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No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on SundayThe Gross Law Firm Reminds Visa Inc. Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of January 21, 2025 – V

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.In a bold new proposal, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are spearheading a plan that could dramatically reshape the U.S. federal workforce. It centers on letting go of federal employees who refuse to go back to the office five days a week, all to achieve a breathtakingly bold goal—to reinvigorate government efficiency and cut billions in taxpayer dollars. The Plan to End Remote Work for Federal Employees Musk is CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, while Ramaswamy is a former presidential contender. The duo is pushing for major reforms to the U.S. government bureaucracy. Their mission is clear: federal workers who continue to enjoy the “Covid-era privilege” of working from home should not be paid by the American public. In their opinion, there are those unwilling to show up in the office—a burden on taxpayer dollars. “If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them,” Musk and Ramaswamy declared in an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal. The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending, which they argue is bloated by inefficiency and lack of accountability. Aiming to Save $2 Trillion The plan is not just about how to enforce a return to the office as part of a larger scheme to trim $2 trillion from the federal budget. In order to make the federal workforce more efficient while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are better spent, Musk and Ramaswamy aim to cut wasted spending and restructure government agencies. In their plan, they posit that “mass headcount reductions” will have to be undertaken to achieve these objectives; certainly, part of the emphasis should be placed on civil servants who refuse to go back to office premises once the remote work policies initiated as part of the pandemics are repealed. The newly founded Department of Government Efficiency will be led by these two, and it is from there that Musk and Ramaswamy should present their vision to achieve the aforesaid mission of reorganizing federal agencies, making their operations efficient, and eliminating inefficiencies that waste government and taxpayer resources. These two men, one a visionary in the private sector and the other once a presidential hopeful, are bringing entrepreneurial and political experience to the table in a bid to fundamentally overhaul how the U.S. government operates. Musk and Ramaswamy: A vision of a Less Bureaucratic U.S. Government Both Musk and Ramaswamy have shown lively interest in government spending at grotesquely enormous levels. According to their op-ed, the pair believes that the government spends over $500 billion annually on inefficient or unauthorized programs. Bold reforms are said to be on their way with the decision of possibly taking federal departments out of Washington D.C. They argue that civil service regulation allows for “reductions in force” and the putting into effect of rules that would target inefficiency, not individual workers. A Strong Mandate for Reform The timing of their proposal is strategic. With a new president-elect, Donald Trump, and a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, Musk and Ramaswamy believe they have the political mandate to push through sweeping reforms. The pair sees this as an opportunity to enact their vision for a leaner, more efficient federal government. “Having a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court gives us a unique advantage,” they wrote in their article. The Focus on Accountability In addition to saving taxpayer money, the new department will mainly focus on bringing accountability to federal agencies. The proposed reforms aim to ensure that spending is transparent and that every dollar is properly accounted for. This may require shaking up some existing norms and practices by the bureaucracy. The two, Musk and Ramaswamy, have also hinted that these reforms will not be limited to just firing employees; they could involve broad changes to how federal departments operate, how they are funded, and where they are located. Final Thoughts: The Future of Government Efficiency While the proposal has generated much debate, it also resonates with growing frustration over government inefficiency and the ballooning federal budget. Leading this are Musk and Ramaswamy, who are pushing reforms that may ultimately redefine the very makeup of the U.S. government in search of greater efficiency and a cost savings. With Trump behind him and a strong political base, the duo’s plan might just set a new era for American governance. ALSO READ: Grimes Accuses Elon Musk Of Preventing Her From Seeing Their ChildrenThe measures are included in the Municipal Regulation for Encouraging Birth Rates, which comes into force on 22 November, one day after the publication of the document in Diário de Notícias . “The time has come to take another step forward and develop policies that allow us to reverse or mitigate the trend of low birth rates, considering that demographics and their dynamics are a fundamental component of the structure, functioning and economic and social evolution of a region”, reads the document. The incentive consists of a “cash subsidy” and other support, whenever a child is born or adopted, provided that the parents have resided in that municipality in the district of Guarda, “for at least 12 continuous months”, prior to the date of birth/adoption of the child. According to the regulation, parents will be entitled to 500 euros per year during the child's first three years to use in the “acquisition of goods and services essential to the healthy and harmonious development of children”, whether in food, health, hygiene, education, clothing or other types of items. Vítor Proença, president of the Sabugal Municipal Council, told Lusa news agency that it is “important to provide this incentive”, as the municipality is “a territory with a low birth rate and it is necessary to support resident families or even attract young couples to the municipality”. The mayor also highlighted that the support has another objective, that of “bringing some dynamism to local commerce” since the incentive will have to be “spent in the pharmacy, supermarket and other establishments” in Sabugal. Vítor Proença recalled that the municipality already provides other support for children and young people living in Sabugal. “Currently, we provide support from the moment a child is born until they start higher education. Younger children receive free food, virtually free daycare, free transport, and support for purchasing school textbooks, among other things.” Students entering higher education benefit from “merit-based support” and “universal support for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” he added. This new birth support can be requested using a specific form, delivered to the Sabugal City Council. Interested parties may apply via the municipality's website. Requests will be analysed by the Social Development and Quality of Life Division – Social Action Service of the City Council. To finance this incentive to encourage births, the local authority allocated 100 thousand euros in the 2025 budget.

Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsPercentages: FG .424, FT .714. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump picked Scott Bessent to serve as Treasury secretary Friday, tapping a billionaire hedge fund manager to lead an economic agenda that is expected to be built around raising tariffs and cutting taxes. Bessent, the founder of the investment firm Key Square Capital Management, has emerged as a central economic adviser to Trump over the past year. He has called for rolling back government subsidies, deregulating the economy and raising domestic energy production. Unlike many on Wall Street, Bessent, 62, has also defended the use of tariffs, which are Trump’s favorite economic tool. “Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists,” Trump said in a statement posted on social media. “Scott’s story is that of the American Dream.” “Together, we will Make America Rich Again, Prosperous Again, Affordable Again, and most importantly, Great Again,” Trump said. Although Bessent’s policy ideas are in lockstep with conservative economic principles, one aspect of his background could draw questions from Republicans. He rose to prominence in the finance world as a protégé of George Soros, a billionaire Democratic donor and longtime villain of the right wing, and served for years as his top money manager. Related Story: The selection came after intensive deliberation by Trump and his advisers, who debated for weeks about who should win the most prominent economic job in his administration. Bessent and Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, tussled over the job before Lutnick was picked to be commerce secretary this week. Trump also considered tapping Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve Board governor, and Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, for the role. If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would take over a department with vast responsibilities that is at the core of the federal government. The Treasury Department issues debt to fund the government’s operations and pay its bills, including paying Social Security and veterans benefits. But the most visible parts of Bessent’s job will be shepherding the administration’s tax plans through Congress, leading economic negotiations with China and overseeing the nation’s sanctions program. — This article originally appeared in . By Alan Rappeport and Maggie Haberman c.2024 The New York Times CompanyWarren County supervisors gave themselves more power on Tuesday to oversee the investments of local taxes and to keep a better eye on the books. The Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to abolish the county finance board it established on Nov. 18. State code allows the county to create a finance board. The state then allows the supervisors to, by ordinance, abolish the finance board. Once abolished, the panel’s authority, powers and duties revert to the Board of Supervisors. The action gave supervisors the power to direct the county treasurer to invest money in state investment pools and provide monthly reports on the investments. Chairwoman Cheryl L. Cullers, Vice Chairman Jerome K. “Jay” Butler and supervisors Vicky L. Cook, Richard A. Jamieson and John W. Stanmeyer voted in favor of an ordinance abolishing the short-lived board. Supervisors also voted in a separate action to direct the treasurer to invest county funds in one or both state investment pools and provide monthly reports on the amounts and accrued interest. County Administrator Edwin Daley explained by phone on Wednesday that the county collected $8 million in real estate tax receipts last week, Daley said. The county could deposit that money into an investment account the same day and accrue interest, Daley said. But county officials recently raised concerns about investment interest accruals in the last couple of years. In one year information showed a negative amount, Daley said. “(We) don’t understand how you lose money on $15 million of investments,” Daley said. Supervisors on Tuesday held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance. South River District resident John Jenkins said he opposed the abolishment of the finance board. Jenkins pointed out that the state code calls for a finance board to include a county citizen “of proven integrity and business ability” as an appointed member. Jenkins said he thinks it’s a good idea to have such a citizen to help the county manage its $91 million budget. Wood responded to Jenkins’ comments before the vote and noted that the county has a finance/audit committee that meets once a month. Butler and Wood also serve on the committee. The committee includes three appointed citizens. The committee’s mission “is to review all of the county’s internal fiscal controls,” Wood said. “We identify gaps of what needs to be looked at to make sure that the finances and the budgets, reports are being presented in a standardized way, transparent ...” Cook said. Whenever the committee finds what Cook called a “hiccup” in financial reporting for a department, such as the treasurer’s office or the School Board, the panel then can request representatives of those entities to speak to the committee. “[T]his (finance) board is taking it a step level higher, which is going to be a board that will be working with the treasurer, because there’s a separation of powers between Warren County and the treasurers, and we’re working together to try to work on some improving of investments and trying to look at better ways of accounting and investing in our finances,” Cook said. The finance/audit committee members also have term limits, Cook added. The resolution refers to the supervisors’ actions creating and abolishing a finance board. The resolution goes on to state “the Board is concerned that County funds are not being invested to maximize their investment returns; WHEREAS, pursuant to Code of Virginia § 58.1-3156, the Board determines that County funds are drawing a lesser rate of interest than they otherwise may be earning; WHEREAS, the Board is entitled, pursuant to Code of Virginia § 58.1-3160, to receive a monthly report from the County Treasurer on the amount of County money on deposit with each depository ..." Supervisors requested that the treasurer invest all available county funds with the Virginia Local Government Investment Pool and/or the Virginia Municipal League/Virginia Association of Counties Finance Virginia Investment Pool. Supervisors also directed the treasurer to provide monthly reports on the amount of county money on deposit with each depository and the interest earned on each account. Also at the meeting, supervisors voted to: • Lease the Claude A. Stokes Jr. Community Swimming Pool to the Warren County Sunfish for $613 for their swim practices and meets from May 25-July 13, 2025. • Approve an amendment to the agreement between the county and LaBella Associates to extend the contract to Dec. 12, 2025. • Approve the board’s legislative initiatives for 2025. • Re-appoint Walter Mabe to the Department of Social Services Advisory Board for a four-year term from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2027. • Authorize the Department of Fire and Rescue Services to execute the proposed firefighter cancer protection plan to provide secondary sets of personal protective equipment for all full-time employees, and access to secondary sets of equipment for all part-time employees and volunteer responders in the amount of $365,335. • Authorize the county administrator to execute agreement with T. Preston Bennett/PG Bennett Enterprises as the emergency medical services physician-operational medical director. • Approve the request from the Department of Public Works to replace the chiller unit at the Public Safety Building. The department plans to buy a new, Innovative Air Technologies unit from Hoffman Mechanical Solutions in the amount of $515,627 • Accept the grant award from the SRT Small Rural Tribal Body Worn Camera Grant Program, and to add $162,000 to the grant budget line item. The county must spend $162,000 which will be reimbursed by the grant. The total project cost, including hardware, software, equipment, five years of licensing and five years of unlimited storage for that period is $299,416.71. • Approve the purchase of a Kubota tractor for $55,977.80 with funds from the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District budget. Prior to the meeting, supervisors met in closed session to consult with legal counsel on matters concerning the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority and related litigation and financial matters; and a lawsuit between Rockingham County and unknown heirs of Frances Rexrode.

MUMBAI: Shashi Ruia , cofounder of the metals-to-technology conglomerate Essar Group , passed away at the age of 81 in Mumbai late on Monday night. Ruia, a first-generation entrepreneur, co-founded Essar with his younger brother Ravi Ruia in 1969. It was a maiden venture to build a breakwater project at the Chennai Port, a first for an Indian company, and since then Essar has delivered infrastructure construction projects across India's major ports. In the following two decades the group moved into the energy sector , steel , power and telecommunications. It built one of India's largest telecom operator with Hutchison , a business that it later exited. Under Ruia's stewardship, Essar withstood significant challenges - when insolvency proceedings were initiated to recover unpaid loans. It sold some of its assets to clear debts and reinvented itself. The group currently manages assets worth $9.6 billion across a string of energy, infrastructure, and technology ventures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a message on social media platform X: "Shri Shashikant Ruia Ji was a colossal figure in the world of industry. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India. He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth." Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Gun found on suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO matches shell casings at scene, police say ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — New York City’s police commissioner says the gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO matches shell casings found at the crime scene. Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said Wednesday that lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s prints to a water bottle and a snack bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing. Police had said earlier that they believed the gunman bought the items at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target. Mangione is jailed in Pennsylvania on weapon and forgery charges, but he also has been charged in New York with murder in Brian Thompson's death. His lawyer has noted that Mangione is presumed innocent. Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment Memes and online posts in support of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Some cast Mangione as a hero. That's too far, says Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising Democrat who was almost the Democratic vice presidential nominee this year. CEO Brian Thompson's death touched off off these ripples. They offer a glimpse into how so many different aspects of 21st-century life can be surreally connected, from public violence to politics, from health care to humor, or attempts at it. The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t think much of Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. He frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term. But the Trump and Biden national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife’s edge. It’s fuzzy how much common ground Biden and Trump’s teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House. FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign at end of Biden's term in January WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. The announcement Wednesday comes a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the position. At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought.” Wray had previously been named by Trump and began the 10-year term. a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Trump fired then-FBI Director, James Comey. Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons DAMASCUS (AP) — Many bodies have been found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since President Bashar al-Assad's government fell. Now Syrians around the world are circulating images of the corpses in hopes that they will see slain loved ones whose fate had been a mystery. At the morgue visited by The Associated Press on Wednesday in Damascus, families flocked to a wall where some of the pictures were pinned in a haunting gallery of the dead. Relatives desperately scanned the images for a recognizable face. Some of the prisoners died just weeks ago. Others perished months earlier. US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again in 'coming days' WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh cited a U.S. intelligence assessment in telling reporters on Wednesday that an attack could come “in the coming days.” She says the U.S. does not consider the Oreshnik missile a game changer on the battlefield. But that Russia is using the weapon to intimidate Ukraine as both sides wrestle for an advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the war. The Russian Defense Ministry also is warning it may retaliate against Kyiv for an attack on a military base in the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 33 including children, Palestinian medics say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 33 people. One of the strikes hit a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north, killing 19. A separate strike outside nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital killed a woman and her two children, and another strike in central Gaza killed at least seven people. Israel's military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger. Local health officials say Israel’s retaliatory offensive after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, an AP-NORC poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he'd do no such thing. That's according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey found that only a small share of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the president's decision. About half “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove of it, and about one-quarter said they neither approve nor disapprove. Nevertheless, about 4 in 10 Americans said they approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president. That's roughly where his approval rating has stood in AP-NORC polling since 2022. Malibu wildfire grows, thousands remain evacuated but firefighters get break from improving weather MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Weather conditions are forecast to improve this week in Southern California and aid firefighters in their battle against a wildfire that’s forced up to 20,000 people from their homes. The blaze grew to more than 6 square miles by Wednesday morning. It was not immediately known how the fire started. It tore through part of Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles renowned for its stunning scenery of seaside bluffs and Zuma Beach featured in Hollywood films. Celebrities, including performers Cher and Dick Van Dyke, were among the evacuees. Google forges ahead with its next generation of AI technology while fending off a breakup threat SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google on Wednesday unleashed another wave of artificial intelligence designed to tackle more of the work and thinking done by humans as it tries to stay on technology’s cutting edge while also trying to fend off regulatory threats to it internet empire. The next generation of Google’s AI is being packaged under the Gemini umbrella unveiled a year ago. Google is framing its release of Gemini 2.0 as a springboard for AI agent built to interpret images shown through a smartphone, perform a variety of tedious chores, remember the conversations they have with people, help video game players plot strategy and even tackle the task of doing online searches.INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The countdown clock to Christmas and the holidays leaves many scrambling to buy last-minute gifts in what’s called “Panic Week.” John Talbot, senior lecturer at Indiana University Kelly School of Business, joined “Daybreak” to talk about the stress that comes from buying gifts for the whole family. “I don’t know that retailers intentionally raise prices, but certainly the things that are must-have items typically don’t get marked down as we get closer to the holidays,” Talbot said. Desirable gifts are going to be out of stock, and definitely not marked down, Talbot said, “If there’s something that you must have, the Tickle Me Elmo of this particular holiday season, you should have already bought it.” Most of the data surrounding Talbot looked over focused on online shopping. Sites like Amazon encourage promotions during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but those sales don’t last forever . “You can see a deep dip in the data in terms of prices and discounts during that time period, and they tend to get off that as we get closer to Christmas,” Talbot said. For more on “Panic Week” leading into Christmas, watch the video above.

A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul Donald Trump's health team picks include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling an agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans’ health, from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to be Trump's health secretary is anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He says his task is to “reorganize” federal health agencies. They employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans’ daily lives. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Israeli strikes in central Beirut kill at least 20 as diplomats push for a cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 20 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but say obstacles still remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. Voters rejected historic election reforms across the US, despite more than $100M push JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Election reform advocates had hoped for a big year at the ballot box. That's because a historic number of states were considering initiatives for ranked choice voting or to end partisan primaries. Instead, voters dealt them big losses in the November elections. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota all rejected proposed changes to their voting systems. In Alaska, a proposal to repeal ranked choice voting appears to have narrowly fallen short. The losses in many states came even though election reform supporters raised more than $100 million, easily outpacing opponents. Supporters say they aren't giving up but plan to retool their efforts. The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war. It began with U.S. President Joe Biden reversing a longstanding policy by granting Kyiv permission to deploy American longer-range missiles inside Russian territory and ended with Moscow striking Ukraine with a new experimental ballistic weapon that has alarmed the international community and heightened fears of further escalation. US reels from rain, snow as second round of bad weather approaches for Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. is reeling from snow and rain while preparing for another bout of bad weather ahead of Thanksgiving that could disrupt holiday travel. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia are also starting the weekend with heavy precipitation. Meanwhile thousands remain without power in the Seattle area after a “bomb cyclone” storm system roared ashore the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not see robust results with the new medications. The response to the drugs varies from person to person and can depend on genetics, hormones and differences in how the brain regulates energy. Undiagnosed medical conditions and some drugs can prevent weight loss. Experts say it can take experimentation to help so-called nonresponders find results. Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A senior Pakistani police officer says fighting between armed sectarian groups in the country's restive northwest has killed at least 37 people. The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people. The officer said Saturday that armed men torched shops, houses and government property overnight. Gunfire is ongoing between rival tribes. Although Sunnis and Shiites generally live together peacefully in Pakistan, tensions remain in some areas, especially Kurram. Hydrate. Make lists. Leave yourself time. And other tips for reducing holiday travel stress Travel, especially during the holiday season, can be stressful. But following some tips from the pros as you prepare for a trip can make for a smoother, less anxious experience. One expert traveler suggests making a list a week before you go of things you need to do and pack. Cross off each item as you complete it during the week. Another tip is to carry your comfort zone with you. That could mean noise-canceling headphones, playlists meant to soothe airport travelers, entertainment and snacks from home. Carry a change of clothes and a phone charger in case of delays. Stay hydrated. Leave extra time. And know your airline's rules. Downloading the airline's app can help with that. Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open Recently retired Andy Murray will team up with Novak Djokovic, working with him as a coach through the Australian Open in January. Murray’s representatives put out statements from both players on Saturday. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals who finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Summer Games in August.Online auction of confiscated booze features hard-to-find bottles of Kentucky bourbons

This comes weeks after Newsom and his administration passed new refinery and carbon credit regulations that will add up to $1.15 per gallon of gasoline and require Californians with gasoline-powered cars to earn up to another $1,000 per year in pretax income to afford. “We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California,” said Newsom in a statement. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose rocket launches were recently blocked by a California regulatory board that cited his personal politics, shared his disapproval on his social media platform, X, after Newsom staff told Bloomberg that Tesla models would not qualify for California rebates. “Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California,” said Musk. “This is insane.” Musk recently moved SpaceX and X out of California, citing a new law signed by Newsom banning parental notification for gender change requests from K-12 students. The credits would be paid for through California’s cap-and-trade program, which requires carbon emitters to purchase credits from the state — costs which are generally passed on to consumers in the form of more expensive gasoline, energy, and even concrete. Emitters buy a few billion dollars worth of credits from California each year, with the state’s $135 billion high speed rail project getting the lion’s share of the revenue. The California Resources Board — all but two of whose voting members are appointed by the governor — recently approved $105 billion in EV charging credits and $8 billion in hydrogen charging credits to be largely paid for by drivers of gas cars and diesel trucks. An investigation by The Center Square found the change was pushed by EV makers and the builders of EV charging systems. Buyers of EV chargers, who pay for the energy and own the charger, sign installation contracts that permanently give away their rights to government or other EV charging credits generated from fueling a vehicle with electrons instead of gasoline. These chargers are often bundled with the purchase of an EV, or covered entirely by utility or government rebates, meaning they are permanent, zero-or-low-cost revenue streams for the company collecting the credits.

Vaccine expert Paul Offit is ‘shocked’ by RFK Jr.’s nomination to oversee US health

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useWhether or not Minnesota Wild fans believe in Santa Claus is irrelevant as families all across the State of Hockey gather near their Christmas trees, real or artificial. Whether or not they believe, truly, in the second round of the NHL playoffs is the real factor determining their level of holiday spirit. Save for a recent blip of four straight losses, this has been a hockey season filled with unexpected fun from a team for whom preseason expectations were low. The Wild entered the three-day holiday break in solid contention for the top of not only the Central Division but also the Western Conference with a 21-10-4 record after a 4-3 victory over the Blackhawks on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT As the NHL enjoys a holiday break that comes just a few games shy of the 2024-25 season’s midway mark, we offer a quintet of wishes that would help bring a Merry Christmas and, even more importantly, a Happy New Year to the State of Hockey. 1) Get healthy The Wild have not seen top-line center Joel Eriksson Ek or veteran defenseman Jake Middleton play a game in weeks. They lost top-line winger Mats Zuccarello for a month. They lost mainstay goalie Filip Gustavsson for a week. They have had live through games without Marat Khusnutdinov, Yakob Trenin, Jakub Lauko, Jonas Brodin, Ryan Hartman and Jared Spurgeon. Even superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov missed a game after a nasty knee-on-knee check during a November win in Edmonton. The injury bug pays a visit to every team at some point, and we hear lots of brave talk about the “next man up” and other cool clichés. But a healthy roster in 2025 could mean the difference between sneaking into the playoffs and contending for a new banner for the Xcel Energy Center rafters. 2) Make friends with the schedule-makers On Dec. 6, the Wild won convincingly in Anaheim by a 5-1 count. Roughly 19 hours after that game concluded, they had to face the powerful Kings in downtown Los Angeles and lost 4-1. Last weekend, a home loss to Utah was followed, less than 24 hours later, by a visit to Central-leading Winnipeg, which won handily. On Jan. 11, they will play in San Jose, then have roughly 19 hours to get to Las Vegas for a night with the Knights. Like injuries, everyone deals with schedule quirks, especially in a season like this when things are condensed due to the two-week break for the 4 Nations Cup in February. But the spate of back-to-backs in different rinks has certainly done Minnesota no favors in the realm of getting healthy and staying healthy. 3) Beat the good teams Of the Wild’s 21 wins, two have been notably impressive. In October, they went on the road to Florida and blasted past the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers 5-1. A month later, in Edmonton, they rallied from an early deficit and beat the Oilers — who were within one win of the Cup last season — by a 5-3 count. Beyond those two games, the Wild have generally beaten the teams they should beat (San Jose, Anaheim, Chicago, Nashville, Columbus, etc.) and have had trouble with the NHL’s elite. ADVERTISEMENT Heading into Friday’s visit to Dallas, the Wild are a collective 1-6-1 versus the others among the top five in the West — Winnipeg, Vegas, Edmonton and Los Angeles. And it’s worth noting that after those signature wins in Florida and Edmonton, both of those foes won handily during visits to Minnesota in December. More wins, and more signature wins, are going to be needed if this team is to contend for anything notable. 4) Keep Kirill In the smiling Russian kid that wears number 97, the Wild have their first true contender for NHL most valuable player honors in the quarter-century history of the franchise. His seemingly nightly habit of getting pucks past the opposing goalie — honed by hours and hours of “we need to drag him off the ice” work post-practice — is like nothing Minnesota fans have seen, maybe ever. On July 1, Kaprizov will be a free agent, and Wild owner Craig Liepold vowed in a preseason meeting with reporters that no other team will offer Kaprizov more money or more years on his next contract. That might mean an eight-year pact worth $15 million a season. Having given fans a taste of the good life with a superstar wearing green and Iron Range red, keeping Kaprizov in Minnesota is their most important New Years’ resolution. 5) Get their groove back The entertainment complex that Marcus Foligno dubbed the “Kirill and Zuccy” show is a sight to behold, with numbers 97 and 36 showing off some amazing chemistry as they torment opposing goalies and defenses. But the Wild need more than an amazing top line if they are to play games in May. The holiday break perhaps comes at the best time for a few players mired in some mid-winter doldrums, such as Marcus Johansson (six straight games without a point), Matt Boldy (one assist in the past five games) and Ryan Hartman, who has not appeared on the offensive score sheet in more than a month, going an unexpected 16 consecutive games without a goal or assist. “I’ve had opportunities to score. I think I’ve made plays where some guys have had opportunities, the puck just hasn’t gone in,” Hartman said as he headed into the Christmas break. “Obviously, if they do, it’s going to make you feel much better.” ADVERTISEMENT And as the Wild’s unexpectedly great season moves into 2025, that is something all Wild fans can agree on. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .