
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25, making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as "The Game." Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. "I don't think none of that matters in this game," Moore said Monday. "It doesn't matter the records. It doesn't matter anything. The spread, that doesn't matter." How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. "We're going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. "We know they're going to come in here swinging, too, and they've still got a good team even though the record doesn't indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. "You come to Michigan to beat Ohio," said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. "It doesn't necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan." AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy reporter A wizard with a history of dabbling in local politics has had an epiphany: Invercargill doesn’t deserve him. Noel Peterson is the “green wizard” of Bluff, a man with a reputation for championing environmental causes and bringing good cheer to community events. But in recent years, Peterson has taken a step back from his wizardly duties after a bitter local election defeat.Key Takeaways Most of us in business know enough about building SEO to get by or at least not embarrass ourselves when the marketing team starts throwing acronyms around the conference room. For most, it's simply keeping up with keywords , tagging social media and website pages with query terms, paying for some rankings, earning more organically and monitoring search engine results pages to see how close you are to the top and your competitors. But do you know about the dark and rapidly growing side of SEO? Despite over 20 years as a marketing executive embracing new technologies as a practitioner and thought leader , I was unprepared for how quickly the marketing tech (MarTech) we use for good became the catalyst for so much bad. Recently, I was involved in pitching marketing services to an investment fund that wanted to accelerate revenue quickly for acquisitions. As I always do, I looked under the hood to understand the businesses so I could craft highly relevant recommendations for lead generation and sales. Something odd popped up as quickly as popping the hood on my SUV. Every company in this portfolio had the same name and a very similar URL as an established competitor offering the same products to the same verticals, sending me a trigger alert for potential trademark and SEO infringement, both of which can build brands quickly and cheaply stealing hard-earned and costly marketing returns from other companies. While aware of black hat SEO and identity theft aligned with phishing scams , I was not aware of how common dark marketing tactics have become. Unfortunately, in a world where good technology quickly enables bad deeds, monitoring your brand identity and SEO safety needs to be as common as monitoring traffic, leads and conversions from your marketing programs. Here are just a few actions to take to protect your brand. Related: 'We Pulled Off An SEO Heist': This Entrepreneur Stole 3.6 Million Pageviews From Competitors — And Your Business Could Be Next. Brandjacking Brandjacking is more than setting up a fake site for a big brand like Norton or Netflix and then telling customers to update their payment information, which is then stolen by thieves behind the fake sites. It is also about branding a business with a similar identity and URL to another business to confuse customers about who is who with the intent to direct consumers looking for competitors' websites to your site. Many consumers and algorithms don't know the difference between URLs that are nearly identical. When this happens, money and effort spent managing keywords, tagging sites, crafting content, paying for Google Ads and more can actually benefit a dark competitor who does nothing but divert others' heard-earned web traffic to their sites. You can often detect potential brandjacking when a competitor pops up with a name and URL that are very similar to yours. Compare ABCtechnologies.com vs. ABCtechnologies1.com. Algorithms may miss tiny differences and serve up imposter URLs to your target customers regardless of how much you spend on SEO. What you need to do to protect yourself Is your SEO at risk of being stolen? You may have read the story here on Entrepreneur.com last June about the great "SEO Heist" of 2023 and how the agency behind it bragged about stealing more than 3.6 million traffic hits from a competitor over a matter of months. There's been quite a flurry of reaction to this announcement, some unscrupulously wanting to do it themselves and others disgusted that AI, automation and other tools are being used for outright theft. I will always stand with the latter. SEO heists often involve scraping your website's site menu and links, duplicating URLs for blogs and landing pages, engaging AI to write keyword-laden articles that support your stolen content, and more. Consumers do not always know the difference and may think they purchased from you when they instead purchased from a hijacker they should not trust. Thankfully, these threats are being exposed, but that does not mean business managers are prepared to protect their branding and SEO efforts against internet pirates. Here are three ways to determine if your SEO is at risk of being stolen. Related: 9 SEO Tips to Help You Rank No. 1 on Google in 2024 Marketing technology makes whitehat, ethical and earned paid and organic SEO easier to achieve, execute and monitor than ever. There are many ways to keep tabs on the impact of your keywords and those used by your competitors in a fair, ethical and legal way. You can read about these affordable tactics in Entrepreneur's new book, Market Your Business – Your Guide to DIY Marketing , available on amazon.com, bn.com and more. There is never a reason to resort to black hat SEO. In fact, the campaign mentioned in the "SEO Heist" article referenced above crashed — and crashed hard . According to this article on LinkedIn and others, the long-term damage was greater than the gain. AI provides many powerful tools to make marketing and growth initiatives work better and faster. But it's also a great example of a failure of success. The failure is that this technology can be used for nefarious activities, and there are many out there who will do so. By following the steps in this article, you can set yourself up to recognize issues and correct them.
ASX set to rise, Wall Street hangs near records despite Trump’s tariff talk
WARREN, N.J., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tevogen Bio (“Tevogen” or “Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc.”) (Nasdaq: TVGN ), a clinical-stage specialty immunotherapy biotech developing off-the-shelf, genetically unmodified T cell therapeutics to treat infectious disease and cancers, today expresses gratitude to shareholders for their unwavering support and trust in Tevogen Bio and its leadership. The commitment fuels the company’s determination to advance its mission of developing accessible, life-saving therapeutics. The company recently announced significant progress through its third quarter financial results for 2024, including, reduction of a net loss by $52.5 million, elimination of nearly all liabilities, and reiterating availability of sufficient capital to fund operations for the next 33 months. Ryan Saadi, MD, MPH, Founder and CEO, Tevogen Bio commented, "We remain steadfast in our mission to advance medical science, however as CEO of the company, preservation of shareholder value remains a priority. We urge all stakeholders to consider the profound impact short selling innovative healthcare companies has on lifesaving therapies. While stock price fluctuations are part of the public market dynamics, Tevogen Bio is acutely aware of the undue influence short sellers have.” William Keane, VP of Strategic Initiatives, and graduate of the FBI National Academy stated, “We are aware and monitoring the actions of potential short selling activity targeting our company. We will continue to bring light to this situation and will work with the appropriate authorities as needed.” The company plans to provide further updates on its progress in the coming weeks. About Tevogen Bio Tevogen is a clinical-stage specialty immunotherapy company harnessing one of nature’s most powerful immunological weapons, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, to develop off-the-shelf, genetically unmodified precision T cell therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders, aiming to address the significant unmet needs of large patient populations. Tevogen Leadership believes that sustainability and commercial success in the current era of healthcare rely on ensuring patient accessibility through advanced science and innovative business models. Tevogen has reported positive safety data from its proof-of-concept clinical trial, and its key intellectual property assets are wholly owned by the company, not subject to any third-party licensing agreements. These assets include three granted patents, nine pending US and twelve ex-US pending patents, two of which are related to artificial intelligence. Tevogen is driven by a team of highly experienced industry leaders and distinguished scientists with drug development and global product launch experience. Tevogen’s leadership believes that accessible personalized therapeutics are the next frontier of medicine, and that disruptive business models are required to sustain medical innovation. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements relating to: expectations regarding the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries; Tevogen’s development of, the potential benefits of, and patient access to its product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer and neurological disorders, including TVGN 489 for the treatment of COVID-19 and Long COVID; Tevogen’s ability to develop additional product candidates, including through use of Tevogen’s ExacTcell platform; the anticipated benefits of ExacTcell; expectations regarding Tevogen’s future clinical trials; and Tevogen’s ability to generate revenue in the future. Forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “goal,” “opportunity,” “project,” “believe,” “future,” and similar words and expressions or their opposites. These statements are based on management’s expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of factors that involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the company’s control that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: that Tevogen will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the effect of the recent business combination with Semper Paratus Acquisition Corporation (the “Business Combination”) on Tevogen’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Tevogen; changes in the markets in which Tevogen competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution, or regulatory changes; changes in domestic and global general economic conditions; the risk that Tevogen may not be able to execute its growth strategies or may experience difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that Tevogen may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; costs related to the Business Combination and the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; the failure to achieve Tevogen’s commercialization and development plans and identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Tevogen to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; the risk that Tevogen may fail to keep pace with rapid technological developments to provide new and innovative products and services or make substantial investments in unsuccessful new products and services; the ability to develop, license or acquire new therapeutics; that Tevogen will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk of regulatory lawsuits or proceedings relating to Tevogen’s business; uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost, and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; risks related to regulatory review, approval and commercial development; risks associated with intellectual property protection; Tevogen’s limited operating history; and those factors discussed or incorporated by reference in Tevogen’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Tevogen undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Contacts Tevogen Bio Communications T: 1 877 TEVOGEN, Ext 701 Communications@Tevogen.comIn Chicago, Obama focuses on bridge building among a public divided by TrumpNo. 3 Penn State eyes second Big Ten championship under James Franklin
Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, state media says
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has responded to reported drone sightings over New Jersey and other states with assurances that there’s no evidence of “malicious intent,” with a National Security Council official signaling that federal entities think the brouhaha has been much ado about nothing — even as top Democrats demand answers. Thousands of tips about mysterious flying objects over the Garden State and neighboring states had produced about 100 credible leads as of Saturday, administration officials told reporters on a briefing call. The officials repeatedly stressed that multiple federal departments and agencies had not detected any evidence of criminal intent, public safety risks or national security implications. In fact, the NSC official poured cold water on many of the phoned-in tips and myriad social media anecdotes of drones as large as school buses buzzing around and hovering over New Jersey residential areas. “We have not been able to corroborate the reported visual sightings using sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities. And, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully,” the NSC official told Roll Call. “At this time, we do not have indication based on the investigation thus far that these reported sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,” the official said via email. “The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are actively investigating these sightings and working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources, using numerous detection methods, to better understand their origin and intentions.” The official referred to “many” of the sightings as manned aircraft mistaken for remotely piloted drones. But that would suggest that drones could be included among the remaining sightings. The Biden administration has yet to explain why those aircraft are in the air and who is operating them. Administration officials have also not yet explained how they have ruled out possible criminal intent, public safety risks and national security implications when they remain stumped about the operators of the aircraft. Asked to explain the metric used to draw such conclusions, the NSC official did not respond to a follow-up email. “To date, we have no intelligence or observations that would indicate that they were aligned with a foreign actor or that they had malicious intent,” a Defense Department official told reporters on the weekend call. “But I’ve just got to simply tell you, we don’t know. We have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin.” Meanwhile, a senior administration official echoed the NSC official in suggesting that citizen-tipsters have been mistaken about what they are seeing. “At this point, we have not identified any basis for believing that ... these drones, that there’s any criminal activity involved, that there’s any national security threat, that there’s any particular public safety threat, or that there’s a malicious foreign actor involved in these drones,” the senior administration official said. “That said, as you’ve heard from all of the experts on this call, all of the departments and agencies are taking this incredibly seriously and investigating every possible lead and working to try to understand what these sightings are,” the official added. The situation has put the Biden administration in yet another tricky political spot. The New York-New Jersey metro area is heavily represented by Democrats, who have been hearing from concerned, panicked and angry constituents about the mysterious activities they say are happening above them. Social media is rife with conspiracy theories, some accusing the administration of withholding information about exactly what is happening. Among the region’s Democrats pressing the administration for more information is Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York. In a Sunday letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Schumer pushed for the department to deploy more “drone-specific radar” systems, infrared cameras and other detection equipment. “In addition, these sightings have exposed the federal government’s limitations when it comes to the authorities for protecting against the illicit use of UAS,” Schumer wrote, using an acronym for unmanned aircraft systems. “State and local law enforcement agencies currently lack the explicit authorities to assist DHS in deploying technology to detect drone signals. These local agencies are responsible for keeping our citizens safe at the local level, and they must be part of a coordinated response.” Trump weighs in The confusing situation has again made clear the differing approaches of President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. Biden administration officials have repeatedly cited analyses and reviews of flight data and other information. Throughout his term, the president has leaned on experts and by-the-book government processes. Trump, who often ridicules experts as know-nothings, is more inclined to shoot from the hip. “Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge,” Trump wrote Friday on social media. “I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” At a press conference Monday in Florida, Trump contended that “the government knows what is happening” and “our president knows.” “Look, our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went,” he said. “And, for some reason, they don’t want to comment. And I think they’d be better off saying what it is.” Trump said he doubts the drones are being operated by a foreign government, but declined to disclose whether he had received an intelligence briefing on the situation. Presidents-elect have long been able to access the same intelligence as sitting commanders in chief to ensure a smooth transition between leaders.
The Australian Parliament’s decision to set the minimum age for making social media profiles at 16 isn’t just a legislative change. It’s a social change that puts the safety and well-being of the next generation first. Until now, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have required users to be at least 13 years old. Yet as digital technology has evolved, so have the risks. Social media isn’t just a playground of memes, games and online chinwags. It’s also rife with scammers, hackers, predators, recruiters and harmful content. Even adults have proven vulnerable to experiencing depression, anxiety and self-harm — let alone teens. Psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein in her Macquarie Uni article 'Teens’ social media damage can’t be fixed without legislation' argues that social media intensifies teen anxiety by triggering fear of missing out and harms mental health. On top of this, the August 2023 report from the Senate’s Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media found that social media platforms were vulnerable to foreign interference that runs contrary to Australia’s national interest. Social media isn’t just a tool. It’s an environment. Like any, it too requires boundaries to ensure safety. Concern that the reforms may compel users to provide sensitive identity docs and expose them to data breaches is overstated. Thanks to amendments negotiated by the Coalition, platforms can’t compel users to provide official identity docs like a driver’s licence or passport. Besides, any data collected has to be deleted once age verification is completed, unless the user consents to its retention. Bear in mind, social media platforms already hold vast amounts of our personal data, from chat logs and photos to browsing habits. Yet we continue to use their services daily. We trust them the same way we trust banks not to run away with our life savings. If tech giants intended to misuse our private info, they wouldn’t need access to our identity docs anyway. Leaking chat logs, photos and browsing habits (which they already have) is far more concerning than a jpeg of our driver’s licence. Like banks, tech companies have zero incentive to intentionally misuse our data. As for unintentional breaches, these risks aren’t just with tech giants. They can happen with any corporation or government agency. But that doesn’t stop us from engaging with mobile and internet service providers, hospitals, our employers, the tax office, Medicare and the list goes on. In any case, for our peace of mind, these reforms impose penalties of up to $50 million for potential breaches. Some critics seem to be using dramatic language, calling these reforms "draconian" and a case of "nanny state" intervention. Rule of law is the backbone of civilised society. There’s nothing draconian about minors not being allowed to buy booze or ciggies, place bets, gamble, get tattoos, enter nightclubs, drive cars or cast a vote in elections. These are sensible safeguards that rest on the understanding that minors aren’t yet ready to make responsible choices in high impact environments. Applying the same approach to social media acknowledges the digital world is a significant part of children’s lives today, with its own risks that warrant similar safeguards. These reforms are neither about overreach nor about depriving minors from digital tools entirely. That’s precisely why platforms with clear educational or health benefits like YouTube, Messenger Kids and Google Classroom have been exempt. This will ensure that technology continues to play a role in children’s learning and development. What these reforms do target are platforms where the risks of unregulated interaction far outweigh the benefits. TikTok recently revealed it had to remove one million Australian accounts suspected of belonging to users under 13. While tech companies have taken steps to address these challenges, they’ve fallen short of what was needed. Passed with support from both Labor and Liberal, these reforms fill that gap. Australia is now a world leader in establishing safety standards for online environments consistent with the physical world. Some critics are also saying it should be up to parents — not legislation — to manage what kids do online. Parental involvement is critical. Yet modern parenting faces unprecedented challenges. Many struggle to monitor children’s online activity, especially given that social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. These reforms at last offer parents a long overdue ally. Age brackets on booze, ciggies, betting, gambling, tattoos, clubbing, driving and voting only help parents do their job better. By raising the age for social media, Parliament isn’t replacing parental responsibility. It’s reinforcing it. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has rightly pointed out that saving children from social media’s adverse impact is one of the defining issues of our time. This legislation isn’t perfect. No law is. Some teens will still find ways around it, just as some manage to sneak into nightclubs and casinos. But the occasional rule-breaker doesn’t negate the need for rules in the first place. If we started deregulating every area of policy perceived as unenforceable, we’d be living in a lawless society. Perfection isn’t our goal. Making a meaningful difference is. With 77 per cent of Australians supporting these reforms, it’s clear the wider community recognises the wisdom that underlies them. Social media has revolutionised how we live, work and communicate. It’s brought us both benefits and risks that can’t be ignored. Australians have long criticised Labor and the Liberals for constantly disagreeing with each other instead of joining forces to serve the community. For a change, the bipartisan support for these social media reforms is precisely what Australians have long hoped to see happen. It’s time to embrace the reforms, not as perceived intrusion, but as an actual commitment to safeguarding the next generation. Dr Sherry Sufi is a Western Australian author and columnist. He has since 2015 served as Chairman of the Policy Committee for the Liberal Party of Western Australia. His latest book, Australia On Trial: Accusations and Defence argues that Australia is not a racist country built on "stolen land" and that it does have a way of life worth defending.WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump ‘s team still hasn’t signed agreements that are required to formally begin the transition process to the White House — meaning the government can’t provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials and the FBI can’t screen his rush of picks for the Cabinet and other key posts . The importance of strenuous federal background screenings — and the fact that Trump’s team has not been subjecting the president-elect’s selections to such vetting — was evident Thursday, when former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew as Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on whether he could be confirmed by the Senate. The continued delay on agreeing to start the formal transition process may eventually force senators to vote on Trump’s choices without the benefit of the usual background checks. That process is designed to uncover personal problems, criminal histories and other potential red flags that would raise questions about a nominee’s suitability for key jobs. RELATED COVERAGE Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general Beyond the top personnel picks that Trump already has announced, good governance activists and other experts on the transition process have warned for weeks that refusing to sign the transition documents will make it impossible for potentially hundreds of Trump national security appointees to get clearances. And that means the new administration won’t be fully prepared to govern when Trump takes power on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025. Here’s a look at where things stand and what effect the delay might have: What hasn’t the Trump team signed and why? At issue are memorandums of understanding under which the incoming administration agrees to work with the outgoing one while also submitting requests for name and background checks. The FBI then commits to flagging to the White House any adverse information uncovered during the process. Congressionally mandated ethics disclosures and donor contribution limits are required as part of the agreements needed to begin the transition process. A reluctance to comply with those has been a factor in the Trump team’s hesitance to sign them, according to a person familiar with the process who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions. Is it too late? No. There’s still time for the agreements to be signed. A Justice Department spokesperson said discussions were ongoing with the Trump transition team, which did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. But transition spokesman Brian Hughes said earlier this month that the team’s “lawyers continue to constructively engage with” lawyers and officials from President Joe Biden ‘s outgoing administration and promised updates “once a decision is made.” In the meantime, Trump’s team has relied on internal campaign aides, allied groups and outside law firms to support its personnel effort. Trump for years has regarded FBI leadership with suspicion — in part because of the Russian election interference investigation that shadowed his first term, and more recently because of FBI investigations into his hoarding of classified documents and his efforts to undo the results of the 2020 election that led to his indictment last year. What effect is this having? During a normal transition period, the new administration uses the time before taking office to begin working to fill 4,000 government positions with political appointees, or people who are specifically tapped for their jobs by Trump’s team. That includes everyone from the secretary of state and other heads of Cabinet departments to those selected to serve part-time on boards and commissions. Around 1,200 of those presidential appointments require Senate confirmation — which should be easier with the Senate shifting to Republican control in January. Trump has moved at record-setting speed to announce his key picks , and Senate GOP leaders say they plan to launch confirmation hearings as soon as the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3 — potentially allowing them to begin voting on nominees as soon as Inauguration Day. But lawmakers also are complaining about what they see as insufficient screening of the picks they’re being asked to consider. Some Senate Republicans have expressed concern about alleged wrongdoing by some Trump selections and two Democratic House members — Don Beyer of Virginia and Ted Lieu of California — introduced a proposal seeking to codify the FBI’s role in the background check process for political appointees of the president. And, while Gaetz is no longer an issue, he’s not the only Trump pick with an eyebrow-raising background. The president-elect’s nominee to be defense secretary, former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, was accused of sexual assault in 2017 after a speaking appearance at a Republican women’s event in Monterey, California, but was not charged after a police investigation. A police report released Thursday contains graphic details of the sexual assault allegations. The selection of former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence has alarmed some U.S. intelligence analysts. They point to her past criticism of Ukraine, comments supportive of Russia and meetings with Syrian President Bashar Assad, a close ally of Russia and Iran. What effect will this have? Incoming members of Trump’s administration aren’t getting briefings and other information from their outgoing Biden administration counterparts that can help them better prepare for their new jobs. And Trump appointees with positions involving a security clearance won’t be able to begin work without a required background check. Once the president-elect takes office, however, he could simply order that officials be given a security clearance, as he was reported to have done for son-in-law Jared Kushner during his first term. Whether the delay thus far will have any longer-term effects is impossible to yet know. The delayed process may not matter much given that Trump has already served as president and has a much better understanding of how to run an administration than he did in 2016, when he won his first term. But there is precedent for problems. The 9/11 Commission suggested that the disputed election of 2000 — which delayed the start of the transition between outgoing President Bill Clinton and incoming President George W. Bush until December — raised questions about national security gaps from one administration to the other that may have contributed to the U.S. being underprepared for the Sept. 11 attacks the following year. The “36-day delay cut in half the normal transition period,” which constituted a “loss of time that hampered the new administration in identifying, recruiting, clearing and obtaining Senate confirmation of key appointees” the commission’s report stated in 2004. ___
Wild first season in expanded Big 12 comes down to final weekend
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflPoseida shares triple on Tuesday, boosted by Roche collaboration
QB Room, Thanksgiving edition: 1 thing we like about every AFC team’s quarterback outlookOde To Our Land To Screen At Msheireb Downtown Doha
BOSTON (AP) — Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. 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! BOSTON (AP) — Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BOSTON (AP) — Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. The pair were arrested after FBI specialists who analyzed the drone traced the navigation system to an Iranian company operated by one of the defendants, who relied on technology funneled from the U.S. by his alleged co-conspirator, officials said. “We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technology getting into dangerous hands,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts. “Unfortunately, in this situation, we are not speculating.” The defendants were identified as Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, who prosecutors say works at a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested Monday in Italy as the Justice Department seeks his extradition to Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege that Abedininajafabadi, who also uses the surname Adedini and operates an Iranian company that manufactures navigation systems for drones, has connections to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. They allege that he conspired with Sadeghi to circumvent American export control laws, including through a front company in Switzerland, and procure sensitive technology into Iran. Both men are charged with export control violations, and Abedini separately faces charges of conspiring to provide material support to Iran. A lawyer for Sadeghi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was arrested Monday in Massachusetts, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. U.S. officials blamed the January attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes Kataib Hezbollah. Three Georgia soldiers — Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Sgt. Breonna Moffett of Savannah and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross — were killed in the Jan. 28 drone attack on a U.S. outpost in northeastern Jordan called Tower 22. In the attack, the one-way attack drone may have been mistaken for a U.S. drone that was expected to return back to the logistics base about the same time and was not shot down. Instead, it crashed into living quarters, killing the three soldiers and injuring more than 40. Tower 22 held about 350 U.S. military personnel at the time. It is strategically located between Jordan and Syria, only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Iraqi border, and in the months just after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and Israel’s blistering response in Gaza, Iranian-backed militias intensified their attacks on U.S. military locations in the region. Following the attack, the U.S. launched a huge counterstrike against 85 sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Iranian-backed militia and bolstered Tower 22’s defenses. ____ Tucker and Copp reported from Washington. Advertisement
'The left failed': MAGA allies fist pump and declare 'huge win' after DOJ decision
He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican's first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. "Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything," said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue." The first of Trump's tariff announcements -- a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada -- came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump's own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would "remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country" -- sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs." The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis -- which produce pickup trucks in America's southern neighbor -- plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. The tumult recalls Trump's first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet -- in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X -- became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect's 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump's order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. "He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again," said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. cjc/ft/dw/bjtLincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (from left), Congressman Don Bacon, Sen. Pete Ricketts, NU President Jeffrey Gold and Google Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager Dan Harbeke clap as they listen during a news conference on Monday at the Nebraska Innovation Campus. KATY COWELL, Journal Star Google officials were in town Monday to celebrate what they said was a $930 million investment in the state this year through three data centers in Omaha, Papillon and the still-under-construction center in Lincoln. This year’s investment brings the total capital investment in the state to $4.4 billion, said Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector. “In addition to supporting our great government customers, in particular those in the national security area, these data centers are critical to making sure that Google’s investment in technologies can be leveragable by those missions,” she said. As part of the giant tech company’s effort to be a good neighbor, officials announced that its philanthropic arm donated $250,000 to the University of Nebraska and $100,000 to the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold said the Google dollars will help the university expand its new bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence, one of the first of its kind in Nebraska. “We will be investing these dollars in educational programming to understand as best we can how generative artificial intelligence and machine learning needs to touch every one of our educational programs, all of our research programs, and all of our outreach and clinical programs, our extension services," he said. "These dollars ... will give us a very, very solid foundation to build upon that." Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the money donated to the LPS Foundation will support Spark Summer Learning, a summer camp for elementary students focusing on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird speaks during a news conference on Monday at the Nebraska Innovation Campus. Google announced that it will invest an additional $930 million across its three data center campuses in Nebraska, including the one under construction in Lincoln. KATY COWELL, Journal Star Google’s investment will allow LPS to invest in more state-of-the-art technology and offer scholarships to 40 students, said Gaylor Baird, one of a number of local and state leaders on hand for the event at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Gaylor Baird said the new $600 million data center in northeast Lincoln will support hundreds of construction jobs in the short term and dozens of full-time well-paid positions in the future. In August 2023, Google officials confirmed that the company would build a data center on about 600 acres of land northwest of the 56th Street exit on Interstate 80 that will employ at least 30 people. Plans it submitted to the city indicate it could eventually grow to 2 million square feet of space. Google, through a subsidiary, paid about $18.6 million for the land , and another subsidiary applied for $600 million in state tax incentives. The timeline for construction is not finalized, but a Google spokeswoman said the company hopes to have it operational within the next 12 months. In 2019, Google broke ground on a data center in Papillion and has since created 120 jobs that include full-time positions at the site and for external suppliers, according to Google officials. A data center in northwest Omaha is now operational, and the tech giant also has a data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The campuses are part of the company’s global network on 41 cloud regions that deliver services to large enterprises, startups and public sector organizations. Dahut said the company worked with local agencies to promote the health of the Platte River basin through collaborations with organizations to replenish 120% of the water it consumes. She said a collaboration with Omaha Public Power District enables Google to supply more than 1,000 megawatts of carbon pollution-free electricity to the state and execute “large-scale clean energy deals.” Sen. Pete Ricketts holds up his phone as he speaks during a news conference on Monday at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Google announced it will invest an additional $930 million across its three data center campuses in Nebraska, including the one under construction in Lincoln. KATY COWELL, Journal Star U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said the state appreciates Google’s investment, which is appropriate, given Nebraska's location in the middle of the so-called “Silicon Prairie,” residents who believe in hard work, and its support of the U.S. military through Offutt Air Force Base. “I think this is a perfect synergy between what we do here in Nebraska, the people that we have here, and what Google wants to do for our economy and for our country,” he said. “This investment will just continue to build upon that great relationship.” More Nebraskans work two jobs; Election decided by coin toss; Pillen appoints Bohac to NSHS Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. JUSTIN WAN Journal Star U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star Katie Goeling (left) fills out her ballot while her son Gunner, 4, holds her hand during Election Day on Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Malcolm. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) on Nov. 4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KATY COWELL, Journal Star file photo Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12." KATY COWELL Journal Star Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review. KATY COWELL Journal Star Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3. KATY COWELL Journal Star After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to Journalstar.com . KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. KATY COWELL, Journal Star Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. JUSTIN WAN Journal Star Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star Second-time mother giraffe Allie nuzzles her new calf in the giraffe experience enclosure on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star Nebraska celebrates during the first set of the match against Minnesota on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center. KATY COWELL, Journal Star Luca Gustafson, 6, rides to school Tuesday with the bike bus at Riley Elementary School. Each Tuesday, students can bike to school with adult chaperones along a specific route. KATY COWELL, Journal Star Wahoo's Braylon Iversen celebrates with Warrior players after they defeated Auburn in a Class C-1 state semifinal game Friday in Wahoo. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star Lincoln Fire Fighters Association member Andy Evans works to assemble a headboard during a bed-building day hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday at Hampton Enterprises. Volunteers helped build 20 beds for children in need. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star A Lincoln firefighter sprays water on to the roof from a ladder truck as they battle a fire at the former Village Inn at 29th and O streets the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarBig Ben Rips NFL for Unfair Schedule: ‘It Just Shows That It’s All About Money’
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