fortune ox como jogar
Naked man arrested on California school football field accused of killing teenagerAustralian airline Qantas is preparing to launch the world's longest non-stop flights in 2026, connecting Sydney with London and New York. The flights will last between 19 and 22 hours , allowing passengers to experience two sunrises during their journey, hence the name Project Sunrise. Once operational, this new service could cut up to four hours compared to the current one-stop routes. Russian economy meltdown as Moscow hit with crisis Dad makes friend dig own grave and kill himself after raping his daughter, six Qantas is reportedly investing $1.53 billion into the project, purchasing 12 custom-designed Airbus A350-1000 planes for these ultra-long-haul flights. These aircrafts are specifically built with extra fuel tanks and state-of-the-art technology to handle the routes. Project Sunrise was first announced in 2017 but faced delays due to the pandemic, with Qantas now expecting to start the flights in mid-2026. The airline also predicts that the new routes will increase annual earnings by $332 million once all aircrafts are in service. This new service is also great news for passengers who can anticipate a luxurious experience on board. The Airbus A350-1000 will feature six enclosed first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats. First-class passengers will enjoy flatbeds, reclining armchairs and 32-inch touchscreens, while economy passengers can look forward to more spacious seating and advanced entertainment systems. Passengers looking forward to the new first-class suites can expect a luxurious 50 percent increase in suite space compared to those on the A380, complete with a lie-flat bed, an independent reclining armchair, ample space for working or dining alone or with a companion, along with a full-length wardrobe to store their belongings. DON'T MISS: Spirit airlines launches new luxury seating plan - it could impact low fares Passenger fumes after man sits directly behind him on near-deserted flight 'I'm a former flight attendant - this is how you can get a first class upgrade' For those flying economy, comfort gets a significant boost with six-way adjustable headrests, versatile seatback tables, dual USB-C outlets, a sizable 13.3-inch entertainment touchscreen featuring Bluetooth audio connectivity, and additional storage for personal gadgets. Excitingly, the airlines will introduce a 'Wellbeing Zone' accessible to all passengers. This area is designed to mitigate jetlag on long-distance journeys and will be situated between the Economy and Premium Economy sections. One viewer of a YouTube video showcasing the future plane interiors lauded the new upgrades, stating: "First, business, premium and the well-being zone are spot on! Surprising to see economy class on a flight that long though... I'm surprised it's not all premium." Another viewer expressed enthusiasm about the design features, commenting: "All these seats looks amazing, love the wireless charger spots, love the colour schemes, amazing touch with the seat and bed, separate." Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has voiced her opinion, stating that these new routes will bridge the distance between Australia and worldwide destinations, providing a more direct and comfortable flight path. The airline is targeting travelers who prioritize direct routes and comfort in their flight selections.
Irish-language film Kneecap has won seven British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including the top honor - Best British Independent Film. Kneecap, which is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the west Belfast rap trio was formed, also took Best Debut Screenwriter for Rich Peppiatt and Best Joint Lead for trio Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh. The film dominated the awards with 14 nominations. The winners of the 27th British Independent Film Awards were announced during a ceremony in London's Roundhouse on Sunday evening. Rap group Kneecap was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. The three-piece have faced disapproval for their politically-charged lyrics and ease with controversy - they've previously admitted they like "to get people riled up". The idea for a film was first conceived in 2019 when director Rich Peppiatt watched the group perform in Belfast. Filmed in Belfast and Dundalk, Peppiatt previously told BBC News NI: "It's definitely more controversial than the usual movies that come out of Northern Ireland." Set in west Belfast in 2019, the film is a dramatised, comedic account of how the group was formed. It became the first Irish-language film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT audience award. The film met rave reviews upon its premiere , external with The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "gleefully irreverent". The Irish Film & Television Academy has selected Kneecap to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the upcoming 97th annual Academy Awards.Pete Wicks shares feelings for 'special' Jowita as he speaks about relationship after Strictly
Signs of change in CUSLS: embracing Deaf culture
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index gained more than 150 points Wednesday after the Bank of Canada cut interest rates, while U.S. stock markets were mixed, led by a 1.8 per cent gain on the Nasdaq after the latest inflation report. The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point to 3.25 per cent. The outsized interest rate cut didn’t come as a surprise, but was welcomed by markets, said Brian Madden, chief investment officer with First Avenue Investment Counsel. On the TSX, “the leadership seems to be a combination of rate-sensitive areas like real estate and financials, and then pro-growth cyclicals like tech, indicating the strength in the U.S.,” he said. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 153.37 points at 25,657.70. “With the policy rate now substantially lower, we anticipate a more gradual approach to monetary policy if the economy evolves broadly as expected,” he said. It was noteworthy that the Bank of Canada gave such a strong indication of what’s to come, said Madden. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 99.27 points at 44,148.56. The S&P 500 index was up 49.28 points at 6,084.19, while the Nasdaq composite was up 347.65 points at 20,034.89. Governor Tiff Macklem said the central bank will likely take a more cautious tack after December. In the U.S., the latest report on consumer inflation showed price growth ticked higher in November to 2.7 per cent. The “hotly anticipated” report came in exactly as expected, said Madden, and markets took it largely as good news. The U.S. Federal Reserve is still “all but certain” to cut its own rate by a quarter of a percentage point next week, said Madden. Also helping markets Wednesday were tech stocks, with Google continuing its gains from the day before after announcing its new quantum computing chip. The tech giant’s stock rose 5.5 per cent. Another tech name in the news was Broadcom, which saw its stock rise 6.6 per cent after an announcement that it’s working with Apple to develop an AI chip, noted Madden. Broadly, Wednesday saw a continuation of the momentum markets have enjoyed since the U.S. election, said Madden. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.65 cents US compared with 70.59 cents US on Tuesday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.70 at US$70.29 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up 22 cents at US$3.38 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$38.30 at US$2,756.70 an ounce and the March copper contract was down a penny at US$4.26 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressSmart Shower Systems Market Expands as Demand for Home Automation Solutions Increases
Xbox has added nearly 400 titles that aren’t available with Game Pass to its app. “Earlier this [Northern] summer, we began working with partners to bring all PC games with Xbox features into the Xbox app,” said Chris Charla, GM of Content Curation and Programs at Xbox. “We’re super excited to see what Xbox games come to Windows PC from game creators in the future and to welcome nearly 400 titles that previously weren’t discoverable or purchasable in the Xbox app.” Members of the Xbox Insiders Program have had access to the new Xbox Home “experience” since late October, and it’s now available in the Xbox app on Windows PC for all players. Among the titles in the app are dozens of games from Japanese studios Kemco and Kairosoft, and games collections such as Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove and The Jackbox Party Pack. More than 100 of the newly added titles are Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning if players buy the Xbox console version, they can play the Xbox PC version as well (and vice versa). The new Home “highlights featured content so players can stay up to date on game releases, new events, Game Pass content, sales, and more”. Xbox said there are new curated collections and recommendations, deals and discounts, and the Jump back in feature, which enables players in Compact Mode to click on any game card and jump back into gameplay from the game’s hub. Charla said that with growth in the Windows handheld gaming category, the app is “a great way for developers to meet current and future players where they are, so they have the freedom and ability to play the games they want, with the friends they want, anywhere they want”. He said in coming months Xbox would be piloting and testing new features. In December a small collection of casual games including Candy Crush Soda Saga and Angry Birds 2 will be tested in the Xbox app.
WEST FARGO — When Happy, a sweet but oblivious-to-danger 9-year-old mare scraped up her back leg once again, owner Alicia Severson was able to call on Casselton Veterinary Service to visit her Gandin, N.D., farm and patch up Happy. But when it comes to a recurring ligament injury Happy sustained while competing in a barrel competition, Severson and many other horse and farm animal owners are finding it more difficult every year to find big animal veterinarians, and especially ones that specialize in certain care. ADVERTISEMENT "There is absolutely a shortage," Severson said. For decades, ranchers have been sounding the alarm about a shortage of rural veterinarians and new big animal vets, and especially those who specialize in caring for horses, cows, pigs and sheep. The problem persists despite land grant universities such as North Dakota State University, who often send undergraduates interested in the profession to far-away schools for continuing education. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , 500 counties across 46 states reported critical shortages of big animal vets. And while large animal veterinarians have long been a challenge to find in rural areas, where they are most needed, veterinarians who specialize in horses are also waning. That's despite the increasing popularity and availability in North Dakota and Minnesota for younger generations to compete in equine activities. According to an online database, about 43,200 horses call North Dakota home, which is about one horse per 18 people in the state. Leon Glasser, president of the North Dakota Quarter Horse Racing Association, has been breeding, raising and racing horses for more than 40 years, working to improve the quality of racehorses born in North Dakota. Over the years, he's watched the number of veterinarians willing to work with horses dwindle quickly. "Are we short of equine vets in this area? Absolutely, we are," Glasser said. He said a veterinary clinic in New Salem, N.D., will now only provide simple paperwork needed for owners to transport horses across state lines for care and Missouri Valley Vet Clinic in Bismarck has also limited equine services in the same way. Most newer veterinarians prefer to work on dogs and cats exclusively, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Severson agreed, noting it is also difficult to find a veterinarian who has experience treating goats, as the Seversons have two goats at their farm along with the horses and a cat. For Happy's ligament issue, of which she's had recurring surgeries and needs sporadic treatment, Severson worked with an equine sports medicine specialist based in the Twin Cities but would travel into western Minnesota. However, that veterinarian recently retired, leaving Severson on the hunt to find another specialist within a few hundred miles of the Red River Valley. "Nothing takes the place of a seasoned veterinarian," Severson said. "Thankfully, Casselton [Veterinary Service] is fabulous when it comes to when my horse is injured. But when it comes to long-term stuff that she's dealing with, it's difficult." Access to education and access to vets Dr. Alexa Weyer at Casselton Veterinary grew up in Snohomish, Wash., a farm town north of Seattle, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Dakota before finishing her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Following graduation, she began working at Casselton Veterinary in early 2021. "There is definitely a shortage of people interested in large animal practice, and we would love to see more interest," Weyer said. To be a veterinarian requires a doctorate degree from a veterinary school or program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam, which is an extensive 360-question exam on all species (dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats, pigs, birds, reptiles, rabbits, fish and more) and all aspects of veterinary medicine. ADVERTISEMENT Veterinarians can choose to either go straight into general practice after graduation or they can seek further education to become a specialist. To be a veterinarian technician requires a two- or four-year veterinary technology degree, depending on the program. Derine Winning, a veterinarian at Valley Veterinary Hospital in Fargo and public policy adviser for the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, said the vast majority — about 70% — of new graduate veterinarians became companion animal practitioners in 2023. Almost 10% became mixed animal practitioners and only 6% became equine practitioners. The data comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2024 Economic State of the Profession Report. "There are a lot of different areas in which veterinarians can become board certified through advanced education and training," Winning said. Animal specialists of any kind can be difficult to find locally, although Winning said the Red River Animal and Emergency Hospital and Referral Center in Fargo does have some specialists in oncology, surgery, internal medicine and emergency and critical care. Casselton Veterinary provides many large animal services from emergency on-call care to posting a doctor and technician for nights and weekends. In addition to their vets traveling to farms, the clinic has a large treatment area with two stocks and stalls for hospitalization and breeding care. The clinic also has several portable imaging tools. Weyer said the trend of vets moving away from rural areas can be seen in the growing need for referrals. "Unfortunately, most referral facilities across the country for large and small animals are in areas of high population density. For large animals, there are even fewer facilities and they tend to be at universities with veterinary schools or in areas of high equine concentration," she said. ADVERTISEMENT While the Casselton doctors work with a variety of places for specialty referrals, Sturgis Equine in western South Dakota and the University of Minnesota are probably most used by the clinic. Still, the closest drive is about four hours. Weyer said referrals are typically needed for colic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, advanced imaging or advanced hospitalizations. "In general practice like we are, there are always times to refer. For our clients, it would be nice to have a closer option, but a lot of areas in the country are even farther from referral than we are," Weyer said. Beth Carlson, deputy veterinarian with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, said rural areas most in need of large animal veterinarians may not attract college graduates with those abilities. "The ratio of large animal veterinarians has shifted quite a bit," Carlson said. "Certainly there are areas of the state where it is difficult to hire veterinarians for a variety of reasons. In some cases it's challenging to hire veterinarians even in urban areas as well." One challenge is the cost of becoming a veterinarian. The USDA offers a program that provides up to $75,000 in veterinary school loan repayment to graduates who agree to work in underserved rural communities a minimum of three years. While some in Congress have recently proposed increasing that amount, it can still be daunting as new veterinarians, on average, face about $190,000 in school debt over the eight years needed to become a veterinarian. ADVERTISEMENT According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, the mean starting salary for a veterinarian working predominantly in the treatment of food animals is about $85,000, but it was more than $100,000 for those who specialize in pet care. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture does work with residents interested in attending veterinary school. Carlson said her office assists with applications for veterinary loan repayment programs. "There are a few different ways that the state and federal government has approached that issue," Carlson said. While NDSU has a veterinarian technician program, there are currently no veterinary schools in North Dakota. In fact, there are only about 30 veterinary schools nationwide. The closest to North Dakota and some of the most renowned veterinary medicine schools are the University of Minnesota, University of Iowa and Kansas State. "NDSU is a great agricultural school and has a great veterinary technician program," Weyer said. "It might be nice to have a veterinary doctorate program at NDSU, but I am not sure that the population is there yet to support one."
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Matt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate Nov. 14 in Palm Beach, Fla. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and . 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 . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. 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 is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” 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 during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. to serve as his pick to lead the . 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 , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. 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. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a 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. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, 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. 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.” 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, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire, joyful after a stifling, nearly 14-year civil war. But the swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country still split among armed factions. One rebel commander said “we will not deal with people the way the Assad family did." Analysis: Collapse of Syria's Assad is a blow to Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — For Iran’s theocratic government, it keeps getting worse. Its decadeslong strategy of building an “Axis of Resistance” supporting militant groups and proxies around the region is falling apart. Hamas has been batttered by Israel's campaign in Gaza. In Lebanon, Israeli bombardment has crippled Iran’s most powerful ally, Hezbollah, even as Israel has launched successful airstrikes openly inside of Iran for the first time. And now Iran’s longtime stalwart ally and client in Syria, President Bashar Assad, is gone. Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? BEIRUT (AP) — Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters. He renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicts himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test. The 42-year-old al-Golani is labeled a terrorist by the United States. He has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. But he and his insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, stand to be a major player in whatever comes next. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of a backpack found in Central Park that they believe was carried by the killer. Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is pushing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump describes it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO. Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says any deal would have to pave the way to a lasting peace. The Kremlin's spokesman says Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine. Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza have killed at least 14 people including children, while the bombing of a hospital in northern Gaza has wounded a half-dozen patients. Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza, whose remaining Palestinians have been almost completely cut off from the rest of the territory amid a growing humanitarian crisis. One airstrike flattened a residential building in the urban Bureij refugee camp Sunday afternoon. That's according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world. In the end, though, democracy prevailed. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he was declaring martial law and giving his government sweeping powers to crack down on protesters, ban political parties and control the media. Members of the military blocked lawmakers from using the legislature's constitutional power to cancel the power grab. But the National Assembly within hours unanimously voted to do so. Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term policies skewed heavily in favor of Israel, and he has picked stalwart Israel supporters for key positions in his administration. But much has transpired since Trump left office in early 2021. The turmoil in the Middle East, the lofty ambitions of Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition and Netanyahu’s own personal relationship with the president-elect could dampen that enthusiasm and complicate what on the surface looks like a seamless alliance. College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.How far each of us would go to feel as good as we possibly can, and be the healthiest versions of ourselves, likely depends on a range of factors, from our experiences and family history to our personality, environment and socioeconomic status. The pursuit involves lifestyle changes that may seem extreme to some and aspirational to others, but for those who follow that path, it can feel transcendent. For Nick Thomas there was a time things like fasting, cutting out bread, alcohol and caffeine, seemed impossible – undesirable even. Nick Thomas. Credit: Joe Armao “If I can change, then anyone can,” says Thomas, who runs a marketing consultancy. “I’d love everyone to feel better like I do and have the energy I have because it didn’t use to be this way.” Three years ago, his hair started falling out. Rapidly. He had no family history of male-pattern baldness, so when a dermatologist suggested it was a natural part of ageing and the only answer was medication, Thomas thought “bullshit”. The Melbourne-based Brit went to see a functional medicine doctor, who suggested his body was under too much stress and that excess cortisol was stymying hair growth . Once he addressed his stress, inessential functions like hair growth would be restored, the doctor told him, advising that he start taking supplements and replace his six weekly sessions of F45 with yoga, breath work and meditation. “Within two months my hair had all grown back,” recalls Thomas. “I was like, ‘woah’.” Biohacking is the concept that we can enhance our biology to improve our healthspan, wellbeing, and performance. His partner was already on the “biohacking train”, so Thomas went deep on it too. He had known he should change, if he wanted to feel less tired, depleted and aged than he did, but now he had the motivation that he must. Following a raft of tests, he began a bespoke supplementation regimen including NMN – “the longevity molecule”, l-carnitine, resveratrol, probiotics and “perfect” amino acids. Next was an overhaul of his diet. He eliminated some of his favourite foods, including bread, his beloved cups of tea and eventually alcohol, reduced his dairy intake, began fasting between 7pm and midday, and changed up the household cleaning and skincare products he used. Biohacking is the concept that we can enhance our biology to improve our health span, wellbeing and performance. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Thomas bought an Oura ring to track his sleep and a CAROL bike, which uses AI technology to deliver personalised, high-intensity workouts. “‘Success breeds momentum’,” he says, quoting Tony Robbins . “I’d do something, I’d feel better, I’d do more. What I did three years ago to two years ago to now just keeps building.” That means infrared saunas (followed by a cold shower), which some research suggests may reduce stress, increase blood flow and improve heart rate variability; red light machines, which some experts believe stimulates collagen and improves the appearance of the skin; electromagnetic fields (EMF) blockers, which lack solid evidence and may even be risky; specialised lighting to remove blue light at night, which experts advise can support our circadian rhythm ; grounding mats, which, some claim, simulate ‘earthing’ and can can improve your mood, sleep, and relieve pain or inflammation but lack evidence; water filters, which can be pricey and can vary widely in effectiveness, but can reduce contaminants provided you flush them out and change them regularly ; and air filters, which may improve air quality . It’s an expensive pursuit – the Thomas’ monthly household organic grocery bill alone is $3000, not including supplements – and he stresses that he appreciates the privilege in affording it. There were so many changes, it was hard to tease out what was working or not. Sauna and a CAROL bike are part of Thomas’ routine, pictured here with his children. Credit: Joe Amao Does the grounding mat on their bed make a difference? He’s not sure. Likewise with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the “anti-ageing” supplement taken by Harvard biologist and longevity researcher David Sinclair, which shows promises in animal models, but does not have long-term evidence in humans, and may cause liver toxicity in high doses. “Do I feel better for it? I don’t know,” Thomas says. “But, when someone like David Sinclair takes it, I’m in on that.” Biofeedback from his gadgets about the quality of his sleep and biological age tests that suggest his immune health and level of inflammation is equivalent to a 35-year-old are confirmation that he is on the right track: “I used to think I felt alright, but you don’t know how good you feel until you feel better.” He says he looks better, has more energy, is a better partner and a calmer and more consistent parent now too. Aside from missing the odd glass of red wine, which he hasn’t sworn off for life, it doesn’t feel like it’s a restriction, he insists: “My life has become about optimising stuff rather than compromising.” Exercise physiologist Veronika Larisova believes the line between better wellbeing and going too far depends on the intention behind the behaviour, and whether it causes anxiety. For instance, the 43-year-old doesn’t drink alcohol generally, but once in a while she’ll have a glass of red wine at dinner with friends. If she felt guilty about it, then she would be worried. The intention of biohacking, she says, is to feel fit, healthy and able to enjoy the rest of her life, no matter how long that is: “I don’t really care if I die when I’m 50 or 100.” Veronika Larisova It may not have been a long or healthy life, had she continued along the trajectory of her 20s: partying and drinking, taking drugs and rarely sleeping. By 30, living in the Gold Coast and still going out a lot, she was no longer having fun. A burgeoning boredom with the way she was living led her down the biohacking rabbit hole. Stopping drinking was easy enough in itself, but it was hard being around friends who weren’t interested in changing their habits or lives, and who gave her flak for trying to change hers. A move to Bondi where she found work as a personal trainer and met new friends, with whom she went trail running and picnicked instead of partied, helped. She began experimenting with what she could do to feel better, improve her osteopenia (low bone mineral density), reverse the potential damage caused by years of excess and to prevent constant injuries. Like Thomas, she has an Oura ring (she uses it to stop herself from over-training), EMF blockers, blue light glasses, a water filter and eats a diet of organic food (her weekly grocery bill is about $200, not including supplements). She has increased the amount of fat, fermented foods and overall diversity of foods she consumes to maintain lean muscle, gut health and hormones as she ages, and fasts for five days every six months to promote autophagy – the body’s cellular recycling system (prolonged fasting can have an adverse effect), improve mitochondrial function , give her digestive system and brain a break. She takes collagen daily, along with a thyroid support supplement and NMN, and meditates. And along with cardio and mobility training, she lifts heavy weights to offset age-related muscle loss, visits saunas and ice baths at least twice a week, and uses “all-natural” skincare and household products. A day in the life of a biohacker Though she trains every day, Larisova alternates between heavy weights at the gym, HIIT and body weight in an outdoors group session, trail runs, long slow runs, hill sprints, stair sprints, tempo runs, swimming, and yoga. Her workout depends on work and what she is training for. Her first meal also depends on work and training and is either yoghurt or kefir with berries and a collagen bar crumbled in at about 9.30am or a big veggie bowl with eggs or meat and avocado at about 11am. “My most consistent training is on the weekends,” says Larisova, who wakes between 4.30am and 5am each morning and starts the day with a cold shower followed by a tea or coffee. For Thomas, most days start around 6am and, if he is not in charge of looking after their children (he and his partner alternate mornings), he drinks a litre of water, has his supplements and does a 45-minute at-home session including strength training and eight minutes of HIIT on his Carol bike. He takes the dog for a walk, does an infrared sauna followed by a cold shower and has a decaf coffee with ghee. His first meal of the day, around midday or 1pm, is a smoothie with avocado, blueberries, pre- and post-biotics, and collagen followed by a wholefoods meal, like soup and a chicken salad. “My 40s is my favourite decade so far,” says Larisova, the co-owner of Chief Nutrition. “I feel physically better than ever ... I always feel energetic, probably because I sleep more and don’t drink. I would love to maintain this as much as possible via training and biohacking. The only two things that suck about ageing are grey hair and wrinkles.” But then, there is Botox and hair dye for that, she points out. Biohacking, she believes, can augment the basics, but if we’re not looking after those, it is an expensive exercise in minutiae. “I think everyone should start with simple things and then [go deeper] if they want to enhance it,” Larisova says. “You have to put it in perspective and realise those biohacking tools make a marginal difference.” Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . Get it in your inbox every Monday .GameStop shares surge after cryptic post from ‘Roaring Kitty’: ‘Seen that pattern again’China can let new bond binge play out – for now
After a funky makeover, the national shoe is being worn by the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Prince Harry. In August 2016, Nick Dreyer packed up his failing art dealership in Johannesburg and decided to head back to his native Cape Town. To pass the time on the long drive home, he called his old school buddy Ross Zondagh, who just happened to be going through business struggles of his own. Over the course of the next five hours, the friends chatted about everything from the Springboks’ dismal performances on the rugby field that year ( how times have changed ), to the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics, which had taken place a couple of weeks earlier. “We were both really disappointed by the outfits our athletes were wearing,” Zondagh tells Al Jazeera on a visit to a repurposed fish factory near Cape Town’s port precinct. “The Nigerians felt Nigerian, the Americans felt American, ... but the South Africans could have been from anywhere.” “We started talking about how we could improve the uniform,” Dreyer says in the duo’s shared office in the vibey headquarters of Veldskoen, the shoe manufacturer that emerged from that conversation between Dreyer and Zondagh. The office features plush armchairs, an orange mountain bike and a pile of timber in the corner. It’s clear that the founders, who are both 47 (“but we feel 67!” Zondagh says) genuinely get along. Zondagh, who wears flip-flops and sports a scraggly beard, does most of the chatting while Dreyer – tall with neatly ironed jeans – chimes in occasionally to add more detail: “Our country’s just this fantastic melting pot of people and cultures and languages, ... but our Olympians were wearing boring old tracksuits.” After discussing how they could improve the athletes’ headwear (a Zulu umqhele, perhaps?) and clothing (you can’t go wrong with a Madiba shirt), they got onto footwear. “The obvious choice was veldskoen,” Zondagh says of a basic leather “field” or walking shoe often worn by men in rural areas. “But it wasn’t remotely cool.” About 1,500 years ago, the Khoi and San people first made shoes from a single piece of leather hide. This design was honed by Dutch settlers with the first reference to “veldschoen” dating back to 1676 and Reverend Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt opening the first commercial factory in Wuppertal in 1834. Veldskoen’s Heritage range is based on Leipoldt’s original design: The shoes employ a sturdy stitch-down construction with the leather upper being stitched directly onto an insole board, which is then glued to the rubber outsole. The upper is designed for durability, and the outsole can be replaced for about $20 a pair. Dreyer had always been interested in design and felt that traditional “vellies”, as they are affectionately known by South Africans, were “ugly”. He suggested mixing things up by adding brightly coloured soles and laces. He asked a friend with Photoshop skills to create a mock-up. Zondagh, meanwhile, got hold of his lawyer dad to ask about the possibility of trademarking the name Veldskoen. (Zondagh senior gave them little chance, but about eight months later, they secured the trademark.) A couple of days later, the friends got to work on an online shop. After their kids had gone to bed each evening, they would connect via Skype and spend a few hours trying to teach themselves how to build a website. “It wasn’t really about the shoe,” Zondagh remembers. “We were just keen to find out whether we could sell something – anything – online.” ‘There’s money in my bank account’ Within about three weeks, they had a “really crappy” website, they say, to show for their efforts. The only item in the shop? The hastily Photoshopped mock-up they had been sent on Day 1. “It was rubbish,” Dreyer laughs. “But we were just playing around. No one was going to actually look at the site.” Next, Dreyer started to tinker with Facebook marketing – a relatively unexplored medium back then. He quickly put together an ad with the tagline “The Legend Is Back” and, without even telling Zondagh, made it live. “There was no way anyone was going to care,” he says. “We didn’t even have a shoe.” Imagine his shock when, about 10 days later, an agitated Zondagh called him. “Nick, there’s money in my account!” he gasped. “Seventy-five grand [$4,300]!” Unbeknownst to them, Dreyer’s Facebook campaign had driven 120 people from all over South Africa to access the online shop and buy their imaginary shoes. Their initial response was panic. They took the website down and tried to find someone to make the shoes for them. “Everyone we spoke to told us to go to China,” Zondagh says. “But we were never going to do that. It’s a South African product. It has to be made in South Africa.” Eventually they found a Cape Town shoemaker who agreed to help them out. “We contacted everyone who’d bought shoes and said, ‘Sorry, we made a mistake. Our site wasn’t meant to be live,’” Dreyer remembers. They warned each customer that they’d have to wait from three to eight months for their shoes, but only 15 percent of them asked for a refund. “That was the moment we knew we had a business,” Zondagh says. “Instant validation.” ‘Local leather, local glues, local rubber’ Once they had sent shoes off to those first customers, Dreyer and Zondagh started looking for a long-term manufacturing solution. As part of this quest, they met Voden Wearne, a 20-year veteran of the leather industry. “Ross was a plumber and Nick was an events coordinator,” Wearne recalls. “They knew nothing about shoes. But I was struck by their energy.” Back then, he explains, the local shoe industry was in the doldrums: The shoes being produced were uninspiring (“just black and brown shoes”) and competition from China and India was forcing many South African factories to close. Excited by their passion, Wearne introduced the entrepreneurs to Mohammed Shaikh of Hopewell Footwear, a family-owned factory based in Durban. Now, six years later, Hopewell manufactures 3,000 to 8,000 pairs of Veldskoen every month (sales fluctuate considerably) and they’ve become an integral part of the business. The price of their Heritage range: $60 a pair. Wearne, who is now employed by Hopewell, works closely with Dreyer and Zondagh on the design of every shoe. (The company now offers a wide range of styles that includes golf shoes, Chelsea boots and sandals.) “We call him our shoe dog,” Zondagh laughs. “It’s a great relationship. They still know nothing about shoes,” Wearne laughs. “But they know a helluva lot about marketing and networking. It’s a team effort, and it’s always felt like that.” Another thing that unites the trio is their shared passion for uplifting the South African economy. “We use local leather, local glues, local rubber,” Wearne says. “... We only import something when we simply cannot get it here.” ‘Veldskoen will never be made overseas’ In just eight years, Veldskoen has grown to become a household name in South Africa and a niche hit abroad. In 2021, the shoes shot to national attention when the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams wore Veldskoen to the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games. “That was a real full-circle moment,” Zondagh says. What’s more, celebrities such as actor Matthew McConaughey, Prince Harry and supermodel Adriana Lima have all been seen wearing them – some repeatedly. Actor Ashton Kutcher was so impressed by them that he teamed up with businessman Mark Cuban (and Veldskoen) in 2018 to open a United States distributor. While the founders are, understandably, thrilled with this free and unsolicited exposure, Zondagh says it’s never been their primary goal: “Our biggest marketing comes from South Africans. ... I’d rather have my shoes on your feet than on Prince Harry’s,” he says, pointing at my well-worn size 10s. In total, Veldskoen has sold about 1 million pairs of shoes, about half of them to women — traditionally veldskoen were only worn by men — in urban and rural areas and to all races and language groups. The shoes have poignant and deeply South African names. The yellow-soled Heritage Vilakazi is named after Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the only road in the world to spawn two Nobel Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu). Other names include blue-soled J-Bay (after the world-famous wave on the country’s east coast) and the hot pink Hadeda: “We thought it would be fun to name our loudest shoe after the country’s loudest bird ,” Zondagh laughs. The company directly employs 36 people – its lean corporate structure is one of the reasons for its success – and indirectly a further 900 people rely on it for at least some of their income. As Wearne explains, having Veldskoen as a client has not resulted in Hopewell growing, but it has given the factory a much more stable and sustainable year-round income source. While many companies give the impression of wanting to support the local economy, most will outsource manufacturing if the numbers make sense. Not Dreyer and Zondagh. “That is a nonnegotiable. You can hold us to that. Veldskoen will never be made overseas,” Zondagh insists. “As long as me and Nick are here, that is not changing.” “We could do it cheaper in China,” Dreyer adds. “But we will never do that. To us, it’s almost like champagne. Veldskoen has to be from SA. The people who own Veldskoen are South African.” That’s why, he explains, they will never enforce their trademark on people using the name “veldskoen” to sell shoes made in South Africa. “We didn’t come up with veldskoen. It’s always been here. We added the flag and the coloured soles and laces.” Paying it forward Veldskoen is still a fairly young company, but already Dreyer and Zondagh are looking for ways to uplift other South African businesses. Their attempts to revitalise Leipoldt’s shoe factory in Wuppertal have, they admit, been somewhat frustrating. It all started when Dreyer and his family visited the remote hamlet in March 2022. “We went to see the flowers, and I wanted to visit the spiritual home of veldskoen,” he explains. What Dreyer didn’t realise was that the factory had been forced to close after a fire devastated the community in 2018 . The following Monday, Dreyer and Zondagh reached out to the Moravian Church — the mission, established by Leipoldt almost two centuries ago, is still the lifeblood of the town — and they’ve been working with the community ever since. “We thought we just had to get a factory going and use our networks to sell shoes,” Zondagh says. “But it hasn’t proved as simple as that.” The town’s location beyond cellphone networks and supply chains is a major challenge as is the severe skills shortage: Most of the experienced artisans have left town, many to a thriving shoe factory a couple of hours away. While the pair have scaled down their ambitions – the factory is functional and shoes are being produced, just not in great quantities – they have also committed to the project. “I envisage it being more of a museum experience,” Dreyer says. “It will work eventually. Time and patience are two things we’ve got.” Their work with the national and regional governments, business chambers and individual entrepreneurs has been more instantly rewarding. One such entrepreneur is Ghia Nadel, a veteran manufacturer of corporate gifts who was inspired by the Veldskoen story to launch her own funky bag brand, Sak.Sak. “Sak” is the Afrikaans word for “bag”. Nadel says she would never have started Sak.Sak if she hadn’t watched a YouTube interview with Dreyer. The trio have subsequently met a few times through a mutual acquaintance and struck up a WhatsApp friendship. Nadel says Dreyer often steps in to quell the doubts she has about her brand – some of the Afrikaans product names are rather edgy: “Nick has taught me to be ‘comfortable about being uncomfortable’. He always tells me, ‘Do what you feel is right. It’s a cool brand.’” Sak.Sak launched in February but already it has allowed Nadel to employ four more people and is “carrying my other business” through the quiet months. The future looks even brighter for Nadel: Veldskoen and Sak.Sak are currently working on a product collaboration. What’s next? Dreyer and Zondagh’s main focus at the moment is expanding the brand’s footprint (pun unavoidable) stateside. While they have already made some inroads through the partnership with Kutcher and Cuban, they have now regained full control of their American operation and are focusing their attention on an area they call the “southeastern bucket” of the US. They’ve chosen this area — Georgia in particular — due to its many cultural similarities with South Africa. Dreyer explains that both Georgia and South Africa share a similar approach to hospitality, histories of racial tensions and social change, a passion for sports as a way of uniting diverse communities and an enthusiasm for barbecue (known as braai or chisa nyama in South Africa). The state is also attractive from a sales perspective: “When you compare economies, the state of Georgia is seven times bigger than South Africa. The city of Atlanta alone could be huge for us,” Dreyer adds. While it’s still early days (simply moving their US headquarters from Los Angeles to Atlanta has taken a year of paperwork) they have plans to rapidly expand their US business in 2025. Hookups with NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and the Atlanta Business Council make them optimistic about their prospects. But “the aim is not to just grow the business,” Zondagh says. “It’s also to tell positive South African stories. We’re trying to facilitate opportunities not just for ourselves but for anyone else who wants to come along.” Their other big plan? They are currently in the talking stages with Team South Africa regarding outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “We’re going to pull out all the stops for that one,” Dreyer says.Adobe: Heading Into Q4, Two Key Ingredients Are Missing
fortune ox bonus
fortune ox casino
fortune ox com
fortune ox como ganhar
fortune ox demo slot