AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:32 a.m. ESTBy JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. — Once a booming shirt and collar factory, the Lion Factory building has been repurposed into affordable housing with a focus on sustainability.Now known as Lion Factory Apartments, the building was completely renovated by Regan Development Corporation, which hired U.W. Marx Construction Company, Natural Systems Engineering, and Family Danz Heating and Cooling to [...]Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Senator Talal Chaudhry has responded to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s remarks on the alliance between the two parties. Speaking to a private TV channel, Chaudhry said the PML-N remains committed to strengthening its coalition partnership with the PPP, describing it as essential for promoting democracy and political stability. “The current government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, has successfully steered the nation out of economic and political crises,” Chaudhry stated. Acknowledging PPP’s concerns, Chaudhry assured that all coalition issues would be resolved through mutual consultation, reiterating that both parties share a legacy of pivotal contributions to democratic progress. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. 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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressing the strategic importance of maritime security said Pakistan Navy was fully prepared to defend the sea boundaries of the country. Addressing the closing session of the 7th National Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW) at the Navy War College in Lahore, the PM lauded the Pakistan Navy’s unwavering commitment towards playing a significant role in maintaining national security. Terming blue economy vital for economic prosperity, PM Sharif lauded Pakistan Navy’s proactive measures to harness maritime resources for the nation’s development. PM Shehbaz Sharif said Gwadar Port due to its strategic location was a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic future and blue economy. He highlighted Gwadar Port’s its role in the development of regional trade and connectivity and stressed streamlining of processes at the port to facilitate importers and exporters. He expressed a strong commitment to leveraging maritime resources for economic progress and enhancing national security. He also acknowledged China as a vital partner, expressing gratitude for its steadfast cooperation in the maritime domain. Sharif also emphasized equipping the Karachi Port Trust with modern technology to execute loading and unloading of consignments from across the world. He highlighted the importance of National Shipping Corporation and announces to re-establish it in accordance with the commercial needs. The prime minister expressed satisfaction that Pakistan had ample talent and resources, however stressed the need to utilize them properly to get rid of the shackles of debt. He expressed the government’s firm resolve to eliminate terrorism across the country and paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces for their great sacrifices during anti-terrorism operations. He told the participants that the meetings of the Apex Committee were held regularly which aimed at ensuring peace and security in the country. Earlier, PM Sharif was received by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, upon his arrival at PN War College. In his welcome address, Commandant Pakistan Navy War College, Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood, provided an overview of workshop’s activities. A panel of participants presented a paper containing recommendations for a National Maritime Policy. The panel analyzed the maritime environment, highlighting its impact on national security and economic prosperity, and proposed measures to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The participants included parliamentarians, policymakers, bureaucrats, academics, entrepreneurs, armed forces officers, and media representatives. The Maritime Security Workshop is an annual event organized by Pakistan Navy to enhance understanding of maritime security dynamics, create awareness about Blue Economy, and explore Pakistan’s untapped maritime potential.
NoneThe Texas Longhorns had a scary moment in the second quarter when Quinn Ewers limped off the field due to an ankle injury following a touchdown run by Jaydon Blue. Ewers appeared to be bothered by the injury for the rest of the afternoon, and the offense would rely heavily on the rushing attack. Texas star quarterback would finish the game 20-of-31 passing for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Texas would prevail in a 31-14 win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The victory helped set up a high-stakes matchup between Texas and Texas A&M in Week 14. The game's winner will face Georgia in the SEC championship on Dec 7. The status of Ewers' availability was in doubt for Texas' contest against the Aggies at Kyle Field on Sunday morning. The junior quarterback out of Southlake, Texas underwent a precautionary MRI to determine the severity of the ankle injury. The Longhorns wanted to make sure Ewers did not have structural damage. Per Anwar Richardson of Yahoo Sports, Ewers' diagnosis is a mild ankle sprain. He is expected to start against Texas A&M. Richardson referred to the report as "good news." "Good news," Richardson posted on X. "I’m told Texas QB Quinn Ewers only has a mild ankle sprain and will be good to go for Texas A&M on Saturday." Good news! I’m told Texas QB Quinn Ewers only has a mild ankle sprain and will be good to go for Texas A&M on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/57u7usHq35 Some Texas fans on social media are concerned about Ewers' mobility for Saturday's game. "I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic or not," wrote a fan in response to the "good news" claim. "A mild ankle sprain, while it won’t have any negative impacts on Quinn’s future, absolutely gives Sark serious concern in playing Ewers on Saturday and beyond. Zero chance he should play with a mild ankle sprain." Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images "That 'minor' sprain sure seemed to impact him in the 2nd half of yesterday's game," posted another. "Hope he is mobile enough to pass well Sat. I don't think we will be able to rely solely on the running game." Related: Texas QB Quinn Ewers Reportedly Undergoing Medical Procedure For InjuryAmid the continuing debate over a proposal to name a stretch of KRS road in Mysuru as ‘Siddaramaiah Aroga Marg’, senior JD(S) leader G.T. Deve Gowda said he sees “nothing wrong in naming the road after the Chief Minister if it is not already named as Princess Road”. Fielding queries from reporters on the issue during the Hanuma Jayanti celebrations in Mysuru on Saturday, Mr. Gowda initially tried to duck the question by expressing his reluctance to speak “politics” during the religious festival. When persisted by the reporters, Mr. Gowda said he was not aware of the subject much except that an application had been submitted to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to name a stretch of KRS road after Mr. Siddaramaiah. He also pointed out that no decision had been taken yet on the application submitted to the MCC. Mr. Gowda also pointed to Mysuru Lok Sabha member Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar’s statement that the road had been as “Princess Road” after Princess Krishnajammanni Avaru and the contention by the Congress leaders that there were no official records to show that the road had been named as “Princess Road”. “If the road has not officially been named Princess Road, there is nothing wrong in naming it after the Chief Minister,” Mr. Gowda remarked. Mr. Gowda is the second Opposition leader to show no opposition to naming the road after Mr. Siddaramaiah after former BJP MP Prathap Simha, who welcomed the proposal. A day earlier on Friday, Chamaraja Assembly constituency’s Congress MLA Harish Gowda, who has submitted an application to the authorities for naming the stretch of road after Mr. Siddaramaiah, said the road will be named after the Chief Minister even if he does not give his consent to the proposal. He said the stretch of KRS road from Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy Temple to Outer Ring Road has become a “healthcare complex” with several healthcare facilities coming up, thanks to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s contributions in the regard. He rejected BJP leaders’s opposition to naming the road after Mr. Siddaramaiah and said the saffron party leaders were averse to the proposal for political reasons. He found no merit in the argument put forward by BJP’s Mysuru city president L. Nagendra that roads were named after a person only after her or his death. He cited several examples of roads, stadiums, and institutions named after living personalities to counter Mr. Nagendra’s opposition on the matter. Published - December 28, 2024 08:22 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
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Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. “Everyone’s bummed out,” said winger Tom Wilson, who has played with Ovechkin since 2013. “We were sitting there saying: ‘This is weird. Like, it’s unbelievable that he’s actually hurt.’ It’s one of those things where like, he’s going to miss games? I’ve been around a long time, and it’s new to me.” Ovechkin in his first 19 seasons missed 59 games — and just 35 because of injury. Durability even while throwing his body around with his physical style is a big reason he is on track to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 goals that once looked unapproachable. “He doesn’t go out there and just coast around,” Wilson said. “He’s played 20 years every shift running over guys and skating. He’s a power forward, the best goal-scorer ever maybe, and he’s a power forward that plays the game really hard.” Ovechkin surged to the top of the league with 15 goals in his first 18 games this season. He was on pace to break the record and score No. 895 sometime in February. “You know when goal-scorers start scoring, it’s dangerous,” said defenseman John Carlson, who has been teammates with Ovechkin since 2009-10. “There was a bit of that in the downs that everyone was feeling about it too, of course. We see him coming to the rink every day, we know what’s at stake. You never want anyone to get injured, but there’s a lot to it and certainly he was playing his best hockey in years.” ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday that she hired an assassin to kill the country’s president, his wife and the speaker of the House of Representatives if she turns up dead. “I’ve given my order, ‘If I die, don’t stop until you’ve killed them.’ And he said, ’yes,’” the vice president told a shocked news conference. Officials said they considered her words, aimed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., “serious and a matter of national security.” Duterte and Marcos ran together on a unity ticket in 2022 only to have a bitter falling out that saw her resign from his cabinet. The vice president takes over if the president dies and serves the rest of their term, according to the Philippine Constitution. Duterte is the daughter of controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte, who encouraged the execution-style extrajudicial murders of drug users and alleged criminals and who admitted to running his own “death squad” when he was mayor of Davao City. House leaders called for a probe into Duterte’s threat on Sunday. British popstar Adele gave a teary farwell to the audience at her 100th and final Las Vegas show Saturday night. The “Easy on Me” singer expressed sorrow to see the end of her lengthy residency at the 4,000-capacity Colosseum at Caesars Palace and said she doesn’t know when she’ll next play live. “I’m so sad this residency is over but I am so glad that it happened, I really, really am,” she told the crowd, videos posted from the concert show. “I will miss it terribly, I will miss you terribly. I don’t know when I next want to perform again.” The London-born singer, 36, was set to begin her Vegas residency in January 2022 before a Covid outbreak among crew pushed it back to later in the year. She played every Friday and Saturday. “I’m not doing anything else, I’m actually sh—ing myself about what I am going to do,” she joked to the audience. “I don’t have any f—ing plans.” "I will miss it terribly and I will miss you terribly. I don't know when, I'm gonna next perform again". #WeekendsWithAdele pic.twitter.com/qSAlx3p20o The downsides of the gym include the lingering smell, the wait for weights, and the nagging feeling that others might be silently judging your form or how much you’re lifting. Johnson Fitness & Wellness’ Matrix Bundle gives you a full gym experience in the comfort of your own home. This package includes adjustable dumbbells, a bench, and a dumbbell storage rack. The star of this bundle is the adjustable dumbbell set , which makes getting a complete workout smoother than you ever imagined. With a twist of the textured metal handles, you can adjust the weight in precise five-pound increments up to a maximum of 50 pounds, replacing a bulky set of traditional weights. Plus, the flat-bottom design keeps the dumbbells steady, so they won’t roll away between reps. Also included in this bundle are an adjustable bench and dumbbell storage rack . This sleek bench provides exceptional stability for a wide range of exercises, like dumbbell presses, incline rows, and Bulgarian split squats. It easily stores upright to save floor space. The storage rack keeps your new dumbbells elevated for easy access and a clutter-free workout space. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. A 69-year-old Lithuanian man was forced to undergo an emergency leg amputation during a 20-hour rescue operation in the Tasmanian wilderness. The man, who remains in critical condition, arrived at Tasmania’s Royal Hobart hospital on Sunday. He had been participating in a multi-day rafting trip with a group of tourists on the Franklin River when he slipped on a rock, becoming partially submerged and trapped in a crevice where he remained for nearly 20 hours. Mitch Parkinson, an intensive care flight paramedic who responded to the scene told The Guardian that the predicament was “the most challenging case that I have ever taken part in.” One surf lifesaver described the man as “wedged like an hourglass.” He and other rescuers tried freeing him using ropes and pulleys, eventually deploying airbags and hydraulic tools to try to shift the submerged rocks that were pinning the man. “The focus of the entire evening was ensuring that [amputation] was the absolute last resort,” Parkinson said. Deciding to amputate , he added “was not a discussion or decision that was made lightly.” The trapped man spoke only broken English, but his Lithuanian friends helped to supply him with hot drinks and meals during the rescue. A Lithuanian doctor in the tour group was able to act as a translator. Chuck Woolery, the legendary host of the dating show “Love Connection,” has died at 83. The veteran television personality, who was the original host of “Wheel of Fortune,” died at his home in Texas Saturday after experiencing trouble breathing, TMZ reported . His friend, Mark Young, also confirmed the news, writing on X, “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away. Life will not be the same without him, RIP brother.” In 1983, Woolery kicked off his 11-year stint as the host of the famed dating show, “Love Connection,” where he became known for telling viewers before the commercial break, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds.” Other notable television gigs included hosting the shows “Lingo,” “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show.” One of the best parts of traveling is all the new and exciting cuisines you can try. But with all the chaos of a new environment, it can be all too easy to miss out on delicious dishes. Eating Europe Food Tours ensures this doesn’t happen with meticulously planned and award-winning tours led by fun, local guides across sixteen different cities including Rome , Lisbon , Paris , and Florence . Its Twilight Trastevere , Undiscovered Lisbon , and Sunset Florence tours are among some of Eating Europe Food Tours best sellers. These tours immerse you in both the flavors and rich culture of the local scene. Booking one is easy: head to Eating Europe Food Tours , select your destination city, and explore a variety of exciting tour options waiting for you. There are day tours, evening excursions, family-friendly adventures, and private tours with exclusive access to famous restaurants. The tours typically last three to four hours and always have a meeting point within easy reach of public transportation. All food and drinks are included in the price of the tour. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, Eating Europe Food Tours offers a fun way to step beyond the typical tourist experience. Book on Eating Europe Food Tours’ website and get a code for 10% off a second tour. If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. TikTok is looking to Elon Musk for insight into the controversial app’s future ahead of Donald Trump ’s coming administration. Musk, who is one of the president-elect’s closest confidants, also owns rival platform X. According to the Wall Street Journal , Shou Chew, chief executive of the popular video sharing app, began reaching out to Musk in recent weeks. He and and executives at TikTok’s parent company, Chinese tech giant ByteDance, see the Tesla CEO as a potential point of contact in the White House amid TikTok’s impending ban in the United States due to national security concerns. While sources familiar with the conversations say Chew has not explicitly asked Musk how to keep TikTok operating in the U.S., he has engaged with the billionaire on topics like Trump’s potential tech policy. ByteDance executives are reportedly cautiously optimistic about the conversations. Earlier this year, however, President Joe Biden signed a law banning TikTok if ByteDance doesn’t divest itself of the platform by mid-January. In May, TikTok filed a federal lawsuit arguing the new law violates the free-speech rights of its users. Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have to pony up $14,069 after the NFL fined him for unsportsmanlike conduct. According to NBC Sports, the fine stems from a “violent” gesture Mahomes made last Sunday during a touchdown celebration in a game against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills would go on to win the game, ending the Chiefs’ winning streak. A video posted to X by sports reporter Tom Pelissero shows the moment in question. In the clip, Mahomes can be seen making finger guns with both hands and pointing towards the crowd. Mahomes has yet to comment on the fine. Unfortunately for the three-time Super Bowl champion, this isn’t his first fine for conduct on the field. He was previously fined $50,000 for yelling at a game official in 2023 during another game against the Bills. “I had outbursts on the sideline and everybody saw it on a big game, and so there’s going to be consequences to that,” ESPN reports Mahomes said at the time. The NFL fined #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture) as he celebrated a touchdown pass last week in Buffalo ... pic.twitter.com/dXgnmYJSYp Just days after Liam Payne’s funeral, Zayn Malik paid tribute to the late One Direction member at his concert in Leeds. X user @nandiscaya captured the tribute and posted the emotional video to X. In it, a large screen displays Payne’s name along with his birth and death year and a message that reads, “Love you bro.” Fans can be heard screaming as the song “Stardust” begins to play. Malik and his band clear the stage as the tune from his latest album is played and sung aloud by emotional concertgoers. Fans can be heard sobbing and breaking down in the audience. The 31-year-old musician first responded to Payne’s death in an Instagram post last month with a throwback photo of the two sleeping. The remaining four One Direction members paid their respects to Payne on Wednesday at his funeral service in Amersham. His burial came more than a month after he fatally fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina. Zayn Malik's tribute to Liam Payne at the end of his first concert of the tour while playing Stardust I'm shaking and crying pic.twitter.com/ZojybxjGXa President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that he has chosen Brooke Rollins to be the latest United States secretary of agriculture. In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump writes that Rollins previously served on his 2016 Economic Advisory Council and was the director of the Domestic Policy Council during his first term. Rollins, an attorney, got a degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University and currently runs the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit aiming to implement Trump’s policies. Also, in his post, Trump says, “Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country.” In her new role, Rollins will be tasked with running the USDA, a department with 100,000 employees that farmers depend on. In an Instagram post, Rollins thanked Trump for her appointment. “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities,” she wrote. A post shared by Brooke Rollins (@brookelrollins) Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. As any true audiophile already knows, Amazon Music Unlimited has long been a reliable destination for an elevated listening experience. With millions of high-quality songs and an unparalleled collection of top ad-free podcasts, the platform’s catalog is curated to capture both your attention and your imagination. Now, Amazon is raising the bar with an exciting update: Audible is officially joining Amazon Music Unlimited, cementing the brand’s status as an all-in-one audio hub . 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Audio art, conversation, and storytelling—all in one place. What’s not to love? Sign up today and get lost in the sound . President-elect Donald Trump ’s attorney general nominee was once accused of stealing a Louisiana family’s dog named Tank. In 2005, Tank’s then owners, Steve and Dorreen Couture, put the Saint Bernard in a Louisiana animal shelter to weather Hurricane Katrina . The pooch, however, made his way to Florida amid the storm’s chaos and was ultimately adopted by Bondi, the Tampa Bay Times reported . Tank was one of thousands of dogs separated from their owners during Katrina. In 2006, Tank’s original owners tracked him down in the the Tampa Bay area, but Bondi reportedly did not want to return the adopted animal. A 16-month legal battle ensued during which the Florida prosecutor claimed Tank had been “ severely neglected ‚” riddled with heartworms, and abused while in the care of the Coutures. The family denied Bondi’s allegations, suing Bondi and demanding she return Tank. The two sides settled privately, with the dog returning to the Coutures’ custody. Despite the Coutures alleging Bondi “stole” their dog, she claimed throughout her successful campaign for Florida attorney general in 2010 that she had received a “tremendous amount of support from people and animal rights activists” over the legal battle. Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has a new coach who knows his game better than just about anyone else—his longtime rival Andy Murray. The Serbian announced that he was teaming up with his fellow one-time world No. 1 in a Saturday post on X, which featured a brief compilation of the pair’s countless on-court duels set to dramatic music. “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,” Djokovic said in a voice-over for the video. “We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers. I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.” Murray hung up his racket in August after playing at pro level for 19 years, winning two Olympic championships and three Grand Slams. “He never liked retirement anyway,” Djokovic wrote in the post’s caption in a reference to Murray’s own retirement post . He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQWVOA Mandarin: NBA games returning to China for first time in 6 years
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — An online spat between factions of President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hard-line immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mt. Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world’s richest man, who has grown close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but also for his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas, used by software engineers and other skilled workers in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally, but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes. Price writes for the Associated Press.
Ecolab Inc. ( NYSE:ECL – Get Free Report ) major shareholder William H. Gates III sold 70,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.95, for a total transaction of $17,216,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 29,178,741 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,176,511,348.95. This represents a 0.24 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a company’s shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Ecolab Stock Performance Ecolab stock opened at $245.30 on Friday. Ecolab Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $186.00 and a fifty-two week high of $262.61. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $251.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $244.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $69.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.13. Ecolab ( NYSE:ECL – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.82 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $4 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.03 billion. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.05% and a return on equity of 22.12%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.54 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 6.65 EPS for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Get Our Latest Stock Report on ECL Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ECL. NBC Securities Inc. grew its stake in Ecolab by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,778 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $453,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 0.3% during the third quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC now owns 15,429 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $3,940,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Ecolab by 3.0% during the third quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,391 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $355,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Bangor Savings Bank increased its stake in Ecolab by 17.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 292 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Finally, Pine Haven Investment Counsel Inc lifted its position in Ecolab by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Pine Haven Investment Counsel Inc now owns 2,840 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $676,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. 74.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Ecolab ( Get Free Report ) Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial; Global Institutional & Specialty; and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Ecolab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ecolab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
NoneMaverick McNealy birdies the last hole at Sea Island to finally become PGA Tour winnerAs one of the world's premier superstar athletes, LeBron James often finds himself on the receiving end of criticism over his views on basketball, life, and the world of politics. MMA star Colby Covington became the most recent public figure to call him out and even went viral for calling James a "f***ing scumbag." “I wanna ask LeBron, what does he mean by ‘There’s no party like a Diddy party’? Not only that, but I wanna ask how many Diddy parties he's been to," said Covington on media day . "LeBron you’re a f***ing scumbag and I hope you get locked up in the same cell with Diddy." LeBron James has managed to avoid any serious controversies after 21 years in the NBA but his political views often incite anger in some of his biggest critics -- even if it wasn't meant to be controversial. In the case of Colby Covington, he's been a longtime hater of LeBron James and has gone to great lengths to try and smear his legacy. In the past, Colby has called LeBron a coward, a communist, and even a " Chinese finger puppet ." He's been vocal about his hatred for the King and about how he uses tricks to enhance his reputation. In this latest quote, Colby is seemingly exposing LeBron for his apparent (and unconfirmed) connection to Diddy, who was recently arrested on sex trafficking charges. Diddy's infamous parties have become legendary in the community and anyone associated with them has been branded as partially complicit in his behavior. LeBron doesn't have any personal connection to Diddy but he may have admitted to going to one of his parties in a resurfaced video that has gone viral online. Seemingly, many stars have attended the "Diddy" parties over the years, which may or may not have included illegal sex acts. If James were ever caught participating in something like that, his entire reputation would essentially be shot and the image he's worked so hard to build over the past 20 years will almost immediately be washed away. Fortunately for James, that comment is the only connection he has to Diddy but it's still enough for some (like Colby Covington) to use it against LeBron's legacy. As arguably LeBron's biggest hater, this won't be the last we hear from Covington on this subject but he shouldn't expect to get any response from LeBron. At this stage of his career, James has accomplished far too much to let one man's petty hatred get under his skin. Instead, this season, LeBron is keeping his head down and taking care of business one game at a time. For those he can't win over with his superior work ethic, he'll win over with his sheer dominance on the court. But James doesn't really care either way because the only validation he needs is from himself. With averages of 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game this season, LeBron is defying Father Time with every game and he's setting a new standard for individual greatness in the modern era. In the meantime, he's also giving back to his community, supporting his family by helping them achieve their dreams and growing his empire in business and entertainment. At this point, it's no wonder why LeBron is unphased by all the hate and why he lets people like Colby Covington go off on his name with no response. This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.
Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey, lawmaker says A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the Year NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and be named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Thursday's events will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who has long seen praise from the business world and media as a sign of success. Four people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press that Trump was expected to be on Wall Street on Thursday to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, while a person familiar with the selection confirmed that Trump had been selected as Time's Person of the Year. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina.Florida State continues torrid star with rout of UMassNone