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President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an "America First" national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, and said "He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!" Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump's top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. Trump has criticized the billions that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine. Washington has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. The incoming Republican president has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute's Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group's policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation's "Project 2025," is a move to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. 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." Kellogg was a character in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence's national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden 's victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: "You're not tough enough to make the call." ___ Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurerbet 86 。

Undercover FBI agents had no role in US Capitol attack: reportT he Biden Administration commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates on Monday. The last-minute move has been widely criticized, and justifiably so. The clemency has devastated some family members of the victims. Families that the Biden Administration didn't bother to consult or even notify that the monsters that raped and murdered their loved ones would be shown mercy. Does anyone believe Joe Biden had the decency to first warn the victims' families that clemency was coming for killers? Of course not. Biden is both corrupt and fundamentally indecent. Some of those family members are speaking out. Victim’s shattered kin wants Biden to ‘explain to our faces’ stunning death-row Christmas clemency https://t.co/8HsGsrKBIm pic.twitter.com/EMatOxEheK Alex Snell, the brother of Amanda Snell, spoke to the New York Post about the commuted sentence of Jorge Avila-Torrez, who murdered his sister in 2009. President Biden needs to explain his death-sentence commutations “to our faces,” says the furious brother of a young female naval officer murdered by one of the “despicable’’ clemency recipients. “I’d rather see it go back to the way it was, where he was sentenced to death,” said Alex Snell, 42, of Jorge Avila-Torrez, who fatally strangled Snell’s 20-year-old sister, Amanda Snell, in her Arlington, Va., barracks in July 2009. “He should have gotten that penalty,” Snell told The Post of the killer — who also sexually assaulted and murdered two little girls and raped a grad student. In a sweeping act of clemency, Biden lowered the death-penalty sentences of 37 of the feds’ 40 current death-row inmates to life in prison without parole Snell called Biden's act of clemency for the man who killed his sister 'Despicable.' President Biden needs to explain his death-sentence commutations “to our faces,” says the furious brother of a young female naval officer murdered by one of the “despicable’’ clemency recipients. It's highly unlikely that anyone from the Biden Administration will reach out to the victim's families. Looking family members in the eye when you are about to show mercy to their loved one's murderers would take courage, and courage is something Biden is gravely lacking. Brandon Council was sentenced to death for the murders of Donna Major and Katie Skeen during a 2017 bank robbery. Donna's family spoke to Fox News about Council's commutation. Watch. Donna Major’s family SLAMS Joe Biden for granting clemency to her kiIIer right before Christmas without speaking to them pic.twitter.com/GrSYOURxTO Donna's daughter, Heather Turner, requested a face-to-face meeting with the Pardon Attorney in May. Those requests were denied. This administration was not tone-deaf; they just didn't care. The Biden administration released a statement attempting to spin their spineless decision to commute the death sentences of some of our nation's worst offenders as a moral one. I am commuting the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. This action is consistent with my Administration's moratorium on federal executions, except for cases involving terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. pic.twitter.com/Obxfytxxbb If there were truly courage to Biden's convictions, would he not have granted clemency to all 40 death row inmates? If it were truly a moral choice, why are there exceptions to his morality? If he can not in good conscience allow the next administration to resume executions, then why leave three men on death row to execute? The political stunt has rubbed salt in the wounds of the families who lost loved one and they are pissed. They're not alone. Joseph Biden is filth... https://t.co/xCrfYi3x8a No doubt Biden would pardon this sicko if he were on federal death row https://t.co/cnzUhfctTf Biden's legacy, from the open border to this spineless act of clemency, will be as the president who neutered America. At every opportunity, both domestically and internationally, the Biden administration has projected weakness. Thankfully, this invertebrate of an administration will end in less than a month. It may be too late for the families affected by this cowardly decision, but at least on January 20th, this country will get her spine back.The Big Central Conference coaches have made their picks for the 2024 all-star teams in all 12 divisions. Congratulations to all those players selected to either first or second team in their respective divisions. You all contributed greatly to another exciting season in New Jersey’s newest super conference. NOTE : The selections were made by coaches from the conference and not reporters from NJ.com . If an athlete’s name is misspelled, please let us know and we will make the correction. BCC ALL-DIVISION TEAMS American Gold Division American Silver Division Freedom Gold Division Freedom Silver Division Liberty Gold Division Liberty Silver Division National Gold Division National Silver Division Patriot Gold Division Patriot Silver Division United Gold Division United Silver Division RECOMMENDED • nj .com Super Football Conference All-Division teams, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 2:00 p.m. Super Football Conference: Freedom Red All-Division teams, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 1:23 p.m. Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitte

The Chronicle's 2024 All-Area Football TeamNoneSeveral members of Donald Trump's incoming US administration have received threats including bomb alerts, the FBI said Wednesday, with one nominee reporting a pipe-bomb scare sent with a pro-Palestinian message. The President-elect's picks for UN ambassador and head of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as his former choice to be US attorney general, said they were among those who had received the threats. "The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners," the agency said in a statement. Swatting refers to a practice in which police are summoned urgently to someone's house under false pretenses. Such hoax calls are common in the United States and have seen numerous senior political figures targeted in recent years. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said that several appointees and nominees "were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them." Outgoing President Joe Biden "has been briefed" on the threats, the White House said. "The White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and the President-elect’s team, and continues to monitor the situation closely," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence." Biden has vowed a smooth and peaceful presidential transition -- in contrast to when Trump riled a mob that attacked the US Capitol in January 2021 with false claims of election fraud. Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist congresswoman tapped to be UN ambassador, said her residence in New York was targeted in a bomb threat. She said in a statement that she, her husband, and small son were driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday when they learned of the threat. Lee Zeldin, Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said his home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a "pro-Palestinian themed message." The former congressman from New York said he and his family were not home at the time. Matt Gaetz, who dropped out as Trump's pick to be attorney general after facing opposition over sexual misconduct allegations, reposted Zeldin's message on X and said: "Same." Scott Turner, the nomine for Housing Secretary and a retired NFL player, and Trump's pick for Labor Secretary, meanwhile also said they had also received bomb threats at their homes. Fox News Digital quoted unidentified sources saying that John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, were additionally targeted. Ahead of his return to the White House in January, Trump has already swiftly assembled a cabinet of loyalists, including several criticized for a severe lack of experience. The Republican, who appears set to avoid trial on criminal prosecutions related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, was wounded in the ear in July in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The shooter was killed in counter-fire. In September, authorities arrested another man accused of planning to shoot at Trump while he played golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Leavitt appeared to reference the previous incidents, saying that "with President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us." bur-dk/sms

NoneThe decision by Tesco, Musgrave and the BWG Group came after a woman who said Mr McGregor raped her won a civil claim for damages against him. Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in the Irish capital. In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.” The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace. A Tesco spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.” A spokesperson for BWG Group said: “The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores, including Appleby Westward which operates over 300 Spar stores in the south west of England.” It is understood that other retail outlets including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr McGregor. He and some of his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper Number Twelve Irish whiskey brand. He was reported to have been paid more than £103 million from the sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021. On Monday, a popular video game developer decided to pull content featuring the MMA fighter. The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series. Mr McGregor’s character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game. IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. “Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” Last Friday, the High Court jury awarded damages amounting to 248,603.60 euros (around £206,000) to Ms Hand. Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intended to appeal against the decision.

Undercover FBI agents had no role in US Capitol attack: reportTimberwolves didn’t turn to small ball to close last game, and those lineups don’t seem to be on the horizon

Lewandowski joins Ronaldo and Messi in Champions League 100-goal club. Haaland nets 2 but City drawsTimberwolves didn’t turn to small ball to close last game, and those lineups don’t seem to be on the horizon

Rob Cross has apologised for the gesture he made during his loss to pal Scott Williams on Monday - as he hopes to avoid punishment from the Darts Regulation Authority. The 2018 world champion was dumped out of this year’s World Darts Championship in the second round as he became another big name to be eliminated early from the competition. Cross fell to a 3-1 loss to Williams, becoming the 14th seeded player to have already been knocked out, following the likes of Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Gian van Even and Raymond van Barneveld. But Cross, 34, could be in hot water after appearing to imitate a sexual act during his defeat - a gesture caught live on camera during Sky Sports’ coverage. Cross has now broken his silence on both his defeat and that moment, taking to social media to declare: “Massively disappointed to lose out to my friend Scott Williams. Good luck to him for the rest of the tournament. “I made a gesture to my manager about how annoyed I was with my performance. If it offended anyone, I apologise. Merry Christmas .” Williams is now set to take on Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko in the third round and he is feeling confident about his chances. "It's so tough, because Rob is one of my closest friends," Williams admitted after beating Cross. "Neither of us were great tonight, but Rob missed doubles and gave me a chance, so when you get given opportunities, you've got to take it. I'm always confident, regardless of who I'm playing, but I'm just looking forward to having Christmas with the family now." Williams was a semi-finalist 12 months ago, before losing to eventual winner Luke Humphries. And certainly, he saves his best performances for the major events. He said pre-tournament: "People have joked, calling me the Michael Buble of darts because I only turn up in October, November and December! Over the last couple of years, that is about right. "I want to try and change that next year by getting into a couple more TV events, just to take my game to the next level. It's about finding consistency with my practice.”

Trump brushes off Ontario threat to pull U.S. energy plug as booze ban pondered

( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were brought to the All India congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Saturday morning, where senior Congress leaders and party workers gathered to bid a final farewell to their stalwart leader. Prominent Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were among those who reached the party headquarters to pay their heartfelt tributes to the former Prime Minister. Dr Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior leaders are expected to attend the funeral later in the day. His mortal remains will be kept at the Congress headquarters to allow party workers and supporters to offer floral tributes. Following this, his final journey to the cremation ground will commence. "Dr Manmohan Singh's final journey to the heavenly abode will begin from AICC HQ to the cremation ground after 9:30 AM on Saturday," according to sources familiar with the arrangements for his last rites. As a mark of respect, a half-day holiday has been declared in all Central Government offices and CPSUs. Dr Manmohan Singh, who served as India's 14th Prime Minister and was regarded as one of the nation's most renowned economists, passed away at the age of 92 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday night. Known as the "architect of India's economic reforms," Dr. Singh led the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. To honour his legacy, a seven-day period of national mourning has been announced until January 1, 2025. During this period, the National Flag will fly at half-mast across the country and at Indian Missions and High Commissions abroad. The Congress has also cancelled all official programmes, including its Foundation Day celebrations, during the mourning period. Activities will resume on January 3. Meanwhile, a controversy has surfaced regarding the allocation of space for Dr Singh's memorial. Congress leaders criticised the decision to perform the last rites at Nigam Bodh Ghat instead of a location where a memorial could be established. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has reportedly spoken with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the possibility of creating a memorial at the same site where Dr Singh's last rites are to be held. The Centre has clarified that a memorial will be allocated but stated that forming a trust and designating space for the memorial will take time. In the interim, the cremation and other formalities will proceed as planned. Dr Singh's passing has elicited tributes from across the political spectrum, underscoring his contributions as a leader who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India's economic and political landscape. MENAFN27122024000231011071ID1109036190 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dead from cancer at 78

Lawmakers impeach president. SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has welcomed the recent upgrade of Sri Lanka’s credit rating by leading global agencies, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, calling it a significant milestone for the nation’s economic recovery. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday, Dr. de Silva remarked, “The credit rating improvement is not only good news for the Government but also for the entire economy, including private sector investors who were severely impacted by the debt crisis.” He highlighted how the downgrade of Sri Lanka’s credit rating had discouraged foreign investment, citing the example of India’s Adani Group, which raised concerns about credit risks during negotiations for electricity projects. Despite the positive development, Dr. de Silva cautioned that Sri Lanka is still not in a position to access international financial markets for borrowing. He attributed the credit rating upgrade to the initiatives undertaken by the previous Government, including key legislation and economic stabilisation efforts, rather than new policies introduced by the current administration. “The agreement reached prior to the Presidential Election has remained unchanged and has directly contributed to this credit rating improvement,” he stated. He also criticised the National People’s Power (NPP) Party for making unfulfilled promises, such as proposing an alternative debt sustainability analysis during its election campaign. “False promises by the NPP misled the people, but continuing with the previously established economic reforms has proven beneficial for the country,” he asserted. Dr. de Silva noted Sri Lanka’s recent exit from default status after it was declared a defaulter on 12 April 2022, following its announcement of an inability to repay external debt. While he acknowledged this as a step forward, he explained that the country remains unable to re-enter the international financial market or issue sovereign bonds. He estimated that it would take until at least 2027 for Sri Lanka to regain active participation in global financial markets, provided the Government adheres to its reform agenda. Discussing the nation’s economic progress, Dr. de Silva pointed to a 5.5% growth in the third quarter of 2024 and emphasised the importance of continuing reforms to maintain upward momentum in credit ratings. “The stock market has shown signs of improvement, but investor confidence has been undermined by misleading statements from the NPP Government. Continuity of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic program has been the foundation for stabilising the economy,” he added. He also stressed the need for disciplined economic management to secure a substantial loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2027. While acknowledging the significant challenges ahead, Dr. de Silva expressed optimism that Sri Lanka’s standing in the global financial community could improve if reforms are sustained. Reflecting on the pre-election promises of the NPP, Dr. de Silva criticised their claim that the debt sustainability analysis could be altered, arguing that such changes would have jeopardised the country’s credit rating improvements. Instead, he emphasised that the steady continuation of the existing economic framework has been instrumental in fostering the nation’s recovery.‘Execute Well’

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Toyota said Thursday it will build a new paint facility as part of a $922 million investment at its factory complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, making it the second big addition announced this year at the automaker's largest global manufacturing plant. In February, the company said it would invest $1.3 billion at its Kentucky complex, in part so it can build an all-new three-row electric SUV to be sold in the U.S. Neither project will add any new jobs at the facility, which now employs about 10,000 workers. However, the investments reinforce Toyota's commitment to long-term job stability, the company said. The new paint facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will add 1 million square feet of capacity while decreasing carbon emissions by 30% and water usage by 1.5 million gallons per year, Toyota said. It will enable the company to offer more diverse color options for its vehicles, the company said. “Toyota’s commitment to advanced paint technologies goes beyond aesthetics,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “It encompasses efficiency, sustainability and quality, leading the industry in environmentally responsible manufacturing.” The project also will increase flexibility for future vehicle production and advances Toyota's goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, the automaker said. Toyota’s investment in the Bluegrass State has surpassed $11 billion since breaking ground at the central Kentucky site in 1986. Georgetown is 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of Lexington, Kentucky.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Toyota said Thursday it will build a new paint facility as part of a $922 million investment at its factory complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, making it the second big addition announced this year at the automaker's largest global manufacturing plant. In February, the company said it would invest $1.3 billion at its Kentucky complex, in part so it can build an all-new three-row electric SUV to be sold in the U.S. Neither project will add any new jobs at the facility, which now employs about 10,000 workers. However, the investments reinforce Toyota's commitment to long-term job stability, the company said. The new paint facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will add 1 million square feet of capacity while decreasing carbon emissions by 30% and water usage by 1.5 million gallons per year, Toyota said. It will enable the company to offer more diverse color options for its vehicles, the company said. “Toyota’s commitment to advanced paint technologies goes beyond aesthetics,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “It encompasses efficiency, sustainability and quality, leading the industry in environmentally responsible manufacturing.” The project also will increase flexibility for future vehicle production and advances Toyota's goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, the automaker said. Toyota’s investment in the Bluegrass State has surpassed $11 billion since breaking ground at the central Kentucky site in 1986. Georgetown is 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of Lexington, Kentucky.Undercover FBI agents were not present during the 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Donald Trump supporters, a Justice Department watchdog said Thursday in a report debunking a popular right-wing conspiracy theory. "We found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6," Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz said in an 88-page report. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in a bid to prevent congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's election victory. Right-wing media and even some Republican lawmakers have spuriously claimed that undercover FBI agents provoked the attack on Congress, which followed a fiery speech by Trump in which he falsely claimed the election had been stolen. The inspector general said that while no undercover FBI agents were present at the Trump rally or the Capitol, 26 FBI informants known as confidential human sources (CHS) were in Washington at the time. Three of the informants had been tasked with reporting on domestic terrorist suspects while the others were there on their own. "None of these FBI CHSs were authorized to enter the Capitol or a restricted area, or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts on January 6," the report said. The inspector general also said there had been an intelligence-gathering failure by the FBI ahead of the January 6 attack. "While the FBI undertook significant efforts to identify domestic terrorism subjects who planned to travel to the Capital region on January 6," the report said, "the FBI did not take a step that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations. "Specifically, the FBI did not canvass its field offices in advance of January 6, 2021, to identify any intelligence, including CHS reporting, about potential threats to the January 6 Electoral Certification," it said. FBI deputy director Paul Abbate was quoted as saying this was a "basic step that was missed" in "understanding the threat picture prior to January 6." Trump was impeached by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives following the attack on the Capitol, but acquitted by the Senate. He is to return to the White House on January 20 after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election. More than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the assault on Congress. Trump has lauded them as "patriots" and "political prisoners" and pledged to pardon many of them when he returns to the White House. cl/st