�ȂC2�@�{=�H�>qk�����-ѫ!º��?f�H-�i�h鍕���l�|�؃͛�3Iʆ�˰0���Î`�͊�8� /E

�ȂC2�@�{=�H�>qk�����-ѫ!º��?f�H-�i�h鍕���l�|�؃͛�3Iʆ�˰0���Î`�͊�8� /E KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. ___ AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. ___ More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Peggy Shinn, The Associated PressWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. People are also reading... Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) What to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to serve as defense secretary If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Trump Pentagon pick had been flagged by fellow service member as possible 'Insider Threat' Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story Here are the people Trump picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. David Perdue, Ambassador to China President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Billy Long, Internal Revenue Service commissioner Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration administrator Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Meaghan Murphy, partners with brands and D S Simon Media on a national media tour to discuss the best gifting ideas for the holiday season Not to mention what consumers are expected to spend on their holiday gifting. Who better than Meaghan Murphy, author of Your Fully Charged Life, an editor, on-air personality, lifestyle and health expert, and home-hack master to share her top tips and ideas. She partnered with D S Simon Media on a nationwide media tour. Funko's Pop! Yourself Are you looking for that wow gift that is going to make a lasting impression? There is a fun, personalized gift for anyone in your life that offers millions of combinations that are sure to reflect who they are and what they love most! Meaghan Murphy's choice is called Pop! Yourself . An in-person and online experience that allows fans across the U.S. to create Pop! replicas of themselves, friends and loved ones. An extension of Funko's iconic Pop! line, Pop! Yourself offers fans the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind Pop!plegangers, much like the biggest celebrities across film, TV, music, sports and more. Offering adult and baby figures, as well as one and two packs, interchangeable accessories offer millions of combinations to celebrate all of life's moments, including birthdays, engagements, graduations, weddings, holidays and more! Don't forget, fans are encouraged to purchase for the holidays by 12/13 to ensure arrival by Christmas. @OriginalFunko ( TikTok , X + Instagram ) https://funko.com/pop-yourself Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush The Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush is the perfect holiday gift as paints only appear on specially formulated Color Wonder paper - not on skin, clothing, or walls. Kids will love using their imagination to celebrate the season creatively and parents will love the mess-free, no clean up required. Color Wonder Magic Light Brush is both interactive and fun, even though Color Wonder paints are clear, the special brush lights up to indicate the color of kids' choosing! Watch as little ones unleash their creativity, celebrating the season in vibrant color, all while parents enjoy the peace of mind that comes with mess-free entertainment. Color Wonder Magic Light Brush is designed to prevent paints from drying out, so kids can use it again and again throughout the holiday season Crayola (@crayola) • Instagram photos and videos Crayola | Facebook About Crayola: Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa., and a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, is the worldwide leader in children's creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children of all ages innovative new ways to use color to create everything imaginable. Consumers can find the wide array of Crayola products in the "Crayola Aisle" at all major retailers. For more information visit www.Crayola.com or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/Crayola . HIYA: When it comes to kids vitamins, Hiya is shaking up the children's health and wellness space with clean, honest vitamins formulated specifically for kids. No gummy additives, no added sugar, and absolutely no artificial flavors or colors. Just the good stuff kids need to thrive with 15+ essential vitamins and minerals. With eco-friendly packaging delivered on a pediatrician- recommended schedule, parents love the convenience and transparency, and kids love the yummy taste in an easy once-a-day chewable format. Hiya has teamed up with Barbie and Hot Wheels to make vitamin time even more fun. The same multivitamin more than a million parents trust, now in limited edition Barbie and Hot Wheels unboxing experiences, including limited edition bottles and stickers to decorate with. @hiyahealth StreamSafely We all have those holiday classic movies and TV shows we love and want to share with our kids, but sometimes it's hard to know when they're on and where they're airing. StreamSafely's Season's Streamings gives families one place to go to find all the entertainment they love for the holidays Sometimes in your search, you may accidentally stumble upon illegal sites, which can expose you to malware, viruses, or even ransomware. No one wants these digital threats in their stocking! Households with kids pirate movies and TV shows 10% more than others, and they don't often know they're doing it. We're going to have more info for parents than ever so it will be more than what to watch this season. Visit StreamSafely.com this holiday season to find what to watch and essential resources, from setting up parental controls to avoiding online holiday shopping scams. StreamSafely has everything you need to navigate digital safety confidently! Instagram: @streamsafely Facebook: StreamSafelyTV About YourUpdateTV YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Funko's Pop! Yourself, Stream Safely, Crayola, Hiya Dante Muccigrosso Director of Media Integration & Client Reporting E: [email protected] C: 973.524.0104 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d27151e3-08f3-4c46-b071-806a8799b5a3(TNS) — Artificial intelligence is rapidly gaining popularity. And the Chicopee Police Department wants to buy in. AI is one of the many technological advancements the police department is looking to provide its officers. The department also hopes to provide cutting-edge equipment and a center that would provide real-time information to officers. At a City Council meeting this week, Mayor John Vieau told the council that “public safety is paramount.” “We want to make sure (the police department) has the right tools to not only protect themselves but to protect everyone who lives here,” he said. On Monday, the city’s finance subcommittee will discuss and decide whether to approve appropriations for new body and dash cameras, Tasers, a Real-Time Crime Analysis Center and staff to run it. This is not the first time the police department has stepped toward using forward-thinking technology. Last year, it purchased a one-year subscription for Fusus, short for “ ," a software that . “We integrated it into our city cameras and other systems,” said Chicopee Police Deputy Chief Eric Watson. “The software brings everything together on one screen and has all the information.” Over the last year, the department has spent time building out the software and is now looking to hire analysts. The police department has a contract with — an Arizona company that provides technology to law enforcement and the military. In July, the Chicopee Police Department was for nearly a quarter of a million dollars for body cameras. Axon has also provided the department the Fusus software and its Tasers. At the City Council meeting, Chicopee Police Chief Patrick Major discussed the finances required to fund the new technology, which includes body cameras that will immediately translate from other languages to English, improved Tasers and expedited report writing. The finance subcommittee will need to approve shifting an appropriation of $447,461 from the city’s stabilization fund to the police department’s computer software expense account. This money will be used for the purchase of body and dash cameras, the lease of Tasers, the continuation of the FUSUS program, cameras for the department’s interview and booking rooms, and cloud-based storage, according to City Council meeting documents. Major said the department has received $300,000 in grant funding to offset the cost of this program. The department will also need to approve the transfer of $147,000 for the Axon AI Era Plan, which will “increase efficiency, (enable) faster decision-making, and streamline processing for time-saving while keeping police ahead of emerging public safety challenges and threats,” according to the documents. The requests include salaries for newly proposed positions, including an information and technology systems engineer, a real-time investigative crime analyst and a supervisory position for the crime analyst. Springfield’s Police Department introduced its Real-Time Analysis Center in January 2018. Coming up on its , the center had a rough start but the police department now relies heavily on the center for support, said Director Bill Schwarz. “We have the ability to provide responding officers with real-time intelligence,” he told . Schwarz, a former Connecticut police officer, said the center is staffed by civilians, not police. Its staff has grown nearly six-fold, going from three to 17 employees. “We have a variety of talent: College graduates, people who have worked at surveillance companies, data analysts, geographic information system (GIS) experts,” he said, explaining that the staff members run a 24-hour operation. A few weeks ago, Vieau, some members of the police department and Chicopee city councilors visited the Springfield Real-Time Analysis Center for a briefing. Watson, the deputy chief, said Springfield’s operational model is similar to what the Chicopee Police Department would implement, just on a smaller scale. He explained that Fusus, the software integrated into the city-wide camera systems, was the preliminary step into creating a Real-Time Analysis Center. The next step would be to hire staff to oversee the center. “These centers provide real-time information,” he said. “So we would have staff trained as analysts to identify trends and create reports, help with predictive policing and analysis based on trends, and provide investigators with technological support via video after the fact.” Watson also discussed the ethics of using artificial intelligence in policing and emphasized that Axon’s use of AI has “guardrails.” Axon’s AI is not generative, meaning it does not create new content, he said. “Axon uses responsible and ethical AI,” he said. “Nothing happens without an officer or an employee who is in control.” The company has its own , which was created to understand the technology from a racially aware and ethically responsible lens. (Artificial intelligence) makes the process more streamlined," he said. “To not use technology that is available to make things streamlined is, at that point, irresponsible.” Tim Wagner, an at-large City Council member, and Mary Beth Pniak-Costello, the City Councilor for Ward 9, both commended the police department for considering taking this leap. “With all of this AI innovation, (the police department has) assured me that there will be appropriate civilian safeguards and human checks on all of the technology .... I think it’s going to be game-changing in terms of policing not just in Chicopee or the Commonwealth, but across the nation,” Wagner said. Pniak-Costello said the new technology would ease the minds of her constituents who have been asking about body cameras at the police department. “Constituents agree with the mayor — public safety is their main concern and you are addressing public safety with this initiative,” she told Major, the police chief. Vieau said he is excited about the technology and the future of the police department. The advances, he said Tuesday night, would not only protect the patrol officers, but “build (the) public’s trust as we handle those situations in real time.” The finance subcommittee meeting is on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Committee members will decide whether the new technology will be added to the department’s toolbox. Members of the public are encouraged to share their views.

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Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West raceNoneDENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Percentages: FG .569, FT .607. 3-Point Goals: 9-18, .500 (Thomas 2-2, Watkins 2-3, Deng 2-4, Holt 1-1, Swinton 1-1, Davis 1-2, Bol Bowen 0-1, Crawford 0-1, Rozakeas 0-1, Jackson 0-2). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Bol Bowen, Deng, Ewin, Holt). Turnovers: 11 (Jones 2, Bol Bowen, Davis, Deng, Ewin, Maluk, Mbatch, Swinton, Thomas, Watkins). Steals: 7 (Bol Bowen 2, Crawford, Davis, Jackson, Maluk, Swinton). Technical Fouls: Bol Bowen, 14:54 second. Percentages: FG .310, FT .690. 3-Point Goals: 3-24, .125 (Curry 1-2, Rivera 1-4, Guerengomba 1-6, Ndjigue 0-1, Watson 0-1, Worthy 0-2, Diggins 0-8). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 1 (Rivera). Turnovers: 16 (Rivera 3, Worthy 3, Curry 2, Hankins-Sanford 2, Abdelgowad, Diggins, Guerengomba, Muhammad, Ndjigue, Watson). Steals: 7 (Ndjigue 3, Rivera 2, Abdelgowad, Diggins). Technical Fouls: None. .Super Micro Computer said on Friday it has received an extension from the Nasdaq till Feb. 25 to file its delayed annual and quarterly reports, sending the AI server maker's shares up 5 per cent in extended trading. Last month, Super Micro named BDO USA as its auditor and submitted a compliance plan to the stock exchange to file its annual and quarterly reports, after its listing came under threat when it failed to file its annual report in August. The company in August cited a need to assess "its internal controls over financial reporting" for the delay, a day after Hindenburg Research disclosed a short position. Super Micro said on Friday it expects to file all its required reports by Feb. 25, in order for the stock to remain listed on the Nasdaq. The company's AI servers with liquid cooling technology have been seeing strong demand from enterprises looking for hardware capable of powering artificial intelligence applications. Super Micro on Monday began a search for a new finance chief based on recommendations made by a special committee formed to look into its accounting practices.Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon

Young Australians weigh in on under-16 social media ban as senators meet over plan - ABC NewsFlag football scours nation with talent camps to uncover next wave of stars

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was seen visibly frustrated during the team’s narrow 30-27 victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The moment occurred in the second half when a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Kelce fell incomplete, sparking an uncharacteristic reaction from the usually composed tight end. The play involved a routine route where Kelce stopped about 10 yards downfield, but Mahomes’ throw was slightly off-target. Though the pass wasn’t impossible to catch, it slipped through Kelce's hands, resulting in an incomplete pass. In a video shared by Fox Sports NFL reporter Henry McKenna, Kelce was caught briefly expressing his frustration, though it was unclear if it was directed at himself, the throw, or the missed opportunity in general. Rare moment of frustration between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on this incompletion. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/J8VGHmBXm4 Despite the misstep, Kelce and Mahomes quickly regained their rhythm. Kelce finished the game as one of the Chiefs’ top performers, recording six receptions for 62 yards. © Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Mahomes also delivered an impressive performance, completing 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including a crucial 33-yard run late in the game that set up a game-winning field goal by Spencer Shrader. In addition to contributing to the victory, Kelce achieved a significant career milestone. Early in the game, he surpassed Antonio Gates to claim the No. 3 spot on the all-time receiving yards list for tight ends. Related: Travis Kelce's True Feelings About NFL's Christmas Day Announcement

Fifteen of Ukraine's civilian airports have been damaged since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has been quoted as saying by local media. or signup to continue reading Ukraine, which the state aviation service says has 20 civilian airports, has been exploring avenues to partially open its airspace. It has been completely closed since the start of the war. Ukrainians who want to fly abroad currently have to go via road or rail to neighbouring countries to catch flights. For those living in the east, the journey out of Ukraine can take a day in itself. "We conducted a risk assessment and determined the needs of the air defence forces to partially open the airspace," local news agency Ukrinform quoted Shmyhal as saying at a transportation conference. "Security issues and the military situation remain key to this decision," he said. Shmyhal added that Russia had attacked Ukraine's port infrastructure nearly 60 times in the last three months, damaging or destroying nearly 300 facilities and 22 civilian vessels. A senior partner at insurance broker Marsh McLennan told Reuters earlier this month that Ukraine could reopen the airport in the western city of Lviv in 2025 if regulators deem it safe and a political decision is made. The Ukrainian military on Saturday reported heavy fighting along the front lines in the eastern Donbas region as Russia continued to launch attacks. Fierce clashes were reported in the key areas of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, which are the focal point of the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. A breakthrough would pave the way for the Russian forces to advance towards the strategic cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. However, Ukrainian military experts say the front in the Donbas region has stabilised after Ukraine deployed reinforcements to the area. In total, the General Staff in Kyiv recorded 153 engagements along the front lines. with DPA DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

CHEYENNE, Wyo. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Gold Corp. ("U.S. Gold," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us") (NASDAQ: USAU ), is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,457,700 shares of our common stock at $7.00 per share and warrants to purchase 728,850 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $9.50 per share (the "Transaction"), in a registered direct offering. The aggregate gross proceeds from the Transaction totaled approximately $10.2 million and closed on December 6, 2024 . After the close of the Transaction, the Company's common shares outstanding is 12,323,116. The Company did not retain a placement agent in connection with the Transaction. U.S. Gold intends to use the net proceeds from the Transaction for working capital and other general corporate purposes. About U.S. Gold Corp. U.S. Gold Corp. is a publicly traded, U.S. focused gold and copper exploration and development company. Its fully permitted CK Gold Project is located in Southeast Wyoming and has a Preliminary Feasibility Study technical report, which was completed by Gustavson Associates, LLC. In addition, the Company has two exploration projects: Keystone Gold located on the Cortez Trend in Nevada about 11 miles south of Nevada Gold Mines' Cortez Hills Complex, and Challis Gold located in Idaho . For more information about U.S. Gold Corp., please visit https://www.usgoldcorp.gold/ . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimated," and "intend," among others. These forward-looking statements include statements related to our intended use of the net proceeds from the Transaction. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks arising from: market and other conditions, the prevailing market conditions for metal prices and mining industry cost inputs, environmental and regulatory risks, COVID-19 risks, changes in interpretations of geological, geostatistical, metallurgical, mining or processing information, risks faced by junior companies generally engaged in exploration activities, whether U.S. Gold Corp. will be able to raise sufficient capital to develop the CK Gold Project and implement future drilling programs, the success or failure of future drilling programs, and other factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be reviewed at www.sec.gov . The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no duty to correct or update any information contained herein. For additional information, please contact: U.S. Gold Corp. Investor Relations +1 800 557 4550 ir@usgoldcorp.gold www.usgoldcorp.gold View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-gold-corp-closes-10-2-million-non-brokered-registered-direct-offering-302325325.html SOURCE U.S. Gold Corp.

Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Today, December 07, 2024 predicts a prosperous day

Trump’s tariffs a hot topic at B.C. energy and resource forumAfter knocking off bitter rival Ohio State on its home turf, the Michigan Wolverines may have taken their postgame victory celebration just a little too far. Moments after upsetting the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes, several UM players congregated at midfield and planted a team flag in the middle of Ohio State’s “O,” which set off a chain reaction after OSU linebacker Jack Sawyer grabbed the flag and yanked it away from the Wolverines players. Seconds later, players from both teams got into a brawl on the field that had to be broken up by officials and police, who even pulled out some mace to try and keep order. After things calmed down, Michigan running back Kalel Mullings addressed what happened during an interview with Fox Sports’ Jenny Taft, sending a message to the seemingly bitter Buckeyes. “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game,” Mullings said. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football, but at the end of the day, you know some people got to learn how to lose. You can’t be fighting and stuff just because you lost a game. "You hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's just bad for the sport, bad for CFB... They gotta learn how to lose man. You can't be fighting." @JennyTaft speaks with Michigan's Kalel Mullings after a fight broke out between Ohio State and Michigan after the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z6rmxu2YJQ “All that fighting — we had 60 minutes, we had four quarters to do all that fighting, and now people want to talk and fight. That’s wrong, it’s just bad for the game — classless in my opinion — and people got to be better.” Mullings was Michigan’s star player on Saturday. He finished the game with 32 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown, including Michigan’s first score of the game early in the second quarter. The senior tailback was clutch on the Wolverines’ 11-play, 57-yard scoring drive in which they scored the go-ahead field goal, rushing nine times for 51 yards to set up the UM offense in the red zone and allow Dominic Zvada to hit the game-winning 21-yard field goal.

Asmara, 24 November 2024 – Mr. Yusuf Saiq, Head of Organizational Affairs of the PFDJ, conducted a seminar for participants of the 13th annual festival of the Eritrean community in Qatar. During the seminar held in Doha on 23 November, Mr. Yusuf Saiq provided an extensive briefing on the current situation in the homeland and the implementation of national programs aimed at ensuring social justice. He also discussed regional developments and their implications. Mr. Yusuf highlighted the Government of Eritrea’s substantial investments in establishing social service institutions, including those focused on education, health, potable water projects, and energy. He noted the commendable achievements made in these areas and elaborated on future projects targeting remote areas of the country. Emphasizing the importance of strengthening Eritrean communities abroad, Mr. Yusuf stated that doing so reinforces their bond with their homeland. He urged nationals to enhance their organizational capacity, unity, and active participation in national affairs. The participants expressed their commitment to increasing their involvement in the implementation of national development programs.

FLORIDA STATE 92, UMASS 59

Trump extols the power of tariffs, reiterates threat to impose them on Canada during NBC interviewCop29 talks end with measly $300 billion dealThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.

Ohio State Athletic Director Declines Comment on Postgame BrawlPizza Hut China releases ‘Goblin’ pizza topped with a deep-fried frogChina's export juggernaut is thundering ahead but as the empires strike back, will the mainland's kings of involution, who have conquered the world with their cheap electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, retail goods, clothing and more, come crashing down to earth? Or, is the world simply unable to live without them? China's exporters have disrupted world trade with their distinctive competitive ethos - to win at all costs - that's come to be known as involution in the mainland. But the stakes are getting higher, with the European Union and the US upping the ante in their trade war against China. Last month, European, Canadian and American business and trade officials got together in a huddle in Brussels to discuss ways to tackle "global non-market overcapacity." EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told the forum that overcapacity was a major threat that needed to tackled "head on" with a unified response. To put it into perspective, the EU and US consider China as a non-market economy as it does not operate on the principles of supply and demand. The US slapped 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs in September, and Canada followed suit in October to the dismay of the Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta, which said that while the government is trying to encourage Canadians into EVs, it was closing doors to a "high-quality, low-cost option." Canada has also slapped a 25 percent tariff on Chinese aluminum and steel, US president-elect Donald Trump is threatening "an additional 10 percent tariff, above any additional tariffs" on all imports from China, which were worth US$427 billion (HK$3.3 trillion)last year, after previously touting a tariff in excess of 60 percent, and Turkey has a 40 percent tariff on Chinese EVs in place. But while the West frets and fumes about the existential threat to their own manufacturers, their consumers have been embracing cheap Chinese goods with great fervor, as data shows. ELECTRIC REVOLUTION Involution has become a catch-all term to describe price wars, unhealthy competition, overcapacity, deflation, the 996 culture of working from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week, fewer career prospects and even the grueling education system that burns out youngsters. China is well aware of that oversupply and price wars are fueling deflationary risks, and its leaders have repeatedly urged manufacturers and retailers to "avoid the vicious competition of involution." Perhaps no other industry epitomizes excessive involution in China better than green energy, with manufacturers of electric cars, solar panels and batteries producing more than what the market needs and selling excess stock overseas at dirt-cheap prices. Chinese EV makers are engaged in a bruising price war at home and 80 percent of the 118-odd brands are likely to fall by the wayside by the end of the decade, according to AlixPartners. Around 11 EV majors including SAIC, Chery, BYD (1211) and Great Wall Motor (2333), meanwhile, are battling for dominance in Europe by offering cars at much cheaper prices than local manufacturers. The average price of a European-made battery EV was around EUR47,000 (HK$385,000) in 2023 while the average cost of a feature-packed Chinese EV was a tad under EUR30,000. Chinese battery EV exports into the EU grew by nearly 1,700 percent between 2020 and 2023, with sales worth EUR11 billion last year, according to a report titled "The EU's drive on China: What EV tariffs mean for Europe," published by the Centre for European Reform, a think tank. One of the reasons behind the phenomenal success is that Europe's consumers are increasingly opting for Chinese EVs as they are "more affordable - yet technologically competitive," according to the report's author, CER associate fellow and economist Anton Spisak. The report also states that it remains to be seen whether the tariffs will impact prices or make Europe's EV sector competitive, and warns that EU consumers will be "left in the backseat." China's EV firms have also taken their price war to Thailand, where they dominate 80 percent of the market, with Great Wall Motor slashing prices by 18 percent in October and Changan retaliating with a whopping 20 percent cut in November. BYD already has a plant in Thailand and SAIC Motor, Great Wall Motor, Neta, Aion and Chery are all following suit. BYD, MG, Guangzhou Automobile (2238), Seres, Neta, and BYD's Denza have also opened shop in Hong Kong. Everbright Securities International securities strategist Kenny Ng Lai-yin is not too worried about US EV tariffs as China barely sells any electric cars in America. He worries more about the EU hiking EV tariffs by up to 47.6 percent, negotiations for which are still ongoing, but believes exporters will continue their overseas push amid China's economic slowdown. However, EVs made by some Chinese firms are expected to remain cost-competitive despite the higher taxes, thanks to their better control of the supply chain and technological innovation, says UBS Investment Bank's head of Internet research in China Kenneth Fong Kam-chung. Also, plants set up outside China would help avoid higher tariffs, such as those set up by BYD and Nio (9866) in Hungary. However, these investments are not without risks: last month, Leapmotor (9863) halted production of a second EV model with partner Stellantis in Poland after Beijing told automakers to halt investments in European states that backed the higher tariffs. CHARGING AHEAD China dominates the global battery market with the value of exports rising by 28 percent to US$65 billion in 2023 from a year earlier. The EU claims that Chinese EVs benefit from cheap subsidized batteries and France, Germany and Sweden are urging the new European Commission to nurture the battery sector and avoid being over reliant on China. Now, the higher tariffs could force Chinese battery firms to accelerate their expansion overseas, with battery giant CATL building a second European factory in Hungary. China also commands a 98 percent share of the EU solar panels market, with the EU importing EUR19.7 billion worth of photovoltaic panels from China in 2023. The EU and US accuse Beijing of subsidizing the industry and flooding the world with cheap solar exports, which were worth a record US$49 billion to China last year. In response, the US has doubled tariffs on solar panels to 50 percent while the EU is probing the alleged subsidies. The mainland's solar market, however, remains awash with overcapacity and cut-throat price wars have led to a wave of closures, with new solar projects diving by 75 percent in the first half of the year. CONSUMER CONQUESTS Chinese food, phone and fashion exporters are also flattening the competition overseas. After beating Foodpanda and Deliveroo in Hong Kong in 10 months flat, food delivery giant Meituan's (3690) Keeta has now entered Saudi Arabia and aims to expand into Bahrain, the UAE and Jordan. Luckin Coffee, which beat Starbucks in the mainland with 9.9 yuan (HK$10.5) coffee coupons, is opening three stores in Hong Kong while bubble tea giant Mixue Bingcheng selling desserts and beverages at prices ranging from HK$9 to HK$20 compared to market rates of HK$25 to HK$46. Mixue is now the largest beverage chain in Vietnam with 1,000 stores and has also swept through Indonesia and Laos. Among phone manufacturers, Oppo is boosting production as it set sights on South America. It was the top smartphone brand in Indonesia in July-September quarter with a 22 percent market share and the No 2 brand in India with a 13.9 percent share over the same period, data from Canalys and IDC reveal. Meanwhile, the EU is targeting Chinese online retailers like Temu and fashion giant Shein, who have won over European buyers en masse in the absence of taxes on low-cost imports, and wants to scrap all exemption for packages valued at below EUR150 from 2028. ADVANTAGE CHINA Hong Kong Baptist University associate professor Billy Mak Sui-choi believes Chinese exporters should focus more on markets without trade barriers. There are more than 150 nations outside of the EU and US, he points out, adding that feature-laden Chinese EVs hold the edge as they offer more bang for the buck. Morgan Stanley's chief China economist Robin Xing Ziqiang says overseas expansion can only ease part of the pressure on China's manufacturers, as markets such as South East Asia are not as large as mainland China's. Nevertheless, he believes Chinese enterprises will continue to expand overseas for survival. The Mercator Institute for China Studies last month released its Global China Competition Tracker, tracing the various measures taken by some of the world's 50 largest economies over China's exports. While many had curbs in place ranging from moderate to strict, it also showed, perhaps unsurprisingly, that developed nations like Australia and New Zealand and developing ones like Bangladesh and Tanzania were "doing little or nothing and instead embracing the cheap goods that China's overcapacities and subsidies bring to their economy." China may be locked in a vicious cycle of increasing output and diminishing returns, but with its exporters showing no signs of slowing down, and buyers across the world voting with their wallets in favor of their staple of Chinese cars, smartphones and consumer goods, it will perhaps take a lot more than tariffs and trade wars to wean the world off Made in China, at least in the foreseeable future.