Liverpool leads as the class of the Champions League this season, dumping title holder Real Madrid into an almost unbelievable 24th place in the 36-team standings. No one felt the embarrassment of Madrid’s 2-0 loss at Anfield more than Kylian Mbappé, the superstar added in the offseason by the storied club that also was European champion against Liverpool in the finals of 2022 and 2018. Mbappé had a penalty saved in the second half and was earlier dumped on his behind by Conor Bradley’s perfect tackle in an instant viral moment. Monaco missed a chance to go second in the table, giving up a lead playing with 10 men from the 58th minute in a 3-2 loss at home to Benfica. Swiss forward Zeki Amdouni scored the winning goal in the 88th. Borussia Dortmund, the beaten finalist against Madrid in May, is up to fourth place after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. Champions League standout Jamie Gittens now has four goals in five games, curling a rising shot in the 41st to open the scoring. The best comeback was at PSV Eindhoven, where the home team trailed Shakhtar Donetsk by two goals in the 87th minute before a 3-2 win was sealed by United States forward Ricardo Pepi’s goal deep in stoppage time. US defender Cameron Carter-Vickers scored an embarrassing own goal for Celtic — playing a no-look pass far beyond goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel — in a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge. Liverpool’s stand-in right back Bradley was a standout Wednesday, playing a key pass that set up Alexis Mac Allister to score the opening goal in the 52nd. After Mbappé’s penalty was pushed away by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher in the 61st, Liverpool star Mo Salah missed with his spot-kick in the 70th, before substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the win with a header in the 77th. Madrid now has lost three of five games after defeats at Lille and at home to AC Milan. The record 15-time European champion has another tough trip next, at fifth-place Atalanta on Dec. 10. Congo teammates Ngal’Ayel Mukau and Silas impressed in wins for Lille and Red Star Belgrade. Mukau scored twice in 12th-place Lille’s 2-1 win at Bologna and Silas leveled for Red Star in a 5-1 rout of Stuttgart, though he barely celebrated his goal. Silas is on loan with the Serbian champion from Stuttgart. Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Juventus. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerIt’s been nearly nine years since Bob Cummins Construction filed suit against Bradford Sanitary Authority over an unpaid bill. Since then, there have been two jury trials in McKean County Court, numerous appeals and $3.5 million in attorneys’ fees for the BSA — that, as of now, have been paid by local ratepayers. The lawsuit was filed in 2016. The dispute comes from a rehabilitation project at the wastewater treatment plant. From 2014-15, Cummins Construction was the general contractor for a portion of the rehab project. In December 2015, authority engineer Gannett Fleming certified the project to be substantially complete, with the exception of a few outstanding items. Cummins said they did the work and were owed payment; Sanitary Authority said they withheld payment because the work wasn’t done according to the contract. The local contractor, which has been in business nearly 50 years and employs local people, says this suit seems like a vendetta; they did their jobs and want to be paid. The BSA, the provider of wastewater services to more than 18,000 local residents, says the contractor didn’t follow the contract and should take responsibility for alleged defects. ISSUES The biggest alleged issue was with the sequential batch reactor (SBR) installed by Cummins — one by the second manufacturer, Ashbrook, that was named in the contract specifications — and the Ultraviolet building, where wastewater is treated by exposing it to ultraviolet light. The BSA said the system wasn’t working correctly, with a possibility of moving too much treated water — effluent — to the UV building during the “decant” phase, where water is separated from sludge. Separated water is called decant water. To date in 2024, there is no documentation that such excessive decants have taken place, according to Don Cummins, senior project manager for Cummins Construction. He said both they and Ashbrook offered a free solution to this problem in the form of a plate; it has not been taken by the BSA, which allegedly wants a check valve. It’s important to note, said Nick Cummins, project manager at Cummins, that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been “happy with the effluent quality,” with reports on its website indicating such. In 2015, BSA withheld final payment to Cummins and denied some change orders because they believed the company had not followed the contract’s provisions. Don Cummins said there was $260,000 of the unpaid contract balance, plus about $464,000 in unpaid change orders for a total of $724,000 outstanding. There were 120 change orders on the project, most of which were made by BSA’s engineer, Gannett Fleming. “Some were upgrades after the work started, which is not uncommon, and some were needed because of the unknown circumstances that occur on most large rehabilitation projects, which almost always happens,” Cummins said. “This is not uncommon either because as you dig and demolish portions for new construction, things are uncovered that need addressed including obstructions to new work.” From the BSA’s standpoint, Cummins holds the fault here. “Cummins started this lawsuit in 2016 because it refused to accept responsibility for clear defects in the sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), which was new technology central to BSA’s ability to provide effective wastewater treatment for its approximately 6,000 customer connections,” said Steve Disney, executive director of the BSA. It didn’t perform as required, the BSA said, “Cummins, however, denied responsibility from 2016 through the second trial in 2024, even though the Commonwealth Court specifically found in 2020 after the first trial that Cummins was solely responsible for the SBR defects.” Referring to the solution offered by Cummins and Ashbrook, Disney said the jury rejected it. And, he said, it would interfere with the performance of the SBR and possibly cause the plant to be derated by the DEP. FIRST TRIAL The first trial was held in 2019 before Judge Christopher Hauser. Cummins won 12 out of 16 claims for a judgment of $488,243.24. The BSA won one out of 21 claims for $4,945. Hauser’s decision was reversed by the Commonwealth Court and remanded to McKean County Court, where a second trial was eventually scheduled. Cummins explained the Commonwealth Court ruled the construction company was responsible for the alleged effluent problem with the SBR “because we chose the second-named supplier.” The appeals court ruled that the SBR specifications were not a design spec, but a performance spec. “Therefore it is up to the contractor to supply the system that meets the needs.” In other words, Cummins said, this is a change from the traditional way things are done. With this decision, “It is up to the contractor to use his own ingenuity to make the system work properly.” However, Cummins said, they are not designers, they are builders. They didn’t design the systems, they installed what the BSA wanted. MORE LITIGATION In January 2024, before the second trial, the BSA filed suit against engineers Gannett Fleming, but didn’t act on the suit. When questioned later by Hauser about the lack of progress on the suit, BSA’s attorney John Gisleson allegedly said during a status conference that BSA had filed suit against the engineers in case they lost the suit against Cummins. A second jury trial was held in February 2024, again before Hauser. The verdict was 12 of 14 claims for $398,568.94 in favor of Cummins, and 2 of 13 claims for $636,188 in favor of BSA based on the issue with the SBR and Ultraviolet building. “The jury awarded BSA the necessary money to properly correct the defects that Cummins and its contractor Ashbrook created,” Disney said. Regarding the potential repair to the SBR, he added, “BSA also does not consider Cummins to be a responsible and trustworthy contractor based on the jury’s award and the Court’s findings that Cummins failed to comply with the parties’ contract in multiple ways. Throughout the project, Cummins misinterpreted the contract in ways that benefitted Cummins and sought extra compensation at ratepayer expense that Cummins had no right to receive. BSA therefore does not agree to Cummins performing any further work at BSA’s plant. BSA will have another contractor perform the work after Cummins pays what it owes under the verdict.” For the trial, BSA hired an expert to design a “conceptual solution” to the issue. The concept was a “pinch valve” with a price tag of $695,000, but with no design drawing and no bid from a contractor, Don Cummins explained. In 2019, BSA’s engineer designed and bid out the repair they wanted; the low bidder was for $20,000. However, the successful bidder was stopped from doing the repair — the one that would solve the problem at the base of the lawsuit, Cummins alleged. Again, the BSA said it would have another contractor perform a repair after Cummins pays what it owes under the verdict. CURRENT The latest argument in the case is over attorneys’ fees — the Sanitary Authority wants the judge to order Cummins to pay the $3.4 million in fees they’ve incurred throughout the course of the case. This was filed as a 689-page motion for post-trial relief, including exhibits. “Cummins needs to pay BSA’s fees as bound by the contract,” Disney told The Era. This was always part of the contract, the BSA argued. However, Cummins disagreed, alleging the contract would allow the authority to recover fees only if a third party were to sue, not in the case of the contractor filing suit, their motion stated. From Disney’s standpoint: “Cummins’ refusal to follow the contract and its litigation actions caused those fees. BSA did not start the lawsuit and has always wanted the dispute to be resolved. Cummins, however, has repeatedly obstructed those efforts. BSA sought to resolve the dispute years ago through motions filed with the court, but Cummins opposed those efforts and demanded money it had no right to receive while leaving BSA with a defective SBR and a project that still has not closed out due to the SBR deficiencies.” He added that PENNVEST is still holding money payable to BSA because of the SBR defects caused by Cummins. According to the motion opposing the awarding of fees, Cummins disagreed with the BSA on several points, the first of which was that the request came in Sept. 10 when the deadline for such a request to be made was March 25, as was set by Hauser. Anything not filed by the deadline is considered waived. Cummins’ attorneys also argued that the fees for the authority’s attorneys, Morgan Lewis & Bockius of Pittsburgh, were “grossly excessive” at $3.4 million — $910 an hour for a partner, $575 an hour for a senior attorney and $305 an hour for a paralegal. The total was five times the amount of Cummins’ attorney, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott of Pittsburgh. The billing rates were also more than three times that of McKean County attorney Bob Saunders, who also assisted with the case, at $250 an hour. According to the motion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must consider the “reasonableness of a party’s requested attorneys’ fees” rather than the billed rate. Senior Judge John Foradora denied the Sanitary Authority’s request for fees on one basis — missing the March deadline by 5 1/2 months. Because the request for fees was not raised in a timely fashion, Foradora didn’t consider the remaining arguments. The BSA filed a notice of appeal to Foradora’s decision, which is currently underway. “If Cummins reimburses those fees to BSA, the litigation ends, at least from BSA’s perspective,” Disney said. “The contract requires Cummins to pay BSA’s fees, and BSA believes it has good grounds to recover them in the current appeal. BSA will seek those fees from Cummins if successful, which should conclude the litigation. “BSA explained its interpretation of the contract from the very beginning of the lawsuit, and that interpretation was upheld by both the Commonwealth Court and the trial court following the second trial,” Disney said. “The lawsuit unfortunately continued far longer than it should have because Cummins refused to comply with the contract and opposed the trial court interpreting the contract.” The case in chief remains on appeal as well.
NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing investigation. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was "working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism," her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7." The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. A spokesman for the agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.” While a family member resides at the address, they said "former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington, D.C. were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that, “Anytime a Member of Congress is the victim of a 'swatting' incident, we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners. To protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats, we cannot provide more details at this time.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats,” he wrote on X. “It is not who we are in America.” Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 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 then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 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, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. 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.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” 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. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. 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 immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. 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. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York contributed to this report. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Trump’s ‘power move’ fizzles as China’s Xi blows off inauguration
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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson reserve guard Trent Howard will miss the 12th-ranked Tigers game with No. 16 South Carolina after tearing the ACL in his left knee at practice this week. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Howard's injury Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound fifth-year graduate has been a backup much of the season, but had to step into a starter's role due to injuries along Clemson's offensive line. “My heart breaks for him,” Swinney said. Howard came in on the second snap in a 24-20 win at Pitt two games ago when lineman Elyjah Thurmon was hurt on the first play. Thurmon had an ankle injury that required surgery and will not return this season. Howard got his fourth career start last Saturday in a 51-14 win over The Citadel. and was in line for another if injured starter Marcus Tate was unable to go after missing the past three games. Howard was listed as a backup at both right and left guard on this week's depth chart. The Tigers (9-2) face the rival Gamecocks (8-3) on Saturday. —- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNew Delhi: Almost a year after LG V K Saxena recommended a CBI investigation against Delhi govt hospitals and mohalla clinics for allegedly procuring "spurious" and "substandard" medicines, an internal investigation committee of Directorate General Health Services (DGHS) has cleared all the agencies involved, including Delhi govt and the suppliers, of any wrongdoing. DGHS Dr Vandana Bagga has concurred with the findings which are supported by the official report of the drug control department of Delhi govt along with legal opinion. The report states that "there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by any officers of DGHS, govt of NCT Delhi, including Central Procurement Agency (CPA) as well as vendor firms, by virtue of the supply of the spurious drugs or/and adulterated drugs or/and misbranded drugs as defined under provisions of Drugs and Cosmetic Act 1940." Subsequently, Dr Bagga confirmed her acceptance of the inquiry committee's recommendations and concurred with the closure report which was submitted on Oct 10. In response to correspondence from the deputy secretary (vigilance) of the health and family welfare department, dated Sept 19, 2024, regarding an anonymous complaint filed with the CBI (anti-corruption branch, Delhi), DGHS constituted an internal inquiry committee under Dr Nalini Bala Pandey. During July 24-26, 2023, officials from the vigilance and drug control departments had inspected several govt hospitals across Delhi. The inspection teams collected 43 drug samples, which included Amlodipine, Sodium Valproate, Levetiracetam, Pantoprazole, Cephalexin and Dexamethasone. After testing at govt and private laboratories, these six medications were found to be "not of standard quality". The internal panel said in its findings that "not of standard quality" is not a criminal offence under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940, as well as the tender's terms and conditions. Furthermore, the panel's documentation indicated that contrary to allegations, none of the companies had been blacklisted by the authorities. The report also confirmed that one supplier had not delivered any pharmaceutical products to CPA during the past decade. According to officials, the medicine shortages experienced at Delhi govt healthcare facilities this year were partly due to controversial orders of a senior bureaucrat, who held charge as additional director in DGHS. One of the orders issued by this official on Jan 31 to all govt hospitals and medical superintendents stated: "It is to intimate that 10 distributors/dealer firms and owners and directors of the firms have been blacklisted by CPA (DGHS, GNCTD) due to their involvement in tender pooling/cartel formation in CPA medicine tender and substandard supplies in GNCTD hospitals and institutions and operating as health mafia. These firms are also found to be behind the supply of substandard medicines, consumables and equipment." The order further stated that "no payment (to be) released till further communication by this office." The DGHS, in her letter to the vigilance department dated Oct 21, stated that DGHS had cancelled and reversed all the blacklisting orders issued by the additional director as his actions were beyond the scope of his authority and were committed without any approval, consent and authorisation by the competent authority i.e DGHS. The letter added that only manufacturers of the drugs participate in CPA's tenders. It pointed out that the directorate of vigilance (DOV) had not levelled any allegations against any manufacturer of the drugs for cartelization. Hence, the DOV's allegation of cartelisation in CPA tenders was frivolous and devoid of any merit, it claimed. The letter also asserted that according to legal opinion, the "supplier firms" against whom DOV has made allegations are merely authorised distributors of the "manufacturer of the drugs" who act as their stock keepers and demand fulfilment agent. "It is submitted that as per legal opinion, the allegation of cartelization can only be established when the ‘supplier firms' participate in the tender," the letter said. Delhi health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj questioned why no action had been taken by the LG against the additional director. "How can dozens of companies be illegally blacklisted? A conspiracy was hatched by the vigilance department, which comes directly under LG, to defame Delhi govt by making false and baseless allegations of fake drugs. Payments to the medicine distributors were illegally stopped for almost a year to create a shortage of medicines in hospitals, dispensaries and mohalla clinics of Delhi govt. People of Delhi were made to suffer. It appears to be a bigger conspiracy to favour certain companies by blacklisting other companies."IT’S less “Lock, Stock” and more “Crock Stock” for poor old Guy Ritchie after his new TV show was plundered by thieves – for a SECOND time. I told last week how two robbers in a Toyota Prius drove up to the London set of Paramount+ series The Associate pretending to be lost, before jumping out and making off with some loot. Now sources say the duo came back the following day to try their luck for more expensive gear. And sadly for Guy their low-life ploy paid off, as they apparently went on to swipe kit worth more than £1million. My insider told me: “These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again. “The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money. READ MORE CELEB NEWS “They’ll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders. “Their contract has now ended and another firm is coming on board to tighten things up and make sure this doesn’t happen again. “The Associate is being filmed in and around city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing. “Guy is confident it won’t throw filming off but it’s been a hard lesson for everyone involved.” Most read in Bizarre After working in London for well over a decade, I know that even a flash of my crappy old phone is going to make a mugger’s fingers twinge. So leaving kit which is that expensive on the street, you might as well have erected a couple of Belisha beacons either side and a big sign saying: “Free to the man with the fastest Toyota.” Perrie’s tongue ‘n’ groove PERRIE channelled her inner rock chick in this edgy photoshoot. The former Little Mix star wore loads of dark eye make-up and stuck her tongue out for the December issue of Xmag , which ought to have been renamed Xmas given she is promoting her festive single Christmas Magic. She released the track earlier this month along with a video, starring her son Axel. After launching her solo career this year , Perrie has been working on her debut album, which is expected to come out in 2025. But it remains to be seen whether she’ll beat ex-bandmates Leigh-Anne and Jade in getting hers out first. Chesney's album: A road map for kids CHESNEY HAWKES has announced his first album in over a decade – and a reunion with 80s pop star Nik Kershaw, who wrote his hit The One And Only. The beloved British singer is to release Living Arrows – featuring songs inspired by his kids – on February 28. And last night, he put out new single Live Forever, which was penned by Nik and Jake Gosling, who has worked with Ed Sheeran and One Direction. Chesney said: “I didn’t realise straight away, when I started putting these songs together, that I was creating a sort of road map for my kids. “I had them in mind the whole time, because the messages on songs like Live Forever are to do with taking life by the horns, doing what you love and following your instincts. “You have to let them do their own things, make their own mistakes. “That’s what I was doing with this record, trying to give them good advice.” Luke's battle MOVIE hunk Luke Evans admits he beats himself up over body image issues. Despite his bulging biceps, the Beauty And The Beast actor said: “I’ve had to learn to be kinder to myself but I have terrible anxiety about feeling good enough physic-ally. I was on a beach recently and I didn’t want to take my T-shirt off.” He added to the How To Fail podcast: “I don’t want to be in that place. “I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but you know we are sensitive creatures, we’re very delicate.” Corr blimey! THE CORRS put on a spellbinding show at London’s O2 Arena on the final night of their Talk On Corners tour. Nearly 30 years on from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, Andrea's vocals were just as sharp as the lead singer delivered some of their biggest hits. A friend of the group said: “The Corrs still have a huge fan base and this tour showed them that there is still a huge appetite for their music. “They will come back and tour again. There might even be some new music.” Fans go in-Zayn at comeback gig “IT f***ing feels amazing to be here, not going to lie,” Zayn beamed as he took to the stage at the first of two sold-out shows in the capital. “Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here, so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream.” The crowd didn’t need telling twice, losing their minds every time he so much as smiled. Vocally Zayn was flawless, powering through a 17-song set with the pitch perfect precision of Celine Dion in her prime. But while he said he was on top of the world, at times it was hard to tell. In 2017 I was lucky enough to see his former bandmate Harry Styles play the same venue and he jumped around the stage with more energy and presence than 99 per cent of his peers. In contrast, Zayn opted for a more subdued show, sticking to the centre of the stage and letting the vocals do the talking. Beyond his debut single Pillowtalk and more recent track Sweat, things blended into one. CHER has revealed Gene Simmons told her he loved her after just one date. In Cher: The Memoir, Part One, she opens up on her romance with the KISS rocker, which lasted from 1977 to 1979 after they were introduced at a drinks party. She said they went on a date and he flirted with both her and her friend, but neither of them were interested. Then he racked up a massive phone bill calling her from Japan, when he told her of his feelings. Cher recalled: “That’s when he blurted out that he loved me. “We hadn’t even kissed. We’d only been out once before he left. What is it with these men?” Count me Elt, please SIR ELTON JOHN raised some hackles ahead of his Royal Variety Performance after failing to turn up for rehearsals. An irate backstage source told me: “I found it super disrespectful. “Everyone was bloody there doing their bit but Elton wasn’t at any rehearsal – even the final one with all the other stars.” We previously revealed that Elton was set to introduce a performance from the cast of his hit musical The Devil Wears Prada alongside the show’s star Vanessa Williams. His team denied this was the case, but shortly after our story, ITV confirmed that Elton and David Furnish would be introducing the “eye-catching” routine. On the latest claims, an ITV spokesman said last night: “Elton John was not required to attend rehearsals as he was not performing. “The same applied to others who were there introducing acts and not performing.” The annual event, hosted by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr , took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall last week and will air on ITV in December. And despite the backstage grumbles, we can assure you the show went off without a hitch. It will be well worth a watch. Dua's Cal time DUA LIPA has got her ultimate home comfort while on the road – her boyfriend. READ MORE SUN STORIES The singer was spotted with actor lover Callum Turner at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday during a day off from her world tour in Malaysia . Meanwhile, fans in Blighty can see her recent show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on ITV1 on December 8.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world-famous astrophysicist, has always held a deep respect for the pioneers of science, no matter where they came from. His recent comments about Africa 's forgotten scientific heroes serve as a powerful reminder that the cradle of humanity also holds a rich history in science and technology . This article explores Tyson's recommended books that shed light on Africa's scientific giants and their contributions to global knowledge. 'Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science' Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science' by Jim Al-Khalili (recommended by Tyson) explores the often-overlooked contributions of Arabic scientists, particularly from North Africa. By focusing on figures like Ibn al-Haytham, the father of modern optics, it emphasizes the multicultural roots of scientific thought and broadens our understanding of science history. 'African Cosmos: Stellar Arts' Neil deGrasse Tyson recommends Stephen Belcher's African Cosmos: Stellar Arts This book explores the profound ways in which ancient African civilizations interpreted the universe, utilizing astronomical insights to inform their cultures and belief systems. It serves as a captivating challenge to Eurocentic perspectives on the history of astronomy, emphasizing Africa's integral contribution to humanity's understanding of space and time. 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' Neil deGrasse Tyson recommends The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel. While not focusing on an African scientist, this book emphasizes Srinivasa Ramanujan's mathematical brilliance. This biography, enjoyed by Tyson, demonstrates how diverse backgrounds drive global scientific advancement. This aligns with Tyson's respect for contributions from all parts of the world, including Africa. Finding the hidden dimension This section focuses on Ron Eglash's pioneering research on the presence of fractal geometry in African architecture and art. While not directly recommended by Neil deGrasse Tyson, his passion for interdisciplinary studies implies he would appreciate Eglash's work. These analyses reveal that African designs have intuitively incorporated complex mathematical principles, contributing to Africa's underappreciated role in the academic acknowledgment of these concepts.Macron names ally Bayrou as new PM as he aims to restore political stability
Asia’s gasoline margins climbed to more than a 15-week high, buoyed by lower export capacity from China, with regional players capitalising on this. The crack rose to $7.06 per barrel over Brent crude, its highest since Aug. 2. An LSEG report stated that “amid expectations of thinning outflows from China, while Indian barrels may possibly be drawn away from the region amid upcoming turnarounds in the Middle East. The potential drop in supplies could provide some support to price benchmarks in the near term, although a lack of fresh demand outlets may cap this upside.” In naphtha, the margins dipped by $2.83 to $85.45 per metric ton over Brent crude. Refining margins for naphthahave dipped due to the persistently poor downstream petrochemical margins, while demand remained dampened by reduced operating rates at ethylene crackers in the region. Oil prices edged higher in early trade on Tuesday after falling in the previous session as investors took stock of a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, weighing on oil’s risk premium. The supply of oil and gas will be plentiful, with oil markets being “comfortable” this year and next unless major geopolitical escalation happens, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol told a conference in Norway on Tuesday. One gasoil deal and no naphtha trade. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Haridas)Nucor Corp. stock rises Tuesday, still underperforms marketThousands of Syrians celebrate in central Damascus during first Friday prayers since Assad's fall DAMASCUS (AP) — Thousands of Syrians have celebrated in Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the Turkish capital of Ankara that there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria. The top U.S. diplomat also called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has transported an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to a U.S. official, who says Travis Timmerman was flown out on a U.S. military helicopter. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump's suite at football game FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A military veteran who choked an agitated New York subway rider and was acquitted of homicide this week has been invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday. Daniel Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week. Vance served in the Marine Corps and had commented on the acquittal earlier this week. He said that “justice was done in this case” and Penny should never have been prosecuted. New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans may have elected Donald Trump to a second term in November, but that doesn’t mean they have high confidence in his ability to choose well-qualified people for his Cabinet or effectively manage government spending, the military and the White House. That's according to a new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults are “not at all confident” in Trump’s ability to appoint well-qualified people for high-level government positions. Only about 3 in 10 are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will pick qualified people to serve in his administration. President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. The 73-year-old is a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance and has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou was recently cleared in a case relating to embezzlement of European Parliament funds. His predecessor resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the parliament, leaving France without a functioning government. Macron vowed last week to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Yankees to get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press that the New York Yankees have agreed to acquire All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.
