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WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Matt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate Nov. 14 in Palm Beach, Fla. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. People are also reading... Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. Here are the people Trump picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Pete Hoekstra, Ambassador to Canada A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Billy Long, Internal Revenue Service commissioner Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration administrator Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.NEW YORK , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global fumed silica market size is estimated to grow by USD 697.6 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.65% during the forecast period. Increasing urbanization is driving market growth, with a trend towards upgradations in using fumed silicas. However, increase in construction costs and lack of skilled workforce poses a challenge. Key market players include Arpadis Group, BRENNTAG SE, Cabot Corp., Chemi Enterprises LLP, Chifeng Shengsen Silicon Technological Development Co. Ltd., China National Bluestar Group Co. Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Flexicon Corp., Henan Xunyu Chemical Co. Ltd., Kemitura AS, KoreChem Inc., OCI Co. Ltd., PPG Industries Inc., Reade International Corp., Tata Chemicals Ltd., Tokuyama Corp., Tosoh Corp., Trulux Pty Ltd., Wacker Chemie AG, and Zhejiang Sucon Silicone Co. Ltd.. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Fumed Silica Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2017 - 2021 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.65% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 697.6 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.27 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 37% Key countries China, US, Germany, Taiwan, and Japan Key companies profiled Arpadis Group, BRENNTAG SE, Cabot Corp., Chemi Enterprises LLP, Chifeng Shengsen Silicon Technological Development Co. Ltd., China National Bluestar Group Co. Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Flexicon Corp., Henan Xunyu Chemical Co. Ltd., Kemitura AS, KoreChem Inc., OCI Co. Ltd., PPG Industries Inc., Reade International Corp., Tata Chemicals Ltd., Tokuyama Corp., Tosoh Corp., Trulux Pty Ltd., Wacker Chemie AG, and Zhejiang Sucon Silicone Co. Ltd. The Fumed Silica market is experiencing significant growth in various industries. In building and construction, it's used as a thickening agent, desiccant, and anti-caking agent in mortar, concrete, and plaster. The electrical and electronics sector utilizes it as a filler in silicone elastomers, UPR and composites, and as a component in the pyrolysis process for silicon tetrachloride production. The automotive and transportation industry uses hydrophobic fumed silica in greases and lubricants, while the food and beverage industry employs it as a food additive and in the production of toners and developers. Hydrophilic fumed silica finds applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and paper coating. In the pharmaceutical industry, it's used as a tablet binder, while in the cosmetics industry, it's used in toothpaste and skincare products. The toner and developer market uses it as a deformer. The chemical industry employs it as a thickener in various applications, including adhesives, sealants, and paints and coatings. The lighting industry uses it in CFL production, and the fertilizer industry employs it as a carrier for fertilizers. Fumed silica is also used in the production of silicon rubber, UPS, battery gel, and in the textile industry as a finishing agent. The market is driven by urbanization, the production of finished goods, and the growth of sectors like electronics, paint manufacturing, and synthetics rubber. Fumed silica is a valuable additive in construction materials due to its resistance to sulfate and water attacks. This property makes it particularly suitable for structures in moist environments, such as dams, marine structures, and buildings near seashores. Its use in underwater bridge piers and abutments enhances their durability and strength. The hardness of fumed silica at later stages of hydration surpasses that of ordinary cement, making it an ideal choice for large-scale projects like foundations, high walls, and dams. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! • The Fumed Silica market encompasses various industries including building and construction, electrical and electronics, automotive and transportation, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and more. Challenges in these sectors include the use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fumed silica in silicone elastomers for paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, and sealants. Pyrogenic silica, produced through the pyrolysis process using silicon tetrachloride and oxygen, is a key thickening agent, desiccant, and anti-caking agent in numerous applications. In the paint manufacturing sector, fumed silica improves the properties of UPR and composites. In cosmetics, it's used in toothpaste, toners, and developers. Food and beverage industries use amorphous silica as a food additive, while the electronics sector relies on it for toners and deformers. The automotive industry uses it in batteries, greases, and lubricants. Urbanization drives demand in construction and vehicles, leading to increased production of finished goods. In the food and beverage sector, fumed silica is used as a food additive, while in the pharmaceutical industry, it's used in tablets and biogenic fumed silica for silicon rubber and UPS batteries. • The construction industry utilizes various materials including stainless steel, hardened steel, cast iron, cement, concrete, bricks, aggregates, and fumed silica. Fumed silica, a costly additive, is used to improve the properties of concrete and other construction materials. However, its high cost poses a challenge to the market. The availability of construction materials creates a pricing cycle, where an increase in the price of one building material raises the total cost of construction, leading to overall higher construction costs. Countries in Africa , such as Nigeria and Namibia , face difficulties in controlling these price hikes due to volatile economic conditions. The production of fumed silica relies on the availability of raw materials, which fluctuates with the demand for the additive. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! This fumed silica market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 Hydrophilic 1.2 Hydrophobic End-user 2.1 Building and construction 2.2 Electrical and electronics 2.3 Pharmaceuticals and personal care 2.4 Food and beverage 2.5 Others Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 North America 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Hydrophilic- The hydrophilic segment dominates the global fumed silica market due to its versatile applications. Manufactured by hydrolyzing volatile chlorosilanes in an oxyhydrogen flame, hydrophilic fumed silica is easily soluble in water and has a high soaking capacity. It exhibits excellent insulating properties at high temperatures and is widely used in non-polar resin systems as a thickener and reinforcer. In food and industrial powders, it functions as a glidant in non-polar solvents like xylene, mineral spirits, and styrene. The hydrophilic form is preferred in formulations where self-stability is not essential. With its economical cost, high chemical purity, and excellent insulating properties, especially at low temperatures, hydrophilic fumed silica is employed in various industries, including boat construction for enhancing dispersion qualities and as an anticaking agent. These advantages position the hydrophilic segment for significant growth in the fumed silica market during the forecast period. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics The Fumed Silica market is a significant niche in the global industrial minerals sector, with applications spanning various industries such as building and construction, electrical and electronics, automotive and transportation, food and beverage, pharmaceutical industries, and more. Fumed silica is produced through the pyrolysis process of silicon tetrachloride, which results in the formation of amorphous silica droplets. These droplets can be further classified into hydrophilic and hydrophobic types, depending on their surface properties. Hydrophilic fumed silica is widely used as a thickening agent in paints, coatings, inks, and cosmetics, while hydrophobic fumed silica finds applications in silicone elastomers, electronics, and adhesives. Pyrogenic silica, another form of fumed silica, is used as a deformer in tablets and food additives. The market for fumed silica is driven by the growing demand from various end-use industries, including paint manufacturing sectors, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. The unique properties of fumed silica, such as its high surface area and large pore volume, make it an essential ingredient in numerous industrial applications. The Fumed Silica market encompasses various industries including building and construction, electrical and electronics, automotive and transportation, food and beverage, pharmaceutical industries, and more. Fumed silica, also known as pyrogenic silica, is produced through the pyrolysis process using silicon tetrachloride and oxygen. It is available in two forms: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Hydrophilic fumed silica acts as a thickening agent, desiccant, and anti-caking agent in various applications such as paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, and sealants. In contrast, hydrophobic fumed silica is used in silicone elastomers, vacuum insulated panels (UPR), cosmetics, toners, and developers, paper coating, textiles, gel batteries, lighting (CFL), greases and lubricants, chemicals, fertilizers, and cosmetics. Fumed silica finds extensive use in the paint manufacturing sectors, urbanization, vehicles, and finished goods industries. In the food and beverage sector, it is used as a food additive, particularly in the production of tablets and biogenic fumed silica. The electronics industry uses fumed silica in the synthesis of amorphous silica, toners, deformers, and UPS and battery gel. The market for fumed silica continues to grow due to its versatile properties and wide range of applications. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Hydrophilic Hydrophobic End-user Building And Construction Electrical And Electronics Pharmaceuticals And Personal Care Food And Beverage Others Geography APAC Europe North America South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fumed-silica-market-to-grow-by-usd-697-6-million-2024-2028-driven-by-urbanization-with-ai-impacting-market-trends---technavio-302322055.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. 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WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was admitted in the “afternoon for testing and observation," Angel Urena, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Urena said. Clinton, a Democrat who served two terms as president from January 1993 until January 2001, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer and campaigned ahead of November's election for the unsuccessful White House bid of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris . The Associated PressFact-checking OFWs' contribution to the economy

The latest news from down under is rather baffling. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 passed by the Australian Senate last week seeks to ban children below the age of 16 from using social media apps like TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram and X. While it might take about a year for the new law to fall in place, the debates have already started raging. TikTok, one of the channels to be affected by the ban, purportedly aimed at protecting children, has warned of serious ramifications. It would push children to the darker corners of the internet, it said. The channel has been completely banned in India since 2020. Many other countries already have different types of restriction on its use, including Australia where the app cannot be used in government devices. So the latest ban for children below 16 is only a natural corollary to the way TikTok has been perceived there all along. But what makes skeptics laugh over the ban is the feasibility of its implementations though that should not be a reason for withholding the imposition of reasonable restrictions on anything, including social media that has been taking human society on a different kind of rollercoaster ride of late. In India, where a random politician or bureaucrat is definitely capable of conjuring up such a ban for children, claiming that the younger generation was going to the dogs mainly because of their addiction to social media, it would be really interesting to watch the game unfold in reality if at all it happens. Because in the Indian context, 70 per cent of the children access social media from their parents’ phones. And 80 per cent of the parents navigate online only with the help of their children. To put it otherwise, not many children below the age of 16 have the privilege of owning and using mobile phones on their own volition. Even in other countries, including Australia, there is no technologically sound age verification method to weed out juveniles from the highly cacophonous social media crowd. Also to be honest, by removing persons below 16 years of age from their roster, the social media channels will stand to lose most of its ardent and regular users. While it is not known if the ramifications of having only people above 16 years on the roll call will reflect on the balance sheet of the companies that own the apps, most of the apps, other than a few popular early channels, might have very few users left. True it is preposterous to break our heads over social media, which actually has no positive role on human existence or on the overall development of society. Yet, since social media has intertwined with our lives, we cannot completely ignore its presence if we aspire to have a meaningful and informed existence. So even if we have lived complete lives before the advent of social media or smartphones or even mobile phones, the latest technological advances that have changed the way we communicate cannot be just overlooked. So, to see social media as a bane for children – children alone – is nothing but childish because the evolution of the social media itself was around the younger generation with its new value systems, aspirations and outlooks. Children should only be allowed to seamlessly integrate with the system and not sought to be segregated till they reached a particular age. Monitoring the use of smartphones and parental restrictions on social media is one thing but a government law to bar them from accessing social media is another thing. I am not sure if the Australian government has any statistics to prove that social media’s dark side has the potential to ruin young lives more than that of older people. Or has it found out that excessive use of social media has caused physical and health challenges to children more than adults? Or has it been proved that young impressionable minds could be negatively influenced by social media than grown up people? Empirical evidence might prove that adult lives, too, are jeopardized by social media as much as that of children. For, as we know, social media is used by individuals and groups to look for and get whatever they want. It is not that social media itself imposes anything on its users, whether they are young or old. So by allowing children to use it with parental guidance and observation nothing is going to go wrong. In fact, if adults find their emotional needs met through social media, children, too, can get that done. Also it is not that social media offers a platform for drug pushers, pedophiles and sexual predators alone. It is also used by the spiritually inclined to sell their religious ideas and propagate their faiths.Prince George took part in a key royal moment for the very first time. The eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales had his taste of royal football tradition as he joined his father, Prince William, for the annual festive kickabout on the Sandringham estate. The pre-Christmas match, a highlight for estate workers and neighbouring villagers, saw the father-son duo take to the pitch together for the first time. Cheering them on from the sidelines was the Princess of Wales , along with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis , who lent their support to the blue-shirted team that included George, 11, and William, 42. Revealed: What Prince George whispered to sister Princess Charlotte during Christmas Day walkabout Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis charm crowds during walkabout Find out what stockings Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be opening on Christmas day For George, an avid football fan like his dad, it was a dream moment, running energetically around the pitch to the cheers of onlookers. William, who has long been a keen Aston Villa supporter, showed his skill on the field and even came close to scoring a goal. Wearing number 18 on his shirt, the Prince of Wales looked right at home alongside his eldest son. Observers were quick to praise George’s enthusiasm and natural athleticism, suggesting he might have inherited his father’s love for the game. Meanwhile, Kate, ever the supportive mum, kept warm in a chic dark purple polo neck paired with a long light purple waistcoat, beige trousers, and a green peaked cap. Her hair was neatly tied back in a plait, and she carried black leather gloves as she stood on the sidelines, watching the action unfold. Not to be left out, Prince Louis, six, dressed adorably in navy blue shorts and a light blue top, joined in on the fun, kicking a ball around with his mum during breaks in the match. Princess Charlotte, nine, looked delighted to be part of the family outing, standing close to Kate as they cheered on their dad and brother. This beloved royal tradition has seen William take to the pitch for many years, often joined in the past by Prince Harry. The last time the brothers played together in the Sandringham match is believed to have been in 2016. While Harry’s absence was noted, the sight of George stepping into his father’s boots brought a fresh sense of excitement to the event. William’s passion for football has always been evident. As a devoted Aston Villa fan, he has often been spotted in the stands at Villa Park and cheering England on at Wembley. This summer, William and George were captured in a moment of shared joy, leaping to their feet when Cole Palmer equalised for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin, despite the heartbreaking 2-1 defeat. In a 2020 appearance on That Peter Crouch Podcast, William spoke candidly about George’s football journey. "I’m trying not to persuade him to be a Villa fan," he shared. "I'm letting him choose his own way. It’s about finding what fits for him." However, he humorously admitted to "concerns" when George briefly showed an interest in Chelsea as a younger child. As the royal family enjoyed this festive day out, football fans couldn’t help but smile at the idea of Prince George following in his father’s footsteps—not just on the field, but as a future ambassador for the sport. With the Villa faithful hoping to welcome George to their ranks, the Prince of Wales remains resolute in letting his son chart his own path. WATCH: A Right Royal Podcast: Wolf Hall's ultimate fact vs fiction, Christmas Windsor Castle and more

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — This week has been warm , which isn't great for winter activities, but skaters and hockey players have been able to enjoy a refrigerated outdoor ice rink in Roseville. People can lace up their skates at the Oval even if temperatures are in the 50s. Sam Moen got some ice time in Thursday before his hockey practice for Mounds View High School, where he's a senior goalie. "I just love the game of hockey," Moen said. "Just love being on the ice, just playing." Anna Sharratt was there for her son's 14th birthday and teaching her 3-year-old daughter, Sylvie, how to skate. "You're supposed to start by marching or stomping, and then they do a push from there," Sharratt said. "Of course, [she's the] third child, she has her own ideas." The Oval ice facility is cooled with underground pipes, which allows for skating even during winter's warmest stretches. "We actually just had a customer call today that was wondering if we'd be open," said Kevin Elm, the Roseville Skating Center superintendent. "They're coming from an hour away because a lot of the outdoor rinks right now, the ice is too soft. With warm weather coming, we're expecting record crowds over the next week and a half or so." Elm's worked for Roseville for 30 years. He tries not to take any of it for granted. "Everybody's smiling, makes my job easy," Elm said. David joined the WCCO team in April 2020, previously working at CBS 58 in Milwaukee. Prior to that, he worked in Las Vegas. While there, David covered several stories in the national spotlight, including the October 1 mass shooting and political visits from President Barack Obama and candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The Delhi BJP has strongly condemned the alleged attempt to throw liquid on AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal during his foot march and urged the police to take strict action against those involved.Reacting to the incident, BJP’s Delhi unit chief, Virendra Sachdeva, called for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the ordeal. He also alleged that the incident might be a politically motivated spectacle orchestrated by AAP out of desperation and frustration. In a video statement, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor reaffirmed the party’s strict stance against violence, emphasizing that the BJP does not support or condone such acts under any circumstances. Advertisement He noted that electoral campaigns across the country involve leaders operating under varying levels of security, yet incidents like these seem to occur exclusively with Kejriwal during elections. Kapoor termed the incident “bizarre,” highlighting that such events appear to have become a recurring pattern for Kejriwal, recalling past controversies like the “slap incident.” He suggested that these spectacles might be attempts to garner attention or sympathy. The BJP has reiterated its condemnation of all forms of violent protests, with Kapoor pointing out that the people of Delhi are questioning why such incidents consistently happen to the former Chief Minister during election periods. Advertisement

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Albanese preparing January reshuffle to replace Shorten before electionVisa Inc. ( NYSE:V – Get Free Report )’s stock price rose 0.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $316.37 and last traded at $314.70. Approximately 5,204,318 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 26% from the average daily volume of 6,985,911 shares. The stock had previously closed at $311.82. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Visa from $290.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Visa from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Visa from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Visa from $319.00 to $347.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Visa from $311.00 to $322.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Visa has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $321.74. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Visa Visa Trading Up 0.1 % Visa ( NYSE:V – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The credit-card processor reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.58 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $9.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.49 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 53.16% and a net margin of 54.96%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.33 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 11.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Visa Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be given a $0.59 dividend. This is a positive change from Visa’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 12th. Visa’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.25%. Insider Transactions at Visa In other news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,620 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.37, for a total value of $2,382,309.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 538 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $148,687.06. The trade was a 94.13 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, insider Paul D. Fabara sold 2,171 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $307.97, for a total transaction of $668,602.87. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 17,894 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,510,815.18. The trade was a 10.82 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Arjuna Capital increased its position in Visa by 0.8% in the second quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 11,851 shares of the credit-card processor’s stock worth $3,111,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Custom Index Systems LLC bought a new stake in shares of Visa in the 3rd quarter worth about $731,000. Mechanics Bank Trust Department raised its position in shares of Visa by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department now owns 32,460 shares of the credit-card processor’s stock valued at $8,520,000 after buying an additional 2,410 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Visa by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Chicago Capital LLC now owns 404,914 shares of the credit-card processor’s stock valued at $111,331,000 after acquiring an additional 20,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FORA Capital LLC purchased a new position in Visa in the third quarter worth about $7,987,000. Institutional investors own 82.15% of the company’s stock. Visa Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .