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Shares of Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PRTH – Get Free Report ) gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $10.83, but opened at $11.49. Priority Technology shares last traded at $11.55, with a volume of 147,513 shares traded. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently weighed in on PRTH. B. Riley lifted their price target on shares of Priority Technology from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Priority Technology from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Lake Street Capital increased their price target on Priority Technology from $8.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. View Our Latest Analysis on PRTH Priority Technology Stock Performance Insider Buying and Selling In other Priority Technology news, insider Sean Kiewiet sold 4,483 shares of Priority Technology stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.00, for a total value of $26,898.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,065,158 shares in the company, valued at $6,390,948. The trade was a 0.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders sold 76,766 shares of company stock valued at $656,166 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 76.30% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of Priority Technology A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in Priority Technology by 6.1% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 22,347 shares of the company’s stock valued at $153,000 after acquiring an additional 1,293 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of Priority Technology by 61.7% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 15,983 shares of the company’s stock worth $109,000 after purchasing an additional 6,096 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Priority Technology by 15.8% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 56,557 shares of the company’s stock worth $386,000 after purchasing an additional 7,719 shares in the last quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Priority Technology by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 66,675 shares of the company’s stock valued at $455,000 after purchasing an additional 9,675 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Corsair Capital Management L.P. boosted its position in shares of Priority Technology by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Corsair Capital Management L.P. now owns 105,458 shares of the company’s stock worth $720,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. 11.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Priority Technology ( Get Free Report ) Priority Technology Holdings, Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMB) Payments, Business-To-Business (B2B) Payments, and Enterprise Payments. It offers SMB payments processing solutions for B2C transactions through independent sales organizations, financial institutions, independent software vendors, and other referral partners through its MX product suite, which includes MX Connect and MX Merchant products, such as MX Insights, MX Storefront, MX Retail, MX Invoice, MX B2B and ACH.com, and others, which provides flexible and customizable set of business applications that helps to manage critical business work functions and revenue performance to resellers and merchant clients using core payment processing. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Priority Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Priority Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim’s sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê says she grew up with Sebastien Gauthier in Quebec City and considered him her best friend. Lê says Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat in Florida’s Broward County when it exploded and she was taken to a hospital. She says Gauthier’s family was in Florida to celebrate the holidays and that his sudden death feels “unimaginable.” A video posted on social media Monday shows the vessel engulfed in flames following the explosion, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries, saying a preliminary investigation shows the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started. Lê remembers Gauthier as someone who was always smiling and says she is waiting for answers about what led to her friend’s death.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, making it the perfect place for the focus of a meaningful holiday gift for new or aspiring homeowners. Smart tools that combine style, functionality and cutting-edge technology take kitchen duties to a whole new level. Here are some standout smart kitchen tools that any homeowner or homeowner-to-be would love, as reviewed by PC Magazine. Bring smart tech to meal prep If you’re seeking culinary inspiration or enhancing your skills with a cooking show, consider the third-generation Echo Show 8 smart display. Its high-definition screen and immersive audio make it perfect for watching cooking shows, streaming music, or following recipes hands-free. Simply ask Alexa — the cloud-based voice assistant — to set timers, convert measurements, or add items to your shopping list. The Echo Show 8 also allows you to pair and control other smart devices in your home that are compatible with Zigbee, Matter and Thread. To brighten your cooking space and warm up your kitchen, consider GE’s Cync Reveal under-cabinet and under-counter smart lights . These puck lights offer bright adjustable lighting with app control and are compatible with Matter for hands-free voice or remote control. While plug-in installation is straightforward, direct wiring provides the sleekest-looking install. If you have concerns about handling wiring, hire an electrician to install the lights. Self-cleaning robots for kitchen cleanup No cooking event is complete without the final cleanup, and the more help you can get the better. Enter a good robot vacuum to the rescue. The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE features a large dustbin in its base station that only needs emptying about once a month. The vacuum rarely gets stuck and can be controlled from your phone or voice, allowing you to set cleaning schedules, target specific rooms, or establish no-go zones. It has a self-cleaning brush roll for pet guardians and is powerful enough to remove pet fur from carpeting. Another option for pet guardians is the iRobot Roomba j9+ , with its Pet Owner Official Promise (POOP) guarantee — if the vacuum fails to avoid solid pet waste in its first year, the company will replace it for free. There’s also a self-emptying robot vacuum, like the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni , which has a self-emptying dustbin, a mop that cleans and dries itself, and a built-in voice assistant. If you’re shopping on a budget, PC Magazine suggests the Roomba Combo Essential , which has seamless app setup, mopping and navigation abilities. But why stop there? You can also get a robot mop. The Bissell SpinWave Wet and Dry robot mop features two spinning microfiber pads for a spotless finish, while the iRobot Braava Jet m6 is another excellent option. Furbo smart cameras for pet lovers In keeping with gifts tied to the heart, here’s an option to treat pet owners and their furry friends. This device doubles as a pet sitter and indoor home security camera, with barking alerts, the ability to hear and talk to your pooch, and to toss treats from your phone. The Furbo 360 Dog Camera offers a livestream video to watch your pooch morning, afternoon, or night. Cat lovers aren’t left out, either. The Furbo 360 Cat Camera offers similar features tailored to feline families, with sound effects and notifications designed to entertain cats. Smart gadgets exist for every area of the home, so you’re sure to find one to suit the homeowners or renters on your holiday list. Explore the complete list of smart devices reviewed by PC Magazine at www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-smart-home-devices . Tom Kalinski is the broker/owner of RE/MAX of Boulder, the local residential real estate company he established in 1977. He was inducted into Boulder County’s Business Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a 40-year background in commercial and residential real estate. For questions, e-mail Tom at tomkalinski33@gmail.com , call 303.441.5620 or visit boulderco.com . Stay up to date with area Real Estate and Home & Garden news information with the latest e-edition version of atHome Colorado online This article is brought to you by atHome Colorado , your weekly insight into real estate, design, and community trends, published weekly by the advertising and marketing department in the Boulder Daily Camera, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Greeley Tribune, and Longmont Times-CallPartymen free to marry across political lines: MayaWASHINGTON (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.
Janet M. Kittley, 97, of Kasson, formerly of Rochester, MN, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at The Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus. Janet (Jan) was born on August 23, 1927, in Rochester, NY, to Melville and Helen (Stein) Mackay. After graduating from Clinton High School in Clinton, NY, she attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and studied shorthand at Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, NY. In the late 1940’s, Jan moved to Rochester, MN, where she worked as a secretary for Dr. M.S. Henderson in the orthopedic section of The Mayo Clinic. On September 9, 1950, Jan married William (Bill) Kittley in Rochester, MN. The couple had two daughters, Beth and Susan. Jan worked as the office manager at the Civic League Day Nursery for 22 years before retiring, giving her and Bill more time to travel. Jan had many interests. She loved to read, especially mysteries and westerns, and was an avid crossword puzzle solver. She enjoyed playing Bridge, Farkle, and Bingo. Jan and Bill traveled extensively, including month-long trips to Hawaii, Spain, and many road trips in the U.S. She had a deep appreciation for nature, enjoying the wildlife around the 33-acre home they built together. A fan of outdoor activities, she loved biking along the Douglas Trail, golfing, and attending grandchildren’s sporting activities. Her family and friends knew her as strong-willed and feisty. She was never short of an amusing comment, and shared her witty sense of humor with everyone throughout her life. Jan found joy in meeting new people and learning new things. She considered herself a lifelong learner and enjoyed taking creative writing classes as an adult. Her attention to detail was always evident. She is survived by her daughters, Beth (Wayne) Fieck and Susan (Alan) Utesch; three grandchildren, Kelly (Jon Wright) Utesch, Adam (Daryna Bulakovska) Utesch and Colin Fieck; three great-grandchildren, including Tanner Weifenbach; and nephews and nieces, Jeff, Mel, Jack, Robin, Debra and Sandra. Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Melville and Helen; her sister, Joan Brown; and her brother, Melville Mackay II. A celebration of Janet’s life will be held at a later date.
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( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Generative AI In Retail Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 9, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! The Generative AI In Retail industry is skyrocketing to noteworthy heights, with its projected market size expected to surge from $0.57 billion in 2023 to $0.79 billion in 2024, indicating a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 39.5%. The expansion during this historical period can be ascribed to the increased availability of big data, e-commerce growth, enhancements in computational power, the rise of mobile commerce, and a decrease in technology costs. What is the anticipated market size and growth rate of Generative AI In Retail? The generative AI in retail market is projected to grow at an accelerated pace over the coming years. The market size is slated to reach $3.01 billion by 2028, charting a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 39.7%. Significant dynamics shaping this forecasted growth include augmented customer personalization, advancements in inventory management, dynamic pricing strategies, optimized fraud detection, and streamlined customer support. Grab Your Exclusive Sample Report At: What are the key drivers for the explosive growth in the Generative AI In Retail market? The rise in e-commerce shopping is expected to be a significant propellant for the growth of the generative AI in retail market going forward. E-commerce shopping is increasingly preferred due to its convenience, diverse product range, and ease of access as compared to traditional retail. Generative AI augments e-commerce shopping by creating personalized product suggestions and enhancing customer interactions with dynamic, context-aware content. Reserve Your Exclusive Full Report At: Who are the industry leaders shaping the Generative AI In Retail market? Industry forerunners exerting their presence in the generative AI market include Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Hitachi Ltd., Tencent Holdings Limited, Amazon Web Services AWS, Intel Corporation, Accenture plc, International Business Machines IBM, Oracle Corporation, Fujitsu Limited, Nvidia Corporation, NEC Corporation, Capgemini SE, Baidu Inc., Infosys Limited, Adobe Inc., Wipro Limited, SAS Institute Inc., Tableau Software LLC, C3 inc., DataRobot Inc., ClarifAI inc., H2O inc. What are the emerging trends in the Generative AI In Retail market? The trend of developing advanced generative artificial intelligence-powered tools is picking up steam among major companies in the market. These tools, powered by AI algorithms, are capable of creating, optimizing, and automating tasks such as personalized product recommendations, inventory management, and marketing strategies, enhancing efficiency and promptly aiding decision-making in the retail industry. How is the generative AI in retail market segmented? The generative AI in retail market is segmented based on the following categories: 1 By Technology: Variational Autoencoders, Generative Adversarial Networks, Deep Reinforcement Learning, Recurrent Neural Networks, Transformer Networks, Other Technologies 2 By Deployment: Cloud, On-Premise 3 By Application: Product Design And Development, Visual Merchandising, Demand Forecasting, Personalized Marketing, Fraud Detection, Inventory Management, Supply Chain And Logistics, Other Applications 4 By Industry: Fashion And Apparel, Consumer Electronics, Home Decor, Beauty And Cosmetics, Grocery Shops, Online Platforms What are the regional insights into the generative AI in retail market? North America held the largest market share in the generative AI in retail market in 2023. The Asia-Pacific region, however, is expected to clock the fastest growth throughout the forecast period. Other regions analyzed in the generative AI in retail market report encompass Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Sports Global Market Report 2024 Generative Artificial Intelligence In Development And Operations (DevOps) Global Market Report 2024 Generative AI Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN08122024003118003196ID1108969464 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.United Cup Day 3 Predictions Including Coco Gauff vs Leylah Fernandez
Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Wemby at The Garden. LeBron vs. Steph. The NBA's Christmas Day lineup, as always, has star power LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix. Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched Cousins It was the most surprising first-round pick in a long time when the Atlanta Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the NFL draft last April. That came just six weeks after the Falcons had signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million in guarantees. But that move is no longer a head-scratcher after Penix's solid starting debut in place of a benched and turnover-prone Cousins. Several teams have fared well with new quarterbacks this season including the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings and Commanders. Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could be the start of a trend in ski racing. The 40-year-old American standout had replacement surgery in April and returned to the World Cup circuit after nearly six years last weekend. She says her knee feels “amazing" and that "it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems.” Her surgery was the first of its kind in World Cup skiing. Vonn had a robot-assisted surgery in April with part of the bone in her right knee cut off and replaced by two titanium pieces. She was planning her comeback a month later. Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for its third trip to the Fiesta Bowl. This time it's in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Boise State's first appearance on the national stage was in a memorable victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. But former coach Chris Petersen said the victory in that bowl three years later over TCU was even more meaningful for the program. Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Games on Christmas aren’t new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL’s longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That's been met with mixed feelings among the players. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley says there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum’s house. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected in the first half of Monday night’s game against San Antonio after drawing two technical fouls. Referee Jenna Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, head coach Nick Nurse and several assistants. Nikki Glaser uses Prime Video's NFL postgame show appearances to help prepare for Golden Globes INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikki Glaser has become a familiar face to football fans this season. Her breakthrough performance at the Tom Brady Roast on May 5 paved the way for five appearances on Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” postgame show. Glaser said before last Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers that doing her “Late Hits” segment was a no-brainer following her success at the Brady roast. Leaving Thunder, Bucks off the NBA's Christmas game list has those teams feeling snubbed Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and has a MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee has the NBA’s leading scorer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were the teams that made their way to the NBA Cup final. By any measure, they’re both very good teams. And neither will play on Christmas Day this year. Bah, humbug. The NBA faces the same challenge every summer, figuring out which 10 teams will get the honor of playing on Christmas Day. But the Bucks and Thunder are right to feel snubbed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsSwanson: Galaxy coaches share a rich legacy, but their focus is on the now
Wade Taylor IV racked up 19 points that included eight in the final 3:22 of the game as No. 22 Texas A&M outlasted Texas Tech 72-67 on Sunday afternoon in the USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Texas A&M (8-2) led by as many as 11 points in the first half and by three at halftime before the Red Raiders surged to the front early in the second half. Down 52-49, the Aggies produced an 11-0 surge capped by a jumper by Zhuric Phelps to take a 60-52 advantage with 5:02 to play The Aggies' margin was just two points when Taylor went hard to the hole on back-to-back possessions for layups that pushed the lead to 64-58. A 3-pointer by Tech's Chance McMillian cut lead to three but Taylor, Henry Coleman III and Solomon Washington converted free throws over the final 27 seconds to provide the deciding points for A&M. Jace Carter added 16 points and Phelps had 12 for the Aggies, who have won four straight games. McMillian's 23 points were a game high, while Kevin Overton added 17 and Darrion Williams had 11 for Texas Tech (7-2), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Aggies ruled the game's first five minutes, blitzing to a 13-2 lead thanks to eight early points from Taylor and a stifling defense that forced Tech into four turnovers. The Red Raiders responded with an 8-2 run capped by a jumper by Federiko Federiko to close the gap to five points at the 10:57 mark. Texas Tech continued to battle back, clawing to within 26-24 with 5:16 left in the first half thanks to a 9-0 run. Texas A&M boosted the margin to as many as six points after Manny Obaseki hit a layup with 2:23 remaining before McMillian canned a pair of free throws with 41 seconds to play to pull to within 34-31 at the break. Overton led all scorers with 14 points before halftime while Carter paced the Aggies with 13. The Red Raiders pulled even on Federiko's jumper 46 seconds into the second half, went in front on a jumper by Elijah Hawkins with 18:22 to play and pushed their advantage to five points on another Hawkins jumper at the 16:30 mark of the half. The Aggies swung back, tying the contest at 49 when Washington sank a 3-pointer with 10:48 left, setting the stage for the furious finish. --Field Level MediaLautaro Martinez ends goal drought as Inter keep pressure on Serie A leaders
AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:41 p.m. EST
Published 00:07 IST, December 29th 2024 Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has terminated the PhD programme of the then ACP Mohd Mohsin Khan, who allegedly raped a 26-year-old research scholar. Kanpur: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has terminated the PhD programme of the then Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mohd Mohsin Khan, who allegedly raped a 26-year-old IIT-K research scholar, an official said on Saturday. The action to cancel the PhD programme of Mohsin Khan, a 2013 batch PPS officer, has been taken after a recommendation from DGP headquarters. Mohsin Khan was pursuing his PhD in cybercrime and criminology from IIT-K. Director of IIT Kanpur Manindra Agarwal said that they have received a letter from the police department stating that the NOC (No Objection Certificate) issued for Khan to pursue the PhD programme has been cancelled. "Soon after getting the letter, the institute also terminated the PhD programme of Mohd Mohsin Khan, the then ACP Kanpur. The written communication has been made regarding termination," Agarwal told PTI. The IIT-K student lodged an FIR against Khan on December 24 on charges of criminal intimidation and defaming her. IIT-Kanpur's PhD student had stated in her FIR that Khan threatened her with serious life consequences and made objectionable posts with the intent to defame her by levelling fake charges. The ACP and his lawyer allegedly made a tweet and shared objectionable posts on social media platforms with the intent to defame her, the Assistant CP (Kalyanpur) Abhishek Pandey said. After receiving threats from Khan, the student told the police that she had confined herself to her hostel as she was scared of the consequences. She also told the police that Khan befriended her by falsely claiming to be unmarried and established a relationship with her. He later pressured her for physical intimacy under the pretext of marriage, Pandey said. She further told the police that every time she would bring up marriage, Khan would harass her. Unable to endure the distress, she approached the IIT-K's administration, including the director and professors, who assured her support. Based on her complaint, a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional DCP (Traffic) Archana Singh has been constituted to probe the matter, police said. "The SIT has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation and ensure the case is disposed of based on facts and evidence," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankita Sharma had earlier said. Meanwhile, the SIT has given 48 hours to Mohsin Khan to record his statements in the case, an official associated with the SIT requesting anonymity said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.) Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 00:07 IST, December 29th 2024Dr Satyadev Gupta India is a land of and cradle of ancient living and civilization of Hindus, who have been given different names at different times as Aryans, Aryavartees, Brahmavartees. Their social and religious virtues are based on “Vasudev Kutumbkam” that is whole world is a family and “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina” meaning that entire world should be happy and peaceful. The Vedic, Jain, or Buddh teachings preach moral and ethical values. Dharma was considered to be the foundation of harmonious and righteous society, where individuals were taught the guidelines to live on the principles of honesty integrity and compassion towards all living beings. The Indian faiths that believe in Karma philosophy I.e. persons action in this life will determine their destiny in the next life. Then why Hindus have faced plunders, atrocities, demolition of temples and religious places to the ground. Indian history reflects plunders barbarism since centuries together. if you find out the reasons; it is division among the society kingdoms and inclination towards Pacificism “Ahimsa” slogan propagated at different time. Pacificism was self-defeating . Mahatma Gandhi has advocated this principle and was an apostle of this theory of “turning the other cheek” when you get a blow on your cheek. This ragged notion is still inculcating in the minds our leaders which is reflected in wars, since Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan up to end of 20th century of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971, and thereof. It is not out of the context to mention the militant attack on 26th November 2008 when army and security persons were ready to counter. October 10, 1946: Bengali Hindus in Noakhali in the south-eastern part of what was then East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) were preparing to worship Goddess Lakshmi. But before the rituals could start, wave upon wave of prejudiced and fanatic Islamists set upon the numerically-weaker Hindus and massacred defenceless men, took women hostages and raped them, and forcibly converted thousands to Islam. An estimated 5,000 Hindus, mostly men and boys, were killed. But many more times that number were forcibly converted to Islam by making them eat beef and recite the kalma. In recent parliament session a member Shri Pawan Kumar Sagar on 29th of November 2024 has raised a question against the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and what steps have been taken by Government of India particularly the external affairs minister. The minister of foreign affair Dr. Jaishankar has category told that there are records of violence, theft, rape and temple destruction, attack on a Puja Mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024. Following these attacks and sacrilegious acts in Bangladesh since August 2024. Government of India is taking these incidents is very seriously and has keen eyes on every incidence happening there and Indian High Commissioner was asked to monitor these incidences closely. The External Ministry has assured that every possible action by diplomacy and other means if ever required will be taken. Hindu Sangharsh Samity, Agartala, a right-wing organisation, conducted a demonstration few days back before the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. The protestors addressed the oppression of minorities in Bangladesh, calling for the release of Iskcon member Chinmoy Das . Numerous Hindu devotees gathered near the Gandhi statue along VIP Road, voicing their opposition to the persecution of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians in Bangladesh. They urged the Assistant High Commissioner to convey India’s concerns to Bangladesh authorities, warning about potential deterioration in bilateral relations. “Chinmoy Das has been illegally detained by the interim government in Bangladesh. He has even been deprived of basic needs like food. It is not only illegal but also inhumane. They demanded his immediate release and stand firmly against the ongoing violence targeting minorities in Bangladesh.The demonstrators emphasised how minority Muslim communities live peacefully in India, while drawing attention to the contrasting situation in Bangladesh. “We do not harm our Muslim brothers and sisters here in India. Then why are minorities in Bangladesh being targeted? This double standard is unacceptable. Our agitation will persist until the Yunus government frees Chinmoy Das and stops all atrocities,” they said. Hinduism is the second largest religion in Bangladesh, as according to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh , approximately 13.1 million people responded that they were Hindus , constituting 7.95% out of the total population of 165.15 million people. In terms of population, Bangladesh is the third-largest Hindu populated country of the world, after the neighbouring countries of India and Nepal. Hinduism is the second largest religion in 61 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh, but there is no Hindu majority district in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics report, Khulna Division has the highest decline in Hindu population of (1.33%) from 2011 to 2022 period. In 2011, 12.85% of the population of the division were Hindus. This rate has come down to 11.52% in 2022. Among the eight divisions, Khulna has the fourth highest Hindu population. According to the 2022 census, Sylhet Division has the highest Hindu population of 13.5%, but the ratio was 14.05% in 2011. In Rangpur Division, the Hindu population has decreased from 13.21% in 2011 to 12.98% in 2022. Mymensingh Division has the lowest percentage of people belonging to the Hindu community at (3.92%) as of 2022. Liberation War and numerous recurring massacres of civilians where rapes were also used as weapon. Active perpetrators of genocide, ethnic cleansing and rapes of Hindus in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Military, Al Badr, Al Sham, East Pakistan Central Peace Committee, Razakars, Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Urdu speaking Biharis. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Hindus are among those persecuted in Bangladesh, with hundreds of cases of “killings, attempted killings, death threats, assaults, rapes, kidnappings, and attacks on homes, businesses, and places of worship” on religious minorities in 2017. Hindu temples in Bangladesh have also been vandalised. The Pakistani census has found that the Hindu population in East Pakistan declined drastically from 28% in 1941 to 22% in 1951. The 1946 Noakhali massacre, occurring before the partition, and the 1950 East Pakistan riots, which took place after the Partition of Bengal, were among the most severe anti-Hindu riots in the region’s history. 1971 Genocide Between the 1961 and 1974 censuses, the Hindu population increased by only 300,000, from 9.3 million to 9.6 million, while the Hindu percentage declined from 18.5% to 13.5%. The Hindu population was significantly impacted by the 1964 East Pakistan riots and 1971 East Pakistan genocide, which primarily targeted Bengali Hindus. An estimated 10 million East Pakistanis sought refuge in India, with 80% being Hindus. Approximately 8 million Hindus fled to various parts of India during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War to escape persecution by Pakistani armies and Islamic militias. After Independence, it was discovered that 1.5 million Hindus remained in India, while the remaining 6.5 million returned to Bangladesh. Additionally, an estimated 3.1 million Hindus who were already residing in Bangladesh chose to remain during the turmoil and survived the atrocities. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 3 million people were killed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, with 300,000 to 400,000 Bengali women being raped, with the many of the victims being Hindus. Even after the decline of the Hindu population in Bangladesh from 13.5% in 1974, just after the independence, Hindus were at around 11.2% of the population in 2001 according to government estimates following the census. However, Hindus accounted for only thirty two members of the 300 member parliament following the 2001 elections through direct election; this went up to thirty five following a by-election victory in 2004. Of the 50 seats reserved for women that are directly nominated by the Prime Minister, only four were allotted to Hindus. The political representation is not at all satisfactory and several Hindu advocacy groups in Bangladesh have demanded a return to a communal electorate system as existed during the Pakistan period, to enable a more equitable and proportionate representation in parliament, or a reserved quota since the persecution of Hindus has continued since 1946. 1946 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has urged Government of India to pressurize the interim government of Bangladesh to halt the atrocities and cruelty on Hindus and release ISKCON Sant Swami Chinmoy Krishandas illegally detained and jailed. RSS calls on Government of India to advocate against the atrocities and barbarism committed by Islami extremists, who are fully sponsored by the interim government of Bangladesh to United Nation Organisation and other global peace keeping organisations. On 2nd December Vishva Hindu Parishad held a demonstration against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh in Delhi and urged the UNO to intervene into the matter and put the pressure on Bangladesh government to stop barbaric atrocities on Hindus. What Indian government should do:- Government of India can press upon the interim Government of Bangladesh by using political, diplomatic, economic borders and supply strategies to compel Bangladesh government for choosing correct and right pathway for establishment of peace. As Islamic extremists and terrorist organisations are planning to cut chicken neck, (the corridor connecting connect North East states) from rest of India at Siliguri, a narrow strip of land in west Bangal then Indian Government has an excuse to cut Bangladesh at Chittagong district (chicken neck of Bangladesh) in south and protect it’s own so called chicken neck by grabbing Rajshahi and Rangpur in north of Bangladesh.
Swanson: Galaxy coaches share a rich legacy, but their focus is on the nowNot to alarm you, but there are only 19 days ’til Christmas. Still not finished your shopping? No need to panic buy that air fryer just yet. Santa Smith’s got you covered with the inaugural ING Research Christmas gift list... Let me first tempt you with a card game; your niece or nephew is going to love it. Well, it’ll be memorable at least... It’s Top Trumps: the central bank edition. Long-suffering readers might remember this from the summer. You’ll be battling it out on statistics to decide which central bank needs to cut rates the most in 2025. Here are the stats in question: Inflation, obviously. Where is it relative to target, but more importantly, how high is services inflation? Remember that’s the bit of the basket central banks supposedly have the greatest amount of influence over. Growth. How does it look relative to pre-Covid averages? And what about the latest surveys? Unemployment. It’s a famously lagging indicator, but how far has it risen over the past year, and how does it compare to 2019? How aggressively have past rate hikes hit the economy? My favoured way of looking at this is the average mortgage rate paid on all outstanding debt. Bigger rises over the past two years tend to mean there’s more variable rate lending kicking about. Finally, trade. It’s the new addition for the Christmas edition, and it’s how exposed the country is to Donald Trump’s impending trade war. The chart below gives a bird’s eye view of what’s printed on my cards. The more orange, the more dovish the overall picture looks for each central bank. And there’s one country that’s more orange than all: Canada. Canada has faced a more rapid and aggressive hit from past rate rises, as James K discusses below. Growth has suffered, inflation has fallen back and the jobs market is under pressure. And the threat of fresh American tariffs adds insult to injury. The Bank of Canada has already embarked on one of the most aggressive cutting cycles to date. Even so, another 50bp cut next week is possible. Sweden, and the Riksbank which meets a week later, is in a pretty similar boat. Those meetings are of course dwarfed by an impending decision from the European Central Bank. It’s a close call between 25bp and 50bp. But interestingly, the eurozone doesn’t come out too badly on these metrics. Services inflation is sticky; wage growth is north of 5%. Unemployment is at record lows. Yes, the purchasing managers’ indices don’t look great, but they’re not always that reliable. Those are the arguments the hawks will be putting forward next week, anyway. My colleague Carsten thinks they’ll win the argument on a smaller rate cut. But with growth risks mounting, it’s the doves that’ll be in control next year. The ECB is poised to take rates below 2% by the summer. Ok, back to the gift list. And if I’ve failed to win you over so far, this is one for the bookworms. Spy thriller, love story, murder mystery... Our 2025 Global Outlook is sadly none of those things. But it’s got your nieces and nephews covered with the key calls for every major economy and central banks. Like why we aren’t ruling out yield curve control from the ECB and Federal Reserve next year. Or why Trump’s policies ultimately mean higher US inflation and slower growth. Trust me, it’s a real page turner, and it’s even got our own Chris Turner with his latest FX calls, too. The best bit? It’s completely free and available now. Or how about a weekend away in the new year? I get it, you’ve already ticked off the spa day or hot air balloon trip. So, how about a ticket to our Global Outlook webinar this coming Monday? Alright, it’s not quite as romantic. And I accept it’s not on a weekend. Or in the new year... But between Carsten, James and myself, we’ll be chatting through the major trends and risks for the coming year. Fun for all the family. Sign up today to avoid missing out! Well, that’s it. Sorry if you were expecting a list of high-brow academic literature. And if you still aren’t convinced, just remember this: your relatives will never complain about getting given socks ever again. THINK Ahead in developed markets United States (James Knightley) The Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting on 18 December remains a 50:50 call as to whether we will see it cut rates 25bp or not. The data highlight is going to be consumer price inflation, but with another 0.3% month-on-month result for core CPI the favoured outcome, it will remain a knife edge decision. There is a general sense that monetary policy remains in restrictive territory and they think they should move it closer to neutral, but how quickly remains open to debate. For now we continue to favour the central bank cutting by 25bp this month, but then pausing in January. Eurozone (Carsten Brzeski) Interest rates (Thu): We think that the ECB will be hesitant to really walk the walk on getting ahead of the curve and will cut rates by 25bp next week. To bring a bit more dovishness and to signal that the ECB is not getting cold feet in its quest to get ahead of the curve, we expect the central bank to communicate that it will continue bringing rates towards neutral levels and that it no longer rules out bringing rates into easing territory. Read our full preview here. Canada (James Knightley) Interest rates (Wed): The Bank of Canada has cut its policy rate by 125bp since the beginning of June and there is a strong chance we get a second consecutive 50bp cut next week. This leave it at 3.25% as the BoC seeks to get rates close to neutral quickly due to the weak growth story and increasingly benign inflation backdrop. High debt levels and the structure of the mortgage market have weighed heavily – and with Trump threatening significant tariffs as soon as he enters the White House, authorities are seeking to avert a collapse in confidence. THINK Ahead for Central and Eastern Europe Hungary (Peter Virovacz) Inflation (Tue): The most important (and yet practically irrelevant) data release in Hungary next week is inflation. We see an acceleration in food, fuel and durable goods prices due to global commodity price developments and the significant weakening of the Hungarian forint. We’ve now reached the point where incoming inflation data is somewhat irrelevant. As long as the HUF is so vulnerable, we hardly see inflation moving the needle for monetary policy in any way. Czech Republic (David Havrlant) Industrial production (Mon): Industrial output likely slipped into an annual decline in October, largely due to a high comparison base from the previous year. That said, the continued bleak demand from main European trading partners and the challenges of German automotive will keep a lid on Czech industrial performance. Nevertheless, there are signs of Czech manufacturers bottoming out (e.g., significant mitigations in staff reductions). The rebound in the construction sector will absorb some of the free labour force and contribute to the unemployment rate remaining low in November. Inflation (Tue): Czech inflation likely increased in November, mainly due to stronger food price growth. Food prices also present a wild card, with the preliminary food price survey indicating a rather pronounced pick-up when applied in a regression. However, the survey is not a great explanatory variable, so we consider it as risk factor that could push headline inflation across the 3% threshold. More potent nominal and real wage growth combined with upbeat retail spending will exert pressure on consumer prices over the coming months. Current account (Fri): The current account is expected to have turned marginally positive at the beginning of the year’s final quarter, with October’s trade balance likely remaining safely in positive territory, only slightly below the previous reading. Source: ING
Jack Smith Drops All Criminal Charges Against Donald Trump—Judge Dismisses Jan. 6 CaseBy 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. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) 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.
After rough start under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defense has become a strength
UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano threw for two touchdowns and the Huskies' defense overwhelmed North Carolina for a 27-14 victory in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Boston. Mel Brown ran for 96 yards and the Huskies (9-4) reached the nine-win level for the third time in program history. It was a miserable day for the Tar Heels (6-7), who are in transition as they await Bill Belichick, who now takes over as head coach. Freddie Kitchens served as interim coach on Saturday following Mack Brown's departure at the end of the regular season and had praise for his team despite the loss. "I commend them for everything they've done the last three weeks. We didn't really catch any breaks today," Kitchens told reporter after the game. "You've got to make your own breaks sometimes. These guys just kept fighting." North Carolina's Chris Culliver returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and backup quarterback Michael Merdinger threw for 86 yards. Six of the team's 10 first downs came in the final 11 minutes. Fagnano finished 16-for-23 for 151 yards for the Huskies, who were limited to a field goal in the second half after rolling up a 24-7 haltime lead. North Carolina lost starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to an apparent shoulder injury on the team's second offensive series. The Tar Heels, who were without running back Omarion Hampton (going into NFL draft), didn't pick up a first down until less than 30 seconds remained in the first half, and that was followed by an interception. UConn's first points came on Chris Freeman's 32-yard field goal. Then, with 3:45 left in the quarter, Fagnano connected with Skyler Bell on a 38-yard touchdown. The Huskies led 10-0 before Culliver's ensuing kickoff return, the only glitch for UConn in the first quarter. Fifty seconds into the second quarter, Fagnano hit Alex Honig with a pass for a 4-yard touchdown. The final first-half touchdown came on running back Cam Edwards' leap into the end zone to complete a fourth-and-2 snap. That capped a 14-play drive that consumed almost six minutes. "I feel like a proud father towards this team," UConn head coach Jim Mora Jr. "We ran for 210 yards. That's how you win a football game." North Carolina, which lost its fifth consecutive bowl outing, was credited with 1 rushing yard in the first half. The Tar Heels drove 98 yards on eight plays to score on running back Caleb Hood's 17-yard pass to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the game. Hood rushed for a team-high 78 yards. UConn had gone 0-3 against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, but it had no trouble in snapping that streak against the Tar Heels. --Field Level Media