A jury has found Andre Rebelo guilty of murdering his mother at her Bicton home for cash after taking out three insurance policies in her name just days earlier. Jurors cried as the verdict was announced on Thursday afternoon following nearly two days of deliberation and an eight-week trial where evidence revealed the 28-year-old’s financial woes. Prosecutors said while social media showed he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, it was debt-driven and pushed him to form a murderous plan. Andre Rebelo killed his healthy and happy 58-year-old mother, Colleen, on May 25, 2020. She had dropped her youngest son Fabian off at work at 10am and planned to pick him up at 2pm. But he never saw her alive again. Colleen returned to her Bicton home when Andre, her second-born son, came to visit. He told the jury he stayed for a chat and a coffee, dropped off some clothes, and caught his mother up on the latest news about his Instagram influencer girlfriend Grace Piscopo and their young son. Then, Andre claimed, he left. However, prosecutors said Andre murdered his mother during that visit, possibly by smothering her face with a pillow. He stripped her naked and placed her body into the shower to make it look like she had collapsed from natural causes. There was no animosity between the pair. There had been no disagreements, no tension, no arguments. So why did he do it? Rebelo was a desperate man, the court was told. He had been studying at university when his girlfriend’s modelling career began taking off. Piscopo was a beautiful young woman who was in a relationship with Rebelo for about eight years. What started with photos of herself posted on social media turned into a business where clothing and accessories brands would pay her to wear their items. More than a million people followed Piscopo on Instagram. Rebelo often featured in her photos too, and soon the couple realised a lot of money could be made if they turned social media into a full-time gig. Rebelo deferred the last year of a management degree and agreed to become her assistant. He also agreed to be the primary carer of their son, who was born in 2019. From the outside it appeared to be the perfect arrangement, but with the job came the pressure of an image to uphold. Rebelo and Piscopo would often appear in photographs looking glamorous, posing in front of expensive homes or on luxurious holidays. It became a carefully curated marketing plan – they needed an expensive house, holidays, car, clothing and accessories to show a lifestyle that others would want to buy into, increasing Piscopo’s popularity and, subsequently, her income. But the plan only worked if they could afford to maintain the lie – and the truth was that Rebelo and Piscopo were not well-off. Before their ascent to fame and fortune, Piscopo had been a receptionist at a gym, and Rebelo had been driving delivery trucks for Coles. They took out a big car loan to buy a Range Rover, and it was a stretch to take on an $880 a week rented home in the Perth suburb of Beaconsfield. Whether Piscopo knew it was a stretch was unclear, but according to financial evidence presented to the jury, the couple could not afford any of it. While Piscopo was bringing in big contracts and, by 2020, making six figures, the couple’s outgoings were swallowing everything up. They were living on credit cards and personal loans and begging for rent reprieves, reduced loan repayments and government handouts meant for those in hardship during the COVID pandemic. Debt collectors were closing in. But both Piscopo and Rebelo told the jury they were not concerned about their financial predicament. Piscopo said Rebelo told her he was about to make a large amount of money – $500,000 – from cryptocurrency trading. But that was also a lie. He told her he had become very successful in the three years he had been trading in cryptocurrency, and convinced her this was a lucrative side-business and a secondary provider of income. None of it was true. Rebelo made absolutely nothing in the three years he spent crypto trading. He used credit cards and personal loans to pump money into the business and, at times, made some profit. But overall, his efforts by early 2020 had yielded a deficit of $22. Rebelo was then almost 24 years old, a stay-at-home father whose involvement in his girlfriend’s burgeoning business was largely posting mail and answering emails. She was going places, prosecutors told the jury, becoming ever more successful and was in demand. He was not. Whether their relationship had always been unequal was not clear, but what came out of his trial was that by 2020, Piscopo had little respect for Rebelo. As 2020 dragged on, Rebelo was apparently feeling pressure. He had told Piscopo a big crypto windfall was coming and, by May, had formulated a plan to deliver on that promise. But to deliver, he had to kill his mother. State prosecutor Brett Tooker told the jury the cold plan could only have been born out of extreme desperation. “It was not just financial need or greed,” he said. “It’s more nuanced than that.” Over three days, Rebelo took out three life insurance policies in his mother’s name. He tried to argue that it was done at his mother’s behest, that she had wanted more than $1 million in cover in the event of her death. But the jury rejected that as a lie and accepted the prosecution’s argument that Rebelo consulted no one else about the policies. Using his mother’s details, he insured her life for $1.15 million and made himself the sole beneficiary of the majority of it. He was paying for those policies, but he couldn’t afford it for long. Five days later, he executed his plan to take her life. Fabian Rebelo, Colleen’s youngest son, found her dead in the shower about 2.30pm on May 25, 2020. He called paramedics, then his sister and older brother Julian. Andre Rebelo was called last. Three of the four siblings met at the house as the police arrived. At no point did Rebelo tell his siblings, the police or paramedics that he had seen his mum alive and well earlier that day. Three days later, he began trying to claim his mum’s life insurance policies. Two of the companies refused to take the claim any further because it was too soon after Colleen had died, but one left the door open by asking for documents including as a coroner’s report, will and medical information. Rebelo did not have that information. He was not the executor of his mother’s will – his older brother Julian was. And the coroner’s office had been communicating with younger brother Fabian, who was notified as Colleen’s next of kin. Rebelo made a fake will, a fake coroner’s report, and fake medical documents in a desperate attempt to get the insurance company to hand over the money. He even faked a voicemail from Colleen’s long-time psychologist after hassling her for weeks about calling the insurance company herself to tell them his mother was not suicidal. But the psychologist, Narina Sidhu, smelled a rat. She called police and told them what Rebelo had been up to. When police were alerted to the possibility that Rebelo was fraudulently trying to claim a life insurance policy worth $500,000, a coroner was months away from releasing official findings on Colleen’s cause of death, which ultimately came back inconclusive. But there were questions about why Rebelo took out three life insurance policies in Colleen’s name just days before her sudden and unexpected death. Police had little evidence to go on, so they placed a listening device in the bedroom he shared with Piscopo at their Beaconsfield rental and a camera with audio in the couple’s living room. They listened to conversations for weeks in the months after Colleen’s death, hoping for something that would lead to a conviction for murder. In one conversation, Piscopo told Rebelo she thought he was downstairs and at home on the day Colleen died. She told him she thought he was being framed for murder, and cried about being interrogated by the police. It was clear Piscopo knew nothing of her partner’s plan to kill his mother and cash in her life insurance policies. On the witness stand, she was asked about Rebelo’s promised $500,000 cryptocurrency windfall and said he told her there was a “hold up with the bank”. That money never came, and Rebelo was arrested for fraud. It took another two years for him to be charged with his mother’s murder, and two more for him to be convicted. Rebelo will be sentenced on April 4, 2025.
This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter. Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here . It's a big week for the Professional Women's Hockey League. Final roster cuts are due today, and the league's second season launches Saturday with a doubleheader in Toronto and Montreal. Here's a look at what's new around the PWHL: Fresh looks The most obvious change for the 2024-25 season is that all six teams now have nicknames, logos and distinctive uniforms. The league came together so quickly last year that there was no time to outfit the players in anything but bland, cookie-cutter jerseys that didn't match the excitement around the new venture. A full re-brand finally dropped in September as the franchises were rechristened the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres, giving each club is own unique identity (though that Sceptres logo does look familiar ). More games, bigger venues The regular season is expanding from 24 to 30 games per team, and half the clubs are moving into larger arenas. The Sceptres will play in Toronto's 8,000-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum after outgrowing the 2,500-capacity Mattamy Athletic Centre, while the Victoire are making the 10,000-seat Place Bell in Laval Que., their primary home after playing some games at the much smaller Verdun Auditorium in Montreal. The Sirens are moving to the New Jersey Devils' arena after splitting their home games between three different arenas. No. 1 overall draft pick Sarah Fillier should help New York fill some seats after potting 30 goals in 29 games in her final college season at Princeton. The 24-year-old forward was the MVP of the 2023 women's hockey world championship and has won three world titles and an Olympic gold with the Canadian national team. She could be an instant MVP candidate . WATCH | CBC Sports makes early PWHL season predictions: Way too early PWHL season predictions 2 hours ago Duration 6:43 Host Anastasia Bucsis is joined by PWHL insider Karissa Donkin as they give their early predictions ahead of the 2nd PWHL seasons. Expansion plans The PWHL is looking to add up to two teams as soon as next season, and it says more than 25 proposals have already come in. All six current franchises and the league itself are controlled by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter's investment group, and it's unclear when (or if) independent ownership of teams will be welcomed. "For now, our marching orders are to go and explore what expansion could look like," PWHL executive Amy Scheer told the CBC's Karissa Donkin. "I don't know what the future holds." Fair enough, but the crystal ball says Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec City, Buffalo, Seattle, Denver, St. Louis, Detroit and Raleigh, N.C., could be in the running to get a team. Those nine cities will each host a neutral-site game in their NHL-size arenas after the PWHL sold out the Montreal Canadiens' and Toronto Maple Leafs' buildings for special dates last season. Here's the latest on expansion . "No escape" The NHL has made various tweaks over the years to juice scoring, including forcing (sometimes tired) players to remain on the ice when their team is called for icing. The PWHL has that rule too, and now it's taking the concept a step further by requiring players to stay out when their team is whistled for a penalty. The motivation behind the so-called "no-escape" rule (great name, by the way) is that teams combined for just 4.8 goals per game last season. It was 6.2 in the NHL, where the power-play conversion rate was much higher. Here's more on the no-escape and other rule changes . MVP MIA Toronto's Natalie Spooner won the inaugural Billie Jean King MVP Award after scoring a PWHL-high 20 goals in 24 games last season for the league's best team. But it all came crashing down in the third game of playoffs when Spooner got checked into the boards and suffered a torn ACL. Toronto crumbled without her, blowing a two games to none lead in the best-of-three series against Minnesota, which went on to beat Boston for the Walter Cup championship. From linemates to lifemates, PWHL stars Poulin and Stacey navigate marriage and career Six months later, Spooner is still out. The Sceptres placed the 34-year-old forward on long-term injured reserve earlier this month, and general manager Gina Kingsbury said there's "no timeline" for Spooner's return. Toronto cushioned the loss of Spooner by signing free-agent forward Daryl Watts. The former Boston College and University of Wisconsin star had 10 goals in 24 games for Ottawa last season. International breaks As much as the PWHL has changed the landscape over the last year or so, the international game remains a big part of women's hockey. Everyone is looking forward to another Canada-U.S. showdown at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the archrivals will likely square off in the world-title game again this April in the Czech Republic. The PWHL will take a break from April 3-25 to allow its best players to compete in the worlds, and there's a shorter pause around the final two games of the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series in early February in Atlantic Canada. Canada leads the five-game series 2-1 after taking the last two games in the U.S. earlier this month. How to watch All 90 regular-season games will be available to Canadian viewers, including 17 Saturday afternoon games from CBC Sports. TSN or Amazon's Prime Video will carry the rest. CBC Sports' coverage begins with the season opener between Toronto and Boston on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on the CBC TV network, CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. For more on the PWHL, read Karissa Donkin's burning questions for all six teams and watch this video with her predictions for the season.Web of lies: Why Andre Rebelo killed his ‘happy and healthy’ mother
Get essential daily news for Fort Worth area Sign up to receive insightful, in-depth local stories today. 📩 TCU has selected a national executive search firm to find its new athletic director and announced an interim director days after news broke that TCU Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati will head east this January to direct the athletic program at the University of South Carolina. TurnkeyZRG, which specializes in collegiate athletics, will head the search that will involve input from TCU leaders and campus stakeholders. The firm worked with TCU on previous searches, and has experience hiring for other high-profile positions, including the NCAA president and Big 12 commissioner. A search committee has already been established, according to a TCU press release. “TCU has shown again and again that not only are we committed to competing at the highest levels of college athletics but that we already do and continue to rise in prominence,” said Chancellor Victor J. Boschini in a statement. Boschini will step down from his longtime role as chancellor this summer, with TCU President Daniel Pullin taking on the role. “From our appearance in the College Football National Championship to our success across all sports, I am excited we have begun the search for the next AD and to build upon our firm foundation,” Boschini added. University of South Carolina’s board of trustees met and approved the hiring of Donati Dec. 5. His contract begins Jan. 2, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2031, according to the Greenville News . Donati will be paid $1.9 million per year with a chance to earn $400,000 in additional incentives. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. His salary eclipses that of the previous South Carolina athletic director, who made $1.175 million . Donati’s salary at TCU was $1.33 million, according to the university’s 2023 tax filing . South Carolina is currently ranked No. 14 in the AP’s Top 25 college football rankings, while TCU did not make the cut. This weekend, the No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks played the No. 9 Horned Frogs in women’s basketball and won 85-52 . “This is a time of historic change in college athletics ... much of what we know will never look the same,” said Donati in a press conference after his contract was approved. He came to TCU in 2011, took over the top role in 2017 and led the university’s programs to win eight team national championships. “I believe that the programs that will be most successful in these unpredictable times will not just wholeheartedly accept the changes in front of them, but they will adapt to this new environment,” Donati said. TCU has also named Mike Sinquefield as interim director of intercollegiate athletics. Sinquefield has been at TCU for nearly three decades, beginning as an athletic equipment manager and rising through the ranks, most recently as senior deputy athletic director, a position he’s held since 2018. “We have an incredible team of student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans, and I look forward to supporting their efforts as we continue building on our strong foundation,” Sinquefield said in a statement. He’ll oversee TCU’s football program, serve in a secondary role as sports administrator for men’s basketball and oversee day-to-day functions of TCU Athletics, according to TCU’s website. “This is a time of immense opportunity for TCU,” Pullin said in a statement. “We are committed to finding an exceptional leader to build on our strong foundation and advance our vision for athletics.” The university announced its strategic plan for growth earlier this year. Athletics, a third pillar of the university’s foundation, is central to that plan. Matthew Sgroi contributed reporting. Shomial Ahmad is a higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report, in partnership with Open Campus . Contact her at shomial.ahmad@fortworthreport.org . Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Shomial Ahmad, Fort Worth Report December 9, 2024President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico , alleging both countries have failed to curb the inflow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States. This policy is set to take effect once Trump assumes office in January. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is meeting with the premiers on Wednesday to discuss a response. During Trump’s first term in office, we witnessed numerous similar instances of protectionist rhetoric and actions. These included labelling the North American Free Trade Agreement as “the worst trade deal ever made ,” threatening to withdraw the U.S. from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and other countries. Canada and Mexico are two of America’s largest trading partners, and the tariffs could have significant economic consequences for all three nations. Protectionist policies drive trade uncertainty The negative rhetoric and unilateral trade policies during Trump’s first term proved detrimental to global trade. They significantly disrupted bilateral trade flows between the U.S. and one of its largest trading partners, Canada . Trade openness — a key indicator of economic globalization measured as a ratio of trade to GDP — declined significantly during Trump’s presidency, comparable to global trade collapse caused during the 2008 financial crisis. My previous research demonstrated that such adverse rhetoric not only heightened political tensions between the U.S. and its allies, but also significantly increased economic policy uncertainty within the U.S. The economic policy uncertainty index measures the frequency of articles in American newspapers that discuss policy-related economic uncertainty and include references to trade policy. The index experienced a notable upward trajectory during Trump’s presidency after a long period of stability since 1995. This trend is unsurprising, given Trump’s persistent disparaging remarks about the global trading system and his continuous criticism of trade policies — even those involving close allies. Trump’s tariffs could spark a trade war If the president-elect follows through on his threat to impose a unilateral 25 per cent tariff on all imports, it would almost certainly trigger a tariff or trade war with the country’s major trading partners. A trade war typically unfolds when countries retaliate against each other by progressively imposing trade restrictions. If the U.S. enacts tariffs unilaterally on imports, its trading partners are likely to respond with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports. Mexico has already announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports if Trump follows through with his threat. Read more: Trump's proposed tariffs against Canada and Mexico may be illegal, but that's not the real problem While such a tariff war would undoubtedly harm its major trading partners, the U.S. itself would not emerge unscathed. As the world’s second largest exporter and largest importer , it’s a major beneficiary of the global trading system. Although imposing tariffs might initially appear advantageous for the U.S. by protecting domestic producers through higher prices, this benefit comes at the expense of American consumers, who would face higher costs. Moreover, retaliatory measures from other countries would erode any potential gains from such “ beggar-thy-neighbour ” policies, ultimately leaving the U.S. and the global economy worse off. Agri-food trade and tariffs The U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), agricultural exports generated US$197 billion in revenue in 2022 and support more than 1.25 million jobs annually . Any trade war targeting agri-food products would have significant adverse effects on the U.S. agricultural sector, jeopardizing both revenue and employment. This risk is heightened by the fact that retaliatory tariffs often target agricultural products from American states that support Trump. Trade-restrictive policies often target agri-food products because tariffs in this sector are generally higher than those applied to the manufacturing sector. Many countries implement protective measures to shield domestic farmers from foreign competition, making the agri-food sector sensitive to increased tariffs. According to the WTO , average tariffs on agricultural products are nearly double those on non-agricultural goods. In 2021, average bound tariffs — the individual commitment made by all WTO members not to raise a tariff above a specified level — were 54.4 per cent for agricultural products and 27.6 per cent for non-agricultural products. Similarly, most favoured nation tariffs — the tariff level that a member of the WTO charges on a product to other members — averaged 14.8 per cent for agriculture compared to eight per cent for non-agriculture. A trend analysis of tariffs on agri-food products reveals a surge in most favoured nation tariffs on agricultural imports during the Trump administration. This increase in U.S. tariffs prompted retaliatory actions from other countries, driving up agricultural tariffs. Canada-U.S. agri-food trade The relationship between Canada and the U.S. is crucial for the agri-food sector in both nations, as they share one of the largest bilateral trading relationships in the world. The U.S. is Canada’s top trading partner, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of all agri-food exports and more than half of its imports . In 2022, total bilateral agricultural trade between the U.S. and Canada reached US$66.2 billion , with Canada exporting US$37.6 billion and importing US$28.6 billion. However, this trade relationship could face significant risks if protectionist policies from Trump’s previous administration were to resurface. That period was marked by heightened political tensions between Ottawa and Washington, disrupting trade flows and adversely affecting agricultural trade between the two nations. During Trump’s tenure, agri-food bilateral trade essentially stagnated. Canada saw only marginal increases in agri-food exports to the U.S. , while imports from the U.S. declined. It is no surprise that bilateral trade rebounded under U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. Co-operation is the way forward Bilateral trade is highly vulnerable to disruptions , as businesses factor risks and uncertainties into their cross-border trading decisions. When the perceived risk becomes significant, businesses are often reluctant to engage in international trade . For Canada and the U.S., maintaining a stable and co-operative trading relationship is essential, especially for the agri-food sector, which underpins significant economic and employment activities in both countries. Highly integrated supply chains and logistical advantages allow both countries to be strong trade partners in agri-food trade. As history has shown, open trade fosters mutual growth, while restrictive policies jeopardize not only bilateral relationships, but also the broader stability of the global trading system. It remains to be seen how these policies will evolve, but the lessons of the past underscore the importance of collaboration over confrontation.
NoneWho is Mark Levy? Ray Hadley's 2GB replacement revealed
OTTAWA - The union representing rank-and-file Mounties is welcoming a federal plan to spend $1.3 billion to bolster border security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! OTTAWA - The union representing rank-and-file Mounties is welcoming a federal plan to spend $1.3 billion to bolster border security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? OTTAWA – The union representing rank-and-file Mounties is welcoming a federal plan to spend $1.3 billion to bolster border security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. In its fall economic update Monday, the Liberal government said it would invest in cutting-edge technology for law enforcement, so that only people who are eligible to remain in Canada do so. The money, to be spread over six fiscal years, is earmarked for the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and the cyberspies at the Communications Security Establishment. RCMP members enforce laws between official points of entry and investigate criminal activities related to the border. National Police Federation president Brian Sauvé says members have been protecting the border with limited resources, and the new money will allow them to continue delivering on their mandate. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is expected to join other ministers this afternoon to provide more details on the plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Advertisement
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Hayleys Fentons Limited, in collaboration with StarCharge Digital Energy Private Limited, a world leader in Electric Vehicle (EV) charging solutions, is set to revolutionise Sri Lanka’s EV landscape with a robust infrastructure network. This alliance addresses key challenges like range anxiety and accessibility for EV users across the country. By introducing high-capacity, ultra-fast charging stations, this initiative promises to catalyse the conversion to EV from traditional vehicles by enhancing convenience with a focus on reliability and quality. Drivers will be able to charge up to 80% of their vehicle’s battery in just 15 minutes, significantly reducing range anxiety and boosting confidence in EV adoption. The goal is to provide the Sri Lankan market access to reliable, technologically advanced charging solutions through a diverse range of products. Hayleys Fentons, as the market leader in solar energy is well-positioned to achieve this goal, leveraging its reputation for delivering high-quality products supported by outstanding after-sales service. The partnership represents a key milestone for Hayleys Fentons, with its renewable energy arm, Hayleys Solar, at the forefront of driving green innovation. Renowned for its expertise in renewable energy and energy storage solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, Hayleys Solar now expands its portfolio with the addition of EV charging solutions. Hayleys Fentons Managing Director Hasith Prematillake stated; “This alliance combines StarCharge’s global expertise as the market leader in EV charging solutions and Hayleys Fentons century-long engineering legacy, to ensure a network that provides seamless, sustainable travel for EV owners island-wide. 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By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.Terns pharmaceuticals CEO Amy Burroughs acquires $110,467 in stock
Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records showSuspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records show
Escaped convicted murderer puts California town on edgeKendrick Lamar has addressed his supposed feud with fellow rapper Lil Wayne on his new album GNX . The 37-year-old Compton rapper released his sixth album earlier today (November 22) with no warning. Fans were quick to note the latest development in Lamar’s long-running feud with Canadian rapper Drake. In May, Drake released a diss track about Lamar titled “The Heart Part 6,” which co-opted its title from Lamar’s series of “Heart” songs. GNX includes Lamar’s own song “heart pt. 6,” an indication that Lamar has decided not to recognize Drake’s song. The track itself doesn’t comment on the feud. Elsewhere, however, Lamar does tackle the controversy that arose after it was announced he will perform at next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will take place in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. On “wacced out murals,” the opening track of GNX , Lamar references a classic Lil Wayne album from 2008 as he raps: “Used to bump Tha Carter III , I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.” A few bars later, he adds: “Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me / All these n***** agitated / I’m just glad it’s on their faces / Quite frankly, plenty artist but they outdated / Old-a** flows trying to convince me that you they favorite.” The lyrics reference the fact that Lamar’s success in being chosen to perform at the Super Bowl inadvertently let down Lil Wayne, who had been hoping to perform at the event in his hometown of New Orleans. In September Wayne, 41, addressed the devastating blow in a video posted to Instagram. “First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking,” the “Love Me” rapper began somberly. “I’mma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all love and support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.” “That hurt. It hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. It hurt a whole lot,” he said. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown. And for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position. So I blame myself for that,” he continued, adding that it hurt even more given that the game will be held in his hometown of New Orleans . “I thought that was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt. It hurt a whole lot,” he said, thanking his “amazing” fans, who “reminded me that I ain’t s***,” even when “not getting this opportunity” made “me feel like s***.” “It broke me, and I’m just trying to put my back together, but my God, have y’all helped me,” he added, sharing his appreciation for his friends, peers, family and “my homies on the sports television” for “repping me.” “I feel like I let all y’all down by not getting that opportunity. But I’m working on me,” he concluded.