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CNN —Ukraine said on Monday that North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian troops suffered heavy losses during fighting at the weekend in the Russian region of Kursk. North Korean units that arrived in Kursk last month were involved in assaults at the weekend near three villages, according to Ukraine’s defense intelligence service. Since the beginning of December, North Korean troops appear to have been playing a more prominent role on the front lines in Kursk, especially as infantry. Ukraine estimates that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in the region trying to assist Russian units in recovering parts of Kursk taken in a Ukrainian offensive in August. Butusov said that North Korean infantry was backed by “massive fire support” from Russian units, as well as electronic warfare against Ukrainian drones.

Persons: Plekhovo, –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Yuriy Butusov, Butusov, ” Butusov Organizations: CNN, Russian, North Korean, Korean, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kursk, North, Plekhovo, Ukrainian

☆ Britain brings tough online safety measures into force, gives tech giants three months to comply
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-16 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — The U.K. officially brought its sweeping online safety law into force on Monday, paving the way for stricter supervision of harmful content online and potentially massive fines for technology giants like Meta , Google and TikTok. The measures form the first set of duties imposed by the regulator under the Online Safety Act, a sweeping law requiring tech platforms to do more to combat illegal content online. The Online Safety Act imposes certain so-called "duties of care" on these tech firms to ensure they take responsibility for harmful content uploaded and spread on their platforms. Ofcom said that tech platforms will have until March 16, 2025 to complete illegal harms risk assessments, effectively giving them three months to bring their platforms into compliance with the rules. Once that deadline passes, platforms must start implementing measures to prevent illegal harms risks, including better moderation, easier reporting and built-in safety tests, Ofcom said.

Persons: Melanie Dawes Organizations: Meta, Google, Ofcom Locations: British

☆ Meet the Press – December 15, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +53 min

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM:Yeah, I'm in a good place with Pete, unless something I don't know about comes out. Unless somebody is willing to come forward, I think he's going to get through. If he's, if he’s called to do something, he's going to do it, all the way. So I – I think he's going to have a hard time doing this. He was very clear, “no,” when I asked him should President-elect Trump, his administration, jail the January 6th committee members.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Chris Wray, he’ll, Donald Trump's, Kash Patel, KASH PATEL, SEN, LINDSEY GRAHAM, AMY KLOBUCHAR, Biden, ANITA DUNN, Lindsey Graham of, Bernie Sanders, Bashar al, Assad, there’s, Austin Tice, PRES, JOE BIDEN, Debra Tice, Ryan Nobles, Amna Nawaz, Ashley Etienne, Harris, Peggy Noonan, It’s, Kristen Welker, Trump's, Trump, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Hegseth, Joni Ernst, PETE HEGSETH, THOM TILLIS, LISA MURKOWSKI, Hunter Biden, Anita Dunn, Christopher Wray, CHRISTOPHER WRAY, I’d, FBI Hoover, Patel, Graham, SEN.LINDSEY GRAHAM, Bashar Al Assad, “, King, Jordan, Pete, ‘, Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh, we're, I've, He's, We’ll, he's, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, Donald Trump, LINDSEY GRAHAM Well, J, Edgar Hoover, Comey, – SEN, –, you've, Stephen Miller, President Trump, Merry, Sanders, Press . SEN, BERNIE SANDERS, It's, ? SEN, Kristen, Lindsey Graham, Biden's, Hunter, DAVID MUIR, Will, Kristen –, Putin, Brian Thompson, Elizabeth Warren, ELIZABETH WARREN, Warren, ”, Elizabeth –, There's, Am, Yep, ” KRISTEN WELKER, We're, We'll, Austin's, Tice, DEBRA TICE, Austin, NBC News's Richard Engel, Sahar, Richard, we’re, They've, they're, we've, Richard Engel, Travis Timmerman, it's Austin, it's, Travis, let's, he’s, Kristine, Bill Clinton, Roger, Joe Lieberman, JOE LIEBERMAN, there's, TIM, You'll, Kamala Harris, ” Peggy, Ryan, RYAN, Matt Gaetz, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Amna, – AMNA NAWAZ, AMNA NAWAZ, Wray, Peggy, PEGGY NOONAN, sparky, Ashley, ASHLEY ETIENNE, Tulsi Gabbard's, I'm, Joe Biden, Gaetz, – KRISTEN WELKER, – there's Organizations: FBI, Trump, White, Vermont, NBC, Capitol Hill, PBS, Wall Street, Press, Capitol, Army - Navy, Fox News, Iowa, Senate, Republican, TRUMP, ISIS, Defense, intel, United States Senate, Press ., Justice Department, ?, Biden, FDR, RFK Jr, State Department, Austin, U.S, Hostage, NBC News, Wall Street Journal, America, Republican Party, Department of Health, Human Services, RFK, Bureau, Democrats Locations: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Syria, Washington, U.S, America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, United States, Turkey, Afghanistan, Russia, Russian, Vermont, New Jersey, East Coast, American, Damascus, Austin, Lebanon, –

Although Democrats were wrecked up and down the ballot in Pennsylvania, Casey doesn’t think the party needs to rip up its playbook. In fact, he thinks the factor that will help them the most is not having to face Trump on the ballot again. But obviously, for probably a variety of reasons, President Trump had his strongest performance ever in Pennsylvania of the three races and got about 50%. I don’t think that’s accurate, but that’s the perception that people had, and that if he was able to achieve that once, he could do it again. And at the time, President Trump was very clear about that.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Bob Casey, Dave McCormick, Casey, McCormick, Donald Trump, Casey doesn’t, Trump, “, they’ve, ”, what’s, CASEY, that’s, …, Biden, It’s, I’ve, Vladimir Putin, I’m, Sen, Cornyn, —, … I’ve, Sherrod Brown, won’t, Nixon, Reagan, you’ve, There’s, Biden’s Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Democratic Senate, Keystone State, Democrats, NBC News, NBC, National Defense, Senate, Trump, Mar, Affordable, American Locations: Keystone, Pennsylvania, Ukraine, United States, China, Texas, Ohio, Washington

☆ The door is open for Musk's DOGE to achieve a quick win: slashing billions of dollars in fraud in federal programs like Medicare
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The government lost billions of dollars to fraud and improper payments last year. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have an opportunity to take on fraud in government programs once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. One of Musk and Ramaswamy's aims for DOGE could lead to a relatively early win with bipartisan support: eliminating fraud in federal programs like Medicare. Advertisement"While all fraudulent payments are considered improper, not all improper payments are due to fraud," Brown said. AdvertisementWhere DOGE can play a roleMiller said she expects DOGE to look for "quick wins" soon after Trump takes office.

Persons: Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald Trump, Musk, Orice Williams Brown, Brown, Linda Miller, —, Miller, Luis, Leder, they're, " Miller, Trump, GAO's Brown, Jamie Raskin, Ronald Reagan's Grace, that's Organizations: Department of Government, CNBC, Office, Experts, Alliance, Boston University, FBI, Department of Justice, White, Trump, Democratic, US, Treasury Department, Ronald Reagan's Grace Commission

☆ I booked a small suite in the airport while traveling with my toddler. It helped us take a break from the chaos outside our door.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Rachel Lobdell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

I've been going to my friend's lake house for more than two decades. After grabbing a pretzel, I called an audible: Let's see what Minute Suites is about. Minute Suites offer small rooms that you can book by the hour — or overnight — to nap, work, or just rest. Standard rooms offer space for two people to sleep and up to four to relax. I would definitely book another room at Minute Suites, and I'm glad to have the option in my toolbox, especially when traveling with a toddler.

Persons: I've, there's Locations: Atlanta , Baltimore, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston , New York, Nashville, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City

☆ Pete Hegseth: What does Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon believe?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hegseth’s book is an odd mix of slogans and unsupported assertions about the purportedly “Marxist” and “woke” US military. CNN asked the Trump transition for comment on the claims made in Hegseth’s book. In his book, Hegseth is very exercised about the role of women in combat because he says women are less effective fighters. There could also be a battle over the question of “Who lost Afghanistan?” — which Hegseth squarely blames the generals for. In his book, Hegseth is silent on the big issues that a future secretary of defense might have to face, such as the Chinese possibly invading Taiwan.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, Jim Mattis, Lloyd Austin, Leon Panetta, Robert Gates, Hegseth, ”, “, it’s, Charles “, ” Brown, Brown, Mark Milley, Trump, Biden, Joe Biden, Trump’s, Xi Jinping Organizations: CNN, Washington, Fox News, Pentagon, RAND, Joint Chiefs of Staff, US, Joint Chiefs, US Special Forces, State Department, National Guard, Associated Press Locations: United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bear Stearns, New York City, Jerusalem, Washington ,, Taiwan

☆ Xi brought down powerful rivals in the military. Now he’s going after his own men
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Over the past decade, Xi has overseen an ambitious transformation of the PLA into a “world class” fighting force that can rival the US military. Miao Hua, a longtime protege of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and a member of the Central Military Commission, has been suspended and placed under investigation. Miao’s military career took off soon after Xi came to power. As the chief political commissar of the PLA, Miao is tasked with ensuring its loyalty to the ruling Communist Party. “We must ensure the troops remain absolutely loyal, absolutely pure and absolutely reliable,” Xi told an audience of note-taking officers.

Persons: Xi, Adm, Miao Hua, Miao, –, Joel Wuthnow, Mao Zedong, Xi Jinping, Cha Song, James Char, ” Char, Zhang Yang, Victor Shih, Shih, ” Xi, ” Shih, Wang Houbin, Dong Jun, Dong, Wuthnow, ’, Li Shangfu, Joseph Stalin, Mao, “, ”, Mao’s, Lin Biao, keener Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Central Military Commission, Defense Ministry, Xi, Pentagon, National Defense University, “, 31st Group Army, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, PLA Navy, Ground Force, CMC, Rocket Force, Navy, Defense, Communist Party, University of San, Financial Times, The Defense Ministry, Force Locations: Hong Kong, Fujian, China, Taiwan, Beijing, “, Singapore, United States, University of San Diego

☆ With dwindling retirement savings, older Americans are back on the job market
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

More than 2,000 older Americans and counting shared their financial regrets with BI. This is part of an ongoing series about older Americans' regrets. Sylvia is one of many older adults who have shared their retirement stories with Business Insider in recent months. Government assistance programs that some older Americans rely on, like Medicaid or SNAP, have income ceilings. Related storiesResources for older adults in the job marketRetirement and economy experts told BI that there are resources for older adults who are back on a job hunt.

Persons: Sylvia, she's, Sylvia isn't, you'd, Louis, Rowe Price, What's, Jessica Johnston, Claudia Rufino, Rufino, Johnston, weren't, Allison Shrivastava, Shrivastava, Bonnie Cote, Cote Organizations: Social, Business, Federal Reserve Bank of St, AARP, University of Chicago's, National Council, Aging's Center, SNAP, Social Security, Aging, Medicare Savings, Department of Education Locations: Albany , New York, Utah, Salt Lake City, Washington, DC

The House passed a massive defense spending bill Wednesday with a provision that bars the military’s health care program from covering transition-related care for minors. Johnson did not return a request for comment regarding the potential effects of the provision on some military families. “[B]lanketly denying health care to people who need it — just because of a biased notion against transgender people — is wrong,” Smith said in a statement Tuesday. She said the Tricare restriction would further affect where service members can live and how long they serve. “Military families with trans kids have been serving for decades and it’s never been an issue,” she said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden —, Johnson, ”, “, Adam Smith, ” Smith, Cathy Marcello, ” Marcello, it’s Organizations: National Defense, Pentagon, Republicans, Air Force, Armed, Modern Military Association of America, Defense, “ Locations: Tricare

☆ The F-35 stealth fighter's victory against Iran's air defenses highlights its ability to wage a higher level of war
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-14 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

F-35 combat operations have often been against terrorist and militant targets. Israel used the fighter jet in widespread strikes against Iran in late October. The jet's recent victory against Iran's air defenses, however, highlights its ability to combat higher-level threats. AdvertisementThe F-35 has historically been used against weaker targets with either limited or nonexistent air defenses. AdvertisementThe 'power' of the F-35The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is an advanced single-engine, multi-role strike stealth fighter jet made by American defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

Persons: Israel, Mark Gunzinger, Lockheed Martin, Ryan Mancuso Michael Bohnert, Bohnert, Tony Radakin, JACK GUEZ, Elon Musk, Gunzinger Organizations: Iran, ISIS, US Air Force, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Base San, Lackland, Air National Guard, Staff, RAND Corporation, Getty, Royal United Services Institute, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Russian, BI, Congress, Pentagon Locations: Israel, Syrian, Base San Antonio, Iran, Eilat, AFP, London, Tehran, Russia, China

☆ Everything we know about the 'mystery drones' spotted over the East Coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-14 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Dozens of unidentified aircraft have been spotted over cities in the eastern United States. AdvertisementWhere have residents reported unidentified aircraft? Residents and officials have reported spotting unidentified aircraft, believed to be drones, flying above New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania in recent weeks. There have also been reports of suspected drones following a US Coast Guard vessel, as well as local police statements on the presence of unidentified aircraft near critical infrastructure. Singh said that the Pentagon has no evidence that the reported drone sightings are the work of a foreign adversary.

Persons: Phil Murphy, we've, Murphy, State Sen, Tony Hwang, Donald Trump, Jeff Van Drew, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Van Drew's, John Kirby, Kirby, Kathy Hochul, Hochul, it's, Mark Kelly, Yinpiao Zhou, Zhou, Fengyun Shi Organizations: FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, New, New Jersey Gov, US Coast Guard, Newsday, Getty Images, Northern Command, Arsenal, Naval Weapons Station, State, Fox News, Pentagon, White, National Security Council, United, New York Gov, Stewart International Airport, Federal Aviation, Gov, Street, Energy Department's, Security, US Air Force, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Department, Space Force Base, Police, San Francisco International Airport, Navy, University of Minnesota Locations: United States, New Jersey, New Jersey , New York , Connecticut, Maryland , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, , New York, Connecticut, Iranian, East Coast, Iran, Orange County, North Carolina, China, Virginia, Energy Department's Nevada, California, Santa Barbara County

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Friday that it will hear a case related to California's ability to set its own, often strict, vehicle emissions standards that include curbs on greenhouse gases. Due to the size of the California market, the state’s regulations hold considerable sway over vehicle manufacturers. The Obama administration granted California a waiver to regulate greenhouse gas tailpipe emissions but the first Trump administration sought to change course. The most recent EPA waiver, in 2022, prompted 17 Republican states led by Ohio and the business groups to sue. In court papers, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar pointed out that manufacturers are already meeting the state's standards.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Obama, Trump, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Prelogar Organizations: federal, Air, EPA, Republican, The U.S, Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit Locations: California, Ohio, The

☆ How to make friends with the plank exercise for core strength
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

No one knows for sure who invented the plank, but some credit Joseph Pilates, who created the Pilates exercise regimen in the early 1900s. What is clear, however, is that the plank became the favored core exercise a decade or so ago, eclipsing the crunch and sit-up. “They also have a lot of value because they’re body weight based, so you can plank anytime, anywhere.”Maintain proper form when doing a plank. MoMo Productions/Digital Vision/Getty ImagesFinally, planks can help with a wide variety of issues outside of strength, posture and balance. You should always tighten your core muscles while planking, along with your glutes and quadriceps, the Morrow and Logue said.

Persons: Joseph Pilates, Claire Morrow, ” Morrow, Julie Logue, ” Logue, “, MoMo, Morrow, Logue, ”, you’ve, Sanja Radin, iStockphoto, Melanie Radzicki McManus Organizations: CNN, SilverSneakers, Healthcare, Research, CNN’s Locations: San Francisco

☆ Crucial dam at risk as Kurds and Turkish-backed groups battle in northern Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Tim Lister | Eyad Kourdi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A crucial dam is at risk as fighting continues in several areas of northern Syria between Kurdish groups and Turkish-backed factions. However, video surfaced Friday purporting to show fighters from a Turkish-backed group in control of the bridge over the dam. Some experts have expressed concern that the fighting could damage the dam and cause extensive flooding of more than 40 villages downstream. The SDF has been a US ally since 2017 in the battle to eradicate ISIS, the terror group which at one point held a large swathe of northern Syria. The SDF and other Kurdish elements have controlled several enclaves in northern Syria since regime control in the north evaporated when ISIS was at its height in 2015.

Persons: Assad, Bashar al, Yasumasa Kimura, Antony Blinken, Hakan Fidan, Syria –, Blinken, Jennifer Hansler, Nechirvan Mando Organizations: CNN, Syrian Democratic Forces, Free Syrian Army, UN, United Nations Children’s Fund, ISIS, Turkish Locations: Syria, Manbij, Turkish, Aleppo, Raqqa, Kurdish, Turkey, Ankara, Al Hol

☆ I toured the USS Cobia, a World War II submarine that sank 13 ships and received 4 battle stars. Take a look inside.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The USS Cobia submarine sank 13 ships and rescued seven downed American pilots during World War II. The US Navy submarine is open to the public for tours at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. AdvertisementThe USS Cobia, a US Navy submarine exhibited at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, has been remarkably well-preserved and painstakingly restored to offer visitors an authentic look into its World War II combat service. It's in such good condition that the Wisconsin Maritime Museum even allows guests to stay overnight on the USS Cobia in a "Sub Bnb" experience. AdvertisementI visited the museum in December to tour the USS Cobia.

Persons: Mark Becker, Kevin Cullen Organizations: US Navy, Wisconsin Maritime Museum Locations: Manitowoc, Iwo Jima

☆ Trump Cabinet picks sand down their conservative media personas: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In today’s edition, we examine how some of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are softening their previous stances as they seek to win over skeptical senators. Plus, lawmakers in Washington are demanding answers about recent unexplained drone sightings. Trump Cabinet picks soften past statements amid Senate scrutinyBy Matt Dixon, Julie Tsirkin and Henry J. GomezSome of President-elect Donald Trump’s most vulnerable Cabinet picks are racing to smooth out or overwrite past statements before contentious Senate confirmation fights next year. The contrast illustrates a key split defining Trump world as it prepares to take over the federal government. But facing the political pressure of getting confirmed by the Senate, some of those Cabinet picks are now having to moderate.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Matt Dixon, Julie Tsirkin, Henry J, Gomez, Donald Trump’s, It’s, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, ”, “, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar al, Assad, Gabbard, Trump, Pete Hegseth, Sen, Joni Ernst, Ernst, Hegseth “, Hegseth, Read, Scott Wong, Kate Santaliz, Frank Thorp V, Ali Vitali House, Mike Johnson, it’s, he’s, John Kirby, Kirby, Cory Booker, Andy Kim, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Alejandro Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, Michael Whitaker, UAS Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Trump Cabinet, Trump, Senate, Democrat, Republican, Fox News, White, Homeland Security, FBI, National Security Council, NBC News, Homeland, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Washington, Syria, U.S, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, . New Jersey Sens, New York Sens, United States

But facing the political pressure of getting confirmed by the Senate, some of those Cabinet picks are now having to moderate. “The truly shaky to get 50 votes are in full bleach mode,” said one longtime Republican consultant involved in Senate campaigns. Trump has said the United States should avoid involvement in Syria, posting on social media, “This is not our fight. Presidential nominees adjusting some of their positions to get Senate support is nothing new. Trump said during the campaign — and echoed in recent weeks — that cuts to programs like Social Security are off the table.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, —, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy —, ”, “, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar al, Assad, Gabbard, Trump, Alexa Henning, President Trump, Pete Hegseth, Sen, Joni Ernst, Ernst, Hegseth “, Hegseth, Sean Hannity, ” Ernst, Pete, Trump’s, MAGA, confirmable, Ramaswamy, he’s, ” Trump, Mike Lee, Mark Alford, ” Alford, I’ve, John Thune, Washington’s nastiest, Thune Organizations: Trump, Senate, “ Department, Government, Democrat, Republican, America, Fox News, Iowa Republican, Fox, NBC News, Trump’s, Social Security, NBC, Press, Medicare ” Locations: Syria, United States, lockstep, Iowa, Utah

☆ Investors were already wary of Korean stocks. Then the country descended into chaos
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, with the so-called "Korea discount" in its stock markets widening compared to other global peers. The "Korea discount" refers to South Korean securities trading at lower valuations relative to regional peers due to investors' concerns over issues such as corporate governance at large family-owned conglomerates that have an outsized influence over the country's economy. Both the metrics, which indicate how much the investors value the index, have declined from a year earlier. For comparison, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock benchmark has a price-to-book ratio of 1.44 while its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.90 as of Dec. 11. While Japan stocks surged as it implemented measures to lift its markets, South Korea has been struggling.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Vishnu Varathan, Yoon Organizations: Korea Exchange, South, Mizuho Securities, Nikkei Locations: Korea, Asia, Seoul, South Korea, Japan

But facing reelection in two years in a conservative state, Rounds is the target of Trump allies trying to get him to fall in line on those picks. In a chamber where lawmakers often pride themselves on their independence, Republican senators insist that they aren’t feeling the outside pressure. Most of Trump’s selections don’t currently appear in serious danger of losing GOP support, although many senators aren’t officially backing Trump’s picks ahead of formal nominations and confirmation hearings. For their part, several Republican senators told CNN this week they don’t believe that an outside pressure campaign will influence their votes. The Maine Republican told reporters after the meeting she questioned him on issues related to allegations of heavy drinking and sexual misconduct.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Mike Rounds, Donald Trump, Rounds, doesn’t, Pete Hegseth, “, ” Rounds, Sen, Joni Ernst of, MAGA, don’t, aren’t, Trump’s, Samuel Corum, “ We’re, Trump, –, Matt Gaetz –, Republicans –, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, Tulsi, ”, we’ve, “ Gaetz, Maine Sen, Susan Collins –, Hegseth, I’ve, John McCain tanking, Thom Tillis, —, Lisa Murkowski, Collins, it’ll, Don’t, ” Murkowski, Ernst, he’s, Ernst’s, Defense Department . Sen, Joni Ernst, Vivek Ramaswamy, Andrew Harnik, Charlie Kirk, Hegseth’s, Brenna Bird, Breitbart, it’s, ” Bird, ” Trump, ” “, she’d, ” Collins, ” It’s, Texas Sen, John Cornyn –, ” Cornyn, Veronica Stracqualursi, David Wright, Danya Gainor Organizations: CNN, Trump, South Dakota Republican, Pentagon, Joni Ernst of Iowa, GOP, Senate, Capitol, Getty, Advisers, Republicans, RFK, Drug, Administration, Republican, Cabinet, Trump’s Cabinet, Fox News, Defense Department ., Iowa, Maine Republican Locations: Dakota, Washington , DC, Hegseth, Trump, Maine, North Carolina, Washington, Alaska, Capitol, Iowa, Texas

☆ This is what 4 of Trump’s cabinet picks think of the agencies they would lead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Linda Qiu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

This is what 4 of Trump’s cabinet picks think of the agencies they would lead. If confirmed, Ms. Gabbard would oversee more than a dozen spy agencies and have access to highly sensitive intelligence. by firing its top officials, closing its headquarters in Washington and going after Mr. Trump’s rivals. But that case is not particularly relevant to Mr. Trump’s, as a federal judge ruled that the audiotapes were personal records. The letter does not contain evidence that Ms. Bowser turned down Mr. Trump’s authorization of additional National Guard troops.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kash Patel, Donald J, Trump, Hegseth, “, Biden, ”, who've, Gabbard, “ Tucker Carlson, Victoria Nuland, Nuland, Carlson mischaracterized Ms, Nuland’s, Ms, mischaracterizing, General Merrick B, Garland, ’, ” Ms, Kash Patel F.B.I, Mr, Patel, Shawn Ryan’s, Shawn Ryan, ” Mr, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Clinton, Trump’s, Nancy Pelosi, Steve Bannon’s, Stephen Bannon, Pelosi, Muriel Bowser, Bowser, Kennedy, Kennedy’s, PolitiFact Organizations: Fox News, Fox, Pentagon, Army, Democratic Party, Trump, Ukraine, Russia, YouTube, United Nations, State Department, Mr, Justice Department, Presidential, National Archives, Records Administration, House Republicans, Capitol, Capitol Police, D.C, National Guard, Kennedy Jr, Health, Democratic, Louisiana House, ”, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention Locations: Washington, Afghanistan, United States, China, ideologues, Hawaii, Ukraine, Trump’s Florida, Louisiana

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Palantir & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS upgrades Diageo to buy from neutral UBS said it sees brand momentum for the beverage company. JPMorgan upgrades Brookfield Renewables to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said it's bullish on shares of the renewables company. Wells Fargo reiterates McDonald's as overweight The firm said it's a top idea heading into the holidays and 2025. " Bank of America upgrades Constellation Energy to buy from neutral The firm said shares of the energy company are "compelling." Goldman Sachs reiterates AT & T as buy The firm said the telecom company is a top idea in 2025.

Persons: Don Julio, Goldman Sachs, Nucor, Bernstein, Apple, it's, Morgan, Wells, Blackstone, TD Cowen downgrades Adobe, Cowen, KeyBanc, Mizuho, Morgan Stanley, Roblox, Hershey, it's bullish, Woodward, Goldman, bullish, TD Cowen, Baird, Palantir, Dr Pepper, Disney, Parsons, Jefferies Organizations: UBS, Diageo, Crown, Dynamics, Gulfstream, Apple, JPMorgan, Brookfield Renewables, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Brookfield Renewable Corp, Morgan Stanley, Alcoa, Mobile, Nvidia, Mizuho, MU, DELL, HSBC, Hershey, UW, EW, Citi, American Airlines, Benchmark, Penske, Penske Auto Group, AWS, Adv, Energy, Deutsche Bank, Pepsi, Deutsche, Beverage, Disney, " Bank of America, Inc, Holdings, Constellation Energy, Constellation Energy Group, DoD, Federal Civilian, Emerson Electric, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Locations: Western Australia, Wells Fargo, 1H25, CRDO, Mar

☆ Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defense pick, says allowing gay troops to serve openly reflects a Marxist agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-12 | by ( Andrew Kaczynski | Em Steck | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, has repeatedly criticized policies allowing gay people to serve openly in the US military, calling them part of a “Marxist” agenda to prioritize social justice over combat readiness. “But because I naïvely believed that’s what ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was all about. “It started with Clinton under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” he said. “So it started, you know, we saw it under Clinton with the tinkering of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and the reasons for those changes,” Hegseth said on a podcast promoting his book. “It was stuff like, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ which was their immediate target, right?

Persons: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s, Hegseth, DADT, Bill Clinton, Obama, Don’t, Ben Shapiro, “, ”, ” Hegseth, Don’t Tell, ‘ don’t, they’re, “ don’t, Trump, Pete, Defense James Mattis, Joe Biden, don’t, Clinton, ’ ”, Donald Trump's, Jennifer Rauchet, Sen, Susan Collins, Mark Schiefelbein, ’, it’s, ” CNN’s Manu Raju, Alison Main, — Organizations: CNN, Warriors, Fox News, Defense, Minnesota Army National Guard, America, DADT, Meidas News, Navy, CNN Wednesday, Pentagon, Trump, Pew Research, RAND Corporation, Research, Capitol, Army, Obama Locations: Guantanamo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Maine, Washington

☆ Japanese airline announces baggage delivery service to combat overcrowding
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-11 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Japan Airlines is now offering to drop travelers’ suitcases off at their hotels for them, for a fee. But the new program isn’t just about providing good customer service — it’s aimed at alleviating the burden on Tokyo’s overcrowded mass transit system. JAL flyers who avail themselves of the service will get 50 frequent flyer points credited to their accounts. The service is available in Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3 arrivals hall between 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. About 3.3 million foreign tourists visited Japan in July 2024, according to the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO), an all-time high.

Persons: — it’s, Overtourism Organizations: CNN — Japan Airlines, Haneda Airport, ” Japan Airlines, JAL, Haneda Airport’s, National Tourism Organization Locations: Haneda, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chuo, Ginza, Japan, North America

If confirmed, the discovery would support claims by the United States and others that the Assad regime had been involved in actively exporting the drug. Captagon has become a significant social problem in neighboring Arab nations and spurred some of them to engage in talks with the former Syrian regime to curb its trafficking. It is believed to have become an economic lifeline for the Assad regime while it was under crippling American sanctions. This week, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya reported the discovery of thousands of captagon pills at the Mazzeh airbase south of Damascus. Last year, the US Treasury sanctioned a number of Syrians closely associated with the Assad regime for their alleged involvement captagon trade.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad’s, Maher, Assad, Captagon, Al Arabiya, Bashar al Assad, Khalid Qaddour, Maher al, Mohammad al Jolani –, Biden, ”, –, captagon Organizations: CNN, Social, ”, Al, Air Force Intelligence, US Treasury, Treasury, Hezbollah, Carnegie Endowment, UN, Drugs, East Institute Locations: Syria, Damascus, United States, Saudi, Latakia, Jordanian, Iraqi, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, “, Gulf, Beirut, captagon

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