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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, has not served in the military or had a civilian leadership role in the service. While officials and defense experts said the Navy is in they cautioned that Phelan's lack of experience could make it more difficult for him to realize Trump's goals. Trump late Tuesday nominated Phelan, a major donor to his campaign who founded the private investment firm Rugger Management LLC. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment on his qualifications. According to his biography, Phelan's primary exposure to the military comes from an advisory position he holds on the a non-profit that supports the defense of Ukraine and the defense of Taiwan. Not all service secretaries come into the office with prior military experience, but he'd be the first in the Navy since 2006. Current Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth similarly does not have prior military service. She, however, has spent her career in a host of defense civilian positions. The appointment comes at a critical moment for the Navy, which has been stretched thin with deployments around the world and must contend with a shrinking fleet even as the naval forces of its main rival, China, are growing. Trump has campaigned on expanding the Navy and would need to fight bureaucratic inertia to do so. But it’s uncertain whether a secretary with no military experience — either in uniform or as a defense civilian — would be well-positioned to lead that effort. “It will be difficult for anyone without experience in the Pentagon to take over the leadership of a service and do a good job,” said Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow and director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security. “Services are sprawling organizations with distinct cultures, subcultures and bureaucratic interests, and where decisions are made through many formal processes. To change a service’s plans, one must understand this Byzantine landscape.” Experts said Phelan's nomination reflects that Trump is seeking service branch heads who will not push back on his ideas — but that Phelan's lack of experience is likely to create issues and delays of its own, They say the Navy can't afford to lose time. One of the Navy’s biggest challenges is preparing for a potential military confrontation with China over Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims as its own. " ," said Brad Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “The success or failure in addressing key problems in the U.S. Navy over the next couple years may have a decisive effect on war and peace in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere.” Trump has called for a 350-ship Navy since his 2016 presidential campaign, but he experienced first-hand the difficulty in realizing that goal, given the challenges to shipbuilding and the erratic and often delayed congressional budget process. There are just under 300 battle force ships in the fleet — vessels that have a direct role in conducting combat operations. “The Navy is stretched covering Europe, and the Pacific. Strategists have wanted to pull back from Europe and the Middle East, but recent conflicts have prevented that,” said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “So the next secretary will have a shrinking fleet, expanded overseas commitments, and an uncertain budget environment.” The Marine Corps has called for 31 amphibious warships to help it maintain a close-to-shore presence around the globe. The Navy regularly has had to extend the deployments of its aircraft carriers and escorting destroyers, for example, to respond to the unstable security situation in the Middle East. Each extension can create rippling effects: Ships don’t get maintained on schedule, and forces get tired of the lack of predictability for their families and leave the service. Service branch chiefs spend vast amounts of time not only responding to the White House but also appeasing members of Congress in frequent hearings on Capitol Hill, shaping budget requests, holding constant meetings on service member issues, attending industry conferences and filling speakers requests. That all requires a nuanced understanding of the service that a secretary is leading, because major change in any of the branches often involves a lengthy process to review directives and past policy. Any changes to the many weapons systems the Navy and Marine Corps need and pursue are subject to lengthy contract award challenges. “The Navy’s problem here is money,” Cancian said. “Even if the defense budget goes up, there will only be a relatively small increase available for shipbuilding. (If) the budget stays steady or goes down, then the Navy will have a major problem. The fleet will continue to shrink." Trump has signaled through multiple appointments, such as his selection of SpaceX founder Elon Musk to co-lead a nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency, that he seeks to cut through red tape. But the service secretary can't do that without moving through Congress, which has produced many of those regulations and processes the military must follow. “It might help that he has a personal relationship with the president. However, his lack of experience in defense and the Pentagon will hurt the Navy," Cancian said. "It will take him a while to learn the levers of power.”ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and denying Denver a wild-card berth. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. But all signs point to Moss being on the field to help thwart Cincy's offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. “It's great to have him back,” Surtain said after practice Tuesday. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team, as well. So, it's good to see him back out there in action, for sure.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Burrow and Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. NOTES: The Broncos waived veteran CB Levi Wallace, who had been inactive the past two weeks after giving up several big plays to Jeudy on Dec. 2. Denver also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from a back injury he sustained against the Jets in Week 4. Payton said he hopes to sign Wallace to the practice squad if he clears waivers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Trudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister saysIn another demonstration of its resilience and commitment to its subscribers, Patricia Technologies , a leading financial services technology firm based in Lagos, has continued repayments to its subscribers who were affected by a security breach suffered on its cryptocurrency trading platform. This development marks a significant step forward in the firm’s effort at restoration for its affected customers. Earlier in the year, Patricia Technologies had requested a 2 to 5-year repayment window to enable it to generate sizable income from business operations and law enforcement recovery efforts, for the purpose of repaying customers and consequently, rebuilding trust. It will be recalled that Patricia Technologies experienced a major cyberattack in 2022, which resulted in the loss of depositors’ funds.. In the intervening period after the security breach, Patricia temporarily restricted withdrawals on its platform to protect the interests of its users and promptly petitioned the Inspector General of Police to report the alleged theft. “We understand the impact this incident has had on our customers and we are delighted that the journey to restoration is yet again on the way.” Said Hanu Agbodje, a technology innovation expert, and CEO at Patricia Technologies. Following a thorough investigation by the National Cybercrime Center of the Nigeria Police (NPF-NCCC), the Nigeria Police recorded a major breakthrough in the case with the arrest of Wilfred Bonse, a prominent politician, and three other suspects in November 2023. A development that vindicated Patricia Technologies. While the perpetrators of the cybercrime are currently being brought to book, Patricia Technologies has kept to its word by continuing the disbursement of funds to affected subscribers as part of a phased repayment process. The repayment effort, which started on November 10. 2023 is expected to continue in the coming months as all affected users will receive their funds in subsequent batches. Subscribers that are getting paid in this phase, have since been officially notified by email. Subscribers are however advised to check their emails and monitor official channels for updates regarding their individual repayment timelines. One of the subscribers with the initials BP (for purposes of confidentiality), expressed appreciation and satisfaction with being paid by Patricia via an email reaction: “I really appreciate your effort. Though it took a long time. I’m satisfied with what I’ve received. Thank you for keeping to your words.” On his part, Hanu reiterated that the interests of subscribers remain Patricia’s top priority. “This repayment process represents a milestone in the fulfilment of our commitment to making things right for our users. We appreciate their patience, understanding, and trust in Patricia as we hope that this refund brings them joy during this festive period, for those yet to receive, I will not rest until every single user is refunded, you have my word on this..” Hanu concluded. Patricia Technologies is a forward-thinking financial services technology company providing innovative cryptocurrency trading solutions and digital payment services out of Nigeria. Driven by a customer-first approach and cutting-edge technology Patricia Technologies is dedicated to enhancing financial inclusion and security towards enabling a more enriched financial future for its users. See also: Hack: House of Reps member masterminded breach – Hanu Fejiro
Multiple Trump Cabinet Nominees Brutally Targeted with 'Bomb Threats' and 'Swatting Attacks' Share This article The Trump-Vance transition team is reporting that several of President-elect Trump's choices to help lead the country have been brutally targeted and threatened over the past 24 hours. "Last night and this morning, several of President Trump's Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them. These attacks ranged from bomb threats to 'swatting.' In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action," Trump-Vance Transition Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. A swatting attack involves a perpetrator issuing a fake call to emergency services that results in large numbers of armed police officers being dispatched to a target's address. It's intended to harass and terrify the victim. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general who has withdrawn from consideration; and former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift... Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official. The FBI said it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating. The dangerous threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing violence including the near assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a second assassination attempt in Florida that was narrowly prevented. This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats. This is dangerous and unhinged. It is not who we are in America. Joe Biden and all Democrat leaders have an... https://t.co/0xZztX4DQo "President Trump and the Transition are focused on doing the work of uniting our nation by ensuring a safe and prosperous future. With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us," Leavitt said. DEVELOPING... CBN News Analysis from Washington to Be Posted HERE Soon ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.*** Share This article About The AuthorLAFAYETTE, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 27, 2024 / urban-gro, Inc. (NASDAQ:UGRO) ("urban-gro" or the "Company"), an integrated professional services and Design-Build firm offering solutions to the Controlled Environment Agriculture ("CEA") and other commercial sectors, today announced that the Company received a notice (the "Notice) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") on September 21, 2024, stating that because the Company had not yet filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the "Form 10-Q"), the Company continues to not be in compliance with Nasdaq listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires listed companies to timely file all required periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This notification has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 14, 2024, the Company's audit committee, in consultation with the Company's independent public accounting firm, concluded that, as a result of inadvertent errors in the accounting for deferred tax liabilities associated with historical share-purchase acquisitions made by the Company, it is appropriate to restate the Company's previously issued financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 and condensed consolidated interim financial statements as of and for the fiscal periods ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, September 30, 2022, March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, and March 31, 2024 in a comprehensive amended Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Amended Form 10-K") for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with expanded financial information and other disclosures in lieu of filing separate amended annual and quarterly reports for the affected periods during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 and in an amended Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (the "Amended Form 10-Q"). Given the scope of the process for preparing the Amended Form 10-K and Amended Form 10-Q, the Company was unable to complete and file the Form 10-Q by the required due date of November 14, 2024. On November 15, 2024, the Company filed a Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing with the SEC related to the Form 10-Q. On September 27, 2024, the Company submitted a plan to regain compliance with Rule 5250(c)(1) with Nasdaq. On November 8, 2024, Nasdaq notified the Company that the Company must file all of its delinquent filings, including the Form 15, on or before January 31, 2025. If the Company does not regain compliance by that date, Nasdaq would provide written notification of delisting of the Company's common stock, and the Company would have the opportunity to appeal the delisting determination to a hearings panel. About urban-gro, Inc. urban-gro, Inc.® (Nasdaq:UGRO) is an integrated professional services and Design-Build firm. We offer value-added architectural, engineering, and construction management solutions to the Controlled Environment Agriculture ("CEA"), industrial, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. Innovation, collaboration, and creativity drive our team to provide exceptional customer experiences. With offices across North America and in Europe, we deliver Your Vision - Built. Learn more by visiting www.urban-gro.com Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this release, terms such as "believes," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "may," "projects" and similar expressions and variations as they relate to the Company or its management are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the expected scope of the material misstatements identified in this press release and the expected timing of filing restated periodic reports and the Form 10-Q for the Company's third fiscal quarter of 2024. These and other forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, forecasts, beliefs and assumptions of the Company's management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including, among others, our ability to meet the other continued listing rules of Nasdaq and whether Nasdaq exercises its discretion, if necessary, to grant an extension period based on any plan of compliance we submit. A more detailed description of these and certain other factors that could affect actual results is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov . Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. Investor Contacts: Jeff Sonnek - ICR, Inc. (720) 730-8160 investors@urban-gro.com Media Contact: Barbara Graham - urban-gro, Inc. (720) 903-1139 media@urban-gro.com SOURCE: urban-gro, Inc. View the original on accesswire.comST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri’s governor on Monday denied clemency for Christopher Collings , a death row inmate facing execution for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl and leaving her body in a sinkhole. Collings, 49, is scheduled to receive a single injection of pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, for the 2007 killing of fourth-grader Rowan Ford. It would be the 23rd execution in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri. “Mr. Collings has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Collings’ conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime,” Republican Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. Parson’s decision likely sealed Collings’ fate. Earlier Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal on behalf of Collings, without comment. No additional appeals are planned, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, said. Parson's decision was not unexpected — a former sheriff, Parson has overseen 12 previous executions without granting clemency. Weis said Parson has allowed other executions to proceed for inmates with innocence claims, intellectual disabilities and for men who were “reformed and remorseful” for their crimes. “In each case of redemption, the Governor has ignored the evidence and sought vengeance,” Weis said in a statement. Collings confessed to killing Rowan, a child who referred to him as “Uncle Chris” after Collings lived for several months with the girl’s family in tiny Stella, Missouri. Rowan was killed on Nov. 3, 2007. Her body was found in a sinkhole outside of town six days later. She had been strangled. The clemency petition said an abnormality of Collings’ brain causes him to suffer from “functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he suffered from frequent and often violent abuse as a child. “The result was a damaged human being with no guidance on how to grow into a functioning adult,” the petition stated. The petition also challenged the fairness of executing Collings when another man charged in the crime, Rowan’s stepfather, David Spears, also confessed but was allowed to plead to lesser crimes. Spears served more than seven years in prison before his release in 2015. Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived and assaulted her there. He said he strangled the child with a rope when he realized she recognized him. Collings told investigators that he took the girl's body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said. Spears also implicated himself in the crimes, according to court documents and the clemency petition. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the petition, said he told police that Collings handed him a cord and that he killed Rowan. “I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. It was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where her body was found, according to court documents. No phone listing could be found for Spears. The Supreme Court appeal challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Weis contended. “His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings," Weis said in an interview. Three men have been executed in Missouri this year — Brian Dorsey on April 9, David Hosier on June 11 and Marcellus Williams on Sept. 24. Only Alabama, with six, and Texas, with five, have performed more executions than Missouri in 2024.
Every year, Switzerland gets a new president. It happens so often that some Swiss people don’t know the name of their head of state. The role of Swiss president doesn’t come with the power of most presidencies. Switzerland’s president is selected from the seven-member Federal Council and the role comes with no additional constitutional powers than those conferred on the other six federal concillors. However, the president is given the job of dealing directly with other heads of state, even if only in a ceremonial capacity. In 2025, the presidential baton will pass from Viola Amherd to Karin Keller-Sutter, a member of the FDP/PLR. Keller-Sutter’s presidency was supported by 168 members of the combined 200-member parliament and the 46-member Council of States, who voted. KKS, as she is also known, spent her childhood in Wil in the canton of St. Gallen where she continues to live. She studied lingusitics at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and politics in London and Montreal. Later she trained and worked as a teacher. Her political career started when she became a municipal councillor in Wil in 1992, a position she held until 2000 alongside being a parliamentary representative for the canton of St. Gallen from 1996 until 2000 when she became a member of the canton’s executive team. In 2011, KKS was elected by the canton of St. Gallen to become a member of the Council of States, one of two cantonal members representing the canton in Switzerland’s federal upper house. In 2018, she was elected as a member of the Federal Council, a position she still holds. According to a reporter at SRF, KKS is highly respected but not loved. She has a reputation for being uncompromising on the nations financial situation, describing Switzerland’s debt brake as her best friend, something that has not endeared her to some on the left.
Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-JanuaryLogistics sector key to Qatar’s green economic transformation
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have claimed cornerback Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. The Rams (6-6) announced the move Monday. They waived undrafted rookie defensive back Charles Woods to make room on the roster. Forbes was the 16th overall draft pick in 2023, but the Commanders released him Saturday in yet another latest flop for their first-round selections under former coach Ron Rivera. Forbes started 10 games as a rookie, but the Mississippi State product got benched during the season — and his playing time dwindled to almost nothing under new coach Dan Quinn this season. Forbes was considered undersized to be an elite NFL defensive back before Washington used a first-round pick on him, and his play did little to discourage that perception. But the Rams are taking a flier on Forbes to help their mediocre pass defense. Darious Williams, a member of the Rams' Super Bowl championship team who returned to Los Angeles this season as a free agent, has been their best cover corner, but he struggled in Sunday's victory over New Orleans. Third-year pro Cobie Durant has started all 12 games this season with one interception. Los Angeles already traded Tre'Davious White, its other major offseason signing at cornerback, after the former Pro Bowler failed to perform. The Rams shipped White to Baltimore for a seventh-round pick swap last month. Woods has played in nine games for the Rams, appearing mostly on special teams. Los Angeles hosts Buffalo on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Who is Luigi Mangione? Everything we know about 26-year-old linked to UnitedHealthCare CEO shooting