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The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver’s North Shore mountains is warning people to do their research after two international visitors became stranded while relying on hiking apps to plan their routes. Allan McMordie with North Shore Rescue managed the Sunday night rescue of a man from Goat Ridge, a backcountry area behind Grouse Mountain. He said the man told rescuers he had not been expecting snow, despite two of the local ski hills opening with fresh powder last month. “All you had to do was look at the top of the mountains from Vancouver and know there’s snow up there,” he said in an interview. “To be in running shoes and not even expecting any snow was pretty naive.” The man from France had set out on a marked route, then decided to make his way through very rough, steep terrain to a separate trail at significantly higher elevation. “This is rugged backcountry,” McMordie said. “It’s almost impassable.” McMordie could not confirm which apps the hikers in both recent rescues were using, but said a lack of any marked route or trail reports is a good indication not to use the application. In any case, he said trip planning should involve multiple sources for information. If the man from France had done any research, McMordie said he would have discovered the backcountry area where he was rescued is closed for the winter. In both recent cases, he said there are signs at each trailhead with maps showing trails and topography, along with reminders about key steps in trip planning, he said. Both men were lucky to have been able to make 911 calls, McMordie added, as service is patchy in the area and their phone batteries had nearly run out. Above all, he said hikers should tell someone else where they’re going and when they expect to return, so that person can alert local authorities if necessary. “Absolutely nobody knew where this person was and what he was doing that day,” McMordie said of the man from France. “If he had not been able to get that (911) call out, he would still be there.” Sunday’s rescue on Goat Ridge came three days after a similar call, when another man”seriously underestimated the difficulty” of a route marked in an online hiking app, North Shore Rescue said in a statement posted to social media. The group said there is “barely a trail” in the summer and “nothing whatsoever” in the winter, making for “full mountaineering conditions” at this time of year. The man called for help after hiking for eight hours that left him “tired, soaked (and) hypothermic” as the sun was setting,” it said. It’s doubtful the man would have survived the night in the Mount Seymour backcountry if he hadn’t been able to make the call, the rescue group added. The man had been staying in a short-term accommodation and had taken an Uber to the trailhead. Only his girlfriend in Norway knew where he was, and he was not wearing or carrying adequate gear for the conditions, McMordie said. Vancouver-based Stephen Hui, the author of several B.C. hiking guidebooks, said the rough, mountainous terrain steps away from urban Metro Vancouver and the extent of the snowpack in winter is a surprise for many visiting hikers. Hui said online apps can be helpful and often provide commentary about trail conditions from other hikers, but it’s crucial to look at additional sources of information, including complete maps and provincial and national park websites. He said local authorities and outdoor groups have some responsibility for people heading into the backcountry, and there is room for more signage and education. Ultimately, though, he said people must be responsible for themselves. “We can’t handhold everybody,” he said. “There’s always going to be dangers in hiking.”
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On November 26, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced that physician and economist Jayanta ‘Jay’ Bhattacharya will be the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s chief agency for medical research. This pick makes Dr. Bhattacharya the second Indian-American selected by Mr. Trump for a key post, after Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been tapped to lead the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, along with billionaire Elon Musk. The NIH, with a $48 billion budget, is one of the foremost agencies for biomedical research, with 27 centres dealing with a spectrum of subjects, including cancer research and diabetes. The NIH’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, will be headed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease,” Mr. Trump said in a statement posted on social media post. Mr. Trump’s health picks are unconventional, with both appointees having expressed opinions on health policy and medicine which are out of the mainstream realm. The Kolkata-born Bhattacharya migrated to the U.S. as a child. He earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford, and later completed a medical degree and a doctorate from the same institution. His Stanford association continues; he is a tenured professor in health policy and a professor of economics by courtesy. He is also the Director for the Centre of the Demography and Economics of Health and Aging, and a Senior Fellow for both the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (by courtesy). His Stanford profile notes that he is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research. Dr. Bhattacharya is not a practising physician and counts public health policy, specifically centred on infectious diseases and COVID, as well as health economics as his domains of expertise. He came into the public spotlight during the Covid pandemic years for his forceful advocacy against lockdowns, his belief that civil servants had too much power over federal policy during that time, and his criticism of Joe Biden’s handling of the pandemic. Soon after the World Health Organisation declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic, Dr. Bhattacharya questioned the severity of the virus and said quarantines were not worth their economic, community and individual health cost. He also published research asserting that immunity to the virus was greater than believed. ‘Irreparable damage’ Along with Sunetra Gupta, an Oxford professor of theoretical epidemiology, and Martin Kulldorff, a Swedish epidemiologist and former professor at Harvard, Dr. Bhattacharya authored the 2020 ‘Great Barrington Declaration’, a public health manifesto, which emerged from a meeting organised by free-market policy think tank American Institute for Economic Research in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The authors mooted an approach called “Focused Protection”, whereby they suggested that COVID be allowed to spread among young healthy people who were “at minimal risk of death” and could thus develop natural herd immunity. Prevention efforts were to be focused on the elderly and at-risk populations. The authors said they had “grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies,” saying continued lockdowns “until a vaccine is available will cause irreparable damage.” The Declaration was signed by 43 other professionals in the health sciences and medicine. The Great Barrington Declaration was widely denounced by public health experts. Dr. Frances Collins, then director of the NIH, called its authors “fringe epidemiologists,” while Dr. Anthony Fauci termed it “total nonsense.” Eighty experts published a counter-manifesto to the Declaration called the John Snow Memorandum, arguing that the approach laid out by the declaration would endanger citizens with underlying conditions and cause more deaths. About 1.2 million people eventually died in the U.S during the pandemic. Dr. Bhattacharya was also a witness in court cases which sought to challenge government policies around containment of COVID-19. He, along with other plaintiffs, sued the government over “COVID censorship,” referring to efforts made to curb COVID misinformation on social media by the government in collaboration with social media companies. They asserted that this was a violation of the right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution. Dr. Bhattacharya also argued against school mask mandates in Florida and Tennessee, where judges deemed him unqualified to make medical pronouncements on the matter. Dr. Bhattacharya recently hosted a forum in Stanford about pandemic policy, aiming to bring those with differing view-points together to “talk to each other in a civil way.” But the forum came under fire as providing a platform to discredited figures with unscientific approaches. His appointment heralds a new chapter in American public health. Reacting to his nomination, Dr. Bhattacharya wrote on X: “We will reform American scientific institutions so that they are worthy of trust again and will deploy the fruits of excellent science to make America healthy again!” Published - December 01, 2024 01:26 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit USA / US PRESIDENTIAL POLLS / The Hindu Profiles / The Hindu ExplainsCHICAGO — Connor Hellebuyck is looking forward to his Ryan Miller moment, though he’s planning on making a key alteration to the ending. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * CHICAGO — Connor Hellebuyck is looking forward to his Ryan Miller moment, though he’s planning on making a key alteration to the ending. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? CHICAGO — Connor Hellebuyck is looking forward to his Ryan Miller moment, though he’s planning on making a key alteration to the ending. The Winnipeg Jets goalie could barely contain his enthusiasm as spoke to reporters for the first time since being picked for Team USA for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. “The one that comes to mind is the gold medal game (in 2010) with Ryan Miller. He played phenomenal that entire tournament,” Hellebuyck said after the Jets’ workout at Fifth Third Bank Arena, the Chicago Blackhawks practice facility. “It was (Sidney) Crosby that scored (golden goal), five-hole. Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck says putting on the USA jersey will be a moment to remember. “A moment like that is so big, I’m hopefully going to have my own moment like that — hopefully winning it — but those little milestones are what I’m going to be able to tell stories to my kids when they grow up.” It turns out Hellebuyck was told he is on the team by Team USA general manager Bill Guerin after the Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild late last month — which was why he offered a polite “no comment” when asked about the exchange by colleague Mike McIntyre following the game during. “I was thrilled,” said Hellebuyck. “I found out Kyle (Connor) was with me and I’m really excited to have a teammate there. It’s going to be a really fun tournament. Different style of hockey I’d imagine, but it’s going to be a good balance because a bunch of these players are coming in in mid-season form. “It’s a great precursor for the Olympics. It’s going to be a lot of the same players and same teams. Getting to put the USA jersey on, that’s going to be a moment that I’ll remember and get to cherish. I know I have a World Championships, but this feels a little bit different. This is a little closer to Olympic time and Olympic rosters. I’m excited to figure out what’s in front of me.” Much like Connor said, Hellebuyck wasn’t fretting over whether or not he would be named to the 23-man roster that was unveiled on Wednesday. “I didn’t really worry a whole lot. I was just going to put the best version of myself on the ice every single day and let that process take care of itself,” said Hellebuyck. “Now it’s pen to paper and I’m going to be on the team. Now I’m looking forward to what the two weeks has to offer. It’s not just games, it’s going to be a bit of travelling, meeting players. I know a lot of players on the team. It’s a different blend of things that’s going to be really fun.” The Jets were in positive spirits Friday, one day after ending a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres that opened this stretch of three games in four days. Hellebuyck made 28 saves as he made his 21st start of the season. “We played a great game. Everyone was doing their job and playing the way we want to play,” said Hellebuyck. “It’s always great winning in this league. The morale, you just have more fun — around the rink, at the hotel, the travel day, it becomes less of a grind when you’re winning.” As the Jets were able to take a collective deep breath after winning for the fourth time in the past 11 games, things haven’t been going all that smoothly for the Blackhawks, who fired head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday and have replaced him with Anders Sorensen on an interim basis. “We’re always auditioning no matter what role we’re in,” Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said Friday. “It’s a great oportuntiy for him to show what he’s got. We’ve seen it in the American League, it’s a bigger stage now for him to show.” Blackhaws centre Connor Bedard discussed what it was like to be going through a coaching change so early in his professional career. “Obviously mixed up (emotions). You’re excited with Anders coming in, but I had a good relationship with Luke,” Bedard said. “He’s a really good guy and in the end it’s someone losing their job. it helps that you build relationships with those guys and it’s sad seeing him go, for sure.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sorensen is the first Swedish head coach in NHL history and you can expect the Blackhawks to try and come out with some additional jump as they face the Jets for the second time this season. “Any time you’ve got a new coach, you’re trying to impress, I guess would be the word,” said Jets forward Cole Perfetti. “Everybody is going to come out there and work really hard, I think we saw that from St. Louis the other day. They’re all just working really hard. “They have some skill and they’re a really good team. When you get that coaching change, there’s a little bit of extra desperation. Everyone kind of has a fresh start, so you have to earn what you get. I think we’re going to see that again (on Saturday).” ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the , with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the , , Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the in 1999 and returned to the in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. . Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the , with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the , , Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the in 1999 and returned to the in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. . Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementNone
Pep Guardiola sends major Man City threat - just days after signing new contractGLENDALE, AZ — The holiday season often brings shoppers back to bustling malls—but even as Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix is being demolished, other shopping centers like Arrowhead Town Center in Glendale are thriving, showcasing a shift in the retail landscape. Although some ABC15 spoke to say they rarely go to Arrowhead or prefer online shopping, Arrowhead's Senior Marketing Manager Rachel Olish says foot traffic is surging. She says they have seen significant increases in foot traffic year-over-year, including Black Friday. Olish credits the mall’s success to its location and ability to adapt to the times. “The West Valley is one of the most rapidly expanding areas in the state, and we are very much aware of it,” Olish said. "We know it’s very much in our trade area so we are excited to see more people coming to the area with TSMC and growth along the 303.” Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip? We want to hear from you! Connect with us: share@abc15.com Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Beyond location, the mall's stores are investing in modernizing their spaces to enhance the shopping experience. “We’ve seen stores reinvest, expand, and remodel to give a more modern approach,” Olish added. Olish says she couldn't give out exact foot traffic or sales numbers. However, Hitendra Chaturvedi, a supply chain management professor at Arizona State University, explains that if Arrowhead sees more people through the door, the mall has implemented a crucial retail strategy. “What the smart mall owners are doing is moving away from the box department stores and putting in entertainment zones,” Chaturvedi said. With events, bowling, arcade games, and a movie theater in addition to its retail and dining options, Olish says they have invested and focused on making sure they are meeting a wide variety of customer needs. “We have the shopping, the entertainment, and the dining, so we can really satisfy whatever people are looking to do,” she said. Despite Arrowhead’s success, Chaturvedi cautions that it’s not reflective of national trends. “By 2032, in the entire country, there will only be 150 [malls] left,” he said, citing data from Capital One shopping . He says malls were originally built for Baby Boomers and the locations that haven't adapted from the original big box model may be rubble, apartment complexes or green spaces in the future. Latest from ABC15: WATCH: Esports provides sense of belonging for Basha High School teen Cameron Polom Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO ignites fury over health insurance industry Patrick Terpstra St. Luke's BHC approved to reopen after AZDHS order to cease operations Kasey Brammell Honda recalls 200K SUVs over fuel tank faults that could cause a fire Scripps News Staff
As many companies are cutting back or ending diversity initiatives, Costco's Board of Trustees is pushing back on efforts to end the company's DEI programs. The Board urged its shareholders to vote against a proposal submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research that called on Costco to eliminate DEI programs. The group claims that DEI programs are discriminatory and put the company at financial risk. "It's clear that DEI holds litigation, reputational and financial risks to the Company, and therefore financial risks to shareholders," the National Center for Public Policy Research wrote in its letter of support. RELATED STORY | US companies are rolling back DEI programs to critics' praise, but consumers don't agree, data shows In response, Costco's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to urge shareholders to decline the proposal. Shareholders will have their say on Jan. 23. "Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers," the Board wrote in response to the proposal. "Our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion follow our code of ethics: For our employees, these efforts are built around inclusion – having all of our employees feel valued and respected. Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our Company the importance of creating opportunities for all. "We believe that these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed. This capacity is critical because we owe our success to our now over 300,000 employees around the globe." The National Center for Public Policy Search said the Supreme Court decision reached in 2023 in SFFA v. Harvard indicated that companies' DEI programs could potentially be illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action policies by colleges violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. RELATED STORY | Costco memberships grow despite price increase as profits surge Costco's Board countered that the group was incorrect on its belief that the company's DEI policies violate the law. "We believe that our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are legally appropriate, and nothing in the proposal demonstrates otherwise. As part of our obeying the law, all decisions regarding recruiting, hiring, promotion, assignment, training, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy disability, work-related injury, covered military or veteran status, political ideology or expression, genetic information, marital status, or other protected status," Costco's Board said in response.B.C. florist review-bombed after U.S. shop with similar name angers Trump supportersNone
AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:15 p.m. ESTI’m A Celeb fans call episode ‘most emotional ever’ and a ‘hard watch’ as campmates and viewers break down in tears
Organizers and workers from across Alameda County, California, scored a major victory for the BDS movement on December 10th, successfully pressuring the Board of Supervisors to vote to develop an ethical investment policy that, when implemented, could move tens of millions of dollars in investments out of companies profiting off of Israel’s genocide and system of apartheid. The County Treasurer, who is an independent elected official, also announced that he had already dropped $12 million in bonds in Caterpillar (CAT), which directly profits from Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide, after sustained organizing from county residents and organizations requesting him to do so. He further pledged to dump the county’s remaining CAT bond, worth $20 million. This vote comes after months of grassroots organizing and pressure, including from many organizers with Bay Area Divest! (BAD!) and the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America’s (EBDSA) “Divest from Apartheid” campaign. “Organizing local governments to divest from Israeli apartheid and genocide is our chapter’s top priority,” said Zach Weinstein, co-chair of EBDSA. “It’s been incredible to see the combined power of organized workers, faith communities, racial justice organizations, Palestinian and Arab-led groups, and Jewish anti-zionists to win this major victory for the Palestine solidarity movement in the US, even as state repression of that movement continues to escalate.” Thousands of Alameda County residents signed petitions, made phone calls, and sent emails to their County supervisors calling on them to divest from companies like Caterpillar. In November, well over one hundred people came out in person to pack the Board of Supervisors’ hearing room in support of divestment. Even more attended the hearing this month, with supporters also filling an overflow room across the street. Labor unions like SEIU 1021, as well as the Alameda County Labor Council, played a pivotal role in supporting the campaign. The Alameda County Labor Council, a regional cross-union body with an influential role in local politics, passed a resolution supporting local divestment campaigns. “Since Israel began their most recent assault on Palestinians over a year ago, our members have been leaders in doing what we can to stand in solidarity with Palestine and in opposition the US government’s role in these genocidal attacks — from organizing actions at our workplaces, to divesting our own dues from companies that profit from war, apartheid and climate change,” said Felix Thomson, a shop steward with SEIU 1021. “From our over 100 rank-and-file members of SEIU 1021 Members for Palestine to our Local President, we have made this a priority issue in our union. It’s clear that the Board of Supervisors felt they had to pay attention to this level of organization from the workers who keep this county running.” Alameda County is the first U.S. county to divest in this manner, and, once this policy is fully developed and implemented, it will be the largest jurisdiction in the US to have divested from Israel, following the Bay Area cities of Richmond and Hayward, California and a handful of other cities across the country. “Along with other Bay Area organizers, we will continue to organize to ensure that this policy is faithfully developed and implemented and to get other Bay Area governments to follow Alameda County’s lead,” said Weinstein. “Millions of people of conscience across the US will continue to resist this country’s complicity in the ongoing genocide, displacement, and oppression of Palestinians — until Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.”
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Brics leaders in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre, right). WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 30 threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on the Brics group of nations if they undercut the US dollar. “We require a commitment... that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100 percent Tariffs,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, referring to the grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and others. The statement comes after a Brics summit held in October in Kazan, Russia, where the countries discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies. The Brics group has expanded significantly since its inception in 2009, and now includes countries such as Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Altogether, the Brics coalition accounts for a significant minority of the world’s economic output. At the Kazan summit in October, Moscow secured a joint declaration encouraging the “strengthening of correspondent banking networks within Brics and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with Brics Cross-Border Payments Initiative.” But at the end of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that little progress had been made on launching a possible competitor to the Belgium-based Swift financial messaging system. “As for Swift and any alternatives, we have not created and are not creating any alternatives,” Mr Putin told reporters at the end of the summit. He added: “As for a unified Brics currency, we are not considering that question at the moment.” Trump has vowed to pursue a protectionist agenda, threatening hefty tariffs on neighbours and rivals. If Brics countries continue with their plans, Trump warned, they “should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy,” he wrote. “They can go find another ‘sucker!’ There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.” AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will step down from his post on January 20. Since taking the lead at the SEC, the commission has been aggressive in its oversight of cryptocurrencies and other regulatory issues. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler, who has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry and repeatedly called for more oversight. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. US intelligence warns defense companies of Russian sabotage threat WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials are warning American defense companies to increase their security after a wave of sabotage in Europe blamed on Russia. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a public bulletin Thursday advising companies that work in the defense industry that Russia may seek to carry out acts of sabotage as part of its effort to undercut Ukraine's allies and their ability to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Western authorities say they believe Russian intelligence is behind several recent acts of sabotage targeting European defense companies. Russia has denied the allegations. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Cutting in line? American Airlines' new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, this technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations. Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields inched higher in the bond market. What will happen to CNBC and MSNBC when they no longer have a corporate connection to NBC News? Two television networks with “NBC” in their names — MSNBC and CNBC — will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News once a spinoff formally takes effect in about a year. Comcast is cutting loose several of its cable companies into a separate company in order to improve its bottom line. It leaves several questions, particularly for MSNBC. Will the news network geared to liberal viewers continue to use NBC News personnel? Will it have to leave its offices and studios at the NBC News headquarters in New York's Rockefeller Center? Will they even keep the same names?