AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas won the Big 12 title in 2023 on its way out the door to the Southeastern Conference. It was still swinging open when Arizona State waltzed in and won the league title in its debut season. And now the old Big 12 champs meet the new Big 12 champs on the path toward a potential national title. The fifth-seeded Longhorns and fourth-seeded Sun Devils play News Years Day in the Peach Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff . Both had their doubters they could get here. Texas (12-2) still had to prove is was “ready” for the SEC. Arizona State (11-2) was picked to finish last in the Big 12. But the Sun Devils quickly started winning and having fun in some new road environments in college towns smaller than some of their stops in the more cosmopolitan old Pac-12. All-American running back Cam Skattebo led the barnstorming tour. “We were not used to getting tortillas thrown at us at Texas Tech. You're not used to some of these environments," Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham said Monday. “When you're in the Pac-12, you're playing in Seattle, you're playing in L.A., you're playing in Salt Lake City. We got to face a lot more small college town football with really, really great environments. ... It was definitely fun to join a new league," Dillingham said. And Dillingham laid down some Texas roots. The Sun Devils are recruiting Texas players out of high school, and the current roster has six transfers who started their college careers in burnt orange in Austin. “The guys we’ve gotten from Texas and coach (Steve Sarkisian's) program have been unbelievable,” Dillingham said. “We know what we’re getting when we’re getting a guy from that program, and that’s a guy who has worked really hard, competed and been pushed. Those are the things that we like to bring in.” Safety Xavion Alford was named All-Big 12 . Defensive end Prince Dorbah is another Sun Devils starter. Defensive lineman Zac Swanson, who has two sacks this season, is another former Longhorn who said he relished a chance to beat his former team. Recruited by Texas out of Phoenix, Swanson was a reserve in 2022 and 2023 behind future NFL draft picks T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. “That's a team who kicked me out and said I'd never I was never going to be good enough to play there,” Swanson said last week. “That's something that has been on my agenda for a while.” Dillingham joked he'd like to get more Texas transfers this week. Sarkisian simply noted that he wished he'd signed Skattebo, a Californian who transferred from Sacramento State after the 2022 season. “I was unaware, so kudos to them. They found him, he's a heckuva player,” said Sarkisian, who also is a California native. Sarkisian said he was impressed by the Sun Devil's first-year success in the Big 12. “We were in that Big 12, what, for 27 years? We won four. This is their first year in and they won a Big 12 Championship. It’s a really hard thing to do,” Sarkisian said. “They’re playing with a ton of confidence right now. The last two months, I think they’re playing as good a football as anybody in the country.” Despite wining that last Big 12 title and a playoff appearance in 2023, Texas still faced skeptics that the Longhorns would take their lumps in the SEC this year. Texas was more than ready for the league and the Longhorns made it to the SEC championship game. Their only two losses have been to Georgia, the No. 2 seed in the playoff. Sarkisian still remembers his 5-7 Texas debut in 2021. The program wasn't ready for the SEC and the playoff back then, but it certainly is now. Texas is the only one of last year's four playoff teams to make the expanded 12-team field this year. “There’s a lot to be proud of, but mostly I’m proud of our veterans, our leaders, our seniors, because those guys went from 5-7 in year one, they went through 8-5 in year two, and they didn’t jump ship. They hung in there with us. They believed in what they were doing,” Sarkisian said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballA trio of top Republican Party of Guam representatives has joined a group of other Pacific leaders to offer joint recommendations of federal policy and key appointments to President-elect Donald J. Trump ahead of his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States on Jan 20, according to an announcement Friday. Guam Del. James Moylan, 38th Guam Legislature Speaker-elect Sen. Frank Blas Jr. and Republican Party of Guam Chairman and senator-elect Shawn Gumataotao were recruited for the Pacific Transition 47 Committee that also includes American Samoa Congresswoman Amata C. Radewagen, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Congresswoman-elect Kimberlynn King-Hinds. The committee was formed following a recommendation by incoming Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs James Braid, who is coordinating the process. “The purpose of this committee is for the three House members to join forces with senior political leaders in the American Pacific to offer joint recommendations to the incoming Trump-Vance Administration,” the announcement said. Braid said, “There have only been a handful of GOP trifectas since World War II. The transition team is looking forward to working with you to advance President Trump’s priorities on Capitol Hill during this historic opportunity to Make America Great Again. The transition welcomes the input of you and your team on personnel and policy.” According to the announcement, Radewagen stressed that job seekers should feel free to reach out to any committee member as well as submit a resume and letters of recommendation by email to PacificTransition47@gmail.com . “Committee members are not precluded from communicating directly with the Trump-Vance Transition to make policy and personnel recommendations,” Radewagen said. “But we expect that recommendations will be given greater weight if submitted by the committee, which consists of the most prominent senior Republican leaders in the American Pacific.” Gumataotao said the Guam group intends to submit recommendations for the positions of U.S. District Court of Guam/CNMI, U.S. attorney for Guam/CNMI, U.S. Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs assistant secretary or deputy assistant secretary. "We as a group discuss those potential appointments, and get resumes together, submit them and then work closely with them," Gumataotao said. Separately, CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios and American Samoa Governor-elect Pulaalii Nikolao Pula on Thursday also announced they plan to join the Republican Party, according to Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. Coincidentally, Pula is the former head of the DOI Office of Insular Affairs. "We're taking this right now up until the (presidential inauguration) on the 20th ... but if some go beyond the 20th then we'll keep working until those positions are filled," Gumataotao said. Committee meetings and deliberations will be conducted by videoconference and a social media chat group, but the members also expect to meet on the sidelines of the inauguration when they travel to Washington, D.C. next month, according to the announcement. Rounding out the committee will be American Samoa territorial party chairman Taualapapa William Sword, and the CNMI Republican party chairman, pending election.ubet63 free 100 。

The New York Mets missed the World Series in 2024, but they could bolster their rotation through free agency in hopes of getting over the hump in 2025. FanSided's Jacob Mountz urged the Mets to sign Los Angeles Dodgers star Walker Buehler in free agency this winter. "Since his injuries have hampered his career, he will likely be inexpensive lowering his potential risks and giving Cohen some padding in his pursuit of top-tier stars like Soto and Alonso," wrote Mountz. "If Buehler can stay healthy, he will likely provide his new club the most bang for their buck." Mountz noted Buehler's success in the postseason as the biggest reason the Mets should sign him. Buehler has pitched 94 2/3 postseason innings and holds a 3.04 ERA. He has tallied 119 strikeouts. Buehler had the worst regular season of his career and started off the postseason on a sour note. However, he bounced back and was a huge part of the Dodgers title. After allowing six runs in five innings against the San Diego Padres, his next two starts were flawless. He went a combined nine innings with 11 strikeouts. He even came on to get the title-clinching save on one day of rest. The Mets could be losing Sean Manaea in free agency. Adding Buehler would be cheap, allowing them to still retain Pete Alonso or sign Juan Soto. "One key issue the Mets dealt with in 2024 was pitching. As a team, the Mets posted a 3.96 ERA, ranked 15th in the MLB. Notably, Kodai Senga was injured for all but one game," wrote Mountz. "The Mets will be in better shape when he returns, but their starting rotation will need an overhaul. One arm Cohen should be looking at could return to ace form at a low cost." Buehler is a two-time All-Star. If he can find that form again he could be a great signing for the Mets. More MLB: Mets urged to sign Dodgers 33 home run slugger in free agency blockbusterWho is Lucas Kinney? The British jihadist who is now at the very heart of new Syrian regime By NEIL SEARS Published: 22:31, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 22:47, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments A British convert may have found himself at the heart of Syria 's rebel ruling force after impressing leaders with his communications skills. Lucas Kinney, from Surrey, became a key player of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after proving his worth over social media in a hard-hitting social media campaign. Kinney gained extra notoriety for his online videos because as well as carrying an AK-47 over his shoulder, he had a toothbrush amid the ammo. Viewers joked 'don't forget your toothbrush'. He was the first white British convert known to have joined the jihad in Syria, the only one in the now triumphant group. But there is some doubt about whether he has survived the vicious fighting and his parents back hom in London last night have refused to comment on his whereabouts. Kinney was born in Hammersmith, west London, the son of American Patrick Kinney, now 68 and living in Florida , and British mother Deborah, now 62. Patrick worked with Steven Spielberg on films including Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade and Empire of the Sun. A British convert may have found himself at the heart of Syria 's rebel ruling force after impressing leaders with his communications skills. Lucas Kinney (pictured here age 13) became a key player of the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Kinney gained extra notoriety for his online videos because as well as carrying an AK-47 over his shoulder, he had a toothbrush amid the ammo. Viewers joked 'don't forget your toothbrush'. Pictured: A still from online propaganda video showing Kinney after he joined Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Kinney's parents divorced when he was at a catholic primary school in Surrey, and his mother, now Deborah Phipps, lives with her second husband in the West Country. Kinney received Holy Communion as a teenage Catholic and talked of becoming a priest while at private school. But he started going to a mosque - then travelled to the Middle East to take up a Kalashnikov against dictator Bashar al-Assad, boasting about it in propaganda videos. The group he joined in 2013 was an offshoot of Osama bin Laden's feared Al Qaeda, the Nusra Front. It changed its name to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - which on Sunday entered Damascus in triumph as hated Assad fled. Kinney's stepfather, who lives in a honeyed stone cottage on the west country, refused to speak to the Daily Mail about the jihadi convert. But Kinney - who had taken the nom de guerre Abu Basir al-Britani - was last reported to be living in the countryside in Idlib province, north west Syria, in 2018, with a wife and two children. If still alive, he is 35. Kinney's parents divorced when he was at a catholic primary school in Surrey, and his mother, now Deborah Phipps, lives with her second husband in the West Country. This image is from Kinney's old social media account Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2015, Mrs Phipps told of her fears he could be killed by an RAF drone strike or Russian bombardment, saying: 'Lucas is a target. I'm glad he's associated with Al Qaeda rather than Islamic State, but obviously I worry. 'On Mother's Day last year I spoke to his father and he told me he thought our son was dead because there was a picture of him on the internet lying on a bed in Syria and you couldn't tell if he was alive. 'We found out he had been struck by a mortar so his arm basically was hanging off. He had to have a big operation and said he wouldn't be able to fight for 18 months.' She went on: 'I don't get anything for months, then an email, and think, 'Well, at least he's still alive'. 'We just want him home. If he's done something wrong I'd like him to accept the consequences.' After attending a Catholic primary in Surrey, Kinney lived in Cairo, where his stepfather was working, attending the elite private Modern English School. He grew his hair long, dyed it red, played electric guitar in a rock band called Hannah's Got Herpes - and posted pictures of scantily clad girls on Facebook. Kinney - who had taken the nom de guerre Abu Basir al-Britani - was last reported to be living in the countryside in Idlib province, north west Syria, in 2018, with a wife and two children. If still alive, he is 35. This image is another still from a propaganda video Kinney began Middle Eastern Studies with Arabic at Leeds University in 2009 but dropped out after a year. He went to live with his father in Vienna, and there appears to have been radicalised. Mrs Phipps said: 'I don't think he became involved in Islam at university. He liked drinking and smoking and girls, all things they can't do. Read More EXCLUSIVE: British son of Hollywood movie director, 26, is revealed as bloodthirsty star of al-Qaeda propaganda videos after converting from Catholicism and smuggling himself to Syria 'When Lucas went to Vienna - that was where everything changed. 'We used to talk on Skype so we could see him - he had a beard and the robes. 'His father said, 'His religion is very important to him'.' Then Mrs Phipps suddenly heard from her son in Syria, saying of his emails: 'He kept using koranic phrases. and wants everyone to convert. Special Branch has been in touch of course.' In 2016, Kinney was considering volunteering for a suicide mission, telling a western journalist: 'My dream is to make martyrdom operation. God willing.' Two years later however he was reported to still be in Idlib, but with his wife and two children. There were so many Britons there Jaffa Cakes, Maltesers, Smarties and Rolos were stocked in shops. Whether they have kept him alive for the victory he sacrificed his life in the west for remains to be seen. Syria London Share or comment on this article: Who is Lucas Kinney? The British jihadist who is now at the very heart of new Syrian regime e-mail Add comment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department's efforts to curb China's and Russia's access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a report published Wednesday by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia ability to access U.S.-made chips after Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The agency's Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce's export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government . President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle parts of the federal government. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. “While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be "better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.” In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee's findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments “missed clear warning signs” that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal wrote. It's not just Texas Instruments that's the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce's export control enforcement. The agency's current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities. Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect pick for intelligence chief fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about amid the of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump's America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect's choice to lead the FBI, , who has written extensively about locking up Trump's foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees' qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump's team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump's allies have described the in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president's Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump's first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will "prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies" — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump's 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump's first inauguration during the country's bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it's important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family's five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It's one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.The Senate on Wednesday passed an $895.2 billion defense policy bill that sparked controversy when House Speaker Mike Johnson amended the legislation with language forbidding the use of federal funds to cover specialized medical care for the transgender children of U.S. military personnel . The annual National Defense Authorization Act was approved by a vote of 85-14, with several Democrats opposing. It will now go to the president, who is expected to sign it into law. Over the objections of most House Democrats and some Republicans, Johnson, R-La., upended what historically is an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to approve the NDAA. The House passed the bill 281-140 last week, with fewer than half of the chamber’s Democrats voting in favor of it. Many — including some who played key roles drafting the sprawling national security package — expressed bitterness that months of good-faith negotiation between members of both political parties from the House and Senate had been tainted. The anger this week spilled over into the Senate, where Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., led 20 other senators in a largely symbolic effort to strike Johnson’s provision from the legislation. On Tuesday, she said she was so appalled by its inclusion that she would vote against the NDAA for the first time in her Senate career — “a position I do not take lightly,” she added. “It’s flat-out wrong,” Baldwin said on the Senate floor, blasting a policy that “guts our service members’ rights” simply “to score cheap political points.” If not for that provision, Baldwin said, “I would have been proud to support it.” The NDAA sets Pentagon and U.S. national security policy for the year ahead. Republicans and Democrats alike have lauded the bill’s 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted troops, along with its authorization for spending increases on military “quality of life” issues. The bill also strengthens U.S. defenses against China while expanding investment in new military technologies and replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles, they said. Several senior Democratic senators said that while they shared their colleagues’ frustration with the transgender care provision, the NDAA was too important to fail. “The NDAA is not perfect, but it still makes several important advances Democrats fought for,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday on the Senate floor, praising the bill’s “strong stand” against China and its authorized investment in artificial intelligence. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday ahead of the vote that he shares his “colleagues’ frustration” and that he voted against Johnson’s “frankly misguided provision” during the negotiation process. Reed earlier this week told reporters that Democrats had also been “successful in stripping out the vast majority of very far-right provisions that had passed in the House bill” and stressed the bill’s larger mission to provide the resources the military needs to successfully defend America. “We have a duty to support our servicemen and women ... and we believe this bill, by and large, accomplishes that,” he said. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he worried Johnson’s provision could set a dangerous precedent for the inclusion of other “social policy riders” in future NDAAs, which in turn could threaten the annual policy bill’s decadeslong record of consistent passage. “But at the end of the day, I’m not going to sink the whole defense and intel bill,” he said in an interview. Johnson’s provision states that “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria” — a medical diagnosis for those whose gender identity is different from their biological sex at birth — “that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18,” something medical professionals say does not happen in most cases. Republican supporters of the move — many of whom, like Johnson, have sought to limit transgender rights and treatments more broadly — portrayed the provision as protecting children from the potentially permanent consequences of medical treatments administered to them as minors. On the other side of the aisle, Democrats framed it as an act born of bigotry and ignorance that would deny potentially lifesaving treatments to adolescents struggling with gender dysphoria — a population that has a high prevalence of suicide. It is unclear how many children would be affected by the provision. The House Armed Services Committee’s Democratic staff said the Pentagon told them it would impact thousands of families. In 2017, there were 2,500 minors receiving such health care through the military’s TRICARE health system, according to a report circulated by the American Civil Liberties Union. The Williams Institute, a UCLA-based think tank that researches gender identity and sexual orientation laws, says that nationwide, there are about 300,000 youth, aged 13 to 18, who identify as transgender, and that 0.6% of the total U.S. population identifies as transgender. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told reporters last week that Johnson’s provision was unnecessary because President-elect Donald Trump is likely to enact the same policy — with or without Congress — once he takes office next month. Senior lawmakers from both parties have sought to highlight what the NDAA does accomplish. For instance, the bill authorizes a significant pay increase for junior enlisted U.S. service members, whose lagging salaries have forced many military families to resort to food stamps and other forms of public assistance — circumstances that have shocked members of both parties in hearings held over the past two years. It also authorizes roughly $3 billion to improve military housing, including the replacement of dilapidated and crumbling barracks. And it will expand child care and other benefits to a military that lawmakers say has failed to offer competitive career options amid a worsening recruitment crisis. The bill authorizes the expansion of U.S. military resources to assist with migrant interdiction on the border with Mexico and expands U.S. assistance to Israel — core Republican priorities. It does not authorize additional military assistance for Ukraine, an issue where most Republicans now echo Trump’s skepticism about continuing to aid Kyiv’s efforts to repel Russia’s full-scale invasion. Instead, it requires the administration to provide Congress with an assessment of the “likely course of war in Ukraine,” including whether its military will be able to “to defend against Russian aggression” if the United States stops providing support. The bill also does not include an additional $25 billion to its top line. That additional funding for missile defense, shipbuilding and counter-drone technology was approved over the summer by the Senate Armed Services Committee — at the urging of its top Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi — but was abandoned in the final bill negotiated between the House and Senate. Wicker on Wednesday called the NDAA “a good bill” but scolded Congress for having “missed the opportunity to strengthen” Trump’s hand as he takes office next month and confronts what Wicker described as “the most dangerous national security moment since World War II.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., this week also derided the NDAA as a “compromised product” for its failure to include those additional funds. “The absence of the Senate-backed increase to top-line investments will go down as a tremendous, tremendous missed opportunity,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Monday. “Artificial budget restraints mean that major bill provisions, like a pay raise for enlisted service members, will come at the expense of investments in the critical weapon systems and munitions that deter conflict and keeps them safe.” Washington Post writer Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report. A Mainer’s lawsuit over transgender care could be challenged by the U.S. House We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »

Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay homeWASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department's efforts to curb China's and Russia's access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a report published Wednesday by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia ability to access U.S.-made chips after Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The agency's Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce's export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government . President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle parts of the federal government. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. “While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be "better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.” In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee's findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments “missed clear warning signs” that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal wrote. It's not just Texas Instruments that's the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce's export control enforcement. The agency's current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities. Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.Guessing game over Trump's Treasury pick adds to US bond market's negative mood

Drew Carey Calls Out “The Price Is Right ”Audience Members Who Booed Contestant: 'Good Morning, Judgmental!'Under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)inaugurated the 10th edition of India International Science Festival 2024 (IISF 2024), today, 30th November 2024, at IIT Guwahati, in association with Vijnana Bharathi, the nodal institute of the event being CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram. Celebrating India's scientific achievements and fostering innovation, the festival was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Govt. of India, who delivered the Presidential address. Other dignitaries included Smr. Dasanglu Pul, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, and Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister for Science & Technology, Govt. of Assam. Key stakeholders present during the event included Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Hon’ble Secretary, DST; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Hon’ble Secretary, DBT; Dr. M. Ravichandran, Hon’ble Secretary MoES; Prof. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Hon’ble Secretary, DAE; Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Assam; and Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, accompanied by Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi, DG-CSIR; Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, and several other distinguished figures from India’s science and technology ecosystem. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam, remarked, "IISF 2024 is a celebration of collective efforts in scientific innovation and collaboration. This festival would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Honorable Prime Minister. IISF 2024 stands as a grand celebration of scientific innovation and collaboration, featuring numerous innovations catering to a diverse audience. It showcases India's remarkable achievements, such as Chandrayaan-2, and includes a science expo that highlights cutting-edge research and technology. The festival promises a dynamic exploration of science through events like the Young Scientists’ Conclave, Science Safari, and Tinker Labs, aimed at igniting curiosity and fostering innovation among students.” Further, he added, "With special features like Nari Shakti celebrating women in STEM, Science Beyond Borders fostering global partnerships, and initiatives like Sagrika and Science Village, IISF 2024 is a true celebration of innovation and sustainability. With India ranking among the top three in scientific research and excelling in startups, we are poised to become a global leader in innovation, supported by being the third-highest producer of PhDs worldwide." Delivering the Presidential Address, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon'ble Minister for Science and Technology, Govt. of India, said, “India’s remarkable growth story is deeply rooted in its advancements in science, technology, and innovation. Over the past decade, under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we have seen a profound transformation across sectors—from the rise of start-ups to revolutionary breakthroughs in biotechnology, space technology, and quantum science. The Northeast region, once on the periphery of development, has become a shining example of growth, embodying both economic progress and scientific innovation. As we approach India@2047, empowering youth and fostering innovation are key. Initiatives like the National Research Foundation and the bioeconomy revolution are driving India toward self-reliance and global leadership, with young innovators leading the way.” A key highlight of the event was the launch of the India Science, Technology & Innovation (ISTI) Portal by Dr. Jitendra Singh. This centralised platform will serve as a comprehensive repository for content related to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) within India’s ecosystem. With a strong focus on engaging students, scientists, researchers, youth, and the public, the portal will provide access to valuable information on fellowships, scholarships, funding opportunities, and startup initiatives, enabling users to explore and leverage opportunities within India. The four-day festival, running until 3rd December 2024, aims to popularise science and technology across diverse communities. IISF 2024 is expected to attract over 8,000 delegates, researchers, and leading scientific organisations, along with an additional 10,000 students from schools and colleges, fostering collaboration and innovation across disciplines. The event also featured the inauguration of multiple exhibitions by the Hon’ble Chief Guests, highlighting key advancements, such as: Chandrayaan - Museum of The Moon Exhibition: The exhibition, created by British artist Dr. Luke Jerram, features a life-sized, seven-meter replica of the moon with detailed NASA imagery. The exhibition aims to engage the public in discussions about space, exploration, and humanity's connection to the cosmos, highlighting India's Chandrayaan Mission. Science-Technology-Defence-Space Exhibition: Highlighting achievements in defence, space, and science, this expo showcases key initiatives like AatmaNirbhar Bharat and Digital India, with hands-on learning opportunities and networking platforms for young scientists and technologists. Reimagining Bharat Exhibition: Showcasing India's roadmap for a technologically advanced future, this exhibition emphasizes innovations in AI, robotics, quantum computing, renewable energy, and space exploration. It also provides interactive experiences such as live demos and virtual realities. North East Food Street: A culinary celebration of the diverse flavors of the Northeast, offering traditional dishes alongside cultural music, immersing visitors in the region’s rich heritage. Additionally, the day featured several events that provided opportunities for participants to engage directly with the key stakeholders of Indian scientific community, including: Science Institutional Leaders Meet – Vision Sansad – The event brought together leaders from science ministries and industry CEOs to discuss transformative S&T policies and initiatives. Science through Games and Adventures - Science Safari – This first-of-its-kind initiative in the Northeast brought together 173 school science teachers, including 45 from the Northeast, and features innovative educational toys by 20 teacher-entrepreneurs. Round Table on India as the Global Manufacturing Hub through S&T – The discussion features stakeholder from the Government and industries exploring initiatives, policies, and strategies to strengthen India’s manufacturing capabilities and discuss the country’s vision to become a global leader in manufacturing. Students Science & Technology Village – The event will engage 3,000 students from across India, including 75% from the Northeast and border districts offering interactive exhibits, hands-on experiments, educational games, and STEM challenges to ignite curiosity and critical thinking among school students. The festival promises a packed schedule of exhibitions, workshops, and interactive sessions, making IISF 2024 a beacon of inspiration, bridging science, society, and innovation in a meaningful way. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Education and around the world.

America's top professional sports leagues have warned players about the growing threat of illegal alien criminal gangs targeting their mansions. This comes after a string of break-ins of athletes' homes, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero published a note about how the sports league issued a "security alert" to teams after "organized and skilled criminals" targeted players' homes. Pelissero continued: Sources say the FBI is investigating the crime wave as international organized crime. The league, the NFL Players Association and team security forces also have been monitoring the crime spree, which is believed to be tied to a South American crime syndicate. At least one other current NFL player's home was burglarized in the past week. "It's legit," said one source familiar with the situation. "It's a transnational crime ring, and over the last three weeks, they've focused on NBA and NFL players, and it's all over the country." ... The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were burglarized on consecutive days last month in the Kansas City area. The Minnesota home of former Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was part of a series of burglaries last weekend, according to police. Multiple people with knowledge of the crimes said the perpetrators are nonconfrontational and do not burglarize homes while residents are inside. Instead, they use public records to find players' addresses and conduct extensive surveillance. Then, by tracking team schedules and the social media accounts of players and their families, they wait until homes are empty -- often during games -- and gain access and quickly steal items such as cash, jewelry, watches and handbags, focusing mainly on master bedrooms and closets. The alert issued on Wednesday by NFL Security confirmed the modus operandi and offered a number of recommendations, including not posting in real time on social media, installing security systems and keeping valuables out of plain sight. Separately, NBC News confirmed a memo sent by the NBA to teams, citing FBI intelligence, about crimes linked to "transnational South American Theft Groups" that target "professional athletes and other high-net-worth individuals." South American gangs are now robbing NFL player's mansions... They're targeting the homes during games when no one is there. I can't wait for mass deportations to start on January 20. pic.twitter.com/hzBk1HH8QU An alarming trend of illegal alien crimes has spread nationwide to major cities because of the Biden-Harris administration's nation-killing open southern border invasion (championed by globalists) that rolled out the red carpet to ten-plus million unvetted migrants. One of the worst transnational South American gangs is Tren de Aragua, spreading across the nation like stage four cancer, setting up operations in major cities. Just months ago, investigative reporter James O'Keefe published a US Army North Division memo that warned an estimated 5,000 TdA gangsters were in the US. We suspect that number is a lot higher. The American people have given President-elect Donald Trump and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan a mandate to fix this illegal alien invasion crisis. It's time to hold accountable those who rolled out the red carpet for dangerous illegal aliens .Trump 2.0: Asia in a highly risky place in America’s inflation era

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Ituka scores 18 off the bench, Jacksonville State downs East Carolina 86-78By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”

Brexit makes touring Europe ‘simply not viable’ for musicians, minister admitsIrv Wilson Dies; Prolific Producer In Golden Era Of TV Movies Was 93Cerity Partners LLC Raises Stock Holdings in TowneBank (NASDAQ:TOWN)( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Captain Fred Braman Captain Fred Braman +1 904-866-6862 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN23122024003118003196ID1109025511 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.