Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. The Justice Department says that Donald Trump cannot be tried in accordance with a policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted (Evan Vucci/AP) Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “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,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20 (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US 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. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.
Hernandez 5-10 0-0 10, Levingston 5-8 0-0 10, Lagway 6-13 0-0 13, Stanton 3-9 3-4 9, Strachan 0-6 2-2 2, Falsdottir 2-5 1-2 7, Muniz 3-7 0-0 7, Totals 24-58 6-8 58 Daniels 3-9 2-5 8, Eke 0-1 0-0 0, Ladine 8-18 3-4 20, Sellers 4-7 1-2 9, Stines 3-9 0-0 7, Gillmer 2-5 0-0 5, McDonald 1-2 0-0 2, Briggs 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 1-1 0-0 3, Coppinger 2-6 2-2 8, Totals 24-59 8-13 62 3-Point Goals_Cal St.-Fullerton 4-9 (Lagway 1-2, Stanton 0-1, Falsdottir 2-2, Muniz 1-4), Washington 6-21 (Daniels 0-2, Ladine 1-5, Stines 1-6, Gillmer 1-3, Brown 1-1, Coppinger 2-4). Assists_Cal St.-Fullerton 12 (Hernandez 4), Washington 10 (Daniels 5). Fouled Out_Cal St.-Fullerton Levingston. Rebounds_Cal St.-Fullerton 25 (Lagway 7, Levingston 7), Washington 42 (Daniels 9). Total Fouls_Cal St.-Fullerton 16, Washington 17. Technical Fouls_None. A_1,575.
Knowing superstitions aren't real doesn't stop us behaving superstitiously – why?As the final seconds came off the clock last Friday night at Canvas Stadium and the Colorado State football team rushed across the field to get their hands on the Bronze Boot, it was only fitting that the longest tenured Ram, Dane Olson, got his hands on it first.
AP News Summary at 3:19 p.m. EST
Adam Pemble, an Associated Press video journalist who covered some of the biggest global news of the past two decades, from earthquakes and conflicts to political summits and elections, has died. He was 52. Pemble died Thursday in Minneapolis surrounded by friends and family, according to his friend Mike Moe, who helped care for him in the final weeks of his fight against cancer. Known for bringing stories alive with his camera, Pemble epitomized the best of television news traditions, casting a curious and compassionate lens onto the lives of the people and communities whose stories he told. He joined the AP in 2007 in New York before moving to Prague in 2011 to help launch AP’s first cross-format operation combining photography, text stories and video. He enhanced Eastern European news coverage, creating distinctive stories highlighting the region’s culture and society. “Adam was an incredibly talented and passionate journalist and an empathetic storyteller. He had this amazing ability to get anyone to talk to him on camera, which I attribute to the Midwestern charm he embodied throughout his life.” said Sara Gillesby, AP’s Director of Global Video and Pemble’s former manager in New York when he joined the AP. “He was the best of us.” Pemble was born in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, in 1972 and grew up in Minneapolis. After graduating with a degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead, he started his journalism career in 1997 at KVLY, a television station in Fargo, North Dakota, and later worked at WCCO in Minneapolis. “He had the skills of the old-school camera people to meet a deadline and turn a beautiful story,” said Arthur Phillips, a cameraman who worked with Pemble at WCCO. “But he had a calling for greater things.” Moving to New York, Pemble covered some of the biggest stories in the city, including the trial of Bernie Madoff, interviews with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and with then-real estate developer, now U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump. He went to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, where he captured shocking images of devastation. A few weeks later he was in Vancouver, covering the Winter Olympics. With his transfer to Prague, Pemble quickly became the go-to video journalist deployed to the biggest news events in Europe, interviewing government leaders, covering violent protests, the aftermath of terror attacks and numerous national elections across the continent. “An inquiring mind, a keen eye and a healthy skepticism for those in power who tried to spin away from the truth all combined to make Adam’s stories as rich in colour as he was in character,” said Sandy MacIntyre, former AP head of global video. “Time and again he was asked to do the impossible and without fail he delivered the exceptional.” ”But more than all of that, he was the colleague and friend you wanted by your side because if Adam was there we knew we were going to be the winning team.” As civil unrest rocked Ukraine in 2014, Pemble reported from Kyiv and later Donetsk, where he covered the first Russian-backed demonstrations before spending weeks in Crimea during Russia’s annexation of the strategic peninsula. His video reports included the last remaining Ukrainian sailors loyal to Kyiv, who had finally abandoned their ship and came ashore. With the Russian national anthem playing from a car in the background, his final shot showed two distraught sailors heckled as they walked away. Pemble returned to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022. Among his many assignments was filming the exclusive March 2023 AP interview by Executive Editor Julie Pace with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a train shuttled them across Ukraine to cities near some of the fiercest fighting. “Adam showed up to every assignment with enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to his work and his colleagues. He loved what he did, and so many of us at AP are better for having worked alongside him,” Pace said. When not deployed overseas, Pemble set his camera’s gaze on his new home in the Czech Republic, offering insight into the traditions and unique stories of Eastern Europe. From Christmas carp fishing at sunrise to graffiti artists in Prague to the intimate story of a Slovak priest challenging the celibacy rules of the Catholic Church, he brought his unmistakable style. He worked with a traditional large broadcast camera in an era where many video shooters shifted to smaller, lighter cameras. He always put himself in the right place to let reality unfold like “an old school analog painter in an often fast and furious digital age,” former AP cameraman Ben Jary recalled. Pemble’s interest in visual storytelling led to experimenting with new technologies, including aerial videography. In 2015, he was the first major news agency camera operator to film live drone footage when reporting on the migration crisis in the Balkans. An avid gardener who planted trees and chilis on his rooftop in Prague, he was adventurous in the kitchen and especially proud of his vegan “meatloaf,” friends said. He loved a seedy dive bar as much as a Michelin restaurant and foods as varied as charcoal choux pastry with truffle creme and his favourite road trip junk food, Slim Jim’s jerky and Salted Nut Rolls. Pemble’s wit, wisdom, energy and positivity enriched the lives and experiences of those around him, friends and colleagues recalled. “If someone asked me to see a picture of quiet strength and courage, dignity and grace, and most of all kindness, I would show them a picture of a man for all seasons,” said Dan Huff, a Washington-based AP video journalist, “I would show them a picture of Adam Pemble.”
Mike McDaniel stepped in to keep Dolphins from trading veteran DT Calais Campbell to RavensG7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administration
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. 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. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.
Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Dez White's 26 points helped Missouri State defeat UCSB 68-56 on Sunday. White shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line for the Bears (7-5). Vincent Brady II scored 13 points while going 4 of 8 and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds. Michael Osei-Bonsu finished 5 of 8 from the floor to finish with 10 points. Kenny Pohto led the way for the Gauchos (7-5) with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Cole Anderson added 11 points for UCSB. Deuce Turner finished with seven points. Missouri State took the lead with 6:05 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 31-25 at halftime, with White racking up 17 points. Missouri State pulled away with an 8-0 run in the second half to extend a four-point lead to 12 points. They outscored UCSB by six points in the final half, as White led the way with a team-high nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .With tokens like Shiba Inu (SHIB) surging in value during the last bull run, the cryptocurrency industry is not new to spectacular expansion. Investors are moving, nevertheless, from speculative assets to tokens with strong foundations, real-world use cases, and creative ecosystems as the sector develops. Many tokens are positioned to outperform SHIB and related meme coins in the next bull run, providing great growth potential for early investors. Four particularly noteworthy tokens that might spearhead the push are Rexas Finance (RXS), Dogecoin (DOGE), Stellar (XLM), and Polymath (POL). Rexas Finance (RXS): One Revolutionary Platform in DeFi and RWA Tokenization Combining blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart contracts into one coherent ecosystem allows Rexas Finance to redefine decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. At $0.150 per token, RXS is in Stage 10 of its presale and has attracted over $29 million, indicating great investor demand. Rexas AI Shield is a modern platform driven by artificial intelligence that provides thorough, smart contract audits. For DeFi initiatives, it guarantees security and compliance, lowering user and developer risks. Using a new staking mechanism, Rexas Treasury lets users lock RXS tokens and receive passive benefits. This function encourages long-term ownership and helps steady the token's value. Additionally, through platforms like Telegram and Discord, Rexas QuickMint Bot enables individuals and companies to tokenize assets easily, reducing the barrier to entry into the asset tokenization space. Rexas Finance also boasts significant achievements, including its Certik audit, CoinMarketCap (CMC), and CoinGecko listings. Furthermore, by engaging the crypto community and drawing fresh investors, the team has started a viral $1 million giveaway where 20 lucky winners can win $50,000 worth of RXS tokens. With strong foundations and creative ideas, RXS is ready to surpass meme tokens like SHIB and provide unmatched expansion during the next market rise. Dogecoin (DOGE) Beyond a Meme Coin Beyond its beginnings as the first meme coin, Dogecoin (DOGE) has developed into a useful digital tool. It has maintained a strong community and acquired real-world use as a payment method, even with its price of $0.42. Nowadays, vendors, including Tesla, accept DOGE as goods and services. Elon Musk's ongoing backing and the rising Dogecoin transaction acceptance helped to establish Dogecoin as a consistent crypto investment. According to analysts, DOGE might recover its $1 price level in the next bull market, offering investors who build notable gains during a market downturn. Stellar (XLM): Cross-border payments' future The leading option for cross-border remittances, Stellar, is attracting attention with its native cryptocurrency, XLM, valued at $0.23. Its low-cost and quick transaction features have made it a favorite among developers searching for blockchain-based payment options and financial institutions. Stellar distinguishes itself by its ongoing development activities and alliances with big companies. With a market capitalization of $7.2 billion, XLM is positioned to surpass SHIB and other speculative tokens. Stellar might see great acceptance as the demand for effective cross-border payment solutions rises, hence increasing its value during the next bull run. Polymath (POLY): Forerunner of Security Token Sales Polymath is transforming the way conventional financial assets are entered into the blockchain. Polymath guarantees regulatory compliance and helps to enable security token issuing via its ST-20 standard. Priced at $0.0811, the coin has great upside potential, especially if government clarity on cryptocurrencies gains. Institutions investors are starting to use the platform, which closes the gap between blockchain technologies and conventional finance. Polymath is positioned for significant expansion as the crypto sector develops and security tokens become more well-known, therefore challenging SHIB and other assets. Why These Tokens Exude Performance Worthiness for SHIB Shiba Inu's reliance on speculative trading and meme culture reduces its long-term potential even if it had great success during the recent bull run. Tokens like Rexas Finance (RXS), Dogecoin (DOGE), Stellar (XLM), and Polymath (POLY), on the other hand, provide real-world demands in finance, payments, and asset management by means of concrete utility and innovation. Using tools like AI-powered contract audits and creative staking solutions, Rexas Finance is pioneering DeFi and RWA tokenization, therefore guaranteeing long-term development. Strong community support and practical use as a payment method make Dogecoin a robust investment. Attractive to both retail and institutional users, Stellar's emphasis on cross-border remittances offers a scalable answer for world payments. Polymath leads in tying conventional money with blockchain since it stresses regulatory-compliant security tokens. Investors increasingly seek tokens with actual uses and growth potential as the crypto market develops. Focusing on these four tokens may help investors position themselves for large gains during the next bull run, maybe negating the returns provided by speculative assets like SHIB. These coins are looking to be the future of the cryptocurrency industry, whether your search is for scalability, utility, or innovation. Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
PSG in 'difficult' spot against heavyweights BayernIt’s no secret that both mobile operating systems – Android and iOS – borrow features from one another from time to time. However, one feature that Apple had failed to implement all these years on iOS was the ability to hide and lock apps. With iOS 18, that has thankfully changed – reaffirming Apple’s push toward privacy and security . This tutorial shows how to hide apps on your iPhone and iPad – and even lock them so that others can’t access them. For this method, you only want to lock an app on your iPhone or iPad instead of hiding it. If you don’t mind others seeing the app but do not want them to access it – perhaps because of sensitive information – follow the steps below: Tap and hold the app you want to lock, and select Require Face ID . Confirm by choosing Require Face ID again. Note: If your iPhone or iPad doesn’t have Face ID and has Touch ID instead, the option will say Require Touch ID . This requires you to scan your face every time you open the app. If you no longer want an app to require Face ID or Touch ID before opening it, tap and hold the app, and select Don’t Require Face ID . If you only want to remove an app from your iPhone’s home screen , tap and hold the app and select Remove App , then choose Remove from Home Screen . While the app is gone from the home screen, it will still be visible in the App Library . That’s not ideal, though, if you also don’t want others to see the app. To completely hide an app on your iPhone or iPad, tap and hold the app you want to lock, and select Require Face ID , then choose Hide and Require Face ID . Once you do this, the app will disappear from your home screen as well as the App Library. Follow the same steps for all the apps you want to hide. Note: Hiding apps disables notifications from those apps. To access hidden apps, swipe to the left on your iPhone’s home screen to access the App Library . Scroll down to the bottom, and tap the Hidden folder. Get access to the folder by using Face ID or Touch ID. Tap the desired app within the folder to launch it. If you no longer wish to keep an app hidden, head to the Hidden folder in the App Library. Tap and hold the app you want to unhide, and choose Don’t Require Face ID to make it visible once again. There may be times when you want an app to not show up in Spotlight Search or see suggestions regarding that app. In those circumstances, follow the steps below: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, and tap Apple Intelligence & Siri in the menu. Scroll to the bottom, and select Apps . Find the app, and turn off all the toggles. The app will no longer show up in searches or suggestions but will still continue to be accessible in the App Library. Everyone has private and sensitive information stored in certain apps on their phones. Whether it’s your banking app or the Notes app, hiding or locking it will keep others who use your phone from accessing it. It’s also a good way to keep social media and gaming apps away from the reach of your children to reduce their screen time . Image credit: Unsplash . All screenshots by Sumukh Rao. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Sumukh has a knack for simplifying tech for the masses and helping consumers pick the right gadgets with his in-depth insights and reviews. He decided to hide his engineering degree in the closet to pursue his passion for writing. Over the past 6 years, he has contributed with guides, reviews, and detailed opinions to notable publications like TechPP, XDA-Developers, and Guiding Tech.
FIUGGI, Italy (AP) — Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The top diplomats met for the final time before a new U.S. administration takes office with wars raging in the Mideast and Ukraine. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the so-called “Arab Quintet,” as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. “Everyone favors a ceasefire in both scenarios,” Tajani told reporters, adding that Italy had offered to take on an even greater peacekeeping role in Lebanon to oversee any ceasefire deal. As the ministers arrived in Italy, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio on Monday a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached “within days.” Several Arab ministers reiterated calls for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza during a G7-affiliated conference in Rome. “We need a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire. That will stop the killings and stop the destruction and restore a sense of normalcy to life,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told the conference. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, for his part, reaffirmed that Cairo would host a minister-level conference next Monday on mobilizing international aid for Gaza. The so-called “Quintet” has been working with the U.S. to finalize a “day after” plan for Gaza. There is some urgency to make progress before the Trump administration takes over in January. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pursue a policy that strongly favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians. Tajani added another item to the G7 agenda last week after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Italy’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The Italian government has taken a cautious line, reaffirming its support and respect for the court but expressing concern that the warrants were politically motivated. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Tajani acknowledged consensus hadn't been reached among the G7 members but hoped for agreement to have a unified position. He noted that all sides need Netanyahu to make any deal. “We can also not agree with how his government has led the reaction after the massacre of Oct. 7, but now we have to deal with Netanyahu to arrive at peace in Lebanon, peace in Palestine,” Tajani said. Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs think tank, warned that inserting the ICC warrant into the G7 agenda was risky, since the U.S. is the lone member that is not a signatory to the court and yet tends to dictate the G7 line. “If Italy and the other (five G7) signatories of the ICC are unable to maintain the line on international law, they will not only erode it anyway but will be acting against our interests,” Tocci wrote in La Stampa daily this weekend, recalling Italy’s recourse to international law in demanding protection for Italian U.N. peacekeepers who have come under fire in southern Lebanon. The other major talking point of the G7 meeting is Ukraine , and tensions have only heightened since Russia attacked Ukraine last week with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. The G7 has been at the forefront of providing military and economic support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and G7 members are particularly concerned about how a Trump administration will change the U.S. approach. Trump has criticized the billions of dollars that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. “It’s hugely important that this G7, that all colleagues across the G7 continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said as he arrived. He announced new sanctions on vessels of Russia's “shadow fleet” of ships that are evading sanctions to export Russian oil. “And we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025,” Lammy said. The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, the second of the Italian presidency after ministers gathered in Capri in April , is being held in the medieval town of Fiuggi southeast of Rome, best known for its thermal spas. On Monday, which coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ministers were attending the inauguration of a red bench meant to symbolize Italy’s focus on fighting gender-based violence. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people marched in Rome to protest gender-based violence , which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank.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 and 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.
