#ssbet77bwin WA’s Liberal party leader has thrown down the gauntlet to challengers after polling predicted the “immediate appointment” of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as leader would allow the flailing party to gain back five seats at the election. Libby Mettam has labelled the polling, commissioned by a mystery Perth business person with links to the party, as ‘flawed and clearly biased’, and has challenged anyone who wishes to be leader to move a no confidence motion against her during a meeting today. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas and Liberal Party leader Libby Mettam. Credit: Holly Thompson/ Supplied “Constant undermining of leaders, especially from the shadows within, is a sad reality in politics today,” she said. “But rather than weaken me it has made me stronger and more determined to succeed - not for myself - but for the people of Western Australia who deserve better. “I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter.” The polling, published in The West Australian today, suggested another catastrophic election for the Liberals come election day in March. The party currently holds just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the polling predicting the party has gone backwards since the 2021 election bloodbath, losing ground in 14 key metropolitan seats. Under Mettam, the party is predicted to suffer a 4 per cent drop, with the Liberal primary vote falling to 31 per cent in blue-ribbon seats like Churchlands and Nedlands. On the flip-side, the polling suggests a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal party under Zempilas’ leadership, and a 38 per cent primary vote. The research, carried out by Sodali and Co, said Zempilas’ leadership could deliver wins in Churchlands, Nedlands, Carine, Bateman and Scarborough. Here’s what’s making news this morning. Former Hancock Prospecting employee James Radford, Sam Bjelke-Petersen, Gina Rinehart and former Liberal Party vice president Teena McQueen at a Trump rally in Virginia. Mostly sunny today with a top of 25 degrees. Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, November 26. Making headlines this morning, Perth is tipped to outperform the rest of the country in property price growth with forecasts predicting double figure jumps in 2025. Meanwhile, cast your mind back to your school days – or, rather, the very end of your school days and the next step you took. Did you get a high score to enrol in the university degree of your choice? Did you decide to bypass the ATAR exams – or the equivalent of the era, for those older readers – and go straight into an apprenticeship? What about if you got a high ATAR score, but decided to go down the vocational pathway? That’s the situation Ellie Wotherspoon found herself in, having graduated from school with an impressive ATAR of 91. With an ATAR like that, Wotherspoon could have studied law, or medicine, or molecular science. But currently, she’s an electrician working on one of oil and gas giant Woodside’s offshore rigs. Wotherspoon tells WAtoday education reporter Holly Thompson what made her choose the sparky life here. Ellie Wotherspoon, from WA, has attended TAFE and university after receiving an ATAR over 90. And regular readers of this blog – and WAtoday more broadly – would know we’ve got our fingers on the pulse of this great state’s dining scene. And today, food writer Max Veenhuyzen fills you in on the latest happenings in the world of pastry cases with, er, fillings. From creative fillings to stocking choc milk and ginger beer in the fridge, a cosy nostalgia-fuelled takeaway in Leederville celebrates both the past and the future. Always on the lookout for a great pie? Read the latest from Max here. Thanks again for joining us today, stay with us as we bring you all the news you need to know.Nick Kern came off the bench for 20 points and 13 rebounds as Penn State remained unbeaten with an 85-66 thumping of Fordham in a semifinal of the Sunshine Slam on Monday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Nittany Lions (6-0), who will play either San Francisco or Clemson for the tournament title on Tuesday, put four other players in double figures. Zach Hicks scored 16 points, while Puff Johnson added 15. Ace Baldwin and Yanic Konan Niederhauser each chipped in 12 points. Penn State sank nearly 53 percent of its field goal attempts and earned a 38-30 advantage on the boards, more than enough to offset missing 12 of its 32 foul shots. Four players reached double figures for the Rams (3-4), led by 15 points apiece from Jackie Johnson III and reserve Joshua Rivera. Romad Dean and Jahmere Tripp each added 13. Fordham was as close as 56-49 after Tripp made a layup with 14:25 left in the game. But the Nittany Lions responded with a 16-1 run, capped with a layup by Kern for a 22-point lead at the 9:33 mark, and they never looked back. The main storyline prior to tipoff was whether Penn State could continue its torrid early start that saw it come into the day leading Division I in steals and ranked second in scoring at 98.2 points per game. The Nittany Lions certainly played to their billing for most of the first half, establishing a 21-8 lead at the 10:08 mark via Hicks' three-point play. Fordham predictably struggled early with the pressure defense, committing four turnovers in the first four minutes. But the Rams got their bearings over the last 10 minutes and made some shots. They got as close as four on two occasions late in the half before Penn State pushed the lead to 42-34 at the half. The officials were busy in the half, calling 23 fouls and administering 27 free throws. --Field Level MediaA LIFE TAKEN Ponciano Onia Jr. smiles broadly as he shows a copy of his certificate of candidacy for reelection as councilor of Umingan, Pangasinan, which he filed in October. Onia, who is also the president of Abono Partylist, was killed on Saturday. —Ponciano Onia Facebook CALASIAO, PANGASINAN, Philippines — The president of Abono Partylist, which represents agriculture and marginalized sectors in Congress, was shot and killed here while on his way home to Umingan town in eastern Pangasinan on Saturday night, in an incident that his local ally believed might be politically motivated. Ponciano Onia Jr., 59, who was seeking reelection as councilor of Umingan in next year’s elections, was peppered with bullets by unidentified gunner while driving his vehicle in Lubong village on his way to his residence in Barangay San Leon, Umingan at 7:45 p.m., the police report said. Onia died while receiving treatment at the Umingan community hospital at 8:40 p.m., police said. His two employees, who were with him inside his car, were unharmed. In a social media post, Umingan Vice Mayor Chris Evert Tadeo condemned the “senseless and most inhumane act of killing” of Onia, hinting at politics as the primary motive behind the killing. Tadeo said: “Ang karahasan at walang-awang pamamaslang sa isang indibidwal para sa sariling interes at pulitika ay walang puwang sa isang maayos at mapayapang komunidad (Violence and the merciless killing of an individual for self-interest and politics has no place in a healthy and peaceful community).” “We hope the death of a person who thought nothing but the welfare and rights of the people, will be given justice,” he added. However, Tadeo did not say who he was alluding to. The Police Regional Office in Ilocos Region (PRO 1), in a statement on Sunday, declared its “full commitment in conducting a thorough and impartial investigation” into the killing of Onia. PRO 1 Director Police Brig. Gen. Lou Evangelista said their investigators were “working tirelessly to gather all relevant evidence and testimonies from witnesses [and] coordinating with local authorities to ensure that every aspect of this incident is thoroughly examined.” “This tragic incident has sent ripples of grief throughout our community, and my heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and constituents of Councilor Onia. We strongly condemn this criminal act,” he said in the statement. The police found eight fired cartridges for a caliber .45 gun and two jacketed deformed card bullets. “The safety and security of everyone is our top priority, and we are dedicated in intensifying our police operations as we are also approaching the election period,” the statement read. The police urged anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward and assist their investigators. PRO 1 has yet to confirm or deny allegations that the killing of Onia was politically motivated. “Continuous followup investigation/operation is being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspect/s and to establish the motive behind the shooting incident,” PRO 1 said in another statement. Abono Partylist expressed shock and sadness over the “senseless killing” of its president. “We deeply mourn [his] tragic passing. Our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones, colleagues and Abono Partylist family,” the group’s statement, issued by party list chair Rosendo So, said on Sunday afternoon. “May his legacy inspire future generations,” it added. Abono Partylist is represented by Rep. Raymond Estella in the House of Representatives. He could not be reached for comment on Sunday. Pangasinan has had its share of suspected political killings in recent years. Last Nov. 3, Dexter Jimenez, the former village chief of Gabon in Calasiao, was shot and killed while his wife was injured in a shooting incident. On Oct. 22, 2023, Arnel Adolfo Flormata, 41 and a candidate for barangay captain in Aguilar, Pangasinan, was shot and killed shortly after speaking at a campaign rally in Barangay Bayaoas. In December 2023, Reynaldo Escobar Jr., 51, former barangay chairman of Tanggal-Sawang of Umingan town, was also shot and killed by unidentified assailants in Barangay Bolintaguen, San Quintin. Sto. Tomas Councilor Benjamin Oculto, Jr. of this town was shot dead outside a church here on Dec. 16, 2018. He was to run in the 2019 elections for vice mayor of his town. In Mangaldan town, Barangay Poblacion chair Melinda Morillo was also shot and killed while driving home on Dec. 7, 2023. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez was shot dead in December 2012.Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. That’s down from 2.3 billion packages last year. Because the shopping period is a week shorter than in 2023, consumers are shopping further ahead of Black Friday and more purchases are taking place in physical stores, he said. The number of holiday package shipments grew 27% in 2020 and by more than 3% the following year during the pandemic. The numbers have been falling since then, with a projected decline of about 6% this holiday season. Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts

Gold (XAU/USD) experienced a steep decline during Monday’s US session, shedding nearly 2.5% to trade in the $2,640s. This drop followed reports that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire, according to a US official. Markets appeared to respond with relief to the news, dampening the demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. Impact of Treasury Secretary Appointment The decline in gold prices was further influenced by President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as the incoming US Treasury Secretary. Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, is regarded as a steady figure in financial circles. Markets anticipate that Bessent will temper some of Trump’s more extreme economic and trade policies. This perception has calmed fears of market volatility, reducing the safe-haven appeal of gold. Bessent has a reputation for advocating fiscal restraint and pragmatic policy measures. He has previously emphasized the importance of reducing the US debt burden and tackling competition from China. Speaking in August, Bessent reportedly told a news outlet, “This election cycle is the last chance for the United States to get out from under a mountain of debt without becoming some kind of European-style socialist democracy.” Bessent’s “Three-Threes” Policy Approach Bessent has outlined a “three-threes” strategy aimed at addressing the US fiscal situation. This includes reducing the US budget deficit to 3% of GDP (down from 6% in 2024), achieving an annual GDP growth rate of 3%, and increasing US crude oil production by 3 million barrels per day. Markets appear optimistic that his policies will provide balance and stability to the US economy. Technical Analysis: Gold’s Pullback Raises Concerns XAU/USD Tests Key Levels Gold pulled back below the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $2,671 on Monday after an intraday peak of $2,721. The drop suggests the formation of a Bearish Engulfing candlestick, which could indicate a short-term reversal if followed by further bearish momentum. Despite the current pullback, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains above its signal line, signaling potential bullish momentum. Traders are watching closely for a break above $2,721, which would signal a continuation of gold’s bullish trend, with the next target at $2,790, corresponding to its previous record high. Inflation and Gold Prices Gold’s performance is often influenced by inflation expectations, as it is viewed as a hedge against rising prices. While inflationary pressures remain in focus, the easing of geopolitical risks and the stabilizing influence of the Treasury Secretary announcement have weighed on gold prices in the short term. Understanding Inflation What is Inflation? Inflation represents the increase in the price level of a basket of goods and services over time, typically measured month-on-month (MoM) or year-on-year (YoY). Core inflation, which excludes volatile components like food and energy, is a key measure used by central banks to guide monetary policy, with targets often set around 2%. Impact on Gold Prices Inflation expectations directly influence gold prices, as higher inflation erodes the value of fiat currencies, boosting the appeal of gold as a store of value. Conversely, a stable economic outlook and reduced inflationary fears can weaken gold demand. Gold’s sharp decline on Monday reflects the interplay between easing geopolitical risks and a stabilizing economic outlook, driven by the upcoming leadership of Scott Bessent at the US Treasury. While technical indicators suggest mixed signals, the broader economic and political landscape will likely continue to influence gold’s trajectory in the coming weeks. Read More : Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari Detained In Bangladesh Amid Rising TensionsUtah Hockey Club walks to arena after bus gets stuck in Toronto traffic

WASHINGTON — A White House official said Friday the U.S. identified a ninth telecommunications company impacted by a wide-ranging Chinese espionage effort and that further steps are planned to curb cyberattacks from Beijing. As the Biden administration learns about the scope and scale of the so-called Salt Typhoon breach that it attributed to China, officials are laying the blame on companies that were slow to identify the attack. “The reality is that China is targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. Those are private sector companies, and we still see companies not doing the basics,” Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday. “That’s why we’re looking forward and saying ‘Let’s lock down this infrastructure,’” she added. “And frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this.” The Commerce Department this month moved ahead with a ban of China Telecom and, according to Neuberger, similar actions will be released in the next month. Salt Typhoon is the name given to the hacking group behind the attacks. Microsoft Corp. assigns cyberthreat actors different names, to better identify and reference incidents, with the moniker “typhoon” used for activity originating from or attributed to China. Neuberger said one of the nine telecoms breached involved an administrator account that had access to over 100,000 routers. “So when the Chinese compromised that account, they gained that kind of broad access across the network. That’s not meaningful cybersecurity to defend against the nation-state actors,” Neuberger added. The U.S. still doesn’t have an exact assessment of how many Americans were targeted, Neuberger said. A large number of individuals were affected by geolocating around the Washington, D.C., and Virginia area — but fewer than 100 individuals’ phone calls and texts were hacked, she said. The Federal Communications Commission is voting on a rule in mid-January that would help protect America’s critical infrastructure, Neuberger said. She said the General Services Administration is reviewing government contracts to require better cybersecurity practices. Neuberger also cited an alarming increase in the number of health-related hacks that exposed Americans’ health care information and left them vulnerable to blackmail and said that the Department of Health and Human Services will propose new rules to protect medical data. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

New Era of Gaming! Super Vibe Game Revolutionizes the Experience

COP29 Draft Deal Proposes Rich Nations Give $250 Billion In Climate Finance

Kings fire coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his 3rd season, AP source says The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the firing hadn’t been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet. Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watson's contract to create cap space, flexibility, AP source says BEREA, Ohio (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press the Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose contract details. Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78 Longtime CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel has died from cancer. He was 78. His family announced his death in a statement released by CBS on Friday. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces Bowl FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Blake Horvath set a Navy record with a 95-yard touchdown run and scored a go-ahead 6-yarder with 4:34 left as the Midshipmen overcame an early two-touchdown deficit and stopped a late 2-point conversion attempt to beat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Sooners got a 10-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Jake Roberts with six seconds left, but Hawkins was sacked by Justin Reed on the conversion try. Navy reached 10 wins for the first time since 2019, which had been their last winning season. Oklahoma has its second losing season in Brent Venables' three years as coach. Mavs star Luka Doncic will be out about a month before check on calf injury, AP source says DALLAS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the injury says Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will be out about a month before being re-evaluated for a calf injury sustained in a Christmas Day loss to Minnesota. Doncic has undergone an MRI on his strained left calf. The absence is almost certain to be long enough to disqualify the five-time All-NBA player from consideration for that and other major awards, including MVP. Doncic had already missed eight games this season before his latest injury. What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio) TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — When Snoop Dogg agreed to become the sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, he had a demand: It must have a NIL component. Other bowls have provided NIL chances for single players the past few years, but the Arizona Bowl is believed to be the first to offer NIL compensation to every player on both Colorado State and Miami (Ohio). The players participated in youth clinics before Saturday's game and will be compensated for their time. No. 20 Colorado cherishing matchup with No. 17 BYU in Alamo Bowl as Sanders, Hunter complete careers SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Colorado is relishing the chance to end its season on a high note regardless of the outcome of the Valero Alamo Bowl. No. 20 Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While a number of teams are shuffling their roster with players opting out of bowl games to enter the transfer portal or prepare for the NFL Draft, the Buffaloes have their entire two-deep roster available. Colorado coach Deion Sanders honored his players’ commitment by securing additional disability insurance coverage for his team, including record coverage for his star duo of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback son Shedeur. Former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson hired as the football coach at Delaware State DOVER, Del. (AP) — Former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson is taking over the football program at Delaware State. The school announced Jackson’s hire Friday in the latest move by a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program to hire a former NFL star as its football coach. Norfolk State hired Michael Vick last week. Jackson joins a growing list of former NFL standouts who have taken over HBCU programs in recent years. Deion Sanders had success at Jackson State before heading to Colorado, and Eddie George guided Tennessee State to the FCS playoffs this year. Alex Ovechkin takes part in a full Capitals practice. He could return Saturday at Toronto ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin could return to the Washington Capitals lineup when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first game back from the NHL’s Christmas break. Several signs point to Ovechkin returning Saturday night after missing five weeks with a broken left leg. Ovechkin skated with regular linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas and took part in power play drills in practice Friday. Coach Spencer Carbery said things were trending the right way for Ovechkin to play but wanted to see how the 39-year-old comes out of a full practice before making a decision Saturday.

Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office

WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting director of the Secret Service said Thursday that the agency is “reorganizing and reimagining” its culture and how it operates following an assassination attempt against Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Members of a bipartisan House task force investigating the attempt on Trump's life pushed Ronald Rowe on how the agency’s staffers could have missed such blatant security vulnerabilities leading up to the July 13 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At one point, the hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rowe and a Republican congressman. Rowe promised accountability for what he called the agency’s “abject failure” to secure the rally in Butler, where a gunman opened fire from a nearby building. Trump was wounded in the ear, one rallygoer was killed and two others were wounded. Another assassination attempt two months later contributed to the agency’s troubles. That gunman waited for hours for Trump to appear at his golf course in Florida, but a Secret Service agent thwarted the attack by spotting the firearm poking through bushes. The task force has been investigating both attempts, but it was the July shooting that dominated Thursday’s hearing. Its inquiry is one of a series of investigations and reports that have faulted the agency for planning and communications failures. The agency’s previous director resigned, and the Secret Service increased protections for Trump before the Republican won the November election. Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how problems so obvious in hindsight were allowed to happen. Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, said it was “just wild to me” that at a time of tech advances, the Secret Service was using text messages and emails to communicate in real time about threats. He also asked Rowe why so many things went wrong that day “yet nobody said anything.” Rowe said the agency used to have a culture where people felt comfortable speaking up. “I don’t know where we lost that,” he said. “We have to get back to that.” Rowe said the agency is putting a much stronger emphasis on training — something previous investigations found was lacking — and on doing more regular reviews of events to see what went right and where improvements can be made. “We are reorganizing and reimaging this organization," Rowe told lawmakers. He said the agency needs to identify possible leaders much earlier in their careers instead of just promoting people to command positions because they have been around a long time. The hearing was largely cordial, with members of Congress stressing the bipartisan nature of their work and praising Rowe for cooperating with their investigation even as they pushed him for explanations. But at one point, Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon, a Texas Republican, faced off — shouting over each other as other members pleaded for order. Fallon pulled out a photo of President Joe Biden, Trump and others at this year's Sept. 11 ceremony in New York and asked Rowe why he was at the event, suggesting it was to burnish his prospects at getting the director job permanently. Trump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency. “I was there to show respect for a Secret Service member that died on 9/11. Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes!” Rowe shouted. “You wanted to be visible because you were auditioning for this job that you’re not going to get!” Fallon later shot back. Rowe roared back: "You are out of line, Congressman. You are out of line!” “You're a bully,” Fallon said. This was the task force’s second public hearing and the first time that Rowe has addressed its members in public. The panel has until Dec. 13 to release its final report. Rep. Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican, said the agency’s conduct during the July shooting seemed almost “lackadaisical.” He said some of the issues that went wrong that day were ”really basic things.” “It speaks of an apathy or a complacency that is really unacceptable in an organization like the Secret Service,” Green said. The task force conducted 46 transcribed interviews, attended over a dozen briefings and reviewed over 20,000 documents. Members also visited the site of both assassination attempts and went to the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, to look at evidence. Rowe said Thursday that the agency's internal investigation , whose findings were released last month, identified failures by multiple employees. He noted that the quality of the advance work — the people who scope out event locations ahead of time — did not meet agency standards. He vowed accountability for those who fell down on the job. Many of the investigations have centered on why buildings near the rally with a clear line of sight to the stage where Trump was speaking were not secured in advance. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, climbed onto the roof of one of them and opened fire before being killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. Rowe pointed to the failure to protect the building as the most glaring oversight that day. He also was asked about the morale of agents and new hires. Rowe said applications are actually up this year — the agency made a net gain of about 200 agents during the past fiscal year, meaning both new agents were hired and veteran agents retained.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jay Ashcroft, Missouri's 40th secretary of state, will not be seeking reelection and will leave office on Jan. 13. In an interview Friday with ABC 17 News, Ashcroft said he does not see himself running again. "The people, they wanted me to stop, and I've done my eight years, so I just don't see that I'm going to run again," Ashcroft said. "I feel like I've done my time and there should be opportunity for other people." Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016 and again in 2020. He ran for governor in 2024 but ultimately lost in the Republican primary to Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe . Kehoe ultimately won the election and will be inaugurated next month. Ashcroft graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in engineering management. Soon after, he moved to West Plains, Missouri, to work for an engineering company that specialized in developing instruments used by the Air Force. In 2000, Ashcroft moved to St. Louis and began teaching technology and engineering courses at St. Louis Community College. After teaching there for eight years, Ashcroft graduated from St. Louis University Law School and practiced law in St. Louis County. Ashcroft said he's happy with the work he's done on election integrity over his eight years in office. "Frankly, our elections are good because the people of the state of Missouri do a good job of showing up in person to vote," he said. "I'm very happy with what we were able to do. We at one time moved Missouri from being ranked 10th in the nation with regard to how we run our elections to being in the top three." Ashcroft said that at the end of his time in office, he wanted to look back on the past eight years and keep his promises. "The thing that I was most concerned about was that when all was said and done with me being in politics, but I'll still be able to look myself in the mirror and say, 'you did what you said you were going to do,'" he said. Ashcroft partially attributes him staying true to his roots to visiting every county in the state every year. "Our government is not supposed to be about the bureaucracy or the elected officials," he said. "The highest office in the land is that a citizen. It needs to be about public service and not about politics." Ashcroft said his parents taught him the importance of service from a religious perspective. His father, John Ashcroft, was a Missouri governor and ascended to U.S. attorney general. "That's what I was taught as a child by my father and my mother," Ashcroft said. "The greatest thing you can do in that time between, because we're all born, we all die, what do you do in between is to serve other people, to increase their ability or their opportunity to, to really maximize their God-given potential." Faith plays a key role in Ashcroft's life and political decision-making. He spoke about times when he had to make decisions that weren't easy, but also about times when he had to regard the law above his personal convictions. "There were times, because of my faith, I had to make decisions that I didn't want to make," he said. "But the law was clear and the law said, this is how you have to act, this is what's supposed to happen." After he leaves office on Jan. 13, Ashcroft says he will focus on his family and has a few options open. They will remain in Jefferson City because his wife, Katie, will work as the chief of staff for incoming Lt. Gov. David Wasinger. "I've looked at some things in the law, I've looked at some things in academia, I've looked at some things in the bureaucracy at the federal level, we'll just we'll see what happens," Ashcroft said. Ashcroft will be replaced by fellow Republican Denny Hoskins, who currently represents part of Mid-Missouri in the state Senate.Child in 'extremely critical' condition after being pulled from pool

The LNP government has met for its first party meeting since the election, with leader David Crisafulli focusing attention on fulfilling his key campaign pledge by Christmas. The new Queensland premier met with colleagues at Parliament House from about 4pm on Monday before the first sitting day this week. Premier David Crisafulli addresses his LNP colleagues on Monday. Credit: William Davis “The first thing we’re going to be discussing is the Making Queensland Safer laws,” Crisafulli said. “There’s a lot of hard work to do in the next couple of weeks. “I want Queenslanders to know we’re serious about serving them and being a good government.” A 1100-kilometre transmission line connecting the North-West Minerals Province to the electricity grid near Townsville could cost up to $9 billion to build. That is the latest price tag put on Copperstring 2032 by government-owned corporation Powerlink, as Nine News political reporter Tim Arvier reported on Monday night. The $9 billion includes a $2 billion contingency, and capitalised interest costs of $800 million, and follows a previous cost blowout to $6.2 billion, announced by the then Labor government in August. While documents provided to the LNP government suggest Powerlink made the higher estimate in August, Labor told Arvier that Treasury was behind the estimate of $6.2 billion. The bill to ban social media for children under 16 will be a “test” for Peter Dutton’s leadership, says Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Speaking on Nine’s Today , Rishworth said there was bipartisan support for the bill, but that Dutton was losing control of his caucus. “Just a couple of weeks ago, Peter Dutton said he would facilitate this important piece of legislation and support the government. And now we see our senators defying him,” she said. “So this is a test for Peter Dutton and his leadership.” Also on Today was Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who said there were still concerns about digital ID laws and privacy. “We do want strong, robust laws to protect kids under 16 on social media platforms. “We’ve been out of the blocks before the government on this. We need to get the legislation right so it does actually get the outcomes we want. “And we need to make sure that those protections exist in the legislation.” Read more about the debate within the Coalition on the ban here. Social media companies, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta, have taken aim at the “rushed” consultation process for the ban on children under 16. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced the world-leading reform to parliament last Thursday, which she said would make the online environment better for young people. The consultation period for groups and individuals to make submissions closed on Friday. A Senate committee held a one-day hearing on Monday and is due to report back on Tuesday. In submissions to the inquiry, several groups, including social media companies, pointed to the short notice period. Snap Inc. wrote that “the extremely compressed timeline” had allowed stakeholders little more than 24 hours to provide a response, which “severely” constrained thorough analysis and informed debate. X, formerly Twitter, also criticised the “unreasonably short time frame of one day”, writing that it has “serious concerns as to the lawfulness of the bill”. Meta, which owns Facebook, wrote that there had been “minimal consultation or engagement” and urged the government to wait for the results of the age assurance trial before progressing with the legislation. TikTok said that despite the “time-limited review”, there was a range of “serious, unresolved problems” that the government must clarify to ensure there wouldn’t be unintended consequences for all Australians. AAP The LNP government has met for its first party meeting since the election, with leader David Crisafulli focusing attention on fulfilling his key campaign pledge by Christmas. The new Queensland premier met with colleagues at Parliament House from about 4pm on Monday before the first sitting day this week. Premier David Crisafulli addresses his LNP colleagues on Monday. Credit: William Davis “The first thing we’re going to be discussing is the Making Queensland Safer laws,” Crisafulli said. “There’s a lot of hard work to do in the next couple of weeks. “I want Queenslanders to know we’re serious about serving them and being a good government.” The temperature in Brisbane is going to come close to 30 degrees today, on a partly cloudy day with the mere chance of a morning shower. The city is predicted to be warmer in the days to come, with the likelihood of showers stronger later in the week. Here’s the seven-day outlook: Stories making the rounds further afield this morning: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has revealed the budget bottom line is getting worse before the looming federal election, with warnings he faces a $27 billion blowout over the next four years. Labor has gained a crucial concession from the Greens after a year of dispute over a $5.5 billion housing plan, but other bills are on the brink of defeat after Senate crossbenchers blasted Labor for trying to rush through changes on various issues. Social media companies including Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have taken aim at the “rushed” consultation process for the proposal ban on children under 16. In the US, Special Counsel Jack Smith asked a federal judge to dismiss the case accusing President-elect Donald Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. And Israel’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday to approve a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, with expectations that an accord could be announced “within hours”. Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Tuesday, November 26, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 29 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Ahead of the return of parliament, Brisbane Times state politics reporter Matt Dennien has analysed official diaries to determine who the new ministers scheduled the most meetings with before their election victory last month. Brisbane home prices are forecast to rise by 9 to 14 per cent next year – the highest capital city increase apart from Perth. Police are investigating the death of a child in Innisfail in Far North Queensland on Monday afternoon. The Brisbane Lions have added their voices to a campaign by local charity Beyond DV for men to take the lead in eliminating violence against women. And Grant Howard has been a coal miner since he left school, now based in the Bowen Basin in Queensland. At the weekend he was arrested at a protest, trying to hasten the end of his industry.

England are in early disarray as New Zealand’s fast bowlers put on a clinic to snare four wickets in the first hour of the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Watch NZ vs England three-Test series LIVE on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. England’s top four of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell and Joe Root are all back in the sheds after Matt Henry and Nathan Smith wreaked havoc with the new ball, and England great David Gower was disgusted on commentary by some of the shots he witnessed. “There’s been some appalling shots,” Gower said of England’s batting in the first hour. “There are times when one is speechless watching England bat.” LIVE SCORES Crawley made a statement of intent early by hitting Tim Southee back over his head for six in the opening over of the game, but was soon enough sent on his way for 17 off 23 balls by a peach from Henry. The right-hander was bowled by a nip-backer that was an excellent delivery, but had Gower, who was an old school opening batter, wincing at the lack of a sound forward defence. “It was a good ball, but there is a big gap there,” Gower said of Crawley’s dismissal. Crawley’s opening partner Ben Duckett was gone for a duck, once again caught in the slip cordon as he poked outside off stump with an angled bat to Henry, and New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who won the toss, snaffled an excellent catch low at second slip. The big wicket came next as Smith, in his second Test, found Root’s edge from an attempted back foot punch, and Daryl Mitchell took a one-handed stunner at first slip to send the number one batter in the ICC’s Test rankings on his way for 3. To add further insult, Bethell, who is also playing his second Test match, was caught down the leg side off Smith on the stroke of drinks. The left-hander was a controversial selection for this tour as he has not made a first class hundred, but showed some promise with a lovely straight drive the highlight of his innings before being dismissed for 16. England were 4/43 at the drinks break at the conclusion of the first hour, and in the second phase of the first session, Harry Brook has made a rollicking start to his innings after making a century in Christchurch. He is at the create with England vice-captain Ollie Pope.

No. 2 UConn Suffers Mammoth Upset Against Memphis In Maui Invitational