
WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. ___ Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.‘We Deserved More Than One Point!’ –Finidi Reflects On Rivers United’s Draw At Sunshine Stars
Lowey Dannenberg Notifies Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (“Zeta” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ZETA) Investors of Securities Class Action Lawsuit and Encourages Investors with more than $100,000 in Losses to Contact the FirmThe Supreme Court’s senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has expressed concern that the country’s judiciary is undergoing “one of its weakest moments in our history” and thus risking executive overreach in its affairs, it emerged on Friday. The remarks come in the backdrop of the 26th Constitutional Amendment which was criticised for the haste with which it was passed. The International Court of Jurists derided the “blow to judicial independence” when the 26th Amendment was signed into law. Some of the major changes made to the Constitution included changing the process of the chief justice of Pakistan’s appointment, taking away the high courts’ suo motu powers, formation of constitutional benches, and performance evaluations of high court judges. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had last week approved the formation of a committee led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail to constitute rules and criteria for appointing judges by December 15. In a letter written to Justice Mandokhail a day ago regarding the task ahead, seen by Dawn.com , Justice Shah said: “The judiciary of Pakistan is passing through one of its weakest moments in our history, and the risks of executive overreach are higher than ever.” He said he had “deep concern” regarding the formulation of rules for the appointment of judges to constitutional courts in Pakistan, a matter which he called of the “utmost significance to the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and democracy in our country” since it was mandated upon the JCP by the Constitution. “In the absence of such rules, any proceedings undertaken by the commission for the appointment of judges would be unconstitutional,” the senior puisne judge pointed out. Justice Shah said the judiciary had enjoyed primacy in the appointment process of judges but the vital balance was “fundamentally disturbed” under the 26th amendment, granting a majority to the executive in the JCP. “This unprecedented shift in the composition of the JCP poses grave risks, including the potential for political appointments and the packing of courts with judges lacking an ideological commitment to the rule of law,” the judge warned. He stressed that appointments made without a “well-defined and transparent framework of rules” would undermine public confidence in the judiciary, compromise its independence, and erode its ability to function as a neutral arbiter of justice. “The selection and appointment of judges must be structured and well-reasoned and never be left vulnerable to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions. “In these circumstances, it becomes imperative that well-thought-out rules are framed that provide the necessary filters to select the best of the best, thereby safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring merit-based selections.” He urged the five-member committee tasked with drafting the rules that selecting the best judges that would promote the rule of law required a focus on objective, fair and forward-looking criteria. Justice Shah proposed several criteria and factors that he said potential nominees should be judged for. “By adopting this comprehensive approach, the JCP can ensure a fair, robust and merit-based selection process that aligns with the principles of judicial independence and rule of law. “The absence of robust rules and criteria will allow outside influence to undermine the judiciary by facilitating appointments that serve partisan interests rather than upholding constitutional values,” he pointed out. The judge stressed that it was critical that “no appointment to the constitutional courts proceeds until these rules are finalised and adopted by the JCP”, saying that the approach was essential not only for ensuring the independence of the judiciary but also for enhancing public trust in the courts as “bastions of justice, the rule of law and democratic accountability”. “Any hurriedness in the matter by the JCP can seriously undermine and weaken the judiciary for years to come,” Justice Shah warned. He concluded by expressing trust that Justice Mandokhail would “recognise the urgency and importance of this matter and act decisively to ensure that the process is both fair and resistant to outside influence”. The JCP will meet on Dec 21 to consider 10 nominations for four vacant positions of the Islamabad High Court judges. Justice Shah said he looked forward to the draft rules in the Dec 21 meeting. “I understand that unless the rules are finalised by the JCP, we cannot initiate the process of appointment of judges,” he added.
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By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
Uri Geller says drone sightings are UFOs 'warning' Earth with 'show of power and superior tech' Psychic Uri Geller has hit out at claims that 'drones' are visiting airbases (Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images ) Celebrity psychic Uri Geller has claimed that recent 'drone' sightings near airbases are "not man-made" but instead a warning from UFOs with technology outside of our understanding. Geller claimed the UFOs "want to be seen" in a series of social media posts, also speculating that the repeated sightings were a "warning". There have been a number of reports of flying crafts with strange lights spotted near US airbases - in New Jersey, Germany and RAF Lakenheath in the UK. The 77-year-old illusionist claims we're in the midst of the "the biggest cover up since Roswell" by blaming "drones" for the sightings. READ MORE: Psychic says aliens won't hide from us anymore and will make physical contact in 2025 READ MORE: Uri Geller splashes £40,000 on pair of specs from old pal John Lennon Uri's extra terrestrial assertions are supported by TV psychic Deborah Davies, who... Dan Grennan
Under-18s will also be prohibited from buying all vaping and nicotine products, and will also bring in new rules about advertising of these products (Image: Drugs and Alcohol NI) Get the latest Belfast Live breaking news on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Join us on WhatsApp MPs have voted in favour of creating a smoke-free generation as well as introducing more regulation on vaping. The bill will prohibit the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009. Under-18s will also be prohibited from buying all vaping and nicotine products, and will also bring in new rules about advertising of these products. You can see how your MP voted by using the interactive below. Simply enter the name of your MP or constituency in the text box. While many areas of law around tobacco are devolved in the UK, the bill would ensure that a consistent approach to tobacco and vaping regulation was applied across the UK. It would do this primarily by amending existing tobacco and vaping legislation that has been implemented at a national level in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland . The bill would also consolidate existing tobacco and vaping control measures to provide a consistent legislative framework and strengthen enforcement. While Scotland have set a target to be smoke-free by 2030 and Wales have a target of 2034, the Northern Ireland Assembly have yet to set a target for the region to be smoke-free. The bill has passed its second reading in the House of Commons, with 415 votes in favour and 47 against. It will now enter the committee stage before a third and final reading in the Commons, after which it will be passed to the House of Lords. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Politics Health Stormont