exposed to what AI can do and its usage. Meanwhile, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University emphasized that the knowledge of Artificial Intelligence is important, but the application is a different ball game. This was just as he stated that Artificial Intelligence is applicable in different instances, noting that it could be effective in one but not in the other. “Nothing is quick and easy, unfortunately. It starts with education. Nigerians will need to invest in AI literacy, both for young students and also current professionals. “Knowing about AI is important, but harder yet is having the wisdom to know when AI is a good fit for a problem. “Many companies and countries are throwing AI at everything, but that isn’t an effective strategy (it just sounds good). “AI is really good at some things and terrible at others. In other words, its an amazing hammer, but carpenters have many tools for different tasks for a reason. “Many things, but one would be to invest in curriculum development. People need to be exposed to what AI can do, and how to use it. It is no different than knowing how to do spreadsheets and word processing. “These are all important skills in the modern age. I do not believe you need a computer science degree for AI to be useful to you. It will be just as important as math and writing. “Pushback on AI reminds me a lot of the history of calculators. Educators resisted calculators in the classroom and wanted all math instruction to be done manually on paper (so the students understood it). But the fact is calculators can make you better at math, not worse. “The simple fact is that AI has arrived, and it is available to everyone. You don’t need a supercomputer or even fast internet to tap into the power of AI. “As a regular (consumer) user, you can utilise it with an inexpensive laptop or smartphone. That’s perhaps the most level playing field that has existed in new computing technology in a while. Nigeria can and should take full advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
Uganda Cranes forward Ivan Ahimbisibwe says that the team is all ready for their two-legged fixture on December 26 and 29, 2024, against Burundi in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 Qualifier at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo. Briefing the media this morning after the Cranes wrapped up their final non-residential training session at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, Ahimbisibwe said the team, which began non-residential training on December 21, will move into camp on December 25 at Nob View Hotel to prepare for the two matches. It is important to note that Uganda, alongside Kenya and Tanzania, has already secured its place at the tournament as a co-host. Meanwhile, Burundi and other nations in the region are competing for the fourth and final slot allocated to East Africa. Ahimbisibwe said the team is in good spirits and has been well-prepared by the coaching staff for the challenge ahead. On CHAN being hosted in Uganda, Ahimbisibwe remarked that it is a significant opportunity for the country to improve its disappointing CHAN record and for the players to showcase their talent on an international stage. Uganda has qualified for the CHAN tournament six times in a row, participating in the 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 editions. However, the team has yet to progress beyond the group stage in any of these tournaments. Meanwhile, CAF recently granted permission to both Uganda and Burundi to play their African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 Qualifier matches at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, making it the first senior continental fixture the stadium will host its re-opening earlier this year. According to a statement from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), CAF limited the number of fans allowed into the stadium to 7,000 for each game to ensure proper crowd control. This represents half of Nakivubo’s estimated 15,000-seat capacity. But, Rogers Mulindwa, the stadium’s spokesperson, told this publication that they are prepared to comply with all directives as this is the stadium’s inaugural continental assignment. ***** URN
Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useIf your investment portfolio feels like a headache right now, legendary investor Bill Ackman says not to worry—it'll eventually be a "blip." What Happened: The billionaire hedge fund manager, who founded Pershing Square Capital in 2004, has built a fortune of $3.7 billion by sticking to a set of straightforward investing principles. Despite achieving significant success, Ackman has experienced both wins and losses throughout his career. Speaking on The Julia La Roche Show last year, he shared his belief that maintaining a long-term perspective is crucial for navigating difficult periods. "If you look at the chart of Pershing Square over time, the difficult periods look like nothing now," he said. "You won't even notice the little blip in a decade or two decades, and you just have to have that kind of perspective." In 2022, Pershing Square posted an 8.8% loss amid a turbulent market year, but this followed three years of double-digit gains: 26.9% in 2021, 70.2% in 2020, and 58.1% in 2019. Ackman attributed this resilience to a disciplined approach rooted in his "basic commandments" for investing, which are engraved on stone tablets at Pershing Square's New York headquarters. Also Read: Investment Guru Peter Lynch: ‘If You Can’t Explain To An 11-Year-Old In 2 Minutes Or Less Why You Own The Stock, You Shouldn’t Own It’ "We want to buy the best businesses in the world," Ackman explained, describing them as "simple, predictable, free cashflow generative, dominant companies with... a moat around them." The concept of an economic moat, popularized by Warren Buffett , refers to a company's ability to maintain a competitive edge and long-term stability. Ackman also emphasized the importance of strong balance sheets, excellent governance, and conservative valuations. "Own the best, super-durable companies you can find with conservative balance sheets," he said. "Buy them at attractive prices and ensure they're managed and governed correctly." Ackman also highlighted red flags to avoid, such as businesses reliant on constant fundraising to sustain operations. He advised against shorting stocks or investing in commodity-sensitive industries. "Stay away from shorting stocks, avoid commodity-sensitive industries, and you do great," he said. He also warned investors to consider potential technological disruptions in today's dynamic landscape. "There's a part of investing that's very simple. just make sure you think about the potential for disruption because we're in a world where technology is a very dynamic force," he said during the interview. Drawing inspiration from Buffett's famously simple advice—"don't lose money, and don't forget the first rule"—Ackman's principles reflect a disciplined yet straightforward approach to building long-term wealth. Read Next Sam Altman Opted Out of Equity Stake In $157 Billion OpenAI, Prioritizing ‘Dream Job’ Over Wealth This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will direct the Department of Justice to “vigorously pursue the death penalty” after President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates to life in prison. “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, echoing his long-standing advocacy for use of the death penalty , which was part of his tough-on-crime rhetoric during the 2024 campaign. After Biden’s commutation of most federal death row inmates – which Trump on Truth Social said “makes no sense” – there will be just three individuals in federal prison facing the death penalty when the president-elect takes office in January. Those three remaining cases are all individuals who committed mass shootings or terrorist attacks: Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018; Dylann Roof, a White nationalist who murdered nine people at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of two brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. Biden’s clemency decisions cannot be reversed when Trump takes office, but the president-elect’s Justice Department could resume seeking the death penalty in future cases. Throughout his campaign, Trump’s advocacy for greater use of the death penalty was part of his hardline commitment to reducing violent crime and drug and human trafficking. In his speech launching his 2024 presidential campaign, he pledged to seek the death penalty for drug dealers. He said last year he would ask Congress to pass a law that “anyone caught trafficking children across our border” should receive the death penalty. During the final weeks of the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to push for the death penalty for any migrant who kills a US citizen or a law enforcement officer. There were mixed reactions to Biden’s commutations on Monday. While some families of those whose sentences were commuted expressed relief, some families of the victims were angry. The widow of Bryan Hurst, an Ohio police officer killed in 2005 by Daryl Lawrence, whose sentence was commuted on Monday, said in a statement provided to CNN affiliate WBNS that her family is disappointed by Biden’s decision. Lawrence “made a decision to choose violence. He knew the potential consequences and chose to murder regardless,” Marissa Gibson said in her statement. “All I can hope is that his nearly 20 years in prison has made him a changed man.” Executions by the US government were uncommon prior to Trump’s first term. Only three federal executions had occurred since 1988 before Trump’s then-Attorney General William Barr announced in 2019 the federal government would resume executions. In 2020, the final year of Trump’s first term, the federal government executed 10 individuals , the most executions by the federal government since 1896 and more than all 50 states combined that year. Outside of the federal system, there are over 2,000 people in the United States who were convicted in state courts and put on death row, according to the Death Penalty Information Center . Biden has no power to stop those death sentences.
(Bloomberg) -- After months of depressing news about countries backsliding on climate pledges and companies softening green ambitions, it’d be easy to forget this year also saw impressive developments in the fight against global warming. Solar installations popped up in unexpected places. Cities experimented with wild adaptation projects. Elderly Swiss women even won a major climate case in a European court. Bloomberg Green covered these events and more. Here’s a round-up of the good news from 2024. Solar Energy Had a Record Year Solar capacity around the world was rolled out at a record pace, as bargain panel prices helped countries deploy cleaner energy. Major markets like China, India and Germany showed steady growth, while demand soared from countries that previously showed little interest in the energy source, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Meanwhile, both wind and solar capacity surpassed a target in China almost six years early. Britain Embraced the Sun, Ditched Coal The British Library unveiled a £1.5 million ($2 million) solar installation on its roof this year, while the Church of England began generating electricity from a dramatic 438-panel display on a historic chapel in Cambridge. Meanwhile, the UK turned off its last coal-fired power plant at the end of September, marking itself as the first G7 nation to purge the fossil fuel from its electricity mix. Norway Went All in on EVs Norway prepared to meet its 2025 goal of eliminating fossil-fuel-powered car sales. Incentives and policies have made electric vehicles a mainstay on its roads. Today, EVs make up about 25% of cars in Norway, with around 170 electric-powered models available. The country’s strategy is being seen as a framework for other nations seeking to transition away from fossil fuels. The US Eliminated Electron Deserts Electric vehicle range anxiety was put to rest for many drivers in the US in 2024. In the first nine months of the year, the number of fast-charging stations in the country surged by 35%. There are now about 9,000 public sites in the US with much of the infrastructure built in rural areas. ... And Rolled Out Its First Electric School Buses A squadron of shiny yellow electric school buses in Oakland, California were the first to serve a major US school district. Now the vehicles’ large batteries can also supply electricity to the Bay Area power grid. Australia Made EVs More Attainable Australia’s government began funding cheap loans to help low-income workers buy electric vehicles in a bid to kickstart slumping sales of battery-powered cars. The IOUs can be used to purchase new or used EVs worth as much as A$55,000. Biden’s Climate Law Isn’t All Lost US climate policies are now in question under the Trump administration. Yet this year we learned there are some significant portions of President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, that will be resilient to the change. Ten-year tax credits to drive investment in clean energy manufacturing are most likely safe. Also, most of the IRA’s climate funding has gone out the door already. US Climate Action Had Local Successes Voters in a number of US cities backed measures to invest in improving public transit. Washington state voted to keep the state’s cap-and-trade program. Californians said yes at the ballot box to support $10 billion of funding for climate resilience. A commercial food waste ban introduced in Massachusetts in 2014, meanwhile, led to a 7% average annual reduction in landfilled and incinerated waste in its first five years of implementation. Amazon Deforestation Slowed Under Lula Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s promised to get tough on deforestation in the Amazon when he took office at the start of 2023. Early results are promising. Last year the country cut deforestation by 50%, according to government data. This year, it’s dropped a significant amount again, according to Marina Silva, Brazil’s environment minister and top climate diplomat. Older Generations Stepped Up the Climate Fight A group of elderly Swiss women won a historic verdict in April. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the “Swiss Confederation had failed to comply with its duties” concerning climate change and violated the plaintiffs’ rights to respect for private and family life. In the US and UK, a growing number of retirees are playing a major role in protesting fossil fuel expansion and exhorting their contemporaries to vote with the climate in mind. Water Was Created Out of Thin Air Startups made new improvements on a technology that can draw water out of the driest skies. Metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) don’t require electricity and can produce H2O with just ambient sunlight. Cities Built Up Their Climate Resilience While the world is still trying to stop global warming from getting worse, many cities prepared for the impacts already being felt. Among the projects happening: Beira, Mozambique is deploying a cyclone warning system; Boulder, Colorado, is becoming a fortress against wildfires; Frankfurt is capturing airflow to stay cool. Nairobi even figured out how to use trash-eating flies to tame dangerous floods.Milan's Via MonteNapoleone usurps New York's Fifth Avenue as world's most upscale shopping street
ASB's survey finds 24 percent of respondents anticipated house prices to increase in the three months to October, compared to 13 percent last quarter. Fifty seven percent expect lower interest rates, the most since the survey began in 1996. Economist Kim Mundy says there's a couple of factors still knocking consumer confidence. She says they're expecting unemployment to continue rising and there's a lot of stock on the market.