
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.Trump's hush money dismissal motion invokes Hunter Biden pardon
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. He's converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Biden says the commutations are consistent with a pause on executions put in place by his administration in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Biden says he couldn't let a new administration resume executions. Trump has talked about subjecting drug dealers and human smugglers to the death penalty. A spokesperson for Trump said Biden's decision is “abhorrent" and a “slap in the face” to victims and their families. House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress. The 37-page report was released Monday by the bipartisan panel after a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The report includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz took part in while representing Florida in the House. Congressional investigators concluded that he violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and he filed a lawsuit Monday trying to block the report’s release. Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution. The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's attorney complained during a brief hearing Monday that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough for him to receive a fair trial. Mangione was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his not guilty plea. Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway A man is facing murder charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames. Police on Monday said the man, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, had been taken into custody as a person of interest in the case hours after the woman died. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Jeff Carter said he is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after he had been previously removed in 2018. Transit police apprehended the man hours after the fatal fire. Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is threatening to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The comments by Israel Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has acknowledged killing Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Iran in July. Israel was widely believed to be behind the blast and leaders have previously hinted at its involvement. In a speech Monday, Katz said the Houthis would meet a similar fate as the other members of an Iranian-led alliance in the region, including Haniyeh. He also noted that Israel has killed other leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, helped topple Syria’s Bashar Assad and destroyed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems. Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland, the ice-covered semi-autonomous Danish territory. That's added to the list of allied countries he’s picking fights with, even before taking office on Jan. 20. Greenland insists it's not for sale and Trump's initial calls to purchase it in 2019 came to nothing. But his latest suggestion comes after the president-elect suggested the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal and that Canadians wanted their county to become the 51st U.S. state. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper German social divisions MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Mourners are laying flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack as investigators puzzle over the motive of the suspect and his previous encounters with authorities are scrutinized. At the same time there are fears that the rampage could deepen divisions in German society. A church a short walk from the scene of the attack has become a central place of mourning since the suspect drove a car into the busy market on Friday evening and killed five people. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency. They say he doesn't fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond This holiday season, some religious congregations across the U.S. are holding events designed to be accommodating to and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They range from a “Calm Christmas” in West Virginia to an inclusive Hanukkah in New Jersey. Many disabled people, advocates and families want more houses of worship to know that there are ways to fully incorporate and welcome people with these and other disabilities and their families — and not just during the holidays but year round. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25.
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.None
Baylor quarterback Dequan Finn has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple media reports on Friday. Finn spent one season with the Bears after transferring from Toledo, where he was the MAC Player of the Year in 2023. He won the starting QB job coming out of fall camp, but then was injured in the Bears’ second game of the year against Utah and saw action in only one game the rest of the way, as Sawyer Robertson emerged as Baylor’s leader. Finn went 23 of 43 passing on the year for 307 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for two more TDs. “Dequan is still trying to work through his injury and get it properly diagnosed and what’s next for him in his career,” Baylor coach Aranda said prior to the Bears’ regular-season finale against Kansas. “That has been however many weeks we’re into it. I feel for him, and I’m hopeful we get some type of closure with that here soon.” Finn is expected to apply for a medical hardship waiver and play one more season in 2025. QB DeQuan Finn🔥Ultimate Highlights | College Football // via AdamDisaster on YouTube Be the first to knowMultiple factors behind NCR bad air, stubble burning aggravates it: MoS
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a stark warning to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other skeptics of vaccines on Friday after a new report detailed the Donald Trump nominee’s ties to a lawyer who sought to revoke approval of the lifesaving polio vaccine for children. “The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease,” McConnell, who had polio as a child, said in a statement. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they’re dangerous.” “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,” McConnell added, in a not-so-veiled reference to Kenndy being tapped by Trump to lead the U.S. Health and Human Services Department next year. The New York Times revealed on Friday that Aaron Siri, a lawyer Kennedy has been consulting on whom to select as top health officials for the next Trump administration, has filed multiple legal petitions to block vaccines in recent years. That includes a 2022 petition for the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its approval of a standard polio vaccine for babies and children, claiming the agency needs to do further studies to prove its safety. If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee the FDA and multiple other federal public health agencies. The environmental lawyer and son of former U.S. Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy is a prominent vaccine skeptic who has spread wild conspiracy theories over the years. Trump’s choice of Kennedy to lead the top health agency has alarmed public health experts and 77 Nobel laureates who urged the Senate to reject his expected nomination last week. Some Republican senators have expressed concerns about Kennedy’s views, but none have publicly declared their opposition to his path to confirmation. “I believe vaccines are appropriate. They have to be safe. I want to know what his real concerns are and what he would want to do different, but I do not want to lose our vaccine programs,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters on Thursday. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. McConnell, meanwhile, reflected on his boyhood experience of struggling with polio and his parents’ “pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis of polio.” “From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine,” he said Friday. “For decades, I have been proud to work with devoted advocates – from Rotary International to the Gates Foundation – and use my platform in public life to champion the pursuit of cures for further generations,” the senator added. “I have never flinched from confronting specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress, and I will not today.” Related From Our PartnerHow to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Thursday, December 5
to major Canadian airports, beginning with Vancouver International Airport, in a bid to streamline the boarding process. But while the technology may simplify flying for some — enrolled travellers no longer need to show their boarding pass or physical ID to board most domestic flights — the convenience might not outweigh the potential security concerns, some privacy experts say. “Any type of biometric data is extremely sensitive information,” said Rozita Dara, an associate professor and principle investigator of the University of Guelph’s Data Management and Privacy Governance research program. “Unlike passwords, you cannot change it.” Many U.S. cities have banned facial recognition software, but it remains widely unregulated in Canada. Many U.S. cities have banned facial recognition software, but it remains widely unregulated in Canada. Air Canada’s program launched Tuesday at Vancouver International Airport. It’s also available for customers entering Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges in Toronto, Calgary and San Francisco, as well as the Air Canada Café in Toronto, . “While we don’t have a specific timeline to share for when other airports will have this, we can confirm we are planning to roll our Digital ID as an option at other Canadian airport gates,” a spokesperson for Air Canada told the Star. “It does require some significant investment for equipment, and new processes for our employees.” They continued that the program is entirely optional, and that Air Canada has no plans of making it mandatory. To enrol in the program, travellers over 18 must first create a digital profile on Air Canada’s mobile app by uploading a selfie, a picture of their passport and a scan of their passport chip. These are then shared with a third-party company which generates the facial biometrics for one’s profile and for use in verifying their identity at the airport. This company “has access to and uses your facial biometrics strictly on Air Canada’s instructions and solely for the purposes of the digital ID,” . While Air Canada did not disclose the third-party provider on its website or to the Star, it appears to be , a company that employs to facilitate its work. This digital profile, containing one’s selfie, passport details and a unique identifier, is then encrypted and stored only on one’s device, the airline says; the facial biometric data used to create the profile are immediately deleted. Travellers can then check in on the device where their digital profile was created before their flight, after which facial recognition cameras installed at certain airport gates will match their image with that of their digital profile — no ID or boarding pass needed. “Customers utilizing Digital ID will be among the first to board the aircraft and get settled in sooner,” the airline said in a release. Travellers’ digital profiles are stored only on their mobile devices until the day of one’s flight, the airline said. At that time, the information is encrypted and sent to Air Canada’s biometrics provider for use in identification at the airport. “Our provider does not retain any copy of your biometrics created and used for the authorized purposes,” according to Air Canada. The biometric data generated from the airport facial recognition cameras are “immediately deleted after use,” and those created from one’s selfie on the day of travel are deleted within 36 hours of departure. , Mike Maxwell, aviation leader at OARO, said the “biometrics is facilitated through an anonymized process, maintaining an even higher standard of privacy than called for by Canadian or General Data Protection Regulation requirements.” While experts say Air Canada’s privacy measures appear robust, some expressed concerns with how the systems are trained, what happens when it fails to recognize travellers — and the airline’s third-party facial recognition provider. “These collect a lot of biometric, personal information about you, but you don’t necessarily know who they are or how they protect your data,” said Florian Kerschbaum, a professor at the University of Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. The city still makes public residents’ phone numbers, addresses, email addresses and signatures, even as concerns grow over identity theft. The city still makes public residents’ phone numbers, addresses, email addresses and signatures, even as concerns grow over identity theft. He also noted that, because one’s information must be sent from their phone to Air Canada and their third-party provider on their day of travel, it creates an opening where malicious actors can intercept and steal your biometric data. That’s a big issue, according to Dara, because unlike a stolen password, “you can’t change your face.” Malicious actors can then use this information to gain access to your accounts on other platforms that use biometric verification. Canadian airports have been slow to embrace the technology, but facial recognition software has already been in use by some U.S. and international airlines, companies and government security agencies for years. You may already be using it to unlock your iPhone. As more companies adopt the technology and the ecosystem grows, so too does the threat of identity theft and abuse, Kerschbaum and Dara say. “In my opinion, I’d never use (facial recognition),” Dara added. As for whether you should sign up for Air Canada’s program, “it depends on your personal preference,” Kerschbaum said. “These biometrics can be very convenient... But (you have to ask), is boarding a plane important enough for me to use it?”Satellite Phone Store Steps in to Support Malibu Wildfire Recovery with Lifesaving Communication ToolsPaylocity director Steven Sarowitz sells $604,897 in stock
Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money convictionHouston vs. Hofstra LIVE STREAM (11/22/24): How to watch, time, TV channel for college basketball
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Industrial Automation Solutions: Why Omchele Stands Out Among the Best 12-23-2024 09:32 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Omchele, a global leader in industrial automation with 37 years of experience, offers over 3,000 customizable products, including sensors, power supplies, and pneumatic systems. Known for quality, precision, and cost-effective solutions, Omchele helps bus Omchele, a global leader in industrial automation with 37 years of experience, offers over 3,000 customizable products, including sensors, power supplies, and pneumatic systems. Known for quality, precision, and cost-effective solutions, Omchele helps businesses optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Recommendation: ***** To B or C: B2B Main Markets: Primarily Belt and Road countries (e.g., Russia, Iran, Turkey, India), with strategic plans to expand into Europe, North America, and South America for a global presence. Introducing Omchele: Leaders in Automation Omchele, an industrial automation company, was founded in 1986 and has become a world leader in its industry over the course of 37 years of experience. Resting on a solid base of automation products that includes switching power supplies, proximity sensors and photoelectric sensors and so on. This advancement helped boost Omchele's offerings for clients by creating its sub-brand, Hebai-Omch, which focuses on specific pneumatic line products. Innovative changes through adapting to how the industry business works allows Omchele to maintain a stable reputation of their input. Now, customers are offered a decent amount of over 3,000 types of models, over 30 categories and over 200 series which cuts across almost all the manufacturing inputs. Omchele is committed to providing cost efficient and reliable solutions that caters for global desires in our effort to bolster industrialisation. Owning 86 branches in different geographic locations with 72,000 different businesses paintings a good picture of Omchele as a reputable leader in the automation industry. Over two factories, companies annualy assemble up to 20 million units giving productions a good place. Superior Customization Tailored to Your Needs Omchele is recognized for the exceptional product design in a given application since the firm's products provide an unparalleled level of customization. Customizability features are found in different products such as: - Switching Power Supplies: clients are able to customize quite extensive including the power range and input voltage ranges in order to optimize different electrical mechanisms. - Proximity Sensors: Industrial limits may call for output types, sensing ranges, and their housings, which can all be supplied by clients. - Pneumatic cylinders: Material types, stroke lengths, and bore diameters are all available to clients so as to site specific machinery and different working conditions. - FRL Units: Customizable to meet your specific needs, including combining filtration, regulation, and lubrication functions, or adding accessories based on pressure range, filtration precision, and interface size to optimize system performance. Omchele also has the advantage of secondary processing, which includes CNC machining, painting, and other various forms of post-processing. Such services help the clients enhance the attractiveness of their items and gain a competitive edge. Omchele's service builds on clients needs during the customisation process. The creation of samples for approval is the first step of mass production implementation to help ensure that the finished product meets the client's specifications. In this way, Omchele fills in the market gaps which cut across different industries that have specific manufacturing and operating conditions. Due to its focus on precision engineering and flexibility to target particular objectives, Omchele has emerged to be a favored partner for companies looking for individualized automation products. This unique strength in customisation in contrast to competitors provides them a definite competitive advantage, and makes them suitable for firms with complicated automation needs. Robust Production Capacity and Industry Expertise The quality and experience Omchele possesses speaks volumes about the factories and production capabilities they have. Omchele operates through two factories that have an area of approximately 8,000m2. The modern design of the plants ensures that Omchele can handle both tasks efficiently. With a monthly production capacity of 500,000 units, the company manufactures over 20 million products annually. This gives the company the advantage to make scale as well as make prompt production to all its customers. The following are some important aspects of the production system of Omchele: - Seven Latest Models of Production Lines: Automatic pick and place system, glue dispensing system, wire cut and mostly testing machines which are most sophisticated are integrated systems in this line. - Next day shipping: Omchele Complete Control System in Supply Chain Guarantees Next Day Delivery After Order Placed. Other than the services highlighted above, Omchele also offers OEM Manufacturing Services whereby the company targets its business internationally seeking for custom made aftermarket components. This enables companies to widen their market scope in the sense that they can provide specific services to satisfy different market needs. Thanks to Omchele's long experience and advanced technology, precision, and quality of our products are guaranteed. On the other hand, orders regardless of its size are well suited for the company as they are capable of maintaining standards and meeting targets, thereby being an exceptional business partner. Therefore if standard products are required, or customized ones are sought after, then Omchele is the place because they offer quick service . Uncompromising Product Quality and Certifications At Omchele, the integrity of quality bears no compromise. Each product goes through a comprehensive quality assurance process that enhances the international standards and customer expectations. Supporting Omchele's philosophy are certifications such as CCC and CE, and IEC and GB/T14048.10 standards. The quality control measures take into account: - Thorough Examination: All the material used is cut down to batch levels which enables the discarding of all inferior lot components. - During Manufacturing Tests: Good practices of the requisite testing are retained where competent inspectors examine every stage of the manufacture. - Environmental and Durability Tests: Before it is ready for delivery, a series of performance tests within aging and extreme benchmarking conditions is done ensuring that practical use is realized after delivery. Furthermore, Omchele has made developments in technologies that are patented and enable greater performance. For example, its photoelectric sensors and proximity switches has improved a lot and are now compatible with major brands such as Omron, SICK, and Autonics. As a result of these developments, Omchele products qualify to be termed as substitutes for more expensive products yet retaining the desired quality . With these quality standards, Omchele's name has become a reference point when reliability and performance is mentioned as it is an innovator in industrial automation. Flexible and Customer-Focused Service Approach The customer service of Omchele is intended to interlink with the client embarrass-free and in a friendly manner. The culturally flexible and clientele outlook of the company encompasses the following: - Product Recommendations: Omchele is the best place for those customers who present competitor models since the company provides proper models which are either higher or equivalent at a reasonable price. - Product Search Simplification: Clients are able to find the required products by means of item codes, product names, product numbers, technical drawings or samples in the quickest and most convenient manner for them. - Customization Workflow: This process commences with creation of sample prototypes which after approval are taken as the standard benchmark for mass production thus ensuring accuracy and client satisfaction. - 24/7 Prompt Support: Omchele provides the services any time and all the time, attending to queries and offering technical assistance at any hour. Being in the presence of 86 branches in various countries and already well-established distribution networks , Omchele is able to guarantee all the local and international clients that all of their concerns will be dealt with promptly. The passion to offering competent and flexible customer support and service adds to the reputation of the company common in providing industrial automation partnership. Industry-Wide Trusted Automation Solutions Omchele's products find applications in a wide category of industries including automation, automation Line,medical,etc. Their automation solutions integrate well with leading international brands like Omron, SICK, and SMC, and are known for their flexibility. Some of the more popular uses of Omchele's products are: - Switching Power Supplies: Expansive use in industrial automation, electronics sector, medical power solutions, and telecommunications. They provide efficient power conversion, reduced energy consumption, and reliable performance. - Proximity Sensors: Widely used in industrial automation, robotics navigation, equipment limits, and automated gate systems to ensure precise and efficient operations. - Photoelectric Sensors: Widely used in industrial automation, material handling, packaging industry, and logistics to provide precise detection, improve efficiency, and enhance automation processes. - Pneumatic Cylinders: Commonly used in automation systems and production, the automotive industry, the food and beverage industry, and packaging machinery to provide reliable motion control, enhance efficiency, and support precise operations in various industrial processes. - FRL Units: Essential in manufacturing, automation, and process control to filter, regulate, and lubricate air, ensuring smooth and efficient operation of pneumatic systems. It is apparent from Omchele's strategy and implementation capabilities that their target customers are firms which are using or planning to use premium brands and products thus ensuring a smooth transition. The solutions are helpful since they increase the operational efficiency of the firm while saving on costs, allowing firms to make profits irrespective of the industry in which they operate. Partner with Omchele: Your Trusted Automation Expert * Company Name: Omchele * Email: omchele@omchele.com [mailto:omchele@omchele.com] * Phone: 0086-577-62716889 * Website: www.omchele.com [ https://www.omchele.com/ ] Media Contact Company Name: Omchele Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=industrial-automation-solutions-why-omchele-stands-out-among-the-best ] Phone: 0086-13362722556 Address:Qiligang Second Industrial Zone, Liushi Town City: Yueqing State: Zhejiang Province Country: China Website: http://omchele.com This release was published on openPR.South Korea's leader prompts dismay by briefly declaring martial law. Here's what to know
U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx ProductsWalmart’s DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump’s election victoryBy ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.None
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