Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. “I’m very honored,” Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. ”Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll get the award again.” In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Angels. “Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods,” he said. “I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States.” The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman. Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday. Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023. Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases. In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages. Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. “It wouldn’t shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now,” Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani’s second season in Anaheim, said recently. “This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there’s not a close second.” Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers’ franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021. “I kind of wanted to get over that bar,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record.” Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt. He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November. “I don’t have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better,” he told the AP. “There’s no pain. There’s obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it’s getting better.” Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he’s focused on the near-term. “It’s the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy,” he said. Ohtani is also throwing in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason. “I’m going to continue to ramp up slowly,” he said. The Dodgers’ rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out. “We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a six-man rotation,” he said. “But it’s all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We’ll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I’ve got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there.” The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched. “My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start,” he said. “To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself.” Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there’s great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats. “I just go out there and try to stay within myself,” he said. “I can only control what I can control and that’s where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they’re going to make the plays for you. I don’t really try to overthink it.” Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too. Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball’s third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey. Ohtani’s presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors. Because Ohtani prefers to speak Japanese and use an interpreter with the media, he is shrouded in a bit of mystique. Asked before his first postgame series if he was nervous, he dropped a one-word answer in English: “Nope,” which drew laughter. Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani’s behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates, coaches and staff, and came away impressed. “I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he’s a much better person. He’s very kind, considerate, he cares,” Roberts told the AP. “I’m just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way.” Ohtani relishes his privacy and rarely shares details about himself off the field. That’s why his February announcement via Instagram that he had wed Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball player, stunned his new teammates and the rest of the world. The following month, after the Dodgers arrived in South Korea to open the season, he was enveloped in scandal when his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after being accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker. His new teammates rallied around Ohtani, who was found to have no part in the wrongdoing, and publicly it didn’t seem to affect him even if he was privately distressed by it. By June, the uproar had subsided. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The public got a glimpse of Ohtani’s softer side in August, when his dog Decoy delivered a first pitch to his owner on their shared bobblehead night. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje exchanged an endearing high-five with Ohtani at the plate. As a result, Decoy became a celebrity in his own right, with his breed (pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che) making the list of the most mispronounced words of 2024. He and Ohtani were mentioned during the telecast of last month’s National Dog Show, where the small Spaniel-type breed was among the competitors. “The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity hopefully that brings up the number of his breed,” Ohtani said. “I do feel like we were able to, in a small way, contribute to the popularity of the dog and I’m sure Decoy himself would be happy about that.” Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title. “It’s almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent,” Roberts said. “I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.” ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb Two people were rescued when a California pier partially collapsed Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps A five-day strike by Starbucks baristas had closed 59 stores Netflix is planning to provide plenty of gifts for viewersPembina Pipeline Corporation Announces Redemption of Series 22 Preferred Sharesp.88 。

A lively Melbourne Derby and Douglas Costa’s excellent individual performance on Friday highlighted another action-packed weekend of football action. Here are your A-League Round 9 talking points. Reds snatch draw from the jaws of victory There had been signs of Sydney FC marquee Douglas Costa’s class since his arrival down under, but he hadn’t managed to take over a game the way he did in Friday night’s action-packed 3-3 stalemate at Coopers Stadium. Costa scored two goals and set up Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ injury time equaliser in a dominant display, something Ufuk Talay and Sky Blues fans will be hoping becomes more common as the ex-Bayern Munich winger settles into life in the A-League. But Sydney should not have been in a position to take anything from the game after Adelaide led 3-1 late in the game. Carl Veart is known for showing emotion on the touchline and he was apoplectic after his side conceded two soft goals to throw away two points that could be quite important in a potential premiership tilt. Stefan Mauk copped a spray for his reaction to being substituted and I’m sure the berating continued in the dressing room. The Reds maintained their undefeated run, however, and are still in a stronger position at this point of the season than many would have predicted before the 2024-25 campaign kicked off. More Football Lively derby provides another spark The A-League tends to get a lot of negative press in mainstream media outlets but to give credit to the APL, the early season derbies from Victoria to NSW to the North Island of New Zealand have provided a much-needed shot in the arm for the competition. The front-loading will inevitably lead to a drop in crowds and TV numbers as casual fans drop off with winter codes’ pre-seasons beginning but for now, let’s enjoy the sugar hit. It was an unusual week of preparation for Victory with Patrick Kisnorbo’s sudden departure to pursue an overseas opportunity catching Vuck fans, players and management completely by surprise. In today’s media environment I’m surprised the news did not leak before an official announcement on Wednesday. Despite the pre-game disruption and going behind to a cracking Yonatan Cohen strike in the first half, Victory rallied to earn a point with captain Roderick Miranda finishing from close range after young City goalkeeper Patrick Beach made another unfortunate error. It may not have been three points for Aurelio Vidmar’s side but after the humiliation they suffered in the first derby, I think it was an encouraging result. Mathew Leckie of Melbourne City celebrates after scoring a goal during the A-League Men round 24 match between Melbourne City and Perth Glory at AAMI Park, on April 14, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Keep in mind this squad is missing plenty of quality with international-level players Mat Leckie and Marco Tilio nursing injuries, and Andrew Nabbout will not play again this season after an ACL injury. Pressure mounts on winless Zadkovich After defeat in the ‘spoon bowl’ against Perth Glory, Brisbane are alone on the bottom of the A-League ladder with a dreadful 0-2-6 record. David Williams’ volley was the difference in a fairly dire contest that even diehards of both clubs probably struggled through. Even in the context of off-field uncertainty and lack of investment in the playing squad, Roar’s record needs to be condemned. There’s no acceptable reason for such disparity between any side and the rest of the competition in a salary cap system. But you have to feel for the Roar fans, more than 6000 of whom turned up at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. That figure was only a few hundred short of what Western Sydney, ostensibly one of the league’s bigger clubs, managed to attract 24 hours later for their well-earned win over Wellington. For David Zdrilic and Perth, it’s a sweet victory, their first of the season. For their sake, hopefully it can be a turning point in the campaign that’s unlikely to see finals football return to the west, but bettering last season’s 12th-placed finish would at least be progress. Roar editor Christy Doran made the trip to Seattle with VisitSeattle.org, diving into the city’s electric sports vibe, outdoor adventures, and renowned food scene. Click here for his latest adventure in the Emerald City. Champions’ sputtering title defence continues after Bulls stalemate It looked like Central Coast’s double defence was back on track after a 2-1 win over glamour club Sydney FC, but Mark Jackson’s side followed that performance with a horror showing against Adelaide five days later, and struggled to break down Macarthur, having to settle for a point at Campbelltown Stadium. Goal scoring has been a weakness for the Mariners and as alluded to by the Paramount commentators during Sunday’s game, Jackson, like any other manager, would love to bring in some reinforcements in January to bolster his forward stocks. Whether the resources are there, and what the market looks like, are two more potential obstacles. Tommy Uskok’s blatant red card in the dying minutes was pretty much the end of Macarthur’s ambition to grab the extra two points. Thinking back to the Brisbane game, that’s four points that have gone begging, at home, when the Bulls were in control and should have better managed the final stages. The fallout from the betting scandal is perhaps still affecting the squad, but it seems improving their killer instinct is what Mile Sterjovski needs to work on in southwest Sydney.U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx Products

President-elect Donald Trump has filled the key posts for his second term in office, prioritizing loyalty to him after he felt bruised and hampered by internal squabbling during his first term. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation fights in the Senate, even with Republicans in control, and one candidate has already withdrawn from consideration. Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, pulled his name from consideration to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration just days after being tapped for the post, following backlash from some conservative figures. Here's a look at Trump's choices: Trump would turn a former critic into an ally as the nation's top diplomat. Rubio , 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate before the slot went to JD Vance. Rubio is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His selection punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man" during his own unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. Hegseth , 44, was a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend” and had been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars. He lacks senior military and national security experience and would oversee global crises ranging from Europe to the Middle East. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and has denied any wrongdoing. Bessent , 62, is a former money manager for George Soros , a big Democratic donor, and an advocate for deficit reduction . He founded the hedge fund Key Square Capital Management after having worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent 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. Gabbard, 43, is a former Democratic House member from Hawaii who has been accused of echoing Russian propaganda. She unsuccessfully sought the party’s 2020 presidential nomination and left the party in 2022. Gabbard endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him. Gabbard has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. If confirmed she would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, spent several years in top national security and intelligence positions. Bondi , 59, was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist , Bondi also has served with the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-allied group that has helped lay the groundwork for his future administration. 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 appeared on Fox News and has been critical of the criminal cases against him. The Republican U.S. House member narrowly lost her reelection bid on Nov. 5 but had received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer would oversee the department's workforce and budget and put forth priorities that affect workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of a few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and penalize companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws in more than half the states. Lutnick heads the brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and is a cryptocurrency enthusiast. He is co-chair of Trump's transition operation, charged along with Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration, with helping the president-elect fill key jobs in his second administration. As secretary, Lutnick would play a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. He would oversee a sprawling Cabinet department whose oversight ranges from funding new computer chip factories and imposing trade restrictions to releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. Noem is a well-known conservative who used her two terms as South Dakota's governor to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions like other states, instead declaring South Dakota “open for business.” More recently, Noem faced sharp criticism for writing in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog. She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Ratcliffe , a former U.S. House member from Texas, was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term. He led U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. If confirmed, Ratcliffe will have held the highest intelligence positions in the U.S. Kennedy , 70, ran for president as a Democrat, then as an independent before he dropped out and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own presidential campaign. Kennedy's nomination 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. Rollins , 52, is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for Trump's second administration. She is a Texas attorney who was Trump's domestic policy adviser and director of his office of American innovation during his first term. Rollins previously was an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry , who also served in Trump's first term. Rollins also ran the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 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. Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential campaign, but was acquitted by the Senate. Collins also served in the armed forces himself. He is a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. The North Dakota governor , 68, is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump after he dropped out of the running. Burgum then became a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice in part because of his executive experience and business savvy. He also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump said Burgum would chair a new National Energy Council and have a seat on the National Security Council, which would be a first for the Interior secretary. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Wright 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. He also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. Wright 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. McMahon, a billionaire professional wrestling mogul , would make a return appearance in a second Trump administration. She led the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 in Trump’s first term and twice ran unsuccessfully in Connecticut as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. 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. She has expressed support for charter schools and school choice. 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" and "we will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.” Trump often attacked the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often said his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. 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.” Greer is a partner at King & Spalding, a Washington law firm. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be responsible for negotiating directly with foreign governments on trade deals and disputes, as well as memberships in international trade bodies such as the World Trade Organization. He previously was chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, who was the trade representative in Trump's first term. Wiles , 67, was a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. She has a background in Florida politics , helping Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary. Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with him. Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns. Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida. A former Army Green Beret , he served multiple tours in Afghanistan and 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. Hassett, 62, is a major advocate of tax cuts who was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump term. In the new role as chairman of the National Economic Council, Trump said Hassett will play an important role in helping American families recover from inflation as well as in renewing and improving tax cuts Trump enacted in 2017, many of which are set to expire after 2025. Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. He led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Trump's first administration. Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings in the first term, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Vought, 48, held the position during Trump’s first presidency. He the 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 also was closely involved with Project 2025 , a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that Trump tried to distance himself from during the campaign. 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 term. 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 living illegally in the U.S. Scavino was an adviser in all three of the president-elect's campaigns and was described by the transition team as one of “Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides." He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino previously ran Trump’s social media profile in the White House. 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 an assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign. 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. 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. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. McGinley was Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. 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 has called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who have sought additional resources for the bureau. And though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel has said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and they were golfing at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Kellogg , 80, is a highly decorated retired three-star general and one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for Trump's second term. He has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues and served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence . Kellogg also was chief of staff of the National Security Council under Trump and stepped in as an acting national security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned the post. 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. 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. Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, served as White House press secretary in Trump's first term. Stefanik, 40, is a U.S. representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders dating to his first impeachment trial. She was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in 2021, the third-highest position in House leadership, after then-Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after she publicly criticized Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. A former acting attorney general during Trump's first administration and tight end on the University of Iowa football team, Whitaker , 55, has a background in law enforcement but not in foreign policy. A fierce Trump localist, Whitaker, is also a former U.S. attorney in Iowa and served as acting attorney general between November 2018 and February 2019 without Senate confirmation, until William Barr was confirmed for the role. That was when special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference was drawing to a close. Whitaker also faced questions about his past business dealings, including his ties to an invention-promotion company that was accused of misleading consumers. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. Oz , 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime TV 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. 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. 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 on Fox News. 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 after cardiac arrest, state should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Bhattacharya , 56, is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. As head of the NIH, the leading medical research agency in the United States, Trump said Bhattacharya would work with Kennedy Jr. to direct U.S. medical research and make important discoveries that will improve health and save lives. Bhattacharya is professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and was one of three authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 open letter maintaining that lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic were causing irreparable harm. Chronister removed himself from consideration to lead the nation's top controlled substances enforcement agency, just days after being tapped for the post. Trump's announcement that he would nominate Chronister, who has worked for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office since 1992, was met with backlash from some conservative figures over his enforcement of lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his past comments he made that his sheriff’s office was not focused on enforcing federal immigration laws. Gaetz, 42, withdrew from consideration to become the top law enforcement officer of the United States amid fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed by the Senate. In choosing Gaetz, Trump had passed over more established lawyers whose names had been floated as possible contenders for the job. Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump announced him on Nov. 13. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Edith M. Lederer, Adriana Gomez Licon, Lisa Mascaro, Chris Megerian, Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert, Meg Kinnard and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

One day, when actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life. Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O'Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke). O'Donnell's candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She's one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others. "Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures," said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. "They absolutely do influence people." Some of the earliest celebrity health disclosures happened in the 1970s and 1980s with U.S. presidents and first ladies. When first lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after Gerald Ford became president in 1974, she spoke openly about her diagnosis, inviting photographers into the White House and helping make talk of cancer less taboo. In 1987, first lady Nancy Reagan used her breast cancer diagnosis as a chance to advocate for women to get mammograms. Her disclosure came two years after President Ronald Reagan's colon cancer diagnosis, about which the couple was equally as vocal. "Individuals throughout the country have been calling cancer physicians and information services in record numbers," the Los Angeles Times reported after Nancy Reagan's widely publicized surgery. The public showed a similar interest years earlier following Betty Ford's mastectomy. Another major milestone in celebrity health disclosures came in 1991, when 32-year-old NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Life is going to go on for me, and I'm going to be a happy man," Johnson assured fans during a news conference. He immediately retired, only to return to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. His disclosure, along with his work as an advocate for safe sex, helped shatter stigmas around HIV and AIDS. Calls to testing centers increased significantly in the days and weeks after Johnson's announcement. "That celebrity disclosure really helped people see there was a wider susceptibly to HIV," Gall Myrick said. "People were more likely to say, 'I need to think about my own risks.' It was very powerful." When it comes to heart and stroke health, President Dwight Eisenhower helped make heart attacks less frightening and mysterious. During a news conference in 1955, millions of Americans learned from the president's doctors about his heart condition, his treatment, and concrete steps they could take to reduce their own heart attack risk. Other notable figures have shared their health experiences over the years. Soap opera legend Susan Lucci , who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2018, has advocated for women's heart health. Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar talks about his irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, and advocates for regular health screenings. Lawyer, author and television personality Star Jones continues to speak about heart disease risk after having lifesaving heart surgery in 2010. Longtime TV and radio personality Dick Clark brought stroke and aphasia into the national spotlight when he returned to hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in Times Square just a year after his 2004 stroke and continued until his death in 2012. And actor and comedian Jamie Foxx recently revealed he had a stroke last year. "Celebrity disclosures represent teachable moments," said Dr. Seth M. Noar, director of the Communicating for Health Impact Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Searches for different health conditions often spike in the wake of these types of announcements. They cause people to think about these health issues, learn more about them, and in some cases change their behaviors." Celebrities have also highlighted the importance of CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to restore a person's heartbeat if they experience cardiac arrest. Interest in CPR and AEDs spiked in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during an NFL game broadcast on national TV. Views of the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR pages jumped more than 600% in the days following Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Three months later, around 3 million people had watched the AHA's CPR video. Family members of celebrities who have died from a heart issue have also spread awareness. After actor John Ritter died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003, his wife, actor Amy Yasbeck, started the Ritter Foundation to raise awareness about the condition and help others avoid a misdiagnosis. A literature review published in Systematic Reviews in 2017 found that people are conditioned to react positively to celebrity advice. Research also has found that people often follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive – or how they want to perceive – themselves. The most effective celebrity disclosures are frequently the ones that tell a compelling story and include clear steps people can take to apply lessons the celebrity learned to their own health situation, Gall Myrick said. "People are more likely to take action when they feel confident and capable." Research has shown that celebrity disclosures often impact calls to hotlines and page views on health-related websites, and they can spark behavioral and even policy changes. Anecdotally, Gall Myrick said, people ask their doctor more questions about health conditions and request medical screenings. Celebrities can have a big impact because people tend to have parasocial relationships with them, Gall Myrick said. These are one-sided relationships in which a person feels an emotional connection with another person, often a celebrity. People may feel as if they know the basketball player they've watched on the court for years, or the Hollywood actor they've followed, she said. They want to comfort them after a health disclosure. Social media has only increased this feeling of familiarity, as celebrities regularly share mundane – but fascinating – details of their daily lives, like what they eat for breakfast, their favorite socks, or the meditation they do before bed. "We spend a lifetime being exposed to celebrities through the media, and over time, you get to know these public figures," Gall Myrick said. "Some feel like friendships." A study published in the journal Science Communication in 2020 compared reactions to actor Tom Hanks, who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and an average person with COVID-19. Researchers found that participants identified more with Hanks when it came to estimating their own susceptibility to COVID-19. The participants also felt more emotional about the virus that causes COVID-19 when thinking about it in relation to Hanks versus an average person. When a celebrity reveals a health condition, it's a surprise that may feel personal, especially if they are well-liked and the health issue is dramatic and sudden. "We feel like we know them, and the emotional response is what can then push people out of their routine," Gall Myrick said. Noar said a celebrity health story is often a more interesting and powerful way to learn about a health condition than just the facts, which can feel overwhelming. People are drawn to the slew of media coverage that typically follows a celebrity disclosure, he said. "Some of these high-visibility public figures' stories are now woven into some of these illnesses," Noar said. For example, Angelina Jolie is often linked to the BRCA1 gene mutation after the actor shared she had a preventive double mastectomy because of her elevated breast cancer risk and had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of her increased risk for ovarian cancer. "It's a narrative, a story that humanizes the condition in a way that very informational communication really doesn't," Noar said. "People remember it, and it can potentially be a touch point." After a disclosure, patients may bring up a celebrity's story during a doctor's appointment and connect it to their own care. Today's multiplatform digital culture only amplifies celebrity messages. "You're seeing everyday people react to these events, and that can have a ripple effect too," Gall Myrick said. "We know from research that seeing messages more than once can be impactful. Often it's not just one billboard or one commercial that impacts behavior; it's the drip drip drip over time." Still, there's a cautionary tale to be told around the impact of celebrity health news, especially if the celebrity has died. An unclear cause of death may lead to speculation. Gall Myrick said that guesswork could potentially end up hurting rather than helping if patients were to act on misinformation or a lack of information. "Maybe the death was atypical or it needs more context," she said. "That's where advocacy groups and public health organizations come in. They need to be prepared for announcements or disclosures about celebrity deaths, and to fill in some of those gaps." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!CALGARY, AB , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB ) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Douglas L. Foshee as a Director of Enbridge, effective January 1, 2025 . Mr. Foshee has more than 40 years of energy industry experience, including as Chair, President and CEO of El Paso Corporation from 2003 to 2012, as CFO and then COO of Halliburton Company from 2001 to 2003, and as Chair, President and CEO of Nuevo Energy from 1996-2001. "On behalf of the Board of Directors of Enbridge, we are very pleased to welcome Doug to the Enbridge Board. He has extensive energy industry and business experience and will be an excellent addition to our Board," stated Pamela Carter , the Chair of the Board of Directors of Enbridge. About Enbridge Inc. At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil and renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We're investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on more than a century of operating conventional energy infrastructure and two decades of experience in renewable power. We're advancing new technologies including hydrogen, renewable natural gas, carbon capture and storage. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta , Enbridge's common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Media Toll Free: (888) 992-0997 Email: [email protected] Investment Community Toll Free: (800) 481-2804 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Enbridge Inc.

GRAHAM GRANT: The Ghost of Christmas Future and a vision of Holyrood that would have left you cowering under the bedcovers... Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By GRAHAM GRANT SCOTTISH HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 21:05, 23 December 2024 | Updated: 21:06, 23 December 2024 e-mail View comments Back in 1996, Scotland was on the verge of major constitutional change in the form of a devolved parliament. We didn’t know it for a certainty, of course, but Labour under Tony Blair ’s leadership had pledged to legislate for it in his first year in office. The Tory Government was mired in sleaze and heading for the abyss, so it was a reasonable bet that a referendum might be on the horizon. Cast your mind back to that faraway time and imagine the Ghost of Christmas Future materialising in your bedroom on December 24, 1996. You’ll have to imagine appropriate sound effects as the spectre conjures a vision of what was to come in the event that Scots voted ‘yes’ to devolution, as they eventually did, in September 1997. We’re a long way from Charles Dickens here, admittedly, but stick with it as the ghoul goes on to show you what we’ve all lived through since those heady days. To start, you see Donald Dewar making grand promises about sharing power with the people – and doing things differently from the Commons. The father of devolution died in October 2000, aged 63, but even then it was clear that most of those bold commitments were unlikely to be fulfilled. A visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future in 1996 might have persuaded you that devolution wasn’t such a good idea after all, says Graham Grant In September 1999, you would discern the glint of metal from the spectre’s swirling mists as the 129 new MSPs were handed commemorative medals designed and produced by the Royal Mint at a cost of more than £7,000 – setting the tone for the sense of entitlement to come. An enormous, grotesque building rears up in front of you – the parliament’s home at the end of the Royal Mile. Its original projected cost was £50million but the ghost tells you that it soared to more than £400million – and you have to assume from its deadly serious expression and intonation that it’s not joking. Cowering under your bedsheets, you watch as the ghost hits fast forward on the Labour years – skipping through some unremarkable scenes of Jack (now Lord) McConnell’s plodding managerialism. Now a familiar face materialises – that of a triumphant Alex Salmond in 2007 as his party emerges as the winner of the Holyrood election, by the narrowest of margins. What follows is a montage of key moments from the next seven years as the new regime dedicates itself to the only mission the SNP has ever cared about – wrenching Scotland out of the United Kingdom. The years between 2007 and 2011 unspool in a blur of confusing images and before you know it, we’re in 2011 – and the SNP achieves what was supposedly more or less an electoral impossibility by winning a majority of seats at Holyrood. The ghost’s booming baritone imparts that within a few years, thanks to a reckless gamble by the Prime Minister of the day, a referendum would take place on independence. By now, you’re probably watching the spectre’s tableaux through your fingers, desperate to know what happened – but equally apprehensive about the result. Filling in the context, the ghost shows you the rallies, marches, and the toxic division which ensued as families fell out, perhaps never to be reconciled, while social media degenerated into perpetual mudslinging – with the occasional death threat thrown in for good measure. Mr Salmond reappears in the back of a car, a picture of despondency after the Yes camp’s failure, one that it refused to acknowledge for the next decade. Many of its members never will. A face that wouldn’t mean much to you back in the 1990s swims into view, and for much of the rest of the apparition’s spine-chilling presentation Nicola Sturgeon is the star of the show. The sense of promise sours as the years go by – and rapturous fans begin to realise that their new leader is all talk and no action. Bute House press conferences are hastily convened to announce another referendum – but nothing ever comes of them. A procession of Nationalist powerbrokers attempts to rewrite history by rubbishing their own claim that the independence vote was a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity. It is painfully obvious from the spirit’s vision that much time is wasted on re-fighting a battle that was lost years before, as newspaper headlines spell out the consequences of constitutional distraction – from spiralling drug deaths to failing public services. There’s an inexplicable scene of a ferry with painted-on windows and what looks to be a fake funnel, but the ghost is anxious to move on. Mr Salmond appears again, this time in the dock of a court facing multiple allegations of sexual offences, of which he’s cleared. But the party is plunged into civil war and psychodrama that continue to the present day – even after the former First Minister’s death in October. Ms Sturgeon is seen behind a podium, imploring people to wash their hands, but the image doesn’t linger – as there is much yet to tell. The ghost summarises the debacle over transgender legislation which was blocked by the UK Government after another period of tribalism during which critics were marginalised, sidelined or demonised. In March 2023, Ms Sturgeon resigns and within days her husband Peter Murrell, then the SNP’s chief executive, is arrested as part of a police fraud probe into the SNP’s finances – and is later charged with embezzlement. There are images of a forensic tent outside a smart suburban home, and a camper van, but by this time the ghost is growing impatient and offers only a cursory but troubling explanation. You are introduced to Ms Sturgeon’s successor, whose name means nothing to you back in the 1990s, but the ghost offers only one scene – a man tumbling to the floor from a knee scooter, which it says aptly sums up his doomed premiership. Then there’s a man you’re told is Health Secretary who tried to rip off the taxpayer with an £11,000 bill for something called an iPad. His successor and some of his colleagues used ministerial limos to transport themselves and their family members to football matches, and even a cinema, despite offering no credible reason for taking an official car. There are far too many controversies for the spirit to outline in detail, but a bleak picture is painted of a country languishing in the doldrums as it labours under punitive taxes which do nothing to reverse the downward spiral of the NHS and a once-proud education system. It’s more than possible that by now you’re hiding under the covers and begging the ghoul to retreat into the shadows, leaving you in peace. But it goes on to show you the assortment of placemen and lobby-fodder MSPs who have failed at every turn to hold the SNP to account. There’s only one conclusion – devolution would be hijacked by obsessives, making a mockery of the boasts that Holyrood would offer a bright new future. The spirit is wrapping up, thankfully, and you reflect that maybe voting yes to devolution isn’t such a good idea – and that the status quo, for all its faults, might be good enough after all. The Royal Mint Labour SNP Alex Salmond Share or comment on this article: GRAHAM GRANT: The Ghost of Christmas Future and a vision of Holyrood that would have left you cowering under the bedcovers... e-mail Add commentApple recently issued a critical security warning to iPhone users about sophisticated spyware capable of compromising devices without any user interaction. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the tech community, raising concerns about the vulnerability of even the most secure smartphones. This spyware, identified as Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, can potentially grant attackers complete access to your iPhone, including your personal data, messages, calls, and even your camera and microphone. This isn’t the first time Pegasus has made headlines. It has been allegedly used in various targeted attacks against journalists, activists, and political figures worldwide. What makes this recent warning particularly alarming is the discovery of a new “zero-click” exploit, meaning the spyware can infect your device without you even clicking a malicious link or downloading a compromised file. This invisible threat has raised the stakes significantly, making it crucial for iPhone users to understand the risks and take necessary precautions. What is Pegasus and how does it work? Pegasus is a highly sophisticated spyware program that can infiltrate iPhones and other devices, turning them into surveillance tools. It exploits vulnerabilities in the device’s software to gain access to a treasure trove of personal information: The recent discovery of the “zero-click” exploit signifies a new level of sophistication. Previously, Pegasus relied on social engineering tactics, tricking users into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments. This new method bypasses any user interaction, making it incredibly difficult to detect and prevent. Who is at risk? While anyone with an iPhone can potentially be targeted by Pegasus, the primary targets tend to be: However, it’s important to remember that anyone can become a target, especially with the rise of “zero-click” exploits. What can you do to protect yourself? While the threat of “zero-click” spyware is daunting, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk: What is Apple doing about it? Apple is actively working to address the threat of spyware like Pegasus. They have a dedicated security team that investigates and patches vulnerabilities. They also collaborate with security researchers and organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats. In response to the recent Pegasus attacks, Apple has released security updates and is actively suing NSO Group to prevent further abuse of their technology. My personal experience: As a tech enthusiast, I’ve always been mindful of online security. However, the news of “zero-click” spyware was a wake-up call. It made me realize that even the most secure devices can be vulnerable. I immediately updated my iPhone and reviewed all my app permissions. I also started using a VPN for added security. While these measures may not guarantee complete protection, they certainly provide an extra layer of defense. What does the future hold? The battle between security researchers and spyware developers is an ongoing arms race. As security measures improve, attackers find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. It’s crucial to stay informed about the latest threats and take proactive steps to protect yourself. The threat of spyware like Pegasus highlights the importance of digital security awareness. By staying informed and taking precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Key takeaways: Remember, staying vigilant and informed is your best defense against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.Dubai Weeklys Unveils Highlights of Winter City Expo 2024 and New Year's Eve 2025

Donald Trump’s choice of billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg as the No. 2 official at the Pentagon is part of a move by the president-elect to back up Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary, with deputies focused on bringing in business experience and new technology. Feinberg is co-founder and majority owner of Cerberus Capital Management LP and has a net worth of about $7.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The private equity firm has major investments in defense technology companies. If confirmed by the Senate, Feinberg would hold a job historically focused on hands-on management of the Pentagon and related concerns, such as industrial production. The role of deputies at the Pentagon has taken on outsized significance in the incoming administration. Trump’s pick of Hegseth to lead the complex bureaucracy, with its budget of more than $840 billion, has met with resistance, in part over his limited management experience. In addition, the former Fox News host, who served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of two veterans organizations he headed. His confirmation by the Senate remains uncertain. Hegseth’s public comments have focused on making good on Trump’s pledge to crack down on what he sees as “woke” initiatives at the Pentagon. In announcing his choice for deputy defense secretary on Sunday, Trump called Feinberg “an extremely successful businessman,” and also said that he will nominate: “Especially with Feinberg’s appointment, it signals a more business-oriented approach” to managing the Defense Department, said Clementine Starling-Daniels, director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program. “There are some real benefits to taking a different approach there,” she said, but there are also risks in backing new, smaller-scale projects to the detriment of “large complex programs” like Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter plane. Some of Cerberus’s portfolio companies have invested in hypersonic missile technology with both civilian and military applications. In addition, one of its companies, Tier 1 Group, provided paramilitary training to Saudis who later participated in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reported in 2021. Starling-Daniels also cited the limited experience of Trump’s top choices with the Pentagon’s complex bureaucracy. “If you don’t balance a secretary of defense with a deputy secretary of defense who really is attuned to how the department functions, I’m concerned that no matter what the policy priorities are, they will be really hard to enact,” she said. Colby, who would be the Pentagon’s policy chief, served as deputy assistant secretary of defense early in Trump’s first term. He has championed Trump’s vision to end the US role as “global policeman” and backed calls for allies to boost defense spending so the US can focus on the strategic threat from China — a theme he hit in his book, The Strategy of Denial, published in 2021. “A highly respected advocate for our America First foreign and defense policy, Bridge will work closely with my outstanding Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to restore our Military power, and achieve my policy of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump wrote on social media in announcing the picks, using Colby’s nickname. As acquisition chief, Duffey will be on the the front line of decisions on whether the Pentagon cuts back on traditional projects like the F-35 and turns instead to Silicon Valley for drones and AI. Billionaire Elon Musk, who’s become a top Trump adviser, has said “some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in an age of drones. Overseeing Pentagon spending in the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term, Duffey instructed the Pentagon to hold back $250 million in military aid to Ukraine while Trump was pressuring Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Joe Biden. Michael, who would be research and engineering chief, was ousted from Uber in 2017, amid turmoil over allegations of a toxic workplace culture. “Emil will ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers,” Trump said in one of his posts. Trump also announced that Joe Kasper would serve as chief of staff for the defense secretary. Kasper was a former Pentagon official in Trump’s first term before he was appointed as a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. “I still got more to write this weekend for sure,” said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. “But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year.” Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. “It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen said. “But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend.” His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. “I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body’s not moving very well and you’ve got to move your hands,” said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. “Just pretty happy with how I played.” Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. “Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch,” Clanton said. “We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health