Mumbai, Nov 30 (PTI) Pearl Academy, a unit of the Creative Arts Education Society (CAES), on Saturday said it has collaborated with Tech Mahindra to set up the 'Makers Lab', which will serve as an innovation hub focused on Generative AI (GenAI), metaverse, and gaming. The lab will be set up in Bengaluru. The collaboration aims to empower students, faculty, and industry professionals to develop solutions in artificial intelligence (AI), metaverse, and immersive gaming experiences, Pearl Academy said in a statement. "By blending our design innovation with Tech Mahindra's technological prowess, we are shaping a future where creativity and technology seamlessly integrate to redefine industries. "The Makers Lab will provide our students with invaluable hands-on experience in emerging technologies, empowering them to reshape the creative landscape," Pearl Academy President Aditi Srivastava said. Pearl Academy also said its faculty will collaborate with Tech Mahindra's researchers to apply human-centred design principles to technology development. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Real Madrid's big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant's faltering Champions League title defense on Tuesday. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. But Madrid still had to ride its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid's third win in the competition's revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. Mbappe was substituted off before halftime with an apparent physical issue. Six-time champion Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season with a 1-0 win against Girona. Like Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain also picked up a much-needed win, beating Salzburg 3-0 to sit in the last playoff spot in 24th place. Bayer Leverkusen is second after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan, while Aston Villa beat Leipzig 3-2 and is third. Brest is one of this season's surprise packages on its Champions League debut and is fifth after beating PSV Eindhoven 1-0. Mohamed Salah’s 50th Champions League goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season. The Egypt forward struck a 63rd minute penalty to seal the win in Spain that kept Liverpool atop the 36-team league. But even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside club, head coach Arne Slot was critical of his players in a game that saw goalkeeper Alisson pull off several saves to keep Girona out. “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five (other) games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” he said. Salah’s goal was his 16th in 22 appearances overall this season. Girona was 30th with just one win from six games. “I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper,” Slot said. Even after Slot’s criticism, Liverpool continued its outstanding start to the campaign, which also led it the top of the Premier League. Former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek handed Salah the chance to fire the visitors ahead with a clumsy tackle from behind on Luis Diaz in the box. Salah stepped up to convert the penalty and Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga went the wrong way. Liverpool’s two remaining games are against Lille at home and PSV Eindhoven away in January. U.S. international Christian Pulisic is the only player to have scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September. Bayern Munich routed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to move into the automatic qualifying positions for the round of 16. Michael Olise scored twice as Bayern came back from going 1-0 down inside five minutes to a goal from Brazilian winger Kevin. Sporting Lisbon couldn’t build on taking a third-minute lead at Club Brugge — losing 2-1 in Belgium. Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic and both teams remain in the playoff positions. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Kingsview Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF ( NYSEARCA:EQWL – Free Report ) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 2,359 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $241,000. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF by 1,773.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 251,149 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,832,000 after purchasing an additional 237,745 shares during the period. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF by 52.5% in the 3rd quarter. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. now owns 184,919 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,921,000 after buying an additional 63,654 shares during the last quarter. Sanders Morris Harris LLC grew its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF by 2,610.1% in the second quarter. Sanders Morris Harris LLC now owns 61,004 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,765,000 after acquiring an additional 58,753 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC increased its position in Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF by 5.8% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 565,274 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,418,000 after acquiring an additional 31,162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CHB Investment Group LLC bought a new position in Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF in the third quarter valued at about $2,580,000. Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF Stock Up 0.5 % Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF stock opened at $107.72 on Friday. Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF has a 52-week low of $82.74 and a 52-week high of $107.90. The company has a market cap of $724.96 million, a P/E ratio of 22.06 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $103.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $98.92. About Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF PowerShares Fundamental Pure Large Core Portfolio (the Fund), formerly PowerShares Dynamic Large Cap Portfolio, is based on the RAFI Fundamental Large Core Index (Index). The Fund will invest at least 90% of its total assets in the securities that comprise the Index. The Index is consisted of common stocks of large core United States companies, including real estate investment trusts (REITs), from a universe consisted of the 2,500 largest United States companies. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .In exchange for helping Donald Trump get re-elected by spending $130mn on Trump’s and down-ballot Republicans’ campaigns, and turning X (formerly Twitter) into his messaging machine, Elon Musk earned himself the opportunity to co-lead (along with Vivek Ramaswamy, another major donor) a new “Department of Government Efficiency”. Named after a joke cryptocurrency, DOGE will not be an official agency. But though its role will be purely advisory, Trump has promised to enact its recommendations to slash excess regulations, restructure federal agencies, and cut wasteful expenditures, all with an eye on efficiency. Federal law requires that any government advisory committee provide public notice of its meetings (including agenda, time, place, and purpose) and access to any reports, transcripts, minutes, papers, agendas, or other documents relating to its work. But DOGE may well violate these requirements on the grounds that they unconstitutionally infringe on presidential power. As with his other appointments, Trump will not bother vetting Musk and Ramaswamy thoroughly, nor will he require them to divest their corporate holdings or recuse themselves from offering recommendations on issues raising an obvious conflict of interest (such as with Nasa’s extensive purchases of services from Musk’s SpaceX). To the extent that DOGE eviscerates regulations, it promises to be a powerful vehicle for “crony capitalism.” Its recommendations will have little to do with improving government efficiency or cutting costs, and everything to do with killing regulations and agencies that powerful donors and business lobbyists want dead. Fortunately, DOGE will fail, because it is focusing on the wrong targets, with the wrong approach, and the wrong leadership. Musk initially promised to cut federal government spending by $2tn, which is nearly one-third of all projected spending for 2025. Having quickly realised how absurd that target was, he has since reduced it by 75%, to $500bn. Defence, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), and interest payments on US government debt together account for 74% of total federal spending. Moreover, defence spending will likely increase under Trump, spending on interest payments is essential to avoid default on the federal government’s debt, and spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Obamacare is legally required and overwhelmingly supported by the voters who helped re-elect Trump. The remaining 26% of federal spending covers all other functions of the federal government – from defence discretionary programmes like veterans’ health (12%) to essential non-defence programmes (14%) such as the federal highway system, air traffic control, and the judicial system. While all funds for discretionary programmes must be authorised by Congress, the new $500bn target would encompass both programmes whose congressional authorisation runs out in 2024 and those that Musk considers to be incompatible with original Congressional intentions. But veterans’ health care is the largest single function ($119bn) for which congressional authorisation ends in 2024, and despite Trump’s contempt for the military, it is difficult to imagine DOGE going after veterans’ healthcare. Instead, DOGE has already indicated that it will cut funding for Planned Parenthood and other progressive groups ($300mn per year), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($535mn a year), and various international organisations ($1.5bn a year). It may also go after bigger discretionary items like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ($6.6bn), which is responsible for the nation’s weather forecasts; the Federal Aviation Administration ($7bn), which regulates civil aviation safety; many agencies within the State Department ($38bn); and the Education Department ($29bn). But Nasa ($25.4bn), for obvious reasons, will be spared. The problem with this defunding agenda is that it still comes nowhere close to $500bn. If DOGE wanted to try to contribute something positive, it would abandon this target and focus instead on improving the efficiency of the agencies responsible for government programmes, and on eliminating regulations that do not pass a rigorous cost/benefit test. But this has been tried many times before, and usually without much success. President Ronald Reagan’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, known as the Grace Commission, for example, claimed that one-third of all income-tax revenues were consumed by waste and inefficiency – a wild overstatement. Very few of the commission’s 2,500 recommendations were implemented, and the combination of Reagan’s tax cuts and a growing federal government launched the national debt on its long upward trajectory. Similar efforts dating back to president Harry Truman’s Hoover Commission have also been judged “abject failures.” Most flounder because of a fundamental flaw in their design. Led by business leaders who don’t understand how government works, such bodies tend to produce laundry lists of unvetted ideas but have no capacity to carry them out. Implementation remains the responsibility of the relevant agencies and Congress, which legislates and funds federal programmes. Vice-president Al Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government in the early 1990s avoided this design flaw. Housed within the Clinton administration, it was overseen by a cadre of government reformers who succeeded in passing actual legislation: the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, which aimed to embed performance metrics in the federal government’s standard operating procedures. Musk and Ramaswamy, by contrast, are merely the latest in a long line of private-sector poster children whose business-management approaches to government operations will fail. Fewer than one-quarter of all government reform programmes succeed, and those that do have two distinguishing characteristics in common: public-sector employees design the reforms and then use digital tools to measure and improve performance. Unfortunately, Congress does not provide enough funding for agencies to get the tools they need. That is why the Internal Revenue Service has been unable to collect an estimated $1tn of annual revenues from tax evaders and cheaters. Through no fault of their own, most federal government agencies remain far behind the private sector in the digitisation of their services. Moving fast and breaking things does not work in government (or in most large private-sector organisations, for that matter). If Musk and Ramaswamy want to achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in government efficiency, they will have to collaborate with civil servants to change the ways their work gets done. Success depends on the unsexy, hard-to-implement changes in operational processes that can be embedded in government departments. Outcome-based procurement, modern talent management (including government rotation programmes for private-sector leaders), agile information-technology management, data and performance transparency, modern digital tools, and citizen engagement are crucial if we want to improve government performance. DOGE will produce entertaining memes and photo ops for Musk and X, but it will have little tangible, lasting impact on the size and efficiency of the federal government. — Project Syndicate • Laura Tyson, a former chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton administration, is a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a member of the Board of Advisers at Angeleno Group. • Lenny Mendonca, Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, is a former chief economic and business adviser to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Related Story AFG College with University of Aberdeen holds alumni gala dinner Alfardan Medical with Northwestern Medicine provides outstanding healthcare in Qatar

Column: A school board member falls for doing the right thing

Advisors Asset Management Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. ( NYSE:CFG – Free Report ) by 49.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,275 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 4,208 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Citizens Financial Group were worth $176,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Commerce Bank grew its stake in Citizens Financial Group by 1.9% during the third quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 13,177 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $541,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its holdings in Citizens Financial Group by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 2,344 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares during the period. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. grew its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 88,829 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $3,648,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC increased its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 2.1% in the third quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 16,076 shares of the bank’s stock worth $660,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 11.5% in the second quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,250 shares of the bank’s stock worth $117,000 after buying an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. 94.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently commented on CFG shares. DA Davidson boosted their target price on Citizens Financial Group from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Citizens Financial Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $41.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Citizens Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $45.47. Citizens Financial Group Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:CFG opened at $48.11 on Friday. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $26.99 and a 12-month high of $49.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $43.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $40.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.07. Citizens Financial Group ( NYSE:CFG – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The bank reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.79. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.94 billion. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 5.73% and a net margin of 10.37%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.85 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current year. Citizens Financial Group Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 30th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 30th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.49%. Citizens Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 66.14%. Citizens Financial Group Profile ( Free Report ) Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Citizens Financial Group The How and Why of Investing in Gold Stocks The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing How to Know Which Cryptocurrency to Buy: A Guide for Investors 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Where to Find Earnings Call Transcripts FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

NoneMelbourne, Dec 30 (IANS): The trio of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli fell cheaply in a massive chase of 340 as India reached 33/3 in 26.1 overs on day five of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After Jasprit Bumrah completed his five-wicket haul by castling Nathan Lyon and ended Australia’s second innings on 234 in 83.4 overs, India got through the first hour of their chase unscathed in the face of Australia’s bowlers asking them tough questions. But a double wicket maiden from skipper Pat Cummins and Starc taking out Kohli at the stroke of lunch meant Australia ended the session strong. With Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 14 off 83 balls and Rishabh Pant to join in after lunch, the game is still on a knife’s edge, though its tilted more towards Australia. Chasing 340, India had an extremely watchful start as Australia’s bowlers beat them consistently with great deliveries. It meant that Rohit and Jaiswal had to curb their run-scoring shots, allowing Australia to settle into great rhythm. Rohit’s first attempt in playing an aggressive shot caused his downfall – in a bid to whip off Cummins through the leg-side, he got a leading edge and was caught by gully on the second attempt to dismiss the skipper on nine runs off 40 balls. On last ball of the same over, Cummins bowled a back of the length ball which left KL Rahul in two minds and nicked behind to second slip for a five-ball duck. With Australia keeping a lid on the run-flow, Jaiswal and Kohli went into a shell. They were also beaten while defending, but at the stroke of lunch, Kohli went for a big drive and was caught at first slip off Starc's full length delivery to be out for five off 29 balls. With Jaiswal, Pant and all-rounders to follow, India need to put in a rearguard effort if they are to avoid losing the match. Previously, India took only ten balls and conceded just six runs to wrap up Australia’s second innings. Bumrah got his fifth wicket by sending Lyon's stumps flying with an inswinger sneaking through the gate. It also took Bumrah’s match figures to 9/156, with his tally of wickets in this series standing at 30. Brief Scores: Australia 474 and 234 in 83.4 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 70, Nathan Lyon 41; Jasprit Bumrah 5-57, Mohammed Siraj 3-70) lead India 369 and 33/3 in 26.1 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 14 not out; Pat Cummins 2-10) by 307 runsNEW YORK (AP) — He's making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he's sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but to achieve those priorities . Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada's prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both U.S. allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY" if, before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza . He has threatened to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, warning "Buyer Beware!!!” And this weekend, Trump was returning to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. On Saturday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron — joined at the last minute by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and had plans to see Britain's Prince William also in Paris. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son , Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden is attending in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night . For all of Trump's bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time," he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes." Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren't simply introductions. He's staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs," Zelizer said. Trump already has met with several foreign leaders, in addition to a long list of calls. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Last Sunday, Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Israeli prime minister. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump's team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X . That comes after Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a U.S familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current U.S. policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump's incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “All transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for more a better deal. It also remains unclear how extensively the Biden administration has been kept apprised of Trump transition efforts. Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. Still, the Biden and Trump teams have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain in held in Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who, like others, was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them," Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. But when it comes to immigration, Biden administration officials haven’t been entirely in the loop on discussions around how to execute on Trump’s pledge to deport millions of migrants, according to four administration officials with knowledge of the transition who spoke on condition of anonymity. That’s not terribly surprising given how differently the teams view migration. Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. “Promises Kept — And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged "immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Security analyst David Saucedo said that "under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding.” Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Why DOGE experiment with Musk is doomed to failBrooks Nader is bra-free in a flirty top as she pumps gas and buys potato chips after reuniting with Gleb Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By VALERIA GARCIA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:45, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 22:10, 10 December 2024 e-mail 3 View comments Brooks Nader went bra-free in a flirty red top that also displayed her toned abs while pumping gas in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue star, 27, briefly dropped into the service station as she treated herself to a bag of chips. Her risqué top with a plunging neckline and circular clasp matched her high-waisted midi-length skirt. Looking as though she had stepped straight out of a magazine cover, Nader — who is 'dating' DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko — teamed her look with a pair of classic white pointed toe pumps, designer sunglasses and diamond earrings. The 5ft8in looker's pit stop comes after she admitted to previously experimenting with the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic . Last Tuesday, the cover girl fessed up to US Weekly about trying the drug but having to quit prior to the start of participating in the 33rd season of the popular dance completion show because of its side effects. Brooks Nader teased her bust and toned abs while pumping gas in Los Angeles on Tuesday 'It made me really nauseous,' she told the outlet. 'I liked it — I am not going to lie — and when I went on Dancing With The Stars, I could not do both.' According to Healthline, side effects for the popular drug include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, as well as changes in the way foods taste. Ozempic, which is a brand name for semaglutide, is typically prescribed to those managing type-2 diabetes and obesity. She also admitted to having 'lost a little bit of the motivation and the strength to work out.' After careful consideration, the Louisiana native 'picked dancing' over the drug and 'put the shot away.' Prior to their elimination on the October 15 episode of the show, Brooks and her on-again-off-again boy toy Gleb danced the night away on camera and were frequently spotted together in LA . In a recently posted TikTok, the style maven admitted to having lost '10 to 15 pounds' just from the strenuous exercise and energy exertion from DWTS. She ditched her bra while modeling a red matching set consisting of a risqué top with a plunging neckline and circular clasp, paired with a high-waisted midi-length skirt She teamed her look with a pair of classic white pointed toe pumps, designer sunglasses and diamond earrings Read More Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko are back on as they spend Thanksgiving together At the time, fans rejoiced on social media, calling out their 'failed showmance.' The pair started dating some time in September and sparked romance rumors after sharing a kiss backstage during week two of the competition. Just a month into their relationship, the lovebirds got matching tattoos on their lower abdomens. On-lookers telling Dailymail.com the pair were 'quite the show and looked really smitten as Brooks put her arms around his shirtless bod.' Weeks later on November 14, Brooks shocked fans after revealing she and the pro-dancer had gone their separate ways. And she was in the process of getting the fresh ink removed from her body. She told TMZ: 'I am already in the process my friend. Removal. It is getting there. 'A couple more sessions and I'll be good to go.' Her cheat-day delight comes days after she admitted to previously experimenting with the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic; Brooks seen in late November Brooks and Gleb confirmed that they are still together after spending Thanksgiving as a couple; seen in October in San Diego When asked why she had gotten matching ink with the Russian choreographer she said, 'it was a lapse in judgement if I am being totally honest with you.' In late November, Brooks and Gleb appeared to have reunited over the Thanksgiving holiday and have since insisted that they are still together . Just days prior, Gleb confirmed his holiday plans to Extra, saying he was 'of course' spending Thanksgiving with his lady love. 'I will be there, yeah, Thanksgiving. I’ll be there. It’s all about the family,' he said. Louisiana Ozempic Los Angeles Brooks Nader Share or comment on this article: Brooks Nader is bra-free in a flirty top as she pumps gas and buys potato chips after reuniting with Gleb e-mail Add comment

Column: Newport News council’s revised gun rule has long legal precedentKosovo arrests blast suspects, Serbia denies involvement

EXCLUSIVE Haunting diary entries reveal the heartbreaking truth about John Wayne Gacy's forgotten victims READ MORE: Killer clown was a 'narcissist' with 'no conscience', expert says By RUTH WALKER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 12:12 GMT, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 12:12 GMT, 30 November 2024 e-mail View comments The phone rings in Kim Byers’ kitchen. It’s 7.30am on May 10, 1994, and she’s making breakfast for the family before school - a regular busy Tuesday morning. But today is not like other days. Today, Kim's father is calling to give her the news she’s been waiting 14 years to hear. ‘He’s gone,' her dad says. 'Gacy’s dead.’ Kim was just 16 when John Wayne Gacy lured her friend Rob Piest from the Illinois pharmacy where they both worked, before murdering him, then dumping him in the Des Plaines River. Kim was the last person to see Rob alive and, aged just 17, was a key witness in the case against Gacy She was the last person to see Rob, 15, alive, and the evidence Kim provided, as key witness at his trial, was enough to secure the death penalty. The notorious serial killer spent 14 years on Death Row. When, finally, he was dead, it felt like the closing of a huge book. Kim turned her back to the living room where her daughters were watching Sesame Street, and melted to the floor, sobbing quietly: ‘He’s gone.’ ‘Why are you crying, Mommy?’ Little Courtney had wandered from her spot in front of the TV and crawled on to her lap, and was now dabbing at her mom's tears. Courtney Lund O'Neil remembers the moment clearly, as Kim repeated a lesson that was drilled into her for as long as she could remember: this world is not safe; danger lurks around every corner. ‘In life, always be careful,' she told her daughter. 'There are bad men out there. If a man pulls up in a van and offers you a ride or a popsicle or to see his puppies, you do not go. Never go. If he takes you anyway, you fight. You scream. You never give up. If he says he will kill your parents if you scream out, scream.’ Gacy raped, tortured, and killed at least 33 young men , burying many of them underneath his ranch-style house in Norwood Park township, near Chicago. Rob Piest was just 15 when he was lured to his death by John Wayne Gacy The film receipt from Nisson Pharmacy placed Rob at Gacy's house, and helped convict the killer Gacy's grinning mugshot - he was found guilty of murdering 33 boys and young men Kim’s proximity to the case - she had accidentally bumped up against Gacy in the pharmacy, looked into his dark eyes before he drove her friend to his death - changed her forever. In her new book, Postmortem: What Survives the John Wayne Gacy Murders , Courtney says: ‘What haunts my mother will also come to haunt me.’ As she grew up, she was increasingly curious about her mom’s remarkable link to this case that made headlines around the world: the ‘Killer Clown’ who would regularly dress as ‘Pogo’ at local parties, and gained infamy for his sinister clown paintings. So, when Courtney herself became a mother, Kim presented her with the diaries she wrote as a teenager and young woman. ‘I read it and was changed,’ she writes. ‘When I think about the mothers, I think about my own motherhood. All the unknowns, both beautiful and painful, I’m yet to hold... I wonder how any of the parents survived the experience of losing a son. I don’t know how anyone truly could.’ The day after Rob disappeared, Kim wrote in her diary: 'He never came back to the store and he never went home. Rob would never run away, he had no reason to' 'I can just imagine Rob lying out in some empty forest — alive but unable to move — crying for help with no one answering him' Kim wanted to know about her mom’s remarkable link to this case that made headlines around the world: the ‘Killer Clown’ who would regularly dress as ‘Pogo’ at local parties When Gacy finally gave a statement to police, he denied even talking to Rob The diary entries - while irregularly written - reveal in haunting detail a teenage Kim's innermost thoughts and fears, starting the day after her friend's disappearance December 12, 1978 'Today was an absolutely miserable day. It started out good. I got up at 9.00 and took a bath. Then I got a phone call from a youth officer — he [Rob] never came back to the store and he never went home. Rob would never run away, he had no reason to. And this guy Gacy claims he never talked to Rob. I can’t believe Rob would have lied to us. But someone is obviously lying. 'I held my cool for the whole day. But right before we were supposed to leave for the meet — I was talking to Mr Tanner (school counselor) and I just started crying. I feel so scared, worried and helpless. I can just imagine Rob lying out in some empty forest — alive but unable to move — crying for help with no one answering him. It is just not fair — Rob never did anything wrong to anyone. 'I pray he has just run off somewhere and is at least safe! Kerry will call me and let me know any new news. I can’t talk about it anymore — my heart is being ripped apart. By the way we lost our meet.' Read More EXCLUSIVE Nancy Grace reveals new evidence in Ellen Greenberg 'suicide' case December 13, 1978 'Well, no word about Rob yet. I feel worse and worse as time goes on. It’s the not knowing that’s ripping me apart. I called Ken [Rob's brother] at 2.30. He said they have Gacy under surveillance. Tailed him and then lost him after 2 blocks — I could do better than that. I had a really morbid dream last night — (had it twice). We found Rob in a trunk of a beat-up old gold car. Any significance?????' Early that morning, Gacy had reluctantly given a statement to the police. Unaware that Kim had seen him talking with Rob, he denied he'd had anything to do with him. Strangely, he was covered in thick mud - which cops would eventually learn was a result of pushing his car out of sludge near the river after dumping Rob's body. Kim didn't know any of this at the time, of course, but perhaps her dream did have some significance after all? The next day, she went to school as usual, but was chilled to learn of her growing role in the case against the prime suspect. Cops had obtained a search warrant for Gacy's house, and placed an officer outside the Byers' home as protection. 'If she witnessed what she said she witnessed, she could be in danger,' writes Courtney. 'Someone working with Gacy could potentially cause her harm. Come after her.' December 14, 1978 'Well, still no sign of Rob... I was still depressed. Cried twice... They (police) have a theory! I hope they find him soon. Also, they put the case up to the Grand Jury — he says I’m the key witness. I’m scared, say they come after me?!! Yuck.' The moment cops entered Gacy's house, the were hit with the smell of decay. They left that first search with no body, but with enough evidence to ensure Gacy remained in their sights. 'Authorities found creepy oddities: the strange Tiki-style bar, the gallery wall of clown paintings, a hallway that looked like it was out of a haunted house, with bizarre yellow and brown zigzag lines on the walls, and then, a trap door that accessed a crawl space,' writes Courtney. Kim’s (left) proximity to the case changed her forever. Her daughter Courtney (right) was similarly haunted by the murders 'Still no sign of Rob,' Kim wrote in her diary. 'I was still depressed. Cried twice... They (police) have a theory! I hope they find him soon' Gacy covers his face as he's led into the courtroom in December 1978 As police searched below his house, they recovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men 'They found startling mementos — a Maine West High School class ring; a 6mm pistol; handcuffs and keys; an identification card that was not Gacy’s. A film receipt.' That film receipt was from Nisson Pharmacy, with the serial number 36119. Kim had put it in the pocket of Rob's blue puffer jacket when she borrowed it on the day he went missing. December 18, 1978 'Mondays, yuck. Got up, took a shower, Mom took me to school. Was called into the office to speak with Mr Adams [the youth officer assigned to the case] and another detective. They found a pendant — I can’t remember if Rob had one on. I wish Rob would show up. I have a strange feeling something will happen tomorrow — call it women’s intuition — But first of all, the film stub I put in Rob’s coat pocket Monday is number 36119, the 19th (the film is not back yet) is tomorrow.' December 19, 1978 'Well, I guess my hunches were right. I came home after school to get something to eat before I went shopping, The phone rang. They asked me questions about the film slip. My guess is that they found it. Will pray for Rob.' The receipt proved Rob was at Gacy's house - and was enough to justify a second search warrant. With Gacy under arrest for weed possession, police descended on the property - focusing their attention on that eerie crawl space that smelled of death. December 22, 1978 'Mom came in and told me they found lots of bodies in Gacy’s house — and he is now leading them on a search for Rob’s... Gacy has confessed to 20 murders. They have not yet found Rob’s body. He said he dumped it into the Des Plaines River over the Kankakee Bridge — that’s far and wide. What sent them back for the 2nd search of the house was my film slip. They found it in Gacy’s garbage can — and did not realize that it came from Rob.' Christmas came and went, but there was little to celebrate. By December 28, the body count had hit 21 at Gacy’s house, and there were still more places to search. Rob was not recovered until the river started to unfreeze in the spring. As bluebells emerged from the hard ground along the bank of the Des Plaines River, a crane operator spotted a body floating by Dresden Lock. April 9, 1979 'They found Rob today — in Morris where the Des Plaines River meets the Illinois... Autopsy will be tomorrow (Tues). Dental something will be Thursday. Funeral is not planned yet but will be soon. Will stay home part of the day tomorrow. I need some time for myself.' The following year, Gacy stood trial for the murder of 33 young men and boys. His youngest victims were 14, the eldest just 21. As expected, Kim was a key witness. As she stood in the courtroom, willing the man who had cold-bloodedly raped and murdered her friend, to meet her eyes, Gacy refused to look up. 'Kim thought he was a coward for not looking.' On March 12, 1980, it took a jury less than two hours to find him guilty. He was sentenced to death, but remained on Death Row for 14 years. 'Just as an earthquake destroys a town or city or small country,' writes Courtney, 'murder has an epicenter, where and when the devastation took place, and its aftershocks reverberate. 'With murder, the aftershocks don’t ever go away. Over the next decade, American media — tabloids, YouTubers, streaming services, sensational cable television, literature, film, documentaries — would aid in making Gacy a cult killer. 'The victims’ stories surfaced rarely; those whose lives were forever altered by the murders; the mothers and fathers who mourned; the ones who loved the young men Gacy killed for his pleasure. For decades, these “other” stories became buried by the buzz and loudness of Gacy — still so very alive, even after his final breath.' After multiple appeals, he was eventually executed by lethal injection early on May 10, 1994. 'Gacy, now in his fifties, and no longer the thirtysomething-year-old murderer posing as an ambitious businessman, was set to be executed after midnight,' writes Courtney. 'In his final hours he didn’t seem worried; he still proclaimed his innocence; and he also talked about the Chicago Cubs to the guards. His last meal was fried shrimp, fried chicken, French fries, and strawberries.' Outside demonstrators sang the song by Steam, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, while others chanted 'Strap down the clown!' 'Gacy was first injected with sodium thiopental, which put him to sleep,' writes Courtney. Some of Gacy's victims. As of 2023, five or six of the young men he murdered are still unidentified 'But an error occurred: a clog in the IV line delayed the second injection. Gacy lay there, about to enter the in between, while technicians prepared his execution. 'About ten to 20 minutes later, the clog was cleared and the second drug, pancuronium bromide, entered Gacy’s bloodstream. 'The third and final drug, potassium chloride, stopped the beating of Gacy’s heart. In the first hour of May 10, 1994, at 12.58am, the monster was dead.' For Kim, her overwhelming sense was one of relief. 'Finally, that guy is dead.' But for other families, there would be no peace. At the time of his death, eight of Gacy's victims remained unidentified. As DNA technology advanced, authorities reopened the case and, on November 29, 2011, the first unknown victim was given a name: William George Bundy, a 19-year-old diver and gymnast. 'Some victims are still unnamed,' writes Courtney. 'The most recent one identified was Francis Wayne Alexander in 2021. In 2023, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, five remain unidentified, after being buried on June 12, 1981. 'However, as of 2023, there is still current debate around Michael Marino’s identification as Victim No 14. According to his mother, still living, there was not a positive DNA match after his body was exhumed. So perhaps that number is six. 'Either way, those mothers lived most of their lives without ever knowing what happened to their children.' Postmortem: What Survives the John Wayne Gacy Murders by Courtney Lund O'Neil is published by Citadel on December 24 Illinois Share or comment on this article: Haunting diary entries reveal the heartbreaking truth about John Wayne Gacy's forgotten victims e-mail Add comment