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“Far too often, patients relying on federal government health care programs are forced to accept bureaucratic, one-size-fits-all coverage,” Crapo said. But Trump’s lack of specificity about health care could empower Oz to fill in the blanks. Oz said on an AARP questionnaire: “We can expand Medicare Advantage plans. If Oz is confirmed and chooses to push more people into Medicare Advantage, as he has pitched, he may not have too hard a time. “In our focus groups, people say they’re satisfied with both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and they make their choices based on different preferences,” Neuman said.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Donald Trump, Mehmet Oz, Mike Crapo, ” Crapo, “ Dr, Oz, George Halvorson, “, Kamala Harris ’, ”, Larry Levitt, Harris, ” Levitt, Trump, Sen, James Lankford, hasn’t, ” Lankford, Obama, Obamacare, Patty Murray, “ Trump, Ron Wyden, Tricia Neuman, Neuman, ” Neuman, Arthur Caplan, ” Caplan, ” Wyden, they’re, Lankford, ” Sen, Mike Rounds, there’s, We’ll, pare, “ It’s, Caplan, ” Oz, John Fetterman, he’s, “ We’re, ” Fetterman, I’m Organizations: Medicare, Services, Forbes, Kaiser Permanente, Agency, Senate, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, NYU Langone Medical, Commonwealth Fund, “ Locations: Idaho, KFF, New York City, Pennsylvania

Americans will see the new Trump administration enact changes at a pace that is “like nothing you’ve seen in history,” a Trump campaign official said. Trump’s transition team is also fielding requests from overseas to host his first foreign trip. Coming off a decisive victory on Nov. 5, Trump has moved swiftly to build out the Cabinet and a senior White House team that will execute his plans. “The thing to realize is Trump is no dummy,” said Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser in Trump’s campaign. Noem campaigned for Trump, though a person close to Trump was surprised he tapped her for the job.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Karoline Leavitt, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ron Klain, Donald Trump Jr, Mike Pompeo, “ Don, that’s, ” Trump, ”, Stephen Moore, he’s, ” Moore, Will Trump, We’re, Newt Gingrich, Gingrich, ” Gingrich, Ronald Reagan’s, Chad Wolf, Harris, Kristi Noem, hasn’t, Noem, ’ ” Trump, Grover Cleveland Organizations: WASHINGTON, ., NBC, Trump, Trump’s, White House, Policy Institute, CIA, Security, NBC News, Migration Policy Institute, DHS, Biden, Department of Homeland Security, Cricket, ”, Cleveland Locations: Jan, West Palm Beach , Florida, Ukraine, Russia, Washington, America, South Dakota, U.S, China

She wrote two more bills that same week supporting Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, who were behind two of the biggest US national security leaks of the 21st Century. Both men are broadly seen as enemies of the state within the intelligence community. Gabbard proposed repealing Patriot ActIf confirmed, Gabbard will be the most markedly anti-surveillance official to lead the intelligence community in the post-9/11 era. Some prominent Republicans like former Trump national security adviser John Bolton and former Trump UN ambassador and 2024 GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley have come out against her. Scott Olson/Getty ImagesGabbard is in many ways a stranger to the intelligence community.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, spymaster, Tulsi Gabbard, Daniel Ellsberg, Gabbard, ”, Ellsberg, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, It’s, MAGA, Trump, Assange, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, she’s, scot, Jamil Jaffer, George W, Bush, White, George Mason University’s, Snowden, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Assange —, Sen, Rand Paul, Justin Amash, Matt Gaetz, Gabbard’s Snowden, Bill Pugliano, Tulsi, Drew Angerer, Glenn Gerstell, —, Gerstell, ” Gerstell, She’s, neocons, ” “, Vladimir Putin’s, Biden, “, Hannity, Steven Ferdman, cynically, John Bolton, Nikki Haley, DNI, ” Haley, Hillary Clinton, Assad, Obama, Tom Williams, CNN Gabbard, Bashar Assad, Nancy Pelosi, Gabbard’s, we’ve, Trump’s, Qasem Soleimani, ” ‘, Donald Trump, Scott Olson, Democratic Sen, Chuck Schumer, ” Gabbard Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Pentagon, The New York Times, Washington Post, US, National Intelligence, Republican Party, WikiLeaks, National Security Institute, George, National Security Agency, — Democratic, Trump, FBI, Fox, Patriot, Foreign Intelligence, Congress, Capitol, Defense Department, Democrat, Republican, NATO, Fox News Channel Studios, Trump UN, GOP, blindsided, Hawaii National Guard, House Armed Services Committee, Syrian, ISIS, Democratic Party, Lawmakers, Gabbard Locations: Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Alexandria, —, Washington, Detroit , Michigan, Gabbard, Washington ,, China, Hawaii, American, Moscow, New York City, Kremlin, Iraq, Lebanon, Ohio, La Crosse , Wisconsin, United States

☆ I'm 27 and paid $156 for a buzzy health test, fearing I was unknowingly sick. It was reassuring but I felt scammed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementThe idea that testing and tracking your health will help you live longer is buzzy right now. I feared I had problems like high cholesterol or blood sugar and paid $156 for a direct-to-consumer health test. The author eating pineapple to feel less dizzy after the blood tests. AdvertisementDirect-to-consumer tests might seem like a good idea, but in most cases, you'd be better off letting sleeping dogs lie. AdvertisementMore testing isn't necessarily betterPeople tend to think that tests can only do good, but unnecessary health testing can actually be harmful, Plüddemann said.

Persons: I'd, you'll, Max, I'm, I've, Kim Schewitz, Annette Plüddemann, Plüddemann Organizations: Global Wellness Institute, University of Oxford, Nova Locations: Arizona, Australia

☆ Vance debuts new role as Trump’s point person on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Alayna Treene | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Congressional Republicans acknowledge that Vance hasn’t necessarily developed longstanding relationships on Capitol Hill during his abbreviated time in Washington. His coattails turned a 49-51 senate to a 53-47 senate,” Vance wrote on X on Wednesday. The three developed a bond that predates the campaign and has carried into the early days of Trump’s transition. But when you look at the effectiveness of JD in the campaign, there’s no better surrogate for President Trump’s agenda,” the adviser said. “In JD’s view, his role of VP is to take on any issue that President Trump would like him to take on,” the person close to Vance told CNN.

Persons: JD Vance, Donald Trump’s, Vance, Matt Gaetz, he’ll, Pete Hegseth, Vance hasn’t, ”, North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, Trump, “, Donald Trump, ” Cramer, ” Vance, “ Donald J, coattails, Joe Biden’s, Grace Chong, Steve Bannon’s, Chong, ” Trump, Tom Homan, ’, Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr, —, Trump’s MAGA, Kamala Harris ’, JD, James Braid, “ Vance, you’ll, ” CNN’s Ted Barrett Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Trump’s Cabinet, Florida Rep, Fox News, Department of Defense, Senate, White, GOP, Cabinet, Trump, FBI, Republican, Democratic, Mar, Elon, JD, Central America —, “, White House Locations: Ohio, Washington, North Dakota, Central, Trump

☆ The DOJ wants Google to sell its Chrome browser. Here are the winners and losers if that happens.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Hugh Langley | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Justice Department on Wednesday asked the judge in its antitrust case against Google to force the company to sell its Chrome browser. "Advertisers would find competitors for their business, rather than needing to pay a dominant search engine." When you open Chrome and type something into the search bar at the top, these words are automatically transformed into a Google Search. And when there's an option for users, Google pays partners billions of dollars to set its search engine as the default. For instance, if most people click on the third result, Google's Search engine will likely adjust and rank that result higher in the future.

Persons: Mehta's, John Kwoka, Judge Mehta, Bing, There's, Bill Gurley, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Neeva, Ramaswamy, Teiffyon Parry, Equativ, Parry, Ben Thompson, John Gruber, Lee, Anne Mulholland Organizations: DOJ, Google, Department, Wednesday, Northeastern University, Chrome, Lens, Google's, Gmail, YouTube, Bloomberg

☆ Thai court gives death penalty to woman accused of cyanide serial killings
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —A Thai court has handed down the death penalty to a woman accused of fatally poisoning at least a dozen people, the first ruling in a high-profile serial murder case that has gripped the nation. The court convicted her of charges including premeditated murder, robbery causing death and spiking food or other consumables resulting in death. In addition to the death sentence, she was also ordered to pay compensation for unrecovered stolen items. Thanicha told CNN on Thursday that Saratat denies the accusations against her and plans to appeal her conviction. No executions have taken place since, but courts have handed down the death sentence in several cases, including the high-profile murders of two British backpackers in 2019.

Persons: Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, NBT Connext, –, Siriporn, Sararat, Thanicha Eksuwanwat, Witoon, Thanicha, Saratat, ” Thanicha Organizations: Thailand CNN, CNN, Sararat Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

☆ Grimes says she was 'going bankrupt' during custody battle with Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementGrimes shared new details about her custody dispute with her former partner, Elon Musk. Grimes said she was "going bankrupt" during the dispute and had a "fraction" of Musk's resources. Grimes says she was "going bankrupt" during her custody dispute with Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk, with whom she shares three children. Grimes, whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher, became embroiled in a custody dispute with Musk in 2023 over X Æ A-Xii , Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus. Related VideoGrimes and Musk have largely been quiet about the custody dispute, however Grimes on Wednesday shared some details about how going to court against her billionaire ex impacted her.

Persons: Grimes, Elon Musk, Claire Elise Boucher, Musk, hasn't, August Grimes, Donald Trump, group's Organizations: Tesla, Business, Department of Government Locations: California, Texas, , Texas, Austin , Texas

☆ Who is Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon facing a life sentence in a national security trial?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now 77, he's facing a life sentence in a national security trial in Hong Kong. I would just relay to him what happened in Hong Kong when he asked me," Lai said in court, per Reuters. This mass sentencing of Hong Kong's activists was also based on charges under Hong Kong's national security law. Related storiesThe imposition of the national security law marked the effective end of Hong Kong's political autonomy from China. "Above all else, the implementation rules have the potential to radically criminalize online speech in Hong Kong," Woodhams said.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Kong's, Lai, Hong Kong's, Mike Pence Organizations: Hong Kong, Apple, China, White House, Democracy Locations: Hong, Hong Kong, China, Northern California

☆ Google's DeepMind and YouTube built and shelved 'Orca,' a 'mind-blowing' music AI tool that hit a copyright snag
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementGoogle's DeepMind and YouTube previously built and shelved Orca, an AI music tool. Orca could generate music mimicking artists. Google trained it on copyrighted YouTube music videos. In November 2023, DeepMind announced a music generation AI model named Lyria, which was a pared-down version of the Orca project. AdvertisementSome employees who worked on Lyria and Orca left to found a new startup named Udio, which makes an AI music creation app.

Persons: Lizzie Widhelm, Taylor Swift, Orca, OpenAI, DeepMind, John Legend — Organizations: YouTube, Google

The man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students two years ago may be punished with the death penalty if he is convicted, the trial judge has ruled. Idaho's alternative to the death penalty for a first-degree murder conviction is life in prison with at least 10 years served before becoming eligible for parole. Prosecutors had said in court filings that four aggravating factors exist in the case against Kohberger, who turns 30 on Thursday, making the crime more severe and meriting the death penalty. From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. A motive remains unclear for the killings of housemates Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, in November 2022.

Persons: Bryan Kohberger's, Steven Hippler, Hippler, Defendant, Prosecutors, Kohberger, Jeff Nye, Nye, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, Xana, Hipple, Thomas Creech, —, Anne Taylor, Taylor, Xana Kernodle, Steve Goncalves, Kaylee Organizations: University of Idaho, Washington State University, NBC News Locations: Boise , Idaho, Idaho, Xana Kernodle . Idaho, Pullman, Washington, Boise, Latah County

☆ Court ruling stops Louisiana from requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana’s plan to make all of the state’s public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments next year remains on hold under an order Wednesday by a federal appeals court in New Orleans. The state contends that deGravelles’ order affects only the five school districts that are defendants in a legal challenge. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law in June, prompting a group of Louisiana public school parents of different faiths to sue. Murrill, the Republican attorney general, has said she disagreed with deGravelles’ ruling and that the law is constitutional under Supreme Court precedents. In recent years, similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in states including Texas, Oklahoma and Utah.

Persons: John deGravelles, deGravelles, “ We’re, ”, Sam Grover, Liz Murrill, ” DeGravelles, Jeff Landry, Murrill Organizations: ORLEANS, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, District, Religion, “, GOP, Republican Gov, Republican Locations: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St, Tammany, Orleans, Vernon, —, Texas , Oklahoma, Utah, Kentucky

A Dallas anesthesiologist was sentenced to 190 years in federal prison in a case where he was convicted of injecting drugs into IV bags, leading to at least one death. He was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to a total of 2,280 months, which the judge ordered to be served consecutively. Doctors began to suspect an issue with the IV bags in August 2022, after a 18-year-old patient’s condition became critical during a routine sinus surgery, prosecutors said. Video presented as evidence also showed Ortiz “repeatedly retrieving IV bags from the warming bin and replacing them” shortly before the bags were taken into surgery, prosecutors said. Doctors testified at the trial, noting that the medical emergencies occurred shortly after new IV bags were hung during the procedures.

Persons: Dallas anesthesiologist, Raynaldo Ortiz, Simonton, Ortiz, Anesthesiologist Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr, Scott, Melanic Kaspar, Prosecutors, Ortiz “, John Kaspar, Fort Worth, Kaspar, ”, ” Ortiz, David Godbey, “ Organizations: Dallas, Attorney, Northern, Northern District of, Baylor, Attorney’s, NBC News Dallas, District, Texas Medical Locations: U.S, Northern District, Northern District of Texas, KXAS, Dallas, Fort

☆ After a stinging election defeat, the Democrats' next big race kicks off: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

After a stinging election defeat, the race to lead the DNC kicks offBy Natasha Korecki and Alex Seitz-WaldTwo weeks after suffering another stinging defeat to Donald Trump, Democrats are in the throes of dissecting what went wrong and figuring out their path forward. Martin O’Malley, a onetime presidential candidate and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, kicked off the race by entering the fray. Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair and leader of the Association of State Democratic Committees, followed by formally announcing his candidacy Tuesday. Still looming out there: Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who has developed a reputation as a prodigious fundraiser and field organizer. Read more → ☑️ Latest race calls: Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur defeated Republican Derek Merrin in Ohio’s competitive 9th District, NBC News projected.

Persons: Natasha Korecki, Alex Seitz, Wald, Chuck Todd, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jaime Harrison, Martin O’Malley, Ken Martin, Martin, O’Malley, Chuck Rocha, Sen, Mallory McMorrow, Ben Wikler, “ Ben, That’s, Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama, Emanuel, Adam Parkhomenko, Hillary Clinton’s, “, ” Parkhomenko, James Zogby, it’s, Howard Dean, Obama —, Chuck Todd Here’s, Trumpism, Trump, wasn’t, Harris, Biden, Read, Chuck → ➡️, Matt Gaetz, Lloyd Austin, Pete Hegseth, Linda McMahon, Matt Whitaker, 🗞️ Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Democratic National Committee, DNC, Maryland Gov, Social Security Administration, Minnesota Democratic, Association of State Democratic Committees, Democratic, Politico, Republican, Democratic National Convention, Wisconsin Democratic, Chicago, NBC News, Arab American Institute, America, GOP, Pentagon, “ DEI, Biden, Chuck → ➡️ Trump, Wrestling Entertainment, Education Department, Former, Atlantic Treaty Organization Locations: Michigan, U.S, Japan, Oklahoma

The majority of transgender employees, 82%, reported experiencing workplace discrimination or harassment because of their gender identity or sexual orientation at some point in their lives, according to a new survey. Trans employees were more likely to report such experiences than cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer employees, at 45%, and nonbinary employees, at 59%. Half of the trans adults surveyed were people of color and 6 in 10 were making less than $50,000 a year. Of the trans respondents who reported having experienced workplace discrimination or harassment at some point in their lives, 65% reported experiencing verbal harassment, 34% reported experiencing physical harassment and 42% reported experiencing sexual harassment. Trans people attempted to mitigate workplace discrimination and harassment by concealing their gender identity at work or by looking for another job, according to the report.

Persons: Brad Sears, they’ve Organizations: Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, U.S, Trans Locations: Massachusetts

☆ 4 University of Rochester students arrested over 'wanted' posters targeting Jewish staff
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Four students were arrested on felony charges after buildings at the University of Rochester in New York were defaced with "wanted" posters targeting several Jewish faculty members, officials said. The four students were charged with felony criminal mischief and a fifth is being investigated, Quchee Collins, the university public safety chief, said in a news release Tuesday. "The posters identifying faculty, staff, and board members have instilled credible fear among those depicted, their families, and other members of our Jewish community," Mangelsdorf said in a message to the community. The university Department of Public Safety was made aware of the posters last week and immediately began removing them. The posters named certain university staff members and professors for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Gaza, NBC affiliate WHEC of Rochester reported.

Persons: Quchee Collins, Collins, Sarah Mangelsdorf, Mangelsdorf, ” Organizations: University of Rochester, University, Trustees, Department of Public, NBC Locations: New York, Gaza, Rochester

In just a few months, the world will have its first digital saint. Pope Francis on Wednesday announced April plans to canonize a teenage web designer who documented miracles online and used his tech skills to maintain web sites for local Catholic organizations. Acutis, who was born to Italian parents in London, was a web designer who died of leukemia in Italy in 2006 at the age of 15. The church has attributed two miracles to the teen informally known as “God’s influencer.”In May, the pope attributed a second miracle to the teen, who is set to become the church’s youngest contemporary saint. The move came four years after he was beatified in 2020 after one miracle was attributed to him.

Persons: Pope Francis, Carlo Acutis, ”, canonize, Giorgio Frassati Organizations: Wednesday, Adolescents, Vatican News, Roman Catholic Church Locations: Italy, London, Italian

Black Friday is almost here, and Target is already offering deals on apparel, holiday decor, tech and more that you can shop right now. As an associate reporter for NBC Select, I frequently cover Target deals and sales year round. SKIP AHEAD Best early Black Friday Target deals | More early Black Friday Target sales |Why trust NBC Select? Best early Black Friday Target deals4.8-star average rating from 3,285 reviews at TargetThis Apple iPad is our pick for the best overall tablet due to its functionality and price. Best early Black Friday Target salesHere are the best early Black Friday Target sales to know about.

Persons: ”, Harry Rabinowitz, terry, Rabinowitz, TikTok Organizations: Target, NBC, Garmin, Facebook, Twitter Locations: woofers

☆ What to know about Transgender Day of Remembrance and violence against trans people
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Wednesday is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which focuses on trans people who have lost their lives because of violence. What is Transgender Day of Remembrance? Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked every Nov. 20 and began in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in Massachusetts. International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is designed to bring attention to transgender people, is commemorated in March. Rita Hester is pictured on a poster in Boston for Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Persons: Rita Hester, Jessica Rinaldi, Pauly, Jr, Donald Trump Organizations: Transgender, Williams Institute, UCLA Law, Boston Globe, Getty, Human, Rights, U.S, Supreme Locations: Massachusetts, U.S, Boston, Pennsylvania

☆ They relocated to Spain six years ago. Now this couple say they’d be ‘very depressed’ if they ever had to move back to the United States
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Starting overThe couple, pictured at a friend's party in Malaga, also considered moving to Singapore, but decided on Spain due to its closer proximity to the United States. Gail and Greg WarnerThey’d originally planned to leave the United States in December 2018. The couple quickly put their Florida home on the market and set about winding down their lives in the United States. Now that they’ve lived outside of the US for so long, the couple say they can’t imagine ever moving back, and feel as though they were often on a “hamster wheel” before. Just go with it.’”Gail and Greg couldn’t be happier with their new lives, but the couple do have one regret about leaving the United States and starting over in Spain.

Persons: Gail, Greg Warner, they’re, ’ ”, Beau, Gail Warner “, ”, Greg, who’ve, ” Greg, “, ” “ We’d, Greg Warner They’d, Guess I’m, I’ve, ” Gail, she’d, ’ ” Greg, he’s, Sergio, they’ve, “ I’m, Betty Rivas “, United States “, ’ ” Gail, Greg couldn’t Organizations: CNN, EU, “, Malaga City Locations: United States, Florida, Chicago, Singapore, Spain, Europe, Spanish, Valencia, Indiana, Malaga, Canada, France, States, Costa del Sol, Southern Spain, Andalucía, Slovenia

☆ Liam Payne funeral: One Direction bandmates attend
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Hannah Peart | Hannah Peart Is An Intern In The Nbc News London Bureau. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — Liam Payne’s funeral was taking place Wednesday in south-east England, just over a month after the One Direction star died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. Girls Aloud star Cheryl, the mother of Payne’s seven-year-old son Bear, was also expected to join the funeral proceedings. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul." In a joint statement, his One Direction bandmates said they were "completely devastated." Pallbearers carry the coffin of the singer Liam Payne into the church ahead of his funeral on Wednesday.

Persons: Liam Payne’s, — Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles —, Payne’s, Kate Cassidy, Cheryl, Bear, Liam’s, Liam, Pallbearers, Liam Payne, Justin Tallis, Payne Organizations: Getty Locations: England, Argentina’s, Buenos Aires, Britain

VIENTIANE, Laos — Women and racial diversity are vital to the strength of U.S. armed forces, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview with NBC News as he prepares to shortly exit the top military post after four years. “I would tell you that, you know, our women are the finest troops in the world. Our military is going to remain a diverse military," Austin said. Austin did not weigh in on what he thinks about Trump's choice of Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Austin, a four-star general who was previously commander of U.S. Central Command, was appointed as Secretary of Defense by President Joe Biden and was sworn in on Jan. 22, 2021.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, “, ” Austin, Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ”, Austin, Trump, Biden, Vladimir Putin, —, we've, Joe Biden, Lester Holt Organizations: NBC News, Defense, Army National Guard, Pentagon, Senate, Republicans, Department of Defense, ., Korean, U.S . Central Command, NBC Locations: VIENTIANE, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Russia's Kursk, Jan

☆ Greeks go on general strike demanding higher pay
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

ATHENS — Ships docked at Greek ports, and railway and bus services were disrupted on Wednesday as transport workers, hospital doctors, school teachers together with construction workers joined a nationwide strike to protest squeezed living standards and demand higher pay. Many Greeks saw their wages and pensions slashed in return for bailouts worth 280 billion euros ($297 billion) during a 2009-2018 debt crisis which shaved a quarter off Greece’s economic output and nearly pushed the country out of the eurozone. Workers were expected to protest in central Athens later on Wednesday. The strike comes as the government submits later on Wednesday its final 2025 budget to the 300-seat parliament for debate before a vote due next month. The draft budget sees economic growth of 2.3% next year and higher tax revenues thanks to expanding digital payments and booming property sales.

Persons: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, ”, Greece —, Mitsotakis Organizations: ATHENS — Ships, Workers Locations: ATHENS, Greece, Athens

☆ Doctors Without Borders halts operations in Haiti’s capital after escalation in violence
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Tuesday that it is stopping operations across the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and its wider metropolitan area due to an escalation in violence and threats to its staff from members of the Haitian police. The suspension would last from Wednesday “until further notice,” said MSF. A spokesperson for Haiti’s national police declined to comment. The medical aid group treats on average 1,100 outpatients, 54 children in emergency situations and more than 80 sexual and gender-based violence survivors each week, MSF said, as well as many burn victims. Garnier added that while MSF remained committed to the population it could only resume services if it receives guarantees of security and respect by armed groups, members of self-defense groups and law enforcement.

Persons: ”, Christophe Garnier, Garnier Organizations: Haitian, MSF, ”, Prince Locations: Haitian, Port, Haiti, Caribbean

☆ Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai begins to testify in his national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG — Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai began testifying Wednesday in his landmark national security trial that is widely seen as a measure of press freedom and judicial independence in the Chinese territory. He is fighting charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications. Lai, 76, faces up to life in prison if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing. But critics say that promise has become threadbare under the rubric of maintaining national security. It added that judges remain independent and partial when handling national security cases.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Lai, Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, Anthony Wallace, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, William Wong, Wong, Kongers, “, ”, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Hong, John Lee, Lai ., Keir Starmer, Xi, Chris Tang, Sebastien Lai, Doughty, Chambers, Jodie Ginsber Organizations: Roman Catholic, Catholic, Apple Daily, Getty, British, Authorities, Prosecutors, Beijing “, U.S, American, United Nations, Capitol, Protect Journalists, Hong Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, AFP, United States, U.S, Lai . British, British, Brazil, Hong, Britain, Washington

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