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Single Man’s Fake Couple Photos Go Viral For All The Right ReasonsBy LOLITA BALDOR and FATIMA HUSSEIN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — 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, an 80 year-old 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.” Trump’s proposed national security advisor U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” 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.The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Buy Smarter: The Consumer Guide to Smart TVsFive Queens residents, including a married couple from Kew Gardens Hills, have been arrested for their alleged roles in multimillon-dollar retail theft operation that focused on high-end cosmetics, beauty products, designer clothes and accessories. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined in her office at a Tuesday press conference by Gov. Hochul and law enforcement officials, said the ring paid drivers and others to steal merchandise up and down the East Coast from or headed to major retailers including Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The merchandise allegedly was subsequently sold far below the retail prices and allegedly resulting in $2 million in sales over two years. A press release said raids were carried out Nov. 22 in Kew Gardens Hills, Fresh Meadows and a storage site in Briarwood. “These arrests once again prove that consumers should be extremely careful about buying items on social media or from unfamiliar vendors,” Katz said. “As we approach the holiday season, take great care to know the genesis of the products you are buying.” She also said this marks the first time in New York that anyone has been charged for the crime of fostering the sale of stolen goods, a new measure passed to stop the sale of stolen goods through both online platforms and brick-and-mortar locations. The press release from Katz’s office said Christopher Guzman, 35, Yvelisse Guzman Batista, 29 and Rosa Rodriguez Santana, 59, all of 75 Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills; and Johanny Almonte Reyes, 33, of 71 Avenue in Fresh Meadows, were arraigned on charges of first-degree criminal possession of stolen property; four counts of second-degree criminal possession of stolen property; fourth-degree conspiracy; three counts of third-degree attempted criminal possession of stolen property; fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property; and four counts of fostering the sale of stolen goods. They are due back in court on Jan. 15 and face up to 8 1/3 years to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. Guzman is additionally charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Codefendant Tiffany Leon Fuentes, 29, of 133rd Avenue in Ozone Park, is charged with first-degree criminal possession of stolen property; four counts of second-degree criminal possession of stolen property; third-degree grand larceny; fourth-degree conspiracy; three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and petit larceny. She is due back in court Jan. 15, and faces up to 8 1/3 years to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. Katz’s office said none of the charges are bail-eligible under state law. They will be subject to electronic monitoring and that all have been given ankle monitors and had their passports seized. The Guzmans allegedly directed retail theft crews to steal specific merchandise and then sold the stolen products from their home and a storefront in the Dominican Republic. The couple is also alleged to have paid truck drivers to divert products bound for retailers from manufacturer warehouses directly to locations under their control. “Organized retail theft is far from a victimless crime,” said William Walker, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ New York office. “Estimates show the average American family pays over $500 annually in additional costs due to the impact of organized retail crime.” Upon learning of the theft ring, undercover law enforcement officers conducted three sales of purportedly stolen merchandise at the Guzmans’ home and an apartment in Fresh Meadows. They allegedly were paid $3,700 for merchandise valued at nearly $23,000. They also allegedly were asked to steal certain products based on their popularity. Another undercover operative allegedly purchased perfume from the Guzmans in their home, paying 1/3 of it retail value. Search warrants executed on Nov. 22 allegedly recovered more than 50,000 retail beauty products, cosmetics, perfume, designer clothing and accessories with a total retail value of $1,096,004.74 The total included approximately 31,622 products in their original wholesale packaging allegedly stolen from the Sol de Janeiro distribution center with a retail value of $795,560. Other recovered items included merchandise from the brands Maybelline, Fenty, La Roche-Posay, Benefit, Nars, Too Faced, Charlotte Tilbury, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Valentino, Prada, Zara, Ferragamo, Anthropologie, Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle and numerous others Authorities also allegedly recovered A money counter; a label maker; sticker labels and thank you cards bearing the name “Yvelisse Fashion”; two large plastic shipping barrels; bills of lading; numerous books, ledgers and notepads; and two polymer ghost gun kits each containing one unserialized and unfinished firearm lower receiver along with lower part kits.

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Marriott International Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on a rare visit to Kyiv, announced substantial new military aid for Ukraine, signaling continuous German support in the face of Russian aggression. Scholz's trip is a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Berlin remains committed to backing Ukraine for an extended period. This strategic visit comes as uncertainty looms over Germany's political landscape, with Scholz's governing coalition recently collapsing. The political shifts could potentially impact the level of European support for Ukraine, particularly if U.S. aid diminishes under potential leadership changes. Scholz's announcement includes the delivery of IRIS-T air defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks, and drones, worth 650 million euros. His stance on not providing Taurus cruise missiles, due to fears of escalation, remains unchanged. Meanwhile, Ukraine's path to NATO membership remains a pivotal issue in Germany's upcoming elections. (With inputs from agencies.)

Why Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance is important even after missing College Football Playoff

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By LOLITA C. BALDOR and FATIMA HUSSEIN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — 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, making the announcement on his Truth Social account, 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, an 80-year-old 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 those 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 before Biden leaves office in less than two months. The U.S. has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. 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 designed 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.” Trump’s proposed national security adviser , U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg featured 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.LIV Golf to replace CEO Greg Norman with ex-NBA, NHL executive Scott O'Neil, per reportsNone