PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Two reporters were killed and several were wounded Tuesday in a , Haiti’s online media association said. A police officer was also killed in the attack. Street gangs forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year and authorities had pledged to reopen the facility in Haiti's capital on Christmas Eve. But as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire. Robest Dimanche, a spokesman for the Online Media Collective, identified the killed journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. Dimanche said an unspecified number of reporters were also been in the attack, which he blamed on the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs. The Haitian Association of Journalists confirmed two reporters and a police officer were killed, and seven reporters were wounded in what it called “a macabre scene comparable to terrorism, pure and simple.” Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the attack. He did not specify the casualty numbers or provide a breakdown. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said. Later, the government put out a statement saying it is “responding firmly to the attack." "This heinous act, which targets an institution dedicated to health and life, constitutes an unacceptable attack on the very foundations of our society," it said. Earlier, a video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital shows what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Another video posted online, which also could not be immediately verified, showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor, apparently wounded. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince and have also targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons. Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of the , posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. Haiti has seen journalists targeted before. In 2023, two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks — radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in mid-April that year, while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that month. In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, more widely known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control of it from gangs. The hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris. Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs. The hospital is across the street from the national palace, the scene of several battles in recent months. Gang attacks have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse with looting, setting fires, and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital. The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat them. Haiti’s health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season, which is likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases. Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to UNICEF. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean atWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weekslong delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transition of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. FILE - Susie Wiles watches as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement came a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House issued both public and private appeals for Trump's team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts emphasized to Trump's team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) Republican Senators also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump's nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers were particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump's designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. "That's why it's so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday. John Thune, incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team "understands there's going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees." Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 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. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, 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. 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. 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.” 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.” 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. 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. 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. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an 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. 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. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. 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. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
In a remarkable turn of events, Austria's far-right Freedom Party clinched its first-ever victory in Styria's state election, according to a projection on Sunday. This win mirrors the sentiments of September's general election, underscoring the party's strengthening position in the Austrian political landscape. The projection, conducted by pollster Foresight for national broadcaster ORF and the APA news agency, indicates that the eurosceptic and Russia-friendly Freedom Party (FPO) secured 35.4% of the votes. The conservative People's Party followed with 26.7%, highlighting a notable shift in voter preferences. This electoral outcome, projected with a 1.2 percentage point margin of error, signifies the Freedom Party's growing clout even as national coalition negotiations persist, excluding the far-right faction. (With inputs from agencies.)
Dak Prescott gives update on recovery from hamstring surgery( MENAFN - PR Newswire) SAO PAULO, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinasolar, a global leader in smart energy solutions, has partnered with Centro Universitário Facens, based in Sorocaba (São Paulo), with the goal of providing training for project development and solar plant construction and assembly companies, while fostering innovation and the development of academic research. Starting in 2025, this initiative will provide a high-level training center for the market and university students, teaching best practices from the conceptual phase of project development to the installation and commissioning of its equipment. According to Felipe Tukamoto, Product Manager for TrinaTracker across Latin America, "the installation of the photovoltaic system on the university campus provides a unique opportunity for the development of advanced studies on the energy efficiency of solar modules, performance curves, and increased energy generation using smart solar tracking system." Additionally, another key aspect of this initiative is to share with the market best practices for enhancing the reliability of equipment installations. This includes step-by-step guidance on ensuring compatibility between components, proper installation according to product manuals, and reducing project implementation costs through correct procedures. "Being close to São Paulo provides us with a strategic location to offer training in a more accessible way, effectively connecting the solar market with the academic sector in a more efficient and dynamic manner. This proximity strengthens the integration between industry and research, creating a fertile environment for innovation and the development of technological solutions," adds Felipe. This collaboration also aims to significantly contribute to skill development in the solar sector, training specialized professionals capable of meeting the growing demands of the renewable energy market. The project seeks to empower students and professionals in critical areas such as solar project design and development, photovoltaic system installation and maintenance, and the application of advanced technologies like intelligent algorithms and monitoring tools. In addition to implementing the state-of-the-art photovoltaic solution, a practical classroom will be established, equipped with advanced devices for demonstrations. This infrastructure will be dedicated to training installation technicians and providing employee development programs, reinforcing Trinasolar's commitment to advancing technical education and promoting innovation in the energy sector. SOURCE Trina Solar Co., Ltd MENAFN16122024003732001241ID1109000071 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Descartes Announces Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Financial Results
North Texas — already home to many next-generation aviation companies, including those in north Fort Worth’s booming Alliance hub — is being considered for a new multimillion federal center for advanced aviation technology. The Federal Aviation Administration sent a request for information for its planned Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies to the Arlington-based North Central Texas Council of Governments, the agency’s transportation director Michael Morris told local elected and appointed officials at a meeting late last week. The federal agency is currently seeking input for the planned research and testing center, authorized under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in May. The legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, as well as two other senators, will provide $4 billion each year for airport infrastructure projects that increase safety and capacity. The Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies is also intended to increase integration of advanced air mobility and other emerging aviation services, such as air taxis and vertical-lift aircraft, into the National Airspace System. “This is the first step of a procurement process,” Morris told members of the Regional Transportation Council on Thursday afternoon. “They’re looking at tens of millions of dollars to create a center of advanced aviation technology. We’re hearing a lot of whispering that they would like to potentially have that in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, so we’re giving you a heads-up that that work is being put together and the partnership (is) being put together through Tier 1 universities and our aviation system.” The Regional Transportation Council, an independent policy council composed of elected and appointed members from Tarrant, Dallas, Denton and several other surrounding counties, could address the proposal with its support in the future, Morris said. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. “To get ready for that, we’ll have the appropriate action on your agenda at an appropriate time,” he said. “We wanted to give you advanced notice on that.” The FAA’s Southwest regional headquarters is located at 10101 Hillwood Parkway in north Fort Worth near Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. That office partners with federal, state and local governments to promote aviation safety and education across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The office also addresses airspace and procedure modernization, runway safety, aviation workforce development, finance, information technology, policy, human resources and civil rights. The Alliance airport has attracted several advanced aviation companies, including AVX Aircraft Co., which plans to design, test and build unmanned aircraft for military and commercial uses . AVX recently relocated from a small office in Benbrook to a larger, modern facility at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport to grow the company specializing in advanced vertical-lift technology. Cruz has championed bringing the advanced aviation center to Texas and hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic at Dallas Executive Airport on Aug. 30. Representatives from 11 aviation-related companies, including Southwest Airlines and Amazon, participated as well as those from Texas A&M University and the system’s Autonomy Research Institute in Corpus Christi. “Texas continues to lead the way in the aviation sector — it’s why I am advocating for the center to be based in the Lone Star State,” Cruz posted on the X social media platform at the time. Cruz said companies in the state including commercial carriers, spaceflight, drones and more spotlight that “Texas continues to be on the forefront of flight.” The legislation, Cruz said, “delivers significant wins for Texas and the hundreds of thousands of Texans who work in aerospace.” “The new law,” he added, “also establishes an advanced aviation center for testing and approving futuristic aircraft, like air taxis, that Texas is well-positioned to host.” In August, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed nine people, including Southlake resident Kevin Cox, CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports, to the state’s Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee.The committee assists in Texas’ economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investments in the state. The FAA said its requests for information will help inform the aviation industry of the agency’s intent to implement a CAAT airspace laboratory, flight demonstration zones and testing corridors to support testing and advancement of advanced air mobility. The survey will help the agency assess estimated costs and the level of interest and capabilities of qualified industry, academic, research and government entities. The council of governments said the University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas in Denton, Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the Richardson-based University of Texas at Dallas are involved in the procurement process for the FAA center. Input for information requests must be submitted by 6 p.m. Jan. 6, the FAA said. Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. 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You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Eric E. Garcia, Fort Worth Report December 16, 2024
Starmer to visit troops serving on Russian border in push for Ukraine supportThe hills are alive. Anaconda residents won’t hear nuns singing from the slopes of A-Hill or C-Hill. Yet they might savor a songbird’s serenade or a mule deer fawn's bleats and bawls as the animals find cover in recently-rooted shrubs and trees. A current document from the state’s Natural Resource Damage Program describes the recovery of vegetation and wildlife habitat in the landmark hills above Anaconda — a revival aided and abetted by the copper smelter’s closing in 1980, by human toil since then and the passage of time. Both the vegetation and Anaconda have begun to thrive in recent years. The Natural Resource Damage Program, or NRDP, aims to restore vegetation and other natural resources lost to pollution from more than 100 years of toxic smelter emissions. It’s all part of the federal Superfund process that guides remediation and restoration. NRDP’s mission also includes addressing a century of lost recreational opportunities. The program has funds available toward that end reached in a 2008 settlement with Atlantic Richfield. Enter the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Open Lands Plan. Adopted in early 2024, the 142-page plan reports, “The Anaconda community prioritizes the development of a comprehensive, interconnected multi-use trail system that caters to various activities and skill levels.” Enter the Anaconda Trail Society, a nonprofit with about 100 active members. It has proposed creating a recreational trail that would link Birch Street in east Anaconda to the Sunnyside area in west Anaconda. One use of money earmarked to restore natural resources in Anaconda damaged by smelter pollution would be to buy the A-Hill, a key landmark now in private hands, for $200,000. It could host a portion of a new trail proposed by the Anaconda Trail Society. As envisioned, the 3.5-mile non-motorized trail would serve walkers, hikers, bicyclists and, possibly, riders on horseback. On Monday, Emily Adams, president of the Anaconda Trail Society, described the proposed path as a single-track trail. Some accounts of single-track trails describe them as being only as wide as a mountain bike. American Trails reports that a single-track mountain bike trail is typically between 12 inches and 30 inches wide. Adams said the Birch to Sunnyside trail would likely be 36 inches to 48 inches wide. She said a hiker or biker might need to step aside to let the other pass. Signage would explain and encourage trail etiquette, Adams said, and the proposed trail’s comparatively even grade would not enable cyclists to come barreling around curves. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County is poised to purchase the A-Hill property with $200,000 in NRDP funds. The city-county already owns acreage on C-Hill. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County already owns acreage on the city's C-Hill, which would host a portion of the trail proposed by the Anaconda Trail Society. As a result, as envisioned, the trail would travel across Anaconda-Deer Lodge County property. A 2008 Consent Decree with Atlantic Richfield/BP provided about $13.3 million to the state for natural resource damages suffered by pollution-impacted lands on Stucky Ridge, Smelter Hill and the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area. An Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan prepared by NRDP specified that up to $4 million could be used for restoration on lands owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. In April 2023, NRDP celebrated the completed cleanup of state lands on Stucky Ridge and within portions of the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area east and south of Anaconda. Last month, NRDP published an amendment to the Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan. Among other things, it provides a recommendation about how to divvy up that $4 million between restoration activities such as ecological restoration, wildlife habitat restoration or recreational restoration. NRDP has proposed allocating $1.9 million for recreation projects. The program suggests that development of trail networks, trailheads and signage on A-Hill and C-Hill — trails designed to serve multiple user groups — could be considered an appropriate restoration action. The Anaconda Trail Society would hire professional trail designers and builders if funding becomes available through NRDP, grants or some combination. As proposed, it would partner with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County to collaborate on planning, developing, monitoring and maintaining trail segments. The city-county could also assist with matching costs for potential grant awards and provide other support. Adams said a properly designed and built dirt trail, with water bars and other features to reduce erosion, should need little maintenance. County commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County were scheduled to review a related memorandum of understanding during the board’s Tuesday night meeting. As envisioned, the connection between Birch Street and Sunnyside Road would be “a leisurely, groomed trail” with a grade below 12%, Adams said. Emily Adams, right, is president of the Anaconda Trail Society. She and her husband, Matt Johnson, own and operate Anaconda Bicycles. Both have been active supporters of outdoors recreation in the region. The community could access the trail at Birch Street, Sheep Gulch, 7 Street, Walnut Street, Willow Street and Sunnyside Road. During a Nov. 26 meeting of commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Adams said the trail would yield community, social and health benefits. She noted too that studies have demonstrated that trails provide economic benefits to communities. Meeting minutes from Nov. 26 show that Commissioner Ed Beaudette expressed concerns about including horses on the trail and whether it would be wheelchair accessible. Adams said the trail would not be wheelchair accessible and it’s not yet clear whether horses would be appropriate. NRDP’s proposed amendment to the Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan cites reforestation efforts dating back to 1940. It references work by Bob Andreozzi, now retired as a forester for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and others for shepherding years of conifer and shrubs planting around Anaconda, as well as ambitious Arbor Day plantings. NRDP notes also that in some areas, lands owned by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County are returning to baseline conditions — as in, conditions prior to pollution — “without the expenditure of remedy or restoration funds.” Ray Vinkey, an environmental scientist for NRDP, said no Anaconda Uplands money has been spent to date on recreation. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Alyssa Naeher ended her national team career with one last win. The stalwart goalkeeper made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday. “I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year,” Naeher said. Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute for the U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer and wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European exhibitions would be her final matches. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the U.S., with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts. Naeher is the only U.S. keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women's World Cup final . “I feel like in my heart I would love to keep going. In my head, in my body and mind, I feel like it’s the right time. And I think it’s the right time with this team as well as it builds towards the future and towards 2027,” Naeher said. “This environment, this team, is an incredible team to be a part of, but it’s also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well. “I feel like I’ve given everything I have to give for this team and that’s why I feel at peace with that.” The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman's header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen's shot in the 38th. The United States drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk's shot in the 69th minute before Williams, a second-half substitute, scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career. “I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever. And sometimes that’s how games go. You can talk about tactics, you can talk about formations, you talk about everything, but the biggest thing was matching their intensity. Getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball. That was the shift that needed to happen,” Williams said about the team's second-half mindset. Naeher finished with six saves. She is not quite finished with soccer yet: She will continue playing next season for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League. “She’s been consistent again and again. Even when she’s been questioned at times in her career, she’s always found the answer,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Not only has she been a great player in this program, but let me tell you, she’s so loved by everyone, players and staff alike. She is the best teammate you could ask for and that just speaks volumes to the person that she is.” Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the United States over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax. The U.S. finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries. The U.S. is unbeaten in 15 matches under Hayes, who took over in May. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe Prime Minister is set to visit British troops serving on Russia’s border as he says Ukraine will require more funding and capability. Sir Keir Starmer was speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference in Estonia where he met leaders of other Baltic states. After signing an energy partnership with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Bergen, Sir Keir flew to Estonia where he spoke alongside Mr Store and their Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal. Asked what else could be done to support Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “There is an ever-increasing demand for more capability. That is understandable, and Ukraine needs all the capability that it can get, so I think all of us have put in more capability into Ukraine by way of equipment.” He added: “A lot of money has been raised, funding has been raised, but more is going to be needed.” The Prime Minister’s also discussed making the economic case at home for continued support for Ukraine. Sir Keir said: “Making the case on the significance of Ukraine, making the case, to double down, linking it back to each of our countries – what does it mean for us if Russia succeeds, is a really important question that we have to answer with our people to make it clear why it is that we are so supportive of Ukraine, why it is that we must stand with our allies on this, why it is we must make sure that Nato is put in the strongest position as well. “Now, this is a different world to the world of 10, 20 years ago, to recognise the world that we are living in, there’s a positive case as well to be made. “Defence spending doesn’t sort of sit in a silo over here with no effect on the rest of the economy, no effect on technology. “It has a huge effect on technologies, the cutting edge of technology and change which can then be used in other areas. “It binds countries together. I think all of us have got joint projects on in terms of defence capabilities that bind us together. There’s a huge number of well-paid jobs that are very important to our economy in defence spending as well. “But we have to make that positive case. I don’t personally feel that we can sort of sit back and assume that all of those in our respective countries necessarily accept all of our arguments unless we make them in that positive way, which I do think the argument can and should and must be made. “But the challenge that you put to us is the right challenge, which is it’s very difficult when finances are tight, as they are in all of our countries.” On Tuesday morning the Prime Minister will meet Taavi Madiberk, the founder of Estonian tech start-up manufacturing low-cost air defence missiles, Frankenburg Technologies, which is planning to open a new office in London Specialising in the manufacture of the missiles, the rapidly growing company already collaborates closely with the UK defence industry, sourcing a significant portion of its subsystems locally, including from propulsion specialists Roxel in Worcestershire. The Prime Minister will again attend the JEF summit, joining leaders from the Nordics and Baltics to discuss support for Ukraine, the sustained threat posed by Russia and wider European security. He will then visit British forces serving in the region to deter malign Russian threats.
Congressional Republicans and former Trump appointees have spent the last year building out their response to the movement protesting Israel’s war in Gaza , and now that Donald Trump is returning to the White House they warn that protest leaders, activists and those who help them raise money could face an onslaught of federal investigations and possible indictments. An NBC News review of congressional hearings and letters, along with lawsuits filed by organizations led by former Trump officials, provides a preview of which federal laws a second Trump administration could use when pursuing investigations and potential prosecutions. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Judging from what has been pushed thus far, there are several legal measures most likely to be used once Trump returns to Washington. One would be deporting foreign college students in the U.S. on a visa after they’re found to have openly advocated for Hamas or another U.S.-designated terror group, or after they participated in an unauthorized campus protest and were suspended, expelled or jailed. Another measure would be to pursue federal prosecutions of demonstrators who block synagogue entrances or disrupt Jewish speakers at events. A third approach is to charge protest leaders and nonprofits that aid in fundraising for protest groups with failing to register with the U.S. Justice Department as an “agent of a foreign principal.” And a fourth avenue is to open investigations into protest leaders who are in direct contact with U.S.-designated terror groups while advocating on their behalf. The multifaceted law enforcement approach is a marked departure from the Biden administration’s response to the protest movement. Some of the nation’s leading civil rights groups told NBC News that they are gearing up for a flood of legal battles to protect the protesters. “Trying to predict what Trump will do is a fool’s errand. We have to be prepared for the most extreme version of what he’s threatened,” said Ben Wizner, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. “We have to take him both literally and seriously.” ‘A new sheriff in town’ U.S. & World Child care cost as much as rent for many families at inflation's peak, new data shows Thanksgiving dinner is historically affordable this year Biden administration officials have told NBC News that prosecuting speech-related crimes related to the anti-war protests is not a high priority for the current Justice Department, nor is seeking out student protesters on foreign visas a top concern for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “President Trump will enforce the law,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, in an email to NBC News. Ernst recently asked the FBI to open an investigation into a pro-Hamas student group at Columbia University called Columbia University Apartheid Divest. A member had threatened “Zionists” on social media , which the organization had initially distanced itself from after a strong public outcry but later supported in an Instagram post . CUAD also has handed out pro-Hamas flyers that circulated around campus featuring masked men holding weapons. “There is a new sheriff in town,” Ernst said. The FBI has yet to respond to Ernst’s request, her office said. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment. A Columbia University spokesperson said CUAD is not a recognized organization by the school and the flyers were under investigation. Members of CUAD declined to comment. Reed Rubinstein, who held high-ranking positions in both the Justice Department and the U.S. Education Department in the first Trump administration, is now a senior vice president at America First Legal, a public policy law firm in Washington, D.C., founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. (Miller is expected to return to the White House as a deputy chief of staff for policy.) Under Rubinstein, America First Legal has in the past year filed four lawsuits that provide a glimpse into how the Trump administration could differ from its predecessor. America First Legal alleges in the suits that the State Department, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education have protected pro-Hamas extremists. In court papers and in letters to several federal oversight officials, America First Legal has also said it believes the Justice Department should have forced several leaders of pro-Palestinian groups to report themselves under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, known as FARA, which requires individuals acting as “an agent of a foreign principal” to register themselves with the Justice Department. It has also accused the Department of Education of not following Title VI regulations, which prohibits schools that accept federal funding from allowing on-campus discrimination based on race, shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics including being Jewish. “There’s a difference between lawful speech and unlawful conduct,” Rubinstein told NBC News. “Law enforcement has an obligation to act.” Although the lawsuits haven’t progressed in court, they provide a possible road map for how Trump-minded prosecutors could respond to the protest movement. So far, only the Education Department has responded to the allegations, court papers show, and said the agency doesn’t have sufficient evidence to respond to the claims that policies aren’t being enforced. The Justice Department didn’t respond to a request for comment. Spokespeople at the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education all said they can’t comment on pending litigation. Rubinstein in an interview brought up an additional law he expects a second Trump administration could enforce. Known as the FACE Act , the law prohibits people from using force, threats or intimidation while blocking entrances of places of worship. Earlier this month, protesters with SJP Chicago gathered at the Chicago Loop Synagogue to demonstrate against an Arab Israeli speaker who had served in the Israeli military. Videos posted to social media showed demonstrators blocking the synagogue’s entrance, banging on the windows and getting inside. “You do not have the right to deny somebody the ability to congregate in a church or synagogue,” Rubinstein said. “We would like to see the Department of Justice do its job.” A spokesman for the FBI’s Chicago office said its policy is not to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. The Chicago Police Department said it arrested two protesters and charged them with trespassing and one with property damage, both misdemeanor charges. SJP Chicago did not respond to a request for comment. But in an Instagram post, it said protesters were not being anti-Jewish. “Zionist have scrambled to throw together a narrative that these acts were anti-semetic and fueled by hate (what’s new).” An expected flood of legal battles Some of the nation’s leading free speech and civil rights groups say they are gearing up to fight a new Trump administration and any attempts to go after protesters or their funders. Since 9/11, organizations including the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), along with the ACLU, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Knight First Amendment Institute have represented Muslim Americans and pro-Palestinian activists in cases involving free speech, surveillance or abuse. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s deputy executive director, argued that the Biden administration failed to enforce FARA against leaders of pro-Israel groups. Mitchell said both Trump and President Joe Biden single out pro-Palestinian activists with either a lack of enforcement or with too much enforcement. “Just as Americans who peacefully marched, protested and lobbied against segregation, the Vietnam War and South African apartheid were not deterred when government agencies spied upon, smeared, arrested and brutalized them,” Mitchell said, “the college students, human rights activists and everyday Americans peacefully opposing the Gaza genocide have not been deterred by such government abuses and, God willing, will not be deterred by such abuses in the future.” Both CCR and the ACLU told NBC News that their concerns go beyond what the administration could do to crack down on just the protests. They pointed to the possibility that a Republican-led Congress could pass a bill currently under consideration that would strip away the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that a Trump appointed treasury secretary designates as providing material support to “terrorist supporting organizations.” CCR also said it worries a second Trump administration could wrongly level accusations of failing to register as foreign agents against protest leaders and nonprofits that aid protest groups with collecting donations. CCR is also watching whether a Trump Justice Department will charge certain activists accused of supporting Hamas and other U.S.-designated terror organizations with violating a U.S. anti-terror law that prohibits advocating for terror groups while in coordination with them. “We are prepared for the Trump administration coming in and changing the game, particularly around the question, ‘Where does speech fit into this?’” said Vince Warren, CCR’s executive director. “To the extent that the Biden administration drew a line between speech and actionable conduct, we don’t think that the Trump administration will do that at all.” CCR is also concerned about the plans laid out in Project Esther , an initiative backed by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank that published Project 2025 . Project Esther urges law enforcement to use a plethora of federal and state laws to dismantle what it terms the “global Hamas Support Network” using racketeering laws — used to break up the mafia — along with anti-terrorism and anti-hate speech laws. “They will throw any type of spaghetti up against the wall,” Warren said. The Knight Institute said although it expects the new Trump administration to aggressively police speech, it is prepared to fight back. Earlier this month, Knight successfully rebuffed the Biden Treasury Department, which had blocked a New York based nonprofit from organizing an overseas conference with Hezbollah members, arguing it can’t work with people sanctioned for ties to terrorism groups. The agency reversed course and settled the case earlier this month after Knight argued that an academic exchange of ideas could not violate anti-terror laws. “If there’s one thing the First Amendment protects, it’s the right of Americans to criticize their own government’s policies,” said Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institute’s executive director. The ACLU’s Wizner struck a similar note, saying: “The courts have made clear that the First Amendment protects all manner of controversial advocacy, including advocacy of violence, so long as the speaker isn’t actively inciting imminent harm,” Wizner said. Impact on college campuses Kenneth Marcus, who ran the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights during the Trump and George W. Bush administrations, now leads the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, one of the leading civil rights organizations focused on Jewish students. Over the past year, the center has sued a growing list of universities arguing officials failed to stop what it sees as widespread antisemitism on campus. Marcus said he has met with Department of Education officials requesting an expansion of civil rights enforcement to protect Jewish students on campuses. The Department of Education didn’t respond to questions regarding Marcus’ concerns. “We know that President Trump has repeatedly expressed concern about the campus situation,” Marcus said. During the presidential campaign, one of the 20 promises in the preamble to the Republican Party platform was to “deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.” NBC News reported in August that the Biden administration said it was not targeting visa revocations for foreign students who may have engaged in speech-related offenses or participated in unauthorized campus protests and had not terminated any university or college student visas due to protest activity related to the Israel-Hamas war. Trump’s return to Washington could lead to possible attempts to revoke student visas for foreign students who openly support Hamas or other U.S.-designated terror organizations, Marcus said. Marcus also anticipates more intervention from the Justice Department when Jewish students say they are being targeted on campus. At a campaign stop in September , Trump said that at the start of his second presidency, he would inform universities that if they allow violence and threats against Jewish students, they “will be held accountable for violations of the civil rights law.” “My administration will move swiftly to restore safety for Jewish students and Jewish people on American streets,” Trump said. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here: Trump’s mass deportations could split 4 million mixed-status families. How one is getting ready. SEC issues summons for Gautam Adani, nephew on bribery allegations Will Trump's former defense lawyer protect the Justice Department from Trump?Keir Starmer to visit British troops on Russia’s border
Data science is a dynamic field that evolves with every technological advancement and its integration into business decision-making across diverse industries. In 2024, the demand for data professionals has created tens of thousands of career opportunities. This article explores some of the top data science jobs to apply in 2024, detailing their key responsibilities, required skills, and potential for career growth. Hottest Data Science Jobs 2024 Location : Gurugram, Haryana Employment Type : Full-time Lead projects focused on Generative AI , Data Science , and advanced analytics , ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business goals. Develop and implement data-driven solutions to optimize processes and improve decision-making across organizational functions. Collaborate with marketing, IT, and customer service teams to integrate AI and data science solutions into operations effectively. 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Expertise in Python , machine learning , deep learning , and data science frameworks like TensorFlow , PyTorch , and scikit-learn . Advanced knowledge of NLP techniques , Generative AI , and LLM frameworks. Proficiency in deploying AI models on cloud platforms like AWS and GCP . Strong problem-solving abilities and technical documentation skills. This role provides exposure to cutting-edge AI technologies and offers pathways to leadership positions within Deloitte’s technology and transformation teams. Apply Here Explore Different Data Science Roles in Various Industries Responsibilities: Data scientists analyze complex datasets to derive meaningful insights that inform business strategies. They build predictive models by applying statistical and machine learning techniques. Skills Needed : Python and R programming, statistical analysis, machine learning, and Tableau or Power BI for data visualization. Package: US$127,000 to US$206,000 per year Responsibilities: Machine learning engineers design and build the algorithms that allow machines to learn from data. They typically work hand in hand with data scientists to deploy models into production environments. Skills Needed: They need strong programming skills, knowledge of the most common machine learning frameworks, and experience with cloud platforms. Examples include Python, Java, TensorFlow, PyTorch, AWS, and Azure. Package: US$112,000 to US$139,000 per year Responsibilities: Data architects design and architect the infrastructure needed in generating and processing data. They ensure that the data flows are seamless from the source systems to the analytics platforms. Skills Needed: SQL fluency, familiarity with ETL tools, big data technologies such as Hadoop, and Spark familiarity, database management system knowledge. Package: US$100,000 to US$130,000 per year Responsibilities: Data architects design the architecture of the data systems of an organization. They create blueprints of data storage and keep the data accessible yet safe. Skills Needed: Expertise in designing databases , data modeling tools, and cloud storage experience. Package: US$120,000 to US$160,000 per year Responsibilities: The business intelligence developers design tools that help organizations with analysis; thus, they empower the organizations to make the correct decisions. They also develop dashboards and reports that convey key performance indicators. Skills Needed: BI tool knowledge, Tableau, Power BI; SQL skills and analytical skills Package: US$90,000 to US$120,000 per year Conclusion: A career in data science offers not only lucrative pay but also the chance to make meaningful contributions across diverse sectors by transforming raw data into actionable insights. Whether beginning a journey in data science or seeking specialization in this versatile field, 2024 and beyond promise abundant opportunities for growth and innovation.
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Vijilan Security Partners with Cribl to Modernize Data Management for MSPs and Enterprises 12-16-2024 11:30 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Comms Factory Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/1734369767.jpg HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla - December 16, 2024 - Vijilan Security, a leading provider of managed cybersecurity services, today announced its partnership with Cribl [ https://cribl.io/ ], the Data Engine for IT and Security. This collaboration enhances Vijilan's ThreatSensor platform, offering Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and enterprises a future-ready solution that enables sophisticated management and security for their complex and ever-growing volumes of data across private networks, public clouds, and hybrid environments. With data growing year over year and sensors becoming smarter, organizations are faced with a double-edged challenge: an increasing volume of richer, more actionable data and the challenge of efficiently managing and analyzing this data for both IT and security needs. Sensors are also proliferating across diverse environments, generating data that requires advanced tools to process, visualize, and route effectively. Working with Cribl's technology, Vijilan now offers an effective solution to these challenges. Kevin Nejad, Founder and CEO of Vijilan Security, explained, "I see data growing year over year, but data management tools aren't keeping up. Sensors are getting smarter and generating richer data for analysis, but a lot of enterprises and MSP clients are playing catchup when it comes to managing and analyzing these immense repositories of telemetry data. The problem is manifesting in all environments. This is the problem we are solving through our partnership with Cribl. This relationship represents a significant advancement in our commitment to providing cutting-edge data management solutions. By integrating Cribl's technology, we empower our MSP partners and enterprise clients to navigate the complexities of data management with greater efficiency and confidence." Key Benefits for Vijilan Partners: Comprehensive Data Control: Full visibility and management of data from ingestion to storage, enabling clients to make data-driven decisions with confidence. Simplified Compliance: Enhanced capabilities for meeting regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, and SOX, including data masking and secure routing. Flexible Data Routing: Seamlessly send data to preferred destinations-whether on-premises, in private data centers, or leaders cloud providers Cost Efficiency and Scalability: Handle increasing data volumes while minimizing unnecessary storage and processing costs, ensuring scalability for future growth. "Vijilan security is at the forefront of modernizing their Managed Detection and Response services. Using Cribl Stream, Vijilan is able to completely optimize their data flow and effectively reduce the noise, improve the signal, and provide faster detections at a lower cost. In a very noisy MDR space, Vijilan stands out as a true innovator and market leader," said Zac Kilpatrick, vice president of global go-to-market partners at Cribl. About Vijilan Security Vijilan Security is a trusted provider of cybersecurity services, including SIEM, SOC, XDR, and MDR solutions. With a focus on empowering MSPs and enterprises, Vijilan offers advanced threat detection and response capabilities tailored to meet today's data-driven challenges. Contact Information Vijilan Security Phone: +1 (954) 334-9988 Email: info@vijilan.com Website: https://vijilan.com/incribl/ [ https://vijilan.com/incribl/][LM1 ] [ https://vijilan-my.sharepoint.com/personal/luis_medici_vijilan_com/Documents/Documents/Attachments/vijilan%20crib%2011.24clean+Cribl.docx#_msocom_1 ] Media Contact Company Name: Vijilan Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=vijilan-security-partners-with-cribl-to-modernize-data-management-for-msps-and-enterprises ] Phone: +1 (954) 334-9988 Country: United States Website: https://vijilan.com/ This release was published on openPR.RCMP has 'contingency plans' to bolster the Canada-U.S. border — but here's what it says it still needs from the Trudeau government