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When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, then Vice-President handed over copies of cheques to President Jomo Kenyatta at State Hoiuse Nairobi in 1965. [File, Standard] The strong bond of friendship between Kenya’s founding President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and independence Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga instilled a sense of confidence and hope among the citizens of the newly formed state. As has been recorded in the country’s political history, Odinga turned down a clever request by colonial power brokers to form a government and ascend to power as Prime Minister as Mzee Kenyatta languished in prison. In a move that shocked the British government, Odinga outrightly rejected the offer declaring that there would be no independence without Kenyatta who he described as the undisputed leader of the African people. Later responding to a question by a British journalist in early 1960 months before Kenyatta was released from prison, on why he refused that offer, Odinga said; “How can we be better than our father? Mzee Kenyatta is our teacher and we all stand solidly behind him. There is no independence without Mzee Kenyatta.” Odinga had in 1952 mobilised resources to hire lawyer Dennis Pritt, then a Queen’s Counsel, and a team of other lawyers to defend Kenyatta following his arrest and others by the British government on October 20. The charges were supporting the Mau Mau movement. Daytime meeting Odinga’s loyalty did not waver while Kenyatta served a sentence in Lokitaung and later Maralal. During the formation of Kanu on May 18, 1960, at a daytime meeting at the current Kirigiti stadium in Kiambu, the leaders elected were Kenya African Union’s (KAU) James Gichuri and Kenya Independence Movement’s Tom Mboya who had collapsed his party into Gichuru’s KAU to make Kanu, becoming secretary-general. Gichuru became chairman and Odinga vice-chairman. However, both Gichuru and Odinga considered Kenyatta the leader and Gichuru would give way after Kenyatta was finally set free from Maralal later that year. Upon changing the 1963 Constitution turning Kenya into a republic and Kenyatta becoming President in 1964, Odinga became the natural choice for the position of Vice-President. However as has happened with the Ruto-Gachagua ‘prayerful’ political union, the political bliss of the two founding fathers — Kenyatta and Jaramogi – lasted for only two years. The two political soul mates parted ways and ushered the country into a season of heightened ethnic rivalry, tensions, and intense mistrust. Odinga who had built a solid support base in his Nyanza backyard and across other parts of the country resigned from office in 1966 citing frustration within the government which had made it difficult for him to serve the people. Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter A year before he resigned tensions had already built between the two leaders whose tipping point was the assassination of Odinga’s loyalist, Pio Gama Pinto, in 1965 which triggered continued disagreements. Political commentators and historians have said the fallout between the two leaders sowed the seed of Kenya’s politics of betrayal between presidents and their deputies which has been the hallmark of politics in Kenya over the years. Veteran politician and long-serving Molo MP Njenga Mungai told The Sunday Standard that the Kenyatta-Odinga conflict re-configured the country’s political landscape as each of the two leaders solicited the support of their ethnic communities to fight their political battles. Mungai said the conflict which was based on political differences and conflicting ideological inclinations undermined the country’s spirit of nationalism, social integration, and cohesion. The retired lawmaker, currently serving as the chairperson of the Jubilee Party’s Council of Elders said; “The intrigues of the complex Cold War being perpetrated by influential forces from outside Kenya impacted negatively the relationship between Kenyatta and Odinga leading to their fallout. “The political challenges facing the country today owe their genesis to the seeds of disunity and ethnic rivalry that were sowed amongst members of the big ethnic communities over the struggle for political power and influence shortly after the country attained independence,” Mungai told The Sunday Standard during a recent interview at his Molo home. Former Subukia MP Koigi wa Wamwere, a key figure in the second liberation, attributed the fallout between the two leaders to what he described as; “the concentration of State power in the hands of a cabal of ethnic chauvinists.” Wamwere, once a celebrated political prisoner forced to flee and find refugee in Norway, said although there were invisible external forces that created a wedge between Kenyatta and Odinga the competition for control of State power and acquisition of material possession amongst the ruling elite caused fissures in the newly formed government. The former fiery politician and assistant minister, who was first hurled into detention without trial by Kenyatta said the fallout between the two leaders was a result of “political power having fallen in the hands of individuals who did not believe in the values of the liberation struggle and who were interested in serving their selfish ends.” “Bildad Kaggia, one of the freedom fighters who was jailed together with Mzee Kenyatta but later aligned himself with Odinga would always say the struggle for independence was a struggle for land and freedom, and without the two, it would mean that the struggle had been betrayed,” Wamwere recalled. During the struggle for independence, Kenyatta and Odinga championed the cause of a unitary state of Kenya as their counterparts in Kadu agitated for a federal system of government that would create independent regions fairly free from the centre in Nairobi. Kadu drew the bulk of its support from the minority ethnic communities which in the late 50s and early 60s were the Coastal communities, Luhya, Kalenjin, Maasai, while the Kenyatta-Odinga-led Kanu political party had the support of the Kikuyu and Luo which were Kenya’s largest communities at the time. The leaders of the Kadu party were elected members from the smaller communities; Ronald Ngala (party leader) from the Coast, Masinde Muliro (secretary-general) Luhya, Daniel Arap Moi (deputy party leader), Kalenjin. The fallout between the two leaders sparked off a wave of enmity that pitted Kenyatta’s populous Kikuyu community against Odinga’s Luo. The two communities had worked together to champion the cause of freedom with Central Kenya and Nyanza regions forming the independence party, Kanu, political bastion at the height of the freedom struggle. Political pundits and historians contend that Kenyatta and Odinga were trapped in a complex web of interests driven by both local and external forces. Analysts add that the different political backgrounds and personalities who formed the independent government shaped their perception of the exercise of power and acquisition of personal wealth hence triggering conflicts amongst themselves. At the local political scene, Kenyatta is said to have fallen hostage to a cabal of Kikuyu elites who wielded power and influence in the newly established State where they used their position to acquire power and wealth. Odinga on his part advocated for the redistribution of wealth including land previously owned by the departing white settlers, hence stepping on the toes of the influential Kikuyu political elite. On the external front, Kenyatta and Odinga had different ideological orientations that were defined by the Cold War era and the after-effects of World War II. Duncan Sanys (left), Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. [File, Standard] Following the defeat of Adolf Hitler’s fascism, the two emerging powers that had been allies and victors of the 1939-45 war, began competing on a myriad of things including ideological ones. The US and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) engaged in a battle of wits through indirect conflict where smaller nations and freshly independent States such as Kenya found themselves right at the centre of the war. Capitalist system The US and its allies including the British government advocated for a capitalist system of government on Kenya against communism which was espoused by the Soviet Union and China. Kenyatta enjoyed the backing of the British and the US governments in their efforts to bolster their support in the region against the Soviet Union. READ: Exposed: Power struggles that set Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta on warpath Odinga had been calling for closer ties with China and the Soviet Union where he had political networks. He was, however, not a communist at heart and never supported the communistic ideology. He was by all accounts a capitalist - owning huge tracts of land, had investments in transport, agriculture, retail. The tag of communism was therefore a label that hit its target at a politically bad time. The tag came from his pronouncements where he pushed for no full alignment with the East or West but borrow what works from either. “For me capitalism and communism is like food, you can today eat nyoyo and tomorrow you eat ugali.’’ The Western press working in Nairobi would report such statements with a tweak “Communism is like food, Odinga says”. In his autobiography, Not Yet Uhuru, published in 1967, Odinga states that the use of public offices for the accumulation of personal wealth and oppression of the opposition by the government meant the country was yet to attain real freedom. African leaders Historians argue that the US was wary of a crop of African leaders who had ushered their countries to freedom and were agitating for closer working relationships amongst the newly independent states. READ: How a powerful group frustrated Oginga Odinga's efforts to meet Jomo Kenyatta President Kwame Nkurumah (Ghana), Leopold Senghor (Senegal), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), Patrice Lumumba (Congo) and Kenyatta (Kenya) whose countries had attained independence from colonialists in the late 50s and early 60s were calling for the emancipation of other African countries from the yoke of colonialism. The Soviet Union had rendered support to some of the countries in the liberation struggle and even supported liberation movements hence the need for the US and the Western block to woe independent African states to their side. “Though the two leaders were great friends at both political and personal levels they fell prey to intense manipulations and intrigues orchestrated by the US and British forces which sought to prevent the Soviet Union from establishing a sphere of influence in the region,” Wamwere added. Confidential documents from the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and those from the British government depicted Odinga as a power-hungry leader who was plotting to topple the Kenyatta administration. The two governments shared their intelligence briefs with the Kenyatta administration which enhanced its plot to isolate Odinga from the government. The love-hate relationship between the Kikuyu and the Luo communities came to define the trajectory of the country’s politics over the years. Candidates from the two communities have on numerous occasions found themselves key protagonists during presidential elections since the country reverted to multi-party politics. Occasional marriages of convenience between the two communities have also influenced the outcome of major political events in the country including the agitation for the second liberation and enactment of the new Constitution. ALSO READ: Jomo and Jaramogi: A tale of Kenya’s enduring political dynasties The Kenyatta administration used Tom Mboya to undermine and reduce the influence of Odinga in the Luo community —where he belonged. Mboya, who harboured presidential ambitions, was shot by an assassin in Nairobi in an incident linked to Kenyatta succession politics in 1969. The assassination of Mboya jostled the country’s political scene and provided an ethnic shift to Kenyatta-Odinga differences. Mboya’s assassination had been preceded by that of Pio Gama Pinto, a former freedom fighter of Goan descent who was perceived to have been the brain behind Odinga’s communist ideology and his lead political strategist. The killing of Pinto was interpreted as an attempt to politically weaken Odinga who was kicked out of the ruling party Kanu forcing his to seek a refugee in the Kenya People’s Union (KPU) which he founded to further his political cause. In 1969, barely months after the murder of Mboya, Kenyatta made a trip to Kisumu to open the New Nyanza General Hospital which had been constructed with the support of Russia through Odinga led to fracas that forced presidential guards to open fire on the crowd killing tens of people. The violence broke out when agitated supporters of Odinga’s KPU party clashed with Kanu youth wingers. As the showdown continued the mob threw stones at the presidential dias where Kenyatta was speaking from prompting action by security forces. The incident coupled with the killing of Mboya created bad blood between the Kikuyu and the Luo with the Luos solidly backing Odinga. The radical wing within Kanu had also coalesced around Odinga whose support threatened those in power. Odinga’s supporters, most of whom had decamped from Kanu and were subjected to an election on a KPU ticket were arrested and hurled into detention as he was placed under house arrest to weaken him politically. Personal ambition Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando, told The Sunday Standard that the fallout between Kenyatta and Odinga “epitomises how political intrigues, personal ambition and clash of ideology between the president and his assistant have defined the practice of politics in the country right from independence time hence undermining the sense of nationhood and national stability.” Kabando observes that at the time of independence candidates from different ethnic backgrounds would contest political seats in constituencies where there were few members of their communities. “For instance, Mboya would be elected in Nairobi in a constituency where the Kikuyu community formed the bulk of voters while Achieng Oneko was elected in Nakuru. John Keen, who had a Maasai background stood for a political seat in Kitale. The voters elected candidates based on the political agenda championed by a political party rather than based on ethnicity,” Kabando said. He added that the fallout between the two leaders had a profound impact on the country’s political landscape as ethnicity and support for a leader became the basis of political and mobilisation.okbet kyc verification 。

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Thanksgiving Day , celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is one of the most cherished holidays in the United States. The day is marked by family gatherings, traditional meals, and expressions of gratitude, it holds deep cultural and historical significance. This year, the celebration falls on Thursday, 28 November 2024. While many Americans spend the day enjoying a hearty meal, attending church services, or watching sporting events, others might find themselves in need of last-minute groceries. Knowing which stores will remain open can be invaluable for those in such a situation. In this article, Tribune Online examines the 10 grocery stores that will open on Thanksgiving. Known for its extensive selection and competitive deals, Kroger stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. However, specific hours may vary depending on the location, so it is recommended to verify with your local store. Most Whole Foods Market locations will be open on Thanksgiving Day but with modified hours. To avoid inconvenience, it is advisable to contact your nearest store to confirm the exact opening and closing times. Sprouts Farmers Market will operate from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. This makes it ideal for picking up fresh produce and other holiday essentials before your celebrations begin. This popular Midwestern grocery chain will welcome shoppers from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a reliable choice for last-minute grocery runs. In Texas, H-E-B stores will open early, operating from 6 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, curbside pickup services will be available until 11 a.m., offering convenience for busy customers. Select Acme locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. As hours can differ between stores, it is best to confirm with your local branch beforehand. Most Ralphs locations will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. This extended schedule provides shoppers with ample time to purchase everything they need for their festivities. Stop & Shop will keep select locations open until 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, primarily in the Northeast. Customers should check with their nearest store for confirmation of hours. Harris Teeter stores will serve customers on Thanksgiving Day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Operating in several states, store hours may vary, so it is advisable to check with your local store for accurate timings. Most Wegmans stores will close early at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. To ensure a smooth shopping experience, plan your visit ahead of time to avoid the holiday rush. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now

Who are the oldest living US presidents?Former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Minnesota Vikings, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Jones will join Minnesota’s practice squad less than a week after the Giants released the former No. 6 overall draft pick, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn’t been finalized. Sam Darnold has helped the Vikings start 9-2. Jones joins Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien in Minnesota’s quarterback room. Rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy had season-ending knee surgery in August and a second procedure on his knee earlier this month. Jones went 24-44-1 as a starter in New York, with his best season in 2022 when the Giants went 9-7-1 and beat Minnesota on the road in the first round of the playoffs. Jones completed just 63% of his passes with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

One of the interesting data points in Sri Lanka is the average age of the workforce, which is around 26 years. Sri Lanka is a young nation. It has a lot of young talent compared to many other countries of the same stature or anywhere else in Asia or Europe. I think from the overall talent who are in schools or coming out of colleges, including graduates, the numbers are very strong. Therefore, I think the nation has every reason to capitalise or leverage the young population or those who are already employed and looking to get repurposed from technology, there’s a great potential. Secondly, our own experience, where we found that the younger generation is very aspiring. They want to achieve and to be global citizens. I think that we can capture that momentum as well. It is a collaboration with the Pathfinder EduTech Institute and is basically to look at how we can facilitate because we are a catalyst for change and predominantly enabling and equipping the talent on their path to learn technology. Let us take for example colleges. The education is quite good in Sri Lanka. What is needed is the last mile job readiness. Whether it is for those who are coming from engineering or schools to become job ready. Therefore, we will focus largely on project based internships for them. We also have arts, commerce and science students who also need to learn technology so that they can go into global careers. Then there are school students, who have gaps in years of studies. They also can get jobs so they can earn and learn right. They also can enrol into some kind of an online graduation program later once they start liking their jobs. I think from the education perspective, these are the three cohorts. Meanwhile, the corporates are looking for a good partner to upskill and cross skill, which is the banking industry, where many people who have been in the banking industry so long at some point, want to absorb to learn technology and start moving up their career ladder. Putting up skilling and cross skilling into technology are something we are looking for. HCLTech is a tech company into tech coaching. Many companies in Sri Lanka and also globally are looking for tech coaching because middle management requires significant coaching, today, to stay productive. Therefore, the HCLTech will use its experience to coach the middle management to make them productive. I think the Sri Lankan Government itself has a lot of policies to attract foreign companies to come and set up its industry here. I see organisations like SLASSCOM working with NASSCOM in India to provide that bridge between industry and the Government in policy making and providing infrastructure for ICT to grow. HCLTech is a career shaper as our platform, which is already in Sri Lanka to look at how we can build the talent for the jobs in this country. I think the Government to a large extent, the country has an ecosystem and talent which is aspiring to become ICT workers. In the last 10 years, there has been a significant shift but what is important now is to accelerate because the technology is going through a lot of transformation with AI coming in and it is going to change the way we work. If Sri Lanka can learn it early on, then the outcomes will be significantly faster than missing out on the race. Any global client, let’s look at the G 2000 companies, including at HCLTech, we always look for an alternate place to grow as we do not want to have business focused only in one country. We want our talent to be diverse because diversity brings a lot of strength in terms of innovation, in terms of the culture, in terms of new ideas that we can take to the customers. Diversity is one of the focuses in most of the large organisations. We always look for different countries where the talent is and we move. Therefore, nothing stops any company from moving into a location where there is talent. This is one reason why HCLTech came to Sri Lanka and we knew that there is talent in Sri Lanka. We found that the Pathfinder is well experienced in terms of understanding what industries need today. They connect their experience, the collective wisdom that we find in the Pathfinder team. They come from very diverse backgrounds, but very rich experience in different segments, whether it is from the corporate segment to public services to the Government sector to education sector. I think the leadership team has a very good understanding of what is needed. HCLTech has a good platform, programs and we have everything and especially we know what industry needs. What we need here is a ground intelligence and an outreach partner and the best knowledge partner that we can grow the market. HCLTech is the knowledge partner here and Pathfinder is our outreach and marketing partner. We are going from school to corporate, which is an important move. What is interesting about EdTech Pathfinder Institute is that they are also going to create infrastructure for candidates to come and learn. We are fully aware that not everyone will have the right computers, technology and bandwidth to study and most importantly the environment to study. For example, there are a lot of women who want to switch today, they are aspiring to move up and they need the learning environment to continue their studies. I call them second careers. I think through this collaboration, our vision is also to see how many women in Sri Lanka want to upskill themselves using IT learning. In countries, which the HCLTech has collaborations, they are asking the State officials first to go through the IT skilling. In fact, we do AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics. That is because the Government officials understand why they have to move into a digitised world and what they need to do to bring digital transformation and then the digital transformation can be accelerated much faster. If the Sri Lanka Government says that they have very ambitious plans to go for a huge digital transformation or digitalisation process then it is good for the Government officials to get started soon. Other countries, which are in the similar early adaptation stage in digitalisation are doing it first with their officials. It’s important also for the bureaucrats to learn at the early adoption stage. From what I have heard that the Sri Lankan Government is to put in the right support systems and policies for growth. Without talent upskilling you cannot implement policies. Policies can help you with capacity, but talent development is needed to build capability. Most of the IT services today, as you said internally if the upskilling can actually bring more productivity in industries, then business becomes more productive as there are better margins. According to research findings, technology obviously brings business transformation from operations efficiency and productivity of talent. However, any country where you see exports are moving, it is largely from services and it can be a generic-services or it can be a high end tech based service. I think that’s where IT service exports can bring a huge change and can have a significant impact on the economy. If the companies and talent are prepared for that incremental journey in tech-based services for exports, then you’ll find that there will be a quick shift in the economy as well. I will answer this through my experience and have spoken about this at the Board of Investments, Chamber of Commerce and to the media. Some countries brand themselves well. I think Sri Lanka can also brand itself better. Positioning Sri Lanka for the brighter things in terms of talent, aspirations of the young generation, collective wisdom and also various other things that are available in the country today. What is the brand of Sri Lanka, today or what should Sri Lanka associate with? If someone wants to associate India with, they will say very stable democracy, highly qualified talent and digitalisation. Therefore, what do you want to be associated with? It is always a question. We do marketing, branding of products, but every country also needs to stand for something positioning itself. I think that would be important because even large MNCs are looking to come and invest here, would want to know what it is that they’re pitching and it is not just about landscape talent but what do you stand for as an elevator pitch, right? Think about how to brand Sri Lanka in the market. But under EduTech, if we can grow more talent, maybe you can say brand Sri Lanka’s talent. Here, I’ll talk about opportunities. The more you have talent, anyone can come and start IT operations here as IT does not need infrastructure. The product companies go where the talent is. The companies in Europe or Australia are taking candidates from Sri Lanka. In the IT field, they can work from anywhere and with digitisation, we have more virtual teams. Today’s jobs are networks of networks. If talent is in Vietnam, we go there. If you have to attract the right kind of investments beyond manufacturing, you have to position the right competitive talent, innovation and research. AI will create more jobs. I am one of the first-generation computer science engineers. Those days when we all went into computing, people said due to computers people will lose their jobs but later we found that computers created more jobs. This is like how they found calculators. People thought it will be a threat to accountants but what happened was there are more accountants in the world after the introduction of calculators and Excel Sheets. I see technology as your assistant and it can not replace you. Similarly, AI is also your assistant, who makes you more efficient and predictive. It’s a good opportunity and that is why it is called artificial intelligence but we still have human intelligence. Therefore it is going to create more jobs for people. Yes, the HCLTech is confident in the promising career opportunities for those trained by us. We have been working in different countries and the outcome has always been good because obviously the HCLTech certificate does help somebody to get a job. I believe that we are going to get started within six months. As part of these partnerships, we are very responsible on how we change the content, bring better training, provide better coaching, and how we better align to the local industry needs.Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. ( NASDAQ:REFI – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, December 20th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.47 per share on Monday, January 13th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance has a dividend payout ratio of 87.4% indicating that its dividend is currently covered by earnings, but may not be in the future if the company’s earnings tumble. Equities analysts expect Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance to earn $1.94 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 96.9%. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Stock Performance REFI stock opened at $16.18 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $317.68 million, a PE ratio of 8.09 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a fifty day moving average of $15.81 and a 200-day moving average of $15.71. Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance has a one year low of $14.82 and a one year high of $16.75. Analyst Ratings Changes Check Out Our Latest Report on REFI Insider Transactions at Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance In related news, insider John Mazarakis acquired 2,779 shares of Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $15.82 per share, for a total transaction of $43,963.78. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 372,709 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,896,256.38. This trade represents a 0.75 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 12.30% of the company’s stock. About Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance ( Get Free Report ) Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a commercial real estate finance company in the United States. The company engages in originating, structuring, and investing in first mortgage loans and alternative structured financings secured by commercial real estate properties. Its portfolio primarily includes offers senior loans to state-licensed operators in the cannabis industry. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The Pittsburgh Steelers got bad news for the hopes of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith returning to action this week. The Steelers’ starting right outside linebacker was in attendance at practice on Wednesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Highsmith took part in warmups, wearing his familiar gold No. 56 uniform, but when the horn sounded for the start of practice, he was nowhere to be seen, merely watching as his teammates took part in even a non-contact get-off drill. Head coach Mike Tomlin left the door open to a Highsmith return on Tuesday, but the team’s starting right outside linebacker being a spectator on Wednesday is not necessarily a good sign for his return. The team was in pads for a rare late-season practice with tackling, so that could have been part of the reason the team decided to take it easy with Highsmith. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith at practice on Nov. 27, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now The Steelers did get some good news, as defensive tackle Montravius Adams was listed as a full participant in practice. He said afterward that his intention is to return to action this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Highsmith was the only player on the team’s 53-man roster that did not practice due to injury. Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and Isaac Seumalo were given tine off to rest. Adams and cornerback Cory Trice were both full participants in practice, but remain on the injured reserve list. PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT STEELERS INJURED RESERVE This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission.Democrats strike deal to get more Biden judges confirmed before Congress adjourns

SpaceX knocks out 1st of final 2 Space Coast launches of 2024The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed for the second reading a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Skills Acquisition and Technology, Agulu, Anambra State. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra), said that acquiring technical and technological skills is crucial for the advancement and development of any nation. In his lead debate, Umeh stated that establishing platforms for acquiring requisite skills through technical and technological education is a vital source of youth empowerment. “This is a sure way of curtailing unemployment in the country,” he said. READ ALSO: Nigeria Senate reintroduces hate speech prohibition bill Umeh highlighted that Nigeria currently ranks among nations with very high levels of youth unemployment. “We have millions of youths idling away without any visible means of livelihood, and this has significantly contributed to the high level of insecurity in the country. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop,” he remarked. He added that idle youths could be salvaged and empowered through technical skills acquisition, which would provide employment opportunities, especially in the construction industry, and enable them to become self-employed. The bill proposes training programs in areas such as bricklaying, electrical installations, plastering, roofing, plumbing, painting, cooling systems, refrigeration, carpentry, steel fabrications, welding, ceiling POPs, iron bending, and fitting, among others. “It is not in doubt that people with these skills are the backbone of the construction industry in any given nation. For example, in America and other developed countries, great emphasis is placed on skills acquisition among youths, particularly those not pursuing university degrees or diplomas in tertiary institutions,” he said. Umeh urged lawmakers to support the expeditious passage of the bill due to its far-reaching relevance to the socio-economic development of the country. The bill, which received support from most lawmakers who contributed to the debate, was read for the second time. The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for further legislative input, with a directive to return it to plenary in four weeks.

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NoneNEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing investigation. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was "working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism," her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7." The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. A spokesman for the agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.” While a family member resides at the address, they said "former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington, D.C. were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that, “Anytime a Member of Congress is the victim of a 'swatting' incident, we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners. To protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats, we cannot provide more details at this time.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats,” he wrote on X. “It is not who we are in America.” Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York contributed to this report. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Related ArticlesBALLYORGAN is the gateway to the Ballyhouras but locals believe its potential isn’t being unlocked. Aidan Gleeson, chairperson of the Glenroe / Ballyorgan Community Council, said it is a very picturesque and quaint area with fertile farmland and a mountain backdrop. He said the close knit community have struggled with the same challenges that many areas have of “under-resourcing of isolated places and not having a population big enough to attract the political will to address their problems”. “There are efforts to source funding from the local authority to address the poor public lighting and crumbling footpaths which have been neglected for many years. This forces walking groups to use the middle of the road to navigate the hillside village, and as everyone knows forcing pedestrians and vehicles to use the same space is not best practice. “The community has been repeatedly promised that next year, there may be funding available to address their needs and one of these years that may actually be true,” said Mr Gleeson (pictured below demonstrating urgent repairs that required in Ballyorgan). The prominent farmer and former chairperson of Limerick IFA. said in the meantime the people of Ballyorgan are moving ahead to provide for themselves “as they always have”. “Ballyorgan is now marketed as a hub for mountain walking. The community has established a pre-school and after school service to encourage young people to live in the area, and, of course, the Village Inn is a source of entertainment, music and fun. “There is still work to be done and the community has been working for a decade or more to reverse the decline in the area by lobbying for services and facilities to meet the needs of the locals and tourists alike,” said Mr Gleeson. He said there are efforts to develop the school field for use as a social space with amenities to benefit the community and visitors alike. However, infrastructural improvements by the council in Ballyorgan would give a big lift to the village and parish. READ MORE: New 2025 calendar launched by Dromcollogher group Ballyorgan, in past generations, was a centre for artisan skills, housing all the trades needed to service a village and adjoining estates. It had two churches to administer to the spiritual needs of its mixed faith population. There was a blacksmith, tailor, creamery, post office, shop and school. Over the years, one by one, they have lost a lot of the services they had or provided for themselves. But Ballyorgan’s community is fighting back.

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(Bloomberg) — Jimmy Carter, the former Georgia peanut farmer who as US president brokered a historic and lasting peace accord between Israel and Egypt in a single term marred by soaring inflation, an oil shortage and Iran’s holding of American hostages, has died. He was 100. Carter died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family, the Carter Center said Sunday in a statement. Public observances are planned in Atlanta and Washington, followed by a private interment in Plains. The longest-living former US president ever, Carter had opted in early 2023 to spend his remaining time at his home in Plains receiving hospice care. He was there alongside Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years, when she died in November 2023 at age 96. And he lived long enough to fulfill a final wish — to cast a ballot for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. A Democrat who rose from running his family’s peanut-farming and seed-supply businesses to serving as Georgia governor, Carter won the White House in 1976 over incumbent Gerald Ford by promising to bring honesty to an office tainted two years earlier by the resignation of Richard Nixon in the culmination of the Watergate scandal. Ascetic, humble and deeply religious, Carter was skeptical of the pomp surrounding the presidency and came to Washington with fewer allies and fixed positions than most who hold the job. His allegiance to an inner moral compass, his vow to support societies that “share with us an abiding respect for individual human rights” and his tendency to speak his mind collided at times with political realities during his four years in office, from 1977 to 1981, and served as a preview of what was to come in a service-filled post-presidency that lasted decades. Carter “assembled a new front line on nearly every issue, with no inherited party game plan or ideological playbook to fall back on,” Jonathan Alter wrote in a 2020 biography that painted him as often right in his instincts but flawed in executing government responses. The book was among several in recent years that offered a revised and sunnier view of Carter’s crisis-plagued tenure. Though Carter “left the White House a widely unpopular president,” his achievements “shine brighter over time, few more than his unique determination to put human rights at the forefront of his foreign policy from the start of his presidency,” his chief domestic policy adviser, Stuart Eizenstat, wrote in a 2018 biography of his former boss. The signature achievement of the Carter presidency, the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, led to peaceful co-existence between the Middle East neighbors even as it fell short of resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. That and other foreign policy breakthroughs, including a treaty granting Panama ownership of the US-built Panama Canal, were overshadowed by the plight of American hostages held in Iran during the last 444 days of his presidency. They were finally released the day Carter turned over the Oval Office to Republican Ronald Reagan. On the domestic front, the Carter presidency was dogged by economic woes. Inflation reached 13.3% at the end of 1979 compared with 5.2% when he took office in January 1977. The Federal Reserve’s actions to stem price increases pushed home-mortgage rates to almost 15%, and Carter had to take emergency action to stem a slide in the dollar. There were energy shortages, and oil prices more than doubled. Malaise Speech A speech to the nation in on July 15, 1979, became emblematic of Carter’s presidency. With fuel prices skyrocketing and lines at gas stations lengthening, Carter told Americans that solving the energy mess “can also help us to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country.” He said many Americans “now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption.” Though Carter never uttered the word, the address became known as the “malaise” speech and contributed to a sense that Carter was powerless to change the nation’s course. “Our memory of the speech comes from those who reworked it, who twisted its words into a blunt instrument that helped them depose a president,” historian Kevin Mattson wrote. Carter’s words, he noted, “received immediate applause and yet wound up ensuring his defeat” to Reagan in the 1980 election. Just weeks after delivering the speech, Carter tapped Paul Volcker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to take over as chair of the Federal Reserve, replacing G. William Miller, who became Treasury secretary. Volcker made it clear to Carter that he would deal head-on with inflation by pursuing tighter monetary policies than Miller. Volcker’s policies — which sent interest rates as high as 20% — came at a high price, the fallout contributing to Reagan’s landslide victory over Carter in the 1980 election. Though some of Volcker’s policies “were politically costly, they were the right thing to do,” Carter commented upon Volcker’s death in 2019. Nobel Prize Carter made some of his biggest imprints on the world in the years after he left the White House. He “reinvented the post-presidency,” observed Julian Zelizer, a professor of history at Princeton University and a Carter biographer. In four-plus decades as an ex-president — the longest such tenure in American history — Carter waged a worldwide campaign against war, disease and the suppression of human rights through the Atlanta-based Carter Center, which he founded with his wife. The center made particular strides against Guinea worm disease, a parasite spread through contaminated water that can render victims non-functional for months. Worldwide cases dropped to just 14 in 2023 from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986, according to the center. Carter was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” His post-presidential causes were not without backlash. Fourteen advisers to the Carter Center resigned in protest of his best-selling 2007 book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, which compared Israel to the White governments of South Africa that systematically oppressed Black citizens. Carter’s longevity defied the odds. He revealed in 2015 that he had melanoma, a type of cancer, and that it had spread to his brain. He received treatment, recovered and on March 22, 2019, became the longest-living chief executive in US history. In 2021, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. His Christian faith, he said, made him “absolutely and completely at ease with death.” Peanut Farm James Earl Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, the first of four children born to Earl Carter, a farmer, and the former Lillian Gordy, a nurse. He grew up in the nearby hamlet of Archery, where the family owned a peanut farm and a general store. He traveled two miles each day to Plains to attend an all-White school. Electricity and indoor plumbing didn’t reach the Carter farm until 1935. Carter attended the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from 1943 to his graduation in 1946. He began dating a girl from Plains, Rosalynn Smith, when home on breaks. They married in July 1946 and would have four children — sons Jack, Chip and Jeff, and daughter Amy. While serving in the Navy for seven years, Carter worked on the development of the nuclear submarine program and rose to the rank of lieutenant. When his father died in 1953, Carter resigned his commission to return to his family’s peanut-farming business. In 1962, he was elected to the Georgia Senate and in 1970 was elected governor, having lost his first bid in 1966. His work to end racial discrimination in the state made him a symbol of the “New South.” At the start of his campaign for the presidency, Carter was not widely known outside of Georgia and was viewed by analysts as a long shot for the Democratic nomination. He began traveling the country before many other candidates had started their campaigns, pitching his outsider status to voters who had endured the revelations of Watergate and Nixon’s resignation. Carter emphasized his religious upbringing — he was a Southern Baptist who often described himself as a “born again” Christian — and promised the American people that he would never lie to them. He won the New Hampshire primary, proving his viability in the North, and defeated Alabama Governor George Wallace in Florida to establish himself as the strongest candidate in the South, on the way to clinching the Democratic nomination. With Minnesota Democrat Walter Mondale as his running mate, Carter narrowly beat Ford, with 50.1% of the vote, and was sworn into office in January 1977 as the 39th US president. Starting what has become a tradition for new presidents, he stepped out of his limousine during the inauguration parade and walked down Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. Billy Brew Carter’s family included colorful characters such as his sister Ruth, a faith healer, and brother Billy, a gas-station operator whose enjoyment of drinking led to the creation of the short-lived Billy Beer brand during his brother’s presidency. The president’s mother also grabbed media attention. A nurse who tended to Black and White families in the segregated South, she joined the Peace Corps at age 68 and always had a ready quip for the press. “When I look at my children,” she once cracked, “I say, ‘Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin.’” As president, Carter signed legislation creating the cabinet-level Department of Education. He appointed women, Black people and Hispanic people to federal posts in large numbers. He stunned the defense contracting industry by killing the Air Force’s expensive B-1 bomber project, a step later reversed by Reagan. He signed the law that created the federal Superfund program to clean up hazardous-waste sites. Carter won praise after his presidency for the steps he had taken toward deregulation, particularly of the airline industry, where the removal of government control of fares and routes promoted competition. One of his longest battles with Congress involved his proposal to scrap 18 dam and irrigation projects, most of them in the West and South. His “hit list” pleased many environmentalists while angering Westerners, including some fellow Democrats. Congress restored funding for most of the projects. From his presidency’s earliest days, Carter sought to highlight and utilize energy shortages to raise support for his domestic agenda. The cabinet-level Department of Energy was created in his administration’s first year, and he had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House. In a televised address to the nation two weeks into his term, Carter called for a new emphasis on conservation, mirroring the White House’s own push for frugality. At Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, Carter guided Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the 1978 accord that led the next year to the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country. The treaty committed Israel to remove its troops and civilian settlements from the Sinai Peninsula and led to billions of dollars in US aid to Israel and Egypt. The Camp David breakthrough didn’t lead to a broader Mideast peace, however, and Carter through the years didn’t hide his disappointment. In Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid, he focused on Israel’s occupation of Arab land as the root cause of continued hostilities. In a 2010 book based on his White House diaries, Carter said the US had “defaulted in carrying out one unchallenged and unique responsibility: mediating a peace agreement between Israel and its neighbors.” Olympics Boycott In response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, Carter imposed a trade embargo and organized the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. Rosalynn Carter said she tried and failed to persuade her husband to wait until after the Iowa presidential caucuses of 1980 to impose the embargo, which hurt US farmers. “I am much more political than Jimmy and was more concerned about popularity and winning reelection,” Rosalynn wrote in her 1984 memoir, “but I have to say that he had the courage to tackle the important issues, no matter how controversial — or politically damaging — they might be.” The biggest external crisis of his presidency was precipitated by the Islamic Revolution in Iran that overthrew the shah and installed a theocratic government headed by formerly exiled cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. On Nov. 4, 1979, radical students overran the US Embassy in Tehran and took more than 60 Americans hostage. Fifty-two of them were held for the last 444 days of Carter’s term. In April 1980, Carter gave the go-ahead for a military assault on the embassy to rescue the hostages. Of the eight helicopters from the USS Nimitz that headed to a desert staging area, from which the raid on Tehran was to commence, three had problems. The mission was aborted, and during preparations for retreat, a helicopter flew into a C-130 transport plane and exploded. Eight American servicemen died. Stymied by crisis on the domestic and foreign fronts, Carter lost his bid for reelection in a landslide, with Reagan winning 44 states. The hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981, the day Reagan was sworn into office. One More Helicopter “Over the years, in various classrooms and public forums, I have often been asked if there was one substantive action or decision I made as president that I would have changed,” Carter wrote in White House Diary. “Somewhat facetiously, I have answered, ‘I would have sent one more helicopter to ensure the success of the hostage rescue effort in April 1980.’ But I truly believe that if I had done so, I would have been reelected.” The Carters returned to Plains after leaving the White House, and Carter taught scripture at the Maranatha Baptist Church as recently as 2020. In his brimming post-presidency, Carter helped arrange peace talks between North and South Korea and a cease-fire in Bosnia. Through the Carter Center, he helped monitor elections around the world to help ensure that they were fair. He traveled to Haiti in 1994 to negotiate the restoration of constitutional government, averting a threatened US-led invasion. Accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, as the US under President George W. Bush was preparing to invade Iraq, Carter made his disapproval clear. “For powerful countries to adopt a principle of preventive war may well set an example that can have catastrophic consequences,” he said. Carter attended the inauguration of Republican Donald Trump in 2017, the sixth and final presidential swearing-in he witnessed after leaving office. Days earlier, he had told congregants at his hometown church that of 22 voters in his family, none had voted for Trump. But he had been the first former president to accept an invitation to the inauguration, determined to show support for the new US leader. Trump “has never been involved in politics before,” Carter explained, according to an account by Voice of America. “He has a lot to learn. He’ll learn — sometimes the hard way, like I did.” —With assistance from Rich Miller. (Updates with statement from Carter Center in second paragraph.)