5 Dec 2024 Starmer launches six key pledges in ‘plan for change’ Gary Gibbon Political Editor The Prime Minister set out six missions for the government this morning, insisting that it would drive them forward to make the promised changes a reality. Keir Starmer outlined six ‘measurable milestones’ over which – he said – the British people would have the power to hold the government’s feet to the fire. Share on Facebook Share Share on Twitter Tweet Share on WhatsApp Send Share on WhatsApp Send Share on WhatsApp Email Load more share options
By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. On Monday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick turned aside a request from Musk’s lawyers to reverse a ruling she announced in January that had thrown out the compensation plan. The judge ruled then that Musk effectively controlled Tesla’s board and had engineered the outsize pay package during sham negotiations . Lawyers for a Tesla shareholder who sued to block the pay package contended that shareholders who had voted for the 10-year plan in 2018 had been given misleading and incomplete information. In their defense, Tesla’s board members asserted that the shareholders who ratified the pay plan a second time in June had done so after receiving full disclosures, thereby curing all the problems the judge had cited in her January ruling. As a result, they argued, Musk deserved the pay package for having raised Tesla’s market value by billions of dollars. McCormick rejected that argument. In her 103-page opinion, she ruled that under Delaware law, Tesla’s lawyers had no grounds to reverse her January ruling “based on evidence they created after trial.” On Monday night, Tesla posted on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, that the company will appeal. The appeal would be filed with the Delaware Supreme Court, the only state appellate court Tesla can pursue. Experts say a ruling would likely come in less than a year. “The ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs’ lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners — the shareholders,” Tesla argued. Later, on X, Musk unleashed a blistering attack on the judge, asserting that McCormick is “a radical far left activist cosplaying as a judge.” Legal authorities generally suggest that McCormick’s ruling was sound and followed the law. Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said that in his view, McCormick was right to rule that after Tesla lost its case in the original trial, it created improper new evidence by asking shareholders to ratify the pay package a second time. Had she allowed such a claim, he said, it would cause a major shift in Delaware’s laws against conflicts of interest given the unusually close relationship between Musk and Tesla’s board. “Delaware protects investors — that’s what she did,” said Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades. “Just because you’re a ‘superstar CEO’ doesn’t put you in a separate category.” Elson said he thinks investors would be reluctant to put money into Delaware companies if there were exceptions to the law for “special people.” Elson said that in his opinion, the court is likely to uphold McCormick’s ruling. Experts say no. Rulings on state laws are normally left to state courts. Brian Dunn, program director for the Institute of Compensation Studies at Cornell University, said it’s been his experience that Tesla has no choice but to stay in the Delaware courts for this compensation package. The company could try to reconstitute the pay package and seek approval in Texas, where it may expect more friendlier judges. But Dunn, who has spent 40 years as an executive compensation consultant, said it’s likely that some other shareholder would challenge the award in Texas because it’s excessive compared with other CEOs’ pay plans. “If they just want to turn around and deliver him $56 billion, I can’t believe somebody wouldn’t want to litigate it,” Dunn said. “It’s an unconscionable amount of money.” Almost certainly. Tesla stock is trading at 15 times the exercise price of stock options in the current package in Delaware, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a note to investors. Tesla’s share price has doubled in the past six months, Jonas wrote. At Monday’s closing stock price, the Musk package is now worth $101.4 billion, according to Equilar, an executive data firm. And Musk has asked for a subsequent pay package that would give him 25% of Tesla’s voting shares. Musk has said he is uncomfortable moving further into artificial intelligence with the company if he doesn’t have 25% control. He currently holds about 13% of Tesla’s outstanding shares.US use of 'Hague Invasion Act' to threaten ICC sparks backlash
From VOA Persian: Islamic Republic 'root of all imbalances,' 2 political prisoners tell Iran's presidentRaphinha scores 2 and Barcelona ends Spanish league slump with 5-1 rout of Mallorca
Austin Peay 62, Georgia St. 50
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Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff
LUQUE, Paraguay (AP) — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” Takehiro said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” Also, Japanese breweries have expressed hope that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.Museum chronicling rich history of language, literature, and culture to open in Kerala’s City of Letters
Final pheasant stocking in Laramie Region set for next weekKP Sharma Oli-led govt Mmy be at risk as Nepali Congress opposes BRI loan from China
WATERTOWN — Like Steve Board and Robert Stocks , Troy Socwell is the latest Watertown resident to toss his hat in the Watertown mayoral race. Socwell, 55, said, if elected to the position, he won’t take a salary for it.
Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting Lisbon 5-1. Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners had failed to win or score in their two away games in the competition so far this season, but they made a blistering start in the Portuguese capital and took the lead after only seven minutes. Declan Rice fed overlapping full-back Jurrien Timber, who curled a low cross in behind the home defence for Martinelli to finish at the far post. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 20th minute thanks to a glorious ball over the top from Thomas Partey. Saka escaped the clutches of his marker Maximiliano Araujo to beat the offside trap and poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Franco Israel for Havertz to tap home. It was a scintillating first-half display which completely overshadowed the presence of Viktor Gyokeres in Sporting’s attack. The prolific Sweden striker, formerly of Coventry, has been turning the heads of Europe’s top clubs with his 24 goals in 17 games this season – including a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier this month. But the only time he got a sniff of a run at goal after an optimistic long ball, he was marshalled out of harm’s way by Gabriel. David Raya was forced into one save, tipping a fierce Geovany Quenda drive over the crossbar. But Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards fired over, as did Gyokeres, with Arsenal temporarily on the back foot. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved, and Gyokeres’ miserable night was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.
CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 23 points as Central Arkansas beat UNC Asheville 92-83 in double overtime on Sunday. Jordan Morris made two free throws with one second left for UNC Asheville (2-3) to force overtime tied at 71. Fletcher Abee's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 79 and led to the second extra period. Michael Evbagharu's layup gave Central Arkansas (2-4) the lead in the second OT and Cato followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 to pull out the victory. Cato added nine rebounds for the Bears. Layne Taylor totaled 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Brayden Fagbemi pitched in with 19 points, seven assists and five steals. The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Fletcher Abee, who recorded 27 points. UNC Asheville also got 17 points from Josh Banks. Toyaz Solomon finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .The intent of attending the Army Black Knight Invite on Sunday wasn’t so much to see rugged competition — which the No. 1-ranked Penn State wrestling team did not — but rather to have its wrestlers compete in three or four bouts and let the coaches break down the results. The Nittany Lions broke down the field, scoring 185.5 points to Army’s 130.5, and won 61 of 76 bouts with the 22 wrestlers entered. Penn State captured nine titles but three were no-contests as coaches opted not to pair their own wrestlers in the finals at 174, 184 and heavyweight. But they did just that at 157 and 197, which was their intent all along in trying to determine who would earn their way into the lineup at those weights. Sophomore Tyler Kasak trimmed Alex Facundo 5-2 at 157 while redshirt frosh Josh Barr turned a narrow, 2-1 third-period lead into a 10-1 win over Lucas Cochran at 197. Other Nittany Lion winners were freshman Luke Lilledahl at 125, Beau Bartlett at 141, Shayne Van Ness at 149 and Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165. Making the finals but not competing against each other were Levi Haines and Matt Lee at 165, Carter Starocci and Zach Ryder at 184 and Greg Kerkvliet and Cole Mirasola at 285. Bouts between teammates do not count on their records, according to NCAA rules, nor do they count for NCAA qualification numbers. Here is a weight-by-weight rundown: FINALS : 125: Lilledahl, the freshman, made his debut a memorable scorefest as he rolled up 46 points in three bouts, including an 8-2 win over senior teammate Kurt McHenry in the semifinals and a pair of 19-4 technical fall victories that sandwiched his win over McHenry. Lilledahl had two takedowns in each period in the finals against Army’s Charlie Farmer. 141: Bartlett scored 54 points in four bouts with a pair of technical falls, a fall (5:57) in the finals over Todd Carter of Gardner-Webb and a hard-fought 4-1 win over Joe Fongaro of Rutgers in the quarters. The title was Bartlett’s third straight at the Black Knight Invite. 149: Van Ness rang up 57 points in four bouts, his closest a 5-0 shutout over Richard Fedalen of Columbia and his final a 19-4 tech in the full seven minutes over Andrew Clark of Rutgers. 157: This is one of two bouts that would intrigue Penn State fans as Facundo, who dropped to 157 this season, and Kasak, last season’s NCAA third-place finisher as a true freshman, tangled for the pole position at this weight class. Each had easy paths to the finals as Kasak scored 56 points in three bouts while Facundo tallied 81 in four but was held to just two by Kasak in the finals as the sophomore prevailed over Facundo 5-2. Kasak’s first-period takedown was the bout-winner. 165: Mesenbrink also cruised through four bouts ending in technical fall, scoring 18, 18, 19 and 17 points, with the final 17-2 win coming over Army’s Gunnar Filipowicz. 174: NCAA champ Levi Haines soared to the finals with two falls and a tech fall while teammate Matt Lee only had to win two because of a first-round bye. The Penn State staff opted not to pair Haines and Lee in the finals and there was a no-contest. 184: The same thing happened at 184 as four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci scored two falls and a tech fall while freshman teammate Zack Ryder had two impressive wins over a pair of Rutgers foes (Brian Soldano 4-2) and Shane Cartegena-Walsh 4-1) to get to the finals. Again, the coaches said no match between those two was necessary. 197: The other key Lion vs. Lion was redshirt freshman Josh Barr against senior Lucas Cochran, and each won three easy bouts en route to the finals, including Barr’s 11-0 win over freshman teammate Connor Mirasola. Barr and Cochran battled through a scoreless first period and Barr reversed in the second, taking a 2-1 lead to the third. From neutral, Barr came out of a frantic scramble with Cochran with a takedown that enabled him to take Cochran to his back and he emerged a 10-1 winner. 285: NCAA champ Kerkvliet had two falls and a tech fall en route to the finals while freshman Cole Mirasola countered with a tech fall and a 32-second fall to set up a teammate matchup. Once again, no reason to pit those two against each other is what the coaches decided. CONSOLATIONS : McHenry placed fourth at 125, losing 13-1 to Caleb Weiand in the consi final. ... Timothy Levine was fifth at 133 with a 4-1 win in sudden victory over teammate Kyison Garcia, who was sixth. Connor Mirasola placed third at 197 after a solid tournament, downing Michigan State’s Remy Cotton 8-4 in the consi final. ... Gary Steen (133), Cael Nasdeo (141), Connor Pierce (149) and Ty Watson (165) also competed but did not place. Here are individual results per Penn State sports information: 125: Luke Lilledahl, Fr. Rd. 1: bye Qtr.: Jeffrey Jacome, Gardner Webb – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:38) Semi: Kurt McHenry, Penn State – W, 8-2 dec. Final: Charlie Farmer, Army – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:13) 125: Kurt McHenry, Sr.+ Rd. 1: bye Qtr.: Sulayman Bah, Columbia – W, 11-7 dec. Semi: Luke Lilledahl, Penn State – L, 2-8 dec. 3rd: Caleb Weiand, Michigan State – W, 13-1 maj. dec. 133: Kyison Garcia, R-Fr. Rd. 1: Ethan Berginc, Army – L, 1-4 dec. Cn. 2: Jared Chuquilin, LIU – W, 17-2 (TF; 3:43) Cn. 3: Gary Steen, Penn State – W, 14-4 maj. dec. 5th: Tim Levine, Penn State – L, 1-4 (sv) dec. 133: Timothy Levine, Sr. Rd. 1: Tyler Lamon, Gardner Webb – W, 4-0 dec. Qtr.: Boris Witmer, Columbia – L, 2-14 maj. dec. Cn. 2: bye Cn. 3: Andrew Hampton, Michigan State – WBF (5:15) 5th: Kyison Garcia, Penn State – W, 4-1 (sv) dec. 133: Gary Steen, Jr. Rd. 1: bye Qtr.: Takeo Davis, Gardner, Webb – L, 5-8 dec. Cn. 2: Tyler Lamon, Gardner Webb – W, 11-1 maj. dec. Cn. 3: Kyison Garcia, Penn State – L, 4-14 maj. dec. 141: Beau Bartlett, Sr.+ Rd. 1: Charlie Sly, Gardner Webb – W, 16-1 (TF; 3:32) Qtr.: Joe Fangaro, Rutgers – W, 4-1 (sv) Semi: Rich Treanor, Army – W, 18-3 (TF; 4:44) Final: Todd Carter, Gardner Webb – WBF (5:57) 141: Cael Nasdeo, Fr. Rd. 1: Ty Edwards, Garnder Webb – W, 15-0 (TF; 1:41) Qtr.: Braden Basile, Army – L, 4-9 dec. Cn. 2: Devin Matthews, LIU – L, 2-5 dec. 149: Shayne Van Ness, So. Rd. 1: bye Rd. 2: Yanni Vines, Columbia – W, 18-1 (TF; 4:14) Qtr: Joey Giordano, Gardner Webb – W, 15-2 maj. dec. Semi: Richard Fedalen, Columbia – W, 5-0 Final: Andrew Clark, Rutgers – W, 19-4 (TF; 7:00) 149: Connor Pierce, So. Rd. 1: bye Rd. 2: Trae McDaniel, Army – W, 16-7 maj. dec. Qtr: Michael Cetta, Rutgers – L, 1-8 dec. Cn. 2: Mason Barvitskie, Columbia – W, 8-5 dec. Cn. 3: Ivan Garcia, Binghamton – L, 4-10 dec. 157: Tyler Kasak, So. Rd. 1: bye Rd. 2: Rawson Iwanicki, Columbia – W, 19-4 (TF; 6:50) Qtr: Jordan Brown, Binghamton – W, 19-3 (TF; 3:55) Semi: Dakota Morris, Army – W, 18-5 maj. dec. Final: Alex Facundo, Penn State – W, 5-2 dec. 157: Alex Facundo, So. Rd. 1: Mason Stewart, Michigan State – W, 19-4 (TF; 3:42) Rd. 2: Jake Wacha, Columbia – W, 21-6 (TF; 3:35) Qtr.: Fin Nadeau, Binghamton – W, 17-2 (TF; 7:00) Semi: Drew Pepin, Gardner Webb – W, 24-8 (TF; 6:17) Final: #4 Tyler Kasak, Penn State – L, 2-5 dec. 165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, So. Rd. 1: Carter Baer, Binghamton – W, 18-3 (TF; 5:37) Qtr.: Cam Adams, Michigan State – W, 18-1 (TF; 4:01) Semi: Tony White, Rutgers – W, 19-4 (TF; 5:46) Final: Gunner Filiopowicz, Army – W, 17-2 (TF; 4:50) 165: Ty Watson, Fr. Rd. 1: Gunner Filipowicz, Army – L, 2-12 maj. dec. Cn. 2: Cam Adams, Michigan State – WBF (4:10) Cn. 3: Cesar Alvin, Columbia – L, 4-11 dec. 174: Levi Haines, Jr. Rd. 1: Marty Larkin, Michigan State – WBF (4:29) Qtr.: Matt Romanelli, Columbia – WBF (3:36) Semi: Cooper Haase, Army – W, 17-1 (TF; 5:13) Final: Matt Lee, Penn State – No contest 174: Matt Lee, Sr. Rd. 1: bye Qtr.: Andrew Wilson, Gardner Webb – W, 17-2 (TF; 6:04) Semi: Dalton Harkins, Army – W, 5-4 dec. Final: Levi Haines, Penn State – No contest 184: Carter Starocci, Gr. Rd. 1: Spencer Fine, Columbia – WBF (1:37) Qtr: Cole Karpinski, Army – W, 20-3 (TF; 3:00) Semi: Lucas Daily, Michigan State – WBF (4:23) Final: Zack Ryder, Penn State – No contest 184: Zack Ryder, Fr. Rd. 1: Cory Thomas, Michigan State – WBF (3:43) Qtr.: Brian Soldano, Rutgers – W, 4-2 dec. Semi: Shane Cartegena-Walsh, Rutgers – W, 4-1 dec. Final: Carter Starocci, Penn State – No contest 197: Josh Barr, R-Fr. Rd. 1: Jack Bernik, Columbia – WBF (2:26) Qtr.: Josh McCutcheon, Gardner Webb – WBF (2:53) Semi: Connor Mirasola, Penn State – W, 11-0 maj. dec. Final: Lucas Cochran, Penn State – W, 10-1 maj. dec. 197: Lucas Cochran, Jr. Rd. 1: Mason Rebulk, Bloomsburg – WBF (3:58) Qtr: Chris Murphy, Army – W, 15-0 (TF; 7:00) Semi: Remy Cotton, Michigan State – W, 11-1 maj. dec. Final: Josh Barr, Penn State – L, 1-10 maj. dec. 197: Connor Mirasola, Fr. Rd. 1: Reid Schroeder, Army – W, 14-5 maj. dec. Qtr. Kael Wisler, Michigan State – WBF (5:33) Semi: Josh Barr, Penn State – L, 0-11 maj. dec. 3rd: Remy Cotton, Michigan State – W, 8-4 dec. 285: Greg Kerkvliet, Sr. Rd. 1: Tristen Hitchcock, Army – WBF (2:31) Qtr.: Billy McChesney, Columbia – WBF (1:29) Semi: Brady Colbert, Army – W, 15-0 (TF; 5:10) Final: Cole Mirasola, Penn State – No contest 285: Cole Mirasola, Fr. Rd. 1: bye RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com Luke Lilledahl to make his Penn State wrestling debut at Army Nov. 22, 2024, 6:15 a.m. Penn State wrestler Shayne Van Ness back in the lineup ... as good as ever Nov. 19, 2024, 5:31 p.m. Qtr.: Sam Sorenson, Army – W, 19-4 (TF; 3:28) Semi: Max Vanadia, Michigan State – WBF (0:32) Final: Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State – No contest
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been shot and killed in what police say is a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference. The shooting rattled the city and set off a massive dragnet hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Police say 50-year-old Brian Thompson was shot around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire. Police have not yet established a motive. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s Pentagon pick, is fighting to hold on to his Cabinet nomination amid growing questions about his personal conduct as the president-elect’s team considers alternatives, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Hegseth says, “We’re not backing down one bit." The Trump transition team is concerned about Hegseth’s path to Senate confirmation and is actively looking at potential replacements, according to a person familiar with the matter. Hegseth is under pressure as senators weigh a series of allegations that have surfaced against him. Beyond DeSantis, there have been discussions about shifting Michael Waltz, who was named by Trump as his national security adviser, to the Defense Department Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A Palestinian health official said Wednesday that at least 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a camp housing displaced people in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants. The strikes hit in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people. It came after Israeli forces struck targets in other areas of Gaza. According to Palestinian medics, strikes in central Gaza killed eight people, including four children. The war in Gaza is nearly 14 months old and showing no end in sight, despite international efforts to revive negotiations toward a ceasefire. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. Yoon's move baffled many experts. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Yoon hasn't commented on the impeachment bid. But the political instability he unleashed could make it more difficult for his government to nurse a decaying economy. Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Two students wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California school PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say two students have been wounded in a shooting at a small religious school in Northern California and the gunman is dead. A Butte County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson says Wednesday the wounded students were taken to hospitals in unknown condition after the shooting at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, north of Sacramento. The spokesperson says the suspect died after apparently shooting himself. A motive is unknown. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers have joined together to vote on a no-confidence motion prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet to resign. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow.