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President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet is proving to be one of the most controversial in recent memory, including a number of people who face sexual misconduct allegations. Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. He has bragged about grabbing women “by the p***y.” A jury found him liable for sex abuse against former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll. Still, he has been elected twice to serve as president . He has denied all the accusations against him. “This is not a good time for survivors or victims. People are not going to speak up because, look, it’s falling on deaf ears. No one cares ,” one of Trump’s accusers previously told The Independent after he was re-elected. Now, he’s nominated a number of individuals who also face claims of engaging in or tolerating sexual misconduct. Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman said: “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First. President Trump will continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again.” Below we look at some of the contentious picks Trump has made for his inner circle. The claims against Matt Gaetz, Trump’s former pick for attorney general, have garnered the most attention so far and finally claimed his scalp after days of backlash. The 42-year-old, who represented Florida’s first congressional district until last week, was once at the center of two probes: one by the Justice Department and the other by the House Ethics Committee. The department — which Gaetz would lead if he had been confirmed — ended its sex trafficking investigation into him last year without pressing any charges. His associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes in 2021; he is serving an 11-year prison sentence. In his plea deal, Greenberg didn’t name Gaetz, but he did admit introducing a minor to “other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts,” court documents say. The House panel has not agreed to release the findings, with some saying it’s against the chamber’s rules to release the report since he resigned from the House. However, some of the report has been leaked. Records obtained by the New York Times and ABC News suggest that Gaetz paid over $10,000 to two women who testified before the committee. The Republican made 27 Venmo and PayPal payments bearing descriptions like “being awesome” and “just because” from July 2017 through January 2019, the outlets reported. Both women were over 18 at the time of these transactions. Additionally, Gaetz also made payments to a 17-year-old girl when she attended one of the parties, the Times reported. The committee was probing whether Gaetz had sex with the minor. Records don’t show that Gaetz paid the girl, but do show that Greenberg paid her $450. The girl was a high school student at the time “and there were witnesses,” her lawyer has said. One such witness appears to be one of the two women who testified before the committee; she said that she had seen Gaetz having sex with the 17-year-old but noted that she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, her attorney told the Times . Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung told the Times : “This purposeful leaking of classified investigative materials is the sort of politicized D.O.J. weaponization that Matt Gaetz will end. He added: “The Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years, failed to find a crime and are now leaking material with false information to smear the next attorney general.” Gaetz withdrew from the nomination on November 21. He wrote on X: “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance.” Trump tapped Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary. Hegeseth was accused of sexual assault in Monterey, California in October 2017, a police report obtained by The Independent reveals. The woman, identified in the report as Jane Doe, told police that Hegseth blocked the door to prevent her from leaving his hotel room and took her phone away before sexually assaulting her . She told police she told him “‘no’ a lot” during the assault. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and faces no charges related to the allegation. He emphasized at the time “there was ‘always’ conversation and ‘always’ consensual contact,” the police report said. The 44-year-old paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to prevent a potential lawsuit, which he labeled as baseless. The “report corroborates what Mr. Hegseth’s attorneys have said all along: the incident was fully investigated and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false,” a Trump transition team spokesperson told the Associated Press on Thursday . While not part of the Cabinet per se, Trump has chosen the world’s richest person to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) along with billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. He is also the subject of a June 2024 lawsuit brought by eight former SpaceX employees who claim Musk allegedly fired them after they accused the company of tolerating sexual harassment in the workplace. While working at SpaceX, each plaintiff “experienced exposure to unwanted conduct and comments of a sexual nature by Elon Musk that created a hostile and abusive work environment,” the suit, filed in California, states. Musk “runs his company in the dark ages — treating women as sexual objects to be evaluated on their bra size, bombarding the workplace with lewd sexual banter, and offering the reprise to those who challenge the ‘Animal House’ environment that if they don’t like it they can seek employment elsewhere.” The suit came after a former SpaceX flight attendant accused Musk of offering to give her a horse in exchange for an erotic massage. The company then paid the woman $250,000 to settle a 2018 sexual misconduct claim against Musk, Business Insider reported in 2022. Musk denied the allegation at the time, telling the outlet: “If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light.” Kennedy, who Trump nominated to serve as secretary of health and human services , is also embroiled in a sexual misconduct allegation. Eliza Cooney told Vanity Fair in July that she was hired by RFK Jr and his then-wife as a part-time babysitter in 1994 to look after the couple’s four kids. The alleged incidents took place years later. In one instance, she recalled him moving his hand up and down her leg under the table during a meeting in his kitchen. “In the back of my mind, I was hoping it wasn’t what it actually was,” she told the outlet. In a separate encounter, she said a shirtless RFK Jr walked into her bedroom and asked him to rub lotion on his back. She reluctantly obliged. “It was totally inappropriate,” she told the magazine . At the time, Cooney was 23 and he was 45. Months later, she said he stood behind her and began groping her, putting his hands on her hips and sliding them up to her rib cage and breasts, as she stood in the kitchen pantry in a bra and leggings after a yoga class. “I was frozen. Shocked,” she said. Two days after the bombshell story was published, the then-independent presidential candidate texted her an apology. \ “I have no memory of this incident but I apologize sincerely for anything I ever did that made you feel uncomfortable or anything I did or said that offended you or hurt your feelings,” Kennedy wrote in texts obtained by the Washington Post . “I never intended you any harm. If I hurt you, it was inadvertent. I feel badly for doing so.” RFK Jr offered to meet face-to-face to “make amends” but she turned him down. “It was disingenuous and arrogant,” Cooney told the Post in response to his message. “I’m not sure how somebody has a true apology for something that they don’t admit to recalling. I did not get a sense of remorse.” Kennedy has never been charged with any crime in connection to this incident. Linda McMahon , Trump’s pick for education secretary , was accused in October of enabling sexual abuse that occurred at WWE, which she co-founded with her estranged husband Vince. She served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. The civil lawsuit, seen by The Independent, details allegations of sexual abuse of underage boys by ringside announcer Melvin Phillips. It accuses the McMahons of allowing a “rampant culture of sexual abuse.” “It was also well known throughout the WWE that Phillips had sexual fetishes for young boys; namely, and only partially, because Phillips didn’t try to hide his recruiting and cavorting with underaged boys,” the suit states. “It was there for the WWE and its leaders to see in plain sight; yet no one did anything to stop Phillips’s rampant and open abuse of young boys.” Linda and Vince knew “at least as early as the early or mid-1980s” that Phillips had what Vince described as a “peculiar and unnatural interest” in young boys, the filing says. The couple fired Phillips after more allegations about his sex abuse of children surfaced, but “inexplicably” rehired him six weeks later — on the condition that he “steer clear from kids” — according to the suit. One former employee said the McMahons “clearly knew what was going on, but really did nothing to stop it. . . . There was not a damn thing we could do about it.” A lawyer for Linda branded the allegations as false, telling CNN : “This civil lawsuit based upon thirty-plus year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations and misrepresentations regarding Linda McMahon.” She added: “Ms. McMahon will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit and without doubt ultimately succeed.” She, her husband and Phillips do not face criminal charges related to these claims.With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk
Clemson added a quarterback to its 2025 recruiting class on Tuesday with Chris Denson announcing his decision to flip from Coastal Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder from Plant City High School in Florida had been committed to the Chanticleers since April and has yet to visit Clemson's campus. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has been putting a push on to flip Denson in recent weeks following the decommitment of Blake Hebert last month. "I just feel like my development will be through the roof," Denson told On3.com about his decision to switch. "Playing under one of the best coaches in the country and knowing that I haven't reached my potential yet, I know that they will take me to that level." A three-star recruit, Denson is ranked as the No. 50 quarterback in the nation by the 247 Composite. He is the 14th player to commit to the Tigers, who have also seen six players decommit this cycle, according to The Greenville News. "What makes Clemson special is just the level of ball that they are playing at," Denson said. "And the way they compete. I'm a huge competitor, so that's the type of place and people I want to surround myself around." --Field Level MediaThe start of Day 4 of the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test 2024 in Melbourne witnessed a bit of drama as Pat Cummins attempted to use DRS on a decision made by the third umpire. On the last ball of the 119th over of India's first innings, Mohammed Siraj jabbed at a ball outside the off-stump and it went straight to Steve Smith who was stationed in the slip cordon. Smith took the catch and Australia thought they had the wicket. But the third umpire didn't take much time to rule that the ball had bounced after touching the bat, although it seemed pretty close. Cummins, unhappy with the decision, immediately signalled that he wanted to use a DRS on the same but that wasn't possible. Nitish Kumar Reddy Maiden Test Century: Emotional Father, Tensed Situation, Mohammed Siraj's Defence and Other Moments Fans Need to Relive From IND vs AUS 4th Test 2024 Day 3 . Is this cheating? Pat Cummins tries to review a decision which was given not out. #INDvsAUS #BGT2025 pic.twitter.com/MjFikkCwpx — Sports Spotlight (@SSpotlight71) December 28, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Bellator fighter Daiane Silva is on the road to recovery after she returned home to Brazil following a long stay in the hospital where she was comatose following a brutal weight cut back in September. Originally slated to compete at the Bellator London card, Silva suffered kidney failure from dehydration, which required her to be placed in a medically induced coma as doctors continued to monitor her condition. She spent several weeks in the hospital, but eventually came out of the coma and now Silva has not only been released but she was able to return home to Brazil. “The first prognosis we had was that she could be with dialysis for the rest of her life and it could take months for her to regain consciousness,” Silva’s manager Alex Davis told MMA Fighting on Monday. “But thanks to a lot of different factors like a very, very good friend of hers was an angel that stayed with her all the time and thanks to her very good physical shape and the help of the hospital and the doctors, thanks to the support of Bellator, of Mike Kogan and Eduardo Lima, and thanks to Cristiano Marcello , her trainer, thanks to all that worked so hard. We’d get up at three in the morning, I’d get up at 3:00 in the morning to have meetings with these people. “Out of a very sorry prognostics, she is [now] walking, she is awake, she is off the dialysis machine. She’s talking. She has a little bit of difficulty, it was a very, very serious condition she came out of. She’s back in Brazil. She’s at a rehabilitation center and we expect her to be 100 percent recovered.” Yahoo! Sports initially reported the update on Silva’s condition. When Silva was first hospitalized, Bellator officials didn’t respond to inquiries about her condition but PFL co-founder Donn Davis later explained that it wasn’t the promotion’s place to reveal private medical information while she was still fighting for her life. “I’ll tell you it’s specifically not been addressed for the fighter privacy,” Davis told MMA Fighting in October. “Everything you just said fully explains the situation. She was a first-time fighter for us, she experienced a very difficult weight loss which resulted in a medical emergency which was dealt with seriously and appropriately and she’s been in long-term hospitalization and we’ve done everything possible to support her recovery. “To say anything other than that is not our place. This is her business and her privacy but everything I just said is the news and that’s the news that is well known and that’s the news that we wouldn’t want to say anything other than that news.” Thankfully, now Silva has been released from the hospital and she’s recovering back home in Brazil. With a 3-0 record as a professional fighter, Silva signed with Bellator for a short-notice bout against Eman Almudhaf at the card in London in September. Despite previously only competing at 155 pounds, Silva accepted the bout at featherweight but anticipated she would endure a grueling cut to get down to the 146-pound limit for a non-title fight. While Silva is now out of danger physically, her full focus remains on recovering and there’s no word about a potential return to fighting just yet.
New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightingsFormer Virginia guard Jalen Warley is transferring to Gonzaga, according to several reports Monday. Gonzaga appeared to confirm the transfer by reposting the news on social media. Warley, who has 96 college games (58 starts) under his belt, will use a redshirt this year and spend 2025-26 in Spokane, Wash. Warley played three seasons at Florida State before transferring to Virginia before the 2024-25 season. He was allowed to enter the transfer portal again following the surprise retirement of coach Tony Bennett just three weeks before the season. With the Seminoles, Warley averaged 6.0 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. His junior year was his best, as he put up 7.5 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game over 33 appearances (32 starts). --Field Level MediaInstabase Appoints Marketing Veteran Junie Dinda as Chief Marketing Officer
CSU faculty, students rally against Board of Trustees policiesSAN MARCOS, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affirmed Housing, a leading provider of affordable housing throughout California, announces the completion of Estrella, a GreenPoint Rated, affordable housing development comprised of 96 apartment homes for families earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Estrella joins sister development Alora, concluding the two-phase redevelopment of a former affordable-housing complex, Mariposa, and resulting in a net gain of 126 new affordable housing apartments overall. To increase the city's housing stock, Affirmed Housing demolished the original single-story, 70-unit complex and recorded a new parcel map to make way for both new projects. In addition to Estrella's new 96 apartments, Alora, which was completed last year, brought another 100 apartments online for families and individuals earning between 30 and 80 percent AMI. "The completion of Estrella underscores our commitment to offer housing opportunities for everyone in San Marcos," shared San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones. "Estrella led San Marcos to achieve 10% restricted affordable housing out of all residential housing available in the city. The development of much-needed affordable housing options like Estrella and its sister project, Alora, expands accessibility to services that enhance the well-being of our community and meet their needs. Projects like these are key to preserving our exceptional quality of life for all." In developing Estrella, Affirmed Housing used a big-picture, sustainability-minded approach that aims to support residents' overall health and wellbeing. In addition to featuring the latest energy-saving and water-wise technologies throughout the complex, Estrella is intentionally designed to foster community engagement and accessibility. Residents have exclusive access to complimentary, on-site services intended to support those in need, such as computer training and resume-building resources and programs focused on health and wellness, financial literacy and parenting. A dedicated service coordinator is in place, in partnership with Compass for Affordable Housing, to plan and organize community-building activities and holiday events. "These projects demonstrate the City's leadership and commitment to providing quality resources that enhance everyday living for hardworking families and individuals," said Affirmed Housing President Jimmy Silverwood. "Estrella is an investment in the people of San Marcos, which is the best investment a city can make. This community raises the bar and serves as an example of what can happen when stakeholders align and focus on the common goal of doing what is right." Estrella features four residential buildings containing a mixture of one-, two, and three-bedroom apartments, and each has its own shared laundry facility. A separate community building incorporates several shared amenities that encourage resident engagement, including a kitchenette, computer room, barbecue area and bicycle parking. Four tot lots and a teen recreation area are also incorporated on the site. A total of 171 parking spaces are available, including eight EV-designated spots. Conveniently located within walking distance of Estrella are several off-site resources that promote residents' seamless living. In close proximity, there are grocery stores, a pharmacy, a neighborhood library, public parks and access to public transportation. A middle school is adjacent to the complex. Affirmed Housing's development partners for Estrella include the City of San Marcos, the County of San Diego, Compass for Affordable Housing, WNC, Banner Bank, DAHLIN Group Architecture Planning, Masson and Associates, and form/work Landscape Architecture. About Affirmed Housing Affirmed Housing is a leader in affordable, multifamily housing development, delivering safe, sustainable, high-quality communities for families, veterans, seniors and people experiencing homelessness. The company works with municipalities and private owners throughout California to promote housing stability and neighborhood well-being by leveraging deep expertise in public finance, low-income housing tax credits, and tax-exempt bond finance, as well as site selection, engineering, architecture, construction, relocation and marketing. Since 1992, Affirmed Housing has financed nearly $3 billion in affordable and supportive development, with more than 6,000 apartment homes developed or under development in more than 70 communities. The company has offices in San Diego and San Jose. Visit: www.affirmedhousing.com . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Matt Gaetz withdraws as attorney general nomineeBy KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
Timberwolves' $46 million guard predicted to land in LA via trade with Clippers | Sporting NewsOne dead in Ecuador, Peru ports closed amid massive waves
Donald Trump’s election interference and classified documents cases dismissedNone
Nov 21 (Reuters) - NetApp (NTAP.O) , opens new tab raised its profit and revenue forecast for fiscal 2025 on Thursday, banking on strong demand for data storage services as clients upgrade their cloud infrastructure, sending the company's shares up around 4% in extended trading. Demand for high-capacity data storage has been surging as enterprises incorporate artificial intelligence into their cloud platforms to process large amounts of data, benefiting companies such as NetApp. The company now expects its 2025 adjusted earnings per share to be between $7.20 and $7.40, compared with its prior range of $7 to $7.20. It also raised its annual revenue forecast to between $6.54 billion and $6.74 billion, from $6.48 billion to $6.68 billion expected earlier. NetApp's data storage is embedded in some of the world's biggest clouds, including Amazon Web Services (AMZN.O) , opens new tab , Microsoft Azure (MSFT.O) , opens new tab and Google Cloud (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab . The company's revenue for the second quarter came in at $1.66 billion, beating analysts' estimate of $1.65 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. It reported net income per share of $1.42, compared with $1.10 a year ago. The company's performance was driven by a record-breaking quarter in all-flash storage and strong performance in cloud storage services, said CEO George Kurian. Shares of NetApp have risen more than 40% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500 (.SPX) , opens new tab index, in part helped by its announcement of a share buyback in May. Company executives have also been aggressively pursuing acquisitions to grow and enhance its product portfolio. Sign up here. Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabThe 45+ best Black Friday phone deals 2024: Sales on iPhones, Samsung, and more
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Stars & Creatives Tease Series Finale ‘Sticks the Landing’ (VIDEO)
From tradition to innovation: CROPPS Symposium explores sustainable agriculture for hotter, drier climates
Jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton point guard Steven Ashworth likely won't play Tuesday in the No. 21 Bluejays' game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday, and coach Greg McDermott said he didn't know how long he would be out. “He stepped on a guy's foot on a 3-point shot and you're defenseless in that situation," McDermott said after the game. "He torqued it pretty good.” An athletic department spokesman said Monday that Ashworth's status was doubtful for the game against the Aztecs. Ashworth is Creighton's second-leading scorer with 16 points per game and leads the team with 6.4 assists per game. He also is 23 of 23 on free throws. 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
The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.Mhow (MP), Dec 29: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday termed India a “not very lucky” nation on the security front and urged soldiers to keep a sharp eye on internal and external foes who he said are always active. He was addressing Army personnel at the more-than-two-century-old Mhow cantonment in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh. “Taking the security scenario into account, Bharat is not a very lucky country because our northern border and western border continuously face challenges,” said Singh, who is on a two-day tour of the state. Mhow cantonment, 25 km from Indore, is home to premier training institutes Army War College (AWS), Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and Infantry School other than the Infantry Museum and Army Marksmanship Unit. Singh is visiting the facilities. “We also face challenges on the internal front. In the backdrop of this, we can’t sit quietly, unconcerned. Our enemies, whether internal or external, remain active always. In these circumstances, we must keep a close eye on their activities and take appropriate and timely effective steps against them,” he told the Armymen. To make Bharat a developed and self-reliant country by 2047, the role of the Army is very crucial, said the defence minister. “.. as the country’s defence minister, I would like to tell you that we should be alert always. This patch of time, though often referred to as peacetime, struck me deeply when I arrived and witnessed the discipline and dedication with which you are undergoing training. Your regimen is no less than that of a war,” he told the gathering. “To maintain such a level of discipline, dedication and firm conviction are needed,” he added. Singh said he was impressed by the cleanliness at the Army establishments and cantonments across the country. “Your dedication to work inspires me. I can say that the most appealing thing is your devotion towards work and sense of responsibility. It is inspiring to all of us,” Singh said. He told the Army personnel that the country and its borders are becoming increasingly secure and strong due to their hard work and commitment. The defence minister also lauded the valuable contribution of the training institutions of the Indian Army in making their personnel proficient in military strategies and warfare skills. Singh was briefed by the Officiating Commandant on the establishment of Advanced Incubation and Research Centre and the various MoUs towards enabling the absorption and transformation of technologies, a release by the Press Information Bureau said. He visited the Army Marksmanship Unit to witness their contribution towards national sports, it said. The minister also visited the Infantry Museum, where he was briefed on the history of infantry as well as the induction of modernised equipment into the infantry. Earlier, Singh along with the Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi paid floral tributes at the memorial of Dr B R Ambedkar at Mhow. The memorial of Ambedkar, the chief architect of India’s Constitution, has been built at his birthplace in the Kali Paltan area of Mhow cantonment.
By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.