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The Defense Ministry appointed a new Air Force chief on Saturday after firing Fernando Mengo from the post earlier this week amid corruption and sexual abuse allegations. Defense Minister Luis Petri assigned Brigadier Gustavo Valverde as the new head of the Air Force to replace Mengo, who was found to have used planes that belonged to the force for personal trips at least 32 times. On Thursday afternoon, Petri said in a communiqué he was removing Mengo from his role due to the “improper use” of Air Force aircraft, which is “a serious violation of norms that regulate the use of public property and the responsibilities inherent to his role.” “I have also been made aware of alleged cases of harassment/abuse committed by Brigadier Mengo, which would constitute an extremely serious and unacceptable misconduct,” Petri said in the communiqué. He added that the ministry has taken the necessary steps to investigate the misconduct allegations and sanction those involved as appropriate. Mengo had been second in charge of the Air Force until December 2023, when he was promoted by Javier Milei after becoming president. Petri’s decision to fire Mengo came following an investigation by journalist Federico Teijeiro. On Thursday morning, Teijeiro provided the ministry with the information he had gathered for nine months, and hours later, Mengo was out. Petri said in an interview with the LN+ news channel on Thursday that the ministry verified Teijeiro’s information and was able to confirm that Mengo took at least 32 trips between Buenos Aires and Paraná, Entre Ríos, from January to June 2024. “We found out there were irregularities, and the only response to that was his immediate dismissal,” Petri said. Mengo’s wife, a non-commissioned officer at the Paraná Air Force base, was also allegedly involved in the trips, along with the couple’s children. Teijeiro said in a streaming show on the Neura channel that she was collected from Paraná over the weekends and brought to Buenos Aires, and she flew back to the base on Mondays. If confirmed, she could also be sanctioned. The investigation found that the trips were not being correctly reported, given that the details about the flights did not include the names of the passengers. The Defense Ministry is investigating if the head of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, Xavier Isaac, was aware of these irregularities. Petri also said that the ministry is investigating if “there could have been situations of abuse and harassment” from Mengo against victims who have not made legal complaints “We are protecting victims and guaranteeing that they can access the appropriate means to report this,” he added. Teijeiro, who was also interviewed alongside Petri in LN+, said he is in contact with four alleged victims, although according to him, there are at least two more. He said that while at first they refused to speak publicly about this, some are now “reconsidering” the situation. Cover picture: Minister Luis Petri (center) with newly appointed Air Force Chief Gustavo Valverde (left). Credit: Defense Ministry PressThings to do in metro Detroit, Dec. 27 and beyondATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, believed to be out for the remainder of the game with a hand injury, returned for the final snap in the No. 5 Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over No. 2 Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore on the final play of the first half, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Beck was one of the last players to return to the field following halftime. He was holding his helmet but did not warm up remained on the sideline as backup Gunner Stockton led the offense to its first touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the second half. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN Beck would not return to the game and said he had no details on the hand injury. Beck had the right arm wrapped in ice on the Georgia bench. Smart’s plans changed when Stockton took a hard hit from Andrew Mukuba in overtime, knocking Stockton’s helmet to the turf. An on-field call of targeting was reversed following the review. Beck then returned to hand off to Trevor Etienne for a 4-yard touchdown run, ending the game. Texas outgained No. 5 Georgia 260-54 but led only 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs netted minus-2 yards rushing and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and
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World’s oldest surviving market running for 1,000 YEARS holds its final Christmas meat auction before it CLOSESThe Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is to ask the Ministry of Finance to exempt the retrospective tax for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals of listed companies, as part of its moves to boost the sluggish domestic exchange. It also aims to push the Thai stock market as a listing hub for flagship businesses in sectors with the potential to grow, such as healthcare, data centres, and food and beverage. The Jump+ project will be launched next year to boost market capitalisation. SET president Asadej Kongsiri said during an interview with the Bangkok Post that listed companies are considering acquiring businesses outside the stock market, but they are concerned over potential negative consequences. "In the process of business expansion, there may be a merger along the way and sometimes the companies on the SET want to acquire non-listed peers," he said. Consequently, the SET is preparing to ask for support from the Ministry of Finance by avoiding retrospective tax collection for those businesses pursuing M&As. "That would help companies expand and grow to their goals faster without being afraid of having their accounting audited retrospectively," said Mr Asadej. These companies would grow, and that will allow the government to collect more tax revenue in the future. In turn, it would let more companies enter the official tax system, he added. JUMP+ PROJECT Mr Asadej revealed that the SET aims to increase the value of stocks and the market capitalisation of the Thai bourse through the Jump+ project, which is similar to a successful initiative by South Korea's stock exchange. Currently, there are more than 800 companies listed on the Thai bourse, with a market cap of roughly 17 trillion baht. Several companies have a large amount of assets and cash, with only a small portion of debt. Nonetheless, they do not have a plan to expand their business. "These companies are classified as having a lazy balance sheet, but they have growth potential," Mr Asadej noted. If a listed company has developed a business expansion plan and future investment, they will be able to increase their stock value, whether they grow in their current business or a new business. The Jump+ initiative is a growth acceleration platform designed to enhance the value creation journey of high-potential listed firms across the Thai capital market. Through this voluntary programme, the SET will empower listed companies by driving operational excellence, advancement in ESG (environmental, social and governance), and adoption of analytical tools and artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will gain access to advisory services and communication channels to enhance market visibility, along with benefits and incentives from the SET, government agencies and partners. The SET will also introduce a new index tracking the performance of successful Jump+ companies and provide analysis reports in partnership with the Investment Analysts Association to support their investment decisions. A group index, possibly called the SET Jump Plus Index, would be set up if a large number of companies participated in the programme, noted Mr Asadej, adding that this initiative would be implemented from the first half of 2025. LISTING HUB According to the president, the SET aims to be a listing hub for flagship Thai businesses, or industries that have strengths and high growth potential, and that are in investment trends. Target businesses include healthcare, wellness, data and cloud centres, and electronic parts. "We are preparing to meet with relevant agencies, including the Board of Investment, the Finance Ministry, and foreign embassies to help attract companies from all over the world to invest in Thailand," Mr Asadej said. "This is a long-term plan that may not be completed in my term. But it must be started to put the Thai stock market in the spotlight and increase the bourse's potential in the long term." Additionally, information spreads through social media and various other channels very quickly nowadays. They contain both the truth and untruths. Therefore, proper and effective communication and warnings provided to investors must be carried out more quickly. He added that the SET is considering the use of AI to help analyse small stocks to provide investors with better information for their investment decisions. One of the pain points nowadays is that investors can only see analysis of large stocks. It is not worth it for brokers to analyse smaller stocks that investors do not trade often. "Now there is technology that can do it. It is a basic analysis that can be translated into many languages for investors to choose from. It helps them access investment information more comprehensively," Mr Asadej said. RISK FACTORS Mr Asadej said that US-China trade is an external factor that could have implications for the Thai stock market in terms of both opportunities and risks. During the first Donald Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, there were US$130 trillion worth of manufacturing relocations from China to the rest of Asia, of which only 10% was captured by Thailand. Vietnam attracted a significant portion due to various factors such as its natural resources and a young workforce whose skill sets were better than that of the Thai population. When Trump returns to the White House next month, Thailand should adjust itself to be capable of seizing the opportunities, including manufacturing relations that are better than during the first Trump administration, said Mr Asadej. Another risk factor is that Trump will increase import taxes on countries that have a trade surplus with the US. Among the members of Asean, Thailand ranks second in terms of its trade surplus with the US and 12th within Asia. "We must closely monitor the US tax policies under the Trump government on countries where China has production bases, including Thailand," Mr Asadej said. As for domestic factors, Mr Asadej believes the political situation is more stable now and the economy is bouncing back thanks to the recovery in tourism to pre-pandemic levels and the government's faster budget disbursement. However, the energy and petrochemical groups, which are heavyweight stocks on the SET, are being pressured by the global economic slowdown while the high level of supply in the market has affected the profits of many companies. Those factors have resulted in a decrease in the total profits of listed firms on the SET overall. In future, it will be necessary to increase contributions from other industries on the SET to balance that of the energy sector, Mr Asadej added.AI is expected to fuel Wall Street's tech hiring in 2025. Headhunters break down what you need to know to get a leg up.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Berson. Related Articles Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.None
December is one of my favourite times of the year in Pakistan – maybe because of the "improved" in my city (Karachi) or the start of the festive season – I don’t know. But ask anyone and they will tell you that December in Pakistan is quite the experience – that most people look forward to. Allow me to, please, explain. Come December and our patriotic sense is stimulated with the Quaid’s birthday on the 25th of the month – which coincides with Christmas, setting in the holiday spirit and bringing along a pleasant change in people’s outlook. Add Decemberistan to this equation and the experience amps up – quite literally and actually. But it cannot be just either of these – because events and festivals occur throughout the year. No? The thing is, Pakistan (as a nation) tends to be complicated, and "stuff" isn’t always that great – where the country continually faces major domestic policy challenges. They include an unstable majority situation in parliament and government, political unrest, and terrorist attacks. To date, Pakistan is also confronted with a protracted economic and financial crisis, high levels of government debt and inflation rate, a food and energy crisis, the impacts of climate change, and widespread poverty. As if this was not enough, deficits in human rights are also a significant concern in Pakistan – where despite having ratified main international human rights conventions, implementation is often inadequate. Issues including absent freedom of internet/expression/religion / press, terrorism, political/religious extremism, and separatist movements are a large part of our society. Basically, a multi-faceted precarious situation on hand. Celebrating Waheed Murad's Birthday - Pakistan's Very Own Chocolate Hero To combat this negativity, I sat down to count the strengths we have as a nation and its people. Some of what I came up with included intelligence, our spirit of giving, courage and resilience, solid levels of faith, spirituality, and ingenuity and our love for jugaad (loosely translated as "a hack", in English). While this was something I did a few years ago, I do believe that all of these (and so much more) are our innate strengths and can be potential harbingers of a great future – if we try. So, a friend living abroad recently threw me a question – that reminded me of this exercise I had engaged in. Her question: What do you think being Pakistani means? The question was completely out of the syllabus – maybe because it was oh so random, or alternatively because I didn’t have an immediate answer. A myriad of images of some of Pakistan's famous landmarks flew around in my head; from Moola Chatook in Balochistan, Karachi’s Empress Market, Anarkali bazaar's textures in Lahore, Margalla Hills in Islamabad and Shah Rukn-e-Alam's mausoleum in Multan. But my friend’s question went deeper than just physical images and I suddenly found myself trying to explore what the concept of being Pakistani "truly" entails. Dumbstruck, I continued asking myself the same thing over the next few days – on my way to and from work, while watching TV, and even during workouts. I'm sure you get the rift. And I think I might have a few answers. So, what is Pakistan to me? To me, Pakistan is aimlessly roaming around Dehli Gate in Lahore, and wondering if your next stop should be Anarkali Bazaar or the more happening Liberty market? Maybe take a chinchi auto or a more sophisticated InDrive, Yango, or Careem? But none of those would compare to that rickshaw driver who refused to take money from me when he found out that I was a visitor to his city. Pakistan is standing on the side of I.I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi eating makai and wondering how to cross that otherwise beast of a road. Pakistan is also that friendly banter of the infamous hijra’s (eunuchs) of 3 Talwar, who – in pursuit of some kind of alms, pray I am blessed with a baby boy; for reference, I am not married – which makes their prayer so much more endearing. And Pakistan is that chai at the backside of Lahore's food street and roadside roasted shakarkandi in Karachi. Shia Ismaili Community Comes Together To Celebrate Prince Karim Aga Khan's 88th Birthday All of this was and will always and entirely be me – but somehow still did not align with what my friend was pointing to: being Pakistani from a purely logical standpoint. Talk about a complete shift in perspective. Because in my mind, being Pakistani covers the softer, intangible sentiment that is attached to what I just mentioned. But if we look at it from an entirely logical perspective, then being Pakistani (again, in my mind) is most probably a three-dimensional thing: ideological, cultural, and emotional. The third facet is what I was looking at – but taking in different views, I realised that there is so much more to truly being Pakistani. From Karachi's bustling streets in Southern Pakistan to catching up with our Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore brethren in Punjab, to the serene valleys of Swat in Northern Pakistan, the country's cultural essence is deeply and very heavily rooted in its history, geography, and people Ideologically, ‘Pakistanis’ hail from a nation, that was borne of sacrifice and to the tune of the emancipation of a way of life. Yes, Pakistan is the only country to have been created in the name of religion; but it was to be a haven for the Muslim population in the larger Indian Subcontinent, that they could call their own. The country was the result of much suffering and a culmination of hope of building a nation based on unity, faith, and discipline and on tolerance and acceptance of religious, regional, and ethnic differences. All of this would be far (if not completely) removed from the persecution that led to the revolution itself – because the creation of Pakistan was premised on the sum of its people being bigger than the individuals themselves. The Pakistani flag itself symbolises what the country was supposed to be: a progressive nation based on the ideals of Islam and committed to the importance of everyone within, minorities and the majority included. From a cultural stance, Pakistan is home to a rich and vibrant culture that reflects centuries of history, diverse traditions, and the profound influence of various civilisations. From Karachi's bustling streets in Southern Pakistan to catching up with our Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore brethren in Punjab, to the serene valleys of Swat in Northern Pakistan, the country's cultural essence is deeply and very heavily rooted in its history, geography, and people. In this sense, then, being Pakistani should mean that the sum of the country's population should supersede individual groups therein – where everyone would have an equal chance to make a prosperous life for themselves and collectively for the country. Efficient Banking Sector Pivotal For Pakistan’s Growth: CERP, Alchemy Technologies And Pakistan Banks’ Association Let's compare "this" to some of the world's most successful corporations – with respect to diversity (in terms of gender, age, experience, and background). These companies will always try to ensure workplace diversity – in pursuit of new perspectives, creativity, economies of scale, entrepreneurship, and adaptability: all intended to align with company objectives. Similarly, a shared sense of ‘Pakistaniyat’ can potentially trigger an inter-group exchange of ideas – leading to enhanced understanding, acceptance, and exposure. In more senses than one, I often feel that being Pakistani is a hundred percent synonymous with being emotional. Call it being passionate or intense or whatever, this is something that Pakistanis generally are: always were and will probably always be. Maybe this is what connects us to our roots, or our way of staying grounded; alternatively, this could be us trying to establish common grounds with our peers – premising entirely on patriotism/nationalism. Over the years, these grounds have been about food determining everything (birthdays, dholkis , mehndis , weddings, grand openings, anniversaries, graduations, and even funerals), our firm belief in "hojaiga yaar" (detect the optimism), our very epic (read: chuss) sense of humour and our biggest fear of “log kia kahainge!". Add for the extremely opinionated nation that Pakistan is – even prime-time TV can very quickly devolve into loud and lengthy discourses on politics, sports, music, faith, world events, and even the legitimacy of the 1969 moon landing. And all of this is done with an unwavering passion. At the very basic core, though, the sentiment is all about any and everything associated with "being Pakistani": tangible, intangible, or otherwise. This can be truck art, a cold glass of Pakola, listening to Mujhse Pehli Si Muhabbat by Noor Jehan in a rickshaw, tending to sacrificial animals around Eid-ul-Azha, Wazir Khan Masjid (Dehli Gate Lahore), the greenery of Punjab, the rawness of Baluchistan, Makli, Ziarat, Keenjhar Lake, and so much more. Pakistan's Missing Left Wing These are but some of the images that come to my mind when I try to define being Pakistani. There are countless others, and for each individual within this country, those moments and feelings will be unique and different. Perhaps, then, the most important and only thing to remember is that great nations are not born, but made: and made they are, on the strength of their people. This makes me wonder if we should ask ourselves if we can truly be who we were meant to be: a diverse group of people working "together" for their own and their country’s prosperity. And maybe this is why Quaid-e-Azam said during a Civic Address at Quetta Municipality on June 15, 1948: “We are now all Pakistanis, not Balochis, Pathans, Sindhis, Bengalis, Punjabis, and so on, and as Pakistanis, we must feel, behave and act, and we should be proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else.”Former defense official says government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans READ MORE: What are the drones over New Jersey? All the key theories so far By JAMES GORDON and LAURA PARNABY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:14, 25 December 2024 | Updated: 19:33, 25 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments A former defense official has said the government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans, amid the spotlight on apparent drone sightings over the East Coast in recent weeks. Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Defense Department's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, told Congress last month about an alleged government group 'hiding the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos'. 'I believe that we as Americans can handle the truth. And I also believe the world deserves the truth,' Elizondo said. Elizondo was among those claiming that whistleblowers are afraid to come forward, while urging Congress to pass legislation which would protect them. The hearing was part of a larger investigation into UFOs, also known as unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAPs), to determine whether any government officials have been withholding evidence from Congress. It comes as wild footage showed what appeared to be a UFO hovering in the skies over New Jersey before suddenly accelerating away on Sunday. In a short 13 second clip posted to social media, a white light blinked in the sky before suddenly vanishing, leaving onlookers stunned. In the footage, which was shot close near Atlantic City, family members were heard discussing what they witnessed before the object suddenly disappears. Luis Elizondo, the former head of the Defense Department's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, told Congress last month about an alleged government group 'hiding the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos' A former defense official has said the government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans, amid the spotlight on apparent drone sightings over the East Coast in recent weeks 'It just vanished!' one said. 'I just watched it through the telescope.' The footage was sent to Tim Janicki by a friend. The video is the most recent in a long line of mysterious drone sightings that have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. Data shows New Jersey residents have reported more than 1,000 sightings of the flying objects across the state in less than a month after the first report. Some 964 incidents have been logged in total since the first sighting on November 19 up until December 13, according to statistics collected by the state’s Office of Emergency Management and shared with the New York Post . Yet despite the startling volume of apparent sightings - which have prompted locals to shoot into the sky and even sparked the closure of an airport in neighboring New York - officials are yet to provide answers about who or what is behind the drones. As the flashing objects continue to circle the skies above New Jersey and beyond, theories about the source have proliferated in the homes of lawmakers and residents below - from Project Blue Beam to foreign conspiracies. Social media has gone wild with conspiracy theorists insisting the alleged drones are connected with a chilling government plot. Trump-supporting actress Roseanne Barr was among those touting the Project Blue Beam theory , which claims global elites are planning to use advanced technology to stage celestial events in order to manipulate the world's population. 'Now you see why I mention Project Blue Beam every week on my podcast.....,' the 72-year-old wrote on X. The theory dates back to the 1990s, but it recently found traction again online as commentators such as Barr claim that the US government could stage an alien invasion as a pretext for imposing authoritarian rule. Others have also espoused the idea that the Biden Administration could be behind the drone activity, given its refusal to provide reassuring answers amid the mounting crisis. Footage has emerged of what appears to be a ' UFO ' hovering in the skies over New Jersey before suddenly accelerating away leaving the family who were watching lost for words Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a 'limited state of emergency' Former CIA operations officer Laura Ballman revealed her chilling theory that the drones lighting up multi-state skies may be a 'classified exercise.' She told Fox News Live that the drone sightings are 'extremely unsettling,' and shared her theory that they may be part of a technology 'test,' orchestrated by the federal government. Ballman said: 'Now in terms of who is behind this, seeing the statements that have been made by John Kirby, who has said that these objects are not operating illegally. 'Coupled with the several op-eds that have been out there in the last 24 hours about the need to look at our detection systems , [it] makes me think perhaps this is actually a classified exercise to test either evasion technology or detection technology in urban areas.' White House National Security spokesman John Kirby has said the aircraft are not foreign - and they may not even be drones . 'We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,' Kirby told reporters on Thursday. 'The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with the state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin,' Kirby said. He said the agencies used 'very sophisticated electronic detection technologies' but 'have not been able to – and neither state or local law enforcement – corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.' 'To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft being operated lawfully,' he said, denying the aircraft were even drones. Share or comment on this article: Former defense official says government is hiding UFO secrets from Americans e-mail Add comment
Jackson State tops Southern 41-13, wins SWAC Championship and berth in Celebration BowlUS to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the United States is expected to announce it will send another $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. It's part of a push by the Biden administration to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. Officials say the large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The officials say they expect the announcement will be made on Monday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105 HONOLULU (AP) — The oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah has died. He was 105. Warren Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California. Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, says he suffered a bout of pneumonia. The Utah was moored at Pearl Harbor when Japanese planes began bombing the Hawaii naval base in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1941. The attack propelled the U.S. into World War II. Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the territory's north and forced many of the staff and patients outside. Then they had to remove their clothes in winter weather. Friday's incident was the latest assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Staff say it has been hit multiple times in the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in the surrounding neighborhoods. Israel's military says Hamas uses the hospital as a base. It did not provide evidence, and hospital officials have denied it. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people. The statements from Rashad Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday raised pressure on Russia. Officials in Moscow have said a drone attack was underway in the region that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was destined for but have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Chechnya on Wednesday when it crashed, killing 38 people and leaving all 29 survivors injured. Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. It's part of a inquiry into whether Willis has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad before Willis responds. A Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year and sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify during its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. Willis argued that the committee didn’t have the power to subpoena her. US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness. What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio) TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — When Snoop Dogg agreed to become the sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, he had a demand: It must have a NIL component. Other bowls have provided NIL chances for single players the past few years, but the Arizona Bowl is believed to be the first to offer NIL compensation to every player on both Colorado State and Miami (Ohio). The players participated in youth clinics before Saturday's game and will be compensated for their time. Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky.TEANECK, N.J. (AP) — Dylan Jones had 22 points in Fairleigh Dickinson's 98-54 victory over Lehman on Saturday. Jones shot 6 for 10 (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Knights (4-7). Terrence Brown added 19 points while shooting 7 for 12 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and also had six rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Cameron Tweedy had 11 points and shot 4 of 5 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line. The Lightning were led in scoring by Kai Parris, who finished with 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .MUNICH (AP) — Harry Kane is the quickest player to score 50 goals in the Bundesliga after scoring a hat trick on his 43rd appearance on Friday. Kane’s three goals – including two penalties – gave Bayern a 3-0 win over Augsburg , stretching the Bavarian powerhouse’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round.
