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COVID pregnancies may have boosted autism risk, UCLA study showsA court challenge over a Stormont vote on extending post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland has been dismissed, and the Assembly debate will go ahead as planned on Tuesday. Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.

Quarterly net revenues were RMB539.4 million (US$76.9 million) 1 Quarterly lidar shipments were 134,208 units SHANGHAI, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hesai Group (“Hesai” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: HSAI), the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (lidar) solutions, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Operational Highlights Management Remarks “We are thrilled to share that our business continues to thrive and advance on a strong growth path,” said Yifan “David” Li, Hesai’s Co-Founder and CEO. “This quarter, we have made significant strides in the ADAS market, securing new design wins, partnerships, and development programs with key players, including a Top 3 OEM in Japan, SAIC Volkswagen, Leapmotor, and a premium EV brand backed by a leading Chinese automotive group. We also have reached a key milestone in our global expansion by successfully delivering B-sample units for our worldwide shipping programs with a leading global automotive OEM. OEMs at home and abroad have widely recognized lidar's essential safety features as a critical component in their holistic safety systems, similar to an ‘active’ seat belt or airbag. Furthermore, lidar’s versatility, with applications in emerging areas such as industrial robotics, smart factories and logistics, continues to garner attention. Our latest flagship product, OT128, a 360° mechanical, automotive-grade long-range lidar, is designed for scalable deployment in robotaxi and industrial applications. We are actively exploring new use cases and engaging with customers across both ADAS and AM sectors, leveraging our full lineup of versatile lidars. “I am also delighted to announce that Andrew Fan has joined us as our Chief Financial Officer. Andrew brings a wealth of experience in financial strategy and corporate finance, as well as an impressive track record of driving growth and operational efficiency in dynamic industries. His insights and leadership will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape and continue to strengthen our position in the global lidar industry,” Dr. Li continued. “Andrew's strategic vision aligns seamlessly with our goals, and I believe his commitment to innovation and financial rigor will help us unlock new levels of success. I am confident that with his expertise and dedication, we are well-positioned for another exciting chapter of growth and accomplishment.” Mr. Andrew Fan, Hesai’s CFO, added, “Our strong third quarter financial performance was highlighted by robust operational execution across all key metrics. Quarterly shipment volume reached 134,208 units, marking our second consecutive quarter of nearly 50% sequential growth and propelling net revenues to RMB539.4 million (US$76.9 million), surpassing the upper range of our guidance. We maintained a robust blended gross margin of 47.7%, driven by effective cost management and our flywheel approach to cost and scale optimization. The margin was further bolstered by NRE revenues from our L4 lidar, which is being prepared for potential large-scale deployment by a leading global robotaxi player in the coming years. Our strong commitment to operational efficiency and financial discipline has also enabled us to consistently reduce our GAAP net loss for four consecutive quarters. Looking ahead, we’re expecting a record-breaking fourth quarter, with lidar shipments projected to reach 200,000 units—an astounding volume nearly matching our total shipments in 2023. Based on our current estimates, fourth quarter net revenues are expected to soar to nearly US$100 million, delivering an estimated net profit of US$20 million and a positive operating cash flow. Additionally, we anticipate achieving full-year profitability on a non-GAAP basis for 2024, positioning us to become the first automotive lidar company worldwide to achieve this remarkable milestone. This anticipated explosive growth underscores our robust momentum as we drive toward a landmark fiscal year finish!” Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2024 (in RMB millions, except for per ordinary share data and percentage) Business Outlook For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company expects net revenues to approach US$100 million (RMB702 million). The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company’s preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change. Conference Call The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on November 25, 2024 (9:00 AM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on November 26, 2024). For participants who wish to join the call by phone, please access the link provided below to complete the pre-registration process and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon registration, each participant will receive dial-in details to join the conference call. Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.hesaitech.com . A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately an hour after the conclusion of the call until December 3, 2024, by dialing the following telephone numbers: About Hesai Hesai is the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (lidar) solutions. The Company’s lidar products enable a broad spectrum of applications across passenger and commercial vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle fleets (autonomous mobility). Hesai's technology also empowers robotics applications such as last-mile delivery robots and logistics robots in restricted areas. The Company’s commercially validated solutions are backed by superior R&D capabilities across optics, mechanics, and electronics. Hesai integrates lidar designs with an in-house manufacturing process, facilitating rapid product development while ensuring high performance, consistent quality and affordability. Hesai has established strong relationships with leading automotive OEMs, autonomous vehicle, and robotics companies worldwide, covering over 40 countries as of December 31, 2023. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement Hesai's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Hesai uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: loss from operation excluding share-based compensation expenses, net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation, and per ordinary share net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this release. Hesai believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. Hesai believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Hesai's historical performance and liquidity. Hesai believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP financial measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2024, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollars amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; the trends in, expected growth and the market size of the ADAS, autonomous mobility and robotics industries; the market for and adoption of lidar and related technology; the Company’s ability to produce high-quality products with wide market acceptance; the success of the Company’s customers in developing and commercializing products using its solutions, and the market acceptance of those products; the Company’s ability to introduce new products that meet its customers’ requirement; the Company’s expectations regarding the effectiveness of its marketing initiatives and the relationship with its third-party partners; competition in the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to protect its systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Hesai Group Yuanting “YT” Shi, Investor Relations Director Email: ir@hesaitech.com Piacente Financial Communications Jenny Cai Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677 Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com In the United States: Piacente Financial Communications Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com Source: Hesai Group _______________________________________ 1 All translations from RMB to USD for the third quarter of 2024 were made at the exchange rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2024, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. 2 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” included in this release for further details.An Oakland County woman is ready to bid farewell to her job and take a well-deserved break after hitting a $2 million jackpot on the Michigan Lottery’s Ace of Spades instant game. The 47-year-old winner , who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "I buy lottery tickets regularly, always hoping to win big. When I scratched off my Ace of Spades ticket and saw I had won $2 million, I was thrilled and couldn’t believe it was real! I called my mom right away to tell her the big news." "Winning is a huge relief and will allow me to quit my job and relax," she expressed. She purchased her winning ticket at Perry’s Palace, located at 411 North Perry Street in Pontiac. California man claims he hasn't been paid $44 MILLION lottery prize months after winning Illinois Lottery player snags $10M jackpot prize on $50 scratch-off ticket After claiming her prize at the Lottery headquarters in Lansing, she revealed that she plans to quit her job, take a vacation, and save the rest of her winnings, in the most relatable statement from a lottery winner ever. Suzanna Shkreli, the Lottery Commissioner, congratulated the lucky player: "So many Lottery players dream of winning big, and that dream is now a reality for this lucky player thanks to a $2 million win playing the Ace of Spades instant game. Congratulations to the lucky player on her big win!" The last Michigan players to hit the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot were the Breakfast Club lottery club, who scooped a whopping $842 million in June 2024. They plan to use their winnings to buy a Florida home and travel. In another lucky draw, a Maryland lottery player used the ages of her nearest and dearest before being left in 'total shock' at her Powerball win. The Charles County winner used the ages of her family’s children, siblings, and a grandchild for the $50,000, according to the Maryland Lottery . However, being doubtful of her chances, the woman had held onto her ticket for a month before checking it. In a lottery news release, she said: “I can’t believe I won using all of their ages" - before explaining how she planned to use the money to pay her bills. It comes after a lucky grandmother bought 18 lottery tickets in Washington - before winning the top prize on every single game. The woman from Yakima, Washington, scooped $180,000 after buying the Match 4 tickets at Wray’s Marketfresh Meadowbrook. This woman used her usual special numbers — a lucky mixture of her birthday and the day she got a "second chance at life,” lottery officials said. Doubtful of her chances, the woman went about her day —running errands and picking up her grandchildren from school—putting her tickets to one side. Later, she was at home to check her tickets before shrieking and asking her granddaughter to double-check the numbers.

Ben Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Ange with a team news update ahead of Wolves on Sunday 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0EiYh4TP8j — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 27, 2024 Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. A post shared by Richarlison (@richarlison) Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”

Ohhhh man! Major drama in the hip hop world! Legendary rap mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has suggested that the NFL could potentially dump his counterpart Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and find somebody else to be the producer of their Super Bowl halftime shows, doing so after the latest allegations that accuse Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old girl . The claims are a part of the sex-trafficking investigation centered around Sean “Diddy” Combs. #JayZ is speaking out after a woman accused him in a civil lawsuit of raping her with she was 13 along with Sean “Diddy” Combs. pic.twitter.com/Vj63jamlQ5 — E! News (@enews) December 9, 2024 Since 2019 , Jay-Z has been partnering with the NFL to produce Super Bowl halftime shows, hiring him in the middle of a tense social justice movement that was going on then. And Jay-Z has not only been working with the league on the Big Game — he’s also been involved with their social justice activities. But now Jay-Z is facing allegations of raping a minor and his rival 50 Cent is taking full advantage. (RELATED: Panthers’ Bryce Young Seen On Camera Praying For Injured Eagle C.J. Gardner-Johnson In Truly Wholesome Moment) On Instagram, the rapper posted, “Ok I don’t know what’s going on, but are we gonna still have the Super Bowl. *worried emoji* I’m just asking for a friend!” A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent) As a Drake fan and a semi-hater of Kendrick Lamar (he’s got a few slaps), I can’t lie. I’m absolutely loving this!

The secret to making successful financial New Year’s resolutionsTaurus – (20th April to 20th May) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Display your valiance today The relationship demands sensibility rather than sensitivity today. Overcome the professional issues with confidence. Financially also you will be good today. Talk with the partner to resolve every issue within the relationship. Be focused on the goal at work and this can have a positive impact. Today is good for smart investments and no major illness will hurt you. Taurus Love Horoscope Today Continue your commitment to the love affair and consider taking the relationship to the next level. Some lovers will be adamant or stubborn which can create minor rifts. However, handle this crisis diplomatically. Overcome the relationship issues on a positive note. The second part of the day is good to propose and even to resolve the existing issues with the ex-lover. Those who want to introduce the lover to parents can pick the second part of the day for it. Taurus Career Horoscope Today Stay away from office politics and also pay more attention to details that can help you deliver non-compromised results. Do not let personal egos impact productivity today. Some professionals will be required to handle crucial assignments that can determine the whole path of the business of the organization. Be gentle while communicating with clients and do not give them a chance to complain. Ensure you don multiple hats today and this promises better career growth. Students appearing for examinations will need to focus more on their studies. Taurus Money Horoscope Today Today is good to buy a new house or a vehicle. But do not lend a big amount to a friend or relative as this may create friction in the later days. You may send money for personal happiness but ensure it is not spent on unnecessary things and saving is also crucial in the long run. Some seniors will need to donate an amount for a celebration at home. Taurus Health Horoscope Today Avoid both alcohol and tobacco today. Those who drive need to be extremely careful at curves and turns today. Do not let body aches continue and instead consult a doctor. You should be cautious about minor ailments such as coughing and throat infections. Females may also have issues related to skin today. Taurus Sign Attributes Strength - Passionate, Practical, Meticulous, Patient, Artsy, Compassionate Weakness Intolerant, Reliant, stubborn Symbol Bull Element Earth Body Part Neck & Throat Sign Ruler Venus Lucky Day Friday Lucky Color Pink Lucky Number 6 Lucky Stone Opal Taurus Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)

(Bloomberg) — China released three Americans as part of a prisoner swap between the Biden administration and the Chinese government, according to people familiar with the matter, a rare moment of cooperation between the adversaries. A statement from the US National Security Council said the three Americans — Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung — would be reunited with their families “for the first time in many years.” The three had been designated as wrongfully detained in China, and the US statement said there were no longer any Americans held in the country with that status. The NSC didn’t mention that the three were exchanged for Chinese citizens detained in the US. But two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing non-public information, said they were swapped for an unspecified number of Chinese. “This is unprecedented,” said John Kamm, founder, chairman and executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of prisoners held in China. “Nothing like this has ever happened. Prisoner exchanges are not in China’s DNA.” The release offers a parting gift to President Joe Biden, Kamm said, as well as a message for President-elect Donald Trump that Beijing might be willing to make concessions in the future. The Chinese embassy in Washington had no immediate comment on the prisoner exchange. The names of the Chinese weren’t disclosed, and US officials declined to say when pressed. However, a US Bureau of Prisons database showed that two Chinese nationals, Xu Yanjun and Ji Chaoqun, were no longer in the bureau’s custody. China Frees US Pastor Jailed Almost 20 Years in Show of Goodwill Xu was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for what prosecutors alleged was years of espionage-related activities in his role as a career intelligence officer with China’s Ministry of State Security, including the attempted theft of confidential data on aircraft engine fans from General Electric Co.’s aviation division. Authorities said Xu was the first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the United States to stand trial. Xu was also accused of being Ji’s handler in the US. In 2016, Ji enlisted in the US Army Reserve. The swap would be the latest example of the US and allies being willing to give up convicted criminals and high-profile detainees in exchange for Americans deemed wrongfully held by other countries. That trend has been greeted with praise but also concern from Democrats and Republicans alike that it encourages other countries to seize Americans for future trades. In 2022, the US exchanged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for WNBA star Brittney Griner. And a trade earlier this year saw Russia free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and several others for Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019 killing of a Chechen separatist in a Berlin park. Several other Russians convicted on a variety of criminal charges were also released. Among those released by China, Swidan is a Texas businessman who was on China’s death row for alleged drug trafficking, and Li is a naturalized US citizen who imported solar energy technology. Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison last year on spying charges. Swidan has been in Chinese custody for 12 years. Kamm said Swidan and Li have serious medical issues. “I suspect that this is so-called medical parole, a humanitarian gesture,” he said. In a statement, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas praised the efforts of the Biden administration in securing the release of the Americans, noting that Swidan’s mother, a Texas resident, has waged “an unremitting battle” to bring him home. “President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Carstens, Ambassador Burns, and their teams have for years worked tirelessly to secure this achievement, and I am deeply grateful for all their efforts,” Cruz said. —With assistance from Jordan Robertson and Jamie Tarabay. (Updates with details of swap, background on previous exchanges)Max Verstappen Accuses Social Media Of Amplifying Tension With Lando Norris During Title Fight

The Prime Minister said his younger brother, who had learning difficulties because of complications at birth, had met “all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour”. He died peacefully on Boxing Day, according to the Prime Minister’s spokesman. The Prime Minister had been due to go on holiday with his family on Friday, but it is understood that he will now remain at home, and hopes to join them later. Sir Keir said in a statement: “My brother Nick was a wonderful man. “He met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour. We will miss him very much. “I would like to thank all those who treated and took care of Nick. Their skill and compassion is very much appreciated.” Sir Keir spoke candidly about his brother in a recent biography written by journalist and former Labour Party adviser Tom Baldwin. While growing up in Surrey, the brothers shared a bunk bed in a room with an airing cupboard, and “just enough space for a couple of small desks where we’d do our homework”. The biography recorded how each child of the Starmer family was given a dog for their 10th birthday, and Nick and his twin sister Katy received Jack Russell terriers called Greg and Ben. The book also described how their mother, Jo, had taught Nick to read, but Sir Keir remembered how the school described his brother as “remedial”. Sir Keir, the middle child of four siblings, said: “They had no expectation of him or anything and I’m not sure he even sat exams, so he had nothing to show for coming out of education. “We were a family of six, so it didn’t feel lonely and I shared a room with him, but Nick didn’t have many friends and got called ‘thick’ or ‘stupid’ by other kids.” He added: “Even now I try to avoid using words like that to describe anyone.” Nick worked on scrap cars and scaffolding, earning enough money to rent a home near where he had grown up, according to the book. It said Sir Keir was best man at Nick’s wedding, and the now Prime Minister recalled borrowing a car so his brother was not “driving his bride from the church in his beaten-up minivan, which had all his clothes in the back”. The marriage ended and Nick lived for some time in Yorkshire. In 2022, Sir Keir stepped away from local election campaigning to make several hospital visits to see his brother, who was seriously ill at the time. The Prime Minister also spoke about Nick in his speech at this year’s Labour Party conference in Liverpool. As he described his early encounters with art and culture, and the need to remove social barriers, Sir Keir told delegates: “My brother, who had difficulties learning, he didn’t get those opportunities. “Every time I achieved something in my life, my dad used to say, ‘Your brother has achieved just as much as you, Keir’. “And he was right. I still believe that.” Mr Baldwin, writing for The Times on Friday, recalled the moment in 2023 that he learned from Sir Keir that his brother was dying of lung cancer. He wrote: “This has been a huge part of his life over the past couple of years, during which he made regular trips to Leeds where his brother was in hospital. “Even during the election campaign and since he entered Downing Street, Starmer has continued to visit without a camera crew in sight. “He got to know the staff treating his brother so well that he could recite all their names and they would let him into the hospital through a back door so that there would be no publicity.” Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was among those in the world of politics to offer their condolences. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This is such awful news. Particularly devastating at Christmas time. “My sincere condolences to Keir Starmer and all his family.” Irish premier Simon Harris wrote: “My sincere sympathy to Keir Starmer and his family on such sad news. “They are in my thoughts at this difficult time.”Aerith actress Briana White sends emotional message to Final Fantasy 7 fansWhat do Bears need to see from rookie QB Caleb Williams over final 7 games?

Published 4:33 pm Sunday, November 24, 2024 By Data Skrive As they gear up to play the Indiana Pacers (6-10) on Monday, November 25 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tip-off at 7:00 PM ET, the New Orleans Pelicans (4-13) have six players currently listed on the injury report. The Pacers have listed five injured players. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. The Pacers enter this matchup following a 129-117 loss to the Bucks on Friday. In the loss, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 25 points. The Pelicans dropped their most recent outing 112-108 against the Warriors on Friday. Trey Murphy III scored a team-high 24 points for the Pelicans in the loss. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Capstone Copper Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report

‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?

Abdul Bk: The Northern Nigerian Comedy Sensation Spreading Laughter Across Social MediaNoneTrudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media pos Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press Dec 27, 2024 12:00 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, centre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Dominic LeBlanc participate in a news conference in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. LeBlanc and Joly are in Florida to meet with officials from President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Listen to this article 00:01:24 OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada's next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump's latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn't clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump's 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump's team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc's spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words "some information about Canada for Americans." Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News After cold, snowy Christmas, temperatures to rise across southern Quebec for new year Dec 27, 2024 10:48 AM Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit Dec 27, 2024 9:52 AM Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal Dec 27, 2024 9:40 AM Featured Flyer

A late-game rally derailed by a missed extra point and Cowboys stun Commanders 34-26On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: Sen. Rand Paul , Republican of Kentucky Sen. Tammy Duckworth , Democrat of Illinois Sen. Chris Van Hollen , Democrat of Maryland Ret. Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster Rep.-elect Sarah McBride , Democrat of Delaware Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on Face the Nation: President-elect Trump makes a flurry of picks for top health and finance jobs. Will they pass muster with the Republican-controlled Senate? The Trump transition team unveiled almost a dozen people selected to fill key Cabinet and White House roles. And as would-be nominees are whisked through Capitol Hill to meet with senators, there's already been one major withdrawal, a quick replacement, and renewed scrutiny on some of the more controversial national security picks. We will talk with two key senators, Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Tammy Duckworth. They will be questioning the president-elect's choices on health, national security and more. One of Trump's national security advisers from his first term, retired Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, will also weigh in. Plus: As the conflict between Israel-Hamas and Hezbollah continues to rage, when can we expect a cease-fire? We will ask Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has called President Biden's handling of Israel shameful and a policy failure. Finally, we will hear from representative-elect Sarah McBride on the challenges and opportunities facing her as she prepares to take office as the first openly transgender member of Congress. It's all just ahead on Face the Nation. Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. As we begin this holiday week, Americans are preparing to gather to give thanks for what has been and contemplate what's to come. Our latest CBS News poll shows that 59 percent of Americans approve of how president-elect Donald Trump is handling the presidential transition. Trump has kept up a steady drumbeat of staffing announcements from his Mar- a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. And that is where we find our Nikole Killion this morning with the latest. (Begin VT) NIKOLE KILLION (voice-over): After Saturday lunch with one of the senators who will vote on his Cabinet picks, president-elect Donald Trump announced former domestic policy adviser Brooke Rollins for agriculture secretary. One of his most highly anticipated selections was Scott Bessent for Treasury. If confirmed, the 62-year-old investor would be the first openly gay secretary to lead it and responsible for quarterbacking Mr. Trump's proposed policies on taxes and tariffs. DONALD TRUMP (Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. President-Elect): The most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff. NIKOLE KILLION: A new CBS News poll shows a majority of Americans support imposing tariffs on imported goods, and more have an optimistic view of the economy since the election. Mr. Trump selected a pair of doctors to lead health agencies. Former Congressman David Weldon has promoted debunked anti-vaccine views and is being tapped to lead the Centers for Disease Control. Food and Drug Administration pick Martin Makary critiqued vaccine mandates during the COVID pandemic. And Project 2025 architect Russ Vought plans to reprise his role as White House budget director, despite Trump's disavowal of the conservative policy blueprint. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: I have nothing to do with Project 2025. NIKOLE KILLION: Our polling also finds many of the president-elect's well- known designees have more support than opposition, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth. The former FOX News host picked to lead the Pentagon is drawing scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault in a 2017 police report. Did you sexually assault a woman in Monterey, California? PETE HEGSETH (U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee): I have – as far as the media is concerned, I will keep this very simple. The matter was fully investigated. And I was completely cleared. And that's where I'm going to leave it. (End VT) NIKOLE KILLION: While president-elect Trump has filled out most of his Cabinet, a few economic positions remain up for grabs, including U.S. trade representative and small business administrator – Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: That's Nikole Killion in West Palm Beach, Florida. We go now to Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul. He is set to chair the Homeland Security Committee next year, and he sits on the Health Committee. Welcome back to Face the Nation, Senator. SENATOR RAND PAUL (R-Kentucky): Good morning. Thanks for having me. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you are a doctor by training. I want to ask you about some of these health picks. I know that you personally said that you have vaccinated all of your children, but vaccination rates in this country, as you know, are on the decline. Are you at all concerned that elevating individuals who have been publicly critical of some particular vaccines, RFK Jr. at HHS secretary, Dave Weldon to CDC director, that any of that will erode trust in vaccination? SENATOR RAND PAUL: You know, I think all of us can agree that there's an increase of vaccine hesitancy. I think it comes from people not believing what the government is telling them. The fact that the CDC committee for vaccines and the FDA committee for vaccines said for COVID boosters that you should take a booster if you're over 65, and yet the Biden administration and Rochelle Walensky actually politicized that, didn't follow the signs and said you should boost your 6-month-old, and the American public is rejecting this. Only about 20 percent of the American public of all ages is taking the COVID booster, because the government hasn't been honest with us. That dishonesty has led to vaccine hesitancy. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it's vaccination rates in other – other vaccines as well, not just COVID vaccines. There's concern about measles. There are concerns about other... SENATOR RAND PAUL: Right, but people have to believe it. Exactly. But people are doubting because they're being told that. I will give you an example. Look, I think vaccines, smallpox, the story of smallpox vaccine, polio vaccine are some of the most miraculous discoveries in all of medicine. And I'm not against vaccines. But, like, when my kids were little, the hepatitis B vaccine, they still want to give it to them as a newborn. I just – my baby is new and just, you know, come into the world, and you can see how a lot of reasonable people say, why do I have to do it as a newborn? Could I come back in three months or six months? So, really, it's about choice. It's about getting rid of mandates. It's about letting people participate, but it's also about the government being honest. What are the risks and what are the benefits? And they haven't been honest on COVID, because healthy children do not die from COVID, do not get seriously sick, and there's no proof that the vaccine has any medical benefit for healthy children. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we want to move on to other topics, sir, but we will continue to cover vaccination in this country. I think what you said there is that you're supportive of all those health nominees, from what I heard. You – you have been – I'm sorry. Did you want to say... SENATOR RAND PAUL: I was just going to say, yes, I am supportive. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. SENATOR RAND PAUL: But I wouldn't describe them as the problem with vaccine hesitancy. I would describe the government misinformation as the problem with vaccine hesitancy. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Messengers matter, though. But you have raised concerns in your role on Homeland Security about the implementation of some of the promises Donald Trump made on the campaign trail. His mass deportation vow is very popular. Our CBS polling shows 57 percent of voters like the idea, but how it is implemented matters a lot to voters. The vast majority prefer that federal law enforcement or immigration agencies carry them out. Just 40 percent say the U.S. military should be involved. The stated Trump plan is to use the military, military assets, deputize the National Guard, and have them act as immigration agents. Do you believe that is lawful? SENATOR RAND PAUL: You know, I'm 100 percent supportive of going after the 15,000 murderers, the 13,000 sexual assault perpetrators, rapists, all these people. Let's send them on their way to prison or back home to another prison. So I would say all-points bulletin, all in, but you don't do it with the Army because it's illegal. And we've – we've had a distrust of putting the Army into our streets, because the police have a difficult job, but the police understand the Fourth Amendment. They have to go to judges. They have to get warrants. It has to be specific. And so I'm for removing these people, but I would do it through the normal process of domestic policing. Now, I would say that the mayor of Denver, if he's going to resist federal law, which there's a longstanding history of the supremacy of federal law, if he's going to resist that, it will go all the way to the Supreme Court. And I would suspect that he would be removed from office. I don't know whether or not there'd be a criminal prosecution for someone resisting federal law, but he will lose. And people need to realize that what he is - - what he is offering is a form of insurrection, where the states resist the federal government. Most people objected to that and rejected that long ago. So I think the mayor of Denver is on the wrong side of history, and, really, I think, will face legal ramifications if he doesn't obey the federal law. MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, just context on those numbers you rattled off in terms of criminals, those numbers from ICE are accurate figures, but they're over a 40-year period of time. What we know now about the immigration authorities who would have to be charged with rounding these individuals up, there are just 6,000 agents, 41,000 detention beds to carry out the assignment of rounding up millions of undocumented people, potentially. How do you suggest they implement it? And if this is a red line for you in terms of using the military, would you vote no on the DHS secretary, Kristi Noem? SENATOR RAND PAUL: I will not support and will not vote to use the military in our cities. I think it's a terrible image. But I will tell you that, just in the last week, with the belief that a new administration will change things, there were four or five criminals arrested in the last week. And what would happen and I think what will happen under Donald Trump's administration is, I don't recommend to use the Army, but I would use the FBI, I would use ICE, I would use Border Patrol. And they have a list now of 15,000. I don't care if it came in over 40 years or 10 years. If you've got a list, you put these people on an all- points bulletin, these are the kind of people that are dangerous and that everybody needs to be the watch on, and they would go out and seek those people. That – we have about 30,000 very dangerous people already convicted of crimes. That should be the first priority for all of this. Let's go find those people. But it's not about detaining them. In all likelihood, they should be going to a jail, either a jail here or in the country they came from. So I think, if we did that, there will be a lot of unity. If they send the Army into New York, and you have 10,000 troops marching, carrying semiautomatic weapons, I think it's a terrible image, and I will oppose that. But it's not that I oppose removing people. I just... MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. SENATOR RAND PAUL: ... object to what has been against the law for over 100 years, and that's using the Army. MARGARET BRENNAN: But deputizing the National Guard, that specifically is the proposal. You also oppose that? SENATOR RAND PAUL: I don't think it's the best way to do it. It's less clear whether that's legal or illegal. Typically, it has to be done at the behest of the governors. I still don't like a militarization of police, whether it's National Guard or Army. I think there's a lot of FBI. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. SENATOR RAND PAUL: There's a lot of Border Patrol agents. There's a better way to do it. And it needs to be individualized. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR RAND PAUL: That doesn't mean I'm any less serious about getting it done. It just needs to be done according to the law and consistent with our traditions. MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. You've made clear you are a fiscal conservative. I want to ask you about the choice just made to select hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as the treasury secretary. He had a long financial career. He served as the Chief Investment Officer for George Soros' funds. He's been a political donor. Elon Musk came out publicly against him, calling him business as usual. Do you favor Mr. Bessent in the role as Treasury secretary? SENATOR RAND PAUL: You know, I have heard good things about him. I haven't made a decision. I lean towards being supportive. I don't like tariffs, but, then again, I don't like the president promoting tariffs. I think tariffs are a tax on the consumer, and they ignore things like with steel. There are 80 workers working in steel-buying industry for every worker making steel. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. SENATOR RAND PAUL: So, yes, you can protect certain industries, but it's at the expense of other people. I don't believe that will be enough for me to want to vote against Bessent, because it's also the president's position as well. I will be vocal in saying that I think tariffs are bad and that international trade actually saves every consumer about $7,000 a year. So, everybody in our country is $7,000 richer because of international trade. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR RAND PAUL: It's part of one of the booms of postwar and post- Industrial Revolution. This amazing international trade has made us all richer, and we need to talk about the statistics and facts concerning the benefits of trade. MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood on the nuances and specifics there, but that is primarily how Donald Trump is promising to pay for all the things he promised on the campaign trail. As you know, the federal debt is past $36 trillion as of this week. His proposals to lift taxes off of tips, overtime, Medicare, Social Security, give tax credits, that could add as much as $8 trillion more to the deficit, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget. Do you actually expect Republicans to take up these proposals? SENATOR RAND PAUL: You know, in 2017, I voted for a tax reduction package that they said would add to the debt, but I also forced my colleagues to vote for pay-as-you-go. It's a policy that's in our law, and they have to waive it, which means that if a tax cut causes a reduction and causes an increase in the debt because of reduced revenue, that you have to have spending cuts. So, I have always been in favor of the tax cuts, but I have also been in favor of the spending cuts. The same will occur with this. If we do cut spend – cut taxes, which I think helps the economy, you leave money in the hands of the productive private sector, I think that's a good idea. But if you do it, I would cut spending. And there will be procedural blockade or procedural votes that I will force that says that we should also cut spending as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: Our polling shows that the vast majority of Americans, 86 percent, prefer people with experience running the agencies, and 64 percent polled by us think it's important to appoint people with that experience in Washington. Given that, for example, the Pentagon pick hasn't ever managed a large corporation or held a high rank in the military, do you think he can run the Pentagon? SENATOR RAND PAUL: Yes. And I think the vast majority of people, if you poll them, will say that they don't think people should be picked based on religion or gender or sexuality. They want people to be picked on merit. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR RAND PAUL: And one of one of Pete Hegseth's criticisms of our Pentagon is that we've gone away from merit... MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR RAND PAUL: ... and gone more towards racial characteristics. And so I think that the people are and would be overwhelmingly in favor... MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. SENATOR RAND PAUL: ... of someone who's going to base hiring on merit, not on racial characteristics. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Senator Paul, thank you for your time today. Face the Nation will be back in a minute. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of the state of Illinois. She sits on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. Good morning to you, Senator. SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-Illinois): Good morning. Thanks for having me on. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, former Congressman Matt Gaetz took himself out of the running this week to become attorney general. This was after he had met with senators. And CBS has reported that as many as 15 Republicans opposed him. Does that suggest to you that your Republican colleagues in the Senate will hold the line, or are you still concerned they will just green-light anyone Trump nominates? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, I'm deeply concerned that they will green- light. I'm glad that they held the line on him. I'm also glad that they voted the way they did for the Republican leader, but that was in the secret ballot when they elected Senator Thune. And, you know, Mr. Trump's main choice for that position was not selected. But from what I'm hearing from my Republican colleagues on everything from defense secretary to other posts, it sounds like they are ready to roll over for Mr. Trump. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, on that point of Defense, since you sit in this advisory role on Armed Services, I don't have to tell you, but, for our audience, there are over 200,000 American women who serve in active duty service right now, thousands of them in front-line combat roles. You were one of them in 2004, when your Black Hawk helicopter you were piloting was shot at by an RPG, and you sustained severe injuries. Here is what Mr. Trump's pick for defense secretary said about women serving: (Begin VT) PETE HEGSETH (U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee): I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: Do your colleagues who sit with you on Armed Services believe that Mr. Hegseth's statement there is an issue that he needs to perhaps retract? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, I think they need to, because he's wrong. Our military could not go to war without the 220,000-plus women who serve in uniform. The women in our military does make us more effective, does make us more lethal. And let me just make one thing clear. The women who are in those very particular roles, whether it's in Special Forces or the SEALs or the infantry, they meet the same standards as the men. And so he's been out there saying that, you know, women are not as strong, we don't – the ones who are in those roles have met the same standards as the men and have passed the very rigorous testing. And so he's just flat-out wrong. Our military could not go to war without the women who wear this uniform. And, frankly, America's daughters are just as capable of defending liberty and freedom as her sons. MARGARET BRENNAN: Having served in combat yourself, what do you think of the idea that women make fighting more complicated? That was specifically what he focused on. SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, it just shows his lack of understanding of where our military is. He was a pretty low-ranking guy in the military, and he never had a command position. He was a platoon leader, I think, once or twice, but he never even commanded a company. And so this is a man who is inordinately unqualified for the position. Remember that the Pentagon is three million servicemen and women and civilians. It is over a $900 billion budget. He's never, you know, run anything anywhere near to that size. And, frankly, women actually make our military more effective. And I have personally found that I brought many insights to my job when I was a company commander, when I was a logistics officer that came from my own personal background that made things better. I took better care of my men, for example, in my unit. I was often the only woman in an all-male unit, and my gender didn't have – wasn't a problem. I just adapted, and we continued to perform the mission. MARGARET BRENNAN: The question of character has also come up in regard to this leadership role. Mr. Hegseth has acknowledged that he paid a woman back in 2017 to quiet her accusations of sexual assault. He claims it was consensual sex. I'm sure you read that Monterey police report, as we did here. It refers to the offense code as – quote – "rape, victim unconscious of the nature of the act." It details both the accuser's and Hegseth's version of events. Here's what Senator Markwayne Mullin said it shows: "two people flirting with each other." Is the committee going to speak with the victim to ask if this was a misunderstanding? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, that's – that will be the decision of the Republican chairman of the committee next year. I hope that we will. But I suspect that they, again, will roll over for Mr. Trump. Frankly, I will make – raise those questions. Remember that we've just fought over a decade of fights and – and overhauled the military and its treatment of military sexual trauma. It's frankly an insult and really troubling that Mr. Trump would nominate someone who has admitted that he's paid off a victim who has claimed rape allegations against him. This is not the kind of person you want to lead the Department of Defense. MARGARET BRENNAN: To move to a vote you took this past week, you said you have disgust at the brutal tactics used by the Netanyahu government in Gaza, but you voted against all three resolutions of disapproval this past week that would have paused very specific offensive weapons shipments to Israel. Your colleague Senator Van Hollen said it's just about getting Israel to comply with U.S. law. How do you respond to that? Why shouldn't they be held to the same standards as other recipients of U.S. aid? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, I respect Senator Van Hollen's position. And, in fact, I have cosigned many of the letters that he's led that has called on Israel to comply with humanitarian standards across the world. My decision comes from my military experience, the fact that many of these rounds were not going to be delivered for a couple of years, the fact that, you know, these are resolutions. They don't actually have binding effect. And, frankly, for me, my decision came from the fact that we have tens of thousands of US troops in harm's way right now. And I am deeply concerned that a resolution that doesn't actually do anything might embolden the Houthis and the Iranian regime and Hamas to further target and – American troops abroad. So I respect Chris. He and I are good friends. We were freshmen in the Senate together, but we come at this from slightly different angles, mine from 23 years of military experience. But I do share his concern about the brutal way that Israel has acted in Gaza. And, you know, I have cosigned many of his letters. MARGARET BRENNAN: Our polling shows that there is a desire among the American people to see Democrats and Republicans work together in this future Trump administration. With that in mind, I'm looking at some of these nominees, including Trump's pick for labor secretary. She is drawing praise from unions because she is perceived as – as pro-union. Could you see yourself supporting her or any of the other nominees? SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Absolutely. I – you know, what I would need to do is have a chance to sit down and talk with each one of these nominees, and listen to them and hear what they have to say. I think Congressman Collins over at VA, he's the nominee for VA, is another person I can talk with. In fact, I worked with him when I was in the House a few years back. I am going to evaluate each one of these candidates based on their ability to do the job and their willingness to put the needs of the American people first and not be on a retribution campaign and a – for Mr. Trump. So it's about, are they willing to be independent and do the job that they are being nominated to do, and are they competent and qualified for the position? MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Duckworth, we appreciate your time this morning. SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: And we'll be right back with a lot more Face the Nation. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION. We're now joined by Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. Good to have you here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): It's great to be with you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, in these final days of Democratic control of the Senate and the White House, there's a long to-do list. Congress has to fund the government by end of December, pass the defense bill, the NDAA, an extension to the farm bill, and I know Democrats want to confirm as many judges as possible. What's top of your list? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, all of those are on the list. Top of my list is also the disaster relief funding. Emergency relief. We had big parts of the country hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters. In my state of Maryland, we had the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore. So, we've always taken the approach that the whole country will be there to help fellow Americans in need. The president has now submitted $100 billion emergency disaster relief plan that includes funding for the Key Bridge. So, I hope that we will get that done by the end of the year. People need that relief and they need it now. MARGARET BRENNAN: That's about $8 billion for the bridge alone, is that right? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Not for the bridge alone. This is - that's part of the emergency relief fund that includes approximately $2 billion for the bridge. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. And you're relatively confident that this can be delivered on? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I hope that all of our colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, will support disaster relief. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: We've always had the philosophy, all for one and one for all when Americans get hit by these disasters. I hope we will stick with that position. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we also are looking at a new Congress very soon and, as you know, a new commander in chief. Republicans will have the majority in the Senate with 53 seats, so they don't really need Democratic votes to confirm many of the picks that Mr. Trump has been making to run agencies. But from what you've seen to date, are you in favor of any of them, your colleague, Marco Rubio, as secretary of State, for example, or this new choice to be Labor secretary? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Look, my view is, this is what the vetting process is all about, the hearing process. The Senate, of course, under the Constitution, has the job of advising and consenting on nominations. And I take that responsibility very seriously. I've been troubled by some talk that President-elect Donald Trump wants to short circuit that constitutional approach using this recess appointment device, and it will be really important that the new republican leader in the Senate uphold the Senate's prerogatives under the Constitution and not try to do an end run. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll stay tuned to see how that plays out. Let's turn to the Middle East. You said that President Biden's inaction to halt the horrific humanitarian situation inside of Gaza is a stain on his administration, that it's shameful. Is there anything in these final weeks that could be done to erase that stain? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I think there are things that can be done. And I should emphasize that I supported President Biden's decision to travel to Israel in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas attacks of October 7th of last year, and stand with the people of Israel as they confront this threat. But I also wish the president had effectively used U.S. leverage to essentially assert his own positions. We've seen this pattern where President Biden makes demands of Prime Minister Netanyahu, only to be ignored or slapped down entirely. And then President Biden sends more bombs and more money. That is not an effective use of leverage. So, I do hope in these closing months the president will finally make more effective use of American leverage to, at the very least, uphold American law. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: To insist that the Netanyahu government allows humanitarian aid into Gaza, and that they use our weapons in a manner consistent with the laws of war. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you take a nuanced and specific stand on that, upholding U.S. law. This is often characterized, though, as being for or against helping Israel. There were 19 senators, you were one of them, who voted this past week to pause specific shipments on three different groups of weapons, offensive weapons, to Israel. You said the State Department's reviewing 500 incidents where U.S. weapons were used and caused unnecessary civilian harm. The State Department has said Israel's doing things to fix the situation, which is why weapons continue to be green lit. Are you suggesting that's a lie? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I'm suggesting that the president of the United States is not fully complying with American law on this question. If you look at the letter that was sent by Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken to Israeli authorities in October, you look at that final paragraph, you'll see that they're complaining about the fact that there is no effective mechanism right now for getting to the bottom of claims of civilian harm. The State Department has, as I said, about 500, as you said, and we haven't gotten to the bottom of those. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Because the process is broken, and I would argue that there's not been the will to fix the process because a lot of people don't want the process to produce the obvious answer, which is, there have been many cases where we've seen U.S. weapons used in violation of the international humanitarian law. In fact, if you go back to the NSM 20 report earlier this year, the Biden administration said specifically that there was a high likelihood that U.S. weapons were being used in violation of international law, and yet they've done nothing in the intervening period to enforce that. MARGARET BRENNAN: When I pressed U.S. officials on this privately, they've said, what do you want us to do? Do you want us to put in a halt for a few weeks? And then Donald Trump reverses it. What's the point? How do you respond? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, the point is, they should have been doing this for a much longer period of time. The president had ample opportunities over the last year. There are many people in the administration, senior level - at the senior level who told me that this war was going to come to an end back in January. You know, I've met with hostage families on numerous occasions who have been calling out Prime Minister Netanyahu for not agreeing to a ceasefire and a return of their loved ones. Minister Gallant, the defense minister of Israel, was fired because he wanted to prioritize the return of hostages, and yet President Biden has never called out Prime Minister Netanyahu. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: For his obstruction on this. Even though those families I've met with are calling him out. MARGARET BRENNAN: Even post-election, why do you think he won't do that? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I really don't know. I just don't know why the president of the United States has not been willing to make more effective use of American leverage to assert his own stated objectives. I mean he's been ignored on other things, too, right? He wants the PA to be the nucleus of governance in a post-war Gaza. MARGARET BRENNAN: Palestinian Authority. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: He wants a two-state solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu has not only ignored those, he's gone out there and bragged about how he's blocking President Biden's efforts. And yet the blank check just keeps on coming. So, what my colleagues and I are saying is, let's just pause these transfers of offensive weapons, certain ones, until Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government come into compliance with American law. These are American laws on the books. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: So, this is not about whether we support Israel or not. Of course we support Israel. It's about whether our support is used in a manner consistent with American law and American values. MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Van Hollen, thank you for explaining your position. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to retired Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser in the first Trump administration. His latest book is "At War with Ourselves," which chronicles his time at the White House. Good morning, and welcome back. LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER (Retired, Former White House National Security Adviser): Good morning, Margaret. Happy Thanksgiving. MARGARET BRENNAN: Happy early Thanksgiving to you. I want to ask you about the geopolitical threat picture right now that the next commander in chief will be walking into the Oval Office and facing. In these final weeks of the Biden administration, Ukraine has started using U.S.-made ATACMS, a type of longer range missile, to strike within Russian territory. President Biden also approved anti-personnel land mines. The aim is to get them on stronger footing before Trump takes office. Can these weapons quickly make a difference? LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: They can make a difference, Margaret. Really it made no sense to not allow the Ukrainians to fire those missiles at the bases that Russia was using to continue their onslaught against the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian infrastructure. And so, it's another one of these example how the Biden administration has taken this halting approach to providing weapons and then permissions to use weapons. And so, I think it's - it's important because both sides right now are incentivized to make as many gains on the battlefield as they can before the new Trump administration comes in. And you see Russia throwing troops into Ukrainian defenses. I mean, they're taking - you know, they're taking tens of thousands of casualties a month. I think it's really an unsustainable rate. And what the Ukrainians are doing now is trying to protect themselves from the onslaught, inflict as many casualties as they can, and they're trading some - some space for time and the opportunity to cause more attrition on Russian forces. So, the next couple of months, I think, are really critical in terms of the - you know, how - what is the next phase in the war in Ukraine. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you know, President Zelenskyy said just yesterday that he's sure Vladimir Putin is trying to, quote, "push us out by January 20th," and try to demonstrate that he has the upper hand. He's not saying that, you know, just as an observation. He is looking at the national security adviser, Mike Waltz. He's looking at the possible next secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who has voted against Ukraine aid. The vice president-elect is against helping Ukraine. Can Ukraine get the upper hand here, and are these top advisers going to be persuadable? LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: Well, this is a real problem, Margaret. You know, I think what you're seeing is, this delivers a psychological blow to the Ukrainians. Ukrainians are struggling to generate the manpower that they need and to sustain their defensive efforts. And that's - it's important that they get the weapons they need and the training that they need, but also they have to have the confidence that they can prevail. And any sort of messages that we might reduce our aid are quite damaging to them from a moral perspective. I think he'll - and what I hope is that those who President Trump has nominated, and President Trump himself will begin to see the quite obvious connections between the war in Ukraine and this axis of aggressors that are doing everything they can to tear down the existing international order. I mean, heck, Margaret, I mean North Korean soldiers are fighting on European soil in the first major war in Europe since World War II. Look at what China's doing to sustain Russia's war-making machine with the cash Vladimir Putin needs but also with the equipment and the hardware necessary to build these missiles that are continuing this onslaught. Iran. Iran is providing the drones and missiles. North Korea's also providing, you know, eight million rounds of artillery. So, I think what's happened is, so many people have taken such a myopic view of Ukraine and they've misunderstood Putin's intentions and how consequential the war is to our interests across the world. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, one of the things - and you are a historian. You've written quite a lot and looked at presidential decision making. One of the things you've written in "At War with Ourselves" was, "it is important," based on your study of the Vietnam War, "to ensure that the president gets the best analysis and multiple options so he can make informed decisions." Do you think so far that Mr. Trump's choices for director of national intelligence, for defense secretary, are these individuals who will provide the president with the best analysis and what he needs to hear, not just what he wants to hear? LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: Well, this is what the Senate has to - has to really exercise their advice and consent role. And I think it's worth going back to Federalist 76 where John Adams said, really this advice and consent is so important to make sure the best people are in those positions. President Trump, as I wrote in the book, he does learn. He does listen to advice. He does evolve his understanding. So, who will those people be? I think for the new secretary of defense, the nominated director of national intelligence, they ought to be asked, what do you think motivates or drives and constrains Vladimir Putin? There's a fundamental misunderstanding based on - on the nominee for - for the - for DNI about what motivates him. It's not his security concerns. His security concerns don't need to be allayed. That's the mistake the Biden administration made. And I think as a result almost green lighted the invasion - the reinvasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. What are the consequences if - if Ukraine fails and Russia succeeds globally? I think, Margaret, they have got to be asked about, you know, really, how do they reconcile or help President Trump reconcile peace through strength and what you see in some elements of the Republican Party which replicate the far left oftentimes toward retrenchment and disengagement and then even blaming ourselves for the acts of our adversaries as - as - as Tulsi Gabbard has done, you know, talking about, you know, how Putin really felt aggrieved. And that's why he had to invade Ukraine. MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, that's a Russian talking point that she's repeated and in direct contradiction (ph) to what U.S. intelligence has concluded. I also want to ask you about someone you personally - LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: And this is what - this is what I can't understand, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: There's some - there's some people in the Republican Party these days who kind of tend to parrot Vladimir Putin's talking points. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why? LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: I don't know if it's because they're drawn to him and they see him as a - kind of a defender of western civilization, just a shirtless guy on horseback, but they've got to disabuse themselves of this, you know, strange affection for Vladimir Putin. You know, who - who is - who is not going to stop in his efforts to restore Russia to national greatness at our expense. That's what he's obsessed with. He's obsessed with kind of re-establishing the Russian empire. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: And so he has aspirations that go far beyond anything that's in reaction to what we do. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: And the only thing that stops him really is strength, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: And you wrote in your book that you didn't understand Donald Trump's fascination with Vladimir Putin. Quickly, Seb Gorka is going to be the senior director for counterterrorism, deputy assistant to the president. Is he a good person to advise on national security? LIEUTENANT GENERAL H.R. MCMASTER: No, no, he's not, Margaret. But I - you know, I think that - that the president and others who are working with him will probably determine that pretty quickly soon after he gets into that job. MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, timestamp on that prediction. H.R. McMaster, a lot to talk to you about. We're going to have to leave it there for today. We'll be back in a moment. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: The 2024 election was historic for several reasons. Among them, the first openly transgender person was elected to the United States Congress. She joins us now from the state she will be representing, Delaware. Democratic Representative-elect Sarah McBride. Welcome to FACE THE NATION. REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE (D-DE): Thank you for having me, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, it's interesting given how polarized, how angry and divided this country is that people choose to serve and to run. You told my colleague, Scott MacFarlane, that it was your personal experience as a caregiver for your husband during his bout with terminal cancer that inspired you to run. Do you expect that health care policy will be the focus of your work here? REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: Well, I certainly am glad to be back here in Delaware after two weeks of orientation and to have the privilege of serving the state that I love in Congress. I ran to bring down costs facing workers, retirees, and their families. That means bringing down the cost of health care, but also housing and childcare and everyday expenses like gas and groceries. I did run for office after my experience as a caregiver to my husband, Andy, during his battle with cancer. And throughout that experience, while Andy ultimately lost his life, we both knew how lucky we were. We knew how lucky Andy was to have health insurance that would allow him to get care that would hopefully save his life. And we both knew how lucky we were to have flexibility with our employers that allowed Andy to focus on the full- time job of getting care and me to focus on the full-time job of being there by his side to care for him, to love him, to marry him, and to walk him to his passing. And I ran for office because I do not believe that in the wealthiest, most developed nation on earth, that that time and that ability to get care should be a matter of luck. I believe it should be the law of the land. And it's why during my time in the Delaware general assembly I passed paid family and medical leave and secured the largest investment in our state's Medicaid program. And I want to do that work in Congress on health care, but also on housing and childcare. MARGARET BRENNAN: Paid leave is something that Mr. Trump has - has paid lip service to. We'll see in the new Congress if it comes up. We see in our CBS polling that 86 percent of voters feel congressional Democrats should find common ground with Mr. Trump and Republicans. Do you feel you can? REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: Well, I said throughout this campaign that I will work with anyone who's willing to work with me to help Delawareans, to lower cost facing my constituents. There are opportunities for us to find common ground. But it's also clear that this administration, as it begins to fill its appointments with Project 2025 authors, that a lot of the policies that this president will pursue will likely hurt my constituents and raise prices. And so, where I need to fight back, I will. But where I can find common ground, I will certainly seek it. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: That's when I've done during my time in the general assembly where nearly every bill I passed, passed with bipartisan support. MARGARET BRENNAN: As you mentioned, you were here for orientation. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was asking about you coming to work and some objections by a female South Carolina Republican representative regarding what bathroom you'd be able to use. Here's what the speaker said. (BEGIN VC) REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman. That said, I also believe - that's what scripture teaches, what I just said. But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity. (END VC) MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you believe are you are being treated with dignity by your colleagues? REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: I didn't run for the United States House of Representatives to talk about what bathroom I use. I didn't run to talk about myself. I ran to deliver for Delawareans. And while Republicans in Congress seem focused on bathrooms and trans people and specifically me, I'm focused on rolling up my sleeves, diving into the details, setting up my office, and beginning the hard work of delivering for Delawareans on the issues that I know keep them up at night. And I look forward to working with any colleague who's ready to work and ready to be serious about the issues that matter because, at the end of the day, how I'm being treated does not matter. What matters is how the American people are being treated, and whether we're actually focused on the issues that matter to them. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, some of your fellow congressional Democrats, including Tom Suozzi and Seth Moulton, have also recently spoken about their feelings, looking back at the last election, and said Democrats should be more open about saying whether they object to transgender athletes playing in girls' sports. Those were the specific examples they brought up. How would you respond to your soon-to-be Democratic colleagues on those? Do you understand why some parents, for example, feel uncomfortable or frustrated? REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: Look, I think this country is still entering into a conversation about who trans people are, the full diversity of the community. And I've had conversations with colleagues in the Democratic caucus already that span diversity of thought about how the party should engage on a whole host of issues. But I think we are all united that every single American deserves equal rights, I think we are all united that attempts to attack a vulnerable community are not only mean spirited but really an attempt to misdirect. Because every single time we hear the incoming administration or Republicans in Congress talk about any vulnerable group in this country, we have to be clear that it is an attempt to distract. It is an attempt to distract from what they are actually doing. Every single time - every single time we hear them say the word trans, look at what they're doing with their right hand. Look at what they're doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors while privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Look what they're doing undermining workers. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE: And here's also what we have to be clear about, because I think the last week has been a prime example of this. Every bit of time and energy that is used to divert the attention of the federal government to go after trans people is time and energy that is not focused on addressing the cost of living for our constituents. And we have clear that there is a real cost for the American worker every time they focus on this. MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Congresswoman-elect, I'm sure we'll be seeing you here in Washington. We'll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: That's it for us today. Thank you all for watching. Until next week. For FACE THE NATION, I'm Margaret Brennan. (ANNOUNCEMENTS)

Photo: Tom Poole Revelstoke Mountain Resort's Sutton Place Hotel at the mountain base, just a few steps from the Revelation Gondola and a stunning view of Mt. Mackenzie, known for its steep pitches, record-breaking snowfall, diverse terrain and the most vertical in North America. Revelstoke Mountain Resort had a busy off-season with Camozzi Road realignment, parking enhancements, run upgrades and better resort access. "As part of the resort’s ongoing commitment to improving the guest experience, we’ve made significant investments in our parking facilities, including paving the main lot (the original P2 parking lot), adding additional spaces to better accommodate increased visitor numbers during peak season and improving transit shuttle drop-off areas," said Laura Meggs, communications manager in the marketing department. "These upgrades will not only make parking more convenient and reduce congestion but also create a seamless and more efficient experience from arrival to departure for our guests. Along with the expansion and paving of P2, a new parking lot was completed this summer south of the resort. An area formerly used for vehicle maintenance has been reclaimed for expanded parking providing easy access from the South Village entrance." In conjunction with the City of Revelstoke, WSP Engineering and Speers Construction, Camozzi Road was reopened in mid-November after extensive upgrades, she said. Those included enhanced resort access, upgraded water and sanitary services to Mountain Road, and a new multi-use pathway to open in 2025 ensuring safer, more convenient access to the resort for pedestrians and cyclists. The popular resort also completed extensive trail work, including blasting and grading improvements on Sally Alley, Simmer Down extension, Chopper and Big Woody. Skiers and boarders can also take advantage of 20 per cent more capacity on the Ripper Chair completed last season. The Cupcake Carpet surface lift and Mountain Sports School were both relocated to the top of the Gondola in 2023-24 creating a new centralized learning zone. "Complimentary hosted resort tours are returning for the 2024-25 winter season. Tours are available daily at 1 p.m.," added Meggs. Photo: Contributed Revelstoke Mountain Resort has 3,121 skiable acres with 75 runs?12 per cent green, 43 per cent intermediate and 45 per cent advanced. The longest run is The Last Spike at 15.2 kilometres. There are four bowls Great Northern Cat Skiing has partnered with the resort to offer a two-day introduction to Cat skiing program. Day one is at the resort with an instructor teaching the basics, plus tips and tricks on how to ride in powder and in cat skiing terrain. Day two is spent cat skiing. "Over the past year, our team has been busy working on a significant maintenance shop expansion," said Meggs. "Building off the existing shop's footprint, the expanded facility will provide an additional 3,000 square feet to accommodate a growing cat fleet and an expanded maintenance program centralized in one location. This facility is dedicated to maintaining and improving resort infrastructure, including lifts, snowcats, vehicles and more, which will ultimately lead to a better overall resort experience." Significant progress is being made at the Slopeside Hotel, she said. "The roof installation on the amenities building was completed this fall with framing taking shape on the lower floors allowing guests to envision how this new Slopeside Hotel will integrate into the existing village. The new hotel will include 158 rooms, conference space, restaurant, fitness and spa facilities, and will be the new home for Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing." Phase one of the staff housing development made great strides during the off-season with the exterior nearing completion, she said. "Interior finishing will continue into the winter months with anticipated occupancy by spring 2025. Building 1 will have 160 beds. The resort will launch the 2024-25 winter season Nov. 30 with the Red Bull truck pumping tunes at the base with a live DJ. At the top of the lift, you can enter to win prizes from Salomon. The Mackenzie Common Tavern has après-vibes with Red Bull from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. As of Thursday, the resort had already received more than 40 centimetres (100 inches) of snow. Other special events include Locals Days, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Jan. 12, March 16 and April 13. Lift tickets will be $20 for local residents (proof of residency required) with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to the Revelstoke Foundation. Standard ski and snowboard rentals will be $10, with 50 per cent off high-performance rentals. Group lessons are $20, which includes a two-hour lesson from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for ages five and up (limited to levels 1 to 3). You can ski with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 (free), starting at the upper ski school building with hot chocolate and stocking stuffers and after at the Mountain Sports School. More events are posted on the website. Mt. Mackenzie is known for its steep pitches, record-breaking snowfall (the annual average is 10.5 metres), diverse terrain—wide-open alpine bowls to perfectly-spaced glades—and the most vertical in North America at 1,713 metres. Its 3,121 skiable acres have 75 runs, 12 per cent green, 43 per cent intermediate and 45 per cent advanced. The longest run is The Last Spike at 15.2 kilometres. There are four bowls, South Bowl, North Bowl, Separate Reality and Greely Bowl, served by the eight-person Revelation Gondola and four-person Stoke, Ripper and Stellar chairs. Revelstoke Mountain Resort isn't just downhill skiing and snowboarding. It has Nordic skiing through the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club with 30 kilometres of groomed trails and stunning scenery at Mt. Macpherson suitable for both classic and skate. Heli and cat skiing are also available, thanks it to bordering two pristine national parks. The ski tenure for Selkirk Tangiers is 500,000-plus acres of unspoiled wilderness with more than 400 established runs from towering peaks to sheltered valley floors. Other activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling and relaxing in hot springs. Sutton Place Hotel, situated at the mountain base, just a few steps from the Revelation Gondola, offers the only ski-in ski-out accommodation in Revelstoke with 200 condominium-style hotel suites in three buildings, It has an outdoor heated pool and three on-site dining experiences, including the Rockford Bar & Grill and Mackenzie Common Tavern. All units boast spectacular views of the Columbia River to the Monashee and Selkirk mountains. Photo: Tom Poole Revelstoke Mountain Resort made great strides with phase one of its staff housing development during the off-season, with the exterior nearing completion. Interior finishing to its 160 beds will continue into the winter months with anticipated occupancy in spring 2025. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Ben Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Ange with a team news update ahead of Wolves on Sunday 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0EiYh4TP8j — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 27, 2024 Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. A post shared by Richarlison (@richarlison) Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said . The Braves said Carty left on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: