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More than half a million jobless young people are not looking for work, a leading think tank has warned. The Centre for Social Justice has sounded the alarm about nearly 946,000 people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training – 552,000 of whom are not on the search for a job. It warns the size of this “inactive” age group has increased by more than half in just three years. Many of those not looking for work will suffer from ill-health or a disability. The CSJ wants specialist employment support and training opportunities for people with such challenges, as well as better help from employers. Labour went into the last election with a plan to “get two million people into work and deliver the highest employment levels in the G7”. James Heywood, an expert with the think tank, said: “The Government must commit to tackling economic inactivity, especially among young people. Without supporting people back into the labour market, its ambitious employment targets are simply unachievable. “The rising tide of long-term inactivity will cost the country billions of pounds if left unstemmed.” The CSJ warns that unless action is taken to “reverse the tide” of people stopping working for health reasons, taxpayers will face a “colossal £12billion hole in the public finances in five years time”. Up to £1.5billion of this will be made up of lost tax receipts, it claims. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has pledged the Government “will not allow young people not to be in education, employment or training”. But the think tank cautions that the majority of these youngsters are not on the dole so expected “tougher benefit rules” may have limited impact. The CSJ warns there is no room for complacency in efforts to close the “employment gap” between disabled and non-disabled people. It states that between July and September of this year it stood at 27.5 per cent, with just 54.4 per cent of disabled adults in work. Employment minister Alison McGovern said: “These latest figures are yet more evidence of the significant challenges facing our young people, particularly the pandemic generation who have not received the support they need to reach their full potential. “Bold measures in our Get Britain Working white paper will turn this around. We will introduce a Youth Guarantee so every 18-21-year-old in England is earning or learning while we transform Jobcentres and introduce new health, work and skill plans to give everyone – including our young people – the support they need to build a better life.”Cal staves off Sacramento State for third straight win

(The Center Square) – State and national officials lauded former President Jimmy Carter for his public service after learning of his death Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. President Joe Biden said an official state funeral would be held for Carter in Washington. "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism," Biden said. "We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism." President-elect Donald Trump urged everyone to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," Trump said in a statement released from his campaign. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." Former president Bill Clinton gave Carter and his wife Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999. "From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity--he worked tirelessly for a fairer, better world," Clinton and his wife Hillary said in a statement. Former president George W. Bush hailed Carter as a man of deeply held convictions. "President Carter dignified the office," Bush said on social media. "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations." Carter served as Georgia's governor from 1971-1975 before becoming president. Under his leadership, the European and Japanese state trade offices were launched, as well as the Georgia Film Commission," Gov. Brian Kemp said. "He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's support of the civil rights movement in the place of its birth is also remembered with deep appreciation." Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Carter exemplified what it meant to be a public servant. "I had the honor of meeting him and his wife, and I will never forget that day," Jones said. "They were kind, wonderful, accepting and exactly what they portrayed every day, two people devoted to lifting up those in their community who needed help the most. President Carter's legacy will live on in the numerous nonprofits, charities and organizations Rosalynn, his family and him started."Late kickoff return TDs by Turpin and Thomas spark the Cowboys as they end their 5-game skid

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CLAYTON — The daughter of a St. Louis County health administrator didn’t work hours she put on her time sheet and had help from a supervisor in falsifying records, according to a county audit. The report, by county Auditor Toni Jackson’s office, doesn’t name the employees involved. But it says the staffer worked as a food and pool inspector for the environmental services team from at least 2021 until resigning in March of this year. The audit also singles out her mother and a supervisor in the department. The director of the health department, Dr. Kanika Cunningham, has referred the matter to police in Berkeley, where the health department has an office. The audit shows: The daughter’s supervisor allowed her to record time for hours not actually worked: “Evidence shows years of deliberate falsification of time sheets and inspections reports.” From June 10, 2023, through Jan. 6, 10 of 16 time sheets did not have the supervisor’s signature. None of them had the correct dates. The daughter worked an internship at Webster University in 2021 but did not file for paid time off from her county job. Four food inspections by the daughter were missing temperature checks. Three lacked hepatitis immunization compliance data. Two inaccurately recorded food safety plans, and 10 didn’t include codes for violations. Four inspections indicated pools had safety signs when there were none, and another duplicated information. The mother completes and submits time sheets for employees who don’t directly report to her, including her daughter. In an interview with the auditor’s office, the daughter denied the accusations, saying “she would not falsify her time or her work.” The audit commends the health department for “taking swift action to address issues.” But it also recommends potentially firing or demoting the supervisor. “Field inspectors play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and compliance of food, pool and other establishments,” the audit says. “Violations of any kind can lead to serious health risks and consequences can be severe, impacting consumers and businesses, along with legal fees, penalties, other repercussions, and reputational damage to St. Louis County.” Others have worked in the health department with their parents. The Post-Dispatch reported earlier this year that Cunningham, the health director who started in January 2023, hired her daughter as an inspector and gave her a raise. The daughter of former department spokesman Christopher Ave also worked as an inspector in the summer. In the case reviewed in the audit, Jackson’s office received an anonymous email in early December 2023 about the daughter’s work practices. The tip said the daughter claims “40 hours of work on her timesheets, but only works 1-2 days per week on average,” the audit says. The tip also said her mother and the supervisor “are covering for her by falsifying inspections.” The auditor launched a yearlong investigation, interviewing employees, reviewing payroll records and time sheets, studying inspection reports, and analyzing management procedures. The audit is dated Dec. 18. Among other conclusions, the audit found the daughter had an orientation at Webster University on Aug. 24, 2021, but was not marked for paid time off from her county job. The audit also found she had an internship at the university; for four weeks between the end of May and the beginning of September last year, she didn’t take paid time off from her county job to cover time worked at the internship. In late June, the auditor received an envelope delivered anonymously. It contained a letter that said the daughter had resigned in March and was recommended in personnel records for rehiring. The audit, however, suggested changing her status to “not recommended rehire.” The audit made several other recommendations, including: conducting a comprehensive review of health department policies; creating a clear policy for payroll, timekeeping and training; defining disciplinary actions for violation of timekeeping and payroll rules; and monitoring compliance of timekeeping procedures. An employee fabricating hours on a time sheet “is committing theft,” the audit says. “This behavior should have severe consequences.” The health department is already addressing the problems, including potential disciplinary actions against the supervisor, Cunningham wrote in a response to the auditor. The county also plans to install new timekeeping software, conduct biannual training on inspections and notify employees of updated timekeeping policies. "Since first learning of this investigation, our teams have worked collaboratively to ensure all allegations were addressed appropriately," Cunningham wrote. "Indeed, before this was brought to our attention, efforts were underway to address the issue of timekeeping, showing that our internal controls and processes work." The environmental services team in the health department does thousands of inspections of pools, restaurants and stores. The team employs up to 24 field inspectors, who use data management software to track inspections and reports.

Swaffar: Three observations from USD's comeback victory over NDSULasertec Co. ( OTCMKTS:LSRCF – Get Free Report )’s stock price traded down 0.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $95.20 and last traded at $96.67. 632 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 5% from the average session volume of 603 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.90. Lasertec Stock Down 0.2 % The firm has a fifty day moving average of $123.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $167.49. Lasertec Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Lasertec Corporation engages in the designing, manufacturing, and sale of inspection and measurement equipment in Japan and internationally. The company offers semiconductor related products, which includes mask related systems for extreme ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet solutions, and wafers inspection and review systems; and FPD photomask inspection systems. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lasertec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lasertec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) informed the White House it couldn't reach a consensus on the security risks posed by Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, as per the Washington Post. The deal, valued at $15 billion and announced last December, awaits its fate as neither President Joe Biden nor President-elect Donald Trump support it. CFIUS reported that such a takeover might compromise domestic steel production, posing "a national security risk" according to sources. CFIUS, led by the U.S. Treasury Department, has passed the decision to President Biden, offering a 15-day window for action. Both the Treasury Department and the White House have not commented, and Nippon Steel has withheld statements. (With inputs from agencies.)

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. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. 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 his former domestic policy chief. She is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins, 52, previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins’ 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. 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. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won’t be available to play against his former team tonight in Los Angeles and Orlando will feature a new starting lineup against the Lakers because of his absence. Caldwell-Pope was listed as out due to personal reasons on Orlando’s initial injury report when it was posted in the afternoon. Averaging 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.31 steals, Caldwell-Pope had started all 16 games. Coach Jamahl Mosley had used the same starting five — Jalen Suggs, Caldwell-Pope, Tristan da Silva, Franz Wagner and Goga Bitadze — in nine consecutive contests as he continued to adjust without regulars Paolo Banchero (torn right abdominal muscle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (left foot plantar fasciitis). Carter has made progress and was able to go through part of Orlando’s practice Tuesday in Los Angeles. Although he was ruled out against the Clippers, he entered Wednesday listed as questionable. He’s again considered questionable to play tonight against the Lakers after missing nine in a row. Banchero was candid with ESPN this week telling Marc J. Spears he could potentially be back by Christmas based on how he feels right now. Banchero — who still can’t run, stretch or shoot as he continues to recover to the abdominal injury suffered Oct. 30 at Chicago — made it clear he would be cautious before returning. How Magic have fared in 10 games without Paolo Banchero With Banchero out, it’s been da Silva who’s stepped into Orlando’s starting lineup. Reserve center Goga Bitadze has done the same again for Carter. As for Caldwell-Pope, Mosley could opt to start Anthony Black, a second-year guard who started 33 times last season. Black has made strides on the offensive end and offers quality defense thanks to his length. There’s also Caleb Houstan, who’s been a spot starter in the past, if Mosley wants to keep Black’s ball-handling ability with the second unit. Gary Harris is an option as well to start but the veteran guard has sat on the second night of Orlando’s last two back-to-backs. The Magic saw their six-game win streak end Wednesday night against the Clippers. Caldwell-Pope played in 292 games (190 starts) during four seasons with the Lakers from 2017-21 and helped Los Angeles win the NBA championship in 2019-20 in the Orlando bubble. Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com Up next ... Magic vs. Pistons When: 7, Saturday, Kia Center TV: FanDuel Sports Network FloridaBOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — Marcus Johnson scored 20 points as Bowling Green beat Aquinas (Michigan) 87-62 on Monday. Johnson went 8 of 10 from the field (3 for 5 from 3-point range) for the Falcons (5-7). Derrick Butler scored 18 points and added five rebounds. Jamai Felt had 13 points and shot 5 of 6 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line. Jadakiss Lewis led the Saints in scoring, finishing with 15 points and two steals. Caden Pokorzynski added 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Bowling Green led 43-25 at halftime, with Johnson racking up 15 points. Butler scored a team-high 13 points after intermission. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Georgia loses QB Carson Beck (arm) during SEC title gameBowling Green earns 87-62 win over Aquinas

Telecommunications expert Paul Budde continued to produce must-read analysis during 2024, including this much-read January article on the NBN. ***** While improvements have been made to Australia's fibre broadband network, a study has revealed that users are still relying on slower download speeds. Paul Budde reports. THE GOVERNMENT'S initiative to enhance the National Broadband Network ( NBN ) has expanded eligibility for full-fibre broadband upgrades to over 3 million Australians. An additional 400,000 homes and businesses are set to benefit from this plan, as the latest list of eligible suburbs and towns has been unveiled. These newly eligible premises were previously serviced by the infamous Multi-Technology Mix , based on copper cable connections, a system concocted by the former Coalition Government. The copper network is known for its slower speeds, lower reliability, higher maintenance costs and increased likelihood of prolonged faults. In contrast, the full-fibre broadband – as it was already envisaged nearly 20 years ago – offers world-class performance, ensuring faster upload and download speeds, as well as a more reliable connection for both residents and small businesses. NBN analysis shows Australia's broadband infrastructure advancing New data shows an improvement in Australia's broadband performance while highlighting ongoing challenges for regional customers. The transition to full fibre has contributed to increased productivity savings; this can be translated to NBN users saving over 100 hours and $2,580 annually by utilising higher-speed broadband. According to NBN research , the network has generated a substantial economic uplift of $122 billion by 2022, leading to the creation of approximately 169,000 additional jobs — a 1.3% increase in Australia's labour force. By the end of December 2023, 75% of premises in the NBN fixed-line network will have the opportunity to access fibre directly to their homes, enjoying download speeds of nearly one Gbps through NBN's fastest residential plan. Upgrades will be available on-demand for eligible households or businesses opting for higher-speed plans, with no upfront installation costs. The Government's commitment to invest $2.4 billion, as outlined in the October 2022 Budget , has facilitated these upgrades, aiming to extend full-fibre access to an additional 1.5 million premises by the end of 2025. Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland emphasised the crucial role of affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband, stating that it is no longer a luxury but an essential requirement for work, learning, transactions, government services and telehealth. She highlighted the significant progress in delivering a better NBN, enabling millions of Australians to order full fibre and emphasising the economic benefits of quality broadband, including support for local manufacturing and job creation. NBN Co coming clean on underperforming broadband services NBN Co is taking steps to improve Australia's broadband network to meet consumer demands, as revealed in its latest service plan. Other interesting internet data was published by Cloudflare . Its analysis of internet download speeds in Australia reveals that 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps are dominant connection speeds, with over one-third of connections falling within these ranges. The overall average download speed for Australian users using Cloudflare 's speed test tool is 68Mbps. Cloudflare measures the real speeds that users experience, not the speed package that they purchase. The most common speed used is between 50 and 55 Mbps (close to 10% of users). A relatively low number – just above 5% – use speeds of between 90 and 95 Mbps. Other interesting findings of this study indicate that the measurements taken could indicate that alternative access methods, such as mobile broadband or fixed wireless, are used as well; this is reflected in the fact that 11.24% of results fall between 60 and 90 Mbps. Another conclusion that the study revealed was that legacy connections below 40 Mbps account for 22.33% and that 6.29% of Australian speed tests were below 10 Mbps in 2023. Less than 1% of measurements indicated people using speeds above 100Mbps and less than 0.03% use speeds above one Gbps. Interestingly, globally, Iceland leads Cloudflare 's speed test rankings with an average speed of 282.5 Mbps. In terms of mobile usage, 35.67% of traffic from Australia to Cloudflare 's platform comes from mobile devices, while 64.33% is from desktops, aligning with global trends. NBN finally gets an upgrade and hopefully we can afford it NBN Co revealed its 2024 Corporate Plan, outlining its strategies to enhance its network capabilities and improve user experiences across Australia. Paul Budde is an Independent Australia columnist and managing director of Paul Budde Consulting , an independent telecommunications research and consultancy organisation. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PaulBudde . Related Articles Labor Government promises NBN to remain in public hands NBN market sees smaller telcos gain ground NBN Co rising above challenges as demand for fibre grows NBN lags behind New Zealand in latest OECD broadband rankings It's confirmed: Fibre offers the best NBN infrastructure This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. 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