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The young woman Gamille Ode daughter of the renowned exvedette Mariella Zanetti and Farid Ode has surprised everyone by receiving a diploma for completing his studies at a renowned university. Currently, the young woman stays away from Peruvian ., but she has shown on her social networks that she has personal projects. How old is Ganille Ode? Since his birth, Gamille Ode She has kept a low profile away from the Peruvian television cameras, although she has demonstrated her talent in musical theater. Her mother, Mariella Zanetti, has proudly shared the achievements of her daughter, who has chosen to dedicate herself to a career in Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy. Gamille Ode born on March 2, 2003, has proven to be a talented and charismatic young woman. The young woman is currently 21 years old and, although she stays away from media scandals, she has managed to build a community on social networks. What does Gamille Ode do? Through their social networks, Mariella Zanetti celebrated his daughter’s academic success Gamille Ode who in 2023 managed to complete his studies with honors at the Universidad del Istmo, located in Panama. Despite her success in the academic field, the young woman has decided not to fully enter the world of television, so she is currently focused only on her career and her growing presence on social networks. On their social networks, Gamille Ode He shares his love for reading and art, as he currently has more than 54,000 followers on Instagram. The young woman has managed to connect with her audience, recommending books and sharing her daily life, in addition to also sharing what her Work & Travel experience was like. Gamille Ode He is in a stage of personal and professional growth, as he has a solid academic background and a growing interest in art, so his future seems promising. Although she has decided not to immediately enter the world of television, her charisma and talent position her as a figure to follow in the field of social networks and entertainment. Join our entertainment channelTrump Isn't Back in Office but He's Already Pushing His Agenda and Negotiating With World Leaders
Ruben Amorim warned “the storm will come” eventually as Manchester United’s head coach tried to temper expectations ahead of the trip to Arsenal. The 39-year-old has been a breath of fresh air since succeeding Erik ten Hag, with his personality and approach, coupled with promising early performances, bringing hope back to Old Trafford. Amorim has been touched by his warm welcome but repeatedly urged fans to avoid jumping the gun, having followed a draw at Ipswich with home wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton. Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal is comfortably his biggest challenge yet and victory would see United move within three points of the Premier League title contenders. Put to Amorim it will be hard to manage expectations if they won in the capital, the head coach said: “I would like to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come. “I don’t know if you use that expression, but we are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games. “And I know that because I’m knowing my players and I know football and I follow football, so I understand the difference between the teams. “We are in the point in that we are putting simple things in the team, without training, and you feel it in this game against Everton, they change a little bit the way they were building up. “They are very good team, and we were with a lot of problems because we cannot change it by calling one thing to the captain. A midweek trip to the capital awaits 🚆 #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/1e6VrILJW3 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2024 “So, we don’t have this training, so let’s focus on each game, on the performance, what we have to improve, trying to win games. And that is the focus. “I know it’s really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences. We want to win all the time. No matter what. “We are going to try to win, but we know that we are in a different point if you compare to Arsenal. “So, it is what it is and we will try to win it and we go with confidence to win, but we know that we need to play very well to win the next football match.” The trip to Arsenal is the second of nine December matches for United, who are looking to avoid suffering four straight league defeats to the Gunners for the first time. The Red Devils have not won a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium since 2017, but Amorim knows a thing or two about frustrating Mikel Arteta’s men. Arsenal thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League last week, but in 2022-23 he led the Portuguese side to a Europa League last-16 penalty triumph after a 1-1 draw in London made it 3-3 on aggregate. “Arsenal this year, they play a little bit different,” Amorim said. “They are more fluid. “For example, two years ago when we faced them with Sporting, you knew how to press because you can understand better the structure. “Now it’s more fluid with (Riccardo) Calafiori and (Jurrien) Timber in different sides. One coming inside, the other going outside. Also (Martin) Odegaard changed the team, and you can feel it during this season. “So, you can take something from that game, especially because I know so well the opponent so you can understand the weakness of that team. “But every game is different, so you take something, but you already know that you are going to face a very good team.” This hectic winter schedule means Amorim sidestepped talk of January transfer business ahead of facing Arsenal, although he was more forthcoming on Amad Diallo’s future. The 22-year-old, who put in a man of the match display in Sunday’s 4-0 win against Everton, is out of contract at the end of the season, although the club holds an option to extend by a year. Diallo has repeatedly spoken of his desire to stay at United and it has been reported an agreement is close. Amorim said: “I think he wants to stay, and we want him to stay. So that is clear and we will find a solution.” We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In asking for the election case to be dismissed, prosecutors requested that Chutkan do it “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump again after he leaves office. But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. 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!
U.S. federal judge rules Alabama city must allow gay pride float at Christmas paradeAcross the continent of Africa, we have been witnessing the burning of French flags and the overnight closure of military bases. Once the dominant power across much of the continent, France now watches its influence wane at an unprecedented pace. The closing of French military bases in Senegal and the termination of defense agreements in Chad reflect a larger pattern of rejection; a continent shaking off the remnants of its colonial past and the structures of external domination. France’s retreat from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger marked the beginning of this unraveling. Disillusioned by the prolonged presence of French troops under the guise of counterterrorism, these nations opted to sever ties. Senegal’s recent decision to shut down a permanent French military base is a significant blow, given its history of stability and alignment with Paris. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s emphasis on sovereignty and the removal of foreign troops highlights a growing continental desire. Chad’s decision to end its defense cooperation with France underscores the erosion of trust in Paris. Once a critical partner for France in the Sahel, Chad is now charting a new path. Together, these moves signify a rejection of the neocolonial dynamics that have long characterized Africa’s post-independence history. France’s historical trajectory in Africa casts a long shadow over the current transformation. Its dominance on the continent dates back to the 17th century when it established trade posts in Senegal, gradually expanding to control vast swathes of West and Central Africa. By the 20th century, French territories encompassed over 11.5 million square kilometers. Policies of assimilation imposed French language, culture and governance, embedding them deeply into African societies. Many African elites, educated in French systems, internalized these influences, with some resisting independence altogether. This legacy persists in subtle forms, from economic agreements tied to the CFA franc currency to continued French military presence, all of which reinforced perceptions of paternalism and control. However, decades of unrest, dissatisfaction, and shifting global alliances have begun to dismantle these structures. At the heart of this transformation lies the African public’s discontent with France’s policies. For decades, Paris maintained its grip on former colonies through military presence, economic ties and political influence. Branded as partnerships, these arrangements were often seen as extensions of colonial control. French businesses dominated local economies, while French troops, meant to ensure security, became symbols of paternalism and resentment. The revolts in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – often referred to as the “anti-French wave” – were not isolated incidents. They marked the culmination of years of frustration with France’s perceived arrogance and ineffectiveness. In Mali, accusations of indifference in combating insurgencies fueled anti-French sentiment. Burkina Faso questioned France’s motives, and Niger’s military junta expelled French troops shortly after overthrowing a French-aligned government. As France’s influence recedes, alternatives like Türkiye, China and Russia have stepped in. As is known, Russia’s Wagner Group provides military support in countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, while China’s extensive investments in infrastructure offer African leaders a seemingly more attractive economic alternative. Türkiye, a rising regional power, has gained traction through not only valuable humanitarian aid, education initiatives and business cooperation but also significant infrastructure projects such as highways and railways. These developments have bolstered Türkiye’s image as a versatile partner offering tangible benefits. Together, these shifts have given African nations more leverage, enabling them to push back against traditional powers like France. The numbers tell a clear story. Between 2010 and 2023, Chinese investments in Africa surged by 200%, exceeding $200 billion annually. Meanwhile, France’s share of foreign direct investment has steadily declined. This economic realignment is redefining partnerships across the continent. France’s loss of influence extends beyond military withdrawals or canceled agreements; it reflects the waning of French soft power. Once a dominant cultural force, France now struggles as African nations increasingly prioritize their own languages, cultures and traditions. Yes, French remains an official language in many African countries, but even this is being challenged. Local languages are gaining prominence in education, media and public life, while younger generations turn to English for broader global opportunities. The cultural bond that once tied France to its former colonies is fraying. The roots of this rejection lie in history. France’s colonial legacy in Africa is one of exploitation and control, a reality many Africans have neither forgotten nor forgiven. Even when France framed its actions as supportive, they were often seen as self-serving. With nations like Senegal and Chad joining the chorus of discontent, the tide has decisively turned. African leaders and populations are increasingly unwilling to accept arrangements that do not prioritize sovereignty and development. What lies ahead is uncertain, but the direction is clear. Africa is stepping into a new era, preferring partnerships that prioritize dignity, respect and mutual benefit. While rejecting neocolonial structures is essential, Africa must also guard against over-reliance on new actors that might replicate similar dependencies. For France, this transformation is a profound challenge to its global ambitions. Africa has long been central to its foreign policy, providing resources, markets and strategic depth. The closing doors in Africa are more than a rejection of France. They are a declaration by a continent determined to define the coming centuries. As the echoes of colonialism fade, Africa’s voice grows louder, calling for equality and a future written on its own terms.
There’s an unexpected name joining the ranks of Booker Prize judges, but she’s not an unfamiliar force in publishing – you’ve probably even seen this book ally reading across TV on “And Just Like That.” Sarah Jessica Parker will sit alongside four authors on the 2025 Booker Prize judging panel, the Booker Prize Foundation announced Tuesday. This is far from the “Sex and the City” star’s first rodeo in the book arena, but it is her most ambitious. Parker launched her imprint, “SJP Lit,” last year through independent publisher Zando and was previously the editorial director of another, “SJP for Hogarth.” “Even when I went into publishing, I felt very nervous about people taking me seriously. I felt like an interloper, and that I was constantly in a position of having to prove myself,” Parker told The New York Times . “So to be a judge on the Booker, which is the greatest literary award bestowed — it felt very daunting.” Sarah Jessica Parker is ready to ‘listen a lot’ on Booker Prize judge panel Parker grew up in a household of readers, she told The Times – her mother used to drive with a book in her lap, sneaking in a few sentences at red lights. Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist Parker’s love of books continues that legacy: “When they are changing the lens” she captioned one of her Instagram photos that showed her reading on a film set. The props team on "And Just Like That" compiled 120 books for Carrie Bradshaw's bookshelves from a list curated by SJP herself . You can often find her posting about recent reads on social media. And this year, she’ll likely have to read as many as 170 titles, helped by a break in filming commitments. “Oh let me try!!!!” she commented on a 2022 Instagram post from the Foundation titled “What is it really like to be a Booker Prize Judge?” What is the Booker Prize? Founded in the U.K., the Booker Prize is a prestigious annual literary award given to what judges deem the single best work of fiction written in the English language. The Foundation will announce a “Booker Dozen” of 12 or 13 books in July, a six-title shortlist in September and the 2025 winner in November. Winning titles receive £50,000 (about $63,000). The winner of this year’s Booker Prize was “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey, a literary science fiction novel that tells the stories of six astronauts circling the Earth in 24 hours. Booker judges are typically academics or authors themselves, a fact that Parker is well aware of. “I’m just going to listen a lot. That’s the way I’ve probably created a career outside of acting: just being surrounded by people who are expert and listening, listening, listening,” Parker told The Times. Parker's admission to the Booker judging panel reflects a trendy new marriage between pop culture and literature – in the last decade, celebrity book imprints and book clubs have been on the rise. Kiley Reid, Roddy Doyle and others round out 2025 judges This is the first time the Booker has had three winning or nominated authors on its panel, according to the Foundation. Rounding out the judges are 1993 winner Roddy Doyle , writer, broadcaster and literary critic Chris Power and Booker Prize-longlisted authors Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ and Kiley Reid . Irish writer Doyle has penned 13 novels, including his Booker Prize-winning novel “Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha” and "The Commitments," of which he also co-wrote the screenplay. He is the first previous winner to chair the panel. Adébáyọ̀ is the author of “Stay with Me” and “A Spell of Good Things,” longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. In addition to his novel “A Lonely Man” and short story collection “Mothers,” Power was a regular presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Open Book” and has vast literary judging experience. Reid’s “Such a Fun Age” was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Her second novel “Come and Get It,” was named one of the best books of 2024 by the New Yorker, NPR, Elle and Vulture. Looking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered. Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Want a buzzy new literary fiction title? Read our review of “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney . Are mysteries your thing? Try these titles similar to "Verity" by Colleen Hoover or see if you’re brave enough for one of our favorite horror novels. Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a "cozy mystery" or "cozy fantasy" book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist .LA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championshipAUSTIN, TX - JULY 08: Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels in the 87th Legislature's special session in the House chamber at the State Capitol on July 8, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called the legislature Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan decided against running for a third term amid a challenge from others inside the Beaumont Republican's own party. Phelan's tenure as speaker was often criticized by members of his own party, who said he was too moderate for the position. Phelan was getting ready to face a challenge from the more conservative side of the party from Rep. David Cook. Phelan has often been at odds with Texas Republican leaders for his actions during recent sessions, including not pushing through Gov. Abbott's school voucher plan, pushing a different tax cut plan in the House from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the House impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, which ended in an acquittal in the Texas Senate. Questions swirled about Phelan's chances of even holding onto the speakership even before the decision to drop out, though he appeared ready to fight to keep the position. The speaker presides over the Texas House of Representatives much like the speaker in the U.S. House of Representatives. The speaker is tasked with maintaining order on the House floor during debates, recognizing members who want to speak and ruling on procedural matters . Under the Texas Constitution, the speaker signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the legislature. Speakers still maintain their status as a member of the Texas House and are allowed to vote on questions presented in the House. The speaker still represents the people in his or her district. Once a speaker has been decided, they are responsible for appointing members to committees and designating the chair and vice chair of those committees. The speaker directs all legislation to the proper committees and can appoint conference committees, establish select committees and direct committees to conduct interim studies when the House is not in session. Becoming speaker requires a majority vote from House members. Currently, the Texas House consists of 150 members. In January, the House will be made up of 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats. The new speaker will need at least 76 votes. At the beginning of each legislative session, the current Secretary of State calls the House to order and gives the oath of office to its members. Representatives then nominate speaker candidates and vote. Once the vote is finished, the new speaker takes another oath, and addresses the House floor. Letters are then sent to the Senate and the Governor that state the House is ready to begin. Traditionally, the vote for Texas House speaker has been mostly a formality. Despite recent events suggesting otherwise, Phelan won both of his speaker terms with overwhelming support. In 2023, Phelan received 145 votes to Tony Tinderhold's three. The 89th Legislative Session begins Jan. 14, 2025. Information in this article comes from the Texas House of Representatives.
Stormont backs continued trade barriers within the UK - despite unionist MLAs unanimously rejecting the Windsor Framework
Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leadersPresident-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil soccer extended its kit deal with Nike by 12 years to 2038 on Friday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil soccer extended its kit deal with Nike by 12 years to 2038 on Friday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil soccer extended its kit deal with Nike by 12 years to 2038 on Friday. A source told The Associated Press the agreement was worth $100 million per year, plus royalties on the sale of national team shirts which were not included in previous contracts. The source spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorised to discuss the agreement with media. For the first time, the Brazilian Football Confederation will also be allowed to license products and open stores worldwide. “This contract shows the strength of Brazilian soccer,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said. “This is one of the longest and most successful partnerships in soccer and, together, we will keep celebrating the brilliance of Brazilian soccer and honor the jogo bonito legacy.” Brazil and Nike first paired up in 1996, and their latest contract wasn’t going to expire until 2026. Nike vice president for Latin America, Doug Bowles, said the deal “strengthens our old commitment with Brazilian soccer.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Nike kits are worn by Brazil’s men’s and women’s teams of all ages, plus by the beach soccer and futsal teams. In March, Nike signed a deal with the German soccer federation to replace adidas as the provider of apparel and equipment for its national teams from 2027 to 2034. The agreement was reportedly worth about 100 million euros ($108 million). Germany’s relationship with adidas goes back some 70 years and appeared unshakeable. Other national teams sponsored by Nike include Australia, Croatia, England, France, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Advertisement AdvertisementFor the Montreal Canadiens, December brings with it an air of familiarity. The NHL schedule makers tend to hand Montreal plenty of home games at the start of the month before sending them on the road for Christmas and New Year’s. As such, the Canadiens start a five-game stretch at the Bell Centre on Tuesday (Dec. 3) versus the New York Islanders. What should they strive to accomplish? What should be expected? Let’s discuss. 1: Integrating Patrik Laine Into the Offence As this writer was prepping the article, news broke that forward Patrik Laine will make his season debut against the Islanders. Laine was viewed as a massive coup by Canadiens’ general manager Kent Hughes when he acquired him via trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in August. Then came his knee injury in a preseason game versus, of all teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was estimated to set back Laine’s participation with the Habs for two tor three months. Thankfully no surgery was required for the sprain. The 26-year-old started skating with the team in November , which was a terrific sign. Whether it’s the miracle of modern medicine, a good diet, inspiring dedication, or a cocktail made with each, the Finn is officially part of the active roster again. The catch is that all the questions pundits and supporters had in August and September have never been answered and it’s December. Who will his best line partners be? Is he a good fit with the club at all? Can he rekindle some of the offensive magic of yesteryear? As per online reporters , it seems he’ll start his Canadiens’ regular-season career with Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach as linemates. It’s potentially a great choice. Take a proven offensive threat (Laine) and include him on a line with a young talent that shows sparks of genius (Slafkovsky) and a player whose full potential has never been unlocked (Dach). The Canadiens get at an early Christmas present early this year. One hopes it won’t need to be returned to sender. 2: Find Points Against Beatable Opponents It’s one thing to argue about the positive takeaways in a defeat, as we did after the Nov. 30 match against the New York Rangers . An even better takeaway, especially for a team that needs to find some rhythm, is a point or two in the standings. Here are Montreal’s opponents on this five-game home stand: The Islanders match is special since Canadiens legend Patrick Roy will be back in Montreal. But as a team, Roy’s ensemble isn’t much to write home about. They rest on 24 points, a 9-10-6 record, and a minus-9 goal differential. To be fair, they are probably looking at the Habs as a relatively easy way to pick up a pair of points but it is a winnable game for Montreal. It’s certainly one that can be pushed to the extra session to guarantee a minimum of one point. Speaking of winnable games, Nashville, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh are all ripe for the taking. The Predators are experiencing a calamitous campaign compared to what their preseason expectations were when Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault joined in free agency. Not helping is their 21 st -ranked goals against average (GAA) of 3.13 as of Dec. 3. Those are two points begging to be plucked. Anaheim and Pittsburgh are more on the Islanders’ level. They aren’t terrible, but have lost enough games (sometimes badly) to let it be known that both are still works in progress. The Penguins have a minus-28 goal differential as of Dec. 3. That’s worse than Montreal’s minus-25. Shockingly or embarrassingly – it depends on who one asks – the Canadiens have lost twice to the Penguins this season (6-3 at home on Oct. 14 and 3-1 away on Nov. 2). Third time’s a charm? The one behemoth in the mix is on Saturday, Dec. 9, when the Capitals are in town. Even without their living legend Alexander Ovechkin (injured), the Caps are holding their own just fine. At the time of publication, they’re on a run of four wins, are 17-6-1, and sit in second in the Metropolitan Division. They also sport, at the time of publication, the NHL’s best attack, having netted 101 goals. 3: Get Newhook, Primeau, & Dach Going There are have been plenty of groans, audible or typed on social media, about some Canadiens’ players who aren’t performing up to par. Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, and backup netminder Cayden Primeau are players who, for all sorts of reasons, have annoyed the experts and fanbase. Newhook is not scoring as expected (five goals in 24 games), Primeau is giving up too many of them (4.45 goals against average), and Dach, well, the minus-20 rating says a lot. Not the whole story, but a lot. This home stretch is an opportunity to gain some confidence. Playing Primeau in the Nashville and Anaheim games is a sensible option. Neither club’s attack strikes fear, and Primeau could use some easy games. We’re being very liberal with the word “easy.” This is the NHL, where anything can happen on a given night. Newhook — and especially Dach — need momentum boosters. That Dach will play with Slafkovsky and Laine is interesting. We shall see if that works, but something has to. Likewise for Newhook; he was not brought in to be a star like Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield, but his season is underwhelming. 4: Fan Support They say this is the season of giving. In that spirit, and at the risk of sounding saccharine, the Canadiens need support. Not more trading or calling players up and down from the American Hockey League (the Joshua Roy experiment is already over ), but from the fans. Does Dach need more people booing him? He’s well aware of his mediocre play. This home stretch is not just a test for the club but one for the fans. Canadiens supporters are remarkably loyal and stick with this franchise though thick and thin. The club can be a disaster on the ice, yet attendance remains among the highest in the NHL . Now is one of those times when these young players — Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Ghule, Dach, Slafkovsky – need the home crowd’s support more than ever. Everyone knows this team is a work in progress. It’s not a secret. If you happen to attend any of these games and have a penchant for showing up early to wave and watch warm-ups or hold up a sign in support, have at it. In more ways than one, everyone is in this together. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.12 neglected python snakes rescued after being kept in NW Houston apartment balcony, Pct. 1 says
WASHINGTON — 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. 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. 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) 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. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. 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, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. to serve as his pick to lead the . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Chaikin went 7 of 8 from the field (6 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Leopards (5-5). Justin Vander Baan added 13 points while shooting 3 of 5 from the field and 7 for 9 from the line while he also had six rebounds and five blocks. Andrew Phillips had 10 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. Shemar Rathan-Mayes finished with 21 points and four assists for the Lakers (5-6). Aidan Reichert added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals for Mercyhurst. Jeff Planutis also recorded 13 points. Chaikin scored nine points in the first half and Lafayette went into the break trailing 38-31. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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LOCKERBIE victims’ families are split over a controversial new drama about the atrocity — amid fears it could undermine their 36-year fight for justice. Oscar-winning star Colin Firth takes the lead role of campaigner Dr Jim Swire, 88, who lost his daughter Flora in the 1988 tragedy. Advertisement 10 Colin Firth on set in Bathgate during filming for the show. Credit: PA 10 Jim Swire lost his daughter in the attack and has a different theory than most. Credit: Damien McFadden 10 A policeman stands next to the nose shell of the aeroplane. Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd 10 Victoria Cummock lost her husband in the bombing. The bereaved dad has long argued that late Libyan spy Abdelbaset al-Megrahi — the only person ever convicted over Britain’s deadliest terror attack — was innocent. His book, A Father’s Search For Justice, is the inspiration for the forthcoming Sky Atlantic drama. Now other victims’ relatives are outraged at the portrayal ahead of a trial in the US next year . Victoria Cummock, 71, whose husband John died aboard Pan Am Flight 103, accused programme makers of trying to “influence uniformed audiences” and “instil doubt in potential jurors”. Advertisement READ MORE IN TV TOUGH PART First look at harrowing new Sky Lockerbie drama starring Hollywood A-lister OVERWHELMED Hollywood A-lister reveals heartache over first drama about Lockerbie bombing The American dad of three was among 259 passengers plus 11 in the Dumfriesshire town who perished when the London-New York flight exploded in mid-air on December 21, 1988 . And Victoria, who regularly travels to the UK to visit John’s grave in Lockerbie’s Tundergarth cemetery, described the five-part series as an attempt to “undermine the course of criminal justice”. The widow added: “I feel that the casting of Colin Firth, depicted as the lone, courageous champion of truth and justice, will elevate Swire’s story, filled with unproven conspiracy theories and politically biased interpretations.” Al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of 270 counts of murder at a 72-day trial at a special Scots court convened in The Netherlands. Advertisement Most read in News TV PROGRAMME PULLED Scots star reveals festive TV special has been pulled from schedule CHRISTMAS JOY Lorraine Kelly shares sweet snap of granddaughter Billie's first Christmas NO PLACE LIKE HOME Lorraine Kelly shares plans to quit England with her daughter Exclusive HOLYROOD HONOUR Strictly Come Dancing champion given special honour in Scottish parliament Controversially, Scottish ministers released him back to his homeland eight years later on compassionate grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He then survived for another three years. Alleged spy Abu Agila Masud is set to stand trial in Washington DC in May accused of assembling the Lockerbie bomb. I found a girl's body in my hedge after bombed plane nearly took out my home in Lockerbie - months later her mum knocked on my door The King’s Speech A-lister Firth, 64, was spotted walking past reconstructed plane wreckage while filming Lockerbie: A Search for Truth earlier this year in Bathgate, West Lothian. Victoria revealed the scenes had upset relatives — with the real-life plane’s remains set to be sent to the US to be used in evidence against the alleged bomb maker. Advertisement Slamming the telly drama, she added: “It discredits the exemplary efforts and integrity of thousands of first responders and law enforcement personnel who combed for evidence for months, in the bitter, wet cold, across 2,200sq km. It was the largest crime scene in UK history.” Dr Swire has maintained that the true bombmaker was a Jordanian “double agent, or possibly even a triple agent”. He has insisted this man was a valuable CIA asset — prompting the US and UK Governments to instead pin the blame on tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and Libyans. But bereaved loved ones are concerned millions of viewers will be swayed by his theories. Advertisement 10 Bert Ammerman is still seeking justice for his late brother. Credit: � 2024 Magic Wedding Photographer, all rights reserved. 10 Convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi. Credit: AFP 10 Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir Al-Marimi is accused of making the bomb. Credit: Reuters 10 The wreckage of some of the houses from when the aeroplane crashed. Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Advertisement Bert Ammerman, 77, whose brother Tom, 36, died in the attack, questioned the TV show’s agenda — despite retaining “respect” for Dr Swire’s decades of campaigning. He said: “Jim Swire was the key person that wanted to keep the Lockerbie story going until we found out the truth. “And for this entire period he has been a leader. For that he will always have my respect and gratitude. I disagree that Megrahi was wrongly convicted and that it was not Libya to blame. Jim really went off the beaten path.” Vowing to keep fighting for convictions, Bert, of New Jersey, US, insisted: “It’s not just Megrahi and Gaddafi that were involved — and that alone keeps us going 36 years later. My power to keep going is my brother being blown out of the air at 31,000 feet.” Advertisement Among the victims when the tragic flight exploded 38 minutes after take-off were 35 students from Syracuse University in New York. Sue Lowenstein, 80, lost her son Alexander, 20 — who had been among the group studying abroad. She accused the forthcoming small-screen portrayal of deliberately courting controversy. The sculptor, of Montague, New York, said: “Controversy always creates an interesting story for TV and most of us haven’t been in agreement with Jim Swire and his beliefs.” Campaign groups told of their horror that the series was allowed to get off the ground after pleading with producers to pull the plug. A spokesman for the US-based Victims of Pan Am 103 said: “We have raised our concerns with the producers of the project. Advertisement “We feel they are amplifying and highlighting a false narrative about the bombing. “A narrative that the great majority of us who lost loved ones do not align with and have fought very hard against. “They risk dishonouring the memories of those that were lost, the lifetime of work of the families, and worst of all they may put doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act.” But Swire’s supporters insist the series, set to debut on January 2, will be a force for good. Advertisement His friend, Reverend John Mosey, 84, lost daughter Helga in the tragedy — and continues to hope the “hidden” truth will emerge. Rev Mosey said: “Somebody in the US government or security departments has something they want to hide from the public and will do anything to stop it from coming out. “It’s frustrating getting nearer the end of our days so people are waiting for us to shuffle off our mortal coil and keep quiet until we do so. “Those who kept secrets ought to be brought to justice.” Advertisement Dr Swire declined to comment. Last night a Sky spokesman said: “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is based on Dr Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW WAY Weather maps show heavy snow for Scotland in DAYS – with -2C New Year’s chill NO CRIME Orange Order slam cops after Celtic activist was cleared over 'sectarian rants' “We understand there are opposing opinions and do not attempt to tell the definitive version of the Lockerbie disaster or present a conclusion. "We do not underestimate the responsibility of telling this story sensitively. We engaged with victims’ families and support groups through- out production and in the lead-up to the series launch.” 10 Sue Lowenstein, who lost her son in the bombing, wants people to remember the victims. Advertisement 10 Rev. John Mosey speaks after Megrahi's sentencing in 2001. Credit: Andrew Barr - The Sun GlasgowPurdue Fort Wayne earns 77-57 win against Texas A&M-Commerce
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