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Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn't lay out his plans now that he's out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch." After Gaetz's withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picks WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role. He's been helping Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks try to win confirmation in the Senate, where he has served for the last two years. Vance spent part of Wednesday at the Capitol with Rep. Matt Gaetz sitting in on meetings with Trump’s controversial choice for attorney general. On Thursday, Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings over the coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs. He and his allies also wooed smaller religious groups, away from the mainstream. He posted a tribute to Coptic church members on social media and met with members of Assyrians for Trump — two smaller Christian communities with Middle Eastern roots. He visited the grave of the revered late leader of an Orthodox Jewish movement. His allies sought votes from the separatist Amish community. While Trump won decisively, the outreaches reflected aggressive campaigning in what was expected to be a tight race. NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with a hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Ukraine's parliament canceled a session Friday over the security threat. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik, saying it's so powerful that several of them fitted with conventional warheads could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education is optional for schools to adopt, but they’ll receive additional funding if they do so. Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Supporters argue the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich learning. 2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand each faced four charges related to human smuggling before being convicted on Friday. Patel is an Indian national. Shand is an American from Florida. They were arrested after the family froze while trying to cross the desolate border during a 2022 blizzard. Storm inundates Northern California with rain, heavy snow. Thousands remain in the dark in Seattle HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy rain from a major storm prompted evacuation warnings for communities near a Northern California river that forecasters say could break its banks Friday, as the system continued to dump heavy snow in mountainous areas where some ski resorts opened for the season. The storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled some trees. Forecasters are warning about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by this season’s strongest atmospheric river. Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya WASHINGTON (AP) — Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize. The research published Friday in Science Advances shows that long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula. The ancient fish canals were used to channel and catch freshwater species such as catfish. These structures were used for around 1,000 years — including during the “formative” period when the Maya began to settle in permanent farming villages and a distinctive culture started to emerge. California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health officials are confirming bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmatory test results on Friday. Officials say the child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication and is recovering. The child’s infection brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases this year to 55, including 29 in California. State officials have said the child lives in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and attends day care, but released no other details. Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he 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.” A look at some of the issues covered: Trump hems on whether trade penalties could raise prices Trump has 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 prices for U.S. consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. 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 they 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 additional 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. Trump suggests retribution for his opponents while claiming no interest in vengeance 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 had 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. But 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.” Swift action on immigration is coming 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 — although 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 have been 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.” Trump commits to NATO, with conditions, and waffles on Putin and Ukraine 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 has called for an immediate ceasefire . 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.” Trump says Powell is safe at the Fed, but not Wray at the FBI 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 his 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 is absolute about Social Security, not so much on abortion and health insurance 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.” ___ Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons

The Tampa Bay Rays have had six of their 2025 regular-season games shifted to the early season due to weather issues from playing outside, Major League Baseball announced Monday. The Rays' usual home, domed Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton last month with almost all of its roof shredded and no possibility of playing there next year. As a result, the Rays moved their 2025 home games from St. Petersburg to the New York Yankees training complex at nearby Tampa, which has an 11,000-seat outdoor stadium. An April series scheduled against the Los Angeles Angels that had been set for California will instead be played April 8-10 in Florida. A series between the two which had been set for August in Florida will now be hosted by the Angels on August 4-6. A Rays series against the Minnesota Twins planned in Minneapolis from May 26-28 will instead be played on the same dates in Tampa while a series that had been set for Tampa on July 4-6 will now be played in Minnesota. Florida summers can bring extreme heat and rain. js/bsp

Shelia Poole | (TNS) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ATLANTA — Holidays are a time for families and friends to gather, but for older people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, it can cause so much stress and confusion that they could be in danger of what experts calls wandering. Related Articles What Americans think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health stances Health officials say Louisiana patient is first severe bird flu case in US What’s behind rising autism rates: A broader definition of autism and better screening Most US teens are abstaining from drinking, smoking and marijuana, survey says An Alabama woman is doing well after the latest experimental pig kidney transplant “I would say around the holiday time is the biggest challenge for people with dementia,” said Kim Franklin, senior manager of programs and services at the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Schedules are changing, people are traveling, families are coming together and friends are coming over. There’s a lot of chaos going on and that can cause a person to wander. They want to get away. It’s hard for them to process what’s happening.” The Alzheimer’s Association reports 72% of dementia patients who wander are found alive by the next day. Alerting 911 as soon as the person goes missing is critical. The odds of survival decrease as more time passes. Angel Alonso, president of Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery based in Gwinnett County, said the vast majority — between 60% and 70% — of the 30 to 40 calls the nonprofit received last year involved people with the disease. The GESAR is a volunteer-driven organization that works with law enforcement to find people who have gone missing, including children, people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and people lost during major disasters. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Vice President John Clark, who is also volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For caregivers and loved ones, a relative who goes missing is devastating. Two of Clark’s grandparents had dementia, so he gravitated to search and rescue to help other families and caregivers keep their loved ones safe. He’s consulted with police departments across metro Atlanta on the best ways to find people with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can cause people to lose their ability to recognize people and places that are familiar. According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are often warning signs that a person might wander. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander during the course of the disease. That includes people returning from a regular walk or drive later than usual. Or they may talk about fulfilling former obligations, such as going to work or talk about going home even when they’re at home. Sometimes they become restless and pace or make repetitive movements. Clark recounted one call for help when a family reported a missing relative, but they insisted she couldn’t have gone far because of a bad knee that limited her to walking no further than the mailbox. Searchers found the missing woman 7 miles from home. Even those who have never shown an interest in wandering might start without warning. Dan Goerke is fortunate. His late wife, Diane, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, once went missing from the car of a caregiver. The caregiver had stopped for an errand. Diane had waited alone in cars as people ran errands before. But this time, when the caregiver returned, Diane was gone but her seat belt was still fastened. “It was like she disappeared into thin air,” said Goerke, who said he doesn’t blame the caregiver. Fortunately, she was found uninjured and nearby a short time later that same day. Goerke said it’s hard for caregivers to always be on guard for wandering. “We have so many things to juggle that’s not necessarily at the top of our minds. We have to manage medications, take them to doctor’s appointments, cook meals and taking care of things day to day,” he said. Clark said when searching for someone with dementia, one of the keys is to know what the person was like before their diagnosis. Often their long-term memories are still strong. They once found a woman who walked out of her home and went to where she used to shop and to her old job, although it had closed. Recently, GESAR unveiled a new tool to search for missing people: Maverick. An 8-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Maverick is in training to be part of the GESAR search and research team that will track missing people, including wandering dementia patients in metro Atlanta. In cases involving children and people with dementia, a dog’s personality can also be an asset. Labs like Maverick are friendly and affectionate, not imposing or threatening like some other breeds — and less likely to scare the person who is lost. Canines can be used in searches in both rural and urban areas. “He’s an asset,” said Maverick’s handler, Carmen Alonso. “His nose can pick up odors and track where a person has been that we might not think to go that direction.” At the Cobb County Police Department, Public Information Officer Sgt. Eric Smith said if dogs are needed to search for a wanderer they call the sheriff’s department, which has bloodhounds. “They’re not apprehension dogs so there’s little or no likelihood of a bite,” he said. Technology can also help, Smith said. Searchers can use drones and families can install technology on a person’s car to help locate it or use other kinds of trackable devices including on their phone. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Clark, who is also a volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Most cases they’ve worked on have had favorable results, according to the Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery organization. No two searches are the same, said Sgt. Jeremy Blake of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. “When responding to calls for a missing person, the response is different than that of a fleeing suspect,” he wrote in an email. “The K-9s that are used to track missing persons are not trained in the apprehension of suspects. ... Often times, if the K-9 cannot locate the missing person, they can provide officers with a more accurate direction of travel than they may previously had.” Nearly 7 million U.S. residents age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s according to the most recent Facts & Figures report . Of those, more than 188,000 Georgians ages 65 and older also have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter. There is a better chance of being found in urban environments because of a higher probability of a “good Samaritan” stepping in. Wanderers may give no forewarning. Often those with memory issues wander away during activities they’ve done safely in the past, such as shopping or sitting on a front porch. Some people who still drive can become disoriented and drive for miles away from home. According to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, on average, half the calls for missing persons involve the elderly or someone with disabilities. Call 911 as soon as possible. Have a photograph available for first responders and an article of clothing to provide a scent for search dogs. Sharing what the missing person liked to do in prior years can be a key: Did they have a job they went to every day? Did they like to fish or go to a certain spot? Searchers will need to know the last time the person was seen to help determine how far a person might have wandered. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association and Cobb County Police Department.) ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday denied a stay of the execution of Joseph Corcoran. Corcoran on Dec. 18 faces death by lethal injection after a jury found him guilty in the July 26, 1997 shooting deaths of four men in Fort Wayne. The men included his brother, James Corcoran, 30; his sister’s fiancé, Robert Turner, 32; and two friends of James, Timothy Bricker, 30, and Doug Stillwell. Corcoran’s attorneys have argued he has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and “cannot distinguish between reality and his delusions and hallucinations.” State attorneys argued that Indiana’s Supreme Court “has never held that our constitution prohibits the execution of a person based on a mere allegation of ‘severe mental illness.’”I'm A Celebrity star GK Barry reveals why she turned away from religion as a child as she sparks up unlikely friendship with Reverend Richard ColeFour nights removed from another rough performance, the New York Rangers hope a few days of extra rest and practice can get them trending upward Friday night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are on a season-high four-game winning streak. The Rangers are 1-6-0 in their past seven games while getting outscored 26-11 in those losses, including 9-2 in the first period. New York stopped a five-game losing streak Saturday when Kaapo Kakko scored with 24 seconds left in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens, but there was little carryover Monday night. In a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Rangers allowed two goals in the first 7:10 and trailed by four before Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal in the second. New York took 39 shots on goal but had 27 others blocked and made numerous mistakes that led to plenty of open ice for the Devils. Two days later, the Rangers spent a roughly 60-minute practice working on various drills, including ways to counter turnovers in the neutral zone. "A couple days of practice and guys working together, you'd like to think that it can have some positive impact on the game coming up," New York coach Peter Laviolette said. The Rangers also continued to tweak their lines. The opening night top line of Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith was reunited, while Filip Chytil was skating with Will Cuylle and Kakko. Artemi Panarin (maintenance) skated on his own and did not practice but is expected to play on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere. The lengthy practice and continued tweaks to the forward lines occurred a day after Laviolette reiterated his belief in a group that won the President's Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference finals last season. "I believe the answers are in that room," Laviolette told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "There's things we can do better, that we have to do better in order to be successful. But the only ones to get us out of where we're at right now are ourselves. So we have to focus on that." The Penguins allowed three goals in the opening period en route to a 6-0 home loss against the Rangers on Opening Night. That ugly showing was part of a 3-7-1 start, but Pittsburgh is 8-5-3 in its past 16 games. The Penguins have scored 18 goals during their current winning streak, with three of the four victories coming by one goal, including Tuesday's overtime win over the visiting Florida Panthers. Bryan Rust scored 1:31 into overtime to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 victory over Florida after the Penguins blew a 4-1 lead in the third period. Evgeni Malkin also scored and set up Rust's game-winner. Sidney Crosby added an assist, while Blake Lizotte had two helpers in a game where Pittsburgh was outshot 41-16. "I think it's just the mindset of the group," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "I just think we have a different feeling on the bench. If we give up a couple goals in the third period like we did, when you look at the way the game is played, we were fortunate to be up a couple of goals. "What I liked about the group is no one got rattled. There was great conversation on the bench amongst the players." This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions

Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE: JNJ ) shares traded in the green on Monday, snapping six consecutive days of losses. The stock closed up 0.21% at $149.62. YTD, JNJ has fallen about 5%, compared to the broader S&P 500 market which is up 28%.

The broadcaster’s former technology correspondent, 66, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to journalism on Wednesday. Cellan-Jones announced in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he has since contributed to a podcast, Movers And Shakers, discussing life with the disease. Discussing the success of the podcast, which also features Jeremy Paxman, Cellan-Jones told the PA news agency: “It’s been an absolute scream. “We’ve had the most extraordinary reaction from the Parkinson’s community. “There is a community which felt absolutely left out in the cold and this award was for services to journalism, but I can’t help but think that maybe that played some part too.” Cellan-Jones said he talked to Anne about fundraising for Parkinson’s and how technology could possibly be used to monitor the disease. The journalist added: “She showed real interest in it. “Mike Tindall, whose father’s got it, is very active in fundraising – so we talked about that.” Cellan-Jones said the OBE was “very unexpected when it came”, adding that he felt “very privileged”. He said his rescue dog from Romania, named Sophie, was “making slow progress” after becoming a social media sensation with thousands of people following her recovery online. Speaking at Buckingham Palace, Cellan-Jones said several courtiers had asked after Sophie, adding: “She’s still incredibly nervous. She’s waiting at home, she wouldn’t have liked it here – a bit too busy. “She’s making slow progress, but she’s wonderful, and she’s been very important to us.” Earlier on Wednesday, broadcaster Alan Yentob, 77, was formally made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for services to the arts and media. The retired television executive, who was born in Stepney, London, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968. He devised the flagship arts programme Imagine..., which he presented on, and was creative director of the broadcaster from 2004 until 2015. Yentob stepped down from the role in the wake of the collapse of the charity Kids Company, where he was chairman. The broadcaster said Charles had been “incredibly supportive” of him. Discussing Charles, Yentob told the PA news agency: “He’s been incredibly supportive, as I said to him, on many fronts, including the fact that I was the chairman of Kids Company, and he was incredibly supportive of that in the most difficult times. “And I think the way he’s come out about his illness, and the way the Princess of Wales has too, has been admirable.” Yentob said it would be “reckless” to not support the BBC, adding “it’s a place which embraces everyone”. The broadcaster added: “If you look at the figures, it’s still doing well, even though a very substantial part of its income has been removed.” Roxy Music lead guitarist Phil Manzanera, 73, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to music. His most well-known band, featuring singer Bryan Ferry, is famed for hits such as Love Is The Drug and More Than This – topping the singles charts once with a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy. Discussing the honour, Manzanera told the PA news agency: “It’s very moving and humbling to be amongst all these people who do absolutely incredible things. “But, obviously, I am very happy to get it for services to music and music production, because I think music helps us all in our lives in terms of improving the fabric of our lives, and it’s a great support for so many people.” The musician said he discussed his upbringing in South America and central America with Anne, having grown up in Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba. Manzanera said Anne told him that her father, Prince Philip, “once flew a Viscount plane to Caracas airport”. He said his upbringing was central to his musicianship, adding: “It’s in my DNA, the rhythms of South America. “And the musicians that we’ve all come to know through the Buena Vista Social Club were the kind of music that I started playing guitar with. “It wasn’t Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day for me, it was the music of Cuba.” Actress Shobna Gulati, 58, was formally made an MBE for services to the cultural industries, Scottish professional golfer Stephen Gallacher, 50, was made an MBE and former Arup deputy chairwoman Dervilla Mitchell, 66, received a damehood for services to engineering.Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE: JNJ ) shares traded in the green on Monday, snapping six consecutive days of losses. The stock closed up 0.21% at $149.62. YTD, JNJ has fallen about 5%, compared to the broader S&P 500 market which is up 28%.

A woman was left red-faced in an airport when she asked another passenger to use headphones instead of taking their phone call on loud speaker. Shannon Black was traveling from Salt Lake City International Airport to Portland after seeing family for Thanksgiving when she had the awkward interaction in the airport's Sky Club lounge. "The sound from other people's speakerphones is really distracting and this woman's volume was very loud," she told Newsweek . "I was nervous to ask her to use headphones but have read a lot of comments about this issue and most people wish they had said something, and there have been times previously when I did not and wished that I had, so I did." In a Reddit post , which has received thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments, Black explains that the other woman was on speakerphone with what sounded like a child and was sitting about 30 feet away. "I walked up to her and said 'excuse me, would you mind using headphones? That's louder than you realize and we can all hear you'," she wrote. "She seemed shocked, then told me she thought it was incredibly rude of me to say that. I just shrugged and walked away. But she did either turn the volume down or use headphones because we can no longer hear! Success, I think? Was I rude?" Black told Newsweek : "When she told me I was incredibly rude I didn't know what to say back and I know my face turned red." Black was traveling during what was a record Thanksgiving season for air passenger numbers. The Transportation Security Administration revealed that December 1, 2024 was its busiest day on record as it screened 3.087 million individuals at airports nationwide. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman shed light on the interaction between the two passengers. She told Newsweek : "Most everyone would wish that loud talkers in an airport, airplane, or any other public space would be courteous and keep their volume low and use earbuds so no one else can hear their conversation. "Asking someone to use their headphones is somewhat of a brazen move because you don't know how the other person is going to respond. It's not courteous to be disruptive and share your conversation with everyone around you, but it's also a risk to ask a stranger to put on their headphones. And the big picture, the annoyance outweighs the risk. "Some people might be able to get away with a kind tone of voice and friendly smile, requesting for someone to lower their voice or put their headphones on, but that's not the norm and who is to say the other person even has headphones to use in the first place. "The loud talker was incredibly rude, and the person requesting the other person to use headphones should ask themselves for the big picture, is it worth the risk in this case? The woman was embarrassed if her face turned red so I would say it wasn't." Reddit users gave their thoughts on the situation in the comments section. "You were spot on. It's not rude to ask someone to follow social norms," said u/Cruisingaltitude330. Another, u/SaffronSimian, commented: "The erosion of social norms is largely due to people never enforcing them, for fear of discomfort of confrontation. Yeah, it takes some moxie to do it, but just know that whatever happens, every other person in earshot is glad for what you did." "You were not rude. Rude people (her) don't get to dictate to others who or what is rude. She was probably just shocked and embarrassed in the moment and took it out on you," u/misterecho11wrote. Has a dream vacation turned into a nightmare? Whether it's a missed flight or lost luggage, we want to hear about your travel disasters. Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.Opinion: Gambling with bird flu is asking for trouble — and another pandemic

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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question during a meeting with foreign policy experts at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP) AP KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro had reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said with a thin smile. “Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development.” But he added, “we have this system now. And this is important.” Testing the missile will continue, “including in combat, depending on the situation and the character of security threats created for Russia,” Putin said, noting there is “a stockpile of such systems ready for use.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia’s bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. “The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined,” he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday’s previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations “in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday’s attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik. RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com Russia launches fierce missile and drone attacks at Ukraine’s infrastructure Nov. 17, 2024, 10:34 a.m. Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Nov. 21, 2024, 7:06 p.m. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said.. Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne.

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BEIJING : Chinese new energy vehicle companies plan to set up factories in Pakistan, and African countries like Kenya have purchased Chinese electric vehicles. “China’s energy innovation has made significant contributions to the world economy.” This was stated by Zafaruddin Mahmood, President of the Lahore-based think tank Understanding China Forum (UCF) and former Special Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister, during the 2024 Understanding China Conference (Guangzhou) in the recent week, China Economic Net reported. The conference, themed “Carry Through the Reform to the End: Chinese Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development,” aimed to infuse Chinese wisdom and the power of the times into the volatile and ever-changing global landscape. Over 600 Chinese and international delegates from politics, strategy, business, academia, and think tanks participated in the event, serving as a platform for the world to comprehend China’s long-term economic development plans. According to Zafaruddin Mahmood “China’s modernization is one of the most remarkable transformations in human history—a journey that has not only reshaped the nation’s destiny but has also become a beacon of hope for the developing world.” Zafaruddin, who has lived and worked in China for over four decades—from his student days in 1976 to his roles as Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Pakistani Embassy in China, Special Envoy for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and founder of the UCF—praised China’s opening-up policy. “Every time I come to China, I witness new developments,” he shared. “China’s high-level opening-up is giving a boost to the world economy.” He emphasized that China provides a driving force for global development. “Most people in the world have used Chinese products, which shows China’s tremendous impact on the world economy,” he said. With the rapid development of Chinese technology, apps like WeChat have entered the lives of Pakistanis, and the threshold for technical services has been lowered considerably. China’s rapid industrialization has made it the “factory of the world,” producing a wide range of goods, from basic consumer items to cutting-edge technology. Companies such as Huawei, Alibaba, and BYD have become global leaders, reshaping industries and setting new benchmarks for innovation. Moreover, China’s modernization is deeply intertwined with its commitment to environmental sustainability. “China has pivoted toward a green development model and is now the world’s largest producer and consumer of renewable energy,” Zafaruddin noted. With significant investments in solar, wind, and hydropower technologies, China’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 is not just a national commitment but a global responsibility. Citing Pakistan as an illustration, Zafaruddin said, “Chinese solar products are inexpensive and highly prevalent in Pakistan. Almost every household uses Chinese solar products, and I have them installed at my home too.” “China’s modernization journey is not just about achieving national greatness; it is about contributing to global progress,” he added. From leading the fight against climate change to advancing technologies that benefit humanity, China is shaping a future defined by collaboration and shared prosperity. Initiatives like the Global Development Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative reflect China’s commitment to building a shared future for humanity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Despite neither community advocates nor business interests supporting a plan dictating land use in south Fresno, a top city official pressured planning commissioners Thursday to send the document to the city council. Planning Commission Chair Peter Vang agreed with other commissioners that the city’s South Central Specific Plan required more work. Some residents and community groups said it didn’t do enough to protect against industrial development. Many business and property owners said changes to vacant land and existing businesses devalued their investments and hampered long-existing businesses. Electric vehicle mandates in the plan are also more stringent than state standards. Disagreements between business and environmental interests demonstrate the balancing act the city had to do with competing interests, said Sophia Pagoulatos, director of long-range planning with Fresno. But despite the opposition to the plan, Planning and Development Department Director Jennifer Clark said it needed to be sent to the city council and be heard in December. “We would ask that you move it forward at this time,” Clark said. “It’s been in the process for over five years and it’s ready for the city council to consider it.” Related Story: Family Had Entire Property Downzoned Heather Muell’s family’s property, adjacent to the Amazon facilities in south Fresno, would all be downzoned as part of the specific plan. One parcel is being changed to residential because of a single farmhouse on the property; the rest is changing to business park, which favors office development. A 1,000-foot buffer zone around residential areas further restricts usages on their land. In the 1960s, when Muell’s family purchased land at Central and Orange avenues, her grandfather farmed it, seeing the potential for industrial zoning when infrastructure came, she said. Muell said they’ve long paid property taxes based on the industrial zoning designation. “It’s a small chunk,” Muell said. “For our family, it’s significant.” When Northpointe Business Park began getting developed — millions of square feet of warehouses have now gone up — investment potential began to show. The Muell family then started working in earnest to find a business for the land. Muell’s father attended every meeting of the specific plan in 2019 and 2020. At those meetings, city representatives heard concerns from stakeholders, Muell said, but zoning changes were not discussed. He didn’t know about potential changes until he received a letter from the city a few weeks ago. In 2021, Muell’s family met with different businesses, including food processing giant Olam to build there. Muell said every company backed out because of regulations they had to go through to build. Muell was told the city was not issuing new business permits until the environmental impact report was completed. Companies wanted something sooner, she said. Olam ended up building their plant in Phoenix, she added. “They couldn’t cut through the red tape,” she said. “They were ready to go now, and they did. They went to Phoenix and they’re doing it — they just didn’t do it here.” 60% Reduction in Available Industrial Land In 2019, the Fresno City Council initiated the plan to balance environmental and business interests in the 5,600-acre plan area that spans from California Avenue in the north to American Avenue in the south, and west to east from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Peach Avenue. Within the area are 400 dwelling units and Orange Center Elementary School. The area also hosts 440 businesses with 22,000 full-time equivalent jobs, according to a study from business group INVEST Fresno. City leaders since the 1950s have set the area aside for industrial growth, Pagoulatos said. Heavy industrial can mean anything from manufacturing to slaughterhouses and food processors. Light industrial tends to be warehouses and logistics businesses. The 2014 General Plan maintained the industrial designation. More recently, the nearby Southwest Fresno Specific Plan reaffirmed the use of that area when it drastically reduced industrial zoning. Authors of that plan said industrial growth should be prioritized in south central, where it has historically been directed. Seeking to limit the environmental impact of industrial uses, the plan reduces heavy industry by 17%, Pagoulatos said. Changes go to light industrial, business park, or in some cases, like the Muell’s, residential. Industrial uses in a business park designation need a special permit. That can be a long and costly process, if even approved after public comment and city council hearings. Relevant to future business prospects, though, is the reduction in available land. The plan reduces the 1,085 acres of heavy industrial zoning on vacant land to 431 acres, according to city documents. The plan instead adds 486 acres to business park, which favors office construction. Plan Changes Affect Fresno’s Second-Oldest Business The impact of the plan goes beyond vacant land. Brandon Craighead of Penny Newman Grain Co. — the second oldest company in the city — said the plan reduces zoning on portions of their property. Existing uses get grandfathered in so long as the use remains constant. But expansions and use changes could be limited or come with costly mitigation measures. “The downzoning of our facility will restrict the use of our facility making it very difficult, nearly close to impossible to meet the standards of California’s agricultural industry,” Craighead said. Greg Obloy, vice president of Crown Enterprises, flew in from Michigan to attend the meeting when he found out about potential changes to the company’s property. After high-speed rail forced the logistics company to move, they began working with the city in 2015 to stay in the area, eventually buying a 15-acre parcel on Cherry Avenue. “We didn’t spend $2 million on dirt and $300,000 in soft costs on a hope and a prayer,” Obloy said. “We’re very disappointed with this.” Community Advocates Say More Health Protection Needed Residents and community representatives said the plan needed to go further. Leslie Martinez, community engagement specialist with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, acknowledged the efforts from the city in protecting residents. She interpreted for two different speakers who said they and their families suffer from asthma. “There’s enough contamination, our kids have asthma, and the truth is their future is not going to be great is what I suspect,” said Bertha Castillo, through Martinez. “I have a son with cancer, I have a kid with asthma and I just want things to be better for my community.” In addition to zoning changes, the plan also limits uses within 1,000 feet of homes, daycares, and other sensitive uses. Of the 5,600 acres in the plan area, the 400 residences constitute .07 residences per acre. But 50% of land in the area falls within those buffer zones, according to Ethan Smith, chairman of INVEST Fresno. Martinez said because of the need to protect people living there, that should be expanded. “This is a great start, but it needs to go further if we’re serious about protecting people and schoolchildren,” Martinez said. Vacant industrial land within a buffer zone cannot include rendering plants or slaughterhouses. A special permit could be required for other industrial uses despite being zoned for that use. The plan also creates electric vehicle mandates more stringent than many state standards. Business owners said electric vehicles are not adequate for many uses. McKay Duran of the Central California Food Bank said electric technology doesn’t suffice for refrigerated trucks especially. “These measures will fundamentally alter our operations, threating our ability to be there for those who need us most,” Duran said. Pagoulatos said a process exists to allow special exceptions. Lawsuit Pondered by Business Interests Commissioner Linda Calandra asked if the potential reduction in land value constitutes eminent domain. “You are taking away the value of their property — there should be some compensation, it’s almost like eminent domain,” Calandra said. Pagoulatos said as long as the land maintains some value, it doesn’t constitute a taking. Some business owners wondered about eminent domain as well. They said a class-action lawsuit could be possible if the plan was approved. “They’re taking value from owners and not reimbursing them in any way,” Muell said. “That seems wrong. That seems really wrong.”