super ace trial As we prepare to enter 2025 with fresh professional aspirations, it's worth reflecting on the workforce trends of 2024. While some may carry fond memories of career achievements, for many, especially in the tech sector, 2024 was a challenging year. According to a TNN report, approximately 150,000 jobs were lost across major companies in 2024. Industry giants like Tesla, Intel, Cisco, and Microsoft were among the many that significantly scaled back their workforce. But what drove these massive layoffs ? This wave of job cuts was largely attributed to cost-cutting measures, corporate restructuring, and the need to adapt to evolving market conditions. While the tech industry thrives on constant innovation, 2024 presented a series of challenges that forced companies to make tough decisions. Major Layoffs of 2024 Here’s a closer look at some of the significant layoffs that shaped the year: Intel: According to the TNN report, Intel faced substantial losses in 2024 and announced plans to cut $10 billion in costs by 2025. This included laying off 15,000 employees, representing over 15% of its workforce. The company also slashed its R&D and marketing budgets by more than 20%, restructuring to eliminate non-essential operations. Tesla: Tesla made headlines with two rounds of layoffs this year. The first saw approximately 14,000 employees let go, followed by additional cuts affecting hundreds more, including most of its Supercharging team. Bloomberg reported that Tesla's total headcount reduction could reach as high as 20%. Cisco: Cisco Systems, the networking giant, also conducted two rounds of layoffs in 2024. Initially, the company laid off about 5% of its global workforce, amounting to 400 employees, in February. Later in the year, another 6,000 employees were affected, as per the TNN report. Uber: Uber was another prominent name in layoff news. Citing data from layoffs.fyi, the TNN report revealed that Uber let go of 6,700 employees in 2024. Additionally, the company shut down offices, scaled back its labs, and re-evaluated its self-driving units, partly due to the decline in its ridesharing business during the pandemic. Dell: Dell made significant workforce reductions, cutting approximately 6,000 jobs. This marked one of the company’s largest layoffs in recent years, driven by challenging market conditions. Microsoft: Microsoft was not spared either. According to the TNN report, the tech giant reduced its workforce by 1,900 employees across divisions such as Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and ZeniMax. In September, the company laid off an additional 650 employees, primarily from corporate and support roles, as part of efforts to establish a more sustainable cost structure. Yes Madam: The home salon service provider Yes Madam garnered attention for an unusual reason. Reports indicated that the company conducted a mental health survey and laid off employees who disclosed feeling stressed—a decision that sparked widespread criticism. Freshworks: California-based tech firm Freshworks announced plans to cut 13% of its global workforce, affecting roughly 660 employees. These layoffs were part of a broader operational restructuring strategy. What were the driving factors behind tech job cuts? Despite reporting strong profits, tech giants are facing mounting pressures that have led to widespread layoffs. Three primary factors driving these job cuts are the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about a potential recession, and rising inflation and interest rates. The rise of AI has prompted companies to streamline operations, replacing certain roles with automated systems. Additionally, fears of an economic downturn have led firms to adopt a more cautious approach to hiring and resource allocation. Shifting consumer spending patterns have further exacerbated the situation, with reduced demand for discretionary tech products and services impacting revenues. To remain competitive and maintain shareholder confidence, many companies are focusing on cost-cutting measures, including workforce reductions. These layoffs reflect the industry’s response to evolving market conditions, technological disruptions, and the need for financial prudence in an uncertain global economy. As a result, the tech sector is undergoing significant structural adjustments. 10 Key takeaways for job seekers Here are 10 key takeaways for job seekers from the 2024 major layoffs, along with strategies to secure employment in 2025: Embrace Continuous Learning: The rapid evolution of technology makes staying updated on emerging trends like AI, machine learning, and cloud computing essential. Regularly enroll in online courses or certifications to remain competitive. Develop Niche Skills: Specialize in high-demand areas such as AI integration, cloud security, data engineering, and DevOps automation. Expertise in these fields increases employability and resilience during layoffs. Focus on Versatility: Diversify your skill set to include both technical and non-technical capabilities like UX analytics, time management, and effective communication. This versatility appeals to employers seeking adaptable talent. Stay Technologically Agile: Master emerging tools and technologies like Kubernetes, TensorFlow, and Apache Spark. Proficiency in cutting-edge platforms enhances your ability to adapt to industry changes. Enhance Job Security through Value Addition: Demonstrate your ability to contribute to future-focused initiatives, such as optimizing workflows or improving user experiences, to position yourself as indispensable during workforce reductions. Expand Professional Networks: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn to build connections, seek mentorship, and explore new opportunities. Networking can open doors to unadvertised roles and provide insights into industry trends. Adapt to Market Shifts: Understand economic trends affecting the tech industry, such as changes in consumer spending or the rise of automation, and position yourself in roles aligned with market demands. Seek Company-Sponsored Upskilling: Take advantage of internal training programs offered by employers. These opportunities not only enhance skills but also demonstrate your commitment to growth within the organization. Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities: Employers value candidates who take ownership and proactively address challenges. Highlight projects where you’ve optimized processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. Prepare for Emerging Careers: Anticipate future industry demands, such as roles in cybersecurity, AI-driven applications, or big data analysis. Upskilling in these areas can unlock new career paths and reduce the risk of unemployment. By adopting these strategies, job seekers can not only safeguard their careers in an uncertain environment but also position themselves for growth and success in 2025 and beyond. Stay updated with the latest education news on Times of India . Explore the CBSE date sheet for Class 10 and 12 across Arts , Science , and Commerce streams.US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown

Marin transportation planners prepare for Trump administrationPresident-elect Donald Trump's transition team is grappling with internal strife over the alleged conduct of a senior and longtime adviser, Boris Epshteyn, who has been accused by at least one Republican politician of trying to profit personally from his ability to influence Trump's Cabinet picks. Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens submitted a sworn declaration to the transition team alleging that "Mr. Epshteyn's overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President." "This created a sense of unease and pressure on my part," said the declaration, which was first obtained by the online publication Just the News and shared with CBS News. Greitens and his attorney, Timothy Parlatore, authenticated the one-page document to CBS News. Parlatore confirmed to CBS News that the declaration was submitted in connection with an internal investigation that is being conducted by David Warrington, who served as general counsel to the Trump campaign. According to Parlatore, Warrington interviewed Greitens about his interaction with Epshteyn late last week and then asked Greitens to submit the declaration. Warrington has not responded to a request for comment. "It was important to me to protect the president because I was concerned about the ethics of what was happening," Greitens told CBS News. "Very specifically, I was concerned that there was an offer to advance a nomination in return for financial payments." Epshteyn told CBS News he is "honored to work for President Trump and with his team." "These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again," Epshteyn said in his statement. The Trump transition team confirmed it had conducted a review and now intended to move on from the issue, as first reported by CNN . "As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaign's consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others," said transition spokesman Steven Cheung. "We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again." Epshteyn has been a near-constant figure by Trump's side in recent years, buoying him on air and helping to coordinate his multiple legal teams behind closed doors. Those teams have had unquestionable success, impeding Trump's two federal criminal cases before they could get to trial, and stymying a state case against Trump in Georgia. Trump was convicted in the one case that went to trial, in New York, but recently the sentencing in that case was postponed indefinitely. On Monday, special counsel Jack Smith asked a federal district court to dismiss the charges against Trump stemming from an alleged scheme to subvert the transfer of power after the 2020 election, and he also sought to end his bid to revive the case against Trump arising from his alleged mishandling of sensitive government documents. A native of Russia who emigrated to New Jersey with his family when he was 11, Epshteyn was brought into the Trump sphere by Georgetown University classmate Eric Trump. He started as a low-level staffer during Trump's first run for office and was able to parlay that into a junior position on the White House communications team. Two months later he abruptly resigned over circumstances that remain unclear, but by then he had managed to win over Trump as his loyal confidant and fixer. Epshteyn supporters praise his ability to execute orders and resolve problems, which they attribute to a frenetic energy, his bulldog personality and a cunning understanding of the political dynamics of Trump's advisers. Epshteyn has become so close to Trump that the president-elect jokingly refers to Epshteyn as "my psychiatrist," The New York Times first noted. According to multiple sources, Epshteyn's access to Trump is at times only rivaled by family members. In the weeks since Trump won his second term as president, Epshteyn has been a mainstay in discussions about filling out the Cabinet. The New York Times reported Epshteyn played a critical role in recommending former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general, a bid that ultimately failed to win favor and was withdrawn. The status of Epshteyn's consulting business while assisting in the transition is unclear. But prior to the 2024 election, the business appeared to be robust. A review of publicly available records indicate his firm has been paid more than $1 million from Trump's campaigns and aligned PACs since 2020, and another $1.2 million by other campaigns. While there is nothing new about political consultants — on both sides of the aisle — using their connections, interviews with about two dozen advisers, lawyers and allies of Trump reveal Epshteyn's political consulting work has bred both praise and resentment. CBS News spoke with more than half a dozen Republican candidates who have engaged with Epshteyn. Many described his pitch, offering an array of services, including "strategic advice" on messaging and boosting a candidate's social media presence. But nearly everyone interviewed said his access to Trump had allure. Ahead in the polls as his Republican Senate primary approached in 2022, Don Bolduc wanted to make sure Trump didn't play spoiler by endorsing one of his New Hampshire rivals. Bolduc said he turned to Epshteyn "to run interference inside the Trump circle." A service like that doesn't come cheap. "I thought $100,000 was a lot of money for what we were asking, but that's what was paid," said Bolduc, who added "no guarantee" was given by Epshteyn that Trump wouldn't endorse a rival. Bolduc won his primary after Trump stayed neutral. He told CBS News that while it appeared to him that he got what he paid for, the experience left him feeling disillusioned with the transactional side of elections. After the campaign ended in general election defeat, Bolduc said he chose to leave politics for good. "There's nothing honorable about politics," said Bolduc, a retired Army brigadier general. After his failed Senate race, Bolduc enrolled in a police academy and became a rookie small-town cop at age 60. Among those who hired Epshteyn for his campaign services in the past was Greitens, who served as Missouri governor during a portion of the first Trump term. In the weeks since Trump won reelection, Greitens said he contacted Epshteyn for assistance to be considered for an appointment as U.S. Navy secretary. "During the conversation, despite the absence of an explicit offer, Mr. Epshteyn's comments and demeanor suggested that he might entertain offering a position in the administration in exchange for financial consideration, but such an offer would happen in a subsequent discussion," Greitens wrote. "He stated that there would be 'time for that later' and that it was 'not time for that yet.'" "Mr. Epshteyn's overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President," Greitens wrote. "This created a sense of unease and pressure on my part." Donald Trump Daniel Klaidman, an investigative reporter based in New York, is the former editor-in-chief of Yahoo News and former managing editor of Newsweek. He has over two decades of experience covering politics, foreign affairs, national security and law.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking a first step back into the huge Chinese market with two preseason games set to take place in Macao next October, five years after the league was effectively blocked from China. The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play the preseason games on October 10 and 12 at the Venetian Arena next year, while an NBA Flagship Store will also open in Macao. "Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports," NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said in a press release. "The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives." NBA teams command a huge following in China, where basketball is wildly popular. The league has not staged a game in the country since 2019, when a tweet in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the Houston Rockets' then general manager Daryl Morey sparked a political firestorm. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver refused to punish or censor Morey – who is currently the Philadelphia 76ers' president of basketball operations – prompting ire from Beijing and leading the sports station of China's central broadcaster to stop showing the league's games for a year. Hong Kong was roiled by pro-democracy protests in 2019, which at times brought several hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to push for democracy in the city. Like Macao, Hong Kong is considered a special administrative region of China, partly distinct from the mainland. Beijing repeatedly accused Western democratic forces of working to fuel the popular Hong Kong protests and lashed out at any support for the movement, which died out in 2020 when the capital imposed a sweeping national security law on the city. Silver said two years ago that the NBA had lost "hundreds of millions of dollars" in revenue following the fallout with China, with whom the league had shared a long-standing relationship. According to Reuters, 17 NBA teams played 28 games in China between 2004 and 2019. However, tensions between the league and the country now appear to have thawed, with a legends game featuring six former NBA stars set be held in Macao on Saturday. "We always love the opportunity to compete on the global stage and we are grateful to participate in the NBA China Games 2025," said Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks. "The Brooklyn Nets have an incredible fanbase around the globe and we can't wait to bring our love of the game directly to our fans while giving our players and coaches the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture." Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, meanwhile, added that playing in Macao is part of the team's vision to "bring the Suns to a global audience and impact fans across the world."Pa.‘s political elite head to NYC for annual event. Here’s what the buzz is about.

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Immigration advocates call on Biden to close detention centers; dismantle immigration systemMax Chandler-Mather and Adam Bandt (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch) HOUSING AND SOCIAL MEDIA With so many bills before Parliament still waiting to be passed, scrapped or delayed before the end of this week there’s no shortage of angles this morning, although two measures in particular are attracting significant attention. The government’s housing bills and its rushed attempts to get the teen social media ban agreed upon have been dominating coverage overnight. Yesterday, the Greens agreed to pass the Albanese government’s Help to Buy and Build to Rent schemes after failing to win any of the concessions the party had held out so long for. As mentioned in yesterday’s Worm , it had been reported the prime minister went into this final sitting week planning on not conceding to any Greens amendments. On Monday afternoon his housing reforms managed just that. Guardian Australia flags Greens leader Adam Bandt and housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather claimed in a press conference they had pushed Labor “as hard” as they could without success. “The Greens can announce that we’ll be waving through Labor’s two housing bills after accepting that Labor doesn’t care enough about renters to do anything meaningful for them,” Chandler-Mather said. Earlier in the day Housing Minister Clare O’Neil had continued the government’s line that the Greens were deliberately blocking housing legislation during a housing crisis. “For two-and-a-half years now, the Australian Greens have done nothing but block and delay the action the government has attempted to take on housing,” she told ABC’s Radio National. Chandler-Mather countered at his press conference by saying his party had “passed every single piece of Labor’s housing legislation”, adding: “And if we come to the next election and there’s still a housing crisis — well, that’s a question Labor has to answer.” The Greens housing spokesperson is up again at the National Press Club later today for the Housing Policy Debate . AAP reports opposition housing spokesperson Michael Sukkar will “hint at ‘a comprehensive package’ of reforms aimed at freeing up access to finance” at the event. “If there’s one message I want Australians to take away from my remarks today, it’s that the coalition will not accept a generation of Australians not having the same opportunities that previous generations have enjoyed for home ownership,” Sukkar is expected to say. The other planned reform grabbing a lot of headlines this morning is the government’s pitch to ban children under 16 from social media. The Senate committee’s remarkable one-day hearing is due to report back today with plenty of opposition voiced to the government’s attempts to get the legislation passed before Parliament rises at the end of the week. AAP has compiled the objections from the social media platforms and says the Coalition has said it will reserve its final decision on the bill until it has received answers from the government. Meanwhile, Guardian Australia flags the Greens and One Nation have accused the government of trying to “ram” the legislation through Parliament. Meta said in its submission to the Senate inquiry there had been “minimal consultation or engagement” and called on the government to wait for the results of the age verification trial, which is not set to report back until the middle of next year. Snap Inc meanwhile expressed concern at “the extremely compressed timeline”, X criticised the “unreasonably short time-frame of one day”, and TikTok had a range of “serious, unresolved problems” with the proposals, AAP flags. The bill is set to be debated later this week. Capital Brief reported yesterday the government is also this week finalising its package of media reforms, which the social media platforms and search companies will no doubt have plenty to say about too. ECONOMIC SHOCKS As the government tries to get as much of its agenda passed this week as it can, it is also dropping pledges it knows it has no hope of getting done before election day. The Australian Financial Review reports the plan to increase the tax on superannuation accounts worth more than $3 million is unlikely to pass Parliament before the federal election. The paper says the legislation has been left off the bills the Albanese government is trying to pass this week and even if Parliament does return in February (which many reckon it won’t) it stands little chance of passing without major changes “with every Senate party and crossbencher opposed to it”. With so much government legislation still up in the air, the AFR also flags the Senate’s sitting hours have been extended this week. Elsewhere in its coverage , the paper says it has had internal analysis by the Reserve Bank of Australia about the impact of a Donald Trump presidency released to it under freedom of information laws. The analysis, which was conducted three weeks before the US election, found that under an “extreme” scenario of Trump imposing massive tariffs on Chinese goods, China’s economic growth would slow. That decline would have “relatively strong negative implications for Australia given the strength of export trade links”, the RBA analysis reportedly said. “In the extreme scenario, weaker export demand, and slower growth would be disinflationary, putting downward pressure on policy rate expectations, government bond yields and the Australian dollar. Equity prices would likely decline as earnings expectations are revised down.” The Australian carries the same analysis, which it also said it obtained under freedom of information laws. Elsewhere, AAP reports “Australia is waving goodbye to budget surpluses and returning abruptly to deficit”. The newswire flags the Deloitte Access Economics’ (DAE) prediction of a $33.5 billion deficit in 2024/25. During the last financial year a $15.8 billion surplus was recorded, so if the prediction proved correct it would “amount to the largest nominal contraction in the underlying cash balance on record, outside the pandemic”, AAP said. DAE partner and report co-author Stephen Smith also expressed concern about the impact on the Australian economy of Trump’s threatened tariffs. Back to Canberra to finish, Guardian Australia reports the government and the Coalition are close to a deal on passing all three of the migration bills up for debate tomorrow. The AFR says today’s focus will be on legislation related to multinational tax, education measures, and wage rises for childcare staff. ON A LIGHTER NOTE... It’s almost Christmas and Jude Law has taken it upon himself to remind people that movies aren’t real life. Apparently, fans of the 2006 festive film The Holiday were upset this week to learn the picturesque cottage that Kate Winslet’s character swaps for an LA pad belonging to Cameron Diaz’s is in fact not real. (Which is not new news, as MyLondon put it back in 2020: “The exterior was built especially for the movie on a hill outside [the village of] Shere.”) Appearing on BBC Radio 2, last week, Law was asked by a fellow guest, actress and comedian Kerry Godliman, if it was possible to Airbnb the famous cottage from the film. Cue Jude ruining everyone’s fun by, as reported by Yahoo , saying: “That cottage doesn’t exist. Ooh yeah. So, the director [ Nancy Meyers ], she’s a bit of a perfectionist — toured that whole area and didn’t quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for. So she just hired a field and drew [what she wanted] and had someone build it. But here’s the funny thing, if you watch it, so, we were shooting it in the winter here and every time I’d go in that door, we cut, and we shot the interiors in LA, about three months later.” So if you didn’t know before, now you do, films aren’t real life folks. Say What? Look, I remind myself that very many people didn’t vote Labour at the last election. I’m not surprised that many of them want a rerun. That isn’t how our system works. Sir Keir Starmer The UK Prime Minister has responded to an online petition signed by two million people calling for another election. The petition has been promoted by the likes of Elon Musk and Nigel Farage . As The Guardian puts it, calling for an election less than six months after the last one “and when the government has a working majority of 163 is clearly bonkers”. CRIKEY RECAP Labor gave the public one day to weigh in on teen social media ban. It got 15,000 responses ANTON NILSSON and CAM WILSON Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas) The snap inquiry into Labor’s bill to ban under-16s from social media has generated a huge interest from the public, receiving about 15,000 submissions in just over a day, Crikey understands. The first and only hearing in the inquiry kicked off at 9am on Monday and was due to finish at midday. When the hearing was halfway done, at 11am, just 28 submissions had been uploaded on the committee website. The keen interest in the inquiry was boosted by a viral post from Elon Musk , who helped give the bill global media attention when he responded to a post on X by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the message: “Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.” Can Australia rely on its diplomats to be diplomatic? MARGARET REYNOLDS Despite this extensive in-service training of career diplomats, Australian governments frequently appoint politicians with scant special diplomacy skills to represent the nation overseas. Critics argue that elected members and senators representing either the Liberals or the ALP are not necessarily familiar with world affairs, and many would doubt their capacity to be diplomatic. Government leaders often make ambassadorial appointments when rewarding former ministers. These appointments are criticised as “jobs for the boys” — and indeed very few women have been anointed with this benefit. (We have yet to see a minor party or independent political appointment, so the partisan nature of this process reinforces the view that diplomacy should be about more than mateship.) Such political appointments can take advantage of the particular skills or experience of former parliamentarians, particularly in the case of former treasurers, ministers or prime ministers. However, it must be frustrating for career diplomats to be overlooked when their political masters prefer familiar former parliamentarians instead of professionals with years of experience in diplomacy and international relations. It might be easier to ask which of Trump’s cabinet picks HAVEN’T been accused of sexual misconduct CHARLIE LEWIS The relative calm in Trumpworld since the withdrawal last week of Matt Gaetz — the former Florida congressman initially tapped to be attorney-general — has given America-watchers the chance to ask broader questions about a second Trump administration. Questions like “Just how practical are the policies being promised?” and “Wait, how many of his cabinet choices have been accused of sexual misconduct?” READ ALL ABOUT IT Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos vows to fight back after vice-president makes public assassination threat (ABC) Netanyahu nears decision on ceasefire with Hezbollah, officials say ( The New York Times ) ($) Sixteen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinks (BBC) University vice-chancellor pay to mirror top public service jobs ( The Australian ) ($) Trump Pentagon pick attacks UN and NATO and urges US to ignore Geneva Conventions ( The Guardian ) Barbara Taylor Bradford, the ‘grand dame of blockbusters’, dies aged 91 (Sky News) THE COMMENTARIAT Federal election 2025 will be the first vote where gen Z and millennials outnumber baby boomers at the ballot box — Patricia Karvelas (ABC): The era of baby boomers as the dominant voting force in Australian politics is at an end and the impact will play out at the next federal election, due by May. If you listen carefully, you can already hear that politicians know the power and numbers have shifted to younger people. We are already seeing political parties shift demographic focus and it’s something that will differentiate this next election from others in recent times, with a noticeable focus on young people. The 2025 federal election will be the first election where gen Z and millennials will outnumber boomers in every state and territory, dramatically changing the way political parties campaign and target voters. This is no small thing. Policy and political announcements designed around the perceived needs of boomers have been at the heart of Australian politics. Changing voter demographics will introduce a seismic shift. I used to think Australia was best served by a majority government. Now I’m not so sure — George Megalogenis (Guardian Australia): A comparison with Britain’s July 2024 election shows the Australian difference. The British people followed our lead by electing a Labour government with just a third of the primary vote, and sent a record number of women to the House of Commons (40.5%, compared with the 39.1% elected to our House of Representatives in 2022). The UK’s voluntary first-past-the-post voting system secured a landslide victory for Keir Starmer’s Labour; under our compulsory preferential voting system, Albanese’s Labor squeaked in with a majority of two seats. The revelation is in the splintering of the conservative vote. The majority of those who turned against Scott Morrison’s blokey government created a new independent female centre in the cities; by contrast, in the UK the Tories lost ground to the nationalist right. Where former Liberal voters elected Zoe Daniel and Allegra Spender to the House of Representatives, their counterparts in the UK sent Brexit town crier and Trump supporter Nigel Farage to the House of Commons. Australia’s protest vote sits in a global category of its own at the moment because it aims to force change on the system, not disrupt it. This tells us something about our underlying trust in the idea of government, and our willingness to be led from the centre, not the fringe. Whether it achieves its ambition will depend on the long-term significance of the last election. Did it signal a realignment which transferred power from the conservative regions to the progressive cities? Or was it just another version of the stalemate we have endured since 2010, in which no major party is able to govern with authority because each represents only a fraction of a divided nation?

One of the most profound scientific discoveries of the 20th century revealed that mass is simply an extremely concentrated form of energy. Scientists even determined that the energy in any given quantity of mass is the weight of that mass times the speed of light squared. Now, the speed of light is a profoundly large number and, when you multiply that number by itself, you get an even more insanely large number. Unfortunately, even though we know we have all this energy locked up in every quantity of mass, actually making it happen (harvesting that energy) is a bit more problematic. During the 20th century, scientists figured out two ways to convert mass to energy and these are referred to as fission and fusion. In fission, a large fissionable atom is hit with a neutron that breaks it up into a bunch of smaller atoms. For fusion, extreme high heat convinces two smaller atoms to fuse together to form a larger atom. In both cases the newly formed atoms have less mass than the original atoms and that difference is the quantity of mass that has been converted to energy. With this in mind, it is extremely unfortunate that the first public awareness of this “mass is energy” phenomenon came when a fission bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. After that, we witnessed an arms race, lots of testing and all our political leaders choosing to use public fear of it all to control us (fear is a politician’s favorite too to make us do their bidding) rather than pushing to advance the technology and use it to make everyone’s life better. Though fusion has proven impossible to manage and control, fission technology has been safely generating electricity since 1954. But the nagging question that should have been asked over and over was always, maybe there is a better way to do this. It has recently occurred to me that there might be a shortcut to solving the problem. Over the centuries there have been uncounted reports of alien spaceships and even many alien abductions. So common are alien abductions that they have been given a name “close encounters of the third kind.” Hopefully, most will agree that alien spaceships are not powered by wood stoves. In fact, the only way to support space travel is some technology that converts mass directly into energy. My shortcut is to explain the whole “mass is energy” concept in layman’s terms to everyone on the planet and let it be known that anyone abducted by aliens must plead with their captors to please, pretty please, share the technology they use for converting mass directly into energy. Robert Crocker ChehalisMyanmar has been facing over 70 years of instable situations, beginning with armed conflicts that emerged alongside its independence. Successive governments have attempted to achieve domestic peace through various means. However, due to ethnic, ideological, pride-driven, and ego-centred divisions, peace has remained elusive, appearing fleetingly like a glimmer of hope before disappearing again — an ongoing loss for the nation. Peace is a fundamental cornerstone for the economic development of the nation, the improvement of the social well-being of its people, the harmony and prosperity of the Union, and the rule of law. Mutual respect and understanding among ethnic groups foster collaboration and cooperation, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts, which can be resolved through negotiation. A relationship based on trust enables the resolution of numerous challenges together, ultimately fostering a more harmonious coexistence and paving the way for durable peace and stability. This is the time for all national brethren to foster mutual trust, free from suspicion and misunderstandings, and to set aside unnecessary ideologies. They must collaborate with mutual respect, trust, and affection to forge durable peace. If so, the Union will remain peaceful and respective regions flourish in harmony. By exercising the rights granted under the Constitution, everybody must work together in unity to achieve national stability, peace, and sustainable development. Due to the lack of peace, it is well-known that people are living in a state of great worry and concern. The consequences of these conflicts have severely impacted the socio-economic lives of local ethnic communities. Therefore, solutions must be sought through peaceful means to promote the well-being of one’s region and people. If political issues are not resolved through political means but rather through armed conflict, even in an independent nation, the people would find themselves living in poverty-stricken, turbulent lives. Although the nation may be independent, it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent a situation where its citizens are forced to live uncertain and unstable lives. Everybody must ensure that future generations can live peacefully, happily, and securely by making their lives a lasting part of history. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) is a historic pact for peace, and it is essential for all ethnic armed organizations to respect and adhere to it. The State Administration Council has been engaging in dialogue with political parties and ethnic armed organizations to achieve lasting peace. The outcomes and agreements reached during these bilateral discussions have been documented to ensure they can be deliberated and ratified in future parliamentary sessions. This is the time for all national brethren to foster mutual trust, free from suspicion and misunderstandings, and to set aside unnecessary ideologies. They must collaborate with mutual respect, trust, and affection to forge durable peace. If so, the Union will remain peaceful and respective regions flourish in harmony. By exercising the rights granted under the Constitution, everybody must work together in unity to achieve national stability, peace, and sustainable development.

Washington’s roster got a whole lot younger on Wednesday. The Huskies signed 29 commitments for the 2025 season during the first day of the early signing period. Coach Jedd Fisch currently has 62 scholarships committed to players who are sophomores by eligibility or younger. Fisch and the Huskies can add some experience to their roster starting on Monday, when the transfer portal opens. Washington will also have more attrition of its own because the Huskies are above the self-imposed 85-scholarship limit Fisch announced on Wednesday. Here are five position groups the Huskies might target in the transfer portal starting on Monday. This probably has to be Washington’s top priority in the transfer portal. The Huskies lose their top-two defensive tackles — Sebastian Valdez and Jacob Bandes — after the bowl game, leaving them with a young, unproven group at the position. Logan Sagapolu played offensive line for the first four years of his college career. Jayvon and Armon Parker are coming off season-ending injuries. Bryce Butler, a junior college addition this season, played in three games because of injuries and redshirted to preserve a year of eligibility. Elinneus Davis had 14 tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a pass breakup, and finished his first season as a contributor ranked third in snaps among defensive tackles according to Pro Football Focus. UW also has 6-foot-3, 296-pound Omar Khan who redshirted as a true freshman in 2024. The Huskies signed 315-pound Dominic Macon and 260-pound Caleb Smith in their 2025 recruiting class but they will likely need to redshirt in 2025. Fisch heavily implied Washington will hunt the portal for more defensive linemen while speaking during his signing day news conference on Wednesday. “In the transfer portal, in terms of defensive linemen, you have to be able to take the older players.” Washington signed three linebackers as part of its 2025 recruiting class, including local four-star prospects Zaydrius Rainey-Sale and Jonathan Epperson Jr. But after losing captains Alphonzo Tuputala and Carson Bruener and standout special teamer Drew Fowler, it makes sense to add another linebacker with more experience to the room. Anthony Ward, a former walk-on who Fisch gave a scholarship to at Arizona, is the oldest player in the group. Khmori House, however, is the most experienced. The Southern Californian played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2024, racking up 35 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. He's a presumed starter for 2025 and Fisch has repeatedly called House the future of the defense. Deven Bryant and Hayden Moore, who will both be third-year sophomores in 2025, saw limited action this season. Bryant had a prolific high school careers at St. John Bosco High School, where he played with House, but has been hampered by injuries since arriving at UW in 2023. Moore was a Michigan transfer who appeared primarily on special teams in 2024. Similar to linebacker, Washington loses captain Kamren Fabiculanan, who led UW’s defense with 736 snaps this season. Cameron Broussard also departs, along with veteran special teamer Justin Harrington. Makell Esteen still has eligibility, and the Huskies have a young group of second-year safeties in Peyton Waters, Paul Mencke Jr., Rahshawn Clark and Rahim Wright II. Waters burned his redshirt in 2024, mainly as a special teamer, and will be a sophomore in 2025 while Mencke, Clark and Wright will all be redshirt freshmen. Clark was a cornerback at Garfield High School but is listed as a safety on UW’s roster. The Huskies also signed four-star freshman Rylon Dillard-Allen on Wednesday. Between Esteen and the second-year safeties, however, there isn’t much depth. Fisch has been high on Vincent Holmes, a third-year sophomore in 2025, despite the Bay Area native’s special teams gaffe against Rutgers. Holmes was UW’s third safety during games when Esteen or Broussard were unavailable because of injury. Sumner native Tristan Dunn is the final safety on the roster, playing almost exclusively on special teams in 2024. He’ll be entering his fourth season in the program in 2025. Bringing in a veteran safety to pair primarily with Esteen makes some sense, especially because defensive coordinator Steve Belichick likes to use three-safety looks. Washington’s offensive line issues were apparent all season, yet Fisch has been adamant that the Huskies will build their new offensive line through high school recruiting. UW signed six offensive linemen as part of their 2025 recruiting class: Champ Taulealea, John Mills, Jake Flores, Peter Langi, Jack Shaffer and Lowen Colman-Brusa. The Huskies currently have 18 offensive linemen on scholarship, assuming no attrition. Offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll, who also coaches the offensive line, has previously said he’d like to have around 16 scholarship linemen on the roster. But on Friday, Arizona left guard Wendell Moe Jr. announced he intends to enter the transfer portal. The third-year sophomore started 13 games for Fisch and Carroll at left guard in 2023, then maintained his spot after staying with the Wildcats in 2024. PFF graded the 6-2, 339-pound Moe as Arizona’s best pass-blocking lineman who played at least three games. He didn’t allow a single sack in 491 pass-blocking snaps in 2024. Washington signed five wide receivers for its 2025 class, but the Huskies will lose Giles Jackson and Jeremiah Hunter — who combined for 107 catches and 1,144 receiving yards — after the bowl game. Additionally Denzel Boston is eligible for the NFL draft after finishing his third season of college football in 2024. The rest of UW’s receiver group has limited experience. Rashid Williams and Keith Reynolds, both third-year sophomores in 2025, were rotational players during the past season. Williams had 10 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, while Reynolds was UW’s primary kick returner and scored his first touchdown on a rush against USC. Audric Harris burned his redshirt as a true freshman, making one catch for seven yards while appearing in seven games. UW also has Kevin Green Jr., an Arizona transfer who will be a fourth-year junior but missed the entire 2024 campaign with an injury. Green had eight catches for 97 yards with the Wildcats in 2023. The seven other receivers on the roster — five true freshmen and second-year receivers Jason Robinson Jr. and Justice Williams — have never played a college snap. If Washington doesn't add a veteran receiver, they’ll be counting on Green, Williams and Reynolds to really step up alongside Boston.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of tariff plans sparked criticism Tuesday from Mexico, Canada and China and raised questions about whether the moves would violate international trade agreements — including one he renegotiated in his first term. Trump posted on social media Monday that as “one of my many first Executive Orders” he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% additional tariff on China. He said the tariffs are in response to the ongoing fentanyl epidemic, crime and illegal immigration. More than 90% of intercepted fentanyl trafficked by cartels is found at ports of entry, primarily in vehicles driven by U.S. citizens, according to Customs and Border Protection. “As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump posted. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trump posted. On China, Trump posted that he had many talks about fentanyl and other drugs being sent into the United States, “But to no avail.” “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump posted. Mexico is ranked as the top trading partner with the U.S., followed by Canada and then China, according to September U.S. Census Bureau data. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter to Trump on his tariff announcement and read it at a press conference Tuesday. She said that Mexico has “developed a comprehensive policy” to address the flow of migrants into the U.S., citing CBP statistics that found crossings at the southwest border are down by 75% from last year. Sheinbaum said that Mexico has seized different types of drugs and arrested people for charges related to drug trafficking but that drug consumption “is a problem of public health and consumption in your country’s society.” She warned that the tariffs will harm the motor industry and would cause job losses and inflation in both the U.S. and Mexico. “One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,” Sheinbaum said. She is planning on discussing the tariffs with Trump’s team. Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media that the tariffs would be “devastating to workers and jobs in both Canada and the U.S.” He called on Canada’s government to take the border situation seriously and said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must call the premiers for an “urgent meeting.” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., posted on social media that no one will win a trade or tariff war. “China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” he wrote, adding that China has worked with the U.S. to address fentanyl trafficking from China. Trade agreement violations Trade experts warn that Trump’s 25% tariffs would violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which the Trump administration negotiated during his first term, and cause trouble with the World Trade Organization. The agreement replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2020, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says that the agreement is a “mutually beneficial win for North American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses.” Mary E. Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said that Trump’s proposal would violate the agreement which requires low to zero tariffs on most products. PIIE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade research organization. “Tariffs are very low, obviously because of the USMCA, which President Trump himself renegotiated,” Lovely said. “So we know that tariffs of 25% would be very destabilizing to North American production networks, and in particular, to autos.” National Foreign Trade Council President Jake Colvin also said that the tariffs would be a “clear violation of the USMCA.” NFTC advocates on issues related to international tax and trade, global supply chains and national security policies. Colvin warned that the cost of tariffs can fall on business and consumers and noted the retaliation threat from Sheinbaum. “While we’re all familiar with the President-elect’s fondness for tariffs as a negotiating tool, it’s particularly troubling that he’s threatening to aim them at America’s closest allies and trading partners on the very first day of his administration,” he said in a statement. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, said Tuesday in a conference call with Iowa reporters that the tariffs could be used as a negotiation tool, but said tariffs were tricky “because we in Iowa and throughout the agricultural community know that the first thing that’s retaliated against is agriculture.” “I just think we need to get tariffs down,” Grassley said in the call, according to RadioIowa and other outlets. “And that doesn’t bad mouth, in no way is that meant to disagree with Trump because I think he’s using tariffs as a negotiating tool.” Negotiation tool or not, the tariffs could also cause trouble with the World Trade Organization. “Both Canada and Mexico are members of the WTO. They’re supposed to get most-favored-nation rates at a minimum,” Lovely said. “He’d be in violation of our treaty under the WTO.” Most-favored-nation status is a tenet of the WTO that requires equal treatment among trading partners, meaning that if an advantage is offered to one country it must be extended across the board to others within the WTO, though there are some exceptions. China is also a member of the WTO and has most-favored-nation status. If the tariffs are imposed, the three countries could file to resolve the trade dispute with the WTO but that path would likely go nowhere. “There is an appellate body, which is supposed to take appeals, but the U.S. refuses to allow them to seat judges, so there isn’t a panel to hear the case,” Lovely said. If a case is lost, a member can appeal knowing the process won’t work, known as “appealing into the void.” It’s unclear how Trump will impose the tariffs, but one avenue he could use is through the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers law. The IEEPA grants the president control over economic transactions. But the law has several restrictions and checks, according to the Congressional Research Service, including consulting with Congress before exercising the authority and immediately transmitting a report afterward and again every six months the authority is in place. Congress can terminate the emergency through a privileged joint resolution, and it can be challenged through the judicial system, opening up Trump’s tariff plans to possible lawsuits. ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The NFL wished Taylor Swift a Happy Birthday with a TikTok of her and Travis Kelce’s most memorable moments—on and off the field. Kelce’s employer posted the video of the singer and his relationship, which already has racked up over 1 million views. The caption read, “Karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me.” The clips showed Kelce and Swift celebrating his wins at games, the pair at her concerts, and her glitzed out in Chiefs gear. “If you told me 2 years ago I would be following the NFL on tiktok and not falling asleep everytime a game is on TV... never would’ve believed it,” wrote one commenter. “Happy birthday Taylor. Thank you for uniting the Swifties and the Football Fans together in the name of art and sport,” another wrote. Swift has been seen at many Chiefs games since the beginning of her relationship with the tight end, with him visiting her at some of her tour dates. karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me 🎶 #taylorswift #traviskelce #nfl #kansascitychiefs Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson , known best to some for his past relationships with Kim Kardashian , Ariana Grande , Kate Beckinsale , and more famous women, now says he doesn’t want to be known as “this f---ing loser who just dates people,” in a new interview for W Magazine . to promote his new role as creative director for colorful sock brand Doublesoul, Davidson told the outlet his feeling that he was one of “a handful of celebs every couple of years” that the media “destroys,” after multiple run-ins with tabloids over his famous exes. “For some reason, I’m one of the people they chose to go after,” he said. But, he added, “It’s actually, in a way, a blessing, because it allowed me to take a step back and evaluate things. What do you want to be? Who are you?” Davidson said he only wants to be seen publicly “when it’s movie, stand-up, charity, or business ventures” and to focus on his stand-up career. “I’m someone who is from Staten Island, wanted to do stand-up, and if I got to do anything else because of stand-up, it was a miracle.” Posters are a great way to celebrate your favorite fandom. But if you’re looking for that real “WOW!” factor, nothing beats Fathead . For 17 years, Fathead has been an industry leader in officially licensed graphic wall art across sports and entertainment. You can even create personalized products, making big-head cutouts and life-size wall decals from your own photos. Installing the decals is a breeze. Unroll the decal and lie it flat. Wipe down your wall with a damp cloth. After the wall is dry, peel off the decal backing and apply it slowly, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. Need to adjust? No problem— Fathead decals can be peeled off and reapplied easily. No matter your favorite football team, Fathead has a wall decal for them . Free Shipping The basketball season has just tipped off. Celebrate your favorite player with a life-size wall decal. Free Shipping From everyone’s favorite web-slinging New Yorker to the fourth-wall breaking merc with a mouth, Fathead’s superhero decals burst with vibrant colors. You’ll marvel at how they bring your walls to life. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. The iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle will hit screens for the first time in 18 years, with a limited run of four episodes set to premiere on Disney+ . Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role as Malcolm, announced the reboot Friday, along with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his parents. The original creator of the show will also return as a writer. The new series follows Malcolm returning home with his daughter for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, according to Deadline . Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who played the eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played the middle child Reese, are likely to be asked to reprise their roles. Though it’s unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the youngest brother Dewey, will make an appearance. He quit acting in 2010 and has not appeared at any reunions. Malcolm in the Middle first premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran for seven seasons. Its success as a family comedy is credited with paving the way for other single-camera sitcoms. Legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about his strained relationship with his family. In his new documentary, Aaron Rodgers: Enigma , Rodgers explained that he has “stunted emotional intelligence” because of the lack of open emotion in his home growing up. “I think I saw my dad cry when my grandfather passed. And that might have been it,” Rodgers shared. “There wasn’t space for emotion.” Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, first opened up about the family’s rift during his time on The Bachelorette in 2016. During a hometown date with his now-wife JoJo Fletcher, the family explained that while they “miss” Rodgers, they no longer have a relationship with him. In a 2017 profile with The New York Times , Rodgers’ father, Ed, confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to his son in three years. “Fame can change things,” he said. At the time, Rodgers said he didn’t want to talk about his family publicly. In the doc, Rodgers spoke about his family while participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. The quarterback said the psychedelic drug allows users to “model a new way of thinking about masculinity, or what it means to be a man.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Consuming cannabis as an adult feels very different than doing so as a fresh-faced 21-year-old—so why should your smoking habits make your space feel like a disheveled college dorm room? NWTN Home’s collection of chic smoking essentials offers a more elevated way to enjoy cannabis in the comfort of your home. NWTN Home is a smokeware brand bringing craftsmanship to the cannabis industry by designing what they call “homeware for the high-minded.” Its weed-associated products are built to double as elegant and functional houseware items , helping you upgrade your home into a full smoking sanctuary. Plus, they make the perfect holiday gifts for your favorite creative cannabis connoisseur! This hand-poured, marbled ashtray rests atop a sleek melamine rolling tray and includes a helpful brass tool that can assist in your rolling process, making it the perfect blend of form and function. This standout stackable flower pot ashtray set is a surefire solution to keep your space clean—and your houseguests impressed. No cannabis collection is complete without something to smoke out of! These avant-garde gravity bongs are inspired by vintage housewares and designed to seamlessly blend into your barware and greenware set-ups. Released bodycam footage shows Paris Hilton’s ex-fiancé, Chris Zylka, in a chaotic brawl with police after a failed carjacking. Police in a Cleveland suburb first responded to reports of a shirtless, barefoot man walking in traffic in freezing temperatures on Dec. 4, local outlet WKBN first reported. Zylka was found in the middle of an intersection, where he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s car. He pointed a cell phone at the cops and began foaming at the mouth, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of drugs, according to the police report. Footage shows Zylka struggling with police officers and resisting arrest even after being tasered in the leg twice. He was then put in an ambulance by paramedics. The actor is now facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated menacing. Hilton and Zylka started dating in 2017 after being friends for years. He proposed in early 2018 during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, but they called off their engagement in November that same year. Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy is refusing to apologize for his domestic violence arrest . “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” Kennedy’s attorneys said in a statement to the Daily Mail . “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.” Police were called to Kennedy’s home on Tuesday because of an argument between Kennedy and a woman. That night, Kennedy attended Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party with girlfriend Ally Lewber, though it’s unknown if she is the victim. Police told People that after an investigation, they arrested the reality star for misdemeanor domestic violence. He later posted $20,000 bail. A source at the Christmas party told People that Kennedy was acting “super aggressive.” “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,” the source alleged. “He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.” A doctor has rubbished Brandi Glanville’s scary medical theory about her “deflated” face , saying he’s concerned about an infection that started via an injection. The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum claims doctor s told her that it may have been caused by “a parasite that jumps around my face.” But Dr. Terry Dubrow, from Botched , has said he’s “concerned about an infectious process”. He told TMZ : “It’s an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she’s had injected.” A foreign body reaction is the response of biological tissue to any foreign material in the tissue, despite it often being inert and nontoxic, according to ScienceDirect.com Dubrow added: “Brandi needs a diagnosis... she has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there. It’s not gonna be a parasite, it’s not gonna be something she ate... it’s going to be something that got into her bloodstream though, and seeded some foreign body.” Dubrow thinks Glanville either has a micro bacterium, a type of bacteria, or a fungus, a type of organism. Sick it! pic.twitter.com/hrtAzRwOCW A Buckingham Palace maid was arrested this week after she allegedly went “crazy” following a staff Christmas party which saw glasses and punches thrown in a London bar. A report in The Sun said as many as 50 royal servants gathered for an after-party following drinks at the palace Tuesday when the maid, 24, took a swing at a bar manager, threw glasses, and was ultimately arrested for common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. She was released after 24 hours with a fine. “The group walked in and this one girl just got hysterical,” a source told The Sun . “She started smashing glasses and abusing our staff members, so we had to call the police. I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level.” A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace. While this was an informal social gathering, not an official palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Apparently, boosting prostate health can actually be pleasurable—at least, that’s what premium sexual wellness brand MysteryVibe says. The Molto, an ultra-slim and bendable prostate vibrator designed by a doctor, is engineered to be the same size and width as a doctor’s finger and to mimic similar motions to that performed during an exam, allowing for not only intense prostate (the prostate is often hailed as the male ‘G-spot’) and anal stimulation but also a release of prostatic fluids. 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Because the Molto vibrator is an FDA-registered class II medical device, it’s also FSA/HSA eligible. Is Melania Trump finally back in action? The incoming first lady is joining Donald Trump on Sunday for a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to reports. Her husband, who was assassinated at a political rally in 2022, reportedly won over Trump during his first term with the proven combination of golf and flattery. Trump and Akie Abe have stayed close, with the president-elect regularly calling her to check in, a source told CNN. Melania Trump is scheduled to attend Sunday’s dinner, her latest public appearance after being largely absent on the campaign trail earlier this year. She also accompanied her husband to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday for Trump’s ringing of the opening bell. Melania has always been a somewhat reluctant first lady, and it’s still not clear how much time she plans to spend in Washington after Trump takes office in January. She did, however, tell Fox & Friends last week that at least she knows what to expect this time around. Trump is set to have a private dinner this Sunday with Akie Abie, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a person familiar says. The dinner will take place at Mar-a-Lago and Melania Trump is expected to attend. Trump and Mrs. Abe have maintained a close... The woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in 2006 has admitted she fabricated the entire story—18 years after her case captivated the nation before quickly falling apart. Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the scandal who is serving a prison sentence for the murder of her boyfriend years later, confessed to lying about the assaults in a new podcast interview. “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me, and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God,” Mangum told the podcast Let’s Talk with Kat . Mangum, who was working as an exotic dancer who performed at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, called the three lacrosse players she previously accused her “brothers,” and asked for their forgiveness. “I hurt my brothers, and I hope that they can forgive me, and I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve it. I hope they can forgive me.” The charges against the three lacrosse players were dropped by then-North Carolina Attorney General (and current Governor) Roy Cooper in 2007. The Durham County prosecutor who charged the Duke students was eventually disbarred and convicted of contempt of court for giving the defense incomplete DNA test results that would have excluded the lacrosse players, local station WRAL reported at the time. More than 18 years after the Duke lacrosse allegations, Crystal Mangum admits that she made it all up. "I testified falsely against [the lacrosse players] by saying that they raped me when they didn't...I made up a story that wasn't true...I hope that they can forgive me." pic.twitter.com/3yMjbQTQXHIn California's 'earthquake country,' a 7.0 temblor prompts confusion and a tsunami warning

Immigration advocates call on Biden to close detention centers; dismantle immigration systemStock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week