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The Gateway International Airport is 95 per cent completed and should be commissioned in early 2025, barring any regulatory impediments. It is set to redefine Nigeria’s aviation and economic landscape vision of becoming the country’s first aerotropolis, writes WOLE SHADARE In Nigeria, airports are springing up at an alarming rate. Cities of less than 100 kilometres are now being connected by air through aerodromes that state governments are constructing; one as a tool for attracting economic prosperity to their states amid insinuations in some quarters that many chief executive officers in states see it as a veritable means of siphoning states’ resources. Though the establishment of airports as critical air transport infrastructure falls within the purview of the Federal Government, making such venture viable, intrinsically, rests on the shoulders of managers in the domains they are cited. This, every so often, continues to be tasking. In the next five years, virtually all the states in Nigeria will have at least an aerodrome. Never mind that many of them might not be completed while others could become abandoned projects. Economic engines Nigerian airports are powerful economic engines and reaffirm the valuable role airports play in job creation and economic growth in local communities. There are divergent views on why states ‘waste’ resources on airport projects, describing it as a conduit for embezzling states’ resources. They can’t be faulted for holding such a view. Many have seen how such a project at inception turned beautiful only to see it abandoned halfway or after completion. Several others hold different views about the building of airports. They agree that airports are essential for local economies, offering more than just runways and terminals. They significantly impact productivity, growth, and economic development. Their presence benefits passengers directly and fuels development and prosperity in various sectors, amplifying the overall economy. According to them, airports don’t just help people travel; they also boost local economies by creating jobs and increasing incomes. Airports are major job providers with a diverse workforce ensuring smooth operations. Research shows that for every million passengers, airports can create 2,000 to 4,000 jobs in various roles, from pilots and air traffic controllers to ground crews, security personnel, office staff, maintenance teams, and retail workers. Moreover, the economic impact of airports goes beyond their immediate boundaries. Local businesses like hotels, restaurants, vehicle rental agencies, and taxi services benefit significantly from an airport’s presence, resulting in more job opportunities and higher wages. Also, the growth of nearby infrastructure like hotels and commercial centres boosts the construction and real estate sectors, leading to more jobs for construction workers, architects, engineers, project managers, and related professionals. The job prospects stemming from airports usually offer attractive pay packages and benefits, enhancing living standards within the community. Consequently, this stimulates domestic spending, thereby strengthening the overall regional economy. Currently, many airports are on the verge of completion while many others have been completed but are not ready for use. Aerotropolis concept The Gateway International Airport located along Iperu-Ilishan road in the Ikenne Local Government area of the state was conceptualised as an aerotropolis, based on its strategic location, being contiguous to the nation’s commercial capital of Lagos. It was conceived in 2019 by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun to leverage Ogun State’s central position as Nigeria’s gateway to the world. It is set to redefine Nigeria’s aviation and economic landscape with its bold vision of becoming its first aerotropolis. More than an airport, it is a dynamic hub that blends aviation, commerce, and industrial development to drive economic growth and global trade. The aerotropolis concept—an integrated development that merges an airport with industrial parks, residential areas, and business districts—is the driving force behind the Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport. Beyond immediate aviation needs, the Gateway Airport has been designed with a long-term vision for development. Plans include residential estates, hotels, industrial parks, and commercial centres surrounding the airport. This integrated approach ensures the aerotropolis becomes a selfsustaining economic ecosystem. A tour of the airport last week by our correspondent indicates the airport had already set new benchmarks in aviation infrastructure. It is the first Nigerian airport to secure an operating permit under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs 2023). Unlike the Aerodrome Permit used previously, the operating permit involves stricter regulatory processes to ensure higher safety and operational standards. Experts’ views Highlighting the airport’s cutting-edge technology, Manager/ Consultant for the Gateway International Airport, Capt. Dapo Olumide disclosed that the Gateway Airport is equipped with Doppler Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems. These technologies, according to him, enhance safety, navigation, and operational efficiency, putting it at par with international standards, just as the airport also stands out as the first solar-powered facility in Nigeria. The 4-kilometre runway, described as the best in Nigeria, can accommodate the largest commercial aircraft in the world. The control tower is fully operational, alongside fire stations and administrative facilities, while the main terminal building is set for completion in January 2025. According to Olumide, “this airport isn’t just about flights; it is the foundation for an entire city centred on trade, industry, and connectivity. We have planned beyond immediate needs to position Ogun State as a major player in the aviation and industrial sectors. With facilities to handle large aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380, we are building for the future.” He reiterated that the airport’s design supports agricultural exports, particularly non-perishable produce, making it a strategic hub for farmers, businesses, and investors. “We are planning for the future. Airports around the world are dynamic, and the Gateway Airport will be no different. The facilities here can support specialized operations like Hajj pilgrimages, large cargo movements, and industrial logistics, ensuring it becomes a hub for both trade and travel,” he added. While acknowledging challenges such as network connectivity due to the airport’s remote location, the state government has implemented temporary solutions, including a mobile control tower and accommodations for critical staff. A 12-kilometre perimeter fence ensures security and compliance with regulatory requirements. The Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya stated that the project is 95 per cent complete and ready for full operation once regulatory approvals for scheduled flights are secured. He noted that the airport represented a bold investment in Ogun State’s future, explaining that it is not merely an airport but a symbol of innovation, modernity, and progress—a hub where aviation drives industry, commerce, and urban growth. A former Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi recentlysaid he had learned not to disparage the construction of airports by State Governors in Nigeria, adding that if they have the honest desire to make them work, they are a great economic gateway. According to Uriesi, who is the Chief Operating Officer of fastrising Ibom Air, “if not right away, then gradually, as long as they know what to do with them, they will eventually come in handy. Uyo is a perfect example. The ‘oyinbo’ textbook prescription says that it would ‘cannibalise’ Calabar’s traffic and create two less viable airports, 10 minutes flying time apart. But alas, yes it did affect Calabar’s traffic initially, but Calabar recovered and resumed its growth side by side with Uyo, in the immediate aftermath of the Duke years (due to Governor Duke’s investments and positioning of Calabar then as the local go-to tourist destination).” Last line Equipped with advanced cargohandling technology, the airport opens up new possibilities for Ogun State to connect its agro-industrial economy to global markets. The Gateway Airport stands as a beacon of innovation and opportunity for Ogun State and beyond.
JFrog director Sela Yossi sells $782,250 in stockWASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations, including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department. Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. "Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn't ask for — and that isn't 'charged' for sex is now prostitution?!?" Gaetz wrote in one post Monday. "There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses." Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use." He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the "transactional nature" of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman's request that he send her money, "claiming she only gave him a 'drive by.'" Women interviewed by the committee said there was a "general expectation of sex," the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that "99 percent of the time" that when she hung out with Gaetz "there was sex involved." However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so "some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their "rendezvous," the report said. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled "on several occasions" with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she had a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does "$400 per meet." Greenberg replied: "He understands the deal," along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asked if they were old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him "really cute." "Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with "multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid." The committee pointed to "credible testimony" from the now-woman herself as well as "multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, "which she understood to be payment for sex," according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was "certain" of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and he didn't ask how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for "commercial sex" again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would 'exonerate' him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz "continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed." The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as "nosey" and a "weaponization" of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 getaway with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt "to" the destination, but declined to share his return "from" the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would "welcome" the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would "no longer" voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation "frivolous," adding, "Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration." The report said that while Gaetz's obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress "act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House." The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn't disclose information about investigations that don't result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, and after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over "publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual," according to the report. "To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses," the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to "relive their experience," the committee said. "They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ's lack of action on their prior testimony," the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and . 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 . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. 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. 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 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 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. 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. 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, 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. 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. FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. 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, 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. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard 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. 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 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 during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. to serve as his pick to lead the . 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 , “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.” 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. 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. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a 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. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. 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.” 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. Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” 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. 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) 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, an , 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. Thomas Homan, 62, 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. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 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.” 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. 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, 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 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. Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Delaware Judge Reaffirms Ruling That Invalidated Massive Tesla Pay Package for Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk loses bid to get $56 billion pay package reinstatedWhen Kevin Towers was the San Diego Padres’ general manager, he received a voicemail delivered in a high-pitched, high-energy voice then familiar to most baseball people: “KT! It’s Rickey! Calling about Rickey! Rickey wants to play baseball!” Rickey Henderson, in 2001, became a Padre again. His combination of talents earned him sport’s honorific: Like the song (“Talkin’ Baseball”) that celebrated New York City’s three 1950s center fielders (“Willie, Mickey and the Duke”), Rickey’s first name sufficed. He came from Oakland, an incubator of athletic excellence, including basketball’s Bill Russell. He became something novel: a first-ballot Hall of Famer who played for nine teams. Without today’s arcane metrics, they recognized baseball value, including a high pain threshold, when they saw it. Baseball fans, debating the all-time best team, select three outfielders from a pantheon that includes Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Only two of those 10 should be in the starting lineup. Rickey should start in left field and bat first: He homered in the first inning a record 81 times. Baseball’s objective is to score runs. Rickey scored more than anyone: 2,295. More than Cobb (2,245), Aaron or Ruth (2,174), or Mays (2,068). When Aaron retired in 1976, he probably held the record for the most records held, but he was particularly proud of his total bases: Home runs are glorious, but the game is basically about 90-foot increments. Winning is getting enough of them. Rickey’s total bases (4,588), though more than Mantle’s (4,511), do not tell the full story. In football or basketball, an individual — a hot-handed quarterback or shooter — can take over a game. In baseball, a pitcher can dominate a game, but supposedly no batter can. Rickey could. Tie game, bottom of the ninth, he leads off. In his crouch, with a strike zone the size of a sandwich, he walks. (He walked 496 more times than he struck out. He walked leading off an inning 796 times.) He steals second. He steals third (or gets there on a ground ball to the right side of the infield). Scores on a sacrifice fly. We’ll see you tomorrow night. A college football coach, tired of hearing football called “a contact sport,” said: Dancing is a contact sport, football is a collision sport. Those who think baseball is for the delicate have never taken a 98-mph fastball to the ribs. Or done what Rickey did stealing bases. Only three players (Pete Rose, Cobb, Barry Bonds) reached base more often. No player made better use of being there than Rickey did. Mays led the National League in stolen bases four times, with a four-season total of 136, just six more than Rickey’s single-season record of 130 in 1982. His career total 1,406 steals is 468 more than Lou Brock’s second-best. He stole third — for the catcher, a shorter throw than to second — 322 times. Think of leaping from a car going about 20 mph, landing on your chest on sunbaked dirt, approximately 2,000 times over 25 seasons, well into middle age. No player absorbed more punishment in the pursuit of excellence. Bill James, the high priest of seamheads (baseball nerds fascinated by ever-more-arcane metrics), said of Rickey, “If you could split him in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers.” One for his 3,055 hits (27th all-time), one for everything else. Joe Posnanski in “The Baseball 100” says Rickey “was born on Christmas Day in 1958, in the back seat of an Oldsmobile speeding toward the hospital. ‘I was already fast,’ he said.” As an 18-year-old in Modesto, California, he stole seven in one game. He stole his last in the major leagues at 44. Because of Rickey’s eccentricities — he framed a $1 million bonus check; think about that — he was caricatured as an athletically gifted child. The cerebral Tony La Russa, who won more games than any manager not named Connie Mack, and who managed Rickey and against him, remembers him even more for “his baseball IQ” than for his legs. Rickey died the day before Dec. 21, the “shortest day,” with the least amount of sunlight, the beginning of winter. But to baseball fans, it is the beginning of the end of something awful: the offseason. Forty-five seasons ago, Rickey began playing major league baseball in a way — his wanting as well as his playing — no one else has. Will writes for The Washington Post. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Texas College's Jackson named Region 5 Coach of YearAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:52 p.m. EST
Bill Clinton, 78, suddenly hospitalized and ‘undergoing testing’ as he delivers solemn 5-word statementPune: A palpable sense of excitement and festive cheer pervaded the city streets on Tuesday evening as the clock ticked closer to Christmas. Groups of families and friends were seen savouring snacks, buying balloons, and donning Santa hats as they filled the vibrant MG Road. "Since the time I and my wife were dating, we have been coming to MG Road on Christmas eve just to bask in the festivities. Now, we come with our kids. Celebrating Christmas Eve in Camp has its own charm. The city becomes a melting pot of cultures and celebrations," said Rohit Damle, a resident of Fatimanagar. "Christmas is a festival celebrated by all. We come for the midnight mass every year to meet school friends," said Jyoti Bhaduri, on her annual visit to St Patrick'S Cathedral on Prince of Wales Drive," said Premila Mhatre, who came all the way from Pimpri to celebrate the festival with her friends. In Solapur Bazaar and Pimpri, carollers took to the streets, spreading joy and cheer with their harmonious voices. Passers-by couldn't help but smile as the familiar tunes of Christmas carols filled the air. "Listening to the songs belted out by carollers puts me in the Christmas spirit. It's a beautiful tradition that reminds us of the true meaning of the season," said Rahul Desa, who attended the midnight mass at St Patrick's Cathedral along with his family. Churches across the city were packed for midnight mass, with many services starting as early as 8 pm to accommodate the crowd of devotees. The air was filled with the melodious strains of carols and hymns, adding to the spiritual essence of the occasion. In his message for Christmas, Rt Rev John Rodrigues, Bishop of Poona, said, "Christmas is a feast of great joy. For each one of us and the whole family as we experience the joy of family togetherness, for the Church as we gather to praise God for the birth of Jesus, and for the world as we pray God will bring true peace." At St Thomas Catholic Church in Dapodi, festivities are in full swing. Fr Jenson Poruthur said, "Keeping in tune with the story and spirit of Christmas, we held a star-making competition for the children of the parish. It was an exercise that showcased creativity and above all the spirit of sharing joy, which is also our message for this year. We are expecting at least 500 people for the midnight mass on the eve of Christmas, and then 200 people on the day of Christmas. Like every year, this year, too, the festivities began with setting up the crib, decorations, and distribution of sweets and cakes, all in the service of spreading joy." "Regular practises not only help us improve musically but also usher in the joy of the festival. Spreading joy through songs is the main focus of every choir," said Nisha Monteiro, a choir member at St Xavier's Church in Camp. Many citizens also ventured out to various nightclubs and pubs in the city, where lavish Christmas Eve parties were in full swing. With a spread of delectable food, flowing drinks, and pulsating music, revellers danced the night away in style, embracing the festive spirit with unbridled enthusiasm. "For me, Christmas Eve is all about letting oneself loose and having a good time with friends. The energy in the city is just electric, and it's the perfect way to shake off all the stress," said Deepa Das, an IT professional. Pune: A palpable sense of excitement and festive cheer pervaded the city streets on Tuesday evening as the clock ticked closer to Christmas. Groups of families and friends were seen savouring snacks, buying balloons, and donning Santa hats as they filled the vibrant MG Road. "Since the time I and my wife were dating, we have been coming to MG Road on Christmas eve just to bask in the festivities. Now, we come with our kids. Celebrating Christmas Eve in Camp has its own charm. The city becomes a melting pot of cultures and celebrations," said Rohit Damle, a resident of Fatimanagar. "Christmas is a festival celebrated by all. We come for the midnight mass every year to meet school friends," said Jyoti Bhaduri, on her annual visit to St Patrick'S Cathedral on Prince of Wales Drive," said Premila Mhatre, who came all the way from Pimpri to celebrate the festival with her friends. In Solapur Bazaar and Pimpri, carollers took to the streets, spreading joy and cheer with their harmonious voices. Passers-by couldn't help but smile as the familiar tunes of Christmas carols filled the air. "Listening to the songs belted out by carollers puts me in the Christmas spirit. It's a beautiful tradition that reminds us of the true meaning of the season," said Rahul Desa, who attended the midnight mass at St Patrick's Cathedral along with his family. Churches across the city were packed for midnight mass, with many services starting as early as 8 pm to accommodate the crowd of devotees. The air was filled with the melodious strains of carols and hymns, adding to the spiritual essence of the occasion. In his message for Christmas, Rt Rev John Rodrigues, Bishop of Poona, said, "Christmas is a feast of great joy. For each one of us and the whole family as we experience the joy of family togetherness, for the Church as we gather to praise God for the birth of Jesus, and for the world as we pray God will bring true peace." At St Thomas Catholic Church in Dapodi, festivities are in full swing. Fr Jenson Poruthur said, "Keeping in tune with the story and spirit of Christmas, we held a star-making competition for the children of the parish. It was an exercise that showcased creativity and above all the spirit of sharing joy, which is also our message for this year. We are expecting at least 500 people for the midnight mass on the eve of Christmas, and then 200 people on the day of Christmas. Like every year, this year, too, the festivities began with setting up the crib, decorations, and distribution of sweets and cakes, all in the service of spreading joy." "Regular practises not only help us improve musically but also usher in the joy of the festival. Spreading joy through songs is the main focus of every choir," said Nisha Monteiro, a choir member at St Xavier's Church in Camp. Many citizens also ventured out to various nightclubs and pubs in the city, where lavish Christmas Eve parties were in full swing. With a spread of delectable food, flowing drinks, and pulsating music, revellers danced the night away in style, embracing the festive spirit with unbridled enthusiasm. "For me, Christmas Eve is all about letting oneself loose and having a good time with friends. The energy in the city is just electric, and it's the perfect way to shake off all the stress," said Deepa Das, an IT professional. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .
Canadian negotiators are downplaying concerns about the impact the pending Trump administration will have on the state of the Columbia River Treaty modernization efforts between Canada and the United States. Both sides reached an "agreement in principle (AIP)" earlier this year amid efforts to update the decades-old flood control and power generation agreement between the two countries. However, as the U.S. White House transitions from Democratic president Joe Biden to Republican Donald Trump, concerns raised by the public about the immediate future of the treaty were front and centre during a virtual info session held on Dec. 19. While in California during the U.S. election campaign in September, President-elect Donald Trump suggested a "very large faucet" in B.C. could help California's drought. Stephen Gluck, the lead federal negotiator with Global Affairs Canada, said the treaty's modernization efforts spanned back to the first Trump administration through the Biden administration and will continue no matter who is in power in the United States. "Obviously, there's profile and media attention to comments like that," Gluck said. "I will say though that the Columbia River Treaty is a treaty that has been for power and flood risk management and we have moved towards modernizing it for some other means, but essentially it is a regional and a contained treaty. We don't necessarily follow or look for those remarks and our team right now is focused on modernizing the treaty...as soon as we can." B.C. energy minister Adrian Dix, who was also in virtual attendance, concurred. "I think what we have to do, and what we have to continue to do, is do the work of defending Canadian interests, Columbia Basin interests, British Columbia interests, and not be distracted in that work by the political discussions of the time," Dix said. The info session also included representation from Columbia Basin MLAs, the Province of B.C. as well as Indigenous representatives from the Syilx Okanagan and Ktunaxa Nations. Originally ratified in 1964, the Columbia River Treaty was a water management agreement between the two countries that focused on downstream flood control management and power generation. The treaty facilitated the creation of three dams in B.C. — Mica, Duncan and Keenleyside — as well the Libby dam in Montana. However, when it was drafted, it was essentially done without any input from Indigenous Nations, as the resulting reservoirs flooded out Indigenous territory, affecting cultural, heritage and ecological values. Among the key elements of a modernized treaty is a focus on ecosystem function and re-framing the agreement to treating the Columbia River as a one-river system that flows over traditional Indigenous territory and a number of federal and state jurisdictions. That effort has been led by Indigenous governments in both countries. The Secwépemc, Syilx Okanagan and Ktunaxa Nations were invited to participate as official observers with the Canadian delegation in 2018, and led the focus on ecosystem function along with U.S.-based Indigenous governments. During the info session, Jay Johnson, the lead negotiator for the Syilx Okanagan Nation, reflected on the significance of Indigenous participation in the treaty modernization efforts. "This is a pretty profoundly important journey that we are on right now in that never in the history of the contemporary world have Indigenous communities had a voice directly at the table in international bilateral negotiations," Johnson said, "and both governments had the foresight and the understanding to include the three Nations and the Untied States to include the U.S. tribes in helping to shape and form and participate in the negotiations and that's a pretty important step in the journey of reconciliation." Major elements of the new AIP include increased domestic flexibility for the Canadian treaty dams, particularly for ecosystem and Indigenous values. Additionally, a new flood-risk management regime replaces the existing one, as the U.S. will now pay Canada $37.6 million (USD) indexed to inflation until 2044. Canada will receive an additional $16.6 million (USD) in recognition of other benefits that the U.S. receives due to Canada's operations of the three treaty dams. The Canadian Entitlement is the share of the power benefit by coordinating flows in the three Canadian reservoirs for incremental power generation above and beyond what's already generated in the U.S. However, for every million-acre feet that is used for Canadian flexibility, the Entitlement will be reduced by 6.5 per cent, as there is no corresponding power benefit to the U.S. Other elements of the modernized AIP include an Indigenous and Tribal advisory body, salmon reintroduction and ensuring flows for salmon and a transboundary Kootenay/Kootenai working group. Before the treaty is finalized, it must pass approvals processes federally in both Canada and the U.S., as well as in British Columbia. With files from Lauren CollinsU.S. stock indexes drifted lower in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Tuesday and marked its first back-to-back losses in three weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite also fell 0.3%. Oracle dragged on the market after reporting weaker growth than analysts expected. Treasury yields rose in the bond market ahead of Wednesday’s inflation report, which will be among the final big pieces of data before the Federal Reserve’s meeting on interest rates next week. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 fell 17.94 points, or 0.3%, to 6,034.91. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154.10 points, or 0.3%, to 44,247.83. The Nasdaq composite fell 49.45 points, or 0.3%, to 19,687.24. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 10.06 points, or 0.4%, to 2,382.77. For the week: The S&P 500 is down 55.36 points, or 0.9%. The Dow is down 394.69 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq is down 172.53 points, or 0.9%. The Russell 2000 is down 26.22 points, or 1.1%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,265.08 points, or 26.5%. The Dow is up 6,558.29 points, or 17.4%. The Nasdaq is up 4,675.89 points, or 31.1%. The Russell 2000 is up 355.70 points, or 17.5%.
Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Investigates the Merger of Future Vision II Acquisition Corp. - FVNNU
The City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, and the owners of the NWSL expansion team BOS Nation FC have executed a lease agreement that will allow the team to utilize White Stadium as its home venue since its inaugural season in 2026, the three entities announced on Monday. The announcement, made by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSP) and Boston Public Schools (BPS), will allow the team to play 20 games per year until 2036 at the venue, which will undergo 'the largest investment into BPS Athletics and White Stadium since it opened in 1949." The agreement also includes upgrades to the surrounding 530-acre Franklin Park area, while also expanding public access. Under the terms of the lease, NWSL games cannot take place more than two weekends in a four-week period, and no more than four weekend games per season can start before 5 p.m. The City of Boston and Boston Public Schools will retain ownership of the stadium and will have priority in stadium scheduling. Construction, more than half of which is being funded by BUPS, is expected to begin in January. There remains some opposition to the project, with local residents filing a lawsuit claiming that the project was rushed without adequate community input and violates the state constitution by transferring public land for a private use. "We are more confident than ever that Franklin Park will be protected from their scheme to turn this historic parkland into a colossal sports and entertainment complex." Renee Stacy Welsh, a member of the Franklin Park Defenders, which opposes the project, told the Associated Press. According to the Boston Globe, the City's portion of the renovation amounts to $91 million, pushing the overall cost to around $200m. "White Stadium is a generational opportunity to anchor citywide youth sports, revitalize community programming, and bolster our beloved, historic Franklin Park-all while creating a home for the City of Champions' newest professional team," Mayor Wu said. "I'm so grateful for all the community members, coaches, students, and park lovers who helped shape this project to reflect the community's dreams for the next generation." The lease is for 10 years, with BUPS paying $200,000 in annualized rent during the first season, prorated for the number of months the field will be operational. The second year will see BUPS pay $400,000 annualized rent, in monthly payments, and escalating by 3% each year afterwards. The City and BPS will share in some of the revenues generated by the stadium, including 10% of in-stadium advertising revenues (except field naming rights revenue), 10% of field naming rights revenue, 3% of concessions revenue. "This is an exciting moment for BPS and our student athletes who are so deserving of a world class facility to call home," superintendent of Boston Public Schools Mary Skipper said. "This major investment by the City and Boston Unity Soccer Partners will have direct and lasting benefits for BPS students who will have access to state-of-the-art facilities where they can study, train and compete." BUPS will also direct money towards various community funds, including $500,000 in the first year towards the Annual Community Fund, with 3% increases in subsequent years. "We are incredibly proud that our team's home will be in the heart of the city through this generational public-private-community partnership to revitalize White Stadium," controlling owner of Boston Unity Soccer Partners Jennifer Epstein said. "This transformative milestone enables our club to deliver a lasting, year-round impact for Boston Public School student-athletes while uplifting the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses and providing a world-class facility for our home games. "A renewed White Stadium will honor its historic roots while providing an extraordinary fan experience and we are excited to take the pitch at this iconic venue for our inaugural season in 2026." BUSP will fund the construction of the West Grandstand, public restrooms, NWSL team spaces, scoreboard, stadium lighting, technology system, and the Grove area. The City will carry out construction of the East Grandstand, BPS student athletics spaces, the grass field, and the track. Boston Unity Soccer Partners will be responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance for the team's spaces and all the shared areas of the facility, including the field and track. Prior to demolition of White Stadium, BUSP will fund a $25 million Construction Escrow Account that is restricted exclusively to fund direct construction costs on the site and requires City approval of expenditures. The escrow account cannot be reduced below $10m until total project financing is secured.
Stitch Fix Announces First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 Financial ResultsAP News Summary at 6:33 p.m. ESTAsian Stocks Eye Gains as Wall Street Awaits Data: Markets Wrap
SHANNON Sharpe took aim at Kirk Herbstreit which left Stephen A. Smith stunned on First Take. The NFL Hall of Famer sent a warning to college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit following his remarks on the live ESPN show's criticisms of Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Toward the end of the Buckeyes' 42-17 win against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the color commentator Hebstreit called out First Take for their past comments about Day. In November, Ohio State lost to Michigan for the fourth straight season and some people believed that Day should either be fired or his job will only be secure until the team wins the national championship . "'First Take' tried to fire him. They thought he was done, so I'll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance," Herbstreit said on the ESPN broadcast. "They had him out, trying to find replacements. But here he is, he still has his hat on. He's still coaching." Read More on First Take First Take reacted to Herbsreit's strong words about their program, and Sharpe wasn't afraid to respond. "I’m gonna be a good teammate. I’m gonna let it slide. Everybody’s at ESPN. Because had you not taken the route you’ve taken, I would’ve lit their (expletive) up," Sharpe said. "If we’re going to be on the same team, if we’re gonna work for the same network, don’t do that. Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform that I’m on again talking about 'I wonder what they’re going to say as negativity,' "I promise you, ESPN ain't got enough bosses to keep me off y'all for what I'm going to say... don't play with me." Most read in American Football Stephen A. had admitted that he should be the only First Take star to take the blame for his past criticisms of Day before Sharpe's tirade. The 57-year-old was shocked at Sharpe's rant. Social media users, meanwhile, reacted to the sequence and seemed to take Herbstreit's side on the matter. "Sharpe has a big mouth on him. Kirk ain't scared," one wrote. "Sounds like Shannon can't handle any criticism," another commented. "Sharpe always crying about something for real," a third added. There were plenty of fans who pointed out that Herbstreit seemed to be biased during his rant about Day. Herbstreit is a former Ohio State quarterback. Read More on The US Sun It'll be worth monitoring if Herbstreit will respond to Sharpe's choice of words. Day and his Buckeyes squad still have business to take care of as their next game will be the quarterfinal matchup against the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.Vancouver Islander becomes first Canadian student to fly an electric plane soloAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:52 p.m. EST
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Ana Siucho and Edison Flores have once again demonstrated the strength of their marriage by celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. The couple, who have been under public scrutiny due to rumors of separation and infidelity, made it clear that their relationship remains strong. The presence of both at a recent marriage, where they were photographed together, dispelled speculation about a possible breakup. On another occasion, Edison Flores, a well-known Universitario soccer player, responded firmly to questions about his marital status in a recent interview, stating: “Yes, I’m still with my wife,” accompanied by a broad smile. This statement was enough to calm the breakup rumors that were circulating about their relationship. What did Grasse Becerra say about the marriage of Ana Siucho and Edison Flores? The news of the anniversary did not go unnoticed by Grasse Becerra. Through the ‘Instarándula’ account, managed by journalist Samuel Suárez, the model sent a message in which she reaffirmed her position on the relationship. Edison Flores and Ana Siucho . In his message, Becerra commented: “Jijiji. I told him, they didn’t finish. No one believed me, a total credit to Anita, that girl. Oh... I thought she was smarter.” This comment adds to a series of confrontations between Becerra and Siucho, who had a fight on social networks weeks ago, when the model accused the doctor of working illegally in the United States. The presence of Ana Siucho and Edison Flores in a recent wedding, captured by a guest and shared on Instagram, reflects the unity and complicity of the couple. Despite the extortion threats that led Siucho to travel to the United States and the lack of publications on social networks, the couple has managed to keep their relationship away from scandals. This context, along with the statements of Edison Flores, helps to understand the dynamics of a relationship that has been the subject of public speculation, but that continues to demonstrate its strength. Join our entertainment channel
