super ace casino login philippines sign up BLAINVILLE, Que. - Sam Oliver scored a hat trick to give him a league-leading 28 goals on the season and the Drummondville Voltigeurs kept rolling with a 6-2 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BLAINVILLE, Que. - Sam Oliver scored a hat trick to give him a league-leading 28 goals on the season and the Drummondville Voltigeurs kept rolling with a 6-2 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BLAINVILLE, Que. – Sam Oliver scored a hat trick to give him a league-leading 28 goals on the season and the Drummondville Voltigeurs kept rolling with a 6-2 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action Sunday. Ethan Gauthier, Adam Cavallin and Maxime Lambert all scored for Drummondville (22-5-3), who are 7-0-1 over their last eight games and lead the QMJHL with 47 points. Voltigeurs netminder Riley Mercer stopped 46 of 48 shots. Olivier Lemieux and Jonathan Fauchon scored for Blainville-Boisbriand (16-12-1). Armada goaltender Rémi Delafontaine kicked out 18 of 23 shots. — ISLANDERS 4 HUSKIES 3 (SO) CHARLOTTETOWN — Alexis Michaud scored the shootout winner as the Islanders defeated Rouyn-Noranda. Egor Goriunov had two goals while Owen Conrad scored once for Charlottetown (11-15-3) in regulation. Islanders goaltender Nicolas Ruccia stopped 39 of 42 shots. Ty Higgins, Evan Courtois and Lars Steiner all scored for Rouyn-Noranda (16-6-7). Huskies goaltender Samuel Carreiras made 25 saves. — WILDCATS 3 SEA DOGS 2 SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Gabe Smith scored the game-winning goal at 17:00 in the third period as Moncton edged the Sea Dogs. Juraj Pekarcik and Markus Vidicek also scored for Eastern Conference-leading Moncton (22-5-2). Wildcats netminder Rudy Guimond stopped 37 of 39 shots. Zachary Morin scored twice for Saint John (14-16-0), while Sea Dogs netminder Justin Robinson kicked out 36 of 39 shots. — TITAN 2 MOOSEHEADS 1 (OT) BATHURST, N.B. — Dawson Sharkey scored in overtime period as the Acadie-Bathurst Titan edged Halifax. Liam Arsenault also scored for Acadie-Bathurst (18-11-0). Titan netminder Joshua Fleming stopped 35 of 36 shots. Lou Lévesque scored for Halifax (10-14-5). Mooseheads netminder Mathis Rousseau made 23 saves. — EAGLES 5 FOREURS 3 SYDNEY, N.S. — Cam Squires scored three goals as the Cape Breton Eagles topped Val-D’Or. Émile Ricard and Luke Patterson also scored for Cape Breton (13-13-3). Eagles netminder Jakub Milota kicked out 28 of 31 shots. Noah Reinhart scored all three goals for Val-D’Or (9-17-3). Foreurs netminder Cédric Massé saved 29 of 34 shots, — CATARACTES 3 OLYMPIQUES 1 GATINEAU — Mathys Fernandez made 32 saves and Kody Dupuis scored the game-winner as Shawinigan downed the Olympiques. Félix Lacerte and Matvei Gridin and Kody Dupuis also scored for Shawinigan (16-12-1). Julien Paillé scored once for Gatineau (6-18-6). Olympiques goaltender Nathan St-Pierre stopped 25 of 28 shots. This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Advertisement

Josh Hubbard scored 25 points and Claudell Harris Jr. scored 21 on 6-of-9 shooting as Mississippi State escaped with a 91-84 win against Prairie View A&M on Sunday in Starkville, Miss. Prairie View A&M took a 65-64 lead with 10:38 remaining, but Hubbard and Harris Jr. each scored seven points to power the ensuing 14-1 run that put Mississippi State up for good. Hubbard punctuated the rally with a 3-pointer that made it 78-66 with 5:51 to play. The Bulldogs (8-1) stretched their lead to as many as 13 points in the closing minutes to notch their second straight win. Shawn Jones Jr. added 11 points for Mississippi State, while Michael Nwoko added 10 points and 10 rebounds. RJ Melendez also netted 10 points. The Panthers (1-8) were led by the trio of Nick Anderson (21 points) Tanahj Pettway (20) and Marcel Bryant (19). Pettway drilled 4 of 5 3-pointers and Bryant grabbed seven rebounds. Prairie View A&M got off to a hot start, opening up a 27-12 lead with 10:42 left in the first half. It was a surprising haymaker from the visitors, who entered the game winless in Division I play and faced a Bulldogs team that was ranked last week. Mississippi State eventually found its stride offensively, turning things around with a 32-17 run to tie the game at 44 entering halftime. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field overall in the first half, but only made six of their 17 attempts from 3-point range (35.3 percent). Their defense remained an issue throughout the half, with the Panthers hitting 16 of their 27 shots (59.3 percent) and canning 5 of 8 3-pointers. Neither team led by more than five early in the second half until Mississippi State pulled away. The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 55.6 percent from the floor (30-of-54) and drilled 11 of 26 attempts (42.3 percent) from long range. They outrebounded Prairie View A&M 35-22 and outscored them 31-20 in bench points. The Panthers held a 34-32 advantage in points in the paint and shot 56.4 percent overall for the game, including 52.6 percent (10-of-19) on threes. --Field Level MediaResearchers from the John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, conducted a study to uncover the factors driving waste management behaviors in Metro Manila, a region grappling with the consequences of rapid urbanization and increasing waste generation. Using an extended theory of reasoned action (TRA) model, the study aimed to predict how knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions influence sustainable waste practices. Metro Manila, known for its densely populated cities and environmental challenges, provided a crucial setting to explore behavioral dimensions in waste management, particularly in a developing country that is a major contributor to global plastic pollution. Unraveling the Role of Knowledge in Waste Management The research surveyed 207 residents across Metro Manila’s 16 cities, aged 18 to 60, using a four-point Likert scale to measure their knowledge, attitudes, and intentions. Knowledge of urban environmental sustainability emerged as a significant predictor of waste management attitudes, though the relationship proved complex. Participants with lower sustainability knowledge often demonstrated stronger waste management attitudes, likely due to familiarity with waste-specific issues rather than broader environmental awareness. This counterintuitive finding highlights the need for targeted public education programs that bridge gaps in understanding and make sustainability more relatable. Additionally, the study confirmed that knowledge of urban environmental sustainability directly impacts knowledge of waste management, reinforcing the interconnectedness of these topics. Individuals with a foundational understanding of sustainability are better equipped to grasp the nuances of effective waste practices, supporting the concept of “knowledge by acquaintance.” The Power of Social Influence and Subjective Norms Subjective norms, social pressures, and expectations played a crucial role in shaping individuals’ intentions toward sustainable waste practices. The research demonstrated that individuals were more likely to engage in waste management behaviors when they felt supported or encouraged by peers, family, or their community. This aligns with global studies showing that the perception of social norms significantly influences pro-environmental behaviors. In Metro Manila, where waste management systems often rely on community participation, fostering positive norms could be a game changer. Social campaigns and community-driven initiatives highlighting collective responsibility and shared benefits may amplify engagement and drive behavioral change. Transforming Intentions into Sustainable Actions Behavioral intentions emerged as the critical link between knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and actual waste management behaviors. The study revealed that individuals with stronger intentions to engage in sustainable practices were more likely to translate these intentions into observable actions, such as waste segregation and recycling. These findings underscore the importance of nurturing not just awareness but also commitment among individuals. Policymakers and stakeholders can leverage these insights to design interventions that inspire intentions and facilitate their conversion into sustainable behaviors. For example, providing accessible waste management infrastructure and incentivizing participation could remove barriers and strengthen the intention-action link. Policy and Education as Catalysts for Change The study offers a roadmap for addressing waste management challenges through targeted policies and educational initiatives. Campaigns tailored to specific knowledge gaps could enhance public understanding of urban sustainability and its connection to waste practices. Integrating these topics into school curricula may foster pro-environmental attitudes from an early age, creating a foundation for lifelong sustainable behaviors. Community-wide programs emphasizing the social and environmental benefits of proper waste management could further amplify public participation. Policymakers could also focus on creating positive reinforcement mechanisms, such as rewards for recycling or penalties for improper disposal, to drive compliance and engagement. Confronting Limitations and Expanding Horizons While the study provides valuable insights, it acknowledges certain limitations. The reliance on convenience and snowball sampling methods may have introduced biases, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the focus on Metro Manila’s urban setting excludes perspectives from rural and semi-urban areas, which may face distinct challenges in waste management. Future research could address these gaps by employing representative sampling techniques and exploring diverse geographic contexts. Expanding the scope to include different demographic groups and regions could enrich our understanding of the broader dynamics influencing waste management behaviors. A Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Development Overall, the study underscores the importance of urban environmental sustainability knowledge in shaping waste management behaviors. By integrating these insights into policy and education, stakeholders can address the root causes of unsustainable practices and foster a culture of sustainability. The interconnectedness of knowledge, attitudes, and social norms offers a comprehensive framework for crafting interventions that drive meaningful change. As urbanization accelerates in developing regions, addressing waste-related challenges is becoming increasingly urgent. This research provides a valuable blueprint for promoting sustainability in Metro Manila and beyond, emphasizing the role of behavioral science in tackling environmental issues. With its focus on the behavioral dimensions of waste management, the study contributes to global efforts to mitigate environmental impacts and achieve sustainable urban developmentUS says terror designation doesn't bar talks with Syrian rebel group

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Oracle Q3 results miss estimates; share dip in afterhours tradingWASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning "things do change." Here's a look at some of the issues covered: Trump threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn't believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won't be paying more as they shop. "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow," Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are "going to make us rich." He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. "All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field," Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. "Honestly, they should go to jail," Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump's role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: "I have the absolute right. I'm the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I'm the president. But I'm not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. "Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee," Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, "No," and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. At another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. "I want her to do what she wants to do," he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, "I'm not looking to go back into the past." Immigration advocates hold a rally in Sacramento, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to protest President-Elect Donald Trump's plans to conduct mass deportation of immigrants without legal status. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. "I think you have to do it," he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end "birthright" citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — though such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and were shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, "I want to work something out," indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not "want to be breaking up families" of mixed legal status, "so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back." President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Notre Dame Cathedral as France's iconic cathedral is formally reopening its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019, Saturday Dec.7, 2024 in Paris ( Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he "absolutely" would remain in the alliance "if they pay their bills." Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies' commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated "fairly" on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin's invasion. "Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure," Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump called for an immediate cease-fire. Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged. "I haven't spoken to him recently," Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to "impede the negotiation." The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy, including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: "Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious" that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump's pick for FBI chief, then "he's going to be taking somebody's place, right? Somebody is the man that you're talking about." Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. "We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient," he said. He added that "we're not raising ages or any of that stuff." He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would "probably" not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, "Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change." Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had "concepts" of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called "lousy health care." He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for "better health care for less money." Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. 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. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. 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. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. 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 said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 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COST-cutting Nats ministers axed important research into boosting exports to individual US states - despite a price tag of just £75,000. The SNP Government was branded “short-sighted” for shelving the plan amid the threat of new trade barriers being thrown up by incoming president Donald Trump . Advertisement 5 The SNP offered to fork out £75,000 on a report into trade relations with the US Credit: AFP 5 Scottish Tory shadow business and economy secretary Murdo Fraser blasted the SNP Credit: Alamy 5 Finance Secretary Shona Robinson's spending controls halted the report Credit: Getty Documents reveal ministers offered to fork out £75,000 on a report - the first of its kind - into untapped markets for Scottish goods like whisky in each of the 50 states. But it’s emerged the plan - costing around 0.0001 per cent of the £64billion Scottish Government budget - was halted in August after Finance Secretary Shona Robison brought in “spending controls” following inflation-busting public sector pay deals and benefits hikes fuelling a black hole in finances. Find out what's really going on Register now for our free weekly politics newsletter for an insightful and irreverent look at the (sometimes excruciating) world of Scottish Politics. Every Thursday our hotshot politics team goes behind the headlines to bring you a rundown of key events - plus insights and gossip from the corridors of power, including a 'Plonker' and 'Star' of the Week. Sign up now and make sure you don't miss a beat. The politicians would hate that. SIGN UP FOR FREE NOW Scottish Tory shadow business and economy secretary Murdo Fraser said: “This is a staggeringly short-sighted approach from SNP ministers to scrap this report. “With the threat of tariffs from a new American administration looming over us, it has arguably never been more important to strengthen economic opportunities with them.” Advertisement READ MORE POLITICS VLAD FURY Watch as hero Brit reporter risks Putin's wrath saying ‘you’re weaker than Trump’ OPEN BOOK Nicola Sturgeon claims she is 'not out to settle scores' with new memoir SNP ministers want the value of Scotland’s international exports to rise from the equivalent of 20 per cent of Scottish economic output, to 25 per cent by 2028. Latest export figures show Scotland exported £5.1bn of goods and services to the USA in 2021, making it our largest single overseas export destination. The largest trade sector was “food, beverages and tobacco” - accounting for a fifth of goods and services entering the States in 2021, and worth just over £1bn. Watch as Trump bristles ‘Elon Musk CAN’T be president’ as X billionaire continues clinging to President-elect’s coattail The contract notice for the state-by-state export research had said: “The end goal of the USA Export Plan is to produce an export-focused report that seeks to identify the US states that offer the best match and opportunity for Scottish export strengths.” Advertisement Most read in The Scottish Sun SUSPECT NICKED Man arrested and charged over 'crossbow disturbance' in busy Scots street AIR CARNAGE ‘Berserk’ plane passenger tied up with SEATBELTS after trying to smash window BUG FEARS Hospital visits stopped as Scots health board says winter bug rocketing in region RAIL TRAGEDY Person hit by train on busy line as ScotRail axes services amid travel chaos There was also criticism that the Scottish Government’s £610,000-a-year US office - founded in 2001 and based in the British Embassy in Washington DC - had not previously carried out similar state-by-state work . Tory MSP Mr Fraser added: “Some of the millions of taxpayers’ money being spent on their office in North America surely should have been diverted towards delivering this crucial work .” The Scotch Whisky Association said the US market - historically Scotch whisky’s first £1bn market - dropped to £978million in export value in 2023. 5 John Swinney's government hope to proceed with the study in the next 12 months Credit: Andrew Barr Advertisement 5 Haggis is illegal in the States as lung is considered unfit for human consumption Credit: Getty SNP chiefs say they aim to revive the state-by-state plan in 2025-26. Mr Trump will be inaugurated in January and has threatened to introduce a range of tariffs during his second White House term, including levies of up to 20 per cent on all goods imports. The latest export figures revealed that Scotland exported £5.1 billion of goods and services to the USA in 2021, making it Scotland’s largest international export destination. Advertisement THE SCOTTISH SUN SAYS... THE Scottish Government has warped priorities over its approach to trade with the US. We reveal today how ministers canned research into the best ways to sell Scottish goods into America’s 50 states, due to a cost-cutting exercise this year. The idea was to identify untapped markets for products like whisky as part of efforts to ramp up exports from the equivalent of 20 per cent of Scottish economic output to 25 per cent by 2028. Latest figures show Scotland exported £5.1billion of goods and services to the US in 2021. Increasing such a huge number by even a small percentage would bring a significant boost. So, being nimble and savvy, and not treating a country as diverse as the US as a giant blob would seem to be a great idea. But the plan was shelved in order to cut costs after SNP ministers dug themselves into a hole by over-promising on public pay and benefits. This, despite the fact it was going to cost a measly £75,000 — a figure which pales into insignificance in terms of the £64billion Scottish Government budget. So, a plan aimed at unlocking millions in income for Scottish businesses was cast aside. Worse still, the cut comes at a time when exploring every avenue for trade with the US should be a priority, given Donald Trump’s return to power and his threat of import tariffs. This episode underlines how the government has its priorities all wrong. Earlier this month, John Swinney attacked Labour over their mess with so-called WASPI women and refusing to pay out. The FM twisted the knife and preached that “politics is about choices”, adding: “I’ve always chosen to do what’s right for Scotland.” Mr Swinney should practice what he preaches. Because failing to do the best for Scotland in an increasingly uncertain world is the very definition of failing your country. This figure accounted for 16 per cent of the country’s international export value in 2021. For US exports, the largest industry sector was food, beverages and tobacco which accounted for a fifth of goods and services entering the States in 2021 - worth just over £1billion. Meanwhile Scotland’s other favourite offering Haggis has been illegal in the States since 1971 because sheep’s lung is considered unfit for human consumption.

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American K-pop star sues Korean label for 'abuse and mistreatment' as she makes series of shocking claims KG from the girl group VCHA filed a lawsuit against JYP USA VCHA are the first American group formed using K-pop's training techniques READ MORE: K-pop star, 14, shocks fans with her measly diet By J. PETERSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 09:24 AEDT, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 09:46 AEDT, 10 December 2024 e-mail View comments A member of Korean-American girl group VCHA is suing her record label for alleged 'abuse and mistreatment.' Keira Grace Madder, 17, better known by her stage name 'KG Crown,' announced her departure from the group over the weekend by filing a lawsuit against her label, JYP USA, which is a subsidiary of the South Korean entertainment company JYP Entertainment. The suit makes a number of explosive allegations against the label, claiming that KG suffered from child labor exploitation, unfair business practices, and food and water restrictions , according to Forbes . The Los Angeles-based singer also alleges physical and emotional distress and says that she was put in 'an environment that encourages eating disorders and has caused [VCHA] members to self-harm.' One of the most shocking allegations in the lawsuit was that one of the members had attempted suicide. She also claimed that she worked more than 12 hours a day for just $500 per week, which is below California 's minimum wage, and that she was put into over $500,000 of 'trainee debt' with JYP USA. Other allegations included rigorous rehearsals that resulted in injuries, as well as being pressured to rehearse while sick and being denied water on occasion. The group were also allegedly watched on surveillance cameras to monitor their food intake and were fed small salads and sometimes denied food to ensure that they didn't gain weight. Keira Grace Madder of Korean-American girl group VCHA is suing her record label JYP USA for alleged 'abuse and mistreatment' VCHA were formed by JYP Entertainment as the first American girl group to be created using the South Korean K-pop training system 'I filed a lawsuit because I have decided to terminate my contract with JYP Entertainment and exit VCHA after experiencing incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members,' KG wrote on her Instagram on December 7. 'I feel it was not a good environment for my mental health and apologize if my leave disappoints any of you. I am not in support of the working and living conditions that led a member to attempt suicide. Nor do I support an environment that encourages eating disorders and has caused members to self-harm,' she continued. 'I am worried for the girls who remain in VCHA, my friends, who I truly love and care for. I also realized if I remain at JYP Entertainment, I am not able to become the artist l aspire to be, as I really enjoy songwriting and production. I have accumulated a massive amount of company debt, while being paid very little for the intense work and extreme limitations on our personal lives.' Despite the damning lawsuit, KG also thanked JYP Entertainment's founder and CEO J.Y Park in her statement. 'I'd like to thank J.Y Park, company executives, and staff for believing in me and the exceptional training. I do not blame anyone for the treatment endured, but feel this is an issue that lies deep embedded in the K-Pop industry,' she said. JYP USA responded to the lawsuit, saying that it contained 'false and exaggerated claims' in an official statement. They also said that KG's lawsuit had 'caused significant harm' to the other members of VCHA. 'JYP USA will take all necessary measures to ensure that neither the other members of VCHA nor JYP USA suffer further harm as a result of this matter,' they added. The suit makes a number of explosive allegations against the label, claiming that KG suffered from child labor exploitation, unfair business practices, food and water restrictions and more VCHA officially debuted in January with the single 'Girls of the Year' and went on tour as the opening act for top-selling K-pop group TWICE KG then responded to the statement, saying that she was 'very disappointed in the company's lack of accountability.' She added, 'My legal team and I are fully prepared with photographic and physical evidence to prove my allegations are factual, not "exaggerated" nor "false."' JYP Entertainment is one of the most successful and iconic companies in South Korea. Their artists include the legendary girl groups Wonder Girls, TWICE, Miss A, and Itzy, and the chart-topping boy band Stray Kids . Wonder Girls hold the distinction of the first ever South Korean artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, while Stray Kids have racked up five No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. In 2023, JYP Entertainment partnered with Republic Records for the American reality TV competition series A2K, which aimed to create the first American girl group using the K-pop training system. That group ultimately became Vcha, consisting of members KG, Camila, Lexi, Kendall, Savanna, and Kaylee. The group officially debuted in January with the single 'Girls of the Year' and went on tour as the opening act for TWICE. The song did not do well on the charts, missing the top 100 in South Korea and failing to make a dent in the US. DailyMail.com has reached out to JYP Entertainment for comment. Full statement: JYP USA responds to KG's lawsuit Dear All, This is JYP USA. We would like to address the recent lawsuit filed by Kiera Grace Madder (hereafter referred to as 'KG') and her public statements on social media. In May of this year, KG left group residence and initiated discussions through her legal representatives. In response, we temporarily suspended VCHA's planned activities and engaged in extensive discussions with KG's representatives to explore potential resolutions. However, recently we have not received any response from KG's representatives, leaving our legal representatives awaiting further communication. We deeply regret KG's decision to file a lawsuit and make unilateral public statements containing false and exaggerated claims. This action has caused significant harm to the other members of VCHA and JYP USA who have been working diligently on their upcoming album and projects for early 2025. JYP USA will take all necessary measures to ensure that neither the other members of VCHA nor JYP USA suffer further harm as a result of this matter. Thank you. Sincerely,JYP USA Source: Soompi Share or comment on this article: American K-pop star sues Korean label for 'abuse and mistreatment' as she makes series of shocking claims e-mail Add commentChristmas cheese recalled from supermarkets due to potentially deadly bacteria