TEHRAN – The strategic partnership between Iran and China is described as "ironclad" by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who emphasizes that it is built on deep cultural and civilizational ties and rooted in shared values and common interests. Araghchi, who is currently on an official visit to Beijing, made the statement after a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday. The two ministers discussed a broad range of regional and international issues, including the latest security developments in West Asia. They both agreed that the region should not become a battleground for external powers seeking to advance their own geopolitical agendas. Araghchi and Wang underscored that the future of West Asia must be determined by the people of the region, free from outside interference. Araghchi and Wang expressed mutual concern over the escalating instability and terrorist activity in West Asia, particularly in Syria, and called for efforts to preserve the country’s national unity and territorial integrity. Both ministers highlighted the necessity of a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria that would reflect the aspirations of all segments of its society. The two diplomats also pledged to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, which remains a significant threat to regional security. Additionally, they touched on critical international issues such as the ongoing nuclear talks, the lifting of sanctions against Iran, and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation within the frameworks of the BRICS group of emerging economies and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Araghchi noted that Iran is committed to leveraging every available capacity to deepen its strategic partnership with China, particularly through the landmark 25-year cooperation agreement signed in March 2021. This agreement serves as a solid foundation for expanding ties in various sectors, including trade, energy, and technology. China, which is Iran’s largest trading partner, continues to stand by Iran, particularly in the face of illegal sanctions imposed by the United States. Wang, reaffirming Beijing’s position, declared that China supports Iran’s legitimate rights and interests, especially in the context of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The meeting also provided an opportunity for both sides to assess the progress made in the implementation of the strategic partnership agreement and explore further opportunities for cooperation. The two sides also insisted that the international community must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of West Asian nations and not allow the region to become a playground for geopolitical competition. Araghchi and Wang also emphasized the importance of resolving regional conflicts through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law. They particularly stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism, reconciliation, and humanitarian efforts in Syria. Furthermore, the two ministers called for the international community to support the Palestinian cause by recognizing the legal rights of the Palestinian people and working towards an end to the occupation. They reiterated the importance of humanitarian aid for the region and agreed that peace in West Asia can only be achieved through a political process that respects the rights of all parties involved. In a separate meeting in Beijing, Araghchi also met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, the SCO secretary general. The discussion centered on the growing role of the SCO in promoting multilateralism and securing the political and economic interests of member states. Araghchi highlighted the significance of the SCO, which includes major global players like China, Russia, and India, as a vehicle for enhancing cooperation in areas such as security, trade, and development. Yermekbayev welcomed Iran’s full membership in the SCO, which was granted in 2023, and expressed appreciation for Iran's initiatives to expand the organization’s activities in economic and banking sectors. Both sides agreed on the importance of increasing coordination within the SCO to address global challenges, especially in relation to regional stability. The SCO has increasingly become an influential platform for global diplomacy, offering a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions. Araghchi’s visit further solidified Iran’s commitment to its partnership with China and its growing role within the SCO. In a message shared on social media, Araghchi also emphasized the deep-rooted cultural and civilizational ties between Iran and China, noting that their strategic partnership is based on shared values and mutual interests. He reaffirmed the joint commitment of both countries to promoting stability and rule of law, particularly in West Asia, which, according to both ministers, must be determined by the people of the region free from foreign interference.
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Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will step down from his post on January 20. Since taking the lead at the SEC, the commission has been aggressive in its oversight of cryptocurrencies and other regulatory issues. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler, who has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry and repeatedly called for more oversight. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. US intelligence warns defense companies of Russian sabotage threat WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials are warning American defense companies to increase their security after a wave of sabotage in Europe blamed on Russia. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a public bulletin Thursday advising companies that work in the defense industry that Russia may seek to carry out acts of sabotage as part of its effort to undercut Ukraine's allies and their ability to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Western authorities say they believe Russian intelligence is behind several recent acts of sabotage targeting European defense companies. Russia has denied the allegations. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Cutting in line? American Airlines' new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, this technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations. Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields inched higher in the bond market. What will happen to CNBC and MSNBC when they no longer have a corporate connection to NBC News? Two television networks with “NBC” in their names — MSNBC and CNBC — will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News once a spinoff formally takes effect in about a year. Comcast is cutting loose several of its cable companies into a separate company in order to improve its bottom line. It leaves several questions, particularly for MSNBC. Will the news network geared to liberal viewers continue to use NBC News personnel? Will it have to leave its offices and studios at the NBC News headquarters in New York's Rockefeller Center? Will they even keep the same names?Love Island's Chyna Mills reveals she's living on a BOAT with Strictly Come Dancing fiancé Neil Jones and their daughterWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. John Minchillo, Associated Press Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press 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. George Walker IV, Associated Press 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. Derik Hamilton 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. Matt Rourke, Associated Press 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. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press 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. Matt Kelley, Associated Press 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.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press 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. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press 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. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP 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. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press 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. Evan Vucci 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. AP Photo/Evan Vucci 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. John Bazemore, Associated Press Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press 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.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press 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. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press 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.” Paul Sancya, Associated Press 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. Oded Balilty, Associated Press 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. Evan Vucci, Associated Press 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) 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. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press 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. Matt Rourke, Associated Press 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.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos 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. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press
Skeletal remains found in abandoned madrassaShoppers bemused as Easter eggs hit shop shelves before New Year’s Eve
Gambari at 80: A Modest ProposalEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weightSTANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Tucker reported from Newtown, Pennsylvania.MANCHESTER UNITED are set to lose out on £10m in expected income if they continue on their current trajectory. The Red Devils are in dire form and currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim is yet to turn things around on the pitch with a third consecutive defeat on Thursday leaving United some 12 points off fourth placed Nottingham Forest . It now looks extremely unlikely that Man Utd will qualify for the Champions League this season, a failure that could have a huge impact on the club's finances. According to The Times , United's contract with kit manufacturer Adidas contains a penalty clause that sees them lose out on £10MILLION for every season they fail to qualify for Europe's elite competition. That hefty loss would be coupled with huge amount of losses in broadcasting and match-day income too. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL United are already flirting with breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP_ regulations and have undergone a number of cost-cutting measures since the arrival of Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe . Sun Sport exclusively revealed Ratcliffe and the club cut funding to the Association of Former Manchester United Players , a charity set up in 1985 o help footballers from bygone eras who earned nothing like the megabucks of today’s superstars. While Ratcliffe's other cost-cutting measures have included cancelling senior staff members' credit cards , stopping staff from using private cars and even asking Man City if they could give United players a lift to the Ballon d'Or in their private jet. Manchester United do have measures in place to try and offset failure to qualify for the Champions League. Most read in Football BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S The club's annual report says that players salaries change based off their participation in Europe or not. It reads: "Failure to qualify for the Champions League would result in a material reduction in revenue for each season in which our men’s first team did not participate. "To help mitigate this impact, the majority of playing contracts for our men’s first team include step-ups in remuneration which are contingent on participation in the group stage of the Champions League." Former Everton chairman Keith Wyness has claimed that United are close to the line with Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) and FFP. Speaking to Football Insider , Wyness said: "Yes, they are now right on that line for PSR. “The interesting thing is that we know they are on the New York Stock Exchange. If there is a material risk of them breaching PSR, that will have to be declared to the market. “I’m very intrigued by that situation. They’ve had a very poor start to the season. “If they’re not going to make Champions League next year, unless Amorim can bring a big resurrection in the second half of this season, then that will also add PSR pressure. “They’re in a risky situation, so Amorim needs to deliver the goods. There’s pressure on him from day one.” United have to change their on-the-pitch fortunes in order to rescue their financial situation. READ MORE SUN STORIES For Amorim and his low-on-confidence squad that continues on Monday with a tricky clash against an in-form Newcastle United side. Things don't get any easier from there either with games against Liverpool , Arsenal and Brighton all on the horizon.Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France
Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceAshley Swearengin looks on as Gov. Gavin Newsom answers questions from reporters Thursday. Photo by Frank Lopez Gov. Gavin Newsom made a stop in Fresno on Thursday, lauding the region’s economic impact to the state and country, addressing Californian’s environmental and energy concerns and highlighting plans to strengthen the San Joaquin Valley’s economy. Newsom’s held a news conference at the Fresno City College West Fresno Center’s Automotive Technology Center, praising the work of Central Valley organizations and leaders to boost the local economy and create jobs. Local and state leaders joined the Newsom at the event, including Central Valley Community Foundation CEO Ashley Swearengin, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and Sen. Anna Caballero. The Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative is a 20-year, $58 billion investment plan for the Central San Joaquin Valley aiming to create 138,000 new jobs in sectors including construction, health care, education, manufacturing, clean energy and food systems. Since 2022, the state has invested $287 million, including $5 million per each of California’s 13 regions; $39 million for pilot projects across the state; and $14 million per region to develop projects that advance their strategic centers. Newsom said he recognizes there is an air of anxiety due to the current political and economic situation, but the initiative is a cause for optimism. “In January, we will be releasing the most comprehensive, nuanced, sectorial strategy and workforce strategy in the state’s history,” Newsom said. Newsom said $120 million in competitive grants will go out for early, ready-to-go projects. Newsom said the state is currently seeing positive trends with the economy, inflation and employment, but people don’t feel that, instead feeling that “the economy is not supportive or nourishing.” Newsom said it’s a point of pride that other states and nations model their own plans after California’s Low Carbon Fuel standards. Newsom said Californians have been “fleeced” by oil companies for decades. He pointed out that two years ago, residents were paying $2.61 cents more per gallon than the national average at a time when the state did not increase taxes, fees or impose any new regulations. He said oil companies took advantage of market conditions. “If you think big oil has your back, you’ve got another thing coming,” Newsom said. He noted concerns employers in the manufacturing sector have about rising energy costs, and said he wants to work with the legislature to move more aggressively to manage costs. In October, Newsom issued an executive order that asks the California Public Utility Commission to evaluate electric ratepayer programs and costs of regulations and make recommendations on additional ways to save consumers money. In early November, the California Air Resources Board passed new special blend mandates for the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which require that refiners produce — and retail gas stations sell — a new California special blend in 2025. Newsom said that no other Democrat worked more closely with the Trump administration than him, but did call out Trump’s actions against California. “At the same time, he took $1 billion of your high-speed rail money. He tried to take your crime grants. He tried to vandalize most of the progress of the last half century. We know exactly what he intends to do — he’s been very honest about that,” Newsom said. Arambula said that for decades, communities in Southwest Fresno have been neglected when it comes to investment. He said the West Fresno campus will give opportunities to the next generation workforce including professional training and well-paying jobs. “I’m grateful that State Center Community College District has spent the time and energy to develop this campus and give students those opportunities for tomorrow,” Arambula said. Swearengin said that a thriving Sierra San Joaquin region is essential to California’s future. She highlighted that the region produces 25% of the nation’s food supply. Even though the region is situated in 15% of the state’s land mass, it is expected to produce 25% of California’s future renewable energy needs, Swearengin said. She said when the $58 billion plan is implemented over 20 years, the region could expect to see nearly $100 billion in economic impact and support more than 2,000 manufacturers, 6,000 small businesses and childcare for more than 40,000 families. “Gov. Newsom’s commitment to this scale and quality of work I’ve not seen before, and it is welcome in our region. Words on page do not transform, but they do mobilize,” Swearengin said. Gov. Gavin Newsom made a stop in Fresno on Thursday, Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and other local leaders announced Seniors Helping Seniors, a Pennsylvania-based company founded in 1998 that California's poultry and dairy industries are being slammed by rampant
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South Carolina coach Shane Beamer: QB 'LaNorris Sellers is the best player in the country'WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009.
Grad assistant coach suits up to fill QB void, sets Southern Illinois record with 7 TD passesAn environmental law non-profit has filed intent to sue Cooke Aquaculture over the Saint John company’s salmon farming operations in the Gulf of Maine. The Conservation Law Foundation filed notice to Cooke Nov. 14 that it intends to sue under the U.S. Clean Water Act, claiming that Cooke is failing to satisfy its operating permit by allegedly discharging effluent from its salmon pens in the Gulf of Maine and affecting other water uses, including fishing and lobstering. In a statement Nov. 14, Cooke said it “vehemently denies” the allegations, saying that it is satisfying its regulatory obligations and that its Atlantic salmon operations do not negatively affect lobstering. Heather Govern, vice-president for the foundation’s Clean Air and Water Program, said the group has been investigating Cooke’s operations for two and a half years. It operates out of six New England states engaging in environmental advocacy, Govern said. “We began this investigation due to a number of local communities up and down the Maine coastline who were worried about the impacts of salmon net pen farms,” Govern said. “What we found out is the solid waste coming from these net pens ... smothers plants and ocean life, there’s also potential for disease outbreaks.” She said the Clean Water Act allows the foundation to “step into the shoes of the regulators” by filing a lawsuit, she said. “We’re able to investigate and bring actions against companies that are not abiding by their permit conditions,” she said. The lawsuit targets 13 sites around Swans Island, Eastern Bay, Machias Bay, which is about 50 kilometres west of Grand Manan Island, and Cobscook Bay, which is about 20 km west of Campobello Island. Each site has between six and 30 pens, according to the lawsuit, each holding tens of thousands of fish. The suit alleges based on “information and belief” that the pens pollute the surrounding waters by discharges of fish feces, dead and uneaten food, disease, sea lice, escaped fish and trash. Cooke’s net pen permit expired in 2019 but has been “administratively continued” since it expired, the suit said. Govern said that the pollution settles on the ocean floor, where it affects food sources for haddock and lobster, impacting the livelihood of those in fishing and lobstering. She said that the company’s permit doesn’t allow it to “impair other water users,” including commercial use or recreation. Cooke denied the allegations, saying that they are “false, misleading and lack any substantiating evidence,” saying it’s “proud of its contributions to Maine’s iconic seafood industry,” and that it employs 230 people in the state. The release says that it is in “full compliance with the laws set forth” by Maine’s department of environmental protection (DEP) and department of marine resources (DMR), as well as its operating permits. “Finfish aquaculture has coexisted with heritage fisheries, such as lobstering, in Maine waters for more than 40 years,” Cooke said in the release. “Lobster landings are not negatively affected by Atlantic salmon farms. In fact, lobster gear is set alongside and within aquaculture lease boundaries.” The lawsuit points to regulatory reports where it says some information is missing or would be different if the terms of Cooke’s permit were being followed. Govern also says the foundation has made freedom of information requests dating up to 2023 and part of the litigation will be developing expert reports detailing the environmental impacts. The lawsuit also mentions a discharge of 50,000 salmon in Machias Bay in 2023 after an alleged seal attack, a 10,000-fish “die-off” in 2021 at Black Island, and another large die-off in Eastern Bay in 2024. Cooke USA spokesperson Steven Hedlund said that in June, the company removed mortalities near Jonesport and Beals that were “a result of naturally occurring marine algae” which dissolved oxygen in the water and then dispersed after a few days. “All livestock farmers encounter and manage mortalities,” he said, saying Cooke took reasonable steps in accordance with its own procedures and notified the DMR. Brunswick News asked how many fish were involved in the mortalities and did not receive a response. Glenda Beal is a selectman on the governance body on Beals Island, Maine, population 450, which was working on an aquaculture ordinance and passed a moratorium in late July after concerns related to the die-off. She said that there was no notification to the select board to give them a heads up about the die-off and they had to hear it “from the grapevine.” “We got no notification from Cooke. It seems to me that if they were being good neighbours ethically, it would be something they would want the fishermen to know about,” she said. “It could affect the whole bay, depending on what caused it.” Beal said that the lobster catch in Maine is down but she said there’s “no way to tell” if finfish farming is impacting that or not, in response to Cooke’s claim. “If I can’t say if they are, neither can they,” she said. “You’d have to track it for decades ... it’s nothing you can really pin down because lobsters can be caught in one area and not in another.” She said that lobstermen from her area had reported issues in Eastern Bay including aquaculture vessels severing their traps, as well as mooring for the vessels creating a navigation hazard and free-floating cords getting tied up in engines. There were also concerns about plastic tubing from the pens washing up on nearby beaches. Govern alleged that there isn’t much oversight over the operation, and that regulation has been light since Cooke’s entry into the state 20 years ago. Cooke entered the market in 2004 by purchasing Atlantic Salmon of Maine, a subsidiary of Norway-based Fjord Seafood, according to its website. “There’s no 24-hour camera footage that anyone can get a hold of, so it’s hard to know what exactly causes these releases, these escapes,” she said, saying that they could get more information from the litigation. “The public deserves to know that, as well, this should be all public information. When Cooke can hide what’s happening, that’s never good for the environment and the communities.” DEP deputy commissioner David R. Madore said that the department has a “variety of enforcement actions” available to it when licence conditions are broken, and that in 10 years, Cooke has received six letters of warning, 20 notices of violations and entered into one administrative consent agreement. Madore said Cooke’s permit remains in effect until it is formally renewed, which the department intends to do but has not yet completed due to delays around staffing limitations. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, said the lawsuit was “surprising” because he said that the state or federal governments could have moved in and threatened to pull their permits, “and as far as I know, that hasn’t happened.” Belle says an operator in Maine has to abide by federal and state regulations, but the federal government delegates its authority to the state. He said that the federal government could step in and revoke Maine’s ability to regulate on its behalf if it was unhappy with the outcome. “It’s a very powerful system with a lot of cross-checks,” Belle said, saying the system was “refined” following Cooke’s entry to the state to target the most important metrics. He said environmental groups like the CLF were involved in developing best practices for the industry in 2002. Belle previously worked for Maine DMR before joining the association, an industry group that represents large and small producers who work with different species and has representation from Cooke on its board of directors. In Cooke’s release, it says it is “routinely audited and certified by third party programs,” including the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, which rates its Maine-farmed salmon as a “good alternative.” That rating, equivalent to yellow on a traffic light, is a recommendation to “buy if a green-rated option is not available.” Its report cited a lack of fish escapes since 2003 but was issued in 2021, prior to the 2023 fish escapes. Cooke also cited its participation in Global Seafood Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices program, which requires all of its facilities to be audited for “environmental responsibility, social accountability, animal health and welfare, and food safety.” In May, 76 environmental groups, including the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation, signed an open letter accusing the program of “greenwashing” by having basic requirements that are “too weak” to protect wild salmon. Cooke was forced out of the state of Washington after 300,000 Atlantic salmon escaped into Puget Sound after a net collapse in 2017. In 2022, the state’s department of natural resources banned finfish net pen aquaculture in state-owned waters and did not renew Cooke’s remaining licences. In March this year, the state said the “fight” was over after Cooke withdrew its remaining appeals, which Cooke said it did because the state had delayed necessary documents and it would be “futile” to proceed without them. Govern said that situation was different because of the environmental impact of releasing Atlantic salmon into the Pacific Ocean and because of the scale of the release. But she said that on the East Coast, “millions of dollars” have been spent on measures to bring back endangered wild Atlantic salmon. “What doesn’t make much sense is you’re allowing a commercial or industrial operation to be here and potentially damage what little Atlantic salmon population we’re trying so hard to bring back,” she said. “It happened out west, if you have an enormous storm or weather conditions that knock these pens over, it’s millions of these farmed salmon (across all sites) that would then infect and affect negatively this wild salmon population.” In June, B.C. announced a ban on net-pen salmon farms effective in 2029. Govern said that Canada is dealing with some of the same pollution issues but has stronger regulations. She also mentioned enforcement campaigns in Iceland and Norway. “We’re developing better understanding now, the scientists, the regulators, around the impact of having what is essentially a sewage pipe ... that is just allowed to drop into the ocean,” Govern said. Belle said that in the early days of Maine’s salmon farming, companies were “exceeding the carrying capacity of those sites, they were doing it because they didn’t know any better.” He said that with better regulation and monitoring, “everybody has learned that they have to farm to the carrying capacity of those sites.” “When that happens, the impacts on the bottom around the farm are minimal,” he said. He noted that the Clean Water Act’s lawsuit stipulation allows companies to settle, creating a chance for the plaintiff to financially benefit. Unlike what happened out west, Govern said the lawsuit is not intended to shut down Cooke’s operations, but compel it to meet its obligations. Of the 230 employees Cooke says it employs in Maine, Govern said far fewer work directly with the pens. Hedlund told Brunswick News the number is about two-thirds, or about 150. “People think, oh are you trying to shut down Cooke and shut our business here? That is not the point. In fact, Cooke will have to hire more employees,” Govern said, including expert monitoring and operators. “We’re not getting rid of jobs, in fact CLF wants to add jobs, but Cooke’s gotta pay ‘em, and be willing to affect their bottom line a little bit by protecting the environment.” The Clean Water Act requires a 60-day notice period before CLF can files the papers in U.S. federal court. Govern said that Cooke could approach the CLF to discuss a settlement, but that they would have to accept terms that would benefit the environment. Richardson declined a request for comment on whether Cooke would be open to settlement talks.
Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Service Co. International ( NYSE:SCI – Free Report ) by 53.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 51,863 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,132 shares during the quarter. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in Service Co. International were worth $4,094,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of SCI. Icon Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Service Co. International by 313.3% during the 3rd quarter. Icon Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,394 shares of the company’s stock valued at $505,000 after acquiring an additional 4,847 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Service Co. International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $230,000. Commerce Bank increased its position in Service Co. International by 16.3% in the 3rd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 8,897 shares of the company’s stock valued at $702,000 after buying an additional 1,248 shares in the last quarter. Premier Fund Managers Ltd raised its stake in Service Co. International by 23.9% during the 3rd quarter. Premier Fund Managers Ltd now owns 1,093,723 shares of the company’s stock worth $85,721,000 after buying an additional 210,802 shares during the period. Finally, Prospera Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in Service Co. International by 26.1% in the third quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 5,221 shares of the company’s stock worth $412,000 after acquiring an additional 1,081 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.53% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In SCI has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Service Co. International from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Service Co. International from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on Service Co. International from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Service Co. International has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $85.25. Service Co. International Stock Up 0.0 % Service Co. International stock opened at $88.64 on Friday. Service Co. International has a fifty-two week low of $60.65 and a fifty-two week high of $89.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.91, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.52. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $80.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $76.38. The stock has a market cap of $12.82 billion, a PE ratio of 25.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.83. Service Co. International ( NYSE:SCI – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.79. The company had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.02 billion. Service Co. International had a return on equity of 31.84% and a net margin of 12.19%. Service Co. International’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.78 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Service Co. International will post 3.51 EPS for the current fiscal year. Service Co. International Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a $0.31 dividend. This is an increase from Service Co. International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. Service Co. International’s payout ratio is 34.88%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Thomas L. Ryan sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.11, for a total transaction of $4,305,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 982,333 shares in the company, valued at approximately $84,588,694.63. This represents a 4.84 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, VP Elisabeth G. Nash sold 56,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.13, for a total value of $4,831,893.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 109,260 shares in the company, valued at $9,410,563.80. This represents a 33.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 108,655 shares of company stock worth $9,356,203. Insiders own 5.10% of the company’s stock. About Service Co. International ( Free Report ) Service Corporation International provides deathcare products and services in the United States and Canada. Its funeral service and cemetery operations comprise funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and other businesses. The company also provides professional services related to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral home facilities and motor vehicles; arranging and directing services; and removal, preparation, embalming, cremation, memorialization, and travel protection, as well as catering services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Service Co. International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Service Co. International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceThe AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Victor Gabalis and Kayvon Britten each accounted for two touchdowns, Darius Cooper had 190 yards receiving with a score and No. 13 seed Tarleton State won its inaugural FCS playoff game with a 43-29 victory over unseeded Drake on Saturday in a first-round matchup. Tarleton State (10-3) will travel to No. 4 seed South Dakota (9-2) in a second-round game on Dec. 7. Drake jumped out to a 14-3 lead late in the first quarter behind Blake Ellingson’s 2-yard touchdown run and Luke Bailey’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Taj Hughes. Britten answered with a 6-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and his 1-yard TD run stretched the Texans’ lead to 29-14 late in the third. Gabalis’ 49-yard touchdown pass to Cooper made it 36-21 with 10:49 remaining. Gabalis was 26-of-36 passing for 337 yards with two touchdowns. Cooper finished with 11 catches and Britten added 146 yards rushing on 29 carries. Kyle Weber also scored on a pair of short-yardage touchdown runs for the Texans. Bailey and Hailey connected again with a 10-yard score late in the third quarter that pulled the Bulldogs to 29-21. Bailey completed 31 of 49 passes with three touchdown passes and two interceptions. Hughes made 11 catches for 63 yards for Drake (8-3). __ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Srinagar, Nov 21: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) conducted a comprehensive expert lecture on research publication strategies at its Shalimar campus, providing critical insights for academic researchers. The lecture, titled “How to publish and not to publish and how to increase citations and h-index,” was delivered by Prof. Nagendra Shah, a distinguished expert in Food Science and Dairy Technology from Melbourne, Australia. The event attracted over 70 researchers and key academic leadership, including Chief Editor of SKUAST Journal of Research Prof. Neelofar Banday and OSD Prof. Azmat Alam Khan. Prof. Shah’s presentation delved deep into the intricacies of scholarly research publication, offering a nuanced exploration of ethical research practices and strategic academic publishing. Drawing from his extensive international experience, he provided comprehensive guidance on selecting impactful research topics, navigating the complex landscape of academic journals, and avoiding potential pitfalls such as predatory publications. The lecture illuminated critical strategies for researchers seeking to enhance their academic visibility and impact. Prof. Shah meticulously explained the importance of choosing research topics with genuine scientific merit, maintaining rigorous ethical standards, and developing techniques to increase research citations and academic metrics. An interactive discussion session allowed researchers to engage directly with Prof. Shah, gaining personalized insights into the challenges and opportunities in academic publishing. Participants found the session immensely valuable, praising its practical approach and relevance to the contemporary academic environment. Prof Neelofar Banday concluded the program by expressing gratitude to the speaker, emphasizing the potential of the shared strategies to elevate publication quality and academic research impact. The program was coordinated by Students Welfare Officer Dr. Seemi Lohani and organized by the university’s academic team.
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