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rich9 sign up An energized SMU squad will carry a three-game winning streak against up-and-down Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for each team on Saturday in Dallas. The game is the first for the Mustangs' basketball team as a member of one of the nation's perennial powerhouse leagues, but don't expect SMU (7-2) to wilt in the spotlight. The Mustangs lambasted Alabama State 101-72 on Tuesday in their most recent outing. Their two losses came against Butler on the road by 11 points and against Mississippi State at home by five. Kario Oquendo poured in a season-high 20 points to lead seven SMU scorers in double figures in the win over Alabama State. Matt Cross added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs while Samet Yigitoglu and Chuck Harris scored 12 points apiece. Yohan Traore and B.J. Edwards each had 11 and Jerrell Colbert hit for 10. "I think it's finally getting to the point where we are starting to figure out how to play as a team," Oquendo said. "You can see it from game to game. We're getting better, and every practice, we're getting better. I believe the more games we play together, the more the things start coming together." SMU is second in scoring per game in the ACC (averaging 87.4 points) and assists per game (16) and tied for fifth in field-goal shooting (47.3 percent) and fourth in 3-point shooting (36.8 percent). The Mustangs lead the ACC in rebound margin (plus-10.9), total rebound average (44.4 per game) and offensive rebounds (15.5 a game) -- all in all, an impressive start to their campaign. Boopie Miller is the SMU leader in scoring average (15.6 points per game) and assists (5.8), with Cross the top rebounder (7.5 per game). The Cavaliers (5-3) head to Dallas after an 87-69 loss at No. 13 Florida on Wednesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Elijah Saunders scored 19 points for Virginia while Isaac McKneely added 12 points -- all on 3-pointers. The Cavaliers, however, had no answer for the Florida defense, committing 15 turnovers that led to 20 points for the Gators. Virginia led 18-9 early but were down by four at halftime. They got to within a point after a deep basket by Saunders in the opening minute of the second half, but that was as close as the Cavaliers would come. "Overall, I was very, very pleased with the first half," Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez said. "I think that we handled adversity well. This group is on its way of becoming who they're going to be. It's painful growth, but you grow nonetheless." McKneely leads the Cavaliers with 13.1 points per game, followed by Saunders at 10.3. Jacob Cofie is the top rebounder at 6.4 per game, while Andrew Rohde has a team-best average of three assists. The teams have met just once before, with the Cavaliers outlasting SMU 76-73 in the semifinals of the Corpus Christi Challenge on Nov. 29, 2013. --Field Level Media

Ronald BurrisDejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his motherThe Johnstown Tomahawks have won 12 of their past 16 games entering a pivotal stretch in the North American Hockey League East Division schedule. Coach Jared Kersner’s Tomahawks begin a 10-game homestand against the North American Hockey League East Division-leading Rochester Jr. Americans at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial. The teams meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday. Trailing the Jr. Americans by five points in the division standings, Johnstown has an opportunity to gain ground and build on the past month’s momentum. “Weekend’s huge,” Kersner said. “Having 10 games at home is really exciting for us. This is an opportunity to try to gather as many points as possible on home ice, but Rochester presents a huge challenge. First place – we’re five points back. We feel like we have been playing well. We have obstacles in our lineup – injuries. We’re short some guys.” Kersner’s team lost some depth on defense. “The biggest one, Dylan Shane, suffered a laceration last Saturday in Maryland, and he’s out,” Kersner said of the team captain. “Jacob Ingstrup is out, too. Michal Capos will leave to join Team Slovakia U-18 (program), and that will leave us with five available defensemen on Saturday. We definitely will have to use an affiliated player in that game.” The Tomahawks are 8-2-0 in their past 10 games and have 28 points at 13-10-2 overall. Rochester is 7-2-1 in its past 10 contests and is 14-6-5 with 33 points. “Rochester is going to bring quite a bit of challenges we need to be prepared for,” Kersner said. Three Jr. Americans have combined to score 32 goals. Hugo Branthsson and Calle Karlsson each have 11 goals and 27 points. Owen King has 10 goals. Adam Gionta, a 19-goal scorer in 2023-24, has nine goals and 25 points. Goaltender Danick Leroux has 10 wins, including two shutouts, a .920 save percentage and 2.20 goals against average. “After all of the success we’ve had lately, we want to see how we stack up against the division’s No. 1 (team),” said Kersner, whose Tomahawks won a pair of one-goal games against Rochester at 1st Summit Arena Oct. 18-19. Since Oct. 12, Johnstown is 12-3-1 with 25 of a possible 32 points. “Our team has been built from the backside out lately – goaltending, defense, defensive play by our forwards,” Kersner said. “The biggest thing is the connectivity – learning how to play together. Learning to play inside the team structure. The guys have put in the hard work and bought into each other.” Both the power play and penalty kill have been assets during the current run. “The biggest change is the special teams,” Kersner said. “In November, our power play clicked at nearly 27% and the penalty kill (success) was 90%. We’ve been able to really take advantage of the special teams. Last week in Maryland, we won 4-1. We scored two power-play goals, had a short- handed goal, and didn’t allow any goals on the penalty kill. Special teams have been a huge part of our success.” Tate Pecknold, Ryan Flaherty and Cullen Emery each have three power-play goals this season. Nick Jarmain, Hank Reed, Nick White and Jack Genovese have been mainstays on the penalty kill. “We only allowed one 5-on-4 goal in the month of November,” Kersner said. “In that game, Nick White and Nick Jarmain were hurt, or our percentage might be even better.” The Tomahawks will be at home Friday through a two-game set against the Maine Nordiques Jan. 10-11. In between, Danbury will visit for four games on back-to-back weekends, and Northeast will be in town for a pair, including New Year’s Eve. “I’m excited to be in front of our home crowds for the next 10 games,” Kersner said. “We’re looking forward to playing hard for them over these next 10 games.” Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81. (c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Stephanie Lai and Hadriana Lowenkron, Bloomberg News Donald Trump says he is selecting venture capitalist David Sacks of Craft Ventures LLC to serve as his artificial intelligence and crypto czar, a newly created position that underscores the president-elect’s intent to boost two rapidly developing industries. “David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas,” Trump said Thursday in a post on his Truth Social network. Trump said that Sacks would also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. In Sacks, Trump is tapping one of his most prominent Silicon Valley supporters and fundraisers for a prime position in his administration. Sacks played a key role in bolstering Trump’s fundraising among technology industry donors, including co-hosting an event at his San Francisco home in June, with tickets at $300,000 a head. He is also closely associated with Vice President-elect JD Vance, the investor-turned-Ohio senator. Sacks is a venture capitalist and part of Silicon Valley’s “PayPal Mafia.” He first made his name in the technology industry during a stint as the chief operating officer of PayPal, the payments company whose founders in the late 1990s included billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and investor Peter Thiel. After it was sold to eBay, Sacks turned to Hollywood, where he produced the 2005 satire Thank You for Smoking. Back in Silicon Valley, he founded workplace communications company Yammer, which was bought by Microsoft Corp. in 2012 for $1.2 billion. He founded his own venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, in 2017 and has invested in Musk-owned businesses, including SpaceX. Sacks said on a recent episode of his All-In podcast that a “key man” clause in the agreements of his venture firm’s legal documents would likely prevent him from taking a full-time position, but he might consider an advisory role in the new administration. A Craft spokeswoman said Sacks would not be leaving Craft. In his post, Trump said Sacks “will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.” Protecting free speech is a keen interest of Sacks. He regularly speaks about “woke” interests that try to muzzle unpopular opinions and positions. The new post is expected to help spearhead the crypto industry deregulation Trump promised on the campaign trail. The role is expected to provide cryptocurrency advocates a direct line to the White House and serve as a liaison between Trump, Congress and the federal agencies that interface with digital assets, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Trump heavily campaigned on supporting crypto, after previously disparaging digital assets during his first White House term, saying their “value is highly volatile and based on thin air.” The president-elect on Thursday said Sacks would “work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.” During the campaign, Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference, accepted crypto campaign donations and met with executives from Bitcoin mining companies and crypto exchanges multiple times. Trump’s desire to give priority to the digital asset industry is also reflected in his close allies and cabinet selections, including his Commerce secretary pick, Howard Lutnick, and Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent. On the AI front, Sacks would help Trump put his imprint on an emerging technology whose popular use has exploded in recent years. Sacks is poised to be at the front lines in determining how the federal government both adopts AI and regulates its use as advances in the technology and adoption by consumers pose a wide array of benefits as well as risks touching on national security, privacy, jobs and other areas. The president-elect has expressed both awe at the power of AI technology as well as concern over the potential harms from its use. During his first term, he signed executive orders that sought to maintain US leadership in the field and directed the federal government to prioritize AI in research and development spending. As AI has become more mainstream in recent years and with Congress slow to act, President Joe Biden has sought to fill that void. Biden signed an executive order in 2023 that establishes security and privacy protections and requires developers to safety-test new models, casting the sweeping regulatory order as necessary to safeguard consumers. A number of technology giants have also agreed to adopt a set of voluntary safeguards which call for them to test AI systems for discriminatory tendencies or security flaws and to share those results. Trump has vowed to repeal Biden’s order. The Republican Party’s 2024 platform dismissed Biden’s executive order as one that “hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology.” Sacks can be expected to work closely with Musk, the world’s richest person and one of the president-elect’s most prominent supporters. Musk is also a player in the AI space with his company xAI and a chatbot named Grok — efforts which pit him against Silicon Valley’s giants — and he stands to wield significant influence within the incoming administration. The appointment won’t require Sacks to divest or publicly disclose his assets. Like Musk, Sacks will be a special government employee. He can serve a maximum of 130 days per year, with or without compensation. However, conflict of interest rules apply to special government employees, meaning Sacks will have to recuse himself from matters that could impact his holdings. Sacks’s Craft Ventures is known more for enterprise software investing than for crypto, but it has made a few crypto investments, including BitGo and Bitwise. Still, Sacks has firm opinions on the sector. Speaking last month on All-In, Sacks praised a bill on crypto regulation that had passed in the U.S. House but not the Senate earlier this year. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act would regulate certain types of digital assets as a commodity, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “The crypto industry basically wants a really clear line for knowing when they’re a commodity and they want commodities to be governed, like all other commodities, by the CFTC,” he said on the November podcast. He also disparaged some of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s positions on crypto under its chair, Gary Gensler. “The days of Gensler terrifying crypto companies,” he said. “Those days are about to be over.” Earlier this week, Trump nominated crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. With assistance from Zoe Ma, Bill Allison, Sarah McBride, Anne VanderMey and stacy-marie ishmael. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would get access to popular weekly injectables that would help them shed pounds quickly if a $ 35 billion proposal from the Biden administration is blessed by President-elect Donald Trump. The rule, unveiled Tuesday by the Health and Human Services Department, would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound for a large segment of Americans who are obese. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. 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Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids. What marks this year's greatest films? Explorations of humanity and creativity within a confined structure, be it a maximum-security prison or a teenager's mind . Thoughtful examinations of how we treat people who are different than us , and also how we look at ourselves . And the awesome power of music, from young stars bucking the system to a spiritually-charged instrument handed down through generations . Oh, and a bunch of backstabbing wannabe popes . Don't forget about those guys. Last year may have had Barbie and J. Robert Oppenheimer – congrats again on that Oscar win, Oppie! – but 2024 has Bob Dylan and Paul Atreides, onscreen alter egos of MVP Timothée Chalamet. Also, considering the past 12 months, Anxiety being a main cinematic character couldn't be more perfect. Here are 2024’s best movies, definitively ranked: Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 10. 'The Piano Lesson' Whatever Denzel Washington's family is getting each other for Christmas, it can't be better than what they gifted us. Son Malcolm directs this nuanced adaptation of the August Wilson play, and other son John David stars alongside a phenomenal Danielle Deadwyler as siblings butting heads over what to do with an heirloom piano . The drama is a spiritual journey of a family coming back together under ghostly circumstances. Where to watch: Netflix 9. 'The Substance' Demi Moore being back in the spotlight is pretty great in itself – the fact that she's in something so absolutely crazypants is the cherry on the top of a bloody body-horror spectacle not to be missed. An aging celebrity (Moore) takes a treatment that unlocks her younger self (Margaret Qualley), some key rules are broken and the results are messy, monstrous and metaphorical in a hilariously jaw-dropping hoot about beauty and self-worth. Where to watch: Mubi , video on demand 8. 'A Different Man' Yeah, Sebastian Stan also played Donald Trump this year. But his best role came in this dark comedy about identity , playing an actor with disfiguring neurofibromatosis . An experimental drug turns him into a new man – well, at least facially, because superficial confidence can't change the fact that he’s still an insecure mess internally. Come for the meta eccentricity, stay for a revelatory, movie-stealing performance from Adam Pearson . Where to watch: Video on demand 7. 'Inside Out 2' Sometimes you're just trying to have fun with friends and go to hockey camp when puberty hits you square in the face – or, in the case of this enchanting Pixar sequel, fills your noggin with a whole bunch of new emotions . The jittery Anxiety (fabulously voiced by Maya Hawke) leads a mutiny and kicks out Joy (Amy Poehler) and Co. in a matured narrative that ambitiously captures what it's like for a kid (and adults) to feel overwhelmed and out of control. Where to watch: Disney+ , video on demand 6. 'Civil War' With his riveting cautionary tale , director Alex Garland takes our current political and cultural divide to a disturbing place and makes audiences confront what an actual modern civil war would look like. The thriller doubles as a journalism movie, too, with Kirsten Dunst turning in an outstanding performance as a world-weary photographer who takes a rookie (Cailee Spaeny) under her wing on the dangerous road to a scoop for the ages. Where to watch: Max , video on demand 5. 'Dune: Part Two' For a much-anticipated sci-fi epic, director Denis Villeneuve's 2021 "Dune" was aggressively average. (Heck, that David Lynch "Dune" was more enjoyable.) But all is forgiven now, Denis: "Part Two" is a sprawling, sandworm-filled triumph . Chalamet finally finds his way as the messianic Paul Atreides – plus digs into the thorny issues that come with being a savior figure – in a gripping, action-packed sequel exploring power, colonialism and religion. Where to watch: Max , video on demand 4. 'A Complete Unknown' There have been so many underwhelming music biopics, it's a treat when one comes along that works. And thanks to Chalamet grabbing a guitar and harmonica, the Bob Dylan movie is positively electric chronicling the enigmatic singer's early years in the 1960s. He rises quickly in the New York music scene, finding chemistry on and off stage with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and going to war with the folk establishment as the times change around him. Where to watch: In theaters Dec. 25 3. 'Sing Sing' Take it to the bank: One day Colman Domingo will win an Oscar. And while he didn't get one this past season for "Rustin," this unforgettable prison drama based on a true story might do the trick. Incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit, Divine G (Domingo) recruits a hardened fellow convict (Clarence Maclin) into the prisoner theatrical troupe that brings him creative joy. As great a tale as that is, it's made even better by the casting of actual thespians from Sing Sing. Where to watch: Coming soon to video on demand , returns in theaters Jan. 17. 2. 'Conclave' Director Edward Berger effortlessly weaves together a locked-room mystery, courtroom drama, detective tale and political thriller into a supremely satisfying papal potboiler. After the holy father dies suddenly (and a little mysteriously), a stressed-out but good-hearted cardinal (Ralph Fiennes) leads the meeting to determine the next pope, navigating power-hungry candidates as well as his own crisis of faith. Where to watch: Peacock (Dec. 13), video on demand 1. 'The Brutalist' Everything is monumental in director Brady Corbet's rich historical epic, from a gorgeous music score and production design to a years-long narrative that takes a hard look at the immigrant experience and what happens when the "American dream" is held just out of arm's length. After surviving the Holocaust, a Hungarian Jewish architect (Adrien Brody) comes to America and is commissioned by an industrialist (Guy Pearce) to build a community center, while trying to bring his wife (Felicity Jones) over from Europe and weathering his own ego and vices. And like "Conclave," the drama presents a soulful, revealing ending that adds something significant to our cultural conversation. Where to watch: In theaters Dec. 20WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. People are also reading... Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) What to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to serve as defense secretary If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Trump Pentagon pick had been flagged by fellow service member as possible 'Insider Threat' Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story Here are the people Trump picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump 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, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State 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, Secretary of Defense 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. Pam Bondi, Attorney General 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. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security 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. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior 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., Secretary of Health and Human Services 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, Treasury Secretary 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. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development 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, Secretary of Transportation 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. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy 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. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education 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, Secretary of Agriculture 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. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce 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, Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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, White House press secretary 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. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director 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. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director 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.” Kash Patel, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator 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.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 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. Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations 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. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO 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. David Perdue, Ambassador to China President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel 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. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East 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. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia 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) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser 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, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy 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. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ 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. Billy Long, Internal Revenue Service commissioner Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration administrator Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator 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 and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency 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, Office of Management and Budget 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. Additional selections to the incoming White House 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. 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. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. 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. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Billionaire Elon Musk is calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “an insufferable tool” in a new social media post on Wednesday. “Won’t be in power for much longer,” Musk also wrote about the prime minister on “X.” Musk was responding to a video posted of Trudeau, in which the prime minister described Kamala Harris’ U.S. presidential loss as a setback for women’s progress. “We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress. And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president," Trudeau said during a speech at the Equal Voice Foundation Gala in Ottawa on Tuesday night. Elon Musk called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'an insufferable tool' on social medi. (Credit: X) Trudeau also said women’s rights and women’s progress are “under attack overtly and subtlety,” and that he “always will be a proud feminist.” Musk, who founded Tesla and space company SpaceX, has been tasked to co-chair U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. He was also a prominent figure in Trump’s election campaign. Wednesday’s post is Musk’s latest swipe at the prime minister since Trump was re-elected in November. Responding to a user on “X” on Nov. 7 asking for Musk’s help to get rid of Trudeau, Musk wrote “He will be gone in the upcoming election.” The post also comes during at a tense time in Canada-U.S. relations. Trudeau has been facing social media jabs from Trump following the prime minister’s visit to Mar-a-Lago nearly two weeks ago to discuss Trump’s tariff threat. Last month, Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on his first day in office unless Canada addresses his border security concerns. Following that meeting, U.S. network Fox News reported Trump joked during the dinner in Florida that if the potential tariffs would harm the Canadian economy — as the prime minister conveyed to him — perhaps Canada should become America's 51st state . Days later, Trump posted an A.I.-generated image to social media that depicted him standing next to a Canadian flag and overlooking a mountain range with the caption “Oh Canada!” In an interview on Sunday with NBC’s Meet The Press, Trump made another reference to Canada becoming a state. "We're subsidizing Canada to the tune over $100 billion a year. We're subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion. We shouldn't be — why are we subsidizing these countries?" Trump said to NBC News. "If we're going to subsidize them, let them become a state." And just yesterday, Trump appeared to be mocking Trudeau, calling him “ Governor Justin Trudeau ” in a post on Truth Social. "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!" Trump wrote. This week, Trudeau said Canada “will respond” if the U.S. moves ahead with a 25 per cent tariff. The federal government also says it will be adding more personnel and equipment resources, and show more visibility at the border in the wake of the tariff threat.

Lighting a Christmas tree is an old-fashioned tradition but it was the intersection of new-fangled technology and Christmas spirit that was on the mind of Bobby Clue Thursday night. Clue, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, was one of those to share words of greeting to those assembled on the Fountain Square for the ceremonial lighting of the community Christmas tree in the center of downtown Somerset. And Clue took the occasion to remind those observing about the importance of peace and goodwill — particularly this time of year, and particularly via the online channels that often provide individuals the opportunity to share less than charitable thoughts about their neighbors. “In today’s world, I fear we are often consumed with negative and hurtful comments, comments that are often hurled from a distance on social media,” said Clue. “We must do better with our comments that we use toward others.” Despite the frigid temperatures braved by those who came out for the ceremony, which dropped down into the low 20s, the message of keeping one’s heart warm like the glowing bulbs on the tree itself was Clue’s focus on the evening. Bobby Clue, Executive Director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, speaks at Thursday’s tree lighting ceremony on the Fountain Square. “Be the reason someone smiles today. Be the reason someone feels loved. Be the reason someone sleeps better tonight, not worse,” he said. “If we want better in the world, we must all work to be a better version of ourselves, and practicing kindness can have more of an impact on a person than you could ever imagine.” Clue then wished everyone a “wonderful Christmas” and expressed hope that people “truly remember the reason for the season” and that they take him up on his challenge to make a positive impact in someone’s life this holiday season. Merry sentiments were also shared by City of Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Pulaski County Judge-Executive Marshall Todd, both of whom received the opportunity to speak at the tree lighting ceremony. “This is one of the most special nights of the year, regardless of the weather, for a lot of reasons,” said Keck. “... We get to celebrate a real light, and we get to do it in a country where we get to do that freely, largely free of persecution. I pray, I hope and trust that we never take that for granted, but also tonight, we get to celebrate these kiddos, we get to celebrate community, coming together to celebrate a beautiful cause — not just Christmas, but again, that sense of community.” The “kiddos” mentioned by Keck were there to see Santa Claus, who made one of his multiple scheduled stops in Pulaski County this holiday season on Thursday. Santa — assisted by local musician Tommy Cate — read aloud from Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved “A Visit from St. Nicholas” or “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and also sang favorite tunes with kids while playing the guitar for his annual “Santa Jam.” Todd was pleased that the crowd was bigger than he expected considering the chilly weather. “This is where memories are made,” said Todd. “I was thinking previously ... back when I was much younger, we would come to town around Christmastime, and all these streets, if you remember back far enough, they all had tinsel and stuff across all the lights and the wires across the street, and it was all decorated ... “We’re here to make memories, to play on family traditions, and lots of things that go on in the holiday season, but we just want to remember that the reason for the season is the birth of our savior,” he added. “Just remember that, and don’t get caught up in all the hoopla of shopping and doing all the things we do at Christmas. Just remember the main reason for the season.” Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Pulaski County Judge-Executive Marshall Todd flip the ceremonial switch that turns on the lights of the community Christmas tree on Thursday. Keck and Todd pulled the ceremonial switch together, as is local custom, to officially turn on the lights for the community Christmas tree for the 2024 holiday season. The lights typically remain on though Christmas to the new year, and provide an attractive sight for those driving around the Fountain Square. The tree — an 18-foot-tall artificial pine — has been up since November 15, largely due to timing issues and the opportunity to do the work in favorable weather. In recent years, the lighting ceremony has taken place a couple days before the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, so that the tree would be lit already for the parade; in the past, the lights were turned on at parade’s end. This year’s Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will take place this weekend, Saturday, December 7, beginning at 5 p.m. at Meece Middle School and following the same route as in past years, ending at the Judicial Center parking lot. The parade travels a route of approximately 1.4 miles, west along East Mt. Vernon Street, turning north onto College Street, west on Oak Street, then south on Main Street and around the Fountain Square and back onto East Mt. Vernon Street and South Central Avenue, ending at the Judicial Center parking lot. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and his wife Cynthia are scheduled to appear as the parade’s Grand Marshals this year. For those who didn’t want to brave the cold, the tree lighting ceremony was broadcast on the Chamber’s Facebook page with co-emcees Laura Glover and Angie Travis, co-chairs of the Christmas Parade. The parade will be broadcast online as well for those who wish to view from home. A view of the community Christmas tree on the Fountain Square following Thursday's lighting ceremony. It’s a busy time of year for the Chamber’s Clue — almost as busy as for Santa Claus himself — but he was happy to be on hand for Thursday’s tree lighting and happy that so many others came out as well to share in the fellowship and festivities. “It’s a surprisingly large crowd, considering how cold it is; I think that we have as many people (on Thursday) as we did last year, and it’s at least 30 degrees cooler,” said Clue that night following the event’s conclusion. “So I’m very happy with the crowd, and if you didn’t make it out, that’s okay. We’ve given those people at home a really good experience (watching online) as well.”

How can he affect a team on a six-game losing streak? How does he plan to balance offensive play calling with head coach duties on game day? How can he further quarterback Caleb Williams’ development ? How does he look at the grand opportunity in front of him to show the NFL what he’s all about? But about four minutes in, when considering the most notable changes around Halas Hall since the Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus , Brown veered down a lighthearted tangent — about weight loss. At 225 pounds early in November, Brown was trying to cut weight. It turned out being named offensive coordinator to replace Shane Waldron was just what he needed. “You increase tasks to your day, you forget about food,” Brown said later. “I went a couple days and just really didn’t eat, didn’t really think about it, wasn’t hungry. I was thinking about the next moment, what to say to this player, doing game planning and I look up and I’m almost 30 pounds down. So we’ll keep going, see how long it lasts.” Brown was told he should market the unorthodox plan that has him down to 205 pounds. “I’ll write a book and we’ll see,” Brown said. “I hope you guys buy it. I’ll probably be pretty pissed if you don’t buy it.” The ensuing laughter was a surprising sound amid all the dreariness in Lake Forest lately. It’s that presence from Brown as the Bears’ new temporary leader that has players buying into his message ahead of their road game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Multiple players said Brown’s direct and clear approach to communication, his energy and his focus on accountability and unity have helped ease the transition from Eberflus, who was fired Nov. 29 after posting a 14-32 record in 21⁄2 seasons. “(Brown) is very deliberate in how he talks to us,” left guard Teven Jenkins said. “Everything he’s telling us right now is very intentional and all of us are very locked in. Everybody is sitting at the front of their seat, leaning in.” To be clear, that presence is not necessarily going to help Brown balance coordinator and head coach duties on game day. It doesn’t mean he’s going to formulate winning game plans or make better late-game decisions than the ones that ultimately led to the demise of Eberflus. That all remains to be seen. But it was Step 1 in steadying the upheaval at Halas Hall this week after the Bears fired a head coach midseason for the first time in team history. Now, Brown and the players hope to ride his spark and put an end to a maddening string of losses that have turned their season upside down . Brown doesn’t so much avoid the topic as indicate that he can’t really be concerned about it in this most hectic of all months. He interviewed for head coaching vacancies before — with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, the Houston Texans in 2023 and the Tennessee Titans in 2024. The former Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach under Sean McVay and the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator last season, Brown knows he’ll be assessed across the league for how he steps in for Eberflus. He surely knows the Bears, who promoted him twice in less than three weeks, will keep him on their candidate list for their next head coach if he handles himself well. And he knows his work between now and Jan. 6 may earn him consideration for other openings around the NFL. But he is focused on this job over the next month. “I’ve always had the thought process of every job I’ve had, try to excel at a high level,” Brown said. “What I realized about this profession is if you are bad at your job, they move on from you. If you’re good at your job, they give you an opportunity to stay around. If you’re great at your job, you get elevated. So my thought process was always to be the best I can be — not make it about myself — and let the chips fall where they may.” Bears President Kevin Warren gave Brown a strong endorsement Monday in talking about the coaching change and upcoming search, calling him bright, hardworking, talented, decisive and clear with “great leadership capabilities.” But nobody around Halas Hall will pretend that what lies ahead for Brown is easy. Interim coaches almost always are asked to step in because there are serious issues within a team — and the outcomes usually reflect that. In turn, the interims more often than not don’t return the next season. According to the Washington Post , from 1990-2021 interim coaches compiled a 111-209 record. Only 13 interim coaches — of the 46 the Post counted since 1990 — were hired into the teams’ full-time roles the next season. Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the only interim coach of six from 2022-23 to be hired to the full-time job when he was promoted in January 2024. And there is speculation around the league that his job could be in jeopardy after the season. Brown is one of three NFL interims this season, joining Jeff Ulbrich with the New York Jets and Darren Rizzi with the New Orleans Saints. He’s accepting of the hand he has been dealt. “I said at the beginning, I wanted to thank God for the opportunity that he’s presented me with because I can’t complain about prayers being answered in certain different orders,” Brown said. “Maybe it’s not the ideal scenario, but I live every day to be at my best for those around me. Every job I’ve had that’s led me to the future is based on the current work I do. So that’s all I care about. “I’m not worried about what happens in five weeks. ... It’s not even in my thought process. I’m focused on this very moment and how to do the best job I can for this football team to help lead these guys the right way and go have success.” How Brown leads Williams over the next month is as valuable as anything. After his second game with Brown as offensive coordinator, Williams hesitated to use the word — but then decided it fit. Brown has “a certain aura to him,” Williams said, that allows the quarterback to play free. “He knows what he wants,” Williams said. “You know he knows what he wants.” Brown was a self-described introvert growing up. He wasn’t shy as much as quiet, someone who kept to himself. But he has grown to find his voice, first through the communication required during 16 years of marriage to his wife, Jessica, then through parenting three sons, each with unique personalities that require different approaches. “It’s about still being my authentic self but also (knowing) how to deliver a message,” he said. “I’m never going to lie to you. I’m going to tell you the truth, but how I deliver it is based on what brings the best out of you.” His communication with Williams is key as the Bears try to help the quarterback squeeze the most out of the rest of his rookie season. In three games with Brown as his play caller, Williams has completed 64% of his passes for 827 yards and five touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception in six games. And he has made clutch fourth-quarter plays to keep the Bears in games late. Those are promising results against three solid NFC North defenses and certainly a step up from the previous three games that helped prompt the Waldron firing. Williams didn’t throw for more than 217 yards in a game, and the Bears totaled just 27 points in those three contests. There are still issues to iron out. The Bears offense, which has been slow to start games for much of the season under Williams, didn’t score in the first half and totaled just 53 yards before halftime against the Detroit Lions in Eberflus’ last game. Williams said Wednesday that he wasn’t moving with enough urgency at the end of the game, when the Bears got just one play off in the final 32 seconds despite having a timeout. He said he also wasn’t on the same page as coaches about the play they wanted to run to set up a potential tying field goal. But there have been more reasons than not to believe the union is working. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph said Brown’s clear and concise communication methods have helped to simplify things for Williams, “the way it hits Caleb’s brain, the way he sees it.” And Joseph believes the confidence with which Brown delivers his plans — and his emphasis on how they prepare — have rubbed off on Williams in the right way. Brown has stated more than once that he wants Williams to play with “no fear.” “When you have that as a player, you feel that,” Joseph said. “As coaches around him, you feel that — just that, ‘Hey, you can run through that wall if you choose to.’ That’s the confidence and command he’s brought in the room. It’s infectious. It spreads. He has put his DNA on it, and guys are walking in and believing in it.” Williams said last month that he didn’t have a lot of one-on-one talks with Brown when he was the passing game coordinator. The Bears, while trying to limit the number of voices in Williams’ ear in his rookie season, instead stressed his relationships with Eberflus and Waldron. When Brown took over for Waldron, he called the quarterback to lay out what Williams could expect from him and vice versa. He said the relationship required some “blind trust” to get moving so quickly in the middle of the season. Williams didn’t initially have the comfort that comes with working with a coordinator for months, for example being at ease with expressing when he doesn’t like a play call. They’re working on getting more comfortable. “I’m a pretty direct person,” Brown said. “That can come off different ways to different people. But he is not soft, which I appreciate. Me and soft people sometimes don’t always see eye to eye, get along. But he likes being challenged, likes being coached. “I’m definitely all about encouraging, uplifting our guys when it comes to doing things the right way, but it’s finding a balance (between) we have made some great improvements, great strides, but being good is not to be confused with good enough. So I can be better. He can be better. The entire group can be better.” Williams has been appreciative of how demanding Brown is of young players and veterans alike. “One of the most important things is accountability,” Williams said. “He’s done a solid job so far with that and holding me accountable, holding all the guys accountable. And just how he is. He’s a lead-by-example type of guy, and that’s been great.” Now the Bears must see if the leadership extends to the whole team on game day. A few days ago, McVay reached out to Brown to talk with him about his new opportunity. Brown worked for three seasons under McVay from 2020-22, first as the running backs coach, then as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach. He was a part of the 2021 Rams Super Bowl-winning team. Brown, a former running back at Georgia, listed a few coaches who have made an impact on him over his 14 seasons of coaching at the collegiate and NFL levels. He was the running backs coach under offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig at Wisconsin and studied how to marry the run and pass. He learned from Mark Richt as the running backs coach at Georgia and the offensive coordinator at Miami. He valued his time learning how to be a communicator, leader and teacher with senior assistant Jim Caldwell in Carolina last year. But McVay is his biggest influence, both in how to design an offense and use personnel but also how to lead. He learned “the really good stuff” about how to be consistent and own the room but also lean on the people around him. Brown obviously made an impression on McVay, who at 38 years old is the same age and played against Brown in high school in Georgia. He told Los Angeles reporters last week that he always thought Brown would be a head coach at some point. “There are just certain people when you watch (them), you’re like, ‘Man, they’re a little different’ in terms of the competitiveness, the spirit, the never-say-die attitude,” McVay said. “And then just his overall presence in general is impressive. A good way to articulate it is he commands respect by the way he handles himself, and he gives it back.” That command will be put under a much bigger spotlight when he takes on his first game as interim head coach Sunday. Brown was matter of fact in the week leading up to his debut about how he is handling his expanded duties. He is not a micromanager, he said, so he will not do a lot of meddling with defensive coordinator Eric Washington and his staff as they navigate their first game without Eberflus as defensive play caller. Brown already has been working closely with newly named offensive coordinator Chris Beatty, also the wide receivers coach, over the last three games. But they’ve added discussions about in-game situations , such as clock management, over the last week as they try to purge some of the issues of the past. Wide receiver Keenan Allen said Thursday that late-game decisions — and accountability from the coaching staff on some of those decisions — were some of the biggest frustrations for players under Eberflus. When asked if he thinks accountability will be better under Brown, Allen said, “We’ve got to wait to see, but yeah, I do.” That’s the hopeful attitude many players have taken this week as they deal with the change and try to finish the season off right. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker believes in Brown’s direct, transparent, “grown men” approach to communication. And he’s behind Brown as he tries to help them put an end to a losing streak they think is not indicative of their talent. “We love his energy and his demeanor and attitude he brings for us as a team,” Walker said. “Obviously ever since he’s been calling plays, he’s brought a different level to it. And we’ve got his back.” When Brown considered what he wants the Bears’ identity to be under his leadership, he said he has “more of a defensive mentality, even as an offensive guy.” He wants players to understand the physicality they need to play with and the discipline they need to have when they apply themselves. And he wants them to maximize their next opportunity. “Life isn’t guaranteed; this game isn’t guaranteed,” Brown said. “It’s a privilege to be here, so I want us to maximize it every single day in the building. And when we have an opportunity to excel on game day, go cut it loose, man. Play with no fear.” Brown is approaching his big moment the same way.Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire deal , which Israel's Cabinet approved late Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike slammed into the Lebanese capital. Residents of Beirut and its southern suburbs have endured the most intense day of Israeli strikes since the war began nearly 14 months ago, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold. At least 24 people have killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, describing it as a crucial step toward stability, the return of displaced people to their homes and regional calm. Mikati made these comments in a statement issued just after U.S. President Joe announced the truce deal. Mikati said he discussed the ceasefire agreement with Biden by phone earlier Tuesday. The prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, and cooperating with the U.N. peacekeeping force. He also called on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance the U.N. resolution. JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announced details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be national security adviser, credited Trump’s victory with helping bring the parties together toward a ceasefire in Lebanon. “Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.” He added: “But let’s be clear: The Iran Regime is the root cause of the chaos & terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.” BEIRUT — Israeli jets targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike on Hamra is around 400 meters (yards) from the country’s central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood in the country’s capital Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties from either strike, part of the biggest wave of attacks on the capital since the war started. Residents in central Beirut were seen fleeing after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for four targets in the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 people were injured in the strikes on the southern suburbs. BEIRUT — Hezbollah has said it accepts the ceasefire proposal with Israel, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Among the issues that may remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)

The business tycoon has interests ranging from ports and airports to renewable energy in India and around the world. Gautam Adani, who India’s opposition calls a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been accused of conspiring to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to bribe Indian government officials to win solar energy contracts. The case alleges Mr Adani’s company, Adani Green Energy Ltd and another firm secured a lucrative deal to sell 12 gigawatts of solar power to the Indian government – enough to power millions of homes and businesses. Prosecutors say Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and six other associates, presented the project as promising to Wall Street investors, who invested billions into the project over five years. Meanwhile, back in India, they were accused of arranging or paying $265 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure billions of dollars worth of contracts and financing. The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said the tycoon and his co-defendants sought to “obtain and finance massive state energy supply contracts through corruption and fraud at the expense of US investors, US Attorney Breon Peace added the defendants “orchestrated an elaborate scheme” and wanted to “enrich themselves at the expense of the integrity of our financial markets.” It further alleges that “on several occasions, Gautam S. Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the bribery scheme” and claims to have electronic and mobile phone evidence of this. The criminal charges, filed on Wednesday in New York, are the latest blow to the 62-year-old Mr Adani, whose stock prices crashed after the news was released. Immediately following the indictment, Adani Green Energy announced it would not proceed with a $600 million bond offering. The group called the allegations baseless and stated that “possible legal recourse will be sought.” Previously, US short-seller Hindenburg Research published a report accusing the Adani Group of brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud, but this indictment represents the biggest setback for the group so far. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded the immediate arrest of Gautam Adani. Get all the latest news from around the country Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn't improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. This will be the first time Purdy has missed a start because of an injury since taking over as the 49ers' quarterback in December 2022. Brandon Allen will start in his place. The Niners (5-5) are currently in a three-way tie for second in the NFC West, a game behind first-place Arizona, and have little margin for error if they want to get back to the playoffs after making it to the Super Bowl last season. Purdy has completed 66% of his passes this season for 2,613 yards, 13 TDs, eight interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating that is down significantly from his league-leading mark of 113 in 2023. Allen has been mostly a backup since being drafted by Jacksonville in 2016. Allen last started a game in Week 18 of the 2021 season for Cincinnati and has thrown just three passes the last three seasons — including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Joshua Dobbs will be the backup on Sunday.Andrew Schulz & Kendrick Lamar Beef, Explained

Last year, tech giant Huawei catapulted to the top of the smartphone market in China when it released the Mate 60 Pro, a phone that contained a tiny computer chip more advanced than any previously made by a Chinese company. The chips used by Huawei’s smartphones have become a symbol in the struggle between China and the United States for control over advanced technology . Huawei’s new Mate 70 phone. Policymakers in Washington have spent years trying to prevent Chinese companies from being able to make the kind of chip Huawei uses in its Mate phone. But Huawei has pressed ahead, and the phone has burnished its image as a national leader, triumphant in the face of US restrictions. Shoppers in China were excited to buy a phone with state-of-the-art components that had been made entirely at home. Huawei was able to appeal to Chinese customers who previously would have been more likely to buy iPhones, eating into Apple’s most important market outside the United States. On Tuesday, Huawei unveiled the next generation of that phone, the Mate 70 series, from its offices in Shenzhen in southeastern China. Richard Yu, Huawei’s consumer group chair, called the flagship device the “smartest” Mate phone. Loading Powered by its homegrown operating system, HarmonyOS Next, which was officially launched last month, the Mate 70 series has artificial intelligence-enabled functions, including improved photography, live transcription and translation of phone calls. Apple has yet to release its AI features in China. Starting at 5499 yuan ($1172) the price of the Mate 70 is meant to compete with the iPhone in China. HarmonyOS Next allows phones to connect with Huawei’s other products: electric cars, smart speakers and watches. But widespread commercial success for the Mate 70 could depend on Huawei’s ability to secure a steady supply of chips. The company relied on Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., or SMIC, to make the chips in the Mate 60 Pro. SMIC, which is partly state owned, is the only maker of advanced chips in China. Analysts said they believed Huawei had again turned to SMIC for the Mate 70. Huawei did not reveal details about the chips in the new phone. A critical question is how advanced the chips are, because that can determine whether they can perform more sophisticated tasks like AI at a faster speed. The chips used by Huawei’s smartphones have become a symbol in the struggle between China and the United States for control over advanced technology. Credit: Bloomberg US officials seeking to control China’s chip development say advanced technology is essential not just for consumer technology like chatbots but also for military superiority. They have tried to prevent Chinese companies from buying these kinds of chips and related machinery, leaving SMIC dependent on dated tools. Experts say SMIC has strained to make enough chips for Huawei. Even though production for some parts in Huawei’s latest phones began in July, the Mate 70 has not gone on sale until now because it has been challenging for Huawei to acquire enough chips, said Lori Chang, a senior analyst at Isaiah Research, a market research company. SMIC did not respond to a request for comment. As of Tuesday, more than 3 million people had signed up on Huawei’s website to reserve the company’s latest flagship phone, which does not require a deposit. The premium version of the Mate 70 is set to go on sale in China on Tuesday, according to Huawei’s website. A critical question is how advanced the chips are, because that can determine whether they can perform more sophisticated tasks like AI at a faster speed. Huawei has been working for years to position itself as synonymous with the country’s tech industry, as Apple is with Silicon Valley. Resurgence despite Washington’s controls is a crucial part of this image. A top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, became a hero to many in China after her return in 2021 following almost three years of detention in Canada while facing fraud charges in the United States. A series of trade restrictions against Huawei first put in place during the Trump administration pummeled its profits in 2022. Since Meng’s release, Huawei has expanded its product range and developed some of China’s most advanced AI technology. Over the past two years, the company has steadily gained ground in China’s smartphone market. In 2022, three-quarters of the high-end smartphones sold in China were iPhones. This year, it was just about half, as Huawei’s share more than doubled, according to Canalys, a market research firm. “Huawei’s goal over the past few years has been consistent — to reclaim some of the market share that iPhone holds in China,” Chang said. Huawei faces stiff competition from domestic rivals like Xiaomi and Oppo, which sell less expensive devices. To compete, Huawei will have to sell more midrange models, too, said Toby Zhu, a senior analyst at Canalys. Loading But even those devices will require a large number of chips. And as foreign chipmakers like the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, stop sending chips to Chinese clients, this could become increasingly difficult as more companies will depend on SMIC for advanced chips. “Not only Huawei but now all China-based AI makers, they face the same issue,” said Linda Sui, a senior director at TechInsights, a market research firm. “If they all ship through SMIC, that’s going to make the supply constraints even worse next year.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday . Sign up here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Phones Apple Most Viewed in Technology LoadingDeputy Minister for Transport and Communications U Lu Mon attended the 2024 Global Internet Conference and China-ASEAN Information Harbour Forum held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province of China from 20 to 22 November. The conference has been held yearly since 2014, and this year’s theme is “Embracing a People-Centred and AI-for-Good Digital Future – Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”. Experts and entrepreneurs in the the field of digital technology attended the event. The opening ceremony of the 2024 Global Internet Conference was on 20 November, and President Xi Jinping sent a video message to the event. Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau Mr Ding Xuexiang, Vice-President of Honduras Mr Renato Florentino Pineda, Vice-President of Zambian Ms Mutale Nalumango, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr Le Thanh Long and other UN relevant officials and organizations made opening speeches. The roundtable discussion of ministers from international countries was held in the evening, and Deputy Minister U Lu Mon attended the discussion. On 21 November, the deputy minister attended the “China-ASEAN Information Harbour Forum” and made remarks, and attendees discussed matters related to narrowing gaps in technology in regional countries to accelerate China-ASEAN trading with the digital system under the topic of “Co-Building the Digital Silk Road, Sharing a Digital Future”. During the visit, the deputy minister and delegation observed the booths of the Light Internet Expo, and attended the awarding ceremony of global youths, the opening ceremony of Global Elite Training of the World Internet Conference Digital Academy and “Construction of Trustworthy of Artificial Intelligence”. — MNA/KTZH

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Far-right streamer and influencer Nick Fuentes has been accused of battery after allegedly spraying a woman with pepper spray when she appeared at his front door in Illinois last month as his refrain “Your body, my choice” was going viral. Marla Rose, 57, told police that she went to record Fuentes’ home on Nov. 10 after she saw his controversial social media post and that he pepper-sprayed her, pushed her onto the concrete and broke her phone outside his Chicago-area home in Berwyn, Illinois. According to a police report, which was filed Nov. 11, the woman did not have any visible physical injuries but her eyes were “watery.” Fuentes was arrested late last month and released the same day. He is set to appear in court on Dec. 19. Fuentes did not respond to requests for comment Friday. He posted pictures Friday of his mugshots on X and wrote , “Free me n----”. Rose also took to social media, posting on Facebook : “It. Is. On. 🔥🔥🔥 PS — Civil case pending.” Rose could not be reached for comment Friday. Fuentes was doxxed and his address posted on social media after he went viral for an X post that has been viewed more than 99.6 million times since he posted it on Election Day , in which he wrote “Your body, my choice. Forever,” referring to abortion policies. He told police that since he “posted a political joke online,” he has faced death threats and “people showing up to his house unannounced” and had been “in fear for his life,” the report stated. Another woman who had driven by Fuentes’ house called police to report that she had seen a woman shoved by a man outside the home, according to the police report. Rose was still at the house when police arrived, but she and Fuentes were separated while they spoke to officers, the report stated. Police said Fuentes “became uncooperative” with the resource officer on scene and would not answer any additional questions about the alleged altercation with Rose, according to the report. After his Election Day post, Fuentes’ personal information began circulating online, with many on social media posting his address and pictures of his house, writing, “Your house, our choice.” In a now-deleted Facebook post, Rose had said that she was prompted to appear at Fuentes’ door given the views he shared online. In her post, she also disclosed Fuentes’ home address several times. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com . More from NBC News: Why top internet sleuths say they won't help find the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer 'Hawk tuah girl' Hailey Welch's crypto launch draws scrutiny Mehmet Oz potentially violated influencer marketing standards promoting herbal supplements, watchdog group says

Massive change to pension rules planned in savings boost for millions – but experts warn about risk to saversSTEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2024. All-time record Net Income of $55.7 million for the nine months of 2024, a 29.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Strong profitability continued for the third quarter, with Net income of $12.1 million corresponding to a basic EPS of $0.33. Revenues increased by 16.7% compared to the same period of last year to $40.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, despite a decrease in utilization mainly due to four vessels undergoing drydock during the third quarter of 2024 compared to zero vessels last year. Further increased period coverage. About 65% of fleet days for 2025 are already secured on period charters, with total fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating over $220 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues. Continued reducing leverage, making $106.6 million in debt repayments during the first nine months of 2024. Currently, 25 out of 28 vessels in the fully owned fleet are unencumbered. Maintaining ample cash and cash equivalents (incl. restricted cash) of $77.4 million as of September 30, 2024 enabling the Company to further reduce debt. Third Quarter 2024 Results1: Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2024 amounted to $40.4 million compared to revenues of $34.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, based on an average of 27.0 vessels and 27.6 vessels owned by the Company, respectively, as the vessels remaining in the fleet earned higher revenues due to better market conditions. Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $2.9 million and $12.3 million, respectively, compared to $2.4 million and $12.3 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The $0.5 million increase in voyage expenses was mainly due to bunker expenses, while the vessels’ operating expenses remained stable between 2024 and 2023. Drydocking costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $2.9 million and $0.06 million, respectively. Drydocking expenses during the third quarter of 2024 mainly relate to the completed drydocking of four vessels, while the drydocking of one vessel was still in progress, compared to no drydocking of vessels in the same period of last year. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $2.7 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The change is mainly attributed to the increase in stock-based compensation expense. Depreciation for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $6.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, a $1.0 million increase despite the decrease in average number of vessels owned by the Company, as the Company partly replaced some of the older vessels with newer and larger ones which have a higher cost. Net gain on sale of vessels for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was nil compared to $4.7 million for the same period last year, which was primarily due to the sale of two of the Company’s vessels during the three months ended September 30, 2023. Interest and finance costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, were $1.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively. The $0.7 million decrease from the same period of last year is primarily due to continued debt prepayments. Equity earnings in joint ventures for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was a gain of $1.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively. The $0.2 million increase was primarily due to slightly higher revenues due to better market conditions. As a result of the above, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company reported net income of $12.1 million, compared to net income of $15.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was 35.2 million and 37.3 million, respectively. Earnings per share, basic, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 amounted to $0.33 compared to earnings per share, basic, of $0.41 for the same period of last year. Adjusted net income was $14.2 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS, basic, of $0.38 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to Adjusted net income of $12.0 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS, basic, of $0.31 for the same period of last year. EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2024 amounted to $19.7 million. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below. An average of 27.0 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to 27.6 vessels for the same period of 2023. Nine months 2024 Results: Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, amounted to $123.8 million, an increase of $14.4 million, or 13.2%, compared to revenues of $109.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, based on an average of 27.0 vessels and 30.1 vessels owned by the Company, respectively, as the vessels remaining in the fleet earned higher revenues due to better market conditions. Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $8.4 million and $36.2 million, respectively, compared to $9.9 million and $40.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The $1.5 million decrease in voyage expenses was mainly due to the decrease in spot days, while the $4.0 million decrease in vessels’ operating expenses was mainly due to the decrease in the average number of owned vessels in our fleet. Drydocking costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $3.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively. The costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 mainly related to the completed drydocking of four vessels while one vessel was still in progress, while the costs for the same period of last year mainly related to the completed drydocking of three of the larger handysize of vessels. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $7.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The change is mainly attributed to the increase in stock-based compensation expense. Depreciation for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $19.5 million, a $1.4 million increase from $18.1 million for the same period of last year, as the Company partly replaced some of the older vessels with newer and larger vessels which have a higher cost. Impairment loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were nil and $2.8 million, respectively, relating to two vessels for which the Company had entered into separate agreements to sell them to third parties during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Gain on sale of vessels for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $0.05 million compared to $7.6 million for the same period last year. The decrease is attributed to the sale of four of the Company’s vessels during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the sale of two vessels during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which had been classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2023. Interest and finance costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $7.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively. Equity earnings in joint ventures for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was a gain of $15.2 million and a gain of $11.4 million, respectively. The $3.8 million increase from the same period of last year is mainly due to a profitable sale of one of the Medium Gas carriers owned by one of our joint ventures. As a result of the above, the Company reported a net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $55.7 million, compared to a net income of $43.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was 35.2 million and 37.8 million, respectively. Earnings per share, basic, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 amounted to $1.52 compared to earnings per share, basic, of $1.12 for the same period of last year. Adjusted net income was $60.8 million, corresponding to an Adjusted EPS, basic, of $1.67 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to adjusted net income of $40.0 million, or $1.04 per share, for the same period of last year. EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 amounted to $80.4 million. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below. An average of 27.0 vessels were owned by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 30.1 vessels for the same period of 2023. As of September 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) amounted to $77.4 million and total debt amounted to $86.4 million. 1 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release. Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements (of three or more months duration): An eighteen months time charter extension for its 2007 built LPG carrier Gas Flawless, until Jul 2026. A twelve months time charter for its 2008 built LPG carrier Gas Defiance, until Dec 2025. A twelve months time charter for its 2015 built LPG carrier Eco Galaxy, until Sep 2025. A six months time charter for its 2012 built LPG carrier Gas Esco, until Mar 2025. A three months time charter for its 2014 built LPG carrier Eco Chios, until Mar 2025. As of November 2024, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately $220 million. For 2025 the Company has circa 65% of fleet days secured under period contracts and contracted revenues of approximately $100 million. In late September 2024, the joint venture owning the vessel Gas Shuriken entered into an agreement to sell the vessel to a third party. The delivery of the vessel is expected to take place in January 2025. On November 4, 2024, the debt facility on the vessels Gas Shuriken and Gas Defiance, owned through a joint venture, matured and was paid off. Immediately following the debt repayment, the Company also acquired full control of the vessel Gas Defiance purchasing it from its joint venture partner, as such the vessel going forward will be part of the Company’s fully owned fleet. CEO Harry Vafias Commented: Our Company had another quarter of high performance during the seasonally weaker summer months. We managed to increase revenues by 17% compared to last year even though there was a heavy drydock schedule during the third quarter that reduced our fleet’s utilization. So far this year we have announced record profits and with the market strengthening during the winter we are on track for another record year. There is continuing interest from charterers on period coverage and we now have contract coverage of 65% for 2025, securing approximately $100 million in revenues for next year. Particularly in Europe, where the majority of our fleet is located, period rates for pressurized vessels are at historical highs. Currently 25 vessels in our fleet are unencumbered. We have focused on our strategic goal of deleverage and as of the end of the third quarter we had $86 million in loans and $77 million in cash, a testament to the Company’s strong financial position. Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS: Adjusted net income represents net income before loss/gain on derivatives excluding swap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels and share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels, share based compensation and loss/gain on derivatives. Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of shares. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Source: STEALTHGAS INC.Tweet Facebook Mail A man is recovering from serious injuries after leaping onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled by the animal, according to police in Canada's Ontario province. A man and a woman in the town of Fort Severn had left their home before 5am local time to look for their dogs and, while in the driveway, "a polar bear lunged at the woman," Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) said in a news release last week. "The woman slipped to (the) ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack. The bear then attacked the male, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs," the service added. READ MORE: Police believe New York gunman quickly left city on a bus  A man is recovering after he jumped on an attacking polar bear. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The man "is expected to recover," police said. While the man grappled with the animal, "a neighbour arrived with a firearm and shot the bear several times. The bear retreated to a nearby wooded area where it died from its injuries," NAPS said. Police officers, who arrived at the scene after receiving reports of gunfire and a possible bear sighting in the area, "located a deceased polar bear," the service said, adding: "Police continued to patrol the area to ensure no other bears were roaming the community." While polar bear sightings in the area are common, attacks are "rare but not unheard of," a police spokesperson told CNN affiliate CTV News. Fort Severn is located near Hudson Bay. READ MORE: Israel PM's shock blame for Aussie synagogue attack  Grieving bear takes revenge on rival that killed cub View Gallery Polar bears around the bay prefer to hunt seals while out on the sea ice, but when the ice breaks up, which occurred earlier than usual in southern Hudson Bay this year, they head inland to search for food, Alysa McCall, director of conservation outreach and a staff scientist at Polar Bears International, told CNN affiliate CBC News. At the time of the attack, "maybe this bear was a little hungrier than usual," she added. McCall said changing sea patterns due to climate change could impact how far inland bears go throughout the year and recommended locking away waste in order not to attract them. "If you're attacked by a polar bear, definitely do not play dead — that is a myth," she added. "Fight as long as you can." 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