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Children told refugees ‘enrich our country’ and drive ‘growth’ in Usborne bookAs global tensions rise and fears of another World War loom , many are questioning where they might find refuge if Russia escalates from nuclear threats to actual missile launches. This concern has been heightened by the recent publication of a map following Vladimir Putin 's lowering of the threshold for Russia 's use of nuclear weapons. Previously, it was understood that Russia would only retaliate with its nuclear arsenal if attacked by a nuclear warhead. However, in recent weeks, Putin has indicated that an attack with conventional weapons would now be sufficient justification for a nuclear response. Terrifying nuclear map shows areas where 75% would die if WW3 broke out Stephen Hawking's end-of-world prediction supported by NASA Experts believe this change is a reaction to the US and UK's authorization for Ukraine to fire longer-range Western-supplied missiles into Russia . Despite these alarming developments, there is still hope. It is likely that Putin would primarily target densely populated areas like London or New York . If you can't see the map, click here . However, there are places that could offer sanctuary for those caught in the crossfire between Putin and his adversaries. ANTARCTICA If you're considering escaping to Antarctica, don't forget your winter coat. The map's creators suggest that the icy wilderness could be one of the safest havens in the event of a nuclear war. Given its remote location at the Earth's southernmost point, it's unlikely to hold any strategic importance. Plus, with 5.4 million square miles of untouched land, there's plenty of room for thousands of people to seek shelter from the conflict. ICELAND Another potential refuge could be Iceland, situated far to the north. Not only is it relatively isolated, but it's also known as one of the most peaceful countries globally and has reportedly never been involved in any war or invasion. While the Icelandic government has signed a bilateral agreement with Ukraine , its support is limited to funding and minimal transportation. Although the island should largely avoid the worst impacts of a European nuclear war, fallout from widespread nuclear strikes on the mainland could potentially reach its shores in small quantities. NEW ZEALAND New Zealand might also offer sanctuary for those looking to escape Putin's nuclear war. According to the Global Peace Index, the country ranks second and has maintained a neutral position in most conflicts. New Zealand's mountainous terrain is a promising feature that could protect its citizens from potential invasions. The Kiwi government has shown support for Ukraine , providing financial aid to its military and backing actions against Russia in the International Court of Justice. SWITZERLAND Switzerland, often associated with peace, is another country that could potentially survive a nuclear war. Having maintained neutrality since World War Two, its terrain offers protection from various threats. The country also has numerous nuclear fallout shelters. Switzerland has not provided aid to either Russia or Ukraine , making it less likely to be seen as a threat by Putin. Some have accused Switzerland of favoring Russia , as the Swiss government has blocked the delivery of Swiss-made weapons and ammo purchased by other European countries. GREENLAND Greenland, the world's largest island owned by Denmark, is unlikely to ever be a real target of any world superpower. Its remote location and political neutrality, along with a small population of 56,000 people, make it less likely to be targeted. INDONESIA Indonesia, a small nation, has declared its intention to remain neutral in any conflict. The country's first president, Achmed Sukarno, described Indonesia's foreign policy as "free and active." Officials have stated that they act independently within international affairs, with their primary concern being world peace. TUVALU Tuvalu, an island located halfway between Hawaii and Australia, has a population of just 11,000 people. Due to its weak infrastructure and limited natural resources, it is not considered a desirable target for aggressors. ARGENTINA Argentina, despite having been involved in conflicts such as the Falklands War in 1982, is well-positioned to survive a famine following a nuclear conflict due to its abundant crop reserves. BHUTAN Bhutan, a South Asian country that joined the United Nations in 1971, has declared itself neutral in any potential conflicts. Its landlocked and mountainous geography makes it easier to defend. CHILE Chile, a South American country that stretches over 4,000 miles, could serve as a bridge between Moscow and Madrid. It boasts a variety of crops and natural resources that would ease survival efforts. Additionally, Chile's infrastructure is considered the most advanced in South America. Fiji, an island nation located 2,700 miles away from Australia, ranks second to last. Despite its strategic significance and a 6,000-strong army, it ranks highly on the Global Peace Index. The island also features dense forests, minerals, and fishing spots. SOUTH AFRICA Lastly, South Africa offers multiple food sources, fertile land, and freshwater, making survival easier. Its modern infrastructure could also enhance survival chances by managing these resources effectively.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . The dollar represents roughly 58% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF and major commodities like oil are still primarily bought and sold using dollars. The dollar's dominance is threatened, however, with BRICS' growing share of GDP and the alliance's intent to trade in non-dollar currencies — a process known as de-dollarization. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.” Research shows that the U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency is not threatened in the near future. An Atlantic Council model that assesses the dollar’s place as the primary global reserve currency states the dollar is “secure in the near and medium term” and continues to dominate other currencies. Trump's latest tariff threat comes after he threatened to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to do more to halt the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S. He has since held a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said Thursday she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after meeting Trump, without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on Canada.Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was fined for taunting Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in Detroit's 34-17 win at Soldier Field last Sunday. Williams was shoved by Stevenson on the Bears sideline in the first quarter of Sunday's win, prompting Williams to get up and spin the ball in his direction. The ball hit Stevenson's foot, which drew a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct from the official. On Saturday, Williams was levied an $11,255 fine. Williams was seen talking to Lions coach Dan Campbell on the sideline after the flag, but neither the coach nor the player seemed to be upset with the sequence of events. "People spin the ball when they make big catches. You probably watch the game and see the ball get spun 12-plus times today. We didn't say nothing to each other today," Williams said. Campbell, meanwhile, said earlier this week that Sunday's game against the Bears was Williams' best as a pro. He caught five passes for a career-high 143 yards and an 82-yard touchdown. It's not the first time a fine has been issued due to an interaction between Williams and Stevenson. During Detroit's Thanksgiving Day win over Chicago, Williams was flagged for tossing the ball in Stevenson's face after making a catch near the Bears sideline. Video seemed to suggest that Williams' actions were in response to being deliberately tripped by Stevenson, who was not on the field during the play, and the league seemed to agree when they fined Stevenson $19,697 for his role in the incident. ©2024 www.detroitnews.com . Visit at detroitnews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Matt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate Nov. 14 in Palm Beach, Fla. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. 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.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. 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. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. 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. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. 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. 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. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. 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.As the nurses parted the five-eighth's short curls to fit the receptors, he thought about the impact of what he was about to do. Login or signup to continue reading In a little more than six minutes, and without ever saying a word, an image of how his brain deals with information would be taken and analysed. It would be some of the first scans of its kind taken in the region and would inform doctors about the effect of concussion in more detail than the Hunter has ever before had access to. At that moment, it might have been difficult for the players to conceive of a moment when they were hurt. They were young, at peak fitness, and at the height of their powers. But as the device - looking somewhat like a swimming cap with nodes attached - was fitted to Jayden Fox's head, he was thinking about his future. "It's keeping yourself safe," the Hunter Wildfire's five-eighth said. "Protecting your future. Footy isn't everything, I guess, and you have to protect yourself." The technology - a version of which was notably used to diagnose Knights star Kalyn Ponga after he suffered a string of concussions during the 2023 season - has made its way to the Hunter via neurologist Chris Levi, who consulted on Ponga's treatment and now co-owns a company, CXDX Connected Diagnostics, which aims to distribute the technology - called the NeuroCatch platform - in Australia. Lake Macquarie Private's emergency department is the first place in Australia to use it. It scans the low-voltage energy produced when the brain is at work and cross-references the data against another scan when a player suffers a suspected concussion. At the weekend, the Wildfires signed on en-mass for a baseline scan that would be used to diagnose concussions if the worst should happen on the field during the season. "When your brain works, it creates low voltage electricity. And that low voltage electricity can be detected through the scalp with the little electrodes in the headpiece," Professor Levi said on Saturday as he oversaw the team going through the testing at No. 2 Sportsground. "When you think about certain tasks, you produce certain waves." "What we see when someone has a concussion is that the waveform changes." Professor Levi said the technology - not only applicable to sports recovery but also to dementia patients and other brain function diagnoses - unveiled a radically new and precise understanding of how an individual player's brain responds to tasks, changing in the event of a concussion, and how long it took to recover. "There are all types of concussions in terms of mild, moderate and severe and at the moment, the guidelines are a one-size-fits-all approach," Professor Levi said. "This allows us to do precision medicine, personalising treatment to the player." The data would inform the severity and longevity of concussion events, he said, and with an immediacy that local players have not had access to before. The Wildfires operations manager, Rich Ley, said that more than the medical advancement for his players, the testing offered a sense of comfort and reassurance that the club was not just looking out for the players' health during their careers but well after. "The players have families and careers outside of here that they have to care for as well," he said. "We're doing the right thing here." Beau McKenzie, the Wildfires flanker, had suffered a few knocks in his career, and he said he felt unable to understand anything. Another player, as he waited for his turn in the testing room, remembered coming to with someone standing over him after his concussion last year. "A lot of the time, you're a bit out of it," he said. "Someone is standing over you, checking on you, and depending on what it is, you feel a bit dazed. It can be as bad as slurring your words." The benefit of the local tech, Lake Macquarie Private emergency department director Mark Lee said, was its immediacy. A nurse could fit the device and take the reading and, in less than 10 minutes, had a report that could inform them of the next steps of diagnosis. "That is why it's so exciting," he said. Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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Fresh daily!Where are graves and bodies, Dar questions PTI claims Security personnel are martyred during PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death, says Asif ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif made it clear on Saturday that the Centre had no intention to impose governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, being ruled currently by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government. Addressing a press conference here, he said the PTI tried to sink the country’s economy. “PTI launched a third onslaught on the Centre which was thwarted.” Rubbishing the PTI’s claim about causalities at the hands of law enforcers, the minister said: “Security personnel were martyred during the PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death.” He said: “The KP government attacked Centre with [official] weapons and equipment.” He advised the provincial government to focus on the law and order situation in the province in general and in Parachinar in particular. Separately, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday the state had decided that all ‘miscreants’ involved in the recent violent protests would be tried speedily and severe punishments would be awarded to them. He told a news conference in Rawalpindi and said in a statement issued earlier that the state had decided that no one would be given concessions, so that an example could be set for future. Referring to PTI leaders’ press conference held the other day, he said a series of allegations were levelled by the party about killing of its activists by the law-enforcers. However, three days have passed, but the party had not been able to present a single picture or video of the firing. The PTI leaders, he pointed out, presented contradictory figures about the death of protesters, but PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals said that no bodies were brought to them. “You are playing old pictures and AI-generated footages,” he told the PTI leaders. “Why did they not share the videos of their protesters firing and throwing shells at the police? Why was there a need to bring a false narrative about the bodies? A picture was also shared with blood on the road in the Blue Area, after which I went to that road and made a video and showed every inch where there was not even a single spot of blood,” he noted. Tarar said that a man, who had reportedly fallen from a container during the PTI’s protest in the federal capital, was injured but was completely fine now. He refuted outright claims circulating online about his death. Tarar lamented that propaganda was done that a person was offering prayers and was killed by pushing him down. However, he made it clear that the man was a resident of Mandi Bahauddin and was completely fine. His video had emerged, he got hurt on the arm and had bandages as well. Tarar condemned the humiliation of senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja in the PTI meeting recently and said “he is my teacher; Sahibzada Hamid Raza is the son of a great father; he was also treated inappropriately; we still respect his father’s grave”. The minister said there was an internal turmoil with [Bushra] ‘Bibi’ wanting dead bodies, which were not found. Therefore, these people started propaganda. He alleged these people even eat apples and post on social media, so where are pictures and videos of the dead? And where are their graves, he asked. “What will happen to the 35 Afghan citizens, who have been arrested; the weapons that have been found from your people; you will know all this. “I have also told journalists belonging to the international media that all this is despicable propaganda; firearms are not given to the forces in any protest. Do they have evidence, we have shown CCTV footage of their people firing and attacking officials,” the minister asked. He pointed out that there is a video available of their escape. Why is there no firing in it and why are people not seen dying? The minister claimed that many of their important leaders were absent from the protest. There was an Aleema group and a Bushra Bibi group in the PTI; today Bushra Bibi’s spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai was removed from her post. Attaullah Tarar said: “Whenever Pakistan starts developing, these miscreants come to the streets.” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Saturday also questioned the PTI claims about protesters allegedly killed by the law-enforcers. He said that stories about gunshot wounds and indiscriminate firing by the law enforcement agencies were malicious and absolutely false. Taking to X, the foreign minister asked, “Where are the graves and dead bodies? The so-called protestors came armed with heavy ammunition and tear gas canisters. The mob was determined to create chaos and ready to kill.” He added that the security and law enforcement agencies exercised maximum restraint with patience despite deaths within their ranks. “PTI leaders abandoned their workers and are now developing a ridiculous and lies-based narrative of state brutality,” he tweeted. Separately, PMLN parliamentary leader in Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Irfan Siddiqui took strong exception to PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa’s statement on Nov-26 protest call. He said “if a lie is made into a political weapon, there is no limit to it”. On social media platform ‘X’, he said, “Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa first revealed that “278” PTI workers were killed by the security forces”, and then said in a TV show, “In the entire human history, there is no such instance of massacre. This bloodshed has left far behind Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir and Israeli massacres in Palestine”. Irfan Siddiqui said India and Israel never imagined that such a worthy advocate would have been available to them from the PTI ranks in the anti-Pakistan campaign. “Does the incompetent group that shames Pakistan all over the world by telling unfathomable lies have the right to be called a political party,” he questioned. Also, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari claimed exposing false propaganda of the PTI by sharing a video of a person, who was falsely declared dead. She said after yet another failed rebellion, the “vultures of the PTI movement” are resorting to present fake videos and images. The propaganda cell of PTI was desperately trying to sell lies and search for dead bodies. She questioned whether these lies and propaganda should be given a free pass. Such actions were a disgrace, and strict action would be taken against those spreading fake news and false propaganda.
Polls close in Uruguay’s election, with ruling coalition and opposition headed for photo finish
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The controversial Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill is being presented by its architect, ACT Party leader David Seymour, primarily as a matter of lawmaking – a clarification through legislation. The bill seeks to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – established by decades of case law and jurisprudence – and instead enshrine new principles in law. But the bill goes deeper than that, and touches on delicate but fundamental questions of what it means to be a New Zealander. In the heated debate since the bill's introduction, two ideas of national identity come head to head. And the implications for social cohesion and the quality of democratic debate are serious. Equal and democratic vs bicultural nation For the first few decades of colonial settlement, New Zealand's identity was contained within an imperial one. The colony aspired to be a "Britain of the South". It was only from the 1950s that European New Zealanders began to develop a distinct identity. Pākehā national identity was constructed around ideas of political and economic egalitarianism. These emphasised hard work and social mobility, and portrayed New Zealand as a "land of opportunity" or a "classless society". Alexander Turnbull Library But these notions of the "equal and democratic" nation excluded Māori and perpetuated a monocultural vision of New Zealand. In fact, for Māori, the process of colonisation was anything but an egalitarian experience. Not only did the loss of ancestral land – through forceful confiscations and the introduction of private property laws – fuel poverty and economic inequality, but Māori were also denied the political rights promised to them in the Māori text of te Tiriti o Waitangi. Grievances over cultural assimilation, historical injustices and...
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Black Friday is officially a week away, and if you're as excited as we are, you'll know that the festivities are already starting. After all, it's a years-long tradition for retailers to start their sales well before the actual holiday. That's why I can gladly round up all of the best early Black Friday deals for you, below. Whether you're shopping for a new TV for your entertainment center or just need to chill out with a Headspace meditation plan, there's something for every shopper on sale right now. I've covered Black Friday for years and have kept a close eye on deals all season, so you can trust that any price drop I've flagged below is worth checking out. Prices may drop lower in the coming days as Black Friday gets closer. However, when it comes to products like Amazon devices, subscription services, and fashion brands, it's not likely that the deals will get any better than the ones I've listed now. Keep tabs on this story for more great savings as they arise over the coming days. Keep scrolling to see the best Black Friday deals you can score now. To explore even more, check out our guides to the best Amazon Black Friday sales , the best Black Friday mattress sales , and the best Walmart Black Friday deals . Adobe: Save 50% on Creative Cloud apps Allbirds: 30% off everything at the super comfy shoe brand AirPods: $90 off AirPods Pro 2 Amazon: 'Black Friday Week' sale is underway! Apple: New Amazon deals on MacBooks, iPads, and more Best Buy: Doorbuster deals on TVs, appliances, audio Blue Nile: Up to 30% off quality jewelry Brooklinen: 25-50% off luxury bed sheets Chewy: Up to 40% off pet clothing, toys, treats Ergatta: $1000 off select rowing machine bundles Leesa: 30% off superb mattresses Mint Mobile: Say goodbye to big wireless bills with 50% off Nordstrom: Shop designer deals at big discounts already NordVPN: Don't miss this 74% discount Saatva: Early Access BF mattress sale is live Saks Fifth Avenue: Designer sale discounts as high as 50% Silk & Snow: Mattress and bedding brand is up to 25% off sitewide Spanx: Early discounts across smart and casual clothing Tommy John: Save 30% on PJs and underwear with code: EARLY30 Verizon: Free iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and Watch with new deal Vivaia: Discounts on boots and shoes as high as 40% today Walmart: Flash sale features 60% savings Wayfair: Popular home picks are up to 80% off already Best Black Friday tech deals The Beats Studio Buds offer great sound, an excellent fit, and decent noise cancellation for their price. 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Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100Health authorities in the United Kingdom have warned the public against cheap Brazilian butt lift (BBL) from overseas clinics. The invasive cosmetic procedure is being offered abroad for under £3,000, inclusive of hotel accommodation and flight fare, to entice customers. In contrast, local BBL costs 70 percent higher in the United Kingdom, according to the National Health Service (NHS). However, a spate of deaths and medical complications arising from botched BBL surgeries, with the NHS frequently having to treat patients when they return home, prompted the warning posted on the NHS website on 21 December. In the post, NHS National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis also said BBL surgery has the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures as the fat injected into the buttocks can lead to a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs that can be fatal. “While many people’s social media feeds will be full of enticing looking offers in the run up to Christmas, the reality is these bargain basement cosmetic procedures are potentially deadly,” he warned. Meanwhile, a literal case of butt lifting has been remedied using 3-D printing technology. Mystic Aquarium senior veterinarian Dr. Molly Martony revealed that the company Adia measured and scanned Charlotte for the design of a customized prosthetic harness to remedy a “bubble butt syndrome” (BBS). Charlotte, a green sea turtle at the Connecticut aquarium, is suffering from BBS years after it was hit by a boat that damaged her shell and spinal cord. The BBS caused the male green sea turtle to be buoyant and vertical in the water because air in its gastro-intestinal tract lifts its butt up. The position can damage its organs, Claire Bolster, Charlotte’s handler, said, according to ABC News. With the prosthetic harness fitted on Charlotte’s shell, weights can be placed to pull his butt down and let him swim at level and more smoothly.
Middle East latest: Syria's forces withdraw from Homs, a key link between the capital and coastInvesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF ( NASDAQ:BSCV – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 188,300 shares, a growth of 117.2% from the November 30th total of 86,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 314,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 27.3% during the second quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 14,650 shares of the company’s stock valued at $234,000 after buying an additional 3,145 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc acquired a new position in Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $73,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 25.1% in the second quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 67,018 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after purchasing an additional 13,456 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 33.0% during the second quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,771,517 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,256,000 after purchasing an additional 439,570 shares during the period. Finally, Novare Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF by 6.6% during the second quarter. Novare Capital Management LLC now owns 113,345 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,808,000 after purchasing an additional 7,056 shares in the last quarter. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of NASDAQ BSCV opened at $16.03 on Friday. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $15.57 and a 1-year high of $17.80. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $16.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.33. Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Cuts Dividend About Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF ( Get Free Report ) The Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index of investment grade corporate bonds with effective maturities in 2031. The fund will unwind in December 2031 and return capitals and proceeds to investors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2031 Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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