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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be the U.S. ambassador to China, leaning on a former business executive turned politician to serve as the administration’s envoy to one of America’s most potent economic and military adversaries. Trump said in a social media post that Perdue “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in Republicans’ 2022 primary against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump’s debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed gubernatorial bid. During his time in the Senate, the former Georgia lawmaker advocated for a more robust naval force to cope with threats, including from China. Before launching his political career, Perdue held a string of top executive positions, including at Sara Lee, Reebok and Dollar General. Economic tensions will be a big part of the U.S.-China picture for the new administration. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office, as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has cautioned that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war. It is unclear whether Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic. The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices for American consumers on everything from gas to automobiles to agricultural products. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Perdue, if confirmed, will also have to negotiate difficult issues that go beyond trade. Washington and Beijing have long had deep differences on the support China has given to Russia during its war in Ukraine, and on human rights issues, technology and Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with outgoing President Biden last month that Beijing stood “ready to work with a new U.S. administration.” Xi also warned that a stable China-U.S. relationship was crucial not only to the two nations but to the “future and destiny of humanity.” Trump’s relationship with Xi started out well during his first term, but grew strained over disputes about trade and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump seems particularly focused on using tariffs as a pressure point with Xi, even threatening he would use them to pressure Beijing to crack down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl in Mexico that is illegally sold in the United States. Trump’s second administration is expected to test U.S.-China relations even more than his first, when the U.S. imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in Chinese products. That brought Beijing to the negotiating table, and in 2020, the two sides signed a trade deal in which China committed to improving intellectual property rights and buying an additional $200 billion in American goods. A couple of years later, a research group showed that China had bought essentially none of the goods it had promised. Before Trump’s return to power, many American companies, including Nike and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, had been diversifying their sourcing away from China. Shoe brand Steve Madden says it plans to cut imports from China by as much as 45% next year. Long and Madhani write for the Associated Press. AP writer Didi Tang contributed to this report.Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB The Associated Press
Former city councilman Reggie Harris to become Rep. Greg Landsman's chief of staff
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85By James Boyd, Charlotte Carroll and Jelani Scott The New York Giants shook up the 2025 NFL Draft while crushing the Indianapolis Colts’ playoff hopes in the process with a 45-33 win on Sunday. The Colts’ loss eliminated Indianapolis (7-9) from playoff contention. The Giants (3-13) picked up their first win at MetLife Stadium this season in their final home game thanks to career days from quarterback Drew Lock and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Advertisement Lock had a near-perfect passer rating (155.3), 309 passing yards and five total touchdowns — four passing and one rushing. Nabers’ Week 17 effort (seven catches, 171 yards and two TDs) gave the wideout his first 1,000-yard season. The Giants added three defensive takeaways and their first kickoff return TD since 2015. While the win gave the Giants a rare 2024 highlight, the aftermath clouds their chances for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Giants entered Week 17 holding No. 1 pick, but with the win, the Giants brought numerous teams back into contention for it. Indy’s playoff hopes go up in smoke The Colts needed to win Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive. They couldn’t deliver and will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The Colts fell behind 21-6 with just under six minutes left in the second quarter and were never able to overcome Lock’s hot start. The Giants QB threw three TD passes on the Giants’ first four drives and finished the first half with more TDs (three) than incompletions (one). Colts QB Joe Flacco was hardly as successful. The 39-year-old passer, who filled in for the injured Anthony Richardson (back/foot), finished 26-of-38 passing for 330 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His 13-yard and 7-yard TD passes to receivers Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. cut the Giants’ lead to two points twice in the fourth quarter. But Flacco’s interception with 2:57 left proved to be the dagger. Jonathan Taylor tried to put the Colts’ offense on his back midway through the game, but it was to no avail. The running back finished with 32 carries for 125 yards and two TDs, notching his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season. — James Boyd, Colts beat writer Giants’ shot at top pick in peril The Giants broke a franchise record 10-game losing streak and avoided going winless at home for the first time since 1974, but it’ll come with a hefty cost — potentially losing out on the No. 1 pick. With their third win, they’re no longer in control of the first pick. Their strength of schedule will determine their position fate. Advertisement While players and coaches looked thrilled, fans in the stands and on social media expressed trepidation at the possibility of losing out on the pick for the win. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer Terrible tackling dooms Indy in defeat Indianapolis’ season-long tackling issues reared their ugly head again at the worst time. Three of the Giants’ touchdowns came after the Colts missed open-field tackles, perhaps most egregiously on Nabers’ 59-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter that gave New York a 35-26 lead. The Giants’ rookie caught the ball near the sideline, and cornerbacks Kenny Moore II and Sam Womack III both whiffed on tackles near the sideline that allowed Nabers to race down the sideline and ultimately to victory. The Giants entered Sunday’s game with the worst scoring offense in the NFL at just 14.3 points per game. However, they exploded for a season-high 35 offensive points against the Colts, plus a 100-yard kickoff return TD by Ihmir Smith-Marsette to open the second half. Smith-Marsette’s long score marked the Giants’ first kickoff return touchdown since 2015. The Colts defense also failed to sack Lock and managed only one QB hit. — Boyd Required reading (Photo: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)The Department Business and Economic Affairs will use a new, $1.9 million travel and tourism grant under the expiring American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to take advantage of an expanded airlift of flights going to and from new markets to the the state’s two main airports. Without debate, the Executive Council agreed earlier this week agreed to earmark these tourism dollars to GYK Antler LLC of Manchester, the marketing firm that already had a $16 million contract to handle on a variety of marketing efforts for DBA. “The additional funding will be important in supporting the expanded airlift into New Hampshire, through Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Pease International Airport,” said DBA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “This year alone, there has been an addition of three major airlines — JetBlue. Breeze, and Sun Country — and the twelve new routes, including destinations such as Orlando, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Charlotte, Charleston, and Greenville-Spartanburg.” The money will be used to create a “strategic marketing plan” to raise awareness about New Hampshire in all these newly served markets, Caswell said “Market research shows that nearly 30% of travelers from these regions take up to four trips per year, with half of them spending over $7,000 per trip. While advertising costs in these markets are high, a targeted and cost-efficient multimedia approach will be used to build brand awareness and encourage travel to New Hampshire.” The aim is for GYK to help ensure a “consistent and cohesive brand,” Caswell added. Repetition is the key to success in this endeavor, he explained. “Studies Indicate that people need to see a message an average of 15 times before they take action, making consistent, sustained exposure critical to the success of the campaign,” Caswell said. “With this in mind, the funding will be carefully allocated to build long-term awareness of New Hampshire's attractions and drive sustained interest in the state.” The multimedia campaign will be followed up by continued promotion as part of BEA’s ongoing budget, he added. “This strategic approach will ensure that New Hampshire not only capitalizes on the immediate benefits of these new airline routes but also establishes a strong presence In these key travel markets for years to come,” he added. The company’s existing marketing work is split up into tourism, employment, workforce opportunity and specialty crop branding. In a related action, the council approved $38,375 to the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (DAMF) to study ways to create more of a brand identity for New Hampshire grown crops. “GYK will gather existing data and research on the local business and brand to develop the foundation for the brand identity including name, logo, concept and standards,” Caswell said. “At the completion of the contract, the DAMF will have a brand logo in multiple formats and a brand standards document for use by the State, farmers and producers, and other local partners exclusively for the promotion of NH specialty crops.” Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Joshua Marshall signed onto this request along with a separate item the council approved that creates a memorandum of understanding for this three-month crop branding analysis. klandrigan@unionleader.com
A carnival featuring traditional games and an advancement ceremony for cub scouts transitioning to junior scouts in celebration of World Children’s Day 2024 was held yesterday at the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association (PPNBD) headquarters in Kampong Beribi, Gadong. Organised by PPNBD through its Cub Scout Section, the event aimed to promote outdoor activities and raise awareness of traditional and historical games. It also sought to instil teamwork, discipline, and social skills among participants, while preserving the nation’s cultural heritage. The carnival offered a platform to showcase various traditional games, encouraging children and adults to engage in preserving Brunei’s rich cultural legacy. The active involvement of participants aimed to foster positive values and enrich their experiences. The highlight of the event was the advancement ceremony for Year 6 cub scouts moving to Year 7, marking their transition to junior scouts. The ceremony celebrated their contributions as cub scouts while symbolising a new chapter of responsibility and preparation for future challenges at the junior scout level. The event also focused on increasing awareness of the importance of traditional games in children’s development, fostering physical and mental skills through sports and games, and enhancing community and parental involvement in outdoor activities. The carnival emphasised the values of sportsmanship and cooperation among participants, aligning with its objective to nurture holistic development in children through engaging and meaningful activities. – Lyna Mohamad ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show junior scouts at the event. PHOTO: PPNBD PHOTO: PPNBD
Keir Starmer will strive to strengthen trade ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in his first trip to the Persian Gulf as prime minister. The PM will meet UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, after flying to the Gulf on Sunday night. Starmer has said his visit will help to the UK “build a network of partners” focused on “driving high quality growth”. He is already facing calls from human rights groups to raise the escalating number of executions with Saudi leaders. Starmer said: “Driving long-term growth at home requires us to strengthen partnerships abroad. “That is why I am travelling to the Gulf this week, to build a network of partners for the UK that is focused on driving high-quality growth, boosting opportunities, and delivering for the people at home.” The UAE and Saudi Arabia are both major investors in the UK: trade with the Emirates is worth £23bn, while trade with Saudi Arabia is worth £17bn. Saudi Arabia is also UK’s largest defence exports market, worth £3.8bn a year to British industry. The Prime Minister added: “There is huge untapped potential in this region, which is why, while here, I will be making the case to accelerate progress on the Gulf Co-operation Council free trade agreement, deepen our research and development collaboration and partner on projects of the future, whether that be in Artificial Intelligence or in defence and security programmes. “By doing so, hardworking British people will reap the rewards for generation to come.” Human rights legal group Reprieve has called on the prime minister to raise what it described as an “execution crisis” with Saudi leaders. Saudi Arabia has reportedly executed 300 people in 2024, its highest-ever toll in one year. Reprieve’s deputy executive director Dan Dolan said: “When Boris Johnson visited Mohammed bin Salman in 2022, three days after the mass execution of 81 people, Sir Keir Starmer was rightly scathing of Johnson’s unconditional embrace of one of the world’s most prolific executioners of protesters. “Now he is the prime minister, he has the opportunity to address the escalating execution crisis in Saudi Arabia.” Dolan urged the prime minister to raise the cases of two child defendants with the Saudi crown prince, as it could “save their lives”. Following his Gulf visit, Starmer is expected to travel to Cyprus on Monday night. In the capital Nicosia he will meet with president Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday before meeting British troops deployed over Christmas. The bilateral visit is the first by a British prime minister to the Commonwealth country in more than 50 years. John Major visited the Mediterranean island for the 1993 Commonwealth heads of government meeting, but this was not part of a bilateral visit. The last visit of that kind to Cyprus by a prime minister was made by Edward Heath in 1971. Starmer and Christodoulides are expected to discuss co-operation on security challenges including Russian illicit finance and serious organised crime. PA Media – David LynchUkraine must be placed in the “strongest possible position for negotiations” to end the war with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”
St. John's 58, Stony Brook 34Police have made an arrest after a man allegedly 'exposed himself' at a bus stop in Wakefield. The incident occurred at a bus stop in Eastmoor today (Sunday, November 24). It was reported to West Yorkshire Police who tracked down the address of a possible suspect. The suspect matched the man's description and he was arrested on suspicion of Outraging Public Decency. He remains in police custody. The force issued the following statement on social media, it said: "On Sunday, November 24, 2024 Wakefield Central NPT officers PC Pickering and PC Smith attended an emergency call reporting a male exposing himself at a bus stop in the Eastmoor area of Wakefield. "On attending the scene the suspect had left the area, however officers obtained a detailed description of the suspect. The officers conducted enquiries and identifed an address of a possible suspect of the offence. "On attending the address a male was located inside who matched the description of the suspect provided to the officers. He was arrested on suspicion of Outraging Public Decency and is currently in police custody." Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.