Democrats push possible Trump response, other state legislative matters to New Year

The characters CryBunny and CryTeddy by world-renowned artist Molly are showcased at Siam Paragon and Siam Center for the first time, until Sunday. Presented by Molly Factory Studio, the exclusive event will take fans into an emotional journey of healing through Molly's creative vision with beloved original character CryTeddy making their giant-sized debut for the first time. Molly or Nisa "Mod" Srikamdee is a world-renowned Thai artist whose art toys have been the hottest collectables of the year. The "Siam Paragon x CryBunny 'Letting Go'" is running at Parc Paragon of Siam Paragon and "Siam Center x CryTeddy 'Holding On'" is on the ground floor of Siam Center. The "Letting Go" concept represents the act of breaking free from the chains of past struggles and tickets to this space are 290 baht, available on ticketmelon.com, while the "Holding On" concept suggests that it's time to walk away from troubles. These inflatable characters embody the sensation of letting go, evoking feelings of lightness and relief, ultimately reminding us that life is about letting go of attachments and embracing only what truly matters. The event also features CryBunny and CryTeddy pop-up stores offering character-themed merchandise, limited edition art toys only available at the event, as well as interactive activities. There are 12 sessions per day, each lasting 45 minutes for 45 participants to enter the pop-up store, daily from 11am to 8pm. Registration for slots is available via ticketmelon.com. Visit facebook.com/mollyfactory.FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent Biden administration spending on EV charging stationsLANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert choked back tears taking responsibility for missing the extra point that would have tied the score in the final minute. Jeremy Reaves choked back tears blaming himself for a missed assignment that led to a kickoff return touchdown. And John Bates choked back tears talking about moving forward from his costly fumble. All of those late mistakes contributed to the Washington Commanders' third consecutive loss , 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that was wholly unremarkable until fourth quarter chaos. The teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the most in an NFL game in more than a decade, and the Commanders (7-5) came out on the wrong end of it in a defeat that further endangers their playoff chances. “Any time you lose a game or you lose a game in that type of fashion, it’s very difficult and it’s tough, but it never comes down to one play,” rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels said. “There’s plays throughout the game where little things add up to big things.” There were a lot of little things. After Bates fumbled, the Cowboys (4-7) took an 11-point lead and the Commanders made a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three, Dallas' KaVonte Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. “I didn’t make the play when it was there to make, and it cost us,” said Reaves, one of the league’s top special teams players and the All-Pro pick for that two seasons ago. “No excuse, man. I’ve made that play 100 times, and I didn’t make it today and it cost us the game. It’s unacceptable. It’s solely on me. It’s going to sting for a while. It’s going to hurt.” After Seibert made a 51-yard field goal, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard TD that made it 27-26 with 21 seconds left. Coach Dan Quinn said no thought was given to going for 2 in that situation. Seibert, who missed the past two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt. “I just wasn’t striking it well,” said Seibert, who added he felt fine and did not blame a low snap for his miss. "It didn’t make a difference at all. It was on me.” Juanyeh Thomas returned the onside kick immediately after 43 yards for a touchdown to put Dallas up eight with 14 seconds left. The 31 combined points are the second most in a game since at least 2000, behind only Minnesota and Baltimore's 36 in their game Dec. 8, 2013. Cowboys-Commanders was the first game in the Super Bowl era to have two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt. “We got down to the end there and it was a game-situational extravaganza,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was like Yahtzee. Everything was in there." Story continues below video While Washington's skid continued, the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five thanks to strong play from QB Cooper Rush, a defense that forced two turnovers and, of course, special teams success. Rush was 24 of 32 for 247 yards and TD passes to Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker. “Lot of games left,” Rush said. “We’re sitting at 4-7. This is why you play them.” The Commanders have some soul-searching to do after losing as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the meeting of NFC East rivals and doing so in a way that left players so emotional. “The crazy games, I know they feel a little bit better whenever you win them,” punter and holder Tress Way said. “But that’s a tough pill to swallow.” Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was concussed on a kickoff return in the final seconds and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. ... RB Brian Robinson Jr. left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Power finally restored at Philadelphia International Airport after 16 hours and numerous flight delays

Towards the end of my second trimester, at 26 weeks pregnant, my husband and I visited Jeju, a beautiful island in South Korea. It was our babymoon, the pre-baby trip to savour time with my partner before the chaos of parenthood ensued. Shortly after conceiving, I oscillated between two states: Being incredibly grateful and excited, and completely nauseous and exhausted. Most of the time though, it was a mix of the two, in addition to the hormonal mess that came with pregnancy . So, to put it simply, the first trimester of pregnancy knocked me out. I therefore had no time – nor energy, nor headspace, nor much of anything – to think of going on any trip, let alone a babymoon. The thought of doing all that with my unpredictable body wore me out. But my husband insisted we should go somewhere. A babymoon would be our last trip with each other before the baby arrived. Taking this trip felt almost essential, he said – after the struggles of a tumultuous first trimester, it seemed like a great opportunity for us to take time off, reconnect, and enjoy an adventure together. After warming up to the idea, I realised I truly wanted to go. While most people would recommend resorts or relaxing spots for a babymoon, I longed for a place we’d never considered visiting, somewhere calm and close to nature, far from the bustle of the city and the constant busyness I’ve come to associate with home. Enter Jeju Island . I’d first heard of it while watching the Netflix K-drama Squid Game. In one episode, Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector playing for the multi-billion won prize, shared her dream of visiting Jeju Island with her family, describing it as a place that looked like a dream. Since then, the image of Jeju’s striking flowers against the landscape of an island characterised by its deep blues stuck with me. Travelling after the first trimester felt healing in many ways. I was less nauseous, could keep food down more often than not, and felt physically stronger and more mobile, even though I was carrying more weight as the baby grew. After feeling out of touch with my body during my first trimester, my babymoon allowed me to reconnect with my body and life in a new way. This trip wasn’t just about cherishing time with my husband, it was also about honouring my body for carrying a life – a miracle in itself. I wanted to get to know my body again, familiarise myself with its strengths and limitations, and embrace everything it could and couldn’t do. Jeju felt like a wonderful place to do so. Jeju Island is about 2.5 times the size of Singapore and every corner has something to offer. I broke the island up into the north, south, east and west, spending most of my time in south Jeju, Seogwipo, and north Jeju, close to Jeju City. Here are some locations I’d recommend visiting in each area to capture Jeju’s beauty. North Jeju: West Jeju: East Jeju: South Jeju: TAKING TIME TO APPRECIATE JEJU’S BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES Jeju is South Korea’s largest island, formed when an underwater volcano erupted 2 million years ago. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its volcanic land and lava tubes. In the centre sits Mount Hallasan, with the rest of the island gently sloping around it. When we arrived, I could smell the ocean in the air. It was fresh. Salty. Rejuvenating. And the vast blue horizon went on forever. Our initial plan for our week-long stay was to tick off every spot on the list but within an hour of setting foot on the island, we realised we wanted to take our time and relish each place we went to. My husband and I never follow a strict itinerary when we travel, preferring instead to go wherever the moment takes us. In Jeju, this approach felt natural as we focused on savouring the views – and every corner has a stunning one to offer. For the first half of our trip, we stayed at a charming seaside hotel in Seogwipo, on the southern coast. From our room’s large windows, we woke up to serene sunrises over white fishing boats and returned each evening to skies painted in vibrant orange and purple hues. A short walk from our hotel led to the beach, where we strolled daily. There, we took in the breathtaking scenery accompanied by the soothing sound of the waves, seagulls calling overhead, occasional traffic and the chatter of fishermen – most of whom are descendants of the islanders who have lived there for thousands of years. Slowing down each morning and evening to absorb the sights, breezes, and sounds became a healing ritual for me and my growing body, reminding me of the beauty in simply being present. I was glad we came without an itinerary, and instead just had highlights that we wanted to see. It made me realise just how much the world could offer. REDISCOVERING MY PHYSICAL STRENGTH WHILE CLIMBING A VOLCANO On day three, we decided to do a hike – there’s never a shortage of walks or hikes in Jeju. We chose Saebyeol Oreum, an extinct volcano that means “the dawn star” in Korean, on the way to Jeju City, after leaving Seogwipo. When I told my husband I wanted to climb Saebyeol Oreum, he hesitated as he was concerned for my and our baby’s safety. We even argued for a while but I was determined. I explained how important it was for me to do something I loved, like hiking, even with my changing body. I knew I shouldn’t push myself too hard and I was aware of how naive it would be to think I was the same as before pregnancy. But I also felt I could trust my body to know its limits. He finally gave in after I agreed that if he saw me struggling, we would turn back. We started the hike around midday, and there was a refreshing breeze in the air – a rain shower loomed. Somehow, the threat of rain made us more excited about scaling the volcano. That, and looking at online travel sites describing the stunning panoramic views of Jeju Island from the top. The hike wasn’t long – just over 500 metres high, which could be covered in under an hour – but the climb was steep. I paused several times. I was also panting more than usual and my heart rate was elevated. As we got higher and higher, I could see more of Jeju. At several points, I did ask myself if this was where I should stop but I kept pushing forward. Halfway up, I knew I couldn’t give up. My husband, too, was now cheering me on: “A bit more! You’re doing great!” After about an hour, we finally made it to the top. The panoramic view was breathtaking – windmills, volcanoes, hills, Seogwipo, Jeju City, vast fields, folk villages, rows of tangerine trees, the coasts we had walked in the days before, the crevices we knew led to waterfalls. I was bursting with pride and joy as we took in the scenery. And I could imagine my little one, inside me, feeling proud, too. We would have stayed at the top longer, if not for the rain that caught up to us before we reached the base of the volcano. By the time we returned to the car, we were drenched. As we dried off and warmed up, we couldn’t help but laugh and cry. I couldn’t believe I did it. I was still reeling from the climb, realising what my body was capable of, trusting it without pushing myself too hard and feeling grateful for the strength I had. As we drove to Jeju City, giddy from our climb, I thought of how our visit, done at the cusp of spring, felt symbolic. Winter felt akin to my first trimester. Conceiving was exciting and no words can ever describe how thankful I felt after our earlier difficulties in getting pregnant but the season also felt harsh. I was exhausted, constantly hungry, vomiting every night, aching in many areas, feeling heavy and uncomfortable even as I slept, and being unable to do much, if at all. As I witnessed the blooming of bright yellow canola flowers, vibrant red camellias and fresh orange tangerines against the lush greens of Jeju’s trees and the deep blues of the island’s sky and waters, I was reminded of the births occurring during this time. This was the birth of spring, a new season, the anticipated birth of our baby, and the rebirth of my own body, transitioning into a new season of its own. CNA Women is a section on CNA Lifestyle that seeks to inform, empower and inspire the modern woman. If you have women-related news, issues and ideas to share with us, email CNAWomen [at] mediacorp.com.sg .

Donald Trump kept telling us he’d be a threat to democracy if re-elected president. Now he’s showing us.Several months ago on his Truth Social website, Trump threatened to “expel” and “cast out” government workers who oppose his radical views, describing them as a “sick political class” that hates the country. The 2024 election, he wrote, [...]

Published 4:08 pm Thursday, November 21, 2024 By Data Skrive Top-25 teams will take the court across four games on Friday’s college basketball schedule. That includes the Oklahoma Sooners playing the UNLV Rebels at Thomas & Mack Center. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.US expected to send £1 billion in weapons to Ukraine before Trump takes office

As President Joe Biden's term comes to an end, social media users are falsely claiming that his administration spent billions of dollars on the construction of just a handful of electric vehicle charging stations. Multiple high-profile figures, including sitting members of Congress, have promoted the claims. The claims misrepresent funding set aside by the 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act , also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for a national network of publicly available electric vehicle chargers . Biden has set a goal of creating 500,000 such chargers by 2030. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Biden administration spent $7.5 billion to build eight electric vehicle charging stations. THE FACTS: That's incorrect. The $7.5 billion figure refers to the total amount allocated through the 2021 law to build a network of charging stations across the U.S., not the amount that has already been spent. There are currently 214 operational chargers in 12 states that have been funded through the law, with 24,800 projects underway across the country, according to the Federal Highway Administration. A charger, often called a charging port, provides electric power to one vehicle at a time through a connector, which is plugged into the vehicle. Stations are physical locations that can have multiple chargers. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg called the claims spreading online “false” in a series of X posts. “$7.5B has not been spent, nor anything like that,” he wrote, adding that federally funded chargers are built by individual states, not the federal government, and that most will be built in the second half of the 2020s. The total $7.5 billion in funding consists of $5 billion distributed through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program , or NEVI, and $2.5 billion distributed through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program , or CFI. NEVI funds, as determined by a formula, go annually to departments of transportation in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, from 2022 to 2026. The funds will be available until 2030. Each year, 10% of NEVI funding is set aside for states and local governments that require additional assistance. CFI provides grants to states and other localities through an application process. It funds electric vehicle charging, as well as other alternative fueling infrastructure, with a focus on underserved and disadvantaged communities. Rep. Michael Rulli, a Republican from Ohio, was among multiple high-profile figures who falsely claimed this week that the entire budget has already been spent. “Pete Buttigieg will leave his post as Transportation Secretary having spend $7.5 BILLION to build 8 EV charging stations,” he wrote in an X post that had received approximately 62,900 likes and shares as of Wednesday. “His legacy will be squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need.” Rulli's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. By early this year, only four states — Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Hawaii — had opened stations funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, The Associated Press reported in March . A Washington Post article published the next day said this amounted to just seven stations . Loren McDonald, an independent analyst tracking the electric vehicle charger buildout, told the AP that when assessing the progress that's been made it's important to understand that some states have extensive experience constructing electric vehicle charging infrastructure while others have little to none. He explained that Wisconsin, for example, had to pass a new law in order to comply with federal requirements. “This is a federal program, but at the end of the day, it's completely dependent on the states,” he said. “And so the real criticism probably needs to be directed at the states that are moving slowly or how the program was structure. But I don't know how else you would have done it.” Asked whether the federal government could do anything to help states move faster, McDonald suggested that it could have provided them with more guidance on how to manage their individual buildouts. All 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have access to two rounds of NEVI funding totaling nearly $2.4 billion, according to the Federal Highway Administration. As of Friday, 37 states have access to their third round of funding, for an additional $586 million total. The agency explained, however, that this does not represent money that has already been spent — just the money that is available to fund projects. The Federal Highway Administration has announced more than $1.3 billion in awards through CFI and funds set aside by NEVI with $779 million in grants currently available under both programs. This also represents money that is available for projects rather than money that has been spent. There are currently more than 203,000 publicly available charging ports across the U.S., with nearly 1,000 being turned on every week, according to the agency. This is more than double the number available in 2021. In addition to NEVI and CFI, funding sources include federal tax incentives and private investments. Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Uber What is the risk to deportation from Trump's immigration policy on rideshare and food delivery

Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the CowboysTJ Bamba led Oregon with 22 points and five assists in the Ducks' 78-68 victory over San Diego State on Wednesday in pool play of the Players Era Festival at Las Vegas. The Ducks (7-0) won both games in the "Power Group" and will play in the championship Saturday against the top team from the "Impact Group." San Diego State (3-2) will await its opponent for one of the secondary games Saturday. The matchups are based on seeding dependent on performance of the first two games. Bamba made 7 of 14 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Keeshawn Barthelemy had 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and hit 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Nate Bittle finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, Brandon Angel 12 points and six rebounds and Jackson Shelstad paired 12 points with four assists. BJ Davis led San Diego State with 18 points before fouling out. Nick Boyd finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Neither team led by more than four points until Oregon scored nine unanswered to take a 34-27 lead with 2:20 left in the first half. Barthelemy started the run with a jumper and finished it with a 3-pointer. Oregon outscored San Diego State 16-4 in the last 4:23 of the half to take a 41-31 lead into the break. Bamba and Barthelemy combined for 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the first half. Boyd led San Diego State with 13 points, making all three of his 3-point attempts and going 5-of-6 overall. A 7-2 run for Oregon increased its advantage to 48-35 with 17:36 remaining, but San Diego State cut the lead to 56-53 with 10:58 left following a 9-0 run. A Bamba 3-pointer closed an 8-2 stretch with 4:15 remaining to increase Oregon's lead to 73-63. San Diego State did not get closer than eight points the rest of the way. Davis fouled out with 31 seconds left and Oregon leading 77-68. --Field Level Media(Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas) FINAL SITTING WEEK We made it folks, the final sitting week of the year (and perhaps this Parliament) is upon us. Strap in for a whole load of last-minute pushes to get things passed while pledges are also dropped and no doubt a whole load of accompanying complaining about both things. As has been well covered over the weekend, the government admitted on Sunday its mis- and disinformation bill is toast. The likes of the ABC and Guardian Australia have been reporting at the same time that long-awaited gambling advertising reforms also won’t be introduced this week. AAP says there are “30 or so” bills still before Parliament and the government is trying to increase pressure on the Coalition and Greens to cooperate. However, the ABC reports the government is also ditching bills it believes it has no chance of winning a vote on as time runs out to deliver parts of its agenda. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt is quoted as saying of the gambling reforms: “There simply is not going to be enough time this week to pass that legislation.” To which Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young countered: “Talk about priorities... rather than doing the hard work, rather than standing up to the vested interests of the big gambling companies and the big sporting codes and the big media companies, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are squibbing it.” Talking of Dutton, the Coalition leader had a fairly predictable response to the mis- and disinformation bill being shelved, declaring: “[It] just shows this government can’t get the big calls right. This is a government that is lurching from one disaster to the next and limping to the next election.” The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Albanese government plans on hardening “its demands on the Greens to pass more than a dozen bills through Parliament in the next four days”. The paper says the prime minister is aiming to pass the draft laws without a single deal with the Greens and blame the party for any blocking of its legislation during the upcoming election campaign. The SMH says Greens leader Adam Bandt is offering a “pathway” to getting up to 20 bills through Parliament but with amendments on the environment and housing, something the government has already refused to do. Today the government will issue warnings over the Greens’ demands amid a belief voters will hold the smaller party responsible for blocking measures such as Help to Buy, which is back in the Senate on Tuesday. “This is the week for the Greens to work out whether they will go to the election as an ineffective party of protest,” Housing Minister Clare O’Neil is quoted as saying. At the weekend, Hanson-Young reportedly signalled a deal could be reached with regards to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s hopes of creating the Environment Protection Australia agency, although logging still seems to be a sticking point, The Sydney Morning Herald flags. Also happening in the short-term, a package of aged care bills is in the lower house for final approval and Treasurer Jim Chalmers will today introduce a bill offering production tax credits to mining companies that produce vital minerals needed for things like batteries and high-tech devices, the paper adds. Paul Karp at Guardian Australia (see The Commentariat below) has a comprehensive rundown of the bills the government is likely to have Coalition support for in passing this week and those it looks set to try and barge past the Greens’ amendments — or blame them for when they can’t. COP29 ANGER Talking of last-minute deals and the backlash they can receive, climate activists and developing countries have slammed the deal struck at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The deal was struck at 2.40am local time on Sunday, over 30 hours after the initial deadline, with an agreement between nearly 200 countries, CNN reports. The deal will see richer countries pay developing nations US$300 billion a year by 2035 to help them tackle climate change. However, almost immediately after the deal was announced some nations started expressing their displeasure. The BBC reports India’s representative Chandni Raina told the conference: “We cannot accept it ... the proposed goal will not solve anything for us. [It is] not conducive to climate action that is necessary to the survival of our country.” Elsewhere, Nigeria’s envoy Nkiruka Maduekwe called the deal an “insult” and Tina Stege , Marshall Islands’ climate envoy, said: “We are leaving with a small portion of the funding climate-vulnerable countries urgently need.” The BBC flags poorer countries had been asking for US$1.3 trillion and “many of the rich country voices at the UN’s climate conference were amazed that developing nations were unhappy with what on the surface seems a huge settlement”. CNN highlights the US$1.3 trillion is what economists say developing nations need to deal with a crisis they have done the least to cause. The broadcaster says the agreement mentions an ambition to scale up the support but the poorer countries want the richer nations to take on more of this total and for the support to be in grants rather than loans. Tasneem Essop , executive director of Climate Action Network, declared: “This has been the most horrendous climate negotiations in years due to the bad faith of developed countries. This was meant to be the finance COP, but the Global North turned up with a plan to betray the Global South.” Harjeet Singh of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said the deal “offers false hope to those already bearing the brunt of climate disasters”. And of course, all the coverage of the summit highlighted the uncertainty that surrounds the return of Donald Trump to the world stage and his plans — or more accurately his lack of plans — for global climate change agreements. Talking of Trump, The Guardian highlights prominent Republican Senator James Lankford has said Congress would not give blanket approval to the president-elect’s controversial cabinet picks when the public hearings begin in the new year. “Everyone is going to get a fair shake,” he told CNN. In domestic news, Guardian Australia highlights this morning that there are plans for an independent review to look into the official definition of terrorism. The site says national security legislation monitor Jake Blight has claimed he plans to initiate the inquiry next year. “Almost a quarter of a century since 9/11, it really is time that we turned our minds to the fundamental definition of terrorism that underpins so many police powers and underpins so many offences. What I’m trying to do is signal that I think it’s time as a nation that we looked again at the definition of a terrorist act, and I’m open to considering a range of things in that,” he said. ON A LIGHTER NOTE... Australian cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman’s baggy green cap is going up for auction next week. Bradman wore the cap in the 1947-48 home Test series against India, during which he scored his 100th first-class century, the BBC reports. The cap will go on sale at Bonhams Sydney on December 3 with a pre-sale estimate of $300,000 to $400,000, the AFR says. Alex Clark , a senior specialist at Bonhams, said: “The baggy green has been part of cricket and sporting heritage for decades. “This very special baggy green promises to have real appeal to followers of cricket and sport generally, and anyone with a keen interest in the history of sport.” The less said about how the current Test match against India is going the better... Say What? Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate. Michelle Rowland The communications minister said at the weekend the government had dropped its mis- and disinformation bill in the face of opposition from the Coalition, Greens and crossbenchers. CRIKEY RECAP ‘Being rushed through’: Human rights commissioner sounds alarm on teen social media ban CAM WILSON Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas) Australia’s human rights commissioner has sounded the alarm on the teen social media ban, warning the “framework” legislation and rushed consultation process have restricted debate about the bill’s impact on children and adults. This week, human rights commissioner Lorraine Finlay became increasingly vocal about her concerns regarding the federal government’s proposed restrictions on Australians under the age of 16. Speaking to Crikey , Finlay shared her serious reservations about the bill, introduced to Parliament on Thursday, and the snap decision to send it to committee, which will report back on Tuesday after accepting submissions for a day. “There is a greater need for a broader discussion,” she said over the phone. “[The bill] is being rushed through and we haven’t had a chance for this discussion.” As ABC staff reel over radio shakedown, Kim Williams lectures on ethical leadership DAANYAL SAEED Crikey understands Macdonald’s departure came as a shock to staff at the ABC, with an ABC staffer telling Crikey morale was “at an all-time low”, given Macdonald and Marnie’s status as “two of the most loved members of staff”. Tears were said to have flowed in Ultimo as news of Macdonald’s departure circulated. While giving the Vincent Fairfax Oration for the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership (of which he is a former chair) on Thursday night Williams referenced historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny in underlining the importance of professional ethics. Williams, in passing, took a veiled swipe at the “string of scandals relating to the conduct and ethics of large, prominent, respectable Australian enterprises, led by highly-compensated professionals, ranging from management consulting firms to leading banks, from aviation to big supermarkets”. “We might also note that these scandals have rarely affected the public reputations and careers of those involved, certainly not in any meaningful way. It’s as if these acts of malfeasance are relatively harmless,” Williams said. Stop interfering with independent institutions, treasurer BERNARD KEANE This isn’t the first time Labor has tried to interfere — while insisting it isn’t interfering — with a key independent institution. It also used a statement of expectations to nobble the Productivity Commission (PC) this time last year — demanding the PC “take account of the government’s productivity agenda”, including “getting to net zero and becoming a renewable energy superpower”. The PC had already flagged concerns about Labor’s manufacturing subsidies and protectionism in its Future Made In Australia policy, but Chalmers’ statement seemed a warning shot for the PC not to dare criticise key parts of Labor’s policies. Chalmers also directed the PC to consult with government departments more — thus giving economically illiterate departments like Foreign Affairs and Trade a great role in shaping PC work — and to keep the secretary of Treasury in the loop about its activities. Governments don’t issue these diktats randomly or merely for window dressing. The whole purpose of statements of expectations — a mechanism developed by the Howard government to bring agencies under greater political control — is to signal to senior bureaucrats, including the heads of independent institutions, how politicians expect them to carry out their roles. Chalmers’ new statement for the Future Fund is a set of indicators about where he wants the Future Fund to invest — whether it makes financial sense or not. READ ALL ABOUT IT Mark Jones pleads to not let daughter Bianca’s death be in vain, urges government action on methanol poisoning (ABC) Conservative opposition to social media age limit grows ahead of lower house vote ( Guardian Australia ) Inside the talks to bring back the Bali Nine, and why their return is at risk ( The Sydney Morning Herald ) ($) Russia ready to hit UK with wave of cyber attacks, minister will warn (Sky News) Senators bracing for confirmation battles over unorthodox Trump cabinet picks (CNN) Bill Moyes, Australian ‘birdman’ who popularised hang gliding, dies at 92 ( The New York Time s) ($) THE COMMENTARIAT With one week of parliamentary sittings left, the government finds itself outgunned by a man with simple and angry messages — Laura Tingle (ABC): We are now just a week from the end of parliamentary sittings for the year. All week, Parliament House has been operating with a freneticism which reflects the widespread perception that Parliament will not return next year, either for its scheduled fortnight of February sittings, or for the proposed early budget on March 25. Whether it does is another story. This is the story of politics as it unfolded this week, brooding under that expectation about next year. As is probably clear from the opposition leader’s subject descriptions, the purpose of the “doorstop”, which ran for less than 15 minutes, was attacking the government, rather than necessarily outlining any detailed plans of his own. Deal or No Deal: Can Labor avoid an ‘end-of-year dumpster fire’ and pass its legislative agenda? — Paul Karp (Guardian Australia): Finally, it’s worth noting that the inquiry into gambling led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy was reported almost a year and a half ago , calling for a three-year phase-in period for a total ban on gambling ads to begin from December 2023. All signs are there’ll be no bill this week, meaning it’s likely we’ll get halfway through the intended phase-in period without the government having legislated. The evidence base for the underage social media ban is poor — and yet it’s that bill being rushed through Parliament, not the partial gambling ad ban, much less the full ban. As the final sitting week concentrates the mind, we’ll learn a lot about the government by what it values highly enough to push through.WASHINGTON − The White House is urging the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on U.S. telecom providers after at least nine were breached in a massive Chinese hacking and spying campaign that targeted senior government officials. Voluntary compliance with cybersecurity practices are inadequate to protect against hacking from foreign actors, the White House's deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, Anne Neuberger, said on a Friday call. The Biden administration official urged the FCC to impose regulations that would make it harder, riskier and costlier for hackers to access Americans' data in response to the Salt Typhoon hack that affected an unknown number of Americans. More: Apple, Android users on notice from FBI, CISA about texts amid 'massive espionage campaign' "We know that voluntary cybersecurity practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure," Neuberger said. The commission is expected to hold a vote on the proposal by Jan. 15, a week before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump . The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. More: Trump taps Brendan Carr, who opposed Kamala Harris' SNL cameo, to lead the FCC Federal authorities first acknowledged the hack in October. After an investigating they revealed weeks later that "a broad and significant cyber espionage campaign" by the Chinese government had taken place. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, pushed telecommunications companies to beef up their security and directed Americans to use encrypted communications in response as they worked to determine the scope of the beach. More: Cyberattacks on critical US infrastructure keep happening. How worried should we be? Previously, the White House said that at least eight companies were impacted. A ninth company, which the White House did not name, has been identified. Verizon, AT&T and Lumen are among the companies previously named. The U.S. government does not know how many people were impacted, Neuberger said. But it is their understanding that "a large number" of individuals in the Washington, D.C. area and Virginia were geolocated, with the aim of identifying who the phones belonged to for "follow on espionage and intelligence collection of communications, of texts and phone calls." 'We will never know' scope and scale of Salt Typhoon phone hack Fewer than 100 individuals are estimated to have been targeted with further spying, she said. Chinese hackers were careful about their techniques, she added. "They erased logs. In many cases, companies were not keeping adequate logs," she said. "So there are details that likely ... we will never know regarding the scope and scale of this." Australia and the UK already have stricter requirements in place, Neuberger said, that may have led to the hacks discovery and containment faster. The U.S. says it believes the Chinese had the capability to geolocate millions of individuals and record phone calls at will because of the broad access they had into networks. The Chinese government has previously denied it was involved in the hack.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Related Articles Nation | Donald Trump Jr’s friends worried about ‘social climbing’ new girlfriend: report Nation | Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says Nation | A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says Nation | 2 Florida tourist spots halt drones in shows following a separate accident that injured a boy Nation | ‘Morrison Hotel’ made famous by The Doors goes up in flames in LA Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Simon Harris’s Fine Gael party and coalition partner Fianna Fail look set to return to government after the Irish election, but the prime minister could face a battle to keep his post after his popular support appeared to drop. With counting still ongoing, early tallies and the official exit poll showed little to separate the two main incumbent parties and the opposition Sinn Fein. With no party having enough support to govern alone, the status quo will likely remain after Fine Gael and Fianna Fail ruled out a deal with Sinn Fein. Although the overall outcome looks increasingly clear, it’s far from certain Harris will emerge with the upper hand in what could be difficult negotiations with Fianna Fail. Micheal Martin’s party trailed in the official exit poll, but early results suggest it could emerge with the most first-preference votes — the simplest gauge of popular support — putting him in a better position in talks. “It’s far too hard to call at this stage as to who will come out as the largest party,” Harris told RTE on Saturday. “What is clear is that Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein will be tightly bunched when it comes to final seats.” Martin predicted his Fianna Fail would outperform the exit poll, telling reporters there’s a “route to a very strong finish” for his party. But he cautioned that electoral fragmentation meant forming a government would be “challenging.” To be sure, the picture could change as counting takes in second-choice and subsequent preferences to determine final makeup of the Dail or parliament. A tight race is far from what Harris envisaged when he called the vote early — it wasn’t scheduled to be held until March — to try to capitalize on Fine Gael’s surge in support since he became Taoiseach in April. The media dubbed it the “Harris hop” and the 38-year-old made his campaign slogan “new energy” — despite being a former health minister and established government figure. A giveaway budget and what appeared to be a slump in support for Sinn Fein made it seem the optimal time to seek a new mandate. But Harris’s campaign was beset with slip-ups, starting with Ryanair Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary using a Fine Gael event to make a jibe about teachers serving in government. The worst, though, was a viral video of Harris walking away from a disability care worker and dismissing her view that the government wasn’t doing enough. He later apologized. “Fine Gael may be a little bit disappointed that they didn’t make more gains,” said Lisa Keenan, political science assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, though she added that given the campaign gaffes, Harris is also likely to be somewhat relieved. “We’ve seen a stabilization there.” From a commanding poll lead as late as September, Fine Gael appears to have slipped back into a three-party scramble to win the popular vote. It’s a key moment. Whoever forms the next government will enjoy a budget surplus and soaring tax receipts from U.S. companies including Apple Inc. operating there. What to do with Ireland’s billions has been a key focus of the election, with parties competing on spending ideas — even as the reelection of Donald Trump in the U.S. and his threat of trade tariffs injected a sense of caution. Worryingly for Harris, the exit poll also showed the premier trailing his two main rivals on the question of who should be next Taoiseach. Only 27% said they want the Fine Gael leader leading the country, while 35% said they would like Fianna Fail’s Martin, and 34% preferred Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. McDonald’s strength comes from her support among young people, and that gels with the exit poll showing housing and homelessness were the biggest issues for voters, followed by the cost of living. Data published on election day showed homelessness in Ireland reached a record figure of almost 15,000. Sinn Fein’s steady rise has shaken up Irish politics since McDonald took over from Gerry Adams as president in 2018, becoming its first leader unconnected to the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Its left-leaning agenda appealed to voters struggling with a housing shortage and rising inflation. While its support is well below the start of the year, when Sinn Fein appeared on course to form a government, the exit poll and early counting shows McDonald has established Sinn Fein as an electoral force. That has major implications for Irish politics. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael led every government since the state was formed 100 years ago, and while that looks set to continue, Sinn Fein’s emergence changes the dynamic. Still, without the option of a coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein has no clear route to power. That means the focus in the coming days and likely weeks will be on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and the arrangement they come to. Early tallies suggest Fianna Fail will improve on its performance in 2020, when the party that was in power during the 2008 financial crash reentered government for the first time in almost a decade. It’s possible that it wins several more seats than Fine Gael, which would give it considerable bargaining power in coalition talks and potentially restoring Martin, who served as prime minister for almost two years as part of the job share agreement between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael last time, as Taoiseach. Any deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail would not be the end of the story. Even combining their support, the two parties are likely to fall short of the 88 seats needed for a majority in the 174-seat parliament. The third coalition partner last time, the Green Party, face losses — not unusual for minor parties and also reflecting trends for green parties across Europe. Tallies suggest it could lose the majority of its 12 seats. But other smaller parties are expected to make gains. The Social Democrats, whose leader Holly Cairns gave birth on election day, could pick up seats. Labour are also optimistic. Although vote counting began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, a fuller picture is not expected until Sunday. Then the negotiations will begin. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office

“Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed that the third and final season of “Squid Game” is already eyeing a release window. Speaking with , Hwang says Netflix is currently targeting a release sometime around the third quarter of next year: “What I can say is, after Season 2 launches, I believe we will be announcing the launch date for Season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year.” With the second season just released this week on the streamer, people are still making their way through new episodes. Hwang was able to offer a non-spoiler tease of what to expect in the final run from its leading man Lee Jung-jae who plays Gi-hun: “You’re going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season. Gi-hun will not be the man he was in season 2.” The third season is why the second season clocks in at a shorter seven episodes in length as compared to the first season’s ten episodes – but due to slightly longer episodes for the second season the runtime difference is more comparable 8hrs 30mins for the first season compared to 7hrs 7mins for the second. An episode count for the third hasn’t been announced. Separately he confirms to that David Fincher is developing a U.S.-set remake of the property, adding that: “I know Netflix has a plan. They are not going to throw this idea away”.