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Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday after three seasons with the Wolverines. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior was a third-team All-American and a second-team All-Big Ten selection this season. He had three sacks among his 32 total tackles over 12 games in 2024. As a sophomore, Grant helped the Wolverines claim the national championship with 29 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in 15 games. "I am very appreciative to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach (Sherrone) Moore and the rest of the University of Michigan staff that I have crossed paths with," Grant posted on social media. "It has been an honor to be developed into a Michigan Man." Other Michigan players who intend to leave the program for the draft include defensive lineman Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland. --Field Level Media
Share Tweet Share Share Email Traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, the concept of investing in rare books and collectibles often flies under the radar. However, this niche investment sector is gaining attention for its ability to combine historical preservation with financial growth. If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio while indulging your passion for history and culture, rare book and collectible funds might be worth considering. What Are Rare Book and Collectible Funds? Rare book and collectible funds pool resources from multiple investors to acquire and manage valuable historical items. These can range from first editions of literary classics to ancient manuscripts and autographed works. By investing in such funds, individuals gain fractional ownership of high-value items without having to purchase them outright. Unlike individual collecting, which requires extensive knowledge and access to resources, funds are managed by experts. These professionals have the expertise to identify undervalued items, authenticate works, and predict market trends. Consequently, they help maximize returns while ensuring the preservation of these cultural treasures. Why Invest in Rare Books and Collectibles? Diversification Benefits One of the key advantages of investing in rare books is portfolio diversification. Unlike traditional markets, the value of rare books isn’t tied to the stock market’s performance. This independence can act as a buffer during economic downturns. Tangible Assets Rare books and collectibles are physical assets with intrinsic value. While stocks and cryptocurrencies exist in the digital realm, owning tangible cultural artifacts provides a sense of security. Even if the market fluctuates, these items often retain their historical and cultural significance. Cultural and Historical Appeal For many investors, rare books aren’t just financial assets—they’re a connection to the past. Owning or having stakes in an original copy of a Charles Dickens novel or a medieval manuscript goes beyond monetary gain. It’s about preserving history and appreciating art. Potential for High Returns Although rare book investments require patience, they can yield significant returns. Historical items, particularly those with unique provenance, often appreciate in value over time. For instance, a first edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has seen exponential growth in value since its release. How Rare Book Funds Work Rare book and collectible funds operate much like mutual funds. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown: Investor Contributions: Investors contribute money to the fund, which pools these resources. Acquisition of Assets: Fund managers use the pooled money to acquire rare and valuable items. Asset Management: The acquired items are stored securely and insured. Managers also authenticate and appraise the collection to maintain its value. Profit Distribution: When items are sold at a profit, the returns are distributed among investors based on their contribution. By participating in a fund, you avoid the hassle of individual ownership, including storage, maintenance, and sale logistics. Factors to Consider Before Investing Expertise of Fund Managers When choosing a rare book fund, the expertise of the management team is critical. Look for managers with a proven track record in the rare book market. Their ability to identify valuable assets and navigate market trends can make or break your investment. Market Trends Like any investment, understanding the market is vital. While some books and manuscripts have consistently risen in value, others may not perform as well. Stay informed about trends and demand in the rare book sector. Liquidity Concerns Rare book investments are typically long-term. The market for these items is less liquid than stocks or bonds, meaning it may take time to sell and realize profits. Associated Costs Storage, insurance, and authentication can incur additional expenses. Ensure that these costs are factored into your potential returns. Examples of High-Value Rare Books Gutenberg Bible: As one of the first books printed using movable type, it’s a cornerstone of publishing history. Copies have sold for millions of dollars. First Folio of Shakespeare: This collection of Shakespeare’s plays is highly sought after by collectors and institutions. Bay Psalm Book: The first book printed in America, it’s a treasure of early American history. Modern First Editions: Contemporary works, such as signed first editions of To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby, have seen substantial appreciation. Risks and Challenges While rare books and collectibles present exciting opportunities, they’re not without risks: Market Volatility: Like any asset, rare book values can fluctuate based on market demand and economic conditions. Forgery and Fraud: The market is rife with counterfeits. Working with reputable experts and authenticators is essential. Illiquidity: As mentioned, the time it takes to sell rare books can be significant. Storage and Maintenance: Proper storage conditions are critical to preserving the value of rare books. Poor handling or environmental factors can degrade these items. The Future of Rare Book Investments The market for rare books and collectibles is expected to grow as interest in tangible assets increases. Younger generations, driven by nostalgia and the appeal of unique investments, are entering the market. Additionally, advancements in blockchain technology are making fractional ownership and transparent authentication more accessible. How to Get Started If you’re intrigued by rare book and collectible funds, here’s how to begin: Research Funds: Look for reputable funds specializing in rare books. Review their portfolios and management teams. Assess Your Goals: Determine if this type of investment aligns with your financial and personal interests. Start Small: Consider starting with a modest investment to understand the market. Seek Expert Advice: Consult with financial advisors or rare book experts to make informed decisions. Conclusion Rare book and collectible funds offer a unique blend of financial growth and cultural preservation. By investing in these funds, you’re not just building wealth—you’re helping safeguard pieces of history for future generations. While the market has its challenges, careful planning, and expert guidance can make this a rewarding venture for investors seeking something truly distinctive . Related Items: Building Wealth , Collectible Funds , Rare Book and Collectible Funds Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you The Best Passive Income Ideas for Building Wealth over Time Comments
Trump asks US Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban
US neutral on potential Turkey-Syria dealWASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions. While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States,” as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about “enemies from within” and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.” Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump’s administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. “But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does.” More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said.
Chinese competitor to AMD and Intel claims its 32-core processor is as powerful as a 2021 Intel Xeon 32-core 'Ice Lake' CPU; a 64-core version is expected to be launched in 2025By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.Trump asks US Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump's election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps' Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump's agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump's choices portend for his second presidency. The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president's proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration's agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025's and Trump's campaign proposals. Vought's vision is especially striking when paired with Trump's proposals to dramatically expand the president's control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government's roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump's changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk's and Ramaswamy's sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump's choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans' health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump's longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump's West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump's “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to lead the CIA , was previously one of Trump's directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document's chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe's chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe's and Trump's approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025's FCC chapter and is now Trump's pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts.
China has long been speculated to be developing a sixth-generation fighter jet, and with a recent report of a tailless stealth aircraft having completed a daytime test flight, speculation has been sparked anew. The new fighter that is said to surpass existing fifth-generation fighters has recently caught much attention in the social media after various pictures and videos have come into view. The potential sixth-generation aircraft, still under development in various parts of the world, including the United States and China, might change the face of aerial warfare. While the capabilities of this jet are yet to be known, it is expected to provide stealth features, speed, and maneuverability better than that of existing jets. It’s described as about 70 feet long, similar in length to the J-20. The aircraft was said to have been seen flying over a test range on its first flight, along with a J-20S, the two-seat variant of China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter. This has caused some to speculate that the flight occurred at the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) factory airfield, where the J-20S is usually tested. Watch the video here: Tailless Design: Stealth And Performance Goals The Chinese government has not made any official comment on the aircraft, though reports indicate that the tailless design is in tandem with China’s aspirations in advanced stealth technology. If the tail section is absent, the jet would conceivably have a reduced radar signature across a whole range of radar bands and thus be able to evade hostile airspaces more efficiently. However, the absence of a tail may pose issues with maneuverability. As reported by The War Zone, “the stealth profile may actually compromise agility for combat situations.” Thus, stealth and agility may need to be balanced to yield a better performance for this jet. Innovative Three-Engine Configuration Another most unique feature of this airplane is its three-engine configuration-a very rare feature in designs of fighter jets. Maybe the aggressive performance requirements by the aircraft might demand power, especially for high altitude and high speed. Some analysts believe the three-engine configuration will allow for much greater endurance and better range performance, allowing for flyover of long regional ranges without tanker support-an impossibility for China compared with the United States at the moment. Potential Role In China’s Air Force: The J/H-XX ‘Regional Bomber’ Experts say that this new fighter might be a precursor to China’s J/H-XX, a regional bomber meant for high-altitude precision strikes against airbases and naval targets in the Indo-Pacific. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, described the aircraft as a “low observable high-altitude precision strike capability,” which suggests that its role is in long-range, stealthy operations. If China decides to procure this jet for operational use, it could significantly enhance the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in both offensive and defensive operations, especially in contested regions like the South China Sea. China’s sixth-generation fighter is going to be a game-changer in the aviation world, but the full impact on global military dynamics is yet to be seen. As testing continues, the world will watch with bated breath to see if this mysterious aircraft lives up to the hype. ALSO READ | China Imposes Sanctions On 7 US Defense Companies Over Taiwan Military Aid