Republican fined for campaign violations dating to St. Louis County executive bidBOISE, Idaho — While No. 11 Boise State’s spot in the Mountain West Championship game has been secured, the team's fate in the College Football Playoff still hangs in the balance as the Broncos host a scrappy Oregon State on Friday. Boise State (10-1), which is hosting Oregon State for the first time since 2012, needs a strong showing against the Beavers to show the College Football Playoff committee that the Broncos are not only deserving of a spot in the playoffs but also a first-round bye. Oregon State appears primed to play the role of spoiler. Fresh off a 41-38 upset over previously-ranked Washington State last week, the Beavers travel to Boise with a clearer understanding of who they are and with nothing to lose, according to first-year coach Trent Bray. “There’s not as many bodies available,” Bray said, “but at the same time you know who those guys are a little bit more than you did early in the year or mid-year, and we’re just rolling with them.” The challenge for Oregon State will be dealing with the Boise State running back everyone knows in Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty, who leads the nation in rushing with 2,062 yards, rushing touchdowns with 27 and all-purpose yards with 2,164, will yet again be the focal point of the opposing defense. The good news for the Broncos is that nobody has figured out a way to stop their star player. But Boise State coach Spencer Danielson knows if his team doesn’t play at its best, it could fall victim to an Oregon State team he believes is far better than its record indicates. “Our guys watch the film and they’re like, ‘Coach, this is a really good football team,’” Danielson said. “So, they see it. They see that we have a big test at hand. And so regardless of the rankings and what it is, we know we got to go earn the right to go play our best.” Madsen vs. dueling QBs When Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen is at his best, the team's offense can be nearly unstoppable. But when he’s not, the Broncos become a vulnerable, one-dimensional team — even if that one-dimensional running game has the best player in the country. Madsen, who has passed for 2,361 yards and 19 TDs with a 62% completion rate, will have an opportunity to exploit an Oregon State pass defense that has been porous at times. Oregon State, which anointed Ben Gulbranson the starter at the end of October, found some good success mixing in duel-threat signal caller Gabarri Johnson last week against Washington State. And Bray sounds like he intends to utilize both players against the Broncos. “(Playing two quarterbacks) was definitely something specific for Washington State and things we saw that we could take advantage of,” Bray said. “But that’s something we want to do moving forward with Gabarri because he has that type of ability that makes him hard to defend.” More than just Jeanty While Jeanty’s extensive workload has been a concern for the Boise State coaching staff, Jambres Dubar is finally healthy again and will give the Broncos added depth at the position. Against Wyoming last week , Jeanty delivered 53 yards on four carries on the Broncos’ game-winning drive before Dubar finished it off with a 2-yard scoring run. “Dubar has battled through injuries from fall camp to now, and he has just continued to work in practice to get himself back to where he’s 100%,” Danielson said. “He’s a really good football player and hasn’t been able to show that the way we all wanted because of injuries. But last week he was ready for the moment. And I did not hesitate to put him in.” Third-down excellence Both teams are among college football’s upper echelon when it comes to converting on third downs. Boise State ranks seventh with a 49.6 conversion percentage, while Oregon State is 23rd, converting 45.6% of the time. The Broncos are even better at home, converting more than 59% of their attempts there. Beavers on the clock Oregon State can attack through the air but prefers to grind it out on the ground and chew up the clock in the process. The Beavers are fifth in the nation in time of possession, averaging 33:51 per game. But that doesn’t mean Oregon State gets short-changed in offensive plays. It is also averaging 71.5 plays per game, leaving its opponents with only an average of 59.5 plays.

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Blackburn defender Dom Hyam scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute as he slid ahead of Neto Borges to convert Todd Cantwell’s cross from the left of the penalty area. However, replays show Hyam was clearly offside when Cantwell delivered the ball across the area, yet the goal was allowed to stand. Carrick accepts his side were not at their best after scoring 15 goals in their previous three matches, but the Boro boss was still left fuming about the failure to rule out Hyam’s strike. “We weren’t at our best, but we’ve ended up losing the game to a goal that’s not a goal,” said the Boro boss. “It was offside. There’s nothing much else to say, it’s clearly offside. It’s pretty obvious, but the less said the better probably from my point of view. “A point would have been a point really. We had a few opportunities, half-chances really. Manu (Emmanuel Latte Lath) had a header, Neto (Borges) has had a header and Ben’s (Doak) hit the post. We just couldn’t quite find that answer.” READ MORE : Boro started reasonably brightly in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, but seemed to lose their way when a series of lengthy stoppages culminated in Riley McGree being forced off with an injury. “I thought we had a bit of flow at the start of the game, and started okay, but then it was a bit stop-start and the game sort of slowed down really,” said Carrick. “We couldn’t quite find that spark. “It didn’t really suit us because we were trying to create and make something happen, but it ended up just drifting a bit. It wasn’t for the want of trying, the boys wanted to try, it just didn’t quite have that moment or that little something different we were after. “A point would have been a point and we would have moved on, but with the way the goal went in, and with us ending up losing the game, it’s pretty hard to take really.” Boro had won their three matches prior to this evening’s game, and while their winning run is now over, they remain in the play-off places ahead of Saturday’s home game with a Hull side who are managerless after the dismissal of Tim Walter earlier today. “It was going to come at some point,” said Carrick. “You couldn’t keep scoring goals at the rate we were. Some of the football we’ve been playing has been really, really good, and this won’t knock us too much. It’s one of those games that happen. It could have been a draw and should have been a draw. It is what it is.”Ship strikes kill thousands of whales. A study of hot spots could map out solutions

Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different

Torrid Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 ResultsPicture this: you’re at a family holiday gathering, sipping lukewarm coffee while your newborn is passed around like the breadbasket at dinner. For many moms, hilariously captures what feels like every new mom’s worst nightmare. Her video struck a chord with many moms who shared their own anxiety about the “pass the baby” phenomenon during holiday gatherings. But why does this seemingly innocuous tradition hit so hard for new moms? Let’s explore the science, the emotions, and the cultural expectations that make for your baby both essential—and surprisingly challenging. It’s not just about being overprotective—newborns really are more vulnerable during those first few months. Their immune systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to illnesses like RSV, flu, and COVID-19. According to the , even minor illnesses can pose significant risks for infants under six months. Let’s not forget what you, the mom, are going through. Postpartum recovery is a rollercoaster of hormones, sleep deprivation, and emotional overload. It’s no wonder that gatherings can feel less like a Hallmark movie and more like a high-stakes juggling act. When you’re already running on empty, setting boundaries can feel like an impossible—or even confrontational—task. : I’ll never forget the awkward silence after I told my family—before my baby was even born—that there would be rules for visiting. “Wash your hands before holding the baby. If you’re sick, stay home. And , period.” Cue the side-eyes and muttered comments: “Isn’t she being a little extreme?” Was it fun? Absolutely not. Did I care? Also no. I’d read enough about newborn illnesses to know I wasn’t willing to take chances. But the emotional toll was real. I didn’t want to seem like the bad guy, but the thought of my baby getting sick outweighed my need to please anyone. It’s not easy standing firm, especially when you feel like you’re breaking some unspoken family rule. Looking back, I know I made the right choice. And if you’re in the same boat, trust me—I get it. It’s tough, but your baby’s health is worth it. Hang in there—you’re doing the right thing. In many families, there’s an unspoken rule that everyone gets a turn holding the baby—it’s seen as the polite thing to do. But for , the pressure to hand over their baby often clashes with their instinct to protect. One mom summed it up perfectly in a comment on Jen Marie’s video: “I hate the looks I get when I say no, but I refuse to compromise my baby’s health for someone else’s feelings.” Her sentiment was echoed by hundreds of others, proving that while the guilt is real, so is the resolve to stand firm. It’s not just about germs—it’s about rewriting the rules on what’s acceptable for moms and babies. More and more moms are unapologetically prioritizing their child’s safety over outdated traditions. And honestly? It’s about time. : How can you get through the holidays without completely alienating your extended family? These mom-approved strategies can help: Set expectations clearly and calmly with these go-to phrases: “We’re limiting how much [baby’s name] is being held today to keep them safe during flu season.” “I know everyone is excited to see [baby’s name], but we’re being extra cautious about germs right now.” “Thanks for understanding—it’s just what’s best for us this year.” : Keeping your little one snuggled up in a carrier makes them less accessible for unsolicited cuddles. : Make it a non-negotiable for anyone who wants to get close. (Pro tip: Setting up a hand-sanitizer station can make this less awkward.) : Sometimes, staying home and celebrating with a smaller, trusted group is the safest—and least stressful—option. Can’t make the big family gathering? Host your own mini celebration or opt for a virtual meet-and-greet. Many families have embraced FaceTime or Zoom as a way to stay connected while keeping little ones safe. Let’s get real—setting boundaries isn’t easy. You might feel guilty for disappointing loved ones or even question if you’re overreacting. But here’s the truth: protecting your baby doesn’t make you the bad guy. In fact, advocating for your child’s safety is one of the most loving things you can do. And guess what? It’s okay to prioritize your own peace of mind, too. As one mom put it, “I’d rather deal with an awkward conversation than a sick baby.” Amen to that. The holidays can be magical, chaotic, and a little overwhelming all at once. But as moms, we’re in this together. Whether you’re navigating RSV season or simply reclaiming your boundaries, know that you’re not alone. Got your own tips or stories about “pass the baby” anxiety? Share them in the comments below—because every mom deserves to feel supported during the season of togetherness. And remember: your baby, your rules. The rest? Well, they’ll get over it.

Micah Parsons Issues 'I Told You So!' Announcement in WashingtonNEW YORK (AP) — Angelina Jolie never expected to hit all the notes. But finding the breath of Maria Callas was enough to bring things out of Jolie that she didn’t even know were in her. “All of us, we really don’t realize where things land in our body over a lifetime of different experiences and where we hold it to protect ourselves,” Jolie said in a recent interview. “We hold it in our stomachs. We hold it in our chest. We breathe from a different place when we’re nervous or we’re sad. “The first few weeks were the hardest because my body had to open and I had to breathe again,” she adds. “And that was a discovery of how much I wasn’t.” In Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” which Netflix released in theaters Wednesday before it begins streaming on Dec. 11, Jolie gives, if not the performance of her career, then certainly of her last decade. Beginning with 2010’s “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” Jolie has spent recent years directing films while prioritizing raising her six children. “So my choices for quite a few years were whatever was smart financially and short. I worked very little the last eight years,” says Jolie. “And I was kind of drained. I couldn’t for a while.” But her youngest kids are now 16. And for the first time in years, Jolie is back in the spotlight, in full movie-star mode. Her commanding performance in “Maria” seems assured of bringing Jolie her third Oscar nomination. (She won supporting actress in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.”) For an actress whose filmography might lack a signature movie, “Maria” may be Jolie's defining role. Jolie's oldest children, Maddox and Pax, worked on the set of the film. There, they saw a version of their mother they hadn't seen before. “They had certainly seen me sad in my life. But I don’t cry in front of my children like that,” Jolie says of the emotion Callas dredged up in her. “That was a moment in realizing they were going to be with me, side by side, in this process of really understanding the depth of some of the pain I carry.” Jolie, who met a reporter earlier this fall at the Carlyle Hotel, didn't speak in any detail of that pain. But it was hard not to sense some it had to do with her lengthy and ongoing divorce from Brad Pitt, with whom she had six children. Just prior to meeting, a judge allowed Pitt’s remaining claim against Jolie, over the French winery Château Miraval, to proceed. On Monday, a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents Jolie’s legal team have sought that they allege include “communications concerning abuse.” Pitt has denied ever being abusive. The result of the U.S. presidential election was also just days old, though Jolie — special envoy for the United Nations Refugee Agency from 2012 to 2022 – wasn’t inclined to talk politics. Asked about Donald Trump’s win , she responded, “Global storytelling is essential,” before adding: “That’s what I’m focusing on. Listening. Listening to the voices of people in my country and around the world.” Balancing such things — reports concerning her private life, questions that accompany someone of her fame — is a big reason why Jolie is so suited to the part of Callas. The film takes place during the American-born soprano’s final days. (She died of a heart attack at 53 in 1977.) Spending much of her time in her grand Paris apartment, Callas hasn’t sung publicly in years; she’s lost her voice. Imprisoned by the myth she’s created, Callas is redefining herself and her voice. An instructor tells her he wants to hear “Callas, not Maria." The movie, of course, is more concerned with Maria. It’s Larrain’s third portrait of 20th century female icon, following “Jackie” (with Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy) and “Spencer” (with Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana). As Callas, Jolie is wonderfully regal — a self-possessed diva who deliciously, in lines penned by screenwriter Steven Knight, spouts lines like: “I took liberties all my life and the world took liberties with me.” Asked if she identified with that line, Jolie answered, “Yeah, yeah.” Then she took a long pause. “I’m sure people will read a lot into this and there’s probably a lot I could say but don’t want to feed into,” Jolie eventually continues. “I know she was a public person because she loved her work. And I’m a public person because I love my work, not because I like being public. I think some people are more comfortable with a public life, and I’ve never been fully comfortable with it.” When Larraín first approached Jolie about the role, he screened “Spencer” for her. That film, like “Jackie” and “Maria,” eschews a biopic approach to instead intimately focus on a specific moment of crisis. Larraín was convinced Jolie was meant for the role. “I felt she could have that magnetism,” Larraín says. “The enigmatic diva that’s come to a point in her life where she has to take control of her life again. But the weight of her experience, of her music, of her singing, everything, is on her back. And she carries that. It’s someone who’s already loaded with a life that’s been intense.” “There’s a loneliness that we both share,” Jolie says. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think people can be alone and lonely sometimes, and that can be part of who they are.” Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker, grew up in Santiago going to the opera, and he has long yearned to bring its full power and majesty to a movie. In Callas, he heard something that transfixed him. “I hear something near perfection, but at the same time, it’s something that’s about to be destroyed,” Larraín says. “So it’s as fragile and as strong as possible. It lives in both extremes. That’s why it’s so moving. I hear a voice that’s about to be broken, but it doesn’t.” In Callas’ less perfect moments singing in the film, Larraín fuses archival recordings of Callas with Jolie’s own voice. Some mix of the two runs throughout “Maria.” “Early in the process,” Jolie says, “I discovered that you can’t fake-sing opera.” Jolie has said she never sang before, not even karaoke. But the experience has left her with a newfound appreciation of opera and its healing properties. “I wonder if it’s something you lean into as you get older,” Jolie says. “Maybe your depth of pain is bigger, your depth of loss is bigger, and that sound in opera meets that, the enormity of it.” If Larraín’s approach to “Maria” is predicated on an unknowingness, he's inclined to say something similar about his star. “Because of media and social media, some people might think that they know a lot about Angelina,” he says. “Maria, I read nine biographies of her. I saw everything. I read every interview. I made this movie. But I don’t think I would be capable of telling you who she was us. So if there’s an element in common, it’s that. They carry an enormous amount of mystery. Even if you think that you know them, you don’t.” Whether “Maria” means more acting in the future for Jolie, she's not sure. “There's not a clear map,” she says. Besides, Jolie isn't quite ready to shake Callas. “When you play a real person, you feel at some point that they become your friend,” says Jolie. “Right now, it’s still a little personal. It’s funny, I’ll be at a premiere or I’ll walk into a room and someone will start blaring her music for fun, but I have this crazy internal sense memory of dropping to my knees and crying.”

Amazon has introduced a handful of robots in its warehouses that the e-commerce giant says will improve efficiency and reduce employee injuries. Two robotic arms named Robin and Cardinal can lift packages that weigh up to 50 pounds. A third, called Sparrow, picks up items from bins and puts them in other containers. Proteus, an autonomous mobile robot that operates on the floor, can move carts around a warehouse. The bipedal, humanoid robot Digit is being tested to help move empty totes with its hands. And there’s also Sequoia, a containerized storage system that can present totes to employees in a way that allows them to avoid stretching or squatting to grab inventory. Amazon says Robin is currently being used in dozens of warehouses. The others are in a testing stage or haven’t been rolled out widely. But the company says it’s already seeing benefits, such as reducing the time it takes to fulfill orders and helping employees avoid repetitive tasks. However, automation also carries drawbacks for workers, who would have to be retrained for new positions if the robots made their roles obsolete. In October, Amazon held an event at a Nashville, Tennessee, warehouse where the company had integrated some of the robots. The Associated Press spoke with Julie Mitchell, the director of Amazon’s robotic sortation technologies, about where the company hopes to go from here. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Q: When you’re working on robotics, how long does it typically take to roll out new technology? A: This journey that we’ve been on has taken a couple of years. Luckily for us, we’ve been at this for over a decade. So we have a lot of core technology that we can build on top of. We started these particular robots, Cardinal and Proteus, in this building in November 2022. We came in and began playing around with what it would look like to pack and move a production order. Less than two years later, we are at scale and shipping 70% of the items in this building through that robotics system. Q: So, two years? A: We talk about “build, test and scale” and that’s about a two-year cycle for us right now. Q: It’s challenging to build robots that can physically grab products. How does Amazon work through that? A: As you can probably imagine, we have so many items, so it’s an exceptional challenge. We rely on data and putting our first prototype in a real building, where we expose it to all the things we need it to do. Then we drive down all the reasons that it fails. We give it a lot of sample sizes in a very short period of time. For example, a couple of years ago, we launched our Robin robotics arm – a package manipulation robot – and we’re at 3 billion picks. So the ability to launch into our network, rapidly collect data, scale and iterate has enabled us to go fast. The challenge itself can be boiled down to three simple things: you need to perceive the scene, plan your motion and then execute. Today, those are three different parts of our system. Artificial intelligence is going to help us change all of that, and it’s going to be more outcome-driven, like asking it to pick up a bottle of water. We’re on the verge, so that’s why I’m personally excited to be here at the onset of generative AI and use it to dramatically improve the performance of our robotics. Q: How do you think about the impact of automation on Amazon’s workforce as you’re developing the technology? A: With the technology we’ve deployed here, we’re creating new roles for individuals that can acquire new skills to fulfill those roles. And these new skills are not something that is too difficult to achieve. You don’t need an engineering degree, Ph.D. or any really technical skills to support our robotics systems. We designed the systems so they’re easy to service and train on the job to be a reliability maintenance engineer. We are working backwards from the idea that we want to employ more skilled labor. These opportunities are obviously higher paid than the entry level jobs in our buildings. And partnering with MIT has helped us understand what matters most to our team as we’re deploying these technologies across our network. Q: Are you experiencing any challenges as you introduce these robots in your warehouses? A: Not in the adoption. We’re integrating it. But these are complex systems and this is the real world, so things go wrong. For example, we had bad weather due to the storms in the Southeast. When I look at the robotics systems data, I can tell the weather is bad outside because that dramatically affects how the ship dock works. When trucks don’t arrive on time or when they can’t leave, you see bottlenecks in the building in strange ways. Containers build up, we have to put them in different places, and then humans need to recover them. So communication between what our robotics system is doing and what we need employees in the building to do to recover is important. It’s a collaboration of automation and humans to deal with real-world problems. It’s not a matter of having robotics take over but making it one system of humans and robotics working together to accomplish the goal of shipping the product. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points as Drake beat Belmont 65-46 on Sunday night. Stirtz added three steals for the Bulldogs (12-0, 2-0 Missouri Valley Conference). Daniel Abreu scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 3 for 9 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds. Mitch Mascari had nine points and shot 3 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs prolonged their winning streak to 12 games. Sam Orme led the Bruins (9-4, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 11 points. Brody Peebles added 10 points for Belmont. Jonathan Pierre had nine points. Drake took the lead with 10:21 left in the first half and never looked back. Stirtz led their team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 39-21 at the break. Drake outscored Belmont in the second half by one point, with Abreu scoring a team-high eight points after intermission. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Christmas arrived early as the Lincoln Children’s Zoo has officially named its triplet red panda cubs that will soon be visible to the public. On Wednesday, the zoo introduced Juniper, Spruce and Cedar. The panda cubs — one female and two males — were born Aug. 10 to third-time mom Tián and second-time dad Rowan. Juniper is the female, and Spruce is the larger of the two males (because spruce trees are bigger than cedar trees). Zoo officials paired the panda naming contest with the annual Zoo Lights event and asked the public to submit holiday- or winter-themed name suggestions last week. More than a thousand name suggestions were submitted, with three sets of finalists selected for the public to vote on. Over 2,600 votes were submitted. The runner-up name suggestions were: Noelle, Jack and Nickolas; and Ruby Sue, Clark and Eddie. People are also reading... Rest assured, Nebraska volleyball fans: The missing fan behind the servers will be back Saturday Matt Rhule, Luke Fickell both downplay postgame encounter between Fickell, Donovan Raiola Arrest made in 55-year-old cold case of Nebraska teen stabbed to death Signing Day: Meet Nebraska volleyball's five-player 2025 class Wisconsin officer grabbing Donovan Raiola's arm a 'misunderstanding,' UW police say ‘I don’t care who’s played': Nebraska’s Dana Holgorsen on personnel changes at tight end Amie Just: Bring out the tissues — and the brooms — for Nebraska volleyball's emotional win Man found dead in north Lincoln, police say Cover Five: With pressure rising, Matt Rhule delivers Nebraska a bowl bid in Year 2 Nebraska GOP to seek hard-right social policies in 2025 legislative session Sound waves: What others are saying about Nebraska's win against Wisconsin Here's how Nebraska doctors are finding 'more opportunities to save lives' from lung cancer UNO freezes funds for LGBTQ+, multicultural, other student groups after audit Amie Just: Ahead of milestone birthday, local sports figures give advice on turning 30 As Nebraska's Democratic Party shrinks, some former party officials call for change "We loved getting the community involved in the naming of these incredibly rare red panda triplets," Evan Killeen, CEO of the zoo, said in a message to the Journal Star. While the red panda triplets -- like most other animals at the zoo -- won’t be visible to the public during the Zoo Lights event, the animals have slowly made some public appearances, and the zoo estimates the pandas will be in the exhibit full time by the end of the month. Red pandas face a very high risk of extinction in the wild, which is why they are listed as endangered on the International Union Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Erin Lenz, communications director for the zoo, said that so far this year, 12 red panda cubs have been born in zoos across North America. However, births of healthy triplets are rare. "In North American zoos, so far only three litters of red panda triplets have fully survived, including ours," Killeen said. "These red pandas are important animal ambassadors for their wild counterparts, and we're thrilled that our community had a part in naming them." The pandas join several other births at the Lincoln zoo this year, including a giraffe in November , a spider monkey in May and a Humboldt penguin chick in April . Zoo Lights Powered by LES begins Friday and runs through Dec. 30. Tickets can be purchased online at lincolnzoo.org .

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The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.”The Minister for Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has outlined a new strategy focused on advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and enhancing the overall quality of learning in the country. The Minister stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while declaring open the stakeholders’ consultative dialogue on the Education Sector Renewal Initiative (ESRI) 2024-2027. The meeting had in attendance representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the World Bank Group, and the European Union (EU), amongst others. Alausa said his strategic goals include reducing the number of out-of-school children, addressing learning poverty, and enhancing skills development and human capital for the labour market. He also emphasised the integration of out-of-school children (OOSC) and Almajiris into formal education, alongside initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, school feeding programme, and Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) for the education of girls and vulnerable populations. Alausa also stressed the importance of strengthened governance and management in the education sector, which involves organisational reforms of relevant institutions, enhanced oversight of programmes and subnational implementation, improved planning, resource allocation, tracking, research, and monitoring. Additionally, the Minister announced plans to build a robust data architecture and strengthen the Education Management Information System (EMIS) to improve decision-making and accountability across the sector. “As we all know, the education sector is filled with numerous challenges. As we are aware, infrastructural decay, funding issues, unreliable data intake, cutting, planning, poor capacity, development for teachers, problem of out-of-school, we have one of the highest number of out-of-school children in the nation, in the country. “As a ministry, we are committed to providing quality education to all Nigerians as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the land as beautiful, which ensures inclusive, equitable, and quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he said In her welcome address, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector, including infrastructural issues, inadequate funding, poor teacher development, and the out-of-school children crisis. She emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to providing quality education in line with global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that achieving this required collaboration with development partners, stakeholders, and the private sector.Mo Salah backed and Liverpool questioned over ‘unbelievable’ contract situation

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MONTREAL — Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for “making hateful remarks and gestures,” and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values ​​held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company’s operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the “final solution is coming your way” — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. “We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas said. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.” Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. “Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the coffee chain said in a statement on X. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement.” Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video “containing antisemitic and hateful messaging.” The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. “We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafés and terminating their lease agreement.” The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency “is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech,” Thériault said. “We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations,” Mammas said. “So we definitely have no issue with that and we don’t take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can’t accept that.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 24, 2024. Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian PressTrump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in US