Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition, the International Chess Federation said. The federation said in a Friday statement that its regulations include a dress code that bars participants from wearing jeans at the event. “The Chief Arbiter informed Mr Carlsen of the breach, issued a $US200 ($A322) fine, and requested that he change his attire,” the federation said in the statement posted to its website. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “Unfortunately, Mr Carlsen declined, and as a result, he was not paired for round nine. This decision was made impartially and applies equally to all players.” The 34-year-old Norwegian chess grandmaster said in a video from his Take Take Take chess app that he posted on the social platform X that he accepted the fine. But he refused to change his pants before quitting the competition in New York. “I said, ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s OK,” Carlsen said in the video. “But they said, ‘Well, you have to change now.’ At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me.” The federation said in its statement that the dress code is “designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.” It said fellow participant Ian Nepomniachtchi was also fined earlier Friday for breaching the dress code by wearing sports shoes. “However, Mr Nepomniachtchi complied, changed into approved attire, and continued to play in the tournament,” the statement said. “These rules have been in place for years and are well-known to all participants and are communicated to them ahead of each event.”
The Boston Red Sox are adding to their pitching staff, signing a player who is just off a World Series win. It was no secret that upgrades in pitching were needed during the off-season, and the Sox are showing that they're taking it seriously. According to ESPN, the team has agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Walker Buehler. The 30-year-old will be a veteran presence in the rotation and also brings championship experience. He was a part of two World Series teams with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buehler was big in the Dodgers' series against the New York Yankees. He pitched five shutout innings in his team's Game 3 win. The big highlight was his scoreless ninth inning in Game 5 to get the save and series-clinching win. Buehler is the third addition to Boston's staff, joining left-handers Garrett Crochet and Patrick Sandoval.
ACT bureaucrats raced to change the draft Territory Plan so that any future developer of the Phillip swimming pool site would have to provide only a 25-metre pool because that would be cheaper to build and run, documents have revealed. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The public servants knew a shorter pool would be unpopular, but said the addition of extra facilities such as a learn-to-swim pool would sweeten the change. They also believed it was in line with other facilities being built around Australia, including the then-new aquatic centre in Batemans Bay. The changes to the draft Territory Plan allowing for a 25-metre pool ultimately went through just weeks before developer Geocon bought the lease to the Phillip site in 2022. Geocon this week revealed plans to build on the Phillip site almost 700 units and aquatic facilities, including a 25-metre indoor pool, available to the public. Supporters of the existing Phillip pool are campaigning for the current facilities, including an outdoor 50-metre pool, to be retained, saying the open-air pool and surrounding green space are valuable to the community. An email trail between various bureaucrats in late 2022 - showing how the decision for a shorter pool came about - has been released under a freedom of information request by a Woden resident. An outdoor aquatic centre for South Canberra Chief Minister Andrew Barr, meanwhile, was asked on Friday if Geocon's development was approved, whether that would rule out the government providing a new public aquatics facility for the Woden town centre. "I wouldn't necessarily say that, no," Mr Barr said. "I think if there's an indoor facility built as part of this project, then I'd rule out another indoor facility. "But if you look at an outdoor, seasonal facility for when demand is highest, that may be a feature of future pool planning for the territory. "We have undertaken, in the campaign, that we will undertake a feasibility study to look at future sporting facilities. See, the land take of a 50-metre pool is significant. There wouldn't be many locations in the town centre, other than Eddison Park, that could accommodate a large, outdoor pool. The Phillip pool and, inset, an artist's render of the new building, Mick Gentleman and Yvette Berry. Pictures by The Canberra Times, supplied "Phillip pool in its current outdoor form is only available for about four months of the year. The value of having an indoor facility is it's 12 months and it offers a range of other - it's not just a 25-metre pool - it's a range of other facilities like learn-to-swim and the like. "But Canberra, of course, will need a network of outdoor pools. There is one in Manuka and there is one in Dickson. There's Big Splash in Belconnen. So whether the southside may need an outdoor pool, is something we will look at in the future." An old Kambah High swimming carnival at the Phillip pool. Picture supplied The email trail The released email trail shows ACT bureaucrats knew the decision to cut the Phillip pool size from 50 metres to 25 metres in any future redevelopment would be unpopular with "some segments" of the community, not least because the pool would be shorter than those at other aquatic centres such as Gungahlin and Stromlo. The public servants also recognised the change would be a "departure from the existing Territory Plan requirements" which then required any lessee of the Phillip site to provide a 50-metre pool and continue to provide a pool in any future redevelopment. But future costs to a future developer appeared to push the decision over the line. "This [25=metre] option will provide a better all round outcome in relation to the capital cost, ongoing financial viability and future maintenance/upgrade requirements," Sport and Recreation senior director David Jeffrey wrote in one of the emails. The emails were sent in October, 2022, just before the completion of the draft Territory Plan, which was to provide a new planning system for the ACT. Schools such as Kambah High used to use Phillip pool for swimming carnivals. Picture supplied The emails are marked as "high" importance to ensure the draft plan includes new detail specifying that any future developer of the Phillip site only has to provide a 25-metre pool. The emails reveal a call for "urgent" review and action so the changes can get in before the cut-off date for the draft Territory Plan. Ministers on board The final email was sent on October 20, 2022, with the changes outlined for consideration and with the tacit approval of the offices of two cabinet ministers, Yvette Berry and Mick Gentleman. The draft Territory Plan went out for public consultation on November 1, 2022, including the detail about the 25-metre pool for Phillip. Just weeks later, developer Geocon bought the lease to the Phillip swimming pool and ice skating rink - in December 2022. The email trail in October 2022 shows the offices of then-planning minister Mick Gentleman and Sport Minister Yvette Berry were aware of changing the requirement at Phillip to a 25-metre pool should the site be redeveloped. "We have shared this information with Minister Berry's office to ensure they are across it," Mr Jeffrey wrote. Tom Rosser, Ms Berry's advisor at the time, also wrote an email that the changes "seem sensible to us and the Gentleman office so happy for it to put forward for inclusion". The emails also show the changes were the result of conversations between ACT Chief Planner Ben Ponton and Kareena Arthy, deputy director-general of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. A render of the first stage of a proposed 696-unit development by Geocon on the site of the Phillip swimming pool and ice skating rink. Picture supplied "My deputy director-general (Kareena Arthy) has had a couple of conversations with Ben Ponton recently and it has suggested there might be a small window to amend the stated requirements for the Phillip site as part of the current planning work that is underway (ie tighten the words around what the minimum requirements should be for a new pool should the site be redeveloped in the future)," Mr Jeffrey wrote in an email on October 17, 2022. At one point in the email trail, Mr Jeffrey writes that without a more specific spelling out of the minimum requirements for a pool in any future development at Phillip, a lessee could interpret the current wording as them only needing to provide a "50 metre pool that only has 1 lane". He also says while there is a risk the changes will not be well-received by the community, "reducing the main pool, down from 50 metres to 25 metres, justifies the inclusion of the other pool facilities" such as the learn-to-swim pool. The previous Territory Plan stated a 50-metre pool must be provided on the Phillip site. But should there be any redevelopment of the site, the lessee would be required to provide "an all year with reasonable opening hours, publicly available indoor swimming pool". The new Territory Plan ultimately spelt out that if the site was redeveloped, a publicly available, indoor facility was to be provided that included a minimum: 25m x 20m eight-lane swimming pool - water depth of 1.35m to 2.0m. Warm water program pool - minimum dimensions of 20m x 10m. Toddlers/leisure pool, learn to swim pool and/or water play splash pad - minimum size 500 square metres . A transition from within the centre to the outdoors (including to external gardens, decks and outdoor eating areas to support indoor/outdoor activities. Associated amenities to support the operation of the pool facilities. The design and inclusions of the pool would also have to be approved by the ACT government. The Geocon proposal is for an indoor public pool facility with cafe, splash pad, learn to swim area, toddlers' swimming area, leisure swimming area, 25-metre lap pool, program pool with relaxation area, steam and sauna room and outdoor area with water play/splash pad and entertainment area. Geocon has said, if approved, the development of almost 700 units and the aquatic centre at Phillip would be done in three stages. The ACT government says it will need to maintain the operation of the existing pool and ice skating rink until alternatives are provided. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Megan Doherty Journalist I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au More from Canberra 13 years ago six kinder kids were front page news. 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Georgia rallies, then holds off South Carolina StateVANCOUVER — Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Data show the problem spiked during COVID-19 when children began spending more time online — but rates did not wane as police anticipated after lockdowns ended. In B.C., they soared, almost quadrupling from 2021 to 2023. Const. Solana Pare is now warning exploitation of children is likely here to stay, as a technological race between police and predators gains momentum. “Technology is becoming more and more available, and online platforms and social media sites are being used by children younger and younger, which provides an opportunity for predators to connect with them,” Pare said in an interview. Police say child exploitation cases in B.C. went from about 4,600 in 2021 to 9,600 in 2022 to 15,920 reports last year. The upwards trend is seen nationally, too. Statistics Canada says the rate of online child sexual exploitation reported to police rose by 58 per cent from 2019 to 2022, and police data show cases have continued to rise. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre reported that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, it received 118,162 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences — a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Online child sexual exploitation, Pare explained, includes offences such as sextortion, child luring and the creation or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor. “We don’t see these types of reports going away,” Pare said. “We only see them increasing because the use of electronic devices and social media, and kids being online earlier and earlier is becoming more common. There’s going to be more opportunity for predators to target children online.” Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the most common type of child luring is communicating with a youth online in order get them to produce sexual abuse material. She said “the pandemic accelerated those types of cases, and it hasn’t slowed down.” “The tools (Canadian authorities) have to deal with this type of behaviour are inadequate for the scope and the scale of what’s going on,” she said. Online exploitation gained international attention in 2015 in the case of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager, Amanda Todd, who died by suicide after being blackmailed and harassed online by a man for years, starting when she was 12. The month before the 15-year-old died, she uploaded a nine-minute video using a series of flash cards detailing the abuse she experienced by the stranger and how it had affected her life. It’s been viewed millions of times. Dutch national Aydin Coban was extradited to Canada for trial and, in October 2022, he was convicted of charges including the extortion and harassment of Todd. Since then, the term “sextortion” has made its way into the vernacular as more cases come to light. Among them was Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy who died by suicide in October 2023 after falling victim to the crime. In New Brunswick that same month, 16-year-old William Doiron took his own life after falling victim to a global sextortion scheme. Mounties across Canada have issued news releases warning of increased cases in their communities, noting that the consequences for the victims can include self-harm and suicide. St. Germain said technology, such as artificial intelligence, is also becoming more user-friendly. “The existence of that technology and its ease of use and ready accessibility is a problem, and it is going to be an increasingly large problem as we move forward,” she said. Pare said police are also adapting to technological advancements in order to keep up with the ever-changing online landscape. “Police are constantly obtaining training on digital technologies to increase our knowledge and understanding of all the intricacies involving their use and how to capture any digital evidence,” she said. Pare said the true rates of the crime are impossible to determine, but pointed to increased social awareness and legislation across North America around mandatory reporting of child abuse material from social media companies as a potential reason for the increase. It’s not going undetected any longer, she said. “Additionally, there’s been a lot of use in artificial intelligence to detect child exploitation materials within those platforms.” Pare said “it’s up to each individual platform” to ensure there is no child sexual abuse material on their sites or apps. “With mandatory reporting, it’s putting the onus back on the electronic service providers to ensure they have measures in place to prevent this from happening, and if it is happening that it is being reported,” she said. “That being said, there are times when things don’t get located.” That is why the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been advocating for the adoption of the Online Harms Bill that the federal government introduced in February, St. Germain said. “It’s shocking that up until now, we’ve relied on companies to self regulate, meaning we’ve just relied on them to do the right thing,” she said. “What we are seeing in terms of the number of offences and in terms of all the harm that is happening in society as a result of online platforms is completely tied to the decision not to regulate. We need to have rules in any sector, and this sector is no different.” The Online Harms Bill covers seven types of harms, from non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Arif Virani announced the Liberal government will split the bill into two parts: dealing with keeping children safe online, and combating predators and issues related to revenge pornography. “We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill,” Virani told reporters on Dec. 5. Such measures would include a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada, which would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies’ digital safety plans. St. Germain said such a split “makes sense,” noting that most objections to the bill are related to changes to the Criminal Code and not measures around curbing harms to children. “There obviously are differences of opinion in terms of what is the best way forward, and what kind of regulatory approach makes sense, and who should the regulator be, but there does seem to be consensus on the idea that we need to do more in terms of protecting children online,” she said, adding that the organization is still in support of the second half of the bill. She said the United Kingdom previously passed its own Online Safety Act that will come into effect in 2025, which includes requiring social media firms to protect children from content such as self-harm material, pornography and violent content. Failure to do so will result in fines. “Canada is really behind,” she said. “The amount of information that has come out of the U.K., the amount of time and care and attention that their legislatures have paid to this issue is really quite remarkable, and we really hope that Canada steps up and does something for Canadian children soon.” In the absence of national legislation, province’s have filled the void. In January, B.C. enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act, providing a path for victims to have online photos, videos or deep fakes expeditiously removed. Individuals are fined up to $500 per day and websites up to $5,000 a day if they don’t comply with orders to stop distributing images that are posted without consent. B.C.’s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of Dec. 11, the Civil Resolution Tribunal had received a total of 199 disputes under the Intimate Images Protection Act. It said the Intimate Images Protection Service had served more than 240 clients impacted by the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, adding that four awards of $5,000 each and one for $3,000 had been supplied as of mid-December. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan have also enacted legislation targeting unauthorized distribution of intimate images. St. Germain said the use of provincial powers is also necessary, but it’s not enough. “A piece of provincial legislation is going to be very difficult to be effective against multiple actors in multiple countries,” she said, noting that the online crime is borderless. “We need something bigger — more comprehensive. We need to use all tools in the tool box.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press
TORONTO, Dec. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abaxx Technologies Inc., (CBOE: ABXX) (OTCQX: ABXXF) (" Abaxx ” or the " Company ”), a financial software and market infrastructure company, indirect majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd. (" Abaxx Singapore ”), the owner of Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse (individually, " Abaxx Exchange ” and " Abaxx Clearing ”), and producer of the SmarterMarketsTM Podcast, today announces that it has filed an early warning report in respect of MineHub Technologies Inc. (" MineHub ”). On December 27, 2024, pursuant to a share purchase agreement between Abaxx and MineHub dated December 3, 2024 (the " SPA ”), Abaxx acquired 8,810,000 common shares of MineHub (" MineHub Shares ”). Prior to the closing of the SPA (the " Closing ”), Abaxx held 8,333,333 MineHub Shares representing 10.83% of the issued and outstanding MineHub Shares on an undiluted and a partially diluted basis. Immediately after Closing, Abaxx held 17,143,333 MineHub Shares, representing 19.87% of the issued and outstanding MineHub Shares on an undiluted and a partially diluted basis. As a result of the MineHub Shares issued in connection with the SPA, Abaxx's holdings have changed by more than 2% on a partially diluted basis since the filing of its previous early warning report. The MineHub Shares held by Abaxx are for investment purposes. In accordance with applicable securities laws, Abaxx may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments of MineHub in the open market or otherwise, and reserves the right to dispose of any or all of such securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to such securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of MineHub and other relevant factors. This disclosure is issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues , which also requires an early warning report to be filed with the applicable securities regulators containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters. A copy of the early warning report will be filed by Abaxx under MineHub's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com or may be obtained at Abaxx's head office address at 110 Young St., Suite 1601, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T4. The MineHub Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MHUB”. MineHub is a corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia with its head office at Suite 918 - 1030 West Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2Y3, Canada. About Abaxx Technologies Abaxx is building Smarter Markets - markets empowered by better financial technology and market infrastructure to address our biggest challenges, including the energy transition. In addition to developing and deploying financial technologies that make communication, trade, and transactions easier and more secure, Abaxx is an indirect majority-owner of subsidiaries Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing, recognized by MAS as a "recognised market operator” (RMO) and "approved clearing house” (ACH), respectively. Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing are a Singapore-based commodity futures exchange and clearinghouse, introducing centrally cleared, physically deliverable commodities futures and derivatives to provide better price discovery and risk management tools for the commodities critical to our transition to a lower-carbon economy. For more information please visit abaxx.tech , abaxx.exchange and smartermarkets.media . Media and investor inquiries: Abaxx Technologies Inc. Investor Relations Team Tel: +1 246 271 0082 E-mail: [email protected] Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements” which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx's future plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "seeking”, "should”, "intend”, "predict”, "potential”, "believes”, "anticipates”, "expects”, "estimates”, "may”, "could”, "would”, "will”, "continue”, "plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Since forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. 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Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by Abaxx as at the date of this press release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such factors impacting forward-looking information include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate and extreme weather events; dilution; Abaxx's limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; regulatory risks in Singapore and Canada; the ability to list Abaxx's securities on stock exchanges in a timely fashion or at all; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; taxation; resource shortages; damage to the Company's reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Company's operations, whether true or not; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; the impact of inflation, including global energy cost increases; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions, protection of intellectual property rights, contractual risk, third-party risk; clearinghouse risk, malicious actor risks, third-party software license risk, system failure risk, risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure; changes in the price of commodities, capital market conditions and restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx's normal course of business. Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Abaxx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and information. Cboe Canada does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture, Ataullah Tarar categorically stated that there are no negotiations or talks taking place with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at any level. Speaking at a press conference, he emphasized that PTI’s protests have consistently harmed national interests and are now declared illegal, following Islamabad High Court’s orders. He warned that anyone participating in such protests would face arrest. The minister highlighted that PTI has a history of disrupting significant diplomatic events, including the visit of the Chinese president in the past, and is now attempting to sabotage the upcoming visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Ban on PTM based on concrete evidence, says Tarar “Pakistan is working towards economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening bilateral relations, yet PTI continues to call for protests during critical occasions,” he remarked. Tarar outlined Pakistan’s economic progress, mentioning that inflation has reduced from 32 per cent last year to 6.9 per cent this year. The first quarter of the current fiscal year witnessed $8.8 billion in remittances, and the interest rate dropped to 15 per cent, fostering economic improvement. Furthermore, Pakistan’s stock market has emerged as the world’s second-best-performing market, signaling positive economic indicators. The minister condemned the PTI’s alleged efforts to undermine relations with friendly nations, stating, “Belarus is a close ally of Pakistan, and both countries are collaborating on projects such as tractor manufacturing.” He expressed concern over PTI’s tactics to disrupt national harmony, including violent protests, damage to public and private property, and instigating unrest. Addressing the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarar criticised the provincial government for neglecting its responsibilities. “While our soldiers sacrifice their lives for the country’s safety, the provincial leadership focuses on political theatrics instead of ensuring peace and security in their region,” he said. He called for greater accountability and prioritization of law enforcement in the province. Responding to queries about PTI’s internal divisions, labeling them as faction-ridden and disorganised. He accused the party of fostering anti-state narratives and exploiting sensitive issues like religion and diplomacy for political gains. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Luke Humphries bid for back-to-back World Championship titles on track after winWASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump’s election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps’ Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump’s agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump’s choices portend for his second presidency. As budget chief, Vought envisions a sweeping, powerful perch The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president’s proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration’s agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” Vought could help Musk and Trump remake government’s role and scope The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025’s and Trump’s campaign proposals. Vought’s vision is especially striking when paired with Trump’s proposals to dramatically expand the president’s control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government’s roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump’s changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump’s choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans’ health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Homan and Miller reflect Trump’s and Project 2025’s immigration overl ap Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump’s longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump’s West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump’s Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” Project 2025 contributors slated for CIA and Federal Communications chiefs John Ratcliffe, Trump’s , was previously one of Trump’s directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document’s chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe’s chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe’s and Trump’s approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025’s FCC chapter and is to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts. ___
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Former President James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. has passed away at the age of 100. He served only one term from 1977 to 1981 and was defeated by Ronald Reagan, yet remained active in politics and diplomatic life. The 39th president lived longer than any other president in U.S. history. His death was announced on Sunday by his son, James E. “Chip” Carter III. Carter was born in Plains, Georgia, and attended the United States Naval Academy, serving as an officer on nuclear submarines. He later returned home to run the family peanut farm before entering political life. He rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party at a time when the South was undergoing profound changes with the end of the racial segregation system known as Jim Crow. He was elected governor of Georgia in 1970. Carter was considered a long shot for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976. But his evangelical faith and humble origins provided a wholesome antidote to the cloak-and-dagger politics of the Watergate era. The Carter presidency was the first Democratic presidency since Lyndon Johnson inaugurated the Great Society in 1968. It represented the beginning of a decline in liberalism, both in domestic and foreign policy. Carter could not manage the persistent problem of inflation, which hounded the U.S. economy throughout his term. Although he deregulated key industries, the full impact of these reforms would not be felt until later. In foreign policy, Carter brokered the Camp David Accords in 1978 between Israel and Egypt, for which he later received the Nobel Peace Prize. He boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow over the invasion of Afghanistan. But he stumbled badly in the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-80. Carter’s perceived weakness in the face of Iranian terrorism compounded doubts about his meek approach to foreign policy, which stressed diplomacy, to a fault. Carter was the first president to embrace an outlook that focused on America’s flaws. He installed solar panels on the White House, and tried to set an example of frugality, donning a sweater instead of turning up the heat. His approach was typified by what became known as the “malaise” speech in 1979, in which he encouraged the nation to consume less. His dour demeanor and his zeal for continued sacrifices caused voters to turn away. Reagan defeated Carter in 1980 by hammering the incumbent Democrat on the state of the economy, by promoting a foreign policy of “peace through strength,” and by offering a more optimistic outlook on America. Carter accepted defeat but remained active in public life — at times in controversial ways. In 1994, he inserted himself into a tense standoff between the U.S. and North Korea, foiling efforts to isolate the Kim regime. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to the congregation at Maranatha Baptist Church before teaching Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia on April 28, 2019. Carter, 94, has taught Sunday school at the church on a regular basis since leaving the White House in 1981, drawing hundreds of visitors who arrive hours before the 10:00 am lesson in order to get a seat and have a photograph taken with the former President and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images) In 2006, Carter caused outrage by comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa in a book that, critics said, appeared to justify terror. Carter refused to debate then-Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz over the book. Carter also lent weight to false “Russia collusion” conspiracy theories, claiming : “Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016. He lost the election and he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf.” The 39th president was regarded more fondly for his charitable work, including his efforts on behalf of Habitat for Humanity and with his own Carter Center . He also continued to teach Sunday School at a local church. Carter survived a bout with skin cancer, which in 2015 had spread to his liver and brain. He had been in ill health in recent days, and his family announced on Feb. 18 that he had elected to receive hospice care at home. He endured more than four decades of being described as a failed president. However, many of his ideas were revived under President Joe Biden, whose policies today arguably mirror those of the Carter administration. Carter was preceded in death last year by his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. He is mourned by his extended family, including his son and his grandson, former Georgia State Senator Jason Carter. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the new biography, Rhoda: ‘Comrade Kadalie, You Are Out of Order’ . He is also the author of the recent e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election . He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak .
Luke Humphries bid for back-to-back World Championship titles on track after winAmericans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they’re tuning out, Schneider National and its unmistakable orange semi trucks have thrown down the gauntlet – adding more than 5 million miles to its BEV tally and crossing the 6 million electric mile mark! The company says this latest all-electric milestone means Schneider has cut more than 20 million pounds of harmful carbon emissions. A total it says is equivalent to removing more than 2,100 gas-powered passenger cars from the road. “Reaching 6 million zero-emission miles is a testament to our steadfast dedication to sustainability and innovation,” said Schneider President and CEO, Mark Rourke. “Leading the way in adopting electric vehicle technology not only benefits the environment but also serves as an example of the broad service capabilities and flexibility we can offer to customers.” Schneider operates one of the largest fleets of Freightliner eCascadia electric semi trucks in the country, with fully 92 of the BEVs deployed (so far). The trucks have been operating in and around the ports of Southern California, where they have significantly reduced emissions and contributed to cleaner air quality while reliably transporting freight and saving SNDR money. “Schneider is a great example of the kind of forward-thinking entrepreneurship our industry needs,” says David Carson, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at DTNA. “They’ve achieved over 6 million zero emission miles, which is a reminder for us all to keep working on overcoming challenges together on the path to zero emissions. At DTNA, we’re committed to the shift to zero emissions, alongside pioneers like Schneider, who are showing us what’s possible.” Fifty of Schneider’ 92 eCascadias were funded by JETSI – a California-wide initiative working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of the remaining 42 five are jointly funded by the EPA’s FY18 Targeted Airshed Grant, seven are funded by the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, and 30 are funded by California’s HVIP incentive program. Schneider is among the many global fleets that are proving the reliability and efficacy of battery-electric semi trucks every day, racking up millions of miles faster than many of the nay-sayers thought would be possible. The only real question facing the world of electric trucking now is whether the legacy brands like and have established . : Schneider, via . and subscribe to the . I’ve been in and around the auto industry since the 90s, and have written for a number of well-known outlets like CleanTechnica, the Truth About Cars, Popular Mechanics, and more. You can catch me on The Heavy Equipment Podcast with Mike Switzer, the AutoHub Show with Ian and Jeff, or chasing my kids around Oak Park, IL.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. 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. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. 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. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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.” 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have announced they are expecting their first child together Michelle Keegan and her husband Mark Wright have announced they are expecting their first child together. The former Coronation Street star, 37, and the TOWIE favourite, who married in May 2015, shared the joyous news on Instagram on Sunday night. "2025 is going to be a special one for us... [baby emoji. love heart emoji]," read the caption of a post featuring a picture of Michelle showing off her baby bump on the beach, with Mark looking on lovingly. Among the first to congratulate the couple was Mark's best friend James Argent, who commented: "I love you and I'm so happy for you both," adding that he couldn't wait to become an uncle. This announcement comes after years of speculation about when the successful pair would start a family. In 2020, Michelle revealed that her family had finally stopped asking her about plans for a baby. "I get asked about children whereas Mark wouldn't for example," she explained to Women's Health. "Why haven't I had a child? When am I going to have a child? ' I don't know what they want me to say. I don't know what the right or wrong answer is." Laughing off the family inquiries, she told them: "Not any more! ... People don't mean any harm by it, but they know what the answer's going to be.", reports the Mirror . The Fool Me Once star has voiced her objection to being constantly questioned about her plans for starting a family, describing such probes as 'horrible'. In conversation with The Mirror on the topic of baby plans, she remarked: "It's horrible. People don't know if we're trying. They don't know the background of what's happening. In this day and age, you shouldn't be asking questions like that. I'm asked purely because I'm a woman. But I'm immune to it now – it's like a reaction, and as soon as I hear it I brush it off as it's no one else's business." Back in 2018, she expressed to Women's Health her desire for a large family: "I've always been broody. I love kids, and I want four, so hopefully in the near future." Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have been open about their family planning choices, with Michelle previously stating: "With kids, I used to want three or four. But now, I'm 31, we're not having kids any time before 32. I think we could have two or three. Twins would be great because you're getting two out of the way at once." However, in April 2023, the couple faced a wave of invasive comments on social media after sharing a photo of themselves with their premature nephew, Dustin Wright. The commentary reportedly left Michelle "furious" and "incredibly angry". The couple first met in Dubai at the end of 2012 and confirmed their relationship at the 2013 National Television Awards. Just nine months later, Mark proposed to Michelle during a trip back to Dubai. Mark Wright shared his emotions with The Mirror following his engagement, saying: "I've got now, for the first time in my life, what I've always wanted and what every boy dreams of – affection in a relationship, love, best friend, a girl I fancy... everything rolled into one." The couple then proceeded to have a fairy-tale wedding at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, celebrating afterwards at the grand Hengrave Hall. Following their opulent wedding, Michelle Keegan joined the cast of Our Girl, which took her to various exotic locations such as South East Asia and South Africa. This required the newlyweds to endure a long-distance relationship. Mark Wright, known from TOWIE, landed his ‘dream’ job in America on E!, resulting in him shuttling between Essex and Los Angeles. On the Jonathan Ross show, Michelle Keegan spoke about the struggles they faced being apart: "We were apart for about four months. It was really tough. People said how did you deal with it and stuff. Thank god for FaceTime and things like that. You're on a countdown the whole time just to get home. I had six months off when I went home, so I went to America." Having left Our Girl and the States behind in 2019, the pair settled back in Essex, spending considerable time creating their dream home before moving into their luxurious mansion. Now, the pair are welcoming their next chapter as parents in 2025.
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PLAINS, Ga. - Jimmy Carter , the 39th president of the United States who was known for his enduring commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian work, died on Dec. 29, 2024, just short of two years in at-home hospice care. He was 100 years old. The Carter Center confirmed his death, saying he died peacefully at his home in Plains, surrounded by his family. He was the longest-lived president in U.S. history. Carter's last public appearance was at his late wife Rosalynn Carter's funeral on Nov. 29, 2023. He was also briefly seen watching a U.S. Navy flyover with F-18s and World War II planes on his 100th birthday. FOX 5 Atlanta has made the decision not to show a close-up photo of former President Jimmy Carter out of respect. Related: Jimmy Carter covered by blanket paying tribute to Rosalynn Carter during Atlanta service James Earl Carter was born in Plains, Georgia, on October 1, 1924, into a family of peanut farmers. There, in the peanut capital of the world, the Carter family’s Baptist roots ran deep. Jimmy, as he liked to be called, was fond of the family business. But he grew to love the life of public service even more. Jimmy Carter on his peanut farm, Plains, Georgia, 1976. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images) (Getty Images) In his early years, Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia Tech and the U.S. Naval Academy. He went on to serve overseas. Jimmy Carter (Photo by Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) He married Rosalynn Smith , and they had three sons and a daughter. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter attend Former Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter's fundraiser for his 1976 Presidential run. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images) (Getty Images) After his father died in 1953, Jimmy Carter returned to Plains to take over the family farming supply business. While home, he became involved in community affairs, serving on the county school board, the hospital board and Georgia Planning Association. In 1962, amid the growing civil-rights movement, Carter was elected to the Georgia Senate. From there, it was on to a gubernatorial campaign in 1966. That attempt failed. But in 1971, Jimmy Carter became Georgia’s 76th governor. "I want to do a good job as governor, and I will do my best," he said at the time. From there, his political career flourished. In 1974, then-Gov. Carter announced his run for president. He won the Democratic Party nomination at the 1976 convention on the first ballot. On Nov. 2, 1976, Jimmy Carter, campaigning as a Washington outsider, defeated Republican incumbent Gerald Ford and won the White House. Democrat Jimmy Carter is sworn in by chief justice Earl Burger as the 39th president of the United States while first lady Rosalynn looks on, Washington DC, January 20, 1977. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Getty Images) President Carter served one term, from 1977 to 1981. There were some monumental highs during his time in office, such as the brokering of the Camp David accord between Egypt and Israel. "I kept Sadat in one cabin, Menachem Begin in another cabin, and I went back and forth between them ... to try to bring some resolution to the issues that divided the Israelis and Egyptians," Carter said. But his years in office were also beset by the energy crisis, inflation, high interest rates and the infamous "444 days" of the American hostage crisis in Iran. All the hostages were released on Carter’s last day as president, just as Ronald Reagan took office. After losing his bid for re-election, President Carter continued to champion human rights throughout the world. He founded The Carter Center in Atlanta to promote global health, democracy and human rights. "I wanted to figure out a way to do this, and The Carter Center was born from the answer to that question," he said. (Original Caption) 3/24/1979-Elk City, Okla.: Closeup of President Jimmy Carter, addressing a town meeting. American flag in background. After his presidency, Carter also became a strong advocate of Habitat for Humanity, solidifying his legacy as one of the country’s most productive former presidents. Over the years, he wrote more than two dozen books and continued efforts to promote worldwide peace by monitoring international elections and establishing various relief efforts. In 2015 came shattering news about his health. Carter candidly announced that he was battling liver and brain cancer. "Now I feel it’s in the hands of God, who I worship, and I’ll be prepared for anything that comes," he said. Extensive treatment followed, yet that did not stop Carter from doing what he did best: serving the people. He continued to lead Sunday School classes at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains and to help build Habitat for Humanity houses for those in need. Carter received many honors throughout his life. At the 2000 Democratic Convention, delegates rose to their feet in his honor. The USS Jimmy Carter, a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, was added to the Navy fleet. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn watch an Atlanta Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) (Getty Images) But, it was President Carter himself who said that his highest recognition came in 2002, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "It is with a deep sense of gratitude I accept this prize." James Earl Carter considered life itself a prize and said he cherished every moment: "I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, and I’ve had an adventurous and satisfying and gratifying existence." The public can share condolences on Jimmy Carter's official tribute website . The site has an online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life. The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307.Donald Trump’s choice of billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg as the No. 2 official at the Pentagon is part of a move by the president-elect to back up Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary, with deputies focused on bringing in business experience and new technology. Feinberg is co-founder and majority owner of Cerberus Capital Management LP and has a net worth of about $7.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The private equity firm has major investments in defense technology companies. If confirmed by the Senate, Feinberg would hold a job historically focused on hands-on management of the Pentagon and related concerns, such as industrial production. The role of deputies at the Pentagon has taken on outsized significance in the incoming administration. Trump’s pick of Hegseth to lead the complex bureaucracy, with its budget of more than $840 billion, has met with resistance, in part over his limited management experience. In addition, the former Fox News host, who served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of two veterans organizations he headed. His confirmation by the Senate remains uncertain. Hegseth’s public comments have focused on making good on Trump’s pledge to crack down on what he sees as “woke” initiatives at the Pentagon. In announcing his choice for deputy defense secretary on Sunday, Trump called Feinberg “an extremely successful businessman,” and also said that he will nominate: “Especially with Feinberg’s appointment, it signals a more business-oriented approach” to managing the Defense Department, said Clementine Starling-Daniels, director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program. “There are some real benefits to taking a different approach there,” she said, but there are also risks in backing new, smaller-scale projects to the detriment of “large complex programs” like Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter plane. Some of Cerberus’s portfolio companies have invested in hypersonic missile technology with both civilian and military applications. In addition, one of its companies, Tier 1 Group, provided paramilitary training to Saudis who later participated in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reported in 2021. Starling-Daniels also cited the limited experience of Trump’s top choices with the Pentagon’s complex bureaucracy. “If you don’t balance a secretary of defense with a deputy secretary of defense who really is attuned to how the department functions, I’m concerned that no matter what the policy priorities are, they will be really hard to enact,” she said. Colby, who would be the Pentagon’s policy chief, served as deputy assistant secretary of defense early in Trump’s first term. He has championed Trump’s vision to end the US role as “global policeman” and backed calls for allies to boost defense spending so the US can focus on the strategic threat from China — a theme he hit in his book, The Strategy of Denial, published in 2021. “A highly respected advocate for our America First foreign and defense policy, Bridge will work closely with my outstanding Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to restore our Military power, and achieve my policy of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump wrote on social media in announcing the picks, using Colby’s nickname. As acquisition chief, Duffey will be on the the front line of decisions on whether the Pentagon cuts back on traditional projects like the F-35 and turns instead to Silicon Valley for drones and AI. Billionaire Elon Musk, who’s become a top Trump adviser, has said “some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in an age of drones. Overseeing Pentagon spending in the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term, Duffey instructed the Pentagon to hold back $250 million in military aid to Ukraine while Trump was pressuring Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Joe Biden. Michael, who would be research and engineering chief, was ousted from Uber in 2017, amid turmoil over allegations of a toxic workplace culture. “Emil will ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers,” Trump said in one of his posts. Trump also announced that Joe Kasper would serve as chief of staff for the defense secretary. Kasper was a former Pentagon official in Trump’s first term before he was appointed as a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.