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casino jackpot slots real money Senegal PM Seeks To Repeal Contested Amnesty Law1 2 3 Patna: A day after the Grand Alliance (GA) put up a disastrous performance in by-elections to four assembly seats in the state, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday vowed to win next year's assembly elections, saying the "bypoll win is the last victory of the NDA". The NDA made a clean sweep in the Bihar bypolls winning all four seats, three of which were earlier held by the GA. Addressing a party workers' meeting at the RJD office, Tejashwi said they won Jharkhand in 2024 and would win the Bihar assembly elections next year. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads Claiming the GA will script a saga of victory in 2025, Tejashwi said, "Bihar badalna chahta hai (Bihar wants a change in govt)." Stating the GA installed JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar as the CM despite the RJD being the single-largest party, Tejashwi wondered over the way the former ditched them twice. "The kind of respect we accorded Nitishji, none will give him. The BJP has hijacked him completely," Tejashwi said. He alleged the "double-engine" govt of the NDA has done nothing for the state. "While one engine is indulged in corruption, the other is indulged in crime," Tejashwi said. He also charged PM Narendra Modi with making empty promises. "The NDA has been in power in Bihar for the past 20 years but the state has not got its due. What happened to PM's promise of granting special status to the state? What happened to crediting Rs15 lakh to the bank accounts of every citizen? What happened to his promise to give 2 crore jobs to youths every year?" asked Tejashwi. He said the problem of unemployment has become so severe that people are migrating to other states in large numbers in search of livelihoods. Tejashwi exhorted the people to come together and drive out the "communal forces" to "help create a new Bihar" that the erstwhile Grand Alliance govt showed by turning the venue of political rallies into "employment fairs". "It was during our short tenure of 17 months that Gandhi Maidan, which once hosted mainly election rallies, organised job fairs. We provided jobs to 5 lakh people within a short time," he said.

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Romanians are casting ballots on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could pit a far-right nationalist against the incumbent leftist prime minister in the runoff. Thirteen candidates are vying for the presidency in the EU and Nato member country and the vote is expected to go to a second round on 8 December. Polls opened at 7am local time (05.00 GMT) and will close at 9pm. Romanians abroad have been able to vote since Friday. By 6pm, 8.2 million people – about 45% of eligible voters – had cast ballots, according to the central election bureau. In the final vote George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), could face off against the incumbent prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, backed by Romania’s largest party, the Social Democratic party (PSD). The presidential role carries a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy, and judicial appointments. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on 1 December that will determine the next government and prime minister. Simion, 38, is a vocal supporter of the US president-elect, Donald Trump, and has long been a controversial figure. He campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on him entering the country because of security concerns, and he is banned for the same reason from entering neighbouring Ukraine. “I would like that in the next five to 10 years, for Romanians to be really proud to be Romanians, to promote Romanian culture, Romanian products,” he told reporters on Wednesday in the capital, Bucharest. “As a Romanian president, I will promote Romanian interests. In most cases, Romanian interests coincide with partner interests.” Ecaterina Nawadia, a 20-year-old architecture student, said she voted for the first time in a national election on Sunday and hopes young people turn out in high numbers. “Since the [1989] revolution, we didn’t have a really good president,” she said. “I hope most of the people my age went to vote ... because the leading candidate is not the best option.” Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said Sunday’s vote would be “a tight race” in which the diaspora would probably play a key role in which candidates made it to the runoff. “We are at a point where Romania can easily divert or slip toward a populist regime because [voter] dissatisfaction is pretty large among a lot of people from all social strata,” he said. “And the temptation for any regime, any leader, will be to go on a populist road.” He added that Romania’s large budget deficit and high inflation, and an economic slowdown could push more mainstream candidates to shift toward populist stances amid widespread dissatisfaction. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Ciolacu said that if elected one of his biggest goals was “to convince Romanians that it is worth staying at home or returning” to Romania, which has a large diaspora spread throughout EU countries. “Romania has a huge chance to become a developed economy in the next 10 years, where honest work is fairly rewarded and people have the security of a better life,” he said. “But for this, we need balance and responsibility ... I am running for the presidency of Romania because we need a change.” Other key candidates include Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party (USR); the former Nato deputy general secretary Mircea Geoană, who is running independently; and Nicolae Ciucă, a former army general and head of the centre-right National Liberal party, which is in a tense coalition with the PSD. Geoană, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the US, said he believed his international experience qualified him above the other candidates: “I think I bring a lot of competence and experience and connections in this complicated world.” Lasconi, a former journalist and the leader of the USR, said she saw corruption as one of the biggest problems facing Romania and that she supported increased defence spending and continued aid to Ukraine. Romania has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Simion said he opposed Romania, which has sent a Patriot missile system to Ukraine, contributing further military aid and he hoped Trump could stop the war. In 2020, the AUR went from relative obscurity to gaining 9% in a parliamentary vote, allowing it to enter parliament. Opponents have long accused Simion and the party of being extremists, charges he denies. “We are sort of a Trumpist party in this new wave of patriotic political parties in Europe ,” Simion said.Net lease real estate investment trust (REIT) Agree Realty ( ADC 1.39% ) has a 4.1% dividend yield. That yield is a little higher than the 3.7% average for the REIT sector, but below the 5.6% you could get from buying industry leading net lease REIT Realty Income . Is Agree Realty worth the premium price for investors looking to build seven-figure portfolios? Maybe. What is a net lease REIT? A net lease requires tenants to pay most property-level operating costs. Net lease assets are usually leased to a single tenant, so any single property is high risk because it is either 100% leased or 0% leased. However, there are some easy ways to reduce the risk. The first is to have a lot of properties. Agree Realty has over 2,200 assets in its portfolio, which provides a fair amount of diversification. The second way to mitigate risk is to choose good properties. Agree starts off with a focus on retail assets. Retail properties are very similar, making them easy to buy, sell, and release if necessary. The sector is also very large, with Realty Income estimating the U.S. retail net lease market at about $1.5 trillion in size. That's an ample pond for Agree to fish in, with the REIT focused on working with strong tenants. The third way to keep risk at a minimum is to closely monitor lessees and actively manage the portfolio. In short, the goal is to bring in more strong tenants and shift away from weak ones. To this end, Agree has been selling Walgreens Boots Alliance properties while buying properties from stronger retailers, like Tractor Supply and TJX Companies . After being forced to cut its dividend when bookseller Borders went bankrupt, Agree has clearly learned a valuable long-term lesson. To be fair, Agree was a much smaller REIT back in 2011 than it is today, but taking an active approach with troubled tenants is still a good plan. One last fact that's important here is that Agree has a strong balance sheet , with an investment grade credit rating. That not only allows the REIT to issue debt at attractive prices, but it means that Agree can withstand some financial adversity before the dividend, which has now been increased annually for a decade, would likely be at risk. Why Agree Realty is worth buying All in, Agree Realty appears to have an attractive net lease business with ample room to grow. That's backed up by the fact that industry giant Realty Income owns over 15,400 properties. Which is where the long-term value offered by owning Agree Realty comes into play because it is still just a fraction of the size of Realty Income. That means that Agree can grow its business more easily because it doesn't require as much investment volume to move the needle on the top and bottom lines. This fact shows up clearly in the dividend. Over the past decade Agree's dividend has grown at a compound annual rate of roughly 6% versus about half that rate for Realty Income. That may not sound like a big difference on an absolute basis, but Agree's dividend has grown twice as fast as Realty Income's. That's a huge difference. ADC data by YCharts No wonder fast growing Agree's share price is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels while slow and steady Realty Income's stock price is still well below what it was in early 2020. That said, investors are clearly paying a premium price for Agree, noting the vastly different dividend yields. Agree is not the best option for maximizing income, it is, basically, a growth and income stock or a dividend growth stock. But the growth opportunity gives it a greater likelihood of helping turn you into a millionaire than Realty Income. Agree Realty: Steady and slightly faster Agree Realty is probably best included in a diversified portfolio for those looking to build long-term wealth. And it isn't about to mint overnight millionaires. It is still a bit of a tortoise when you compare it to, say, a hot technology stock. But it is growing faster than many of its peers and that may be worth paying a premium for, assuming your goal isn't focused on generating current income . If you are looking to add some real estate exposure to your portfolio, relatively fast-growing net lease REIT Agree Realty could be a great choice for you.

Earth Abides: Vikings star Alexander Ludwig says new Stan show is ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done’A circle of corroded bronze, measuring 12 inches (30cm) across, adorned with golden shapes, was unwittingly discovered in 1999 in Nebra, Germany, now famously coined the Nebra Sky Disc. More than 3,600-years-old, it is widely considered to be the oldest known depiction of the cosmos. It is currently the subject of a new study, where metallurgical analysis has indicated that it was manufactured using a complex, hot-forging process, with ten cycles of heating up to 700°C! Bombshell Study Calls Astronomical Theories of the Nebra Sky Disk “Obsolete” Why a Replica of the 3,600-Year-Old Nebra Sky Disk Was Sent into Space Hardly any suitable scientific method was omitted to study the Nebra hoard. (© State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt ) An Elusive Manufacturing Process Part of the UNESCO "Memory of the World" register since 2013, the Disc is considered one of the best-researched archaeological objects. The new study, published in the latest edition of the journal Scientific Reports , finally points us in the direction of the elusive manufacturing process. Based on its material composition and previous research, it seems that the process would be to heat to 700°C over 10 cycles, then forging, and then annealing to relax the metal structure again. This affirms what was earlier believed based on the material composition, which indicated that the disk couldn’t have been simply cast in its final size. Consider this: a bronze disk with a diameter of around 31 centimeters, a few millimeters thick – forging this during the Bronze Age without any of the modern tools and technologies available to us today was quite an achievement. "That the investigations continue to produce such fundamental new findings more than 20 years after the Sky Disc was found not only once again demonstrates the extraordinary character of this find of the century, but also how highly developed the art of metal processing was already in the Early Bronze Age," says State archaeologist Prof. Dr. Harald Meller in a press release . Goseck Circle: The Oldest Known Solar Observatory World of Stonehenge Exhibition Is a Stunning Treasure Hall of Fame The Nebra Sky Disc with the marked sample extraction point ((c) (Reproduced with permission by State Office for Heritage management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt—State Museum of Prehistory, photo: J. Lipták, Munich/ Nature ). From Disc-Rescue to Crafting Discovered in 1999 on the Mittelberg hill near Nebra, Germany, Henry Westphal and Mario Renner made this find when illegally treasure-hunting with a metal detector. The total loot included 2 bronze swords, axes, a chisel, and fragments of spiral armbands, sold to a private dealer. The police led a sting operation and recovered the disc in 2002, now on display in the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Archaeologists have placed the disc, with a blue-green patina (probably originally a deep bronze hue), and adorned with gold inlays, to the Únětice culture, emerging at the start of the Central European Bronze Age around 2300 to 1600 BC. It was likely made over 4 stages, and eventually deposited into the ground in the form of a ritual offering. Previous studies have pointed to how the arrangement of the cosmos indicated its deep relevance to agricultural communities – likely what it alluded to. "In addition, the Sky Disc shows how important it is to re-examine seemingly well-known finds when new methods become available," says Dr. Meller. After its recovery, a small sample was temporarily taken from the outer area of the Disc in 2002 (since re-inserted), and then temporarily removed again for archaeometallurgical research. It was subject to ‘microstructural analyses on color-etched surfaces with a light microscope’, with modern imaging methods used: energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction – the most modern metallurgical analyses available. Following this, the disk was subject to hardness measurements and parallel experimental tests. The renowned coppersmith Herbert Bauer then made a replica from a cast blank, which was actually subject to many more forging cycles to produce the copy; the original cast blank was probably larger and thinner. “The latest research results make it clear that the early Bronze Age craftsmen were not only outstanding casters, but also mastered complex bronze processing techniques, for example hot forging, at the highest level. With their extensive experience and knowledge, they were not only able to produce numerous axes in series production, but also to forge a workpiece that is unique from today's perspective, such as the Nebra Sky Disc,” reports the press release. The research was conducted by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt in cooperation with the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Chair of Metallic Materials (Prof. Dr. Thorsten Halle), and the company DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH, Magdeburg. Top image: The Nebra Sky Disc. Source: Juraj Lipták/ State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt By Sahir Pandey References Dieck, S., Michael, O., Wilke, M. et al. 2024. Archaeometallurgical investigation of the Nebra Sky Disc . Scientific Reports . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80545-5 . Milligan, M. 2024. Study uncovers the secrets of the Nebra Sky Disk . Available at: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/11/study-uncovers-the-secrets-of-the-nebra-sky-disk/154009 . White, K. 2024. Decoding the Nebra Sky Disc, an Ancient Vision of the Cosmos . Available at: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/nebra-sky-disc-facts-2474678 . Artifacts News Nebra sky disc metallurgy Germany Until today, the Nebra Sky Disk was known as the oldest concrete depiction of cosmic phenomena worldwide. Scholars believed it was a 3,600-year-old artifact depicting a sun or full moon, a lunar... A team of archaeologists and forensics experts studying the remains of the 'Prince of Helmsdorf,’ dated to around 1940 BC, who was discovered in Klopfleisch in 1877, have announced that ‘he was...TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quisitive Technology Solutions Inc. ("Quisitive” or the "Company”) (TSXV: QUIS, OTCQX: QUISF), a premier Microsoft Cloud and AI solutions provider, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. Management Commentary "Our Cloud business maintained stability as we experienced modest sequential growth and saw an expanding pipeline of AI-driven customer engagements,” said Quisitive CEO Mike Reinhart. "The hiring process of specialized staff from Microsoft's investment in our Blackbelt Team has been completed and will enhance our ability to further establish a strong pipeline of customer opportunities. We have also developed new IP for our AI Innovation Center, designed for customers in the Azure environment to accelerate their AI use case testing and to facilitate successful custom AI deployments. Looking ahead to the new year, we remain committed to further investing in our sales engine in alignment with Microsoft, with early 2025 positioned as a key momentum-building phase to drive growth in the latter part of the year.” Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results The Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and related management's discussion and analysis will be posted on the Company's website and on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com on November 25, 2024 subject to completion of the interim review by the Company's external auditors. All figures are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Financial highlights include: Quisitive is providing the following guidance for fiscal year 2024: Quisitive management will hold a conference call today (November 25, 2024) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results. Company CEO Mike Reinhart and CFO Scott Meriwether will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Toll Free dial-in: 1-877-704-4453 International dial-in: 1-201-389-0920 Webcast Link: Here Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time today and will expire after Monday, December 9, 2024. Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921 International replay number: 1-412-317-6671 Replay ID: 13750196 For additional information, please visit the Investor Relations section of Quisitive's website at: https://quisitive.com/investor-relations/ . The following tables summarize results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023: About Quisitive: Quisitive Investor Contact Matt Glover and John Yi Gateway Group [email protected] 949-574-3860 Tami Anders Chief of Staff [email protected] 972.573.0995 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA Financial Measures and Adjusted EBITDA There are measures included in this news release that do not have a standardized meaning under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures and metrics presented by other publicly traded companies. The Company includes these measures because it believes certain investors use these measures and metrics as a means of assessing financial performance. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is calculated as net earnings before finance costs (net of finance income), income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization of intangibles) is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We prepare and release quarterly unaudited and annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial information, used to evaluate our performance, in this and other earnings releases and investor conference calls as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS. We believe that current shareholders and potential investors in the Company use non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA, in making investment decisions about the Company and measuring our operational results. The term "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before certain charges that management considers to be non-operating expenses and which consist of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation (for which we include related fees and taxes), changes in fair value of derivatives, transaction and acquisition-related expenses, US payroll protection plan loan forgiveness, and earn-out settlement losses. Management considers these non-operating expenses to be outside the scope of Quisitive' ongoing operations and the related expenses are not used by management to measure operations. Accordingly, these expenses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, which we reference to both measure our operations and as a basis of comparison of our operations from period-to-period. Management believes that investors and financial analysts measure our business on the same basis, and we are providing the Adjusted EBITDA financial metric to assist in this evaluation and to provide a higher level of transparency into how we measure our own business. However, Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with IFRS or other non-GAAP measures that may be used by other companies, such as EBITDA. The use of Adjusted EBITDA does have limitations as, some investors may consider these charges and expenses as a recurring part of operations rather than expenses that are not part of operations. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information” and "forward-looking statements” (collectively, "forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Quisitive and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects”, or "does not expect”, "is expected”, "anticipates” or "does not anticipate”, "plans”, "budget”, "scheduled”, "forecasts”, "estimates”, "believes” or "intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may” or "could, "would”, "might” or "will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the future growth potential of the Company and its cloud solutions business and AI offerings; the financial outlook of the Company, including growth projections, capital allocation and cost savings; potential for growth and expectations regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on the expanding opportunities emerging from AI advancements. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; the ability to realize on cost saving measures; the Company's limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the technology industry; unproven markets for the Company's product offerings; lack of regulation and customer protection; the need for the Company to manage its future strategic plans; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; foreign currency trading risks; use and storage of personal information and compliance with privacy laws; use of the Company's services for improper or illegal purposes; global economic and financial market conditions; uninsurable risks; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; and those factors described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated May 23, 2023 available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. People are also reading... Sheriff: 1 arrested, 1 wanted after Statesville man strangled, robbed Lake Norman residents voice concerns with Marshall Steam Station changes Iredell County bridge to close for $1.2 replacement project Basketball transfer Patterson back home at West Iredell to 'bring in some wins' Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams making furniture in Alexander County again Baseball league cries foul as Iredell plans to charge to use Jennings Park fields MerMade: Workspace opens in Statesville, caters to artists, crafters Statesville embraces underdog role in rematch with defending champ Hickory Statesville falls to Hickory, Mooresville tops NW Guilford in football playoffs Mooresville's Farmer, Graham picked to play in Shrine Bowl With supermajority in NC House gone, Iredell's Republican lawmakers talk changes, challenges Statesville sweeps varsity doubleheader with South Iredell; Shehan reaches 1,000 points in Lake Norman win Historian, writer Bill Moose subject of Iredell County Historical Society event Monday West Iredell starts season strong with win over Bunker Hill Statesville Police Department welcomes first police attorney, Stephanie Adkins FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. ___ Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump’s inauguration, according to The New York Times. 12 political cartoons size up Donald Trump's Cabinet picks Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

A Labour peer has accused the justice secretary of trying to “impose” her Muslim beliefs on those in favour of assisted dying as a major row broke out at the top of the party. Lord Falconer of Thoroton, a former Labour justice secretary and a close ally of Sir Keir Starmer, said that Shabana Mahmood was “completely wrong” to say that the assisted dying bill was “a slippery slope towards death on demand”. Mahmood wrote the warning in a letter to constituents before a landmark debate on Friday, when MPs will hold their first vote on the issue in nearly a decade in what could open the door to legalising assisted suicide for the first time in the UK. MPs and ministers are free to vote as they wish on the legislation, a private members’ bill being spearheaded in the Commons by Kim Leadbeater which would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live.( MENAFN - Gulf Times) The Azerbaijan airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week suffered physical "external interference", the airline and Azerbaijan's transport Minister said Friday, citing preliminary results of an investigation, adding to speculation it was hit by a Russian air defence system. The jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after attempting to land at its destination in the Russian city of Grozny and then diverting far off course across the Caspian Sea. Russia's Aviation chief said Friday that Grozny was being attacked by Ukrainian drones at the time the plane had tried to land, but the Kremlin has declined to comment on reports the plane was accidentally shot down by Russian air defence missiles. Statements from Azerbaijan citing the investigation into the incident suggest Baku believes the plane was hit mid-air. "Based on the opinion of experts and on the words of eyewitnesses, it can be concluded that there was external interference," Azerbaijani's transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, told reporters. "It is necessary to find out from what kind of weapon," he added, citing reports from survivors of hearing "three explosions" as the plane was over Grozny. Azerbaijan Airlines said it had suspended flights to 10 Russian airports and that preliminary results suggested the crash of Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 was "due to physical and technical external interference". The head of Russia's civil aviation agency, Dmitry Yadrov, said in an earlier statement that "the situation on this day and at these hours in the area of Grozny airport was very complex". "Ukrainian attack drones at this time were making terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz," Yadrov said, referring to a nearby city. He said the Azeri pilot made "two attempts to land the plane in Grozny that were unsuccessful" in "thick fog". "The pilot was offered other airports. He took the decision to go to Aktau airport," he added. The Kremlin earlier Friday declined to comment on the deadly crash. "Until the conclusions of the investigation, we do not consider we have the right to make any comments and we will not do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Some aviation and military experts have pointed to signs of shrapnel damage on the plane wreckage as evidence it was hit by air defence systems. An Azerbaijan pro-government website, Caliber, and several other media have cited unnamed Azerbaijani officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S1 air defence system caused the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a "thorough investigation" and also pointed to Russian involvement. "Every loss of life deserves a thorough investigation to establish the truth. We can see how the clear visual evidence at the crash site points to Russia's responsibility for the tragedy," he said in a post on social media. A Russian survivor, Subkhonkul Rakhimov, told state broadcaster RT that an "explosion" appeared to happen outside the plane as it attempted to land in Grozny in fog, causing shrapnel to penetrate inside. "I wouldn't say it was inside the plane because the skin of the fuselage near where I was sitting flew off," he said. "I grabbed a life jacket and saw there was a hole in it -- it was pierced by shrapnel." Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Friday that he had phoned his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with both pledging that the "causes of the crash would be fully examined", according to a statement from Baku. Contacted by AFP, Azerbaijani government officials did not respond to questions about the possible causes of the crash. But Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani lawmaker and member of the parliament's international relations committee, urged Russia to apologise for the incident. "They have to accept this, punish those to blame, promise that such a thing will not happen again, express regrets and readiness to pay compensation," Musabekov told AFP. He suggested the plane was not allowed to land at Grozny or a nearby Russian airport -- instead being "sent far away" across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan -- in an attempt to "cover up a crime." MENAFN27122024000067011011ID1109036194 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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