The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answers
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Pittsburgh’s purple zone short-term parking program to continue
According to the new draft deal, developed nations should pay US$300 billion a year by 2035 to help poorer countries deal with climate change. BAKU - Countries agreed on Nov 24 to an annual finance target of US$300 billion (S$404 billion) to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change, with rich countries leading the payments, according to a hard fought deal clinched at the COP29 conference in Baku. The new goal is intended to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide US$100 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025. Developed nations should pay US$300 billion a year by 2035 to help poorer countries deal with climate change, after an earlier target of US$250 billion was rejected. Reuters previously reported that the European Union, the United States and others wealthy countries would support the US$300 billion annual global finance target in an effort to end a deadlock at the two-week summit. The COP29 climate conference in the Azerbaijan capital Baku had been due to finish on Nov 22, but ran into overtime as negotiators from nearly 200 countries struggled to reach consensus on the climate funding plan for the next decade. At one point delegates from poor and small island nations walked out of talks in frustration over what they called a lack of inclusion, and amid concerns fossil fuel producing countries were seeking to water down aspects of the deal. The summit cut to the heart of the debate over the financial responsibility of industrialized countries, whose historical use of fossil fuels has caused the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, to compensate others for the damage wrought by climate change. It also laid bare the divisions between wealthy governments constrained by tight domestic budgets and developing nations reeling from the costs of worsening storms, floods and droughts. Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad told Reuters he was optimistic for an eventual agreement in Baku. “When it comes to money it’s always controversial but we are expecting a deal tonight,” he said. The new goal is intended to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide US$100 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025. A previous US$250 billion proposal drawn up by Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency was rejected as too low by poorer countries, which have warned a weak deal would hinder their ability to set more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions cutting targets. Countries also agreed on Nov 23 on rules for a global market to buy and sell carbon credits that proponents say could mobilise billions more dollars into new projects to help fight global warming, from reforestation to deployment of clean energy technologies. What counts as developed nation? Negotiators have been working to address other questions on the finance target, including who is asked to contribute and how much of the funding is provided as grants, rather than loans. The roster of countries required to contribute - about two dozen industrialised countries, including the US, European nations and Canada - dates back to a list decided during UN climate talks in 1992. European governments have demanded others join them in paying in, including China, the world’s second-biggest economy, and oil-rich Gulf states. Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory in November has also cast a cloud over the Baku talks. Trump, who takes office in January, has promised to again remove the US from international climate cooperation, so negotiators from other wealthy nations expect that under his administration the world’s largest economy will not pay into the climate finance goal. A broader goal of raising US$1.3 trillion in climate finance annually by 2035 - which would include funding from all public and private sources and which economists say matches the sum needed - was included in the draft deal. REUTERS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowThe J.M. Smucker Co. Completes the Divestiture of Voortman® Brand to Second Nature Brands and Updates Fiscal Year 2025 Net Sales Outlook
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A replacement has been named for ABC host Michael Rowland as approaches. or signup to continue reading ABC television newsreader James Glenday, a former Europe and North America correspondent, is taking on the role after . Sports reporter Catherine Murphy was also named as Tony Armstrong's permanent replacement on December 9 after . Ms Murphy joined the national broadcaster in 2018, after moving from Ireland to Australia more than a decade earlier, and has been a fixture on and . "I'm so excited to join the program on a full-time basis. I've loved working with the team when I've filled in and I'm so excited for 2025," she said. is the only show I'd set my alarm at 3am for. Goodbye midweek social life. I love you so much, but it's time to break up." The ABC team has with only presenters Charles Brice, Emma Rebellato and meteorologist Nate Byrne remaining. Mr Rowland said he "loved working on when he announced his departure on December 2. "Every morning is a buzz and it's by far the best job I've had at the ABC," he said. "But after 15 years of 3am starts my body is screaming 'enough!'. The hours have finally caught up with me." Mr Glenday will join co-host Bridget Brennan on the couch from January 20. The anchors met in 2010 when Mr Glenday started his ABC cadetship in Darwin and the pair have formed a strong bond. "It will be a beautiful thing to present the show with Bridget, a long-time friend and fellow millennial. We're quite different people, but for some inexplicable reason she tolerates my terrible jokes, so we get along well," he said. "The chance to join and take over from Michael Rowland, a beloved colossus of Australian broadcasting, is an offer I couldn't refuse." "ABC is the natural place for the biggest names in Australia to come to share their news and stories. I can't wait to begin work with the very talented team." Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementRead the powerful letter by Australian jailed in China after death penalty sentenceOn Sunday, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for federal crimes related to tax evasion and gun charges. In an official statement explaining his reasoning, Biden wrote: "From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted... No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong." "For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded," he continued. "Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision." Regardless of any rationale the 82-year-old may provide, the court of public opinion has drastically different perspectives depending on where you look. Many felt the move to pardon his son before leaving office showed a privilege that everyday Americans could never wield. This is the proof that money might not buy happiness, but will always buy freedom and power "They dont even try to hide the fact that rich and famous people are above the law," one person wrote. they dont even try to hide the fact that rich and famous people are above the law Others pointed out a perceived hypocrisy by sharing one of Biden's tweets from earlier this year, when he wrote "No one is above the law" in response to a jury convicting Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records following his now-infamous hush money trial. Now, it seems, some believe Biden has changed his tune. On the other side, netizens harped about what they might do in Biden's situation. One X user wrote, "I would do the same, so I can't hate." I would do the same, so I can't hate While others suggested even Trump may have acted similarly. Trump would do the same so go ahead Biden And in that same vein, another layer of supposed hypocrisy was pointed out against Trump voters who believe Biden pardoning Hunter was wrong. "I really don't gaf," this person wrote. "Yall let a felon be president so fck it free hunter!" "If yall gonna excuse Trump amidst his intended fascism, my son should DEFINITELY be fucking excused," another wrote. Outside of this back-and-forth, there appeared a pocket of the internet where people begged Biden to use his last weeks in office to shake things up further. Good Biden... don’t stop do more before you leave office please don’t follow the rules.... The other side doesn’t at all Where do you land? Let us know in the comments.
Shatel: Unpacking Tony White's chess move to Florida State, no Nebraska-Iowa handshakeThe Philippines and the United States share an intertwined political history that continues to echo with uncanny parallels. Often perceived as an asymmetric reflection of American democratic ideals, the Philippines has evolved into a signal bearer, foreshadowing the political trajectory of its Western counterpart. There are five critical “signals” that offer insights into parallel challenges and opportunities that both democracies face in preserving their institutional integrity and democratic values. The first signal traces back to the early 1990s, following the Philippine Senate’s decision to terminate the US bases agreement, leading to the closure of American military installations in Clark and Subic. In a dismissive stance, the US disregarded crucial intelligence from Filipino authorities about a terrorist plot that would later materialize as the 9/11 attacks. This intelligence, uncovered accidentally during a fire in Malate, Manila, revealed plans to crash airplanes into major US landmarks. The Philippines became a testing ground for social media manipulation in the 2016 elections, leading to Rodrigo Duterte’s rise to power. The same tactics associated with Cambridge Analytica—propaganda, disinformation, and microtargeting—later surfaced in the 2016 US elections, resulting in Donald Trump’s victory. Both elections highlight how technology, when weaponized, can undermine democratic processes and distort public discourse. The parallels between Duterte and Trump—populist rhetoric, disdain for traditional political norms, and reliance on an “army of trolls”—illustrate the global nature of this challenge. The 2022 Philippine elections presented another cautionary tale. Leni Robredo’s decision to run late in the presidential race mobilized massive crowds but ultimately fell short against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte’s well-funded, populist campaign. Robredo’s failure to connect with economically struggling voters in Classes D and E mirrored challenges faced by Kamala Harris and other progressive US politicians, who have struggled to resonate beyond urban and educated constituencies. The lesson is clear: A successful campaign requires not just visible enthusiasm but also deep engagement with economically marginalized but silent communities. The fourth signal is a stark warning about authoritarianism. In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law in the Philippines, leveraging the 1935 Constitution’s “commander in chief” provision to consolidate power. His regime manipulated the military and judiciary to rubber-stamp his dictatorship. Today, similar ambitions resonate in the US, where Trump signals his intention to leverage the Insurrection Act to centralize power, weaken institutional checks, and use the military to enforce radical policies. However, the Philippine experience offers a counter-narrative: Duterte’s failed attempt to involve the military in his war on drugs demonstrated that institutional loyalty to the Constitution can resist authoritarian overreach. The US military, steeped in a tradition of constitutional adherence, may hold the line against any similar drift toward despotism. Perhaps the most critical lesson from the Philippines is the role of active citizen opposition in defending democracy. The 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, which toppled the Marcos dictatorship, was a spontaneous, overwhelming display of collective will. This moral fiber—a populace united in opposition to tyranny—is the ultimate safeguard against authoritarianism. For the US, the challenge is to foster this same level of civic engagement, ensuring that democratic norms are not eroded by complacency or polarization. The striking parallels between the Philippines and the US are not coincidental. As the only country whose Constitution and democratic framework mirror those of the US, the Philippines has often reflected the strengths and vulnerabilities of American democracy. From the 1935 to the 1987 Philippine Constitutions, the legal and institutional systems of the Philippines have been deeply influenced by the American model. Despite this shared legacy, the Philippine military has shown a remarkable recovery from the institutional corrosion inflicted during Marcos Sr.’s martial law years. Today, it stands as a constitutional and patriotic institution, committed to defending the West Philippine Sea and upholding democratic values. This transformation offers hope that the US military, grounded in its traditions of constitutional loyalty, can similarly resist any attempts to undermine democracy from within. The Philippines serves as both a mirror and a warning to the US. The echoes of history—from overlooked intelligence to manipulated elections, authoritarian drift, and the power of civic resistance—resonate across the Pacific. In this interconnected world, the lessons from one democracy are invaluable to another. The challenge for both nations is to remain vigilant, fostering institutions and civic cultures resilient enough to withstand the pressures of authoritarianism and disinformation. ————— [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. That’s down from 2.3 billion packages last year. Because the shopping period is a week shorter than in 2023, consumers are shopping further ahead of Black Friday and more purchases are taking place in physical stores, he said. The number of holiday package shipments grew 27% in 2020 and by more than 3% the following year during the pandemic. The numbers have been falling since then, with a projected decline of about 6% this holiday season. Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecastsTransfer rumors, news: Man Utd, Madrid chasing €50m-rated Hernández
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump’s election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps’ Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump’s agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump’s choices portend for his second presidency. As budget chief, Vought envisions a sweeping, powerful perch The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president’s proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration’s agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” Vought could help Musk and Trump remake government’s role and scope The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025’s and Trump’s campaign proposals. Vought’s vision is especially striking when paired with Trump’s proposals to dramatically expand the president’s control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government’s roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump’s changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump’s choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans’ health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Homan and Miller reflect Trump’s and Project 2025’s immigration overl ap Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas. Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump’s longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump’s West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump’s “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” Project 2025 contributors slated for CIA and Federal Communications chiefs John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick to lead the CIA, was previously one of Trump’s directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document’s chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe’s chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe’s and Trump’s approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025’s FCC chapter and is now Trump’s pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts. ___ Advertisement AdvertisementNone
NEW YORK (AP) — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Over the weekend, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. Early Sunday afternoon, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. The bag’s apparent manufacturer did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.Suns expect Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal to play vs. Lakers
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS) (“ATEK” or the “Company”) received an official notice of noncompliance (the “NYSE American Notice”) from NYSE Regulation (“NYSE”) stating that the Company is not in compliance with NYSE American continued listing standards due to the failure to timely file the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Delinquent Report”) by the filing due date of November 19, 2024 (the “Filing Delinquency”). The Company intends to file the Delinquent Report in the near future, however, there is currently no anticipated date for when such Filing Delinquency will be cured via the filing of the Delinquent Report. The Company expects, however, to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards once the Delinquent Report has been filed. In the interim, the NYSE American Notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s Class A common stock listed on NYSE American. There can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately regain and remain in compliance with all applicable NYSE American listing standards. About Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS), incorporated in Delaware, is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. ATEK is the third SPAC founded by Isabelle Freidheim, who also serves as its Chief Executive Officer, with Kirthiga Reddy as President and Jennifer Calabrese as Chief Financial Officer. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “intend,” or continue or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plan to file the Delinquent Report within the provided cure period to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to file the Delinquent Report within the Initial Cure Period to regain compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards; general economic, political and business conditions; the number of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders in connection with a potential business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; the risk that the approval of the Company’s stockholders for a potential transaction is not obtained; expectations related to the terms and timing of a potential business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of a business combination; the risk that a business combination may not be completed by the Company’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of its business combination deadline in the Company’s upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders; costs related to a business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the SEC, including those risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on September 27, 2024 and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. And while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that the results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125554143/en/ CONTACT: Bevel PR Athena@bevelpr.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125554143/en
CELAYA (AFP) – Gunmen shot up stores in a mall in Mexico, killing eight people, authorities said. The attack in the central state of Guanajuato happened in the town of Apaseo el Grande, in a busy commercial area with food and refreshment stands and a bus ticket office. Two of the fatalities were firefighters and a third was a paramedic for the state health care system, officials said. Two other people were wounded. No arrests were made. Guanajuato is a thriving industrial hub and home to several popular tourist destinations, but it is also now considered Mexico’s most violent state. On October 4, the bodies of 12 slain police officers were found in different areas of Salamanca, a town in Guanajuato. Officials said violence in the state stems from a conflict between the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of the most powerful in all of Mexico. Gang-related violence has continued unabated after Mexico’s new president Claudia Sheinbaum took office on October 1. She has ruled out declaring war on the cartels and instead proposed a strategy she described as being based on gathering intelligence to sap their operational capacity. Sheinbaum also wants to carry on with her predecessor’s policy of attacking crime at its roots, with investment in social spending and crime prevention.Mazarin Inc. and subsidiary Asbestos Corporation Limited announce a change to its organization
NEW YORK - Wall Street’s main indexes ended higher on Nov 25, with the small-cap Russell 2000 index hitting an all-time high after Scott Bessent’s nomination as US Treasury secretary helped push bond yields lower. Focus also turned to talks of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which pushed oil prices lower, dragging the Energy index lower. President-elect Donald Trump ended weeks of speculation when he named his choice late on Friday, with some investment strategists saying Bessent could take measures to restrain further government borrowing, even as he follows through on fiscal and trade campaign pledges. The nomination of Bessent has eased some of the fiscal concerns that had pushed bond yields higher ahead of the elections about possible new tariffs. “This time, focus is on tariff policy – especially now that the choice of Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary seems to have allayed major fiscal concerns,” said James Reilly, senior market economist at market desk Capital Economics. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 17.81 points, or 0.30 per cent, to end at 5,987.15 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 51.50 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 19,055.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 439.02 points, or 0.99 per cent, to 44,735.53. The small-cap index hit an all-time high, eclipsing the record level it touched three years ago, as Treasury yields dropped sharply, with the 30-year bond leading the yield declines across the board. “Areas that were lagging for most of this year are beginning to outperform, such as the small-cap and the mid-cap stocks, not just due to Trump, but also due to the Federal Reserve cutting rates,” said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of 50 Park Investments in New York. Expectations that Trump, along with a Republican Congress, can make good on his promise of business-friendly policies have been the latest tailwinds for small-cap companies. They have been in the spotlight since the US Federal Reserve commenced its monetary policy easing cycle in September. Lower yields helped the rate-sensitive Real Estate sector rise, while the Housing index also surged. Barclays raised its full-year 2025 forecast for the S&P 500, while Deutsche Bank set its target at 7,000 points by the end of 2025. Concerns remain, however, that inflationary pressures could spike and slow the pace of the Fed’s policy easing. Investors have recently swung between expectations of a pause versus a further cut in interest rates at the Fed’s December meeting. The CME Group’s FedWatch Tool shows a 56.2 per cent probability the central bank will deliver another 25 basis-point cut. Consumer Discretionary stocks led sectoral gains, aided by Amazon.com’s rise. The Personal Consumption Expenditure report, the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge, will be on investors’ radar later this week, which includes the US Thanksgiving holiday. Macy’s fell sharply after the department-store operator delayed the publication of its third-quarter results due to an accounting issue. Bath & Body Works raised its forecast for full-year adjusted profit, sending the retailer’s shares up sharply. REUTERS