55 jili slot NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar” on Thursday, with the Democratic mayor expressing an enthusiasm to work with the incoming administration to pursue violent criminals in the city while Trump promises mass deportations. The mayor’s meeting with Tom Homan, who will oversee the southern and northern borders and be responsible for deportation efforts in the Trump administration, came as Adams has welcomed parts of the president-elect’s hardline immigration platform. Adams told reporters at a brief news conference that he and Homan agreed on pursuing people who commit violent crimes in the city but did not disclose additional details or future plans. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers,” he said. “That was my conversation today with the border czar, to figure out how to go after those individuals who are repeatedly committing crimes in our city.” The meeting marked Adams’ latest and most definitive step toward collaborating with the Trump administration, a development that has startled critics in one of the country’s most liberal cities. RELATED COVERAGE Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he’s named Time’s Person of the Year San Diego sheriff defies new policy to limit cooperation with immigration officials NYC shrinks migrant shelter systems as border surge slows and Trump threatens mass deportations In the weeks since Trump’s election win, Adams has mused about potentially scaling back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on immigration. He has also said migrants accused of crimes shouldn’t have due process rights under the Constitution, though he eventually walked back those comments. The mayor further stunned Democrats when he sidestepped questions last week on whether he would consider changing parties to become a Republican, telling journalists that he was part of the “American party.” Adams later clarified that he would remain a Democrat. For Adams, a centrist Democrat known for quarreling with the city’s progressive left, the recent comments on immigration follow frustration with the Biden Administration over its immigration policies and a surge of international migrants in the city. He has maintained that his positions have not changed and argues he is trying to protect New Yorkers, pointing to the law-and-order platform he has staked out throughout his political career and during his successful campaign for mayor. At his news conference Thursday, Adams reiterated his commitment to New York’s generous social safety net. “We’re going to tell those who are here, who are law-abiding, to continue to utilize the services that are open to the city, the services that they have a right to utilize, educating their children, health care, public protection,” he said. “But we will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” While the education of all children present in the U.S. is already guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling, New York also offers social services like healthcare and emergency shelter to low-income residents, including those in the country illegally. City and state grants also provide significant access to lawyers, which is not guaranteed in the immigration court as they are in the criminal court. Still, Adams’ recent rhetoric has been seen by some critics as an attempt to cozy up to Trump, who could potentially offer a presidential pardon in his federal corruption case. Adams has been charged with accepting luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty. Homan, who was Trump’s former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, also met this week with Republicans in Illinois, where he called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, to start negotiations over how Trump’s mass deportation plans, according to local media. Separately, New York City officials this week announced continued efforts to shrink a huge emergency shelter system for migrants because of a steady decline in new arrivals. Among the planned shelter closures is a massive tent complex built on a federally owned former airport in Brooklyn, which advocates have warned could be a prime target for Trump’s mass deportation plan. Elsewhere, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Gratifying as it was for Sean McDermott to catch up with his family and get some rest during Buffalo’s bye week, the Bills coach on Wednesday found comfort returning to his weekly routine and familiar wardrobe — a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. “When I’m not wearing those, I go to my closet and I don’t know what to wear. I’m kind of like not myself,” he said before pulling up his hoodie for emphasis to reveal the gray shirt he had on underneath. “So I was telling some of the guys this morning, ‘It’s good to be back.’”

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and has been one of the most influential players in the blockchain space since its launch in 2015. With its feature of smart contract functionality and a dApp ecosystem, Ethereum revolutionized blockchain technology beyond a mere digital currency. However, rapid changes in blockchain have brought new competitors in line to challenge Ethereum's dominance. Is Ethereum at risk of losing its supremacy? Ethereum has realized substantial growth because it was a pioneer to allow dApps and smart contracts. This platform runs most of the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) sectors, making it essential in the blockchain ecosystem. It is processing billions in transactions and hosts thousands of decentralized projects as of now. Despite having continued success, Ethereum now suffers with increased competition from newer blockchains that can do faster transactions and lower fees. Even though Ethereum remains the popular platform for developers and projects, its lead is likely to be threatened by the scalability issues afflicting it and its rising competitors who promise solutions to these ills. Scalability has been the biggest challenge Ethereum faces. As the network grows in size, it takes a toll on the infrastructure. High transaction fees and slower processing times have greatly hurt it, especially during the high demand periods of DeFi booms or NFT launches. It has led the users and developers to seek alternative solutions in some cases. Ethereum's response to such is Ethereum 2.0, the long-in-waiting upgrade set to enhance scalability, security, and sustainability. A shift from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to proof-of-stake (PoS) is at the core of the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade. This should minimize significantly the use of energy while scaling up the throughput of transactions through the introduction of shard chains that enable the network to process numerous transactions simultaneously. However, full implementation of Ethereum 2.0 will take time, and delays could provide competitors with opportunities to capture market share. How well Ethereum manages this transition will play a critical role in maintaining its leadership. Ethereum has powered the development of two most radical blockchain revolutions: decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Both are heavily reliant on the smart contract facility, developed by Ethereum; this enables the issuance, trading, and management of digital assets without any intermediary. Ethereum-based DeFi networks have unlocked new financial opportunities to hundreds of millions of people around the world and created opportunities for lending, borrowing, and trading in a decentralized manner. NFTs gained mainstream popularity in 2021 and are largely based on Ethereum's ERC-721 standard, reshaping the digital art and collectibles market. Despite this dominance, DeFi platforms and NFT projects begin to diversify into other blockchains, particularly those that have lower fees and whose transactions are processed faster. To continue holding the leading position of these sectors, Ethereum must address its performance limitations while continuing to foster innovation within its ecosystem. A number of platforms have emerged that possess strengths over Ethereum, with all promising better scalability, low fees, and faster transaction times. Solana , Binance Smart Chain, Polkadot, and Avalanche have found some popularity in recent time, heavily because of their increased throughput and growing developer ecosystems. At the same time, Solana offers significantly more speed and much lower fees compared to a platform like Ethereum, thereby attracting projects that find the latter too expensive. The Binance Smart Chain has also grown to be another significant DeFi hub with users looking for a cheaper solution. Polkadot and Avalanche are major plays with interoperability and innovative consensus mechanisms, really putting some muscle behind their claims to disruption. These competitors are working on key issues of Ethereum, particularly scalability and cost efficiency, that can seriously be a threat to Ethereum's dominance if these are not addressed immediately. Delivering or not delivering on its promises is critical as to whether Ethereum can regain its top spot over competitors. Its scalability problems are promised to be resolved with the adoption of Ethereum 2.0. The success of this upgrade will depend on timely implementation and smooth integration. If Ethereum can finally live up to its promises, it may continue to lead because of its existing ecosystem, strong developer base, and brand recognition. However, the improved competence of other blockchains cannot be disregarded. If other competing platforms continue to provide better efficiencies at lower costs, they will attract more users and developers, thereby reducing the market share of Ethereum. Ethereum is still a great power in the blockchain world, but there is no longer a sense of unchallenged leadership. Competitors are climbing on board and bringing solutions to problems that Ethereum itself has been unable to solve. Whether Ethereum can retain its lead will depend more than anything on whether it can achieve Ethereum 2.0 and continue this lead in innovation for the DeFi and NFT space. As blockchain technology grows and advances, Ethereum needs to be nimble to retain its top spot.No secrets as Bucs visit Dave Canales, Panthers for NFC South showdown

NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing investigation. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was "working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism," her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7." The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. A spokesman for the agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.” While a family member resides at the address, they said "former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington, D.C. were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that, “Anytime a Member of Congress is the victim of a 'swatting' incident, we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners. To protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats, we cannot provide more details at this time.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats,” he wrote on X. “It is not who we are in America.” Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York contributed to this report. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Elevate your MacBook with iVANKY’s new FusionDock lineup [Video]House passes bill limiting energy efficiency mandates on home laundry machines

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House passes bill limiting energy efficiency mandates on home laundry machinesTulsa fires coach Kevin Wilson a day after blowout loss to South FloridaPhoto: File image Family violence numbers have remained stagnant for decades, even as evidence shows the vast majority are never reported. The fight for legal support Not long after their whirlwind romance, Christchurch woman Shannon Williams' new partner needed somewhere to live. Given he had been hanging out at her place a lot anyhow, he soon moved in with her and her young son. She said things were good for less than a week. "I felt like I was walking on eggshells, having to hold myself to an unrealistic standard to avoid him getting angry. The anger wasn't always directed at me, but it was enough to make me feel quite uncomfortable in my own home." But things would get much worse when a few drinks at home with friends turned into a violent rage. "Everything was good, we were all having a really good night. I don't know what happened, but he kicked off - he ended up quite violent, he started smashing up the house. "He caused about $20,000 of damage to my property." Police were called, and her ex-partner spent a night in custody, but apologetic and embarrassed, he eventually convinced her to give him another chance. Eventually he would be charged and convicted following another incident. As a solicitor, she had an advantage when applying for the protection order, which she had within 24 hours, but acknowledged getting legal support is an issue for many women. University of Auckland associate professor Carrie Leonetti calls this the privatisation of victim safety - placing the onus on the victim to protect themselves from revictimisation - which she notes violates New Zealand's obligations under several international human rights conventions. "The Convention against Torture and Inhumane Treatment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - all of these international human rights conventions put obligations on state parties to protect victims from violence and not to make victims grab a torch and a pitchfork and protect themselves." The restraining orders people get under the Harassment Act in many other countries would be handled by the police, she said. "We still largely leave the job of protecting themselves to victims in New Zealand and they're already victims of domestic violence. The last thing they need is to have to get lawyers and go to court to get restraining orders, to get Protection Orders, to get child support, to get occupancy orders from the house." Leonetti said most countries treated those procedures as a police prosecution function, where they would facilitate securing occupancy of the house and getting a protection order. And while they did not arrange child support, they will enforce an order if a parent did not pay. "In New Zealand, we still largely have a self help regime." Instead of protecting victims from revictimisation, "we push it on to victims and make them do it through old clunky, expensive, inefficient civil procedures". Police changes Despite the stubborn statistics of shame, there are fears a recent policy shift by police could lead to less family violence incidents being attended, investigated or prosecuted. Earlier this year, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police attendance to family harm callouts had increased 80 percent in 10 years and was "not sustainable", but that the proposed changes, which had been trailed for six months in 2023, were under consideration. University of Auckland associate professor Carrie Leonetti said she had grave concerns about the impact of the changes. She said the problem stemmed from the decision - dating back several years - to include family violence under the more amorphous term of family harm, which conflated criminal and non-criminal offences. Police say they will still respond to crimes, making a decision based on the 111 call as to whether the harm is criminal family violence, non criminal forms of family violence - such as coercive controlling behaviour, financial and emotional abuse - or other issues such as mental health problems, substance use or people arguing. But Leonetti said she was "baffled" police believe they can accurately distinguish between family violence from non-family violent family harm, without showing up on the doorstep and reading between the lines. "If somebody makes a 111 call and the perpetrator is standing in the room, they are not at liberty to disclose everything they need to. Or if the neighbour calls, how would the police figure out talking to the next door neighbour whether they need to respond to that home or not?" In the absence of coding those things differently when the calls are taken and triaged, there is no data to know if the police position - that they are only avoiding non-criminal non-family violence forms of family harm - is true, she said. "There is evidence from around the world, including Aotearoa New Zealand, that police are getting called out to cases that involve crimes and family violence, and not treating them as such." Leonetti also warned that the non-response could make a victim's situation substantially worse, destroying trust in authorities and emboldening the perpetrator. "The thing that keeps me up at night is, very few people call the police for family violence. On average, intimate partner violence victims call the police after the seventh or eighth occurrence. "So this is a person who hasn't called, hasn't called, hasn't called, and if - when they finally call - don't get a good response, they'll never try again. "That we're missing those opportunities is a tragedy, and it's a tragedy of the creation of our own policy." She said it was particularly frustrating given Aotearoa actually had strong laws, but family violence remained "under-reported, under-prosecuted and under-identified". "New Zealand has some of the best family violence legislation on paper that I've seen, but some of the worst rates of family violence, and some of the worst systemic responses." Overseas models University of Auckland professor in social and community health Janet Fanslow said there were overseas models that had shown huge promise in dramatically lowering family violence rates. Much of what New Zealand has been doing in the past two decades has been about increasing recognition of violence, often targeted at the victims of family violence, encouraging them to leave the relationship and seek help. While that's an important message, Fanslow wanted to see more investment in evidence-based strategies. "There are evidence-based prevention strategies that have been used elsewhere in the world which have seen dramatic decreases in intimate partner violence - I'm talking a 50 percent decrease in four years." While she acknowledged the importance of New Zealand developing "home grown solutions", Fanslow said we could learn a lot from successful international models. "Some of the successful strategies seen overseas are more community based, involving both men and women, exploring power and the use of power in relationships. "It's a great way to flip the discussion so violence becomes seen as a manifestation of power, which can be used in ways that go over the top of other people to suppress them, or you can think about power not as a zero-sum game. "It's been a transformational strategy elsewhere, because it brings men on board into the conversation, and it gives everyone a positive thing to move to." She said other well-evaluated programmes included those working with men, especially when they become new fathers. "That's a great entry, because men are interested in being good fathers, in being good parents and good partners, but we need to have the conversation with people about what that looks like, and how do you negotiate and do things like conflict resolution in ways that aren't about getting your own way at the expense of other people." Fanslow said funding cuts to the sector were counterproductive, especially cuts to parenting programmes. She said there was strong evidence showing the programmes' ability to engage parents and benefit children, and their cost effectiveness. "By supporting people to develop safe, stable and nurturing relationships with their children and giving people the skills and resources for that, it has long term benefits for the kids, and for society. "It's across all of those domains we say we're interested in - we say we're interested in better educational outcomes, we say we're interested in less crime, we say we're interested in better health - actually our relationships, and the quality of those relationships, influence all of those domains." A 2014 economic estimate - which put the cost of family violence at $4-7 billion a year - is likely a significant underestimate given increased costs, and what researchers were now learning about the long term health impacts of abuse, she said. Shannon Williams said the help she and her son received from Barnados was invaluable. She found the group meetings for the women's safety programme were important for her journey. "Before then, I don't think I realised that some of the things I experienced were abuse. It was really empowering to just sit in a room with a group of other ladies who had a similar experience - that was really healing, just to know I'm not alone and I'm not crazy. "We tend to internalise it and think there's something wrong with us, especially when you have someone constantly degrading you and devaluing you, you start to think, this is me, I'm the one causing this anger - but you can start to step back and say I wasn't doing anything wrong, this is their problem to figure out. That was really empowering."

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A divisive election. At least two major wars raging in Europe and the Middle East. And the ever-present pitfalls of internal family politics. Together, they might make for one of the nation’s tensest Thanksgivings yet — or you could consider eating some psychedelic mushrooms to up your overall sense of love and sail right through it, two experts told The Baltimore Sun. The legality of doing that in Maryland saw a major boost forward this year, when Gov. Wes Moore signed into law, enacting the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances, which will look at how to enact a legal framework for introducing sales of psychedelics into the state. “The Task Force will study naturally derived substances such as psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline and is tasked with making recommendations on use, permitting, education and safety, access to treatment, and regulated support to enable equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances,” health care provider Healthesystems said. How Marylanders respond to legalized psychedelics is yet to be determined. But two industry experts told The Sun that in places where mushrooms are legal, they‘re an excellent fit for creating less stressful holidays. Gary Logan, ATCD, and Robert Grover, MSc., are founders of The Journeymen Collective, an alternative wellness collective that conducts guided retreats for clients during psilocybin trips. Conducted in the mountains outside of Vancouver, Canada, Logan and Grover say that taking “magic” mushrooms is a logical choice for stressed-out Americans looking for ways to make an already tense Thanksgiving a much calmer, thankful affair. “It can open up a greater perspective to more easily recognize the blessings we’ve been given,” Logan said. “There is often a new appreciation for personal and professional relationships.” That America has recently been through what one political analyst told The Sun was a “painful slog of an election season” is in no doubt. With voters almost as closely divided as they were in 2016, and a Democratic administration flipping back to another Trump administration, political scientists said they are concerned about how civil this year’s national gathering may be. Flavio Hickel Jr, assistant professor of American Politics at Washington College, told The Sun that while it depends on the individual group’s personal and political dynamics, the stress and worry that permeated much of the election could now condense into one super feud in families that had members who voted each way. In fact, Hickel said even single-party voting families may find it hard to stay civil on Thanksgiving. “In general, yes, I expect Thanksgivings to be more tense this year. It was a very contested election,” Hickel said. “Even in a group where everyone is a Democrat, discussions of why Democrats lost can invoke strong feelings and breed tension, let alone the strong feelings and tensions that could emerge if Democrats and Republicans discuss the election results and future around the dinner table,” he said. Logan, the psychedelic guide and founder, said that while he wouldn’t advise actually eating mushrooms at the meal, the properties that come along with this type of plant-based substance are ideal for defusing events that might go into confrontational areas. “While it certainly would be interesting to mix in the mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving table, we wouldn’t advise that,” Logan said. Nor should Baltimoreans or Marylanders look to swap the traditional American Thanksgiving drinks table for psilocybin, although it might change their attitude toward drinking later. “We definitely wouldn’t suggest replacing your alcohol use with psilocybin. We have had people come in and have a guided journey then go home and say they didn’t feel the need to drink anymore,” he said. “I’d also say that the mushroom is a fungi that grows in the forest and we see it as a medicine from nature. We certainly believe it is better for your mind, body and spirit than alcohol.” He said that for Marylanders, looking into guided experiences might be the first step toward having an even better holiday season in 2025. “So, if this year you started looking into a guided retreat now, by next time you sat down at the Thanksgiving table you may have an entirely different outlook on the people around it, yourself, and the holiday,” he said. Matt McDermott, president of Humble & Wallop, a strategy and creative firm in Hampden, told The Sun that in Baltimore, as in anywhere else in the U.S., this is a particularly delicate year for avoiding or confronting politics at gatherings like Thanksgiving. As these issues have become more personal to people, they are more likely to see a debate centered around them. “The fear that this administration has a mandate that could lead to the greatest assault on human rights since Jim Crow. Women’s rights,” McDermott said. “Trans rights. Immigrant rights. We’re not talking about economic policy or defense budgets,” he said. “We’re talking about a right to exist, [like] life, liberty, happiness. As a husband of a strong, successful woman and a father of a trans teen, I couldn’t shrug off a dinner-table hot take that argues against their rights.” Hickel gave the following tips for Baltimoreans across all political backgrounds for Thanksgiving, regardless of whether legal alcohol or substances are being used. “If political conversations are unavoidable, try to remember that it is unlikely you will be able to convince a partisan opponent through one conversation/argument,” Hickel said “If you aren’t trying to win the argument, then you are less likely to get irritated when you can’t.” If using all those tips and avoiding a conversation isn’t possible, then perhaps consider just bringing up taking or buying legalized mushrooms as a topic for the whole gathering to consider, Grover suggested. “Again, I wouldn’t suggest just trying it at your Thanksgiving table but it might make for an interesting conversation to tell your family you were thinking of trying a guided magic mushroom journey,” he said. “They might not understand it but in reality many of them could probably benefit from it,” Grover said. “And if you put the work into one you could definitely have an entirely different perspective on life and the family in it by the next Thanksgiving dinner.” And if that still doesn’t work? Well, there’s always a foolproof way to make yourself thankful and welcome at holidays this year. “Bring pie, but leave the politics at home,” McDermott advises.

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As the Black Friday Week is officially here, Amazon is offering great deals on Apple’s latest 2024 MacBook Pro models equipped with the new M4/M4 Pro chips . Released just weeks ago in early November, these laptops are available at their lowest prices ever (they’ve actually never been discounted until now) which makes this an terrific opportunity for anyone looking to invest in high-performance technology. Apple never provides any direct discounts on its website or in its retail stores, and it makes these Amazon promotions the only way to save on the new MacBook Pro M4 models. It’s quite unexpected to see such significant price reductions so soon after launch. We recommend you to act quickly before stock runs out. The “entry-level” model is the 14.2-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M4 chip , and it comes with 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD: originally priced at $1,599, it is now available for just $1,399, representing a great 13% savings . See MacBook Pro M4 / 16GB / 512GB at Amazon For those needing more power, the 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is an excellent choice. This model features a robust 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, along with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Priced at $1,749, down from $1,999 , this configuration is great for professionals who need enhanced processing capabilities for demanding tasks such as video editing or software development. See MacBook Pro M4 Pro 14′′ / 24GB / 512GB at Amazon For users who need additional storage, the 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is also available with a larger 1TB SSD. This model is priced at $2,099, down from $2,399 . With its powerful specifications and enhanced storage capacity, it caters to professionals who work with large files or require extensive software libraries. See MacBook Pro M4 Pro 14′′ / 24GB / 1TB at Amazon The larger 16.2-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip offers even greater performance with a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. This model includes 24GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD and is now available for $2,199 instead of $2,499 . The expansive display provides ample screen real estate for multitasking and creative work. See MacBook Pro M4 Pro 16′′ / 24GB / 512GB at Amazon Power, Power and Power All models feature Apple’s innovative M4/M4 Pro chip architecture that significantly enhances performance while maintaining energy efficiency. The M4 chips improve CPU and GPU performance but they also integrate advanced AI capabilities through Apple Intelligence. This allows for faster processing of machine learning tasks and improved graphics rendering. Battery life remains one of the much appreciated feature across all models – with Apple advertising up to 24 hours of usage on a single charge —which is an industry-leading achievement for laptops. The combination of powerful hardware and optimized software (thanks to this Apple-developed chips) ensures that users can work throughout the day without needing to recharge frequently. A great aspect of these Black Friday deals is that Amazon offers an extended return policy allowing customers to return products until January 31, 2025. This extended timeframe makes it easier for shoppers to purchase gifts without worrying about immediate returns after the holiday season. But as these deals are the first discounts seen on these new models, the stock is likely to diminish very quickly. See MacBook Pro M4 / 16GB / 512GB at Amazon See MacBook Pro M4 Pro 14′′ / 24GB / 512GB at AmazonThe Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), UNITAR and its International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Global Network) announced the launch of the UNITAR-certified Sport Safety and Security Training and Advanced Education Programme, designed specifically for professionals from Asian football federations, leagues, and clubs. The programme was launched during an online event attended by over 60 safety and security professionals from Asian football stakeholders, alongside senior representatives from the United Nations and the ICSS. The programme aims to enhance the expertise, processes, and resources of safety and security professionals across the region. Participants will gain access to an international network of peers, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to address emerging challenges effectively. The training programme comprises 13 interlinked courses, each averaging 15 hours, and is delivered entirely online to accommodate participants’ schedules and pacing. Participants can enrol in individual courses or complete the entire programme to earn a higher-level certification and internationally recognised academic credits. Certified by UNITAR – the United Nations Institute for Training and Research – and delivered through its CIFAL Global Network and the ICSS, the programme meets the highest training standards, equipping participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills. Commenting on the roll out of the programme, ICSS CEO Massimiliano Montanari, said: “The programme represents both a training opportunity and a way to empower the community of safety and security professionals who daily work to safeguard football competitions in Asia.” Julio Andrade, Associate Director, CIFAL Global Network, UNITAR, emphasised that after home and school, sport is the main third area of development for minors: “In this area people develop physically, socially and psychologically. For this reason, the world of sport, particularly football, has a great responsibility in terms of contributing to the promotion of the SDGs and leading the way in ensuring that sport is played in safe and sustainable environments,” Shin Man Gil, AFC Deputy General Secretary (Competition and Football Events), pointed out that “the Confederation is duty-bound to ensure that safety and security remains at the forefront of the AFC’s competitions and events, in order to safeguard the Asian football community. This landmark programme has been designed not only to address the stadium and security needs and priorities of Asian football but also enables us to take proactive measures to refine our risk management strategies and protocols.” Related Story Arab Ministerial Contact Committee urges support for inclusive, 'peaceful' Syria transition More than 1,000 attend Arab Nurses and Midwives Conference

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Stores are getting ready for Thanksgiving 2024 coming up this week on Thursday, Nov. 28. While many federal and state offices and banks close on federal holidays, several stores choose to remain open on most of these days. Macy’s is one store that closes on very few federal holidays, staying open on most of them for shoppers to take advantage of holiday deals. Plus, you can check out the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade shop with everything from limited-edition clothes to collectibles based on the balloons and floats crowds will see during the event. That includes an entire Minnie Mouse collection based on Disney’s first Minnie balloon in the parade. But will Macy’s fans be able to snag Black Friday discounts and start their holiday shopping this Thanksgiving? Is Macy’s open on Thanksgiving 2024? No, Macy’s will not be open. Shoppers will have to start their in-store Black Friday shopping sprees on Friday, Nov. 29. The department stores will close on Thanksgiving — just as it did last year — giving staff a day of rest and time to spend with their families. While you can start shopping online right after Thanksgiving dinner, you can also wait to visit a Macy’s location on Black Friday, which will reopen with extended hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can find your nearest Macy’s department store here . More Thanksgiving 2024 Store Hours Is Kohl’s open on Thanksgiving 2024? What to know before you go to the store Is Home Depot open on Thanksgiving 2024? What to know before you go to the store Thanksgiving 2024: What’s open, what’s closed on Thursday? Banks, UPS, mail delivery, stock markets, stores, malls, supermarkets When is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024? What to know before you go or livestream the event Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Victoria Rosenthal can be reached at vrosenthal@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .Florida has long boomed economically from three revenue sources — farming, real estate, tourism. Now, local leaders would like to add the ocean to that list. Florida is launching a new Office of Ocean Economy, which aims to make the state a major contender in a “blue economy” race that is well underway in other states and countries. Some of that development is already happening here in South Florida, and backers hope the initiative will make the Sunshine State a global leader in water-driven innovation. State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, who co-sponsored the bill that created the office with state Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, and state Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach, said that the goal is to connect the dots of the blue economy in Florida so everyone can benefit. Those dots include academic research, innovation, technology, funding, branding, and the ocean itself. According to the bill, the office is charged with: — Connecting the state’s ocean resources to economic development with a focus on sustainable practices.— Connecting the state’s universities and transforming innovative technology into functional businesses.— Developing a pipeline for innovation to be commercialized and financed.— Branding the state globally as a leader in the ocean economy.— Reporting the economic benefits the office has generated, as well as emerging ocean economy innovations, each August. “We need the next Gatorade to come out of the ocean,” said LaMarca at a recent Florida Ocean Alliance event at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale. LaMarca’s Gatorade reference was a nod to researchers at the University of Florida, who in 1965 developed the sports drink — and created an industry — because they were concerned that UF athletes were sweating out too many electrolytes in the Florida heat. “There’s plenty of great research being done now,” LaMarca said. “What we want to do is take what’s in a research project and what is on the shelf and bring possible products to market.” Funding for the initiative will come from the state, and the office will be housed at Florida Atlantic University and led by Colin Polsky, founding director of FAU’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability. Polsky said that some current examples of the ocean economy include aquaculture, commercial fishing and recreation (SCUBA businesses, fishing guides). But given that Florida has 8,436-mile coastline, high-level research institutions seeking solutions to climate change, and access to the power of tides and the Gulf Stream, there’s much more that can be done. Central to the initiative is the fact that Florida is on the front lines of climate change and sea-level rise. As the region develops solutions, and those solutions can be turned into businesses that the rest of the world can use. Polsky said that startups could emerge around topics such as hydroelectric power from both tides and the Gulf Stream, innovative ways to protect shorelines through both designed structures and developing coral reefs that are better adapted to high heat conditions. He used other regions as examples of blue economy leadership. “Denmark is the global leader in offshore wind technology development,” Polsky said. China has ramped up production, but the know-how came from a place — Denmark, Polsky said. Related Articles “Same thing with the Netherlands with flood control. They’ve been doing that for 500 years. Humanity has always been trying to manage risk in coastal zones. Places that do it well, export it.” Polsky said that efforts in this first fiscal year would start with a statewide listening tour to ascertain what ocean economy ventures have been attempted, what needs to continue and not to continue. His team will also develop reports on local gross domestic product associated with different parts of the ocean economy, and map that analysis across the state. They will then look at employment trends, define the status quo and model how local economies might perform under different economic forces. “Then we can incorporate ideas from all around the state about different opportunities, avenues, levers, mechanisms for improving the ocean economy,” he said. Florida is not alone in the blue economy race. Skidmore said the Sunshine State is competing with Rhode Island, San Diego, Mississippi and several institutes around Boston. Globally she said Portugal, Scotland, Norway and others are making headway. “They’re really killing it in this space. So we do have some catch up we need to do,” she said. “But if Florida can lead the U.S. ... then we can compete around the world.” In 10 years, LaMarca envisions an intellectual pipeline. “My hope is that every smart young research student that’s doing work at our universities has the opportunity to take something ... to bring a project to market and be able to monetize that,” he said. LaMarca previously worked on legislation in Florida that allowed student athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness, and said he thinks there’s a parallel to students in science fields. “They should be able to take what they’re learning, and if they can bring something to market, benefit off of it, not only for themselves, but for the universities.” Though the Office of Ocean Economy is new, water-focused businesses and research in South Florida is well underway. Here are some examples: Reef deployment: The Ocean Rescue Alliance International , a nonprofit that works with cities such as Hollywood, deploys artificial coral reefs that protect the shoreline, provide habitat for marine life and offer diving opportunities. ORAI has developed a Coral Lok system to make planting coral more efficient. Their base structures have slots for screws. Divers can simply screw in corals growing on threaded plugs. Reefs as protection: The University of Miami’s X-REEFS project , funded in part by the Department of Defense, is developing hybrid reefs that both protect the human world from waves and reap the ecological benefits of a coral reef. Key to building the artificial reefs are modular structures called SEAHIVEs, hexagonal concrete pieces designed with holes that optimally disrupt wave energy and invite marine life to make a home. UM is also attempting to breed corals that can withstand marine heat waves and disease. These corals could be planted on the artificial reef structures and add mass to the reef over time, even as seas rise. Aquaculture : New aquaculture ventures are launching. This month, Everglades Oysters seeded their first batch of oysters. The farm sits just north of Chokoloskee near the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park. They plan to eventually harvest with a new technology called FlipFarm, which allows farmers to easily flip oyster cages, keeping the bivalves healthy. Building better seawalls: Miami-based Kind Designs , backed in part by Mark Cuban, uses 3D printing to produce what they call Living Seawalls, which replace flat seawalls with a rippled wall that emulates the nooks and crannies of a coral reef or mangrove roots. Sea life thrives, and the walls break up wave energy instead of reflecting it back into the estuary, where it can damage shorelines. They also offer Kind Tiles, that do much the same thing. Finding a southern seaweed: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently gave a $250,000 grant to the University of Florida to investigate seaweed aquaculture in Florida’s tropical waters. Though most seaweed aquaculture is done in cold water, UF hopes to identify warm-water seaweed species and kick-start an industry that both boosts Florida’s economy and benefits its environment. Potential uses include seaweed as a replacement for some plastic packaging, nutritional supplements, animal feed, cosmetics and biofuels Seagrass and oyster restoration: Winter Garden-based Sea & Shoreline restores ecosystems. Much of their business is a reaction to harmful algae blooms that snuff out seagrass meadows and pummel ecosystems. They replant and maintain seagrass areas to boost local economies via ecotourism and fishing opportunities. They also build living shorelines to help marine life and protect human properties, and restore oyster reefs, which filter pollutants. Climate change and nutrient runoff make each of these a growth industry. Harnessing the Gulf Stream: The United States Department of Energy recently awarded FAU an $800,000 grant to study how to harness the vast power of the Gulf Stream, which flows a few miles off shore. DOE studies have previously calculated that the Florida section of this immense ocean current could produces as much energy as three nuclear power plants. The FUA feasibility study will conduct ocean current tests off of Palm Beach County, where the Gulf Stream cuts close to land. Bill Kearney covers the environment, the outdoors and tropical weather. He can be reached at bkearney@sunsentinel.com . Follow him on Instagram @billkearney or on X @billkearney6 .