Trump transition says Cabinet picks appointees were targeted by bomb threats swatting attacksWashington — President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, to serve as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, he announced Wednesday. Kellogg served as chief of staff to the National Security Council and national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence during Trump's first term in office. He will assume the role as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia as it nears the three-year mark of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump announced Kellogg as the envoy in a post to social media, writing that he "has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration." "He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!" the president-elect wrote. Trump's return to the White House has raised questions about the future of U.S. involvement in the war in Ukraine . The U.S. under President Biden had provided roughly $64.1 billion in military aid since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, and about $66.9 billion in military assistance since Russia initially invaded Ukraine in 2014, according to the State Department. The president-elect, however, has criticized Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy, calling him in June "the greatest salesman of all time" for pushing for continued U.S. support in Ukraine's efforts to push back against Russia's aggression. Trump has claimed he would have the war "settled" before taking office for his second term, and has said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president. Trump and Zelenskyy spoke by phone after the president-elect defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the election earlier this month. Ukraine's leader said on social media the call was "excellent" and praised his "tremendous campaign" that made his victory possible. "We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," Zelenskyy wrote. Trump, meanwhile, has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "savvy" and suggested in February that he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" with NATO member countries that failed to meet the alliance's defense spending targets. Ret. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as Trump's national security adviser in his first term, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that the upcoming months are "really critical" in determining the "next phase" of the war in Ukraine. McMaster, a CBS News contributor, said that Russia and Ukraine are both incentivized to make "as many gains on the battlefield as they can before the new Trump administration comes in" as the two countries seek leverage in negotiations. Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.Karl Malone picked as Child Protective Services director? No, claim is satire | Fact check
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setupGolden State Valkyries select 4 players to begin building roster through WNBA expansion draft
WILLMAR — Community Christian School boys basketball team has a new league on its horizon. The Eagles are set to compete in the newly Minnesota Christian Athletic Conference for the 2024-25 season. CCS previously played in the Christian Athletic League, which merged with the Minnesota Association of Christian Schools to form the MCAC. The MCAC will be split into North and South Divisions. The Eagles will play in the South. CCS, which is coming off a 2-12 record last year, is coached by second-year head coach Allan Cronen. His assistants are Matt and Ben Reinertson. The Eagles, who return four starters and lose a pair of key contributors for their first season in the MCAC, retain their leading scorer in Brady Reinertson. Reinertson, who is a 6-foot freshman point guard, averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game as an eighth-grader. “Brady is a skilled ball-handler with a competitive toughness that few have at his age,” Cronen said. “He is skilled at penetrating gaps and making reads that can frustrate talented defenders.” Another key piece back for CCS is David Mulder. He is a 5-9 junior forward. “David is a persistent defender who can create fast-break opportunities,” Cronen said. Andrew Borstad and Micah Nelson, both senior forwards, each return as starters for the Eagles. CCS will begin play in the MCAC without Pablo Peñalba, who averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and Zachary Mulder, who averaged 5.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and RussiaRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an extremely close state Supreme Court race, saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin's motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn't have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. The Democratic Party's lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law's prohibition of what's essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin's attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state's jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin's actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin's protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more leverage to Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein in 2025. The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated PressRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an extremely close state Supreme Court race, saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin’s motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn’t have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. More election coverage Russian disinformation aims to drive a wedge between the US and Ukraine Democrat Adam Gray captures California’s 13th US House District, ousting Republican Rep. John Duarte Trump’s defense pick Pete Hegseth faces deepening scrutiny in Senate The Democratic Party’s lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law’s prohibition of what’s essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin’s attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state’s jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin’s actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin’s protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more leverage to Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein in 2025. The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests.
Lady Bucs overwhelm Presbyterian, 64-31WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to help expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine’s situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it’s going to stay in the fight with Russia. The official said the Ukrainians believe they need about 160,000 additional troops, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have also stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region that Ukraine seized this year. The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks also comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.
Stanley has been busier than ever this December and we’re only one week in. In case you missed it, Stanley released a whole slew of new tumblers, including a limited-edition Christmas Scarlet Tinsel tumbler, the long-awaited leakproof ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid , and Leo Messi GOAT collection . Normally, it takes a little while for new Stanley releases to make it to Amazon, but you can already buy the ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler in four different sizes (14 oz., 20 oz., 30 oz., and 40 oz.) in a variety of different colors. These tumblers range in price from $20 to $45, depending on which size you buy. The real beauty of Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumblers is the leakproof ProTour Flip Straw lid. The new lid design allows you to “flip up the built-in straw to sip, then snap it shut when you’re done,” so the tumbler is finally leakproof. Stanley has also taken a step back from its traditional logo design with a vertical logo placement. The tumblers also have a two-tone lid and all the other features of Stanley’s classic Quenchers. Stanley Leakproof Tumbler: Where to find it on Amazon Since this product is brand new and was highly requested, a number of colors are already out of stock on Amazon. Only the 30 oz. and 40 oz. are available and in stock in every color on Amazon right now. Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid 14 oz – For $20 – Only available in Black Fade Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid 20 oz – For $30 – Available in Azure Fade and Vivid Violet Fade Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid 30 oz – For $35 – Available Azure Fade, Black Fade, Black Solid, Cream Solid, Frost Fade, Frost Solid, Rose Quartz Fade, Rose Quartz Solid, and Vivid Violet Fade Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid 40 oz – For $45 – Available Azure Fade, Black Fade, Black Solid, Cream Solid, Frost Fade, Frost Solid, Rose Quartz Fade, Rose Quartz Solid, and Vivid Violet Fade The Best Gift Guides of 2024 16 gift ideas for ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ fans 20 travel gifts for the jetsetter in your life 8 Black Friday video game deals to add to your wish list Where to find these 11 Christmas toys at the top of everyone’s wish list for 2024 before they sell out 30 skincare and makeup gifts you need to add to your Christmas wish list Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .
I’m a Celeb fans slam ‘unfair’ challenge ‘fixed’ for Coleen Rooney and Melvin Odoom to lose
At US$765 million over 15 years, Juan Soto owns the richest contract in professional sport history. It’s a work of art that accelerates from $51 million to $55 million per year, and $805 million overall if the club wants to avoid his opt-out in 2029. He will earn an otherworldly $6,000 per hour over the contract’s 15-year term. Yet as much as the exquisite hitter and newest New York Met is the biggest winner this week in the business of sport, he has plenty of company on the power wagon. The other big winners are the Mets’ brand, owner Steve Cohen, a Mets fan base that has almost always lived in the shadow of the New York Yankees, and super agent Scott Boras. It was also yet another good week for Caitlin Clark, who was named Time magazine’s athlete of the year after more than successfully making the transition from the Iowa Hawkeyes and NCAA women’s basketball to the Indiana Fever and the WNBA. She has re-engineered the financial upside of women’s sport, making more than $10 million in her rookie year. In this era of polarized politics south of the border, she has also inadvertently become the poster child for white privilege. Meanwhile, the NFL will have itself a big Week 15. Two of the best matchups will be played at the same time on Sunday when the 12-1 Detroit Lions meet the 10-3 Buffalo Bills, while the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles take on the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers. It marks the first time in 40 years that the NFL has staged two games that each featured two teams with 10 or more wins going into Week 15. Also sharing the spotlight in the winner’s circle this week is Saudi Arabia, which was named host of the FIFA 2034 World Cup. That World Cup will be the third in four cycles that are hosted at least in part by Arabic countries, with Qatar 2022 ushering in Spain-Portugal-Morocco in 2030 and Saudi Arabia four years later (with the U.S., Mexico and Canada co-hosting in 2026). The trajectory that FIFA is charting is paired with the rise of Emirates Airlines as one of the most prominent corporate sponsors in sport, with holdings in tennis and basketball. That doesn’t include the massive amounts of money invested in LIV golf by the Saudi Sovereign Fund. If the New York Stock Exchange traded exclusively in football, it would reflect a dreary economic recession — if not outright depression — for fans of the 2-11 New York Football Giants of the NFC and the 3-10 New York Jets of the AFC. The two teams have lost 21 of the 26 games they’ve played this season, causing considerable angst among New York fans and sport commentators. It’s yet another reminder that big market size doesn’t always buy you a winning team. The Jets this week became the first NFL team to be eliminated from this year’s playoffs. What’s more? They have struggled through nine consecutive losing seasons and 14 years out of the playoffs — the longest active drought in the big four North American men’s sports leagues. Take a bite out of that Big Apple. Tom Mayenknecht is the host of The Sport Market on Sportsnet 650 on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Vancouver-based sport business commentator and principal in Emblematica Brand Builders provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sport business stories that matter most to fans. Follow Mayenknecht at: x.com/TheSportMarket .In California's 'earthquake country,' a 7.0 temblor prompts confusion and a tsunami warningWASHINGTON (AP) — For years, Pat Verhaeghe didn’t think highly of Donald Trump as a leader. Then Verhaeghe began seeing more of Trump’s campaign speeches online and his appearances at sporting events. There was even the former president’s pairing with Bryson DeChambeau as part of the pro golfer’s YouTube channel series to shoot an under-50 round of golf while engaging in chitchat with his partner. “I regret saying this, but a while ago I thought he was an idiot and that he wouldn’t be a good president,” said the 18-year-old first-time voter. “I think he’s a great guy now.” Verhaeghe isn't alone among his friends in suburban Detroit or young men across America. Although much of the electorate shifted right to varying degrees in 2024, young men were one of the groups that swung sharply toward Trump. More than half of men under 30 supported Trump, according to AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, while Democrat Joe Biden had won a similar share of this group four years earlier. White men under 30 were solidly in Trump’s camp this year — about 6 in 10 voted for Trump — while young Latino men were split between the two candidates. Most Black men under 30 supported Democrat Kamala Harris, but about one-third were behind Trump. Young Latino men’s views of the Democratic Party were much more negative than in 2020, while young Black men’s views of the party didn’t really move. About 6 in 10 Latino men under 30 had a somewhat or very favorable view of the Democrats in 2020, which fell to about 4 in 10 this year. On the other hand, about two-thirds of young Black men had a favorable view of the Democrats this year, which was almost identical to how they saw the party four years ago. “Young Hispanic men, and really young men in general, they want to feel valued," said Rafael Struve, deputy communications director for Bienvenido, a conservative group that focused on reaching young Hispanic voters for Republicans this year. “They're looking for someone who fights for them, who sees their potential and not just their struggles.” Struve cited the attempted assassination of Trump during a July rally in Pennsylvania as one of the catalyzing moments for Trump’s image among many young men. Trump, Struve said, was also able to reach young men more effectively by focusing on nontraditional platforms like podcasts and digital media outlets. “Getting to hear from Trump directly, I think, really made all the difference," Struve said of the former president's appearances on digital media platforms and media catering to Latino communities, like town halls and business roundtables Trump attended in Las Vegas and Miami. Not only did Trump spend three hours on Joe Rogan's chart-topping podcast, but he took up DeChambeau's “Break 50” challenge for the golfer's more than 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. Trump already had an edge among young white men four years ago, although he widened the gap this year. About half of white men under 30 supported Trump in 2020, and slightly less than half supported Biden. Trump's gains among young Latino and Black men were bigger. His support among both groups increased by about 20 percentage points, according to AP VoteCast — and their feelings toward Trump got warmer, too. It wasn’t just Trump. The share of young men who identified as Republicans in 2024 rose as well, mostly aligning with support for Trump across all three groups. “What is most alarming to me is that the election is clear that America has shifted right by a lot,” said William He, founder of Dream For America, a liberal group that works to turn out young voters and supported Harris’ presidential bid. With his bombastic demeanor and a policy agenda centered on a more macho understanding of culture , Trump framed much of his campaign as a pitch to men who felt scorned by the country’s economy, culture and political system. Young women also slightly swung toward the former president, though not to the degree of their male counterparts. It's unclear how many men simply did not vote this year. But there's no doubt the last four years brought changes in youth culture and how political campaigns set out to reach younger voters. Democrat Kamala Harris' campaign rolled out policy agendas tailored to Black and Latino men, and the campaign enlisted a range of leaders in Black and Hispanic communities to make the case for the vice president. Her campaign began with a flurry of enthusiasm from many young voters, epitomized in memes and the campaign's embrace of pop culture trends like the pop star Charli XCX's “brat” aesthetic . Democrats hoped to channel that energy into their youth voter mobilization efforts. “I think most young voters just didn’t hear the message,” said Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a liberal group that engages younger voters. Mayer said the Harris campaign’s pitch to the country was “largely convoluted” and centered on economic messaging that he said wasn’t easily conveyed to younger voters who were not already coming to political media. “And I think that the policies themselves were also very narrow and targeted when what we really needed was a simple, bold economic vision,” said Mayer. Trump also embraced pop culture by appearing at UFC fights, football games and appearing alongside comedians, music stars and social media influencers. His strategists believed that the former president’s ability to grab attention and make his remarks go viral did more for the campaign than paid advertisements or traditional media appearances. Trump's campaign also heavily cultivated networks of online conservative platforms and personalities supportive of him while also engaging a broader universe of podcasts, streaming sites, digital media channels and meme pages open to hearing him. “The right has been wildly successful in infiltrating youth political culture online and on campus in the last couple of years, thus radicalizing young people towards extremism,” said He, who cited conservative activist groups like Turning Point USA as having an outsize impact in online discourse. “And Democrats have been running campaigns in a very old fashioned way. The battleground these days is cultural and increasingly on the internet.” Republicans may lose their broad support if they don't deliver on improving Americans' lives, Struve cautioned. Young men, especially, may drift from the party in a post-Trump era if the party loses the president-elect's authenticity and bravado. Bienvenido, for one group, will double down in the coming years to solidify and accelerate the voting pattern shifts seen this year, Struve said. “We don’t want this to be a one and done thing,” he said. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, and AP polling editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.
Hezbollah faces long road to recover from war
Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed covid herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of HealthPregnant Charlotte Dawson breaks her silence on the trolls making false claims about her parenting. Dawson, who is expecting her third child, revealed that some anonymous callers have been accusing her of neglecting her children, Noah, 3, and Jude, 1. "They ring social services all the time, whenever there is anything on my Instagram. It's pathetic," Dawson told The Sun. She added, "I have no idea who it is but they just won't give up. I've not heard anything for a few weeks but I'm sure I will do soon. I don't know who it is and I don't really care any more because it's just pathetic. There are people that actually need social services' help, you know, not me.” Charlotte has been dealing with callers since last year. She previously explained about the call on Instagram, “Basically it was saying that Noah is always injured in my care, I'm always drunk around him, he's always in hospital and all this crap.” “They said me and Matthew aren't capable of looking after Noah and he needs to be taken off of us,” she added.
BIG 12 THIS WEEKJames Carville calls Biden the ‘most tragic figure in American politics in my lifetime’
IT’S 25C, I’m now on to my third glass of wine and a rollerblading waiter whizzes past me. I haven’t even had to travel far for warmer temperatures, with Agadir just a four-hour flight from the UK. The Moroccan city is home to the country’s largest market, Souk El Had, as well as a bustling harbour and modern marina. Rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1960, the sprawling city nestles against the Atlantic Ocean and its palm-lined wide roads feel more Miami than Morocco . No wonder the South African country looks set to be a holiday hotspot as Brits look past Spain next year. I’m staying in Taghazout, a surf town with an ever-growing number of modern beach-side resorts, just 13 miles north of Agadir and its sizzling souk. MORE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS One of the newest resorts is the five-star adults-only Pickalbatros White Beach, which features pristine white marble steps, manicured gardens and a huge airy lobby offering views of the beach through giant glass windows. It’s affordable luxury at its finest, and the perfect place for a last-minute holiday with my closest gal pal. From our plush room we could marvel at the sea views or step out on to a private patio through floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Our en-suites were just as glamorous, including huge marble showers with built-in seats and extra jets for an almost too-powerful wash. Most read in News Travel Just steps away were the resort’s six pools which wind around the sprawling resort — decked out with sunloungers, sofas and umbrellas for guests to enjoy. Mountain fortress It was slightly too cold for more than a quick dip, but thankfully there are three large hot tubs in which to warm up. The promenade behind the hotel lines Taghazout Beach, where hordes of eager surfers took to the sea before I’d even finished my morning coffee. As a novice surfer, I opted to watch those riding the waves, while my companion made friends with the stray dogs and hawkers selling Moroccan breads. The deep yellow sand — not yet warm from the early-morning sun — was as soft as flour as my feet sank in. But while the hotel is so tempting you might not wish to leave, a tour of Agadir is a must while staying. The city is extremely modern, built after the devastating quake that killed a third of Agadir’s population. A cemetery and Wall of Remembrance. commemorate the 15,000 lives lost. The destruction also wiped out the entire village within the kasbah of Agadir Oufla, a 16th-century mountain fortress. Now a heritage site, the walls have been carefully restored although the interiors remain as ruins. This is also where both locals and tourists flock for the best views of Agadir, overlooking the harbour and marina. But if you can’t face the drive, or brave a hike to the top, don’t worry as a cable car service opened in 2022. Also rebuilt after the quake was Souk El Had. Inside are 3,000 shops selling everything you could imagine, and more, and where it’s easy to lose hours of your day. Or so we were told. We arrived on a Monday with empty bags and full wallets, only to be told that is the one day of the week it is closed. Our resourceful guide instead found a smaller artisanal market nearby. We stocked up on fabulous Christmas presents of candles, jars and intricate wooden carvings for about half the price they would likely set us back in a trendy UK boutique. Later, I found out I could have knocked more dirhams off the price, so my haggling skills certainly needed more work — as well as my rusty French. We were left rather peckish after our shopping spree, but thankfully our resort had us covered. There are bountiful buffets — succulent seafood in the Culina restaurant and Italian delights such as fresh pasta and fancy desserts at Alfredo. Speakeasy-style bar Our all-inclusive plan also allowed us one free visit per stay to the speciality restaurant Azha, which offers up delicious authentic Moroccan cuisine. There, we feasted on deliciously rich lentil soup and bread, followed by an aubergine dip and crispy samosas. The food never stopped coming, with beef couscous, chicken tagines and sugared treats to choose from — all while the super-attentive staff were constantly on hand to serve up our drinks. One cheeky waiter “misheard” us asking for a large glass, and we ended up with a full-to-the-brim flute of wine . He giggled at us as we then had to find straws to avoid embarrassing ourselves even further. But we escaped with our overflowing drinks to the speakeasy-style Sachi bar upstairs. With panelled walls and huge marble statues, as well as plush velvet chairs, it felt like we had stepped back in time as we lost the rest of the evening to Aperol Spritzes on tap and stunning views. The daily pink sunsets reflecting off the calm pools were the most beautiful I had ever seen. The rest of our stay was spent exactly as a winter-sun holiday should be — ordering cocktails to our sunloungers from the beach bar as we posted smug photos on Instagram, annoying our friends and family. Days were punctuated only by poolside events, with tennis , football , darts and dance parties to choose from. Staff would encourage us to partake — and even joined in one of our card games to show us a magic trick I still don’t understand. Stress-busting treatments are a must too — with prices in Morocco a fraction of those in the UK. Our hammam scrub in the hotel spa cost £33 and left us invigorated and ready to explore the saunas and steam rooms down the winding tiled corridors. I definitely had a small nap during my relaxing massage — £25 for 30 minutes. READ MORE SUN STORIES It left me knot-free and smelling of jasmine, if a little messy-haired from the vigorous head rub. Safe to say, I was left warmed up by this beautiful country — but left with a heavier suitcase than planned with all the gifts. GETTING THERE / STAYING THERE: Tui offers seven nights’ all-inclusive staying at the 5T Pickalbatros White Beach Resort Taghazout from £756 per person including flights from Gatwick on February 3, 2025, and transfers. Based on two sharing a Deluxe Twin room with pool view and balcony or terrace. See tui.com OUT & ABOUT: Tui offers excursions including the Discover Agadir City Tour from £27Marcus Johnson and Bowling Green take down New Mexico State 61-60
Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. Chargers player to watch RB Gus Edwards will move up as the lead back for Los Angeles after J.K Dobbins (knee) was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Edwards was activated from IR earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. Falcons player to watch WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Key matchup Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers' run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Key injuries Besides Dobbins, the Chargers also placed S Alohi Gilman (hamstring) on injured reserve. CB Cam Hart (ankle) and LB Denzel Perryman (groin) also have been ruled out. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. Series notes The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Stats and stuff Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. The Falcons will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. Fantasy tip The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated PressKALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Zahir Abdus-Salaam ran for a touchdown and caught another as Western Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan 26-18 on Saturday to become bowl eligible, snapping a three-game losing streak. Abdus-Salaam scored on a 22-yard run for a 23-8 lead in the third quarter and he celebrated by jumping into a snowbank bordering the end zone. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Indiana manufacturer increases imports from China ahead of Trump tariffs