aces wild dance
Fifteen of Ukraine’s civilian airports have been damaged since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was quoted as saying by local media on Saturday. Ukraine, which the state aviation service says has 20 civilian airports, has been exploring avenues to partially open its airspace. It has been completely closed since the start of the war. Ukrainians who want to fly abroad currently have to go via road or rail to neighbouring countries to catch flights. For those living in the east, the journey out of Ukraine can take a day in itself. “We conducted a risk assessment and determined the needs of the air defence forces to partially open the airspace,” local news agency Ukrinform quoted Shmyhal as saying at a transportation conference. “Security issues and the military situation remain key to this decision,” he said. Shmyhal added that Russia had attacked Ukraine’s port infrastructure nearly 60 times in the last three months, damaging or destroying nearly 300 facilities and 22 civilian vessels. A senior partner at insurance broker Marsh McLennan told Reuters earlier this month that Ukraine could reopen the airport in the western city of Lviv in 2025 if regulators deem it safe and a political decision is made.
SIR Rod Stewart earns his stripes after sticking up for wife Penny over her Gregg Wallace run-in — and enjoys a night out as a reward. The 79-year-old singer and Penny, 53, partied at Annabel’s private members club in Mayfair, central London, on Friday night. It came after MasterChef co-host Wallace, 60, stepped down from his role. We told on Friday how Rod had called him a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” for “humiliating” Penny on the celeb show in 2021. Earlier this week, Rod slammed Gregg as a 'bully' in an online post. Gregg was first accused of making "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer on Impossible Celebrities. Some 13 people who worked with Gregg across a range of shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments, the BBC confirmed today. The Baby Jane hitmaker took to social media on Thursday to hit out at Gregg for his treatment towards his wife Penny. Former Loose Women panellist Penny appeared on BBC Celebrity MasterChef back in 2021. Rod shared a scathing post, claiming: "So Gregg Wallace gets fired from MasterChef. Good riddance Wallace. "You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, buy you had that but cut out didn't you? "You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. "Karma got ya."Positively Red Ball rescheduled for mid-January
By MICHELLE L. PRICE NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sheriff Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the DEA job drew backlash from conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.” In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid virus. “Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,” Chronister said at the time. “We are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be “disqualified” for the arrest. Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida’s immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend. Related Articles National Politics | Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff National Politics | President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction National Politics | Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain National Politics | Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs National Politics | Democrats’ outgoing chair says Trump’s win forces party to reassess how it reaches voters In the video, Chronister praised the “rich diversity” of his community and called it “a place where people from all walks of life come together.” He said it was important to note his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That’s the authority of federal agencies.” Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report.
Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from considerationBoys swimming: Divisional classifications for the 2024-25 season
Time to cut interest rate to spur GDP growth, says economist Charan SinghA federal law to shield journalists from unwarranted government snooping once enjoyed near universal support. It has lately become a political football — but it shouldn’t be. President-elect Donald Trump took to social media recently to urge Republicans in Congress to kill the PRESS Act, the shorthand name for the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act. Until then, this bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support. What would the PRESS Act do? It would shield journalists from being compelled to reveal their confidential sources and other sensitive information gathered in the reporting process. It provides reasonable exceptions, however, in cases involving terrorism, other serious emergencies or journalists suspected of crimes. The PRESS Act passed the House in January with overwhelming support from both parties. Its chief sponsor, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, reminded his colleagues then that “liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and journalists are often the first to expose government fraud, waste, abuse and encroachments on personal freedoms. In a free country, we need to make sure that the government cannot unmask journalists' sources without good cause, and that is why the need for this legislation is so strong." The PRESS Act has languished in the Senate, however, where it was sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and includes cosponsors Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois. Now, with Trump calling on GOP members of Congress to deep-six it, its fate hangs by a thread. We at the Society of Environmental Journalists urge the president-elect and members of his party to reconsider. Our group is a membership organization of 1,500 journalists who cover climate change and the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Our members rely on their ability to protect sources and the information they provide to hold government officials and corporations accountable, report corruption, expose malfeasance and publicize the most important stories of our time. While some who question climate change might see our group's support of the PRESS Act as ample reason to oppose it, that’s akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. As the bill’s advocates have pointed out, the PRESS Act would protect conservative, independent and nontraditional journalists just as much as it would those in the mainstream press. Indeed, one of the most outspoken advocates for the PRESS Act is Catherine Herridge, a former Fox News reporter facing fines — and possibly even jail time — for refusing to identify her source for her stories about the founder of a Virginia school who has ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In a recent appearance on NewsNation, Herridge said her reporting on those and other stories relied on confidential sources and “a credible pledge that I would protect their identity.” She said if she could sit down with Trump, she’d remind him of how he had praised her reporting eight years ago that found flaws in the investigation of Russian collusion in his 2016 election. “It’s not a political thing,” Herridge concluded. “It’s really a democracy thing.” For the sake of democracy and the First Amendment, we appeal to the Senate to pass the PRESS Act without further delay. It’s urgently needed and long overdue. Tim Wheeler is chair of the Society of Environmental Journalists' Freedom of Information Task Force and a former board member and president of the organization.
Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse
U.S. analysts are warning against a possible provocation by Pyongyang after a short-lived declaration of martial law on Tuesday threw South Korea into political turmoil. "There's potential for miscalculation on North Korea's part," said Sydney Seiler, who until last year was the national intelligence officer for North Korea on the U.S. National Intelligence Council, in a phone interview with VOA Korean. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed emergency martial law on his unsuspecting country in a televised address Tuesday evening, saying it was aimed at "eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom." Surprising move Under the decree, all political activities, including rallies and demonstrations, were prohibited, while all media became subject to the control of the martial law command. Soon after Yoon's declaration, a majority of South Korean lawmakers voted to demand the lifting of martial law. Yoon, who was legally obligated to comply with the vote, did so less than six hours after his original declaration. Seiler said that could leave Yoon looking weak to the North Koreans, who might decide this is "a great time to take advantage of this weakness to deal another blow to him through some type of provocation." Seiler added that one of Kim Jong Un's primary goals is to undermine the U.S.-South Korea relationship and that Kim "may see President [Yoon]'s actions as straining that relationship." David Maxwell, vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy, agreed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may try to exploit the situation. "If Yoon is correct and there are North Korean sympathizers in South Korea, we can expect them to incite violence," Maxwell told VOA Korean via email. Maxwell worried that this could lead South Korean law enforcement agencies to "inappropriately use force that could cause escalation." Risk of miscalculation Robert Rapson, who served as charge d'affaires and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul from 2018 to 2021, told VOA Korean via email Tuesday that the U.S. should deliver a "stern warning" to adversaries such as North Korea against trying to take advantage of the situation. Pyongyang should be reminded that "our ironclad alliance and commitment to defend remains fully in effect," he said. The United States reaffirmed it will continue to stand by South Korea, a major ally in the Indo-Pacific region, a few hours after Yoon's declaration. A National Security Council spokesperson told VOA that the Biden administration is "in contact with the [South Korean] government and is monitoring the situation closely as we work to learn more." The spokesperson added that the U.S. was not notified in advance of Yoon's plans. "We are seriously concerned by the developments we are seeing on the ground in the ROK," the spokesperson said. ROK is an abbreviation for Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea. Kurt Campbell, deputy secretary of state, told reporters at a Washington event previewing Japan's 2025 Osaka Expo: "I do want to underscore that our alliance with the ROK is ironclad, and we stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty." "We're watching the recent developments in the ROK with grave concern," Campbell said. "We're seeking to engage our ROK counterparts at every level both here and in Seoul." Campbell stressed that the U.S. has "every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law." Yoon has long been suffering from low approval ratings. Last week, his approval slid to 25% after rising for three consecutive weeks, according to a survey . Meanwhile, the ruling party and the opposition party have been in deadlock for weeks over the government budget bill for 2025. As of 4:22 a.m. Tuesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "so far, there was no abnormal move detected from North Korea," stressing that Seoul's military readiness against North Korea is intact. Sangjin Cho contributed to this report.(Reuters) - Two consumer data brokers that sold information used to track individuals' religious and political beliefs, pregnancy status and more agreed to stop using data on visits to sensitive locations, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday. The FTC accused Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics of engaging in unfair and deceptive practices by gathering location data without ensuring it had been obtained with the individuals' consent. The settlements - including the first to bar gathering location data through online ad auctions - are part of the Biden administration's crackdown on data brokers over privacy concerns. The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rules on Tuesday to rein in the industry. Websites, mobile devices and applications collect vast amounts of data on individuals which is sold and bought in secondary markets. While such data is typically used in online advertising, the FTC has expressed concern that it could facilitate stalking, blackmail, espionage and unlawful government surveillance. Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics used data showing the locations of mobile devices at certain points in time to sell products that could profile users based on visits to churches or political events, the agency said. The companies agreed to stop using sensitive location data, and offer opt-out mechanisms for individuals. Unacast, which owns Gravy Analytics, did not respond to a request for comment. Mobilewalla in a statement disagreed with many of the FTC's allegations, but said the settlement will let it continue providing "valuable insights to businesses in a manner that respects and protects consumer privacy." The FTC accused Mobilewalla of gathering location data on hundreds of millions of devices from online advertising auction platforms where companies bid for space to show their ads to specific audiences. It was the first time the FTC said that using such platforms to compile consumer location data is unlawful. Mobilewalla agreed to stop gathering information from ad auctions for purposes other than bidding on ads. FTC Chair Lina Khan said online ad auctions merit further attention from U.S. policymakers. "The multi-billion-dollar industry built around targeted advertising may presently leave Americans' sensitive data extraordinarily exposed," she said. Gravy Analytics sells location data to government contractors via its subsidiary, Venntel, raising constitutional concerns, Khan and her fellow Democratic commissioners said. The FTC's two Republican commissioners, whom President-elect Donald Trump could tap to lead the agency after he takes office, partially supported the settlements. Commissioner Melissa Holyoak agreed that selling location data to U.S. government agencies could violate individuals' constitutional rights. Commissioner Andrew Ferguson took no position on the constitutional question, but said attendance at public protests cannot be considered sensitive information. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
By MICHELLE L. PRICE NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sheriff Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the DEA job drew backlash from conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.” In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid virus. “Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,” Chronister said at the time. “We are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be “disqualified” for the arrest. Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida’s immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend. Related Articles National Politics | Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff National Politics | President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction National Politics | Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain National Politics | Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs National Politics | Democrats’ outgoing chair says Trump’s win forces party to reassess how it reaches voters In the video, Chronister praised the “rich diversity” of his community and called it “a place where people from all walks of life come together.” He said it was important to note his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That’s the authority of federal agencies.” Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report.Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from consideration
Pacheco shot 6 for 8 from beyond the arc for the Mountaineers (5-2). Dallas Hobbs shot 5 of 16 from the field, including 1 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line to add 17 points. Terrell Ard Jr. had 16 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Anwar Gill finished with 18 points for the Bison (3-5). Blake Harper added 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Howard. Joshua Strong also had 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Parsons and Globalstar Announce Partnership, Demonstrate First Software Defined Satellite Communication Solutions in Low Earth Orbit
Nebraska warming to what's-next mentality after latest cold finish at IowaThe Colorado Buffaloes made a statement on Friday afternoon in their Big 12 regular season finale against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, winning in a dominant 52-0 blowout. Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter also made a huge statement, hauling in three touchdown catches on the day while also intercepting a pass as well. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders also had a greta game, throwing for 438 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Buffs are looking to capitalize on the buzz from this game and carry it into the Heisman Trophy race, which is wrapping up in the next couple of weeks. On Saturday morning, videos came out of the "Heisman Packets" that Colorado put together as part of the campaign for both players to win the award. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Here’s Colorado’s Heisman packet for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders 👀 pic.twitter.com/wxMNGwv4W2 The packet is fit with pictures, stats, and quotes from both players, all in shiny gold lettering, meant to help sway voters ahead of the Heisman Trophy ceremony in early December. Of course, after what Hunter did on Saturday, it feels like this Heisman race is just about over. So far this season, Hunter has 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also adding 42 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 11 pass break-ups. According to the latest betting odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, Hunter is an overwhelming favorite to win the award, with -10000 odds. The second-place player on the board is Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, listed at +3000. Behind those two sits Miami quarterback Cam Ward, at +25000, and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel at +40000. It's unlikely that there are many voters out there who need this shiny packet to convince them who to vote for in the Heisman race, but if that's what it comes down to, then this late-season campaign addition might do the trick. Related: Travis Hunter Is All Over Social Media After Colorado GPA Surfaces