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High employee attrition of 25 pc in private banks pose operational risk: RBI ReportWASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. ___ Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump’s inauguration, according to The New York Times. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
As wildfires continue to ravage the US on either coast , an expert says that using an "electronic nose" sensor with built-in artificial intelligence can nip the problem in the bud. According to the US Forest Service Research Data Archive, nearly 85% of the wildland fires in the US are caused by humans who leave campfires unattended, negligently discarded cigarettes, or burn debris among other things. Research has also indicated that climate change leads to warmer, drier conditions making wildlands more susceptible to wildfires. Oregon and California, in particular, have noticed historic levels of wildfire spread and damage. More recently, the Northeast has been grappling with deadly blazes affecting New Jersey, New York , Connecticut, and Massachusetts among historic drought conditions . The Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County, New York , in particular, has burned more than 5,3000 acres, killing one of the firefighters. New Yorkers wake up to city smelling of smoke - and get worrying warning Details of trapped families emerge as officials 'unprepared' for Hawaii fires Carsten Brinkschulte, the founder of Dryad, is coming up with innovative solutions to mitigating wildfires. With three tech startups under his belt, he first felt inspired to dip his toes in the wildfire issue when he saw children protesting against climate change in Europe at the Fridays for Future Movement. "If you've got a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail," he said. "So I had no other choice but to use tech to try to address this... to mitigate wildfires." With Dryad, they came up with a "novel" idea that "nobody has done before." "This device, it's an electronic nose," Brinkschulte said, pointing to the Silvanet Wildfire Sensor, a small, solar-powered device that is used for ultra-early detection of wildfires within minutes of inception to minimize impact and damage. He drew parallels between the device and a fire detector in one's home. "This device is a fire detector but for the forest. You hang it on a tree. It's solar powered so it doesn't need batteries changed. And it's out there smelling for something funny," he said. The sensor is sensitive to hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases and can smell fires as early as the smoldering phase. They send out the exact geocoordinate to the place where the sensor picked up the smell to help firefighters get there on time and extinguish it before it can spread. DON'T MISS: US embassy in Kyiv to close with 'specific information' of Russian air attack [REPORT] Putin ready to discuss Ukraine ceasefire with Trump in U-turn on demands [SHOCKING] US supports Ukraine using British missiles on Russia [LATEST] The sensors also monitor microclimate conditions by measuring humidity, temperature, and air pressure. It uses highly sensitive gas detection with built-in artificial intelligence to minimize false alarms and accurately detect fires. They can be hung from trees and have been designed to be waterproof, energy-efficient, and long-lasting for at least ten years. It uses supercapacitors instead of batteries, eliminating the need for lithium and other toxic materials. Given their size, thousands of sensors should be employed across the forest to minimize the risk of harm. "The vision is to make wildfires a non-newsworthy item," he said, adding: "Our mission is to prevent human-induced fires.... that means accidents, technical faults, arson, reckless behavior. That's where 85% of the wildfires are starting." This is a "low cost, high volume device," Brinkschulte said, with each sensor costing about $100. They deploy these sensors along roads, hiking paths, power lines, and railroads as these are some high-risk areas where wildfires typically start. Dryad has invested about $20 million into the development of this technology over four years and has sold over 20,000 sensors across Greece, Spain, Portugal, Lebanon, etc. They have started their first deployments in the US and Canada and have also sensed an increased interest from Asian countries. In California , Dryad has one deployment with the California Department of Forestry and with the Pacific Gas and Electric and Fire Protection. In Canada, they run a deployment with a railroad operator to protect their wooden bridges, Carsten said. "We are seeing interest in North America, in particular, places like California and Oregon," he said. The sensors have managed to detect more than 150 fires already, Brinkschulte stated. Most notably, last December, a Silvanet sensor was successful in detecting and alerting authorities about an unauthorized fire involving a farmer burning dry grapevines in Lebanon. This activity is considered illegal as it poses a wildfire threat that could potentially spread to nearby forested areas, he shared. The system detected a change in air composition through its gas sensor as the built-in AI detected the pattern and predicted a 70% probability of smoking thus triggering an alert to the authorities. One of the bigger challenges they faced initially included unreliable signals inside the forest. So, they developed solar-powered Silvanet Mesh Gateways that cover a radius of two to ten kilometers and use LoRa radio to help active communication without depending on direct 4G/LTE connections. The built-in solar panels and satellite connectivity in North America and Europe help with off-grid operations in very remote locations. "We're basically like the AT&T of the forest," Brinkschulte said. While artificial intelligence is being used in cameras or satellites to detect fires, this is the "fastest, market-leading solution," Brinkschulte said. The European Union has provided $3.8 million in funding to Dryad for their next ambitious project called Florea, "a visionary idea" to build an autonomous drone system that will instantly respond to the wildfires they detect and put them out. It is currently under development and will take about two years to be rolled out.
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
AI will continue to evolve in 2025
Former UFC star Darren Till will now take on Anthony Taylor on January 18 after his boxing showdown with Tommy Fury was cancelled. Till, 31, was due to take on Fury at the Co-Op Live in Manchester, but the latter pulled out of the fight with the Liverpudlian after his rival threatened to kick him in the face if he was losing their boxing bout. Taking to social media, Fury said: "I can't believe I'm writing this but I am now not fighting Darren Till on January 18. For the one simple reason being that Darren has stated over and over that he does not want to abide by professional boxing rules and that if he is losing the fight he will resort to kicking and other stupid MMA tactics. "I am a professional boxer, I have been out of the ring for over a year and I wanted this to be a great BOXING fight for the fans. I have wasted weeks in training camp. We are working hard to get a new opponent and date. I promise to get a better opponent and better fight for you guys. Good news around the corner." Boxing manager Lee Eaton took to X to reveal that Till will still be competing on the card next year, posting: "Just to clarify, Darren was asked to sell the fight and he did - DT even offered to forfeit his entire purse if he broke professional boxing rules - @MisfitsBoxing have confirmed @darrentill2 will still be fighting Jan 18." In Fury's absence, Till will now face Taylor, the American who has three wins and three defeats from his six previous bouts. Till is yet to make his professional debut inside the squared-circle. He did, however, take part in an exhibition boxing showdown against Mohammad Mutie back in July, winning via technical knockout in the second round despite a punch landing on the back of Mutie's head. Despite having a new fight booked, Till was left enraged by Fury's decision to pull out of the contest . "What's happening everyone? I've just got to the gym, about to do me sparring this morning and I've just been shown that Tommy Fury has put up a f****** post saying that he's not not fighting because I threatened to kick him in the head," Till began. "I said I'd kick him in the head at the press conference as a mental warfare tactic. And since then, I haven't said anything else. I've been hard at work in the gym and preparing for this boxing match with him on January 18. I said to everyone that Tommy was going to pull out regardless of anything. I f****** knew it since the press conference. So, now it's confirmed what I said, he's a s***house, his family are s***houses and now Tommy's not fighting. "I've been hard at work, boxing for two years, haven't thrown a kick in two years. I threw one kick on a video as a mental warfare tactic. Never in a million years would I throw a headkick in a fight that's only boxing rules. I stick to the rules, I abide by the rules throughout my whole career. So now, I've gone to the gym to do my sparring this morning and Tommy Fury has pulled out. Tommy Fury, you are the biggest s***house I have ever come across... you are not a man."
Bath's comeback falls short to lose soaking Champions Cup opener to La RochelleBOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Deshawn Purdie threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to O'Mega Blake for the go-ahead score and Charlotte defeated Florida Atlantic 39-27 on Saturday in a game that matched two new interim coaches. Charlotte (4-7, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) fired Biff Poggi on Monday and Tim Brewster took over. FAU (2-9, 0-7) fired Tom Ferman, also on Monday, with Chad Lunsford taking charge. After Blake's third touchdown catch of the game that came with 5:25 left, the 49ers extended their lead when Tyriq Starks was strip-sacked by Ja'Qurious Conley and 335-pound Katron Kevans carried it 22 yards into the end zone. Blake made five catches for a career-high 205 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. Purdie was 16 of 30 for a career-best 396 yards passing with the three scores plus an interception. The 49ers only rushed for 46 yards. Stephen Rusnak kicked four field goals. Starks was 12-of-23 passing for 179 yards including a 65-yard score to Omari Hayes in the final minute of the third quarter to get FAU within six of the 49ers. CJ Campbell rushed 58 yards to score early in the fourth quarter and the Owls had a 27-26 lead. Campbell finished with 150 yards on 21 carries. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
Let me tell a story. So, I had a relative who was equally from a relatively wealthy home. Years passed, and the patriarch of the home died. This particular relative was the prodigal daughter of the home; she was simply the black sheep... In Africa and Nigeria, particularly, funerals are not just party affairs but also family affairs. Bent on making sure that she wouldn’t be left out, Moji told everyone not to worry about the casket that she would purchase. On D-Day, lo and behold, there was an elegant casket. No one believed Moji, the black sheep, was capable of that. The family members poured encomiums on her. Burial done and dusted! Many days passed, and some individuals beseeched the family home; they introduced themselves as the funeral home that supplied the casket, that it was picked on credit, and that they had waited for a while and since payment was not forthcoming they had to come personally to collect their money. Apparently, Moji got the casket (Yes, on credit). Eventually, the family paid for it. Many absurd stories have happened. The patriarch was buried in a casket and gone to his ancestors. Nigeria is Moji! Now come with me... let us finish the story. In the labyrinth of challenges confronting Nigeria, recent tragedies have cast a glaring spotlight on the multifaceted issues bedeviling the nation. Over mere days, three separate stampedes during Christmas charity events resulted in the deaths of at least 67 individuals, including scores of children. The events, intended to bring relief during a season of cheer, turned into devastating reminders of a nation at odds with itself—where poverty, desperation, and psychosocial dysfunction intertwine to produce a reality that is both tragic and absurd. On December 18, 2024, the city of Ibadan, known for its vibrant culture and historic landmarks, became the site of unimaginable sorrow. A Christmas funfair aimed at providing cash handouts, free food, and scholarships turned deadly as crowd control failed amidst a massive turnout. What should have been a celebration of generousity became a catastrophe, claiming the lives of 35 children. The event, organised by a local figure in collaboration with a women’s foundation and a radio station, lacked the safety measures necessary to manage the overwhelming crowd. Tragedy struck again in Anambra and Abuja, where similar charity events spiraled into chaos. In Anambra, 22 lives were lost as people scrambled for food distributed by a philanthropist. In Abuja, a church-organised charity event saw 10 individuals perish in yet another avoidable disaster. These incidents, spread across different regions, expose a systemic issue—Nigeria’s inability to manage desperation in an era of escalating economic hardship. While it is easy to attribute these tragedies solely to poverty, such an analysis would barely scratch the surface. Yes, the cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria is acute, with inflation, unemployment, and widespread poverty forcing many to the brink. But these events also reveal a deeper psychosocial crisis. The desperation driving people to risk their lives for food or meager handouts stems from a collective psyche battered by years of systemic neglect. These stampedes are not merely the byproducts of economic hardship; they are also the result of a national mindset shaped by scarcity and survivalism. In a society where the majority feel perpetually shortchanged, opportunities—even those as simple as free rice—are perceived as zero-sum games where only the swiftest or strongest survive. Charity in Nigeria often borders on performative philanthropy, where organisers prioritise optics over substance. Many of these events are designed as public relations spectacles, with little regard for the safety or dignity of beneficiaries. The chaotic scenes at these events are emblematic of a larger failure: a culture that emphasises appearances while neglecting structural solutions to systemic issues. At the core of these tragedies lies a network of systemic failures: 1. Regulatory Lapses Despite repeated occurrences of stampedes, there is no clear regulatory framework for managing public gatherings. Crowd control is treated as an afterthought, and safety protocols are virtually nonexistent. 2. Governance Without Accountability Governmental responses to these incidents often follow a predictable script—arrests are made, committees are formed, and investigations are promised. Yet, tangible changes are rarely implemented. This cycle of negligence and impunity exacerbates the problem, leaving citizens vulnerable to future disasters. 3. Economic Inequities The cost-of-living crisis is not just an economic issue; it is a governance failure. Years of mismanagement have created an environment where necessities are inaccessible to large swathes of the population. Charity, therefore, becomes a lifeline rather than a supplement, exposing the absence of effective social safety nets. Critics may argue that these tragedies are inevitable in a nation plagued by poverty. However, reducing the issue to poverty alone ignores the psychosocial and cultural dimensions. Consider this: even in resource-constrained societies, dignity, order, and humanity can be preserved through planning and accountability. The recurring stampedes in Nigeria are not just about scarcity—they reflect a failure of imagination and empathy. It is high time Nigerians interrogate the ethos surrounding public charity. While organisers shoulder significant blame, the public also plays a role in perpetuating the chaos. A sense of entitlement combined with years of neglect has bred a survivalist mentality that often disregards communal welfare. This is not to victim-blame but to highlight the need for a societal shift towards collective responsibility and discipline. To prevent a recurrence of such tragedies, Nigeria must take a multipronged approach that addresses the root causes while implementing immediate safeguards: 1. Economic and Social Reforms – Invest in policies that create sustainable employment opportunities. – Strengthen social safety nets to reduce dependence on ad hoc charity events. – Address inflation and the rising cost of living through sound fiscal and monetary policies. 2. Regulation of Public Gatherings – Enforce strict guidelines for organising public events, including mandatory crowd control measures and risk assessments. – Introduce penalties for organisers who fail to adhere to safety protocols. 3. Community Education – Launch awareness campaigns to educate the public on the risks of overcrowding and the importance of orderly conduct at public events. 4. Rethinking Charity – Shift from performative charity to systemic solutions, focusing on sustainable poverty alleviation rather than one-off handouts. 5. Accountability Mechanisms – Establish independent bodies to investigate public tragedies and hold both private and governmental entities accountable. The irony of these tragedies lies in their timing—during the season of goodwill and cheer. In a nation where the phrase “we are managing” has become a mantra, these incidents highlight how deeply embedded the culture of managing chaos has become. Nigerians have a knack for finding humour even in dire situations, but some absurdities, like stampedes over food, demand outrage rather than resigned laughter. These tragedies should not be reduced to another chapter in Nigeria’s book of woes. Instead, they should serve as a rallying cry for change. To move beyond the absurdity, we must embrace a collective resolve to dismantle the systems that perpetuate poverty, desperation, and neglect. Nigeria’s story need not always be one of chaos and loss. With intentional reforms, a shift in cultural attitudes, and a commitment to accountability, we can write a new narrative—one where charity uplifts rather than endangers and where the value of human life is truly upheld. Let this be the moment we refuse to normalise the absurd. Let this be the moment we demand better because Nigeria deserves more, and so do her people–Only time will tell.San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters during a conference call on Monday, the day after the team's 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Here's everything he said. Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff. Opening comments: "Alright guys, injuries from the game: [OL] Aaron Banks will be in the concussion protocol, [DL] Jordan Elliott also in the concussion protocol, [CB] Renardo Green hurt his neck, he's going to be day-to-day, [LB Demetrius] Flannigan-Fowles, knee, he'll also be day-to-day, and then [OL Dominick] Puni had a shoulder, we're still waiting on the MRI to get back, so still being evaluated on that, the same situation with [DB Deommodore Lenoir] DMo, who banged knees in the game, we're still waiting on his MRI to get back too. That's it for the guys from the game. Go ahead." What about QB Brock Purdy? Did he do any throwing today or will he do any and what's the plan for him early this week? "Yeah, he did some light throwing today and it went all good. He had, we didn't push it that hard, but did some light throwing, which was a good sign that the pain hadn't come back. And we'll rest it tomorrow and see how he feels as the week goes." It was reported over the weekend by FOX Sports analyst Jay Glazer that Brock Purdy had a second MRI on his shoulder. Is that true? And if so, why a second one? "Because, yes, it's true. Most guys get, we always get more than one when you get one and it seems alright then you have some pain later in the week, so you get another one to make sure you didn't miss anything. And so, that's what he did, I think, after the Thursday practice." What is the nature of his injury? "A shoulder." Will you be making any move with OL Jon Feliciano today? "Yeah, Jon is going to stay on IR. Knee hasn't responded the right way, so unfortunately for Jon, and us, but just had a talk with him here a little bit ago and he's going to have to stay on IR." Were there issues with the footing yesterday? K Jake Moody from the start of the game slipped on that first kickoff. Were there issues with that, that was causing some of the missed tackles and whatnot? "Yeah, there were definitely issues with the footing. It happened to our quarterback on a number of plays, but it happened to a bunch of guys throughout the game. Guys were fixing their cleats, some did it pregame, some did it right into the game, but that's an issue at Lambeau that time of the year." You talked yesterday about your frustration over the penalties. After watching the film, the video, how can you go about fixing that? Obviously, you still want players to play aggressive, but as you've noted several times, the penalties are really hurting you guys. "Yeah, you look at each penalty and the ones that you can correct, you correct. Going back to, I think on the second play of the game for offense, Puni went a little bit early and that's something he's just got to have better patience with. Changing the, the cadences are always subtly different when you change quarterbacks, but that's something we harped on hard, especially Thursday and Friday once we realized what was happening. And that got us there, the false start that they called on [C] Jake [Brendel] later in the game, we had been doing it that way all year, so we didn't see anything wrong with that. We're going to have to check with the league on that because he didn't move or anything. They just said he snapped it too early. So it's some disagreements there. Couple of the holding calls, especially on the long kick return, didn't totally see it the same way, but the other two I did, and we've got be better with that. The timing of those penalties, and we didn't overcome either. I think on one drive, we overcame one, the third-and-one penalty and other times we didn't. So the pre-snap ones we've got to be much better at. Those are the ones we can avoid. But a couple of those, I've got to talk to the league on." To clarify, the assumption is that Brock would be available to play against Buffalo if he doesn't have pain this week, and if not, then QB Brandon Allen would start? "To clarify guys, with Brock's shoulder, it's exactly what I've worded to you guys every time. We got the MRI last week, his shoulder was bothering him, we thought it would be alright by Thursday and it hurt worse Thursday than it did earlier in the week. So we rested it throughout the weekend hoping that would help. He threw lighter today to see if that rest helped and the rest did help him. So we'll see again, going through the same things we did last week. We're going to let him rest all the way up to Wednesday. We'll see how it feels on Wednesday, and then we'll take the exact same course throughout the week and hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest. With these back-to-back long trips and Thanksgiving this week, what will this week look like in terms of practice and workload, et cetera? "Not much different. I try to, I start a little bit earlier on Thanksgiving. We start earlier so I can get the guys, so the guys' families don't have to wait as long for them to get home. My family gets very annoyed with me because I get home pretty late for Thanksgiving, so it ends up being a later dinner, for the coaches and stuff. But we try to move everything up, get going earlier so the guys can get out, have a Thanksgiving, and then the next day we'll start a little bit earlier to catch up on stuff we didn't finish with the film and then we'll be on our way to Buffalo." With the long flights, is there anything you have to do differently in terms of treatment, just in having the two back-to-back? "Always when you go on flights, you just, inflammation and stuff like that reacts differently. So those are things we've put in a ton of account into. But as far as us just changing things up, we're not going to do that because of the long flights. We've got some injuries and stuff we've got to deal with this week, so we'll see how our team is on Wednesday and everything as far as reps and stuff. But I'm not going to change anything up just because of the duration of the Buffalo flight." Are you planning to open the window for LB Dre Greenlaw this week or where does that stand? "Yeah, Dre should, we are going to open it this week. He should be able to start practicing on Wednesday." Have you had a chance to talk to DL Nick Bosa and T Trent Williams and how are they doing? "They're in the same boat Brock is, really. We had the MRIs and everything, we kind of understand it, but just waiting to see how they respond. They didn't respond great last week, that's why they weren't able to go. Nick and Trent are both in the same boat, Nick with his hip and oblique and Trent with his ankle. We'll evaluate as this week progresses and hopefully it turns a better corner than it did last week." After seeing the film, how, how do you view the way Brandon played a quarterback and if Brock can't go, is he definitely the starter then in Buffalo? "Yes, unless something crazy happens during the week. But I thought Brandon did some real good things. He had one real bad decision at the beginning of the game, early, where he threw it to [Green Back Packers LB Quay Walker] number seven, and fortunately, that guy dropped it. But I thought he made some big plays in the game that gave us a chance to get back into it. Him going across the board and getting that touchdown to [TE George] Kittle, he had a couple big third downs, I thought he had a hell of a throw the one that [WR] Deebo [Samuel Sr.] tipped and ended up being intercepted. I think his two toughest plays were a keeper on second-and-seven where he slipped right before he threw it and the next play, I think, was that pick. But what he does have to do better is protect the ball in the pocket. The ball was on the ground too much." What are you seeing from LB Fred Warner? Do you think he's just pressing? It looks like he's missing the plays that he's been making consistently over the last few years. How would you evaluate his play during the last couple weeks? "I still think Fred is the man. I think Fred is playing at a high level. I know he had more missed tackles than he's had, I think he had, I want to say four, which is too much for anyone, way too much for him. So, obviously he can do better in that way. But Fred is still playing like one of the best linebackers in the league. I know he's got a real high standard, so when he has something like that, it's going to stick out. But Fred's still playing like one of the best players in this league." The defense had 19 missed tackles overall. Where's the disconnect between the coaching and what they're able to do on the field? "I wouldn't say there's disconnect. I would say, especially in that first half, they got some guys in space and we sat in a chair a little too much versus that running back [Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs]. And when you come to a jump stop on that running back, he is going to break your ankles, and he did it to a number of guys. It always helps if you can get two people there, but when we had one person there, he did as good as I've seen anyone make someone miss tackles in the way he ran. I thought we did better there in the second half. I think we ended up counting 12, so I know PFF has different numbers than we do, but it doesn't matter. Twelve is still way too many also. I thought we'd tightened it up there in the second half and tackled better and got them in some third downs and got off the field, which I thought gave us every chance to get back in the game. But that was really tough to do when we led three drives in a row with three turnovers in a row. I thought that's really what killed us." What will it take to get Deebo going? It's been a few weeks now and he is struggling from scrimmage, struggling in the receiving. Does he have the burst that he needs? "I think he has the burst that he needs. He didn't get a lot of opportunities last night. He had a pretty good kick return that I thought would've changed the huge momentum of the game, unfortunately it got called back with that holding call. I thought he had a good screen. And then the two plays he's got to do, he's got to catch both of those balls and if he catches both of those balls he's got a chance to do what he's good at after that and run with it. And he didn't get that opportunity because he didn't catch both those balls. So, if he does then that would be two more opportunities. And as far as anyone, we didn't get anybody going in that game. We weren't consistent and we didn't participate very much in the first half and the second half with those turnovers and everything just killing our drives. I think we had a total of 50-something plays but we really weren't able to stay out there consistently enough to get any player going." Fred, after the game said that there were run looks that they weren't prepared for. Is it more Josh Jacobs and his ability or is it just purely not being ready for what they were dishing out? "No, you're going to see different formations and different run looks every game. When you do see that you can't get out of your gaps. And there were a couple times that we had guys get out of the gaps. I'd say on the second play of the game, they got a long one. They caught us just in a blitz. We were doing a blitz and when you blitz and they run the ball and you can get someone out of a gap, you're going to get 15 yards like that right up to the deep safety. After that, a couple looks that they had, we had guys overrun it, they cut out our D-End and there's not a guy in the gap which leads to an explosive. We had too many of those in the first half, without a doubt. And when you give a back like that kind of space and they're getting 10 yards before contact he's usually going to make that one guy left look pretty bad and that's what we had way too many of." Is WR Jacob Cowing still in the concussion protocol? "Yeah. Hit you guys up with all guys not from the game, Jacob's still in the protocol. [DL] Kevin Givens with his groin, he's got a possible chance to get back into practice this week. Hopefully he can get back Wednesday and see how he reacts. And then I think I mentioned everyone else. That's about it though." Is CB Charvarius Ward going to practice in full this week? "Yes, that's the plan. He got a lot of work in last week, he just did most of it with the scout team and stuff. He seems in good spirits and hopefully he'll come out there Wednesday and we'll see how it goes. It's not something I'm pushing him on hard and trying to go at his speed. But I know how he talked last week and everything and hopefully he'll be able to take another step forward with that this week." How do you feel about sort of the big picture playoff race and to be at 5-6 at this point? How sort of urgent, desperate, do you view every game now as sort of must win to keep your chances alive? "Yeah, without a doubt. I think everyone knows. You've just got to look at it for a couple minutes to realize where we're at. It's nice when you're one game out of first in your own division. So that does say a lot, especially being able to play two of those teams left of our six games. But you also know, you look at the whole NFC picture and if you don't win the division, it's 10-7 not guaranteed to get in as a Wild Card by any means this year. So I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is. That's why that Seattle game was so tough of a loss and that's why last night was even worse. We know what we got ahead of us. We know exactly what that playoff situation is. That is what it is. But really all that matters is this week. When you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that, then you better make sure you're only thinking of one thing and that's Buffalo. And so, we've had to take care of a lot of stuff today. I'm hoping that guys will take care of their bodies stuff here over the day and a half they're away from us. We'll come back Wednesday fully understanding the situation we're in and coming back ready to fight because that's all we can do right now is just fight our butts off. And I'll be very surprised that not every guy in this building when I see them Wednesday isn't ready for that exact mindset that we're going to need to pull off what we feel we can." This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.Meet Justin Sun, 34, an entrepreneur who bought $6.2 m banana
A voting machine firm suing Fox News now wants to probe Murdoch family trust fightThe Ravens looked better defensively last week, but now Roquan Smith's injury is a concern
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”TOKYO, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM) (“MEDIROM”) announces that M3, Inc. (TOKYO PRIME: 2413), or an affiliate within the M3 group, is participating in the Series A equity financing round of MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc., a subsidiary of MEDIROM. NFES Technologies Inc. is the lead investor of the Series A financing round at a pre-money valuation of JPY9 billion. Additional information is available here: https://medirom.co.jp/en/ir/20240824/6148%09 Forward-Looking Statements Regarding MEDIROM Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about MEDIROM’s possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “design,” “target,” “aim,” “hope,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “goal,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to MEDIROM’s future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MEDIROM’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond MEDIROM’s control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects MEDIROM’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MEDIROM’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect MEDIROM’s business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price is included in MEDIROM’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in the “Risk Factors” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” sections of MEDIROM’s most recently filed periodic report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . MEDIROM assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. ABOUT M3, Inc. M3 is a one of a kind venture company that operates a multitude of global services centred around its physician platform such as m3.com . M3 is the first company incorporated after the year 2000 to be included in the Nikkei 225 Index. Its 330,000+ Japanese and 6,500,000+ global physician member panel serves as a central platform in advancing innovation and reform across healthcare worldwide. Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Securities code 2413) 1-11-44 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 JAPAN Web https://corporate.m3.com/en ABOUT MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. A subsidiary of MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM), focuses on the health-tech sector. The company’s core activities include the "Specific Health Guidance Program" offered through the "Lav" health application and development and sales of the 24/7 recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet smart tracker. By leveraging the features of the recharge-free MOTHER Bracelet, MOTHER Labs offers customizable health management solutions across diverse sectors, including caregiving, logistics, manufacturing, etc. MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. NASDAQ Symbol: MRM Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Web https://medirom.co.jp/en Contact: ir@medirom.co.jp MEDIROM MOTHER Labs Inc. Tradepia Odaiba, 2-3-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan MOTHER Bracelet is the world's first* 24/7 recharge-free smart tracker. It uses innovative technology from a Silicon Valley tech company that allows for power generation based on temperature differences between body and surrounding air. The recharge-free feature eliminates the risk of data loss when a device is taken off for recharge. MOTHER Bracelet records five basic metrics: heart rate, calories burned, body surface temperature, step count, and sleep. Official Website: https://mother-bracelet.com
Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fighting
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