NEW YORK (AP) — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations ; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general ; and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. The FBI added: "We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump's transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely," Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Her office said “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.” The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. The agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X . “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area" around 9 a.m. Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot , with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In Wu’s case, a male caller told police he had shot his own wife and tied another man up. When police and EMT responders arrived at the address given by the caller, they quickly realized it was the Boston mayor’s home. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting' incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump," he wrote on X . “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” ___ Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
Lilo & Stitch Poster Shows New Look at Remake’s Live-Action StitchBut it's not just his physical appearance that sets him apart – the character's back story is equally compelling. As a lone wanderer in the desolate wastelands, he has faced numerous challenges and trials that have shaped him into the fearless and enigmatic figure he is today. His journey of self-discovery and redemption adds a layer of depth to his character that will resonate with players on a personal level.
Recognizing the importance of legal protection for minors, the Public Prosecutors' Open Class Series has been broadcasted on the popular social media platform Kwai. This initiative aims to educate the public, especially parents, educators, and caregivers, about the legal rights and protections available to minors. By raising awareness and providing valuable insights, the series contributes to the promotion of a safe and secure environment for minors to grow and develop.House task force final report: Trump Pennsylvania assassination attempt ‘preventable’
Liu Yuning Spotted Visiting Hospital Late at Night by Paparazzi
Another crucial aspect highlighted by Lippi is the need for patience and long-term planning in developing Chinese football. Success in football does not come overnight, and China must be willing to invest time, resources, and effort into building a solid foundation for the sport. Lippi stresses the importance of setting realistic goals, continuously improving infrastructure, and fostering a culture of excellence and perseverance in Chinese football.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, authorities are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the attack and determine the full extent of the suspect's motives. The swift apprehension of the gunman serves as a reminder of the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement in ensuring the safety and security of the public.ALTOONA, Pa. – The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald’s and charged with murder. Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible referring to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside. Prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione back to New York while new details emerged about his life and how he was captured. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson , who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. At the brief hearing, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey informed the court that Mangione will not waive extradition to New York but instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released. Mangione, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. In social media posts, Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary," according to the police bulletin. Kaczynski carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant, a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania – about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City – after a McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, “we knew that was our guy,” rookie Officer Tyler Frye said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald's while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America." A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Thompson's body. The words mimic “delay, deny, defend,” a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry . From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.Dennis Suarez: Unfair Treatment of Gunners by Emery, a Top-class Coach
Cabinet Spokesman, Chief Government Whip, Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in an interview with the Sunday Observer outlined the Government’s strategy to ensure a free media culture without any State interference and how the State and private media should play their legitimate roles to fulfill the aspirations of the people as a significant turnaround in the country’s political landscape had taken place following the November 14 general election. Dr. Jayatissa said if the State media acts with responsibility in accordance with the accepted norms, only then we could set an example to the private media. In future, the media culture of allocating more time for Government politicians to bolster their image or giving instructions to change the headlines of State-owned newspapers will be a thing of the past. Excerpts of the interview Q: What are your thoughts on getting a very important ministry such as the media and also becoming the Cabinet Spokesman? A: If these State media institutions are separated from one another, I hope to work under an integrated plan. If the Media Ministry is a separate institution, it looks like the mouthpiece of the Government and the Department of Government Information is an integral part of it. However, what has happened in the recent past was that the President’s media Division, the Prime Minister’s Media Division and other ministries had acted to expand their scope, undermining the role of the Media Ministry and the Information Department. Our intention is to uplift the Government’s legitimate role to be played by the Information Department and the Media Ministry. After the November 14 general election, the country’s political landscape has changed completely as the people had voted for the NPP. Therefore, the media should also identify the hopes and aspirations of the people. Instead of adopting the hackneyed media strategy, we hope in the future, all State and private media institutions and social media will follow a moderate media strategy to suit the present day needs and fulfill the people’s aspirations. The role of the Media Ministry is to facilitate this process. The Ministry will help enhance training and education programs for journalists and create a conducive environment for them to express their views forthrightly independently. We hope to safeguard the role of journalists and take it to greater heights. In future, we will take every possible measure to fulfill these objectives. The freedom of expression of the people became paramount when the country was brought into this level. Therefore, we would take steps to give a formal outlook to it. Q: During the recent past the State media was subjected to huge pressure from the Governments in power and some Media Ministers arbitrarily abused State media to bolster their image. What is the new NPP Government’s stance on the State media? A: State media institutions will not be used whatsoever to project the image of the Media Minister or any other Minister. State media institutions have a responsibility to educate the public on the Government’s initiatives. If the State media acts with responsibility in accordance with the accepted norms, only then we could set an example to the private media. In future, the media culture of allocating more time for Government politicians to promote their image or giving instructions to change the headlines of State-owned newspapers will not happen. It is more appropriate to call it the people’s media rather than calling it the State media as a people’s Government has been elected. Q: What steps will you take to ensure media freedom? A: Definitely, media freedom should be safeguarded. The Government will fully safeguard the freedom of expression of media personnel. We will further strengthen the Right to Information Act and the Government will provide the requisite facilities to those institutions. We will educate the people regarding their right to information starting from schoolchildren. Our prime responsibility is to ensure the right to information of the people and turn it as a part of their lives. Similarly, we will not only concern ourselves with safeguarding the lives of journalists but also ensure the professional safety of both staff journalists and provincial journalists. Some provincial journalists, especially have become henchmen of politicians as they don’t get an adequate salary to lead a decent life. We have laid emphasis on this issue as well. We believe a journalist should live in the society in a dignified manner. When he becomes a henchman of a particular Minister, he is not in a position to fulfill the role of a journalist properly. We would help the journalists to perform their duties with social responsibility. Q: The previous Government passed some restrictive legislation that could impact the media such as the Online Safety Act which the NPP opposed tooth and nail in Parliament. Will you review such laws or abolish them? A: The Government doesn’t intend to regulate social media. However, we believe those who use social media will act responsibly realising the prevailing situation in the country. It was also the majority of the social media activists and users who contributed to elect this people’s Government to power. There is a very small percentage of people who attempt to obstruct the forward march of the Government. Perhaps they may be connected to various political groups. The outcome of the election result symbolised national unity. There are certain elements who still attempt to create disharmony and religious issues among communities based on various incidents. If the people act properly realising their social role, the Government won’t have to regulate social media. We hope social media would appear for a common social perspective. Q: Investigations into attacks on many journalists have not been probed. Will you revive these probes and take action against those responsible? A: We have already commenced investigations relating to all those incidents. We have handed over those investigations to the CID and appointed competent officers to those top positions. We have also sought the assistance of former SSP Shani Abeysekara who conducted those investigations. We would conduct these investigations in a formal manner and hand them over to the Attorney General’s Department to file legal action. However, we will need sufficient time when these cases are investigated and resort to legal action so that nobody could escape from these cases. Q: Journalism is still not recognised as a profession in Sri Lanka. What are your plans to enhance training and education programs for journalists and give them their professional status? A: As the Media Minister, I hope to discuss with all media organisations. Our future program regarding media will be formulated based on their suggestions and ideas. Otherwise, we have no intention to merely introduce our own program. We will enhance the professional skills of journalists engaged in the field as well as newcomers who are keen to enter the media industry. Q: What are the steps you will take to ensure media freedom? A: We will ensure media freedom at the highest possible level. We will also ensure the freedom of journalists as well. Journalists can discuss any issue with us as they all know us. Q: What are your plans to address the key issues in the health sector? A: Our intention is to transform the health sector into a public service. We should also keep in mind that health is teamwork of all those who have connected to it. We would make the people’s access to health into a fundamental right in the next Constitution to be introduced. At that time, the Government will ensure the people’s access to health. This is what we are doing right now. While we rectify the shortcomings of the hospital network, we hope to empower the primary health services. For example, a primary health centre will be set up for a group of 5,000 selected number of people or covering three Grama Niladhari divisions. These health centres will conduct basic medical tests of the people who are currently receiving treatment from outpatient departments and clinics. If they need any further medical tests or treatment, they will be referred to the tertiary level hospitals. Then we can ease the congestion in Government hospitals and turn them into a healthier environment to treat patients who are physically and mentally ill. Hundreds of thousands of people visit outpatient departments in hospitals per year. There is no use of increasing the the number of wards in Government hospitals to avoid this. We should bring the health service to the village level and turn it to a public service. We should continuously supply quality drugs to the people. We will take steps to rectify the administrative shortcomings in the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Medical Supplies Division and Pharmaceutical Corporation by making relevant appointments to those institutions. During our tenure in office, we hope to set up a sophisticated fully-fledged laboratory to test the quality of drugs and equipment. It would pave the way to restrict imports of substandard drugs and low-quality equipment. In future, we also hope to reduce the prices of drugs of those who receive treatment from the private sector by a considerable amount. Q: The people’s trust in the country’s free health system has declined. What action can be taken to restore the people’s confidence in the free health sector? A: This trust was lost due to an issue of political authority, not because of the staff of the health sector. Comparatively, we could become one of the praiseworthy health services in Asia due to the sacrifices by Health Ministry Secretaries, specialist doctors up to lower level health workers on various occasions. The trust in the health system has declined due to certain decisions taken by the higher-level political authority and we will rectify it. There will be no room for such incidents in the country again. On earlier occasions too, substandard drugs had been imported. However, substandard human immunoglobulin fraud occurred mainly due to the involvement of the then Health Minister and the pressure he exerted on the Health Ministry officials. Steps will be taken to restore the people’s confidence in the free health sector, drugs, vaccines and treatment given by Government hospitals within a very short period. Q: Some say the lack of a vibrant Opposition is not healthy for democracy. Do you think a vibrant Opposition is vital for democracy? A: Whether there is a strong Opposition or not, it won’t be so important for a stable Government like us. Amidst various rumours and disinformation campaigns carried out by the Opposition, the people have placed their utmost confidence in this Government. The people at the recently concluded general election have given more votes to the NPP rather than President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by taking into consideration his six weeks tenure in office. According to the General Election results, the gap between the NPP and the SJB is nearly five million votes. I don’t think Sajith Premadasa could play the role of the Opposition in Parliament in the future. Before the election, they stressed the need to send experienced people to Parliament. Now those experienced people are fighting with one another for the single National List MP post that they had secured. Some people got elected to Parliament from the National List by using their political affiliations. However, we don’t bother about their internal party matters. We would also like it if somebody comes to Parliament and makes some constructive criticism. Q: The general election result was a clear testimony that dividing people based on ethnic lines is no longer valid and that the people in the North, East and upcountry areas had largely voted for the NPP. How do you view this significant political transformation that took place in the country? A: This transformation started two and a half years ago. It was the people’s struggle which opened avenues to drive away corrupt politicians. As we were not able to call an early Parliamentary election at that time, we had to continue this struggle up to now. When the people got the first opportunity at the Presidential election, they brought the positive result. Even some misconceptions the people had were done away during the general election and the people gave a resounding mandate of two-thirds majority to the NPP. The issue was that our activities were rather less in the North and upcountry areas compared to the South. We are a political party of the country. We will make every possible effort that we could to improve those areas as well. After 2009, our partymen worked continuously in those areas. Otherwise, we would not have secured victory in those areas. The people in the North and upcountry areas closely monitored us. The massive transformation that took place in the country was a stimulant for them to vote for us. The Tamil and Muslim community and upcountry Tamil community for the first time had placed their confidence in a single political party in the country. The people in the North, East and upcountry areas as well as the Muslim community had voted for the NPP without looking at whether our candidates were Sinhala, Tamil or Muslims. They voted for the NPP candidate who represented their area. We would also consider all those who voted for us as Sri Lankan citizens without considering their ethnicity. When the Cabinet of Ministers was appointed, we didn’t consider the ethnicity or religion of our elected MPs. The ministerial portfolios were given only to those who are capable of handling that particular subject. Q: The outcome of the election result showed how to respect political opponents without resorting to any violent incident whatsoever. How do you view this new political culture created soon after the General Election? A: Even though we didn’t ask, people voted for us and gave us a two-thirds majority in Parliament. During our election campaign, we never spoke about two-thirds majority and we only called upon the people to give us power to form a stable Government. Moreover, we didn’t resort to any action to hoodwink the people to get such a majority power. In 2020, Gotabaya Rajapaksa achieved that victory after the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. In 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa secured victory in gratitude extended by the people to him for ending the war. However, this is a significant victory achieved by the NPP, by telling the truth to the people. That is why the attempts made by the Opposition to capture power resorting to various false propaganda campaigns failed. At present, setbacks, internal conflicts and theweakness in the Opposition leadership had emerged due to their false and misleading politics that they practice. Q: As the Chief Government Whip how do you plan to perform your duties in Parliament with a large number of newly elected MPs? A: There are 143 newly elected MPs but they are not new to politics. They have not entered politics due to their family background or wealth. They have engaged in politics for a long time. Their age may be different from one another but they have political experience. Most of them have the political experience of representing local government institutions. Therefore, it won’t be difficult to handle this group of newly elected MPs. None of them had entered Parliament based on their personal objectives and they collectively campaigned and talked about our policy to the people and were elected to Parliament to take the country forward.
Chelsea's defensive concerns have been evident in recent matches, with the team conceding more goals than they would have liked. While their attacking prowess is undeniable, a leaky defense can often be their undoing in crucial games. Wright emphasizes the importance of a solid defensive structure, highlighting the need for a reliable goalkeeper to anchor the backline.
VERSABANK PRICES OFFERING OF COMMON SHARESOverall, the Garden International High School Open Day and the Strategic Cooperation Announcement with the American Ivy Academy was a resounding success, highlighting the school's dedication to excellence, innovation, and global partnership. It marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both institutions, promising a bright future for students as they embark on their educational journey towards success.