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WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he did not intend to take the oath of office. He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state launched a special election process to fill the vacancy. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped that Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. _____ Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.
"The importance of listening can never be undervalued," according to Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter, who was elected in 2020 at the age of 24. When asked what young leaders want, entrepreneur Laura Stocco said, "We want to be heard." Being able to bring different people together is important in a leader, according to former rugby player Tendai Mtawarira. Bringing people together, showing determination and being a good listener are some of the qualities younger generations look for in leaders. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are That's according to Generation Z and millennial participants at the One Young World summit in Montreal, Canada. "It's essential that, when leaders are at the forefront, they are acting upon the interests of the people, and not the interest of themselves or of a small group," according to Sue Whisky, CEO and founder of sustainability organization Environmental Network Malawi, who spoke to CNBC's Tania Bryer at the summit in September. She also said persistence and determination were important in leaders. "People go through so much and yet their achievements are so much greater than everything that they've ever been through," she said. While some leaders "aren't really always driven by good intentions," according to Whisky, even those with differing views can "sit in the same room." "We can all make the world that we want to make. We can all work towards achieving peace," she said. For Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter, empathy and understanding are paramount. "The importance of listening can never be undervalued," she said. Hunter, who became a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Londonderry at the age of 24 in 2020, said she is keen to hear what those younger than her want from education. Money Report Portfolio manager says a ‘healthy' correction could come if earnings and growth stall The world's auto giants will need to partner with Chinese companies to survive in China, analysts say "A good leader is about listening and raising the voices of people who maybe can't vote but want to be part of the political process, and ensuring they know the power that they have," she said. Hunter is part of the Northern Irish Education Committee, in a role that she said contributes to building a peaceful society in the region. "A key aspect of that ... is looking at the importance of integrated education, so ensuring every child, regardless of background or belief, is educated together and really respects cultural difference," Hunter said. Bringing people from a variety of backgrounds together is important for former rugby player Tendai Mtawarira, who named South African rugby star Siya Kolisi as a "great leader." Kolisi led his team to win the World Cup in 2019 because of his ability to "bring out the best of everybody," Mtawarira said. "[He creates] a really conducive environment for everybody, where everybody feels like they belong. You know, their cultures and traditions are taken into account and embraced," he said of Kolisi. Mtawarira runs The Beast, a foundation that helps young people gain life skills via education and sport, and has launched Lead Like a Girl, a scholarship for teenage girls. "If we were able to ... upskill our young people, create a thriving workforce, then we're going to see a much better world, a much better Africa," he said. Meanwhile, entrepreneur Laura Stocco urged decision-makers to do more to tackle climate change. "My generation ... we have this kind of anxiety towards the way we see the world being led right now with climate change, we're not in agreement with the leadership that is in place," she said. Stocco is founder of Openversum, which provides clean water technology via a "microfranchising" model that trains women to assemble and sell water filters in countries including Colombia and Uganda, who Stocco said could become "actor[s] of change" in their communities. She said leadership is about problem-solving. "If you're not listening, you will ... try to implement fantastic changes and solutions that you think are solutions, but that the people you're trying to lead don't need or don't want," she said. When asked what young leaders want, Stocco said, "We want to be heard, and we want to be enabled to take action so that we can really design the future that we want." Also on CNBC Register now for CONVERGE LIVE 2025 AI systems could 'turn against humans': Tech pioneer Yoshua BengioOver the last year, I’ve come to believe there is a platonic ideal for an NBA tank job. It’s courtesy of the newest mechanism in the league: the NBA Cup, an in-season tournament that transforms four regular season games into a group stage, then offers teams a chance to fly to Las Vegas to battle for a whole lot of money and a trophy that, allegedly, fans and players will begin to truly care about in the near future. As a longtime soccer fan, the concept of interrupting the regular season for a tournament with a funky name is neither unfamiliar nor unwelcome. And this year, it feels like the tournament is hitting its stride, producing some genuinely competitive games in a stretch of the season typically occupied by snoozers. This is why the NBA Cup provides the most fun option for a team like the Chicago Bulls attempting to nosedive its way to a lottery pick without fully losing morale. This year, the obvious stakes of a stacked draft highlighted by Duke standout Cooper Flagg have sent most middling teams in the league scrambling for a lower rung in the standings. And it’s in that context that I present the most amusing way to tank a season: win the NBA Cup and lose everything else. This is, of course, a bit of an absurd idea. No team bad enough to be tanking is also good enough to compete in a major tournament. But the general formula — go hard for the NBA Cup, don’t worry about anything else — is a sound one. It allows a team to provide a good product for fans early in the season, maybe even compete for a little hardware, and then pack it in to protect their picks. The Bulls have somewhat followed this pattern in the early weeks of the season, winning consecutive NBA Cup group stage games to position themselves to advance to Las Vegas with either a win on Friday over the Boston Celtics (unlikely) or a loss that preserves enough of a point differential to earn a wild card spot (much more likely). This is exciting, even if fans still aren’t completely on board with the tournament. Outside of play-in games, this team hasn’t competed for much over the past five (make that 10?) seasons. And with a new high-scoring system and revitalized veterans like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, the Bulls are better poised than ever to pull off an upset. Coby White of the Chicago Bulls dribbles in front of Carlton Carrington of the Washington Wizards during the first half of an NBA Cup game on Nov. 26, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images) So yes, Las Vegas is still a long shot, but it’s in the cards — and that would be a nice boost for beleaguered Bulls fans who miss watching their team play in meaningful games. The problem is the Bulls aren’t exactly following the second half of the program. Nineteen games into the season, the Bulls don’t seem to be tanking. In fact, tanking seems to be a foreign concept to coach Billy Donovan and the entire roster, who have been piecing together competitive games even as their defense fumbles its way through 140-point messes. On paper, that’s not a bad thing. Teams obviously can’t express an outright desire to follow this road map. Deliberate tanking is strongly discouraged by the NBA and teams like the Dallas Mavericks have been hit with significant fines for purposeful losses. It’s up to front office leaders like executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas to thread the needle of creating a realistic road map to lose enough games to compete for a pick. Still, it’s hard to understand how the Bulls have allowed themselves to teeter on the edge of losing their draft pick even at this early juncture of the season. The stakes here are simple. The Bulls have a top-10 protected lottery pick in one of the most influential NBA drafts in recent memory. If they finish among the worst 10 teams in the league, they keep that pick. If they make the play-in tournament (or, worse, the playoffs) they send that pick to the San Antonio Spurs. But nearly a quarter of the way into the season, the Bulls are still 10th in the Eastern Conference. The only thing currently separating them from losing that lottery pick is a single loss by the Sacramento Kings. And this dangerously thin margin is enough to ask a demoralizing question after every win: what are they doing? Tanking is harder than ever in a season plagued by the disparity between the two conferences and an unfettered competition for the bottom rung. This year, an Eastern Conference team will need to lose well over 50 games to guarantee they miss the playoffs. At this rate, the Wizards might not win more than 12 games — and they’ll be thrilled about it. Related Articles Chicago Bulls | Chicago basketball report: Bulls reportedly ‘open-minded’ to Patrick Williams trade — and Sky submit protected list for expansion draft Chicago Bulls | 4 takeaways from the Chicago Bulls’ 2nd straight NBA Cup win, including a big night from the bench Chicago Bulls | Column: In the NBA Cup era, Chicago Bulls and other teams are encouraged to run up the score — like it or not Chicago Bulls | Column: Chicago Bulls preach patience as they adjust to new style — but are fans already losing interest? Chicago Bulls | Column: Ready or not, Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis needs to step up in Patrick Williams’ absence It would be on brand for the Bulls to waste a potentially roster-defining building block in order to chase the perceived competitiveness of winning a few play-in tournament games. But this is not a season in which the Bulls can afford to gamble for the sake of “competitiveness.” They already spent two years treading water after the loss of Lonzo Ball functionally ended all dreams of the DeMar DeRozan-led roster creating any playoff success. This year, the Bulls are positioned to accomplish multiple seasons’ worth of progress in one fell swoop — offload multiple veteran contracts, load up on draft value and begin to plan for the future. But if that’s the strategy for Karnišovas, it’s not evident at this point in the season. And every time the Bulls beat a team with a lower rank, they mire themselves deeper in this miserable catch-22 of showing marginal gains with their current roster while ruining their ability to improve the roster through the draft. It’s still early. The front office has time to adjust. But when this tournament comes to an end, the Bulls either have to change course or risk wrecking their plans completely. Ultimately, this season will force Karnišovas to answer a question that will define his executive career. Is a little glory — in the NBA Cup or the in-season tournament — really worth the long-term viability of a franchise? That question will be answered in the next month — and maybe even in Las Vegas.
New AD Eric Roedl comes home, seeking to build ‘championship culture’ at VillanovaSE Louisiana earns 76-60 win over North DakotaDURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Toby Fournier scored a season-high 27 points and collected nine rebounds to lead No. 8 Duke to an 81-59 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. Fournier, a freshman forward, shot 12 of 17 from the floor in an off-the-bench effort to power the Blue Devils (9-2, 1-0 ACC). Oluchi Okananwa added 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Delaney Thomas chipped in 14 points. Reigan Richardson finished with just five points but dished out a career-high-tying seven assists. Carleigh Wenzel paced the Hokies (7-3, 0-1) with 19 points, while Carys Baker had 11 points and six rebounds. Duke: The Blue Devils bounced back from their loss at No. 3 South Carolina with a decisive victory and improved to 24-4 when opening ACC play at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Virginia Tech: Duke's stingy defense kept the Hokies from getting to their offensive actions consistently, leading them to turn the ball over 18 times while shooting a season-worst 14.3% from 3-point range. After trailing by three points early, Duke outscored Virginia Tech 32-10 on a run that bled into the second quarter. Fournier kickstarted the spurt for the Blue Devils with a layup in traffic, totaling 10 points and five rebounds over the 12-minute stretch. Duke entered this game ranking 15th nationally in 3-point shooting with a 38.8% clip and 18th nationally in assists per game with an average of 18.5. The Blue Devils had a positive assist-turnover ratio for the eighth time this season, and they improved to 5-0 when shooting north of 40% from behind the arc. Duke hosts Wofford on Dec. 18. Virginia Tech hosts Radford on Sunday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
MGM Resorts International stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutionsNewton Aycliffe gift boutique announces closure and full move to online
TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexGold Mining Corp. ( TSXV: NEXG; OTCQX: NXGCF ) (“ NexGold ”) and Signal Gold Inc. (TSX: SGNL; OTCQB: SGNLF) ( “ Signal Gold ”) are pleased to announce the successful completion of the previously-announced transaction pursuant to which, among other things, NexGold acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Signal Gold (the “ Signal Shares ”) pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the “ Arrangement ”). The Arrangement combines the two companies to create a top near-term gold developer advancing NexGold’s Goliath Gold Complex Project (“ Goliath Project ”) in Northern Ontario and Signal Gold’s Goldboro Gold Project (“ Goldboro Project ”) in the historic Goldboro Gold District in Nova Scotia. Kevin Bullock, President, CEO and Director of the combined company, stated: “Today we have created a stronger and larger company with two cornerstone assets that we believe are near-term gold development projects. We have also strengthened the balance sheet, and now have a great opportunity to create immense value for our combined shareholder base. We extend our thanks to shareholders, stakeholders and our Rightsholders that will help us realize our vision. With this transaction, NexGold is primed to move forward on our path to development.” Mr. Bullock continued: “I would like to thank the outgoing members of the Signal Gold board of directors for their diligence and hard work in moving us towards this next phase.” Pursuant to the Arrangement, former Signal Gold shareholders received 0.1244 of a NexGold common share (each whole share, a “ NexGold Share ”) in exchange for each Signal Share held. NexGold issued approximately 31.9 million NexGold Shares to former Signal Gold shareholders, prior to taking into consideration any of the financings connected to the Arrangement, representing approximately 70% and 30% of the issued and outstanding NexGold Shares, respectively, on a fully-diluted in-the-money basis and without taking into account any securities of NexGold issued in connection with the Arrangement. As of the completion of the Arrangement, there are 142,246,958 NexGold Shares outstanding. Board of Directors and Senior Management of Combined Company Mary-Lynn Oke (a former Signal Gold director) and Kevin Bullock have joined the NexGold Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). Reporting to the Board, the combined company will be managed by Kevin Bullock as President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Wyeth as Chief Operating Officer and Orin Baranowsky as Chief Financial Officer. Jim Gowans, Chairman of NexGold, stated: “I am excited for the path forward for NexGold, a company that I believe has two of the most advanced gold projects in Canada, with significant exploration potential and an excellent team in place capable of delivering on a clear path to being a multi-asset producer. With the recently announced Benefits Agreement with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, the first of its kind in the Province of Nova Scotia, NexGold has demonstrated a commitment to building meaningful relationships towards mutual benefits with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia in a responsible, respectful and sustainable manner.” Mr Gowans continued: “I would like to welcome Kevin and Mary-Lynn to the Board and would like to thank Michele Ashby for her contributions to the Board as Chair of the Compensation Committee and Jeremy Wyeth, who will be taking on the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer responsible for the successful delivery of the Goliath and Goldboro Projects. I’d also like to thank Morgan Lekstrom, who will continue on as a Director, for his instrumental leadership and contributions to the creation of NexGold, creating a clear vision and strong path forward to being one of the next Canadian mid-tier gold companies”. Debt Restructuring NexGold and Signal Gold are also pleased to announce the completion of a restructuring of the two entities’ respective debt facilities (the “ Debt Restructuring ”), significantly reducing the debt profile of the combined entity going forward. Signal Gold’s outstanding credit facility of approximately US$20.8 million with Nebari and NexGold’s US$6.2 million facility with Extract Capital (“ Extract ”) have been repaid in connection with the Arrangement. Under the Debt Restructuring, NexGold has entered into a new US$12.0 million facility with Nebari, which has a 30-month term with an interest rate of 11.4%, payable monthly in arrears and secured against both the Goliath and Goldboro Projects. Under the facility, existing Signal Gold warrants associated with the prior Nebari facility were cancelled, and 3,160,602 new NexGold warrants were issued to Nebari with an exercise price of $1.00 per NexGold Share with a term of 30 months. In addition, Nebari has paid NexGold US$6.0 million for a 0.6% net smelter return royalty (the “ Royalty ”) on the Goldboro Project, which includes a 100% buy-back right for the first 30 months at NexGold’s option. If the Royalty is not repurchased during the 30-month period, then the Royalty rate shall increase to 2.0%. The new Nebari facility and Royalty, together with a US$4.0 million equity placement with Nebari and certain proceeds from the Signal Gold subscription receipt financing, as well as existing working capital, were used to retire the existing Nebari and Extract debt. Steven Bowles, Managing Director of Nebari, stated: “We have been monitoring the progress of the Goliath Project for many years and have been a partner with Signal in advancing the Goldboro Project. We are very pleased to continue this relationship with NexGold as they progress the development of both of their advanced projects. The experience and dedication of the combined teams demonstrated throughout Nebari’s due diligence during the merger process between NexGold and Signal provides us with a great deal of confidence in the organization’s ability to execute on its development plans and are excited to add another asset in a Tier-One mining jurisdiction to our growing portfolio.” Advisory Shares In connection with the Arrangement, Fiore Management and Advisory Corp. was issued 638,334 NexGold Shares in consideration for advisory services provided to NexGold. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. will be issued NexGold Shares as partial consideration for financial advisory services provided to Signal Gold in connection with the Arrangement. The number of NexGold Shares to be issued will be determined based on NexGold’s closing share price today and disclosed in NexGold’s material change report to be filed in connection with the closing of the Arrangement. Delisting of Signal Shares The Signal Shares are expected to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”) and OTCQB Venture Market (“ OTCQB ”) at the close of business on December 16, 2024 and Signal Gold intends to submit an application to cease to be a reporting issuer and to otherwise terminate its public company reporting requirements as soon as possible thereafter. About NexGold Mining Corp. NexGold Mining Corp. is a gold-focused company with assets in Canada and Alaska. NexGold’s Goliath Gold Complex (which includes the Goliath, Goldlund and Miller deposits) is located in Northwestern Ontario. The deposits benefit substantially from excellent access to the Trans-Canada Highway, related power and rail infrastructure and close proximity to several communities including Dryden, Ontario. For information on the Goliath Project, refer to the technical report, prepared in accordance with NI 43–101, entitled ‘Goliath Gold Complex – NI 43–101 Technical Report and Prefeasibility Study’ and dated March 27, 2023, with an effective date of February 22, 2023, led by independent consultants Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. The technical report is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , on the OTCQX at www.otcmarkets.com and on NexGold’s website at www.nexgold.com . NexGold will be advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study. For further details, refer to the technical report entitled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia’ dated January 11, 2022, with an effective date of December 16, 2021. The technical report is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone, and Signal Gold has now submitted all key permits including the Industrial Approval, Fisheries Act Authorization and Schedule 2 Amendment, and the Mining and Crown Land Leases. The Goldboro Project has significant potential for further mineral resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth, and the company has consolidated 28,525 hectares (~285 km 2 ) of prospective exploration land in the Goldboro Gold District. NexGold also owns several other projects throughout Canada, including the Weebigee-Sandy Lake Gold Project JV, and grassroots gold exploration property Gold Rock. In addition, NexGold holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. NexGold is committed to inclusive, informed and meaningful dialogue with regional communities and Indigenous Nations throughout the life of all our Projects and on all aspects, including creating sustainable economic opportunities, providing safe workplaces, enhancing of social value, and promoting community wellbeing. Further details about NexGold are available on NexGold’s website at www.nexgold.com . Contact: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Bullock, P. Eng., President and CEO of NexGold, a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 - Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “interpreted”, “management’s view”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “potential”, “feasibility”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected delisting of Signal Shares from the TSX and OTCQB and Signal Gold’s application to cease to be a reporting issuer in Canada; expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Arrangement and the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives; expectations relating to future exploration, development and production activities; expectations regarding growth potential for NexGold’s operations; and the company’s assessments of, and expectations for, future business activities and operating performance Since forward-looking information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the delisting of Signal Shares from the TSX and OTCQB, and Signal ceasing to be a reporting issuer in Canada, may not be on the timing anticipated; the ability of the combined company to realize the benefits and synergies of the Arrangement and the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives, including integrating the companies or the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; changes to expectations relating to future exploration, development and production activities, and growth potential for NexGold’s operations; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of mineral resource, production and cost estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for gold and base metals; gold price and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits may be derived therefrom and accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Neither NexGold nor Signal Gold undertakes to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.Many veterans, service members and officials in the Defense Department worry that decades of progress could be unraveled in a matter of months if Pete Hegseth , President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary , is confirmed by the Senate. Army veterans who spoke to CBS News are concerned Hegseth would seek to reinstate a ban that would bar women from serving in ground-based combat units. Hegseth contends he wants tougher standards that both men and women would have to achieve and maintain, but he has written about and spoken extensively against the inclusion of women in ground-based direct combat roles. "I would love for him [Hegseth] to look into the eyes of the loved ones of the women who were killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq and tell them that they were not in combat or that their loved ones were not worthy of putting it all on the line or putting themselves in the line of fire to serve our country," said Allison Jaslow, a former Army captain and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the post-9/11 nonprofit veterans organization. After the Gulf War in the early 1990s, Republicans and Democrats in Congress recognized the role women played in the conflict by repealing an exclusionary statute from 1948 that barred women from positions where they potentially could be exposed to combat, and lawmakers did so over the objections of most senior military leaders and Pentagon officials at the time. The rescinded ban in 1993 opened the door for women to serve in air and naval combat units. Eleven years ago, the direct combat exclusion rule was lifted and by 2015, women began reporting to ground combat units, including infantry and special operations. Allowing women in combat roles has been widely embraced in the U.S. The majority of voters from both major political parties and independents supported the change and said it would not harm military effectiveness, the Pew Research Center found in 2013. Hegseth — an Army veteran-turned-Fox News host — and his defenders contend the criticism and concern expressed by Jaslow and others is baseless. Over the past few weeks, Hegseth and his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, also a Navy veteran, have sought to clarify his position. "Everybody is taking the initial click-bait headline of 'I'm straight-up saying no women in combat,' and they're just stopping there. [They] don't listen to the rest. What does he mean by that? It doesn't matter, we're offended by the broad sweeping statement, and you don't see there really is more nuance to it," Parlatore told CBS News by phone. Following Trump's announcement that Hegseth was his pick for defense secretary, a video clip of Hegseth on former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan's podcast lit a firestorm about the issue of women serving in combat roles. "I'm straight-up just saying we should not have women in combat roles," said Hegseth on the podcast in early November. "It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated." He added, "I'm not even talking about pilots...I'm talking about the physical, labor intensive-type jobs ... [Navy] SEALs, [Army] Rangers, [Army] Green Berets, you know, MARSOC [Marine Forces Special Operations Command], infantry battalions, armor, artillery ... I'm talking something where strength is the differentiator." In his book, "The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free," published in June, Hegseth details myriad reasons he believes women should not serve in ground-based, direct combat roles in a chapter titled "The (Deadly) Obsession with Women Warriors." Hegseth elaborated on his views of women in combat and suggested what his approach to the issue would be if he's confirmed by the Senate. "Dads push us to take risks," Hegseth wrote. "Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units." Hegseth, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, contends that the integration of women into ground-based combat units that have historically been male-dominated, combined with "our loss of a Christian ethos for God's creation," have incorrectly reduced men and women to a state of parity, despite the difference between the sexes in physical strength. Hegseth believes this integration is "dangerous" when it comes to direct combat roles. Moreover, Hegseth argues that training women to kill in war runs counter to a woman's "core instincts" of motherhood. Here's what he wrote about this idea: Women are life givers, regardless of what the abortion industry might want us to think. This role was embedded in human beings and was one of the clear reasons why the only, even mythologically articulated, successful women in combat narratives involve separatist societies of nonchildbearing women who live apart from men. To create a society of warrior women you must separate them first from men, and then from the natural purposes of their core instincts. He says allowing women to serve in combat roles subverts the norms of a civilized society where men are "trained to treat women differently than we treat men." "Women in combat forces men to ignore those civilized instincts. If you train a group of men to treat women equally on the battlefield then you will be hard pressed to ask them to treat women differently at home," Hegseth said in his book. Hegseth does not seem to object to women serving in the military in general or in supportive combat roles, such as those in the medical or aviation fields. At one point, he celebrated Army soldier Leigh Ann Hester, who received the Silver Star for her actions in Iraq, making her the first woman in the military to receive the third-highest award for combat valor since World War II. However, he also said another woman was awarded the Silver Star because of "an agenda." Hegseth stressed that soldiers like Hester are outliers when it comes to ground combat. He proposes a single standard for a given job in the military that both men and women alike must achieve, with additional standards to maintain membership in specialty roles. In his book, Hegseth complained that the military has quietly made it easier for women to meet its standards, to the detriment of some branches. For instance, he mentioned the Army Airborne School's daily five-mile run, which had been a staple for its troops (though not a requirement) and once served to weed out weaker candidates. "Too many women were washing out, so the run went away," he wrote. The Army dropped the five mile run from airborne school in 2018, according to Task & Purpose, a news website which covers the U.S. military and veteran community. An Army colonel told the news outlet, "Analysis found the physical training requirements did not correlate with meeting any course learning objectives related to static line parachute operations such as safely donning a parachute, exiting a high-performance aircraft, controlling descent, or performing a parachute landing fall." Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger, who was interviewed for the article, said some service members believe making training less difficult equates to lowering standards. He noted that many soldiers had also protested years ago when the Army allowed soldiers to run in shoes, rather than boots. That change was made to stem running injuries. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment before this report published, but in a speech at West Point in early December, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin dismissed the idea that women should not be in combat roles. "So look, if I get a little fired up about this, it's just because this isn't 1950. It isn't 1948. It is 2024," Austin said, according to the Associated Press. "And any military that turns away tough, talented patriots — women or men — is just making itself weaker and smaller. So enough already." An Army officer who spoke with CBS News said she didn't object to unisex standards, but she is concerned that Hegseth would work to eliminate equality of opportunity for women in the military who want to be in ground-based combat units. The Army officer, who's an artillery operator, spoke under the condition of anonymity because she's not authorized to speak publicly, due to Defense Department media regulations. "I've thought more about getting out of the Army in the last three months than I ever have in my life, but honestly, they would have to force me out," the officer told CBS News. "I'm an artilleryman or I'm not in the Army. ... I wish we could just be in the Army and have a good time and do our job, but I keep having to defend my existence to people who don't care if I live or die. ... But they're going to have to drag me out of the artillery field." Hegseth's attorney maintains these fears are unfounded. "None of Pete Hegseth's policies would prevent a Second Lieutenant Jodi Ernst from being a combat veteran," Parlatore told CBS News, pointing to GOP Sen. Jodi Ernst of Iowa as an example. He added, "It's going to make it a bit more difficult for Second Lieutenant Jodi Ernst to become a Green Beret because she's going to have to meet the unisex standard." Ernst served in Iraq and Kuwait and retired from the Iowa Army National Guard at the rank of lieutenant colonel after 23 years of service. On Tuesday, Ernst seemed to suggest she was more comfortable with Hegseth as a defense secretary nominee and said she looked forward to a fair hearing, and one that she said would not rely on anonymous sources. Ernst, who is the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate, also said in a statement: "Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas." Army Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith, who retired in 2021, told CBS News that Hegseth seems to be overly concerned with tactical issues over a strategic vision for the Defense Department. "I find that [views on women in combat roles] to be a tactical viewpoint in a position that is supposed to have the greatest influence on our long term strategy," said Smith. "I think his approach to some of these tactical issues doesn't convey a background in experience that is required to lead the largest organization in our government, and so it's my armchair quarterback assessment that he doesn't have the background, managerial or character skills in order to lead the institution that he's being nominated to lead." She added, "It really disappoints me in the lack of seriousness that the president-elect is conveying by this particular selection to be our secretary of defense...I know that there are people out there who meet all the conservative requirements that an administration gets to choose from when they win an election." For now, Hegseth continues to enjoy strong support from Trump and others, as he continues to meet with the GOP Senate lawmakers on Capitol Hill who will be critical to his confirmation prospects. Reports that Trump was considering potentially replacing Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis amid allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement of two veterans' groups seem to have subsided. More than 30 military veterans who are House Republicans signed a letter expressing their "strong support" for Hegseth, Fox News reported Wednesday. Parlatore told CBS News that Hegseth is focused on communicating his defense policy visions to senators: "He's going to be a great defense secretary for the rank-and-file." Pete Hegseth Defense Department James LaPorta is a verification producer with CBS News Confirmed. He is a former U.S. Marine infantryman and veteran of the Afghanistan war.
Chicago Cubs acquiring all-star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with Houston AstrosChanges abound for Indiana State University football with changes to coach Curt Mallory's staff of assistants and with standout defensive back Maddix Blackwell entering the NCAA transfer portal for his graduate season. On Tuesday, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bath confirmed to the Tribune-Star that he is no longer with the program. Some other assistant coaches may also be departing. The team finished the season — Mallory's eighth as ISU head coach — with records of 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Their season ended Saturday with a 41-34 loss at Northern Iowa. Blackwell has been with the Sycamores for the past four seasons. In his ISU career, Blackwell totaled 248 tackles, two defensive touchdowns, 9.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three sacks and 17 pass deflections. He announced the decision to enter the portal Monday night on his X (formerly Twitter) social-media account, with a statement thanking the people at ISU and a short comment about looking forward to what the future holds. Meanwhile, Bath said Tuesday that his departure came as a surprise to him, and he was disappointed in the decision that took place. "I felt like we took steps forward and that the future was bright," Bath said. "My family and I have embraced being Sycamores." He also said he hopes the players in the program realize what a joy it was for him to coach them, and he wishes them nothing but the best in their futures. "I apologize that we didn't finish the job this season," Bath said. ISU associate AD for Communications Seth Montgomery said Tuesday the university is not commenting on changes to the ISU football staff at this time.
Formerly homeless, these tour guides show Edinburgh’s ‘real’ side to visitors
