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WASHINGTON – U.S. prosecutors are accusing two senior Syrian officials of overseeing a notorious prison that tortured peaceful protesters and other political prisoners, including a 26-year-old American woman who was later believed to have been executed. The indictment was unsealed Monday, two days after a shock rebel offensive overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad . The U.S., U.N. and others accuse him of widespread human rights abuses in a 13-year battle to crush opposition forces seeking his removal from power. Recommended Videos The war, which began as a largely nonviolent popular uprising in 2011, has killed half a million people. The indictment, filed Nov. 18 in federal court in Chicago, is believed to be the U.S. government's first against what officials say were networks of Assad intelligence services and military branches and other allied groups that detained, tortured and killed thousands of perceived enemies. It names Jamil Hassan, director of the Syrian air force's intelligence branch, who prosecutors say oversaw a prison and torture center at the Mezzeh air force base in the capital, Damascus, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, who prosecutors say ran the prison. The indictment charges the two with conspiring to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees during the course of the Syrian civil war. Detainees at the prison were whipped, kicked, electrocuted, burned and subjected to other mental and physical abuse, including being housed in cells alongside corpses of dead detainees, prosecutors allege. Victims included Syrians, Americans and dual citizens, the indictment said. The U.S.-based Syrian Emergency Task Force has long pushed federal prosecutors for action on the cases, including that of 26-year-old American aid worker Layla Shweikani. The group presented witnesses who testified of Shweikani's 2016 torture at the prison. Syrian rights groups believe she was later executed at the Saydnaya military prison in the Damascus suburbs. “Now it is our time to capture these criminals and bring them to the United States for trial,” the Syrian Emergency Task Force said in a statement Monday. The group's leader, Mouaz Moustafa, said his relatives were among those tortured at the prison. Federal prosecutors said they had issued arrest warrants for the two officials, who remain at large. Prospects of bringing them to trial were unclear. Assad's toppling by the rebels over the weekend has scattered his government and left citizens searching prison torture centers around the country for survivors and evidence.NoneS Africa to use G20 Presidency to further push shared goals: MinisterLAS VEGAS — With a restructuring at Andretti Global that pushed Michael Andretti into a smaller role, the chances of his organization landing a Formula 1 team have substantially increased. So much so that F1 and Formula One Management could have a decision to grant the General Motors-backed entry a spot as the 11th team on the grid in the coming weeks. Dan Towriss, now the majority owner of the Andretti organization, was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday scoping his chances of entering the top motorsports series in the world. So was the FBI, allegedly, as part of a Department of Justice investigation into why F1 denied the Andretti organization expansion into the series. F1 currently has 10 teams that field 20 cars and only one — the organization owned by California businessman Gene Haas — is an American team. Las Vegas marks the third race this season in the United States, more than any other country, as F1 has exploded in American popularity over the last five years. Even so, Andretti could not get approval from F1 to enter the series. But, the situation changed in September when Andretti scaled back his role with his namesake organization. Now with Towriss in charge, talks have amplified, even though it is not clear what the name of an Andretti-less F1 team would even be. Cadillac would do the engines — but says it won't be ready until 2028 — which means a 2026 Towriss-led F1 team would be GM branded but with a partner engine supplier. Most of the existing teams have been largely opposed to an 11th team entering F1, citing a dilution in prize money and the massive expenses they've already committed to the series. But, Andretti among others believed the teams' position was personal in that they simply didn't like Andretti, who ran 13 races in the 1993 season. His father, Mario, is the 1978 F1 world champion. The Andretti application had already been approved by the FIA, which is F1's ruling body, but later denied by F1 itself. F1 promised to revisit the issue once General Motors had an engine ready to compete. The existing 10 F1 teams have no actual vote or say in if the grid is expanded, which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reiterated Thursday when The Associated Press asked why the sudden chance of acceptance in a potential 11th team. "We have an obligation, a statutory obligation as directors, to present the standpoint that is the best for our company and for our employees, and we've done that," Wolff said. "I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story. "And as long as it is creative, that means we're growing the popularity of the sport, we're growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I'm putting my hope in there." Wolff has been eager to hear from Towriss directly on what the plans for the organization are now that Andretti has a smaller role. "No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in presentation of what the creative part is," he said. "But they don't need to because the teams don't decide. It is the commercial rights holder, with the FIA, we have no say. If I want to be invited to a party and go to the party, I'm sitting down at the table and telling who I am and why I'm really good fun and sitting here and everybody will enjoy my presence. "That hasn't happened, but you know, that's now my personal point of view, not a professional, because there's nothing we can do, nothing we can say," Wolff continued. "And I don't know the people. I've obviously spoken to Mario. I didn't speak to his son. I didn't speak to any other people that are behind that. I don't know who they are. So I know GM, GM is great." Fred Vasseur, team principal at Ferrari, said he's not opposed to another team if it adds value to F1. "The discussion is between FIA, the team, and FOM. It's not our choice," he said. "For sure, as Toto said, that if it's good for the sport, good for the show, good for the business, and adds value on the sporting side, that we are all OK." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal. His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft. Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time.None

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Serve Robotics Announces Appointment of Lily Sarafan to its Board of Directors

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Nvidia shares fall after China opens investigation Shares of artificial intelligence darling Nvidia were under pressure after a regulator in China said it was investigating the chipmaker over possible violations of the country's antimonopoly law. This investigation was in relation to Nvidia's 2020 acquisition of Israeli firm Mellanox and some agreements made during the acquisition, the Chinese government said Monday. 26-year-old detained by police in connection with fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO University of Pennsylvania graduate Luigi Mangione was detained by police as a "strong person of interest" in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after police found him carrying a pistol, a silencer, a mask and fake identification cards. Mangione had in his possession a suspected "ghost gun" — which lacks a serial member — capable of firing 9 mm rounds, authorities said. China trade in November misses expectations China's exports and imports both missed expectations in November, fueling worries over the health of the Chinese economy. Exports rose 6.7% in U.S. dollar terms from a year ago, sharply lower than the 12.7% growth in the previous month and missing forecasts of a 8.5% rise. Import data surprised with a decline of 3.9%, compared to a 0.3% rise expected by economists. Most Asia markets gain, breaking ranks with Wall Street Most markets rose in Asia , shrugging off the weaker close overnight on Wall Street. South Korea's Kospi led gains, rising 2.4%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite pulled back from record highs Monday, with tech shares lagging. The tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 0.62%, while the S&P fell 0.61%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 0.54%. [PRO] Investing in mid-caps may be the way to go in 2025 Mid-cap stocks could be the sweet spot for investors in 2025, having been outperforming recently. Many investors expect further gains for mid-caps, which offer better quality businesses than small-caps, as well as stronger growth prospects than large-caps. Money Report ‘White gold' seen as pivotal to Europe's massive trade deal with South America Is this London's best kept cultural secret? A royal palace turned parking lot is reinventing itself — again Technology stocks have underpinned the impressive rally in US stocks this year. But they are not immune from the laws of gravity. Monday's session saw large technology stocks underperform the broader market. Oracle missed forecasts and AMD was downgraded by Bank of America . But perhaps the biggest news of the day concerned Nvidia, whose shares have surged an astounding 188% this year. China's State Administration for Market Regulation opened an investigation into the chipmaker in relation to the acquisition of Mellanox and some agreements made during the acquisition. The news prompted Nvidia's shares to fall 2.6% overnight. The development suggests that while the year is ending, the fight for tech dominance around the world may just be intensifying. Competition between the U.S. and China over chipmaking is rising, with the Biden administration on Dec. 2 announcing a slew of curbs targeting semiconductor toolmakers. China then retaliated by banning exports of critical minerals such as gallium, and on the same day, four of the country's top industry associations said Chinese companies should be wary of buying U.S. chips as they were "no longer safe" and buy locally instead. Previous trade skirmishes have centered on areas such as metals, farm products, and automobiles. With a tougher stance on China expected from the incoming Trump administration, could the next trade war instead be focused around chips, which arguably have permeated every facet of our lives? — CNBC's Samantha Subin contributed to this report. Also on CNBC Tech firms in the spotlight Political uncertainty intensifies over the weekend Global political uncertainty intensifies over the weekendIndia News Today Live Updates: Trending India News brings you the most significant stories and developments from across the nation, covering everything from politics and economy to culture and technology. Whether it's a major policy change, a groundbreaking legal verdict, or the latest in entertainment and sports, we ensure you don't miss out on the news that's shaping the nation. Our in-depth coverage and timely updates keep you informed about the trends that are making headlines in India today. Stay connected to the pulse of the nation with Trending India News. India News Today Live: MGNREGS funding likely to remain unchanged in FY26 amid rural recoveryDaily News Girls Athlete of the Week: Name: Gabby Jensen School: Agoura Sport: Soccer Year: Senior Noteworthy: Jensen recorded a goal and an assist in Agoura’s 2-0 win over Oak Park on Friday night. The game was part of the Kanan Cup, an annual event that celebrates the rivalry between the Eagles and the Chargers (1-1-1). It is the second Kanan Cup win that Agoura has achieved.

What to Know About College GameDay’s Coverage of Ohio State vs. Indiana | Eleven Warriors - Eleven WarriorsPolice arrested a “strong person of interest” Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush. The 26-year-old man had a gun believed to be the one used in the killing and writings suggesting his anger with corporate America, police officials said. He was taken into custody after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Police identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address is in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Here's the latest: A police criminal complaint charged him with forgery, carrying firearms without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing an instrument of crime and providing false identification to law enforcement. Video posted on the social platform X shows a handcuffed Mangione arriving at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. For example, it took about 10 months to extradite a man charged with stabbing two workers at the Museum of Modern Art in 2022. The suspect, Gary Cabana, was also arrested in Pennsylvania, where he was charged with setting his Philadelphia hotel room on fire. Cabana was sent back to New York after he pleaded guilty to an arson charge in Pennsylvania. Manhattan prosecutors could seek to expedite the process by indicting Mangione for Thompson’s killing while he’s still in custody of Pennsylvania authorities. They could then obtain what’s known as a supreme court warrant or fugitive warrant to get him back to New York. Freddie Leatherbury hasn’t spoken to Mangione since they graduated in 2016 from Gilman School in Maryland. He said Mangione was a smart, friendly and athletic student who came from a wealthy family, even by the private school’s standards. “Quite honestly, he had everything going for him,” Leatherbury said. Leatherbury said he was stunned when a friend shared the news of their former classmate’s arrest. “He does not seem like the kind of guy to do this based on everything I’d known about him in high school,” Leatherbury said. One of his cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesperson for the delegate’s office confirmed Monday. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione Sr., according to a 2008 obituary. Mangione Sr. grew up poor in Baltimore’s Little Italy and rose after his World War II naval service to become a millionaire real estate developer and philanthropist, according to a 1995 profile by the Baltimore Sun. He and his wife Mary Cuba Mangione, who died in 2023, directed their philanthropy through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating her death. They donated to a variety of causes, ranging from Catholic organizations to higher education to the arts. A man who answered the door to the office of the Mangione Family Foundation declined to comment Monday evening. Mangione Sr. was known for Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione Sr. prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday afternoon, Baltimore County police officers had blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group said Monday. “We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.” In an email to parents and alumni, Gilman headmaster Henry P.A. Smyth said it “recently” learned that Mangione, a 2016 graduate, was arrested in the CEO’s killing. “We do not have any information other than what is being reported in the news,” Smyth wrote. “This is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation. Our hearts go out to everyone affected.” Mangione, a high school valedictorian from a Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He had learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, the New Jersey shore and other destinations. Police said the suspect arrested Monday had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace. The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what’s known as the lower receiver. Some are sold in do-it-yourself kits and the receivers are typically made from metal or polymer. Altoona police say officers were dispatched to a McDonald’s on Monday morning in response to reports of a male matching the description of the man wanted in connection with the United Healthcare CEO’s killing in New York City. In a news release, police say officers made contact with the man, who was then arrested on unrelated charges. The Altoona Police Department says it’s cooperating with local, state, and federal agencies. “This just happened this morning. We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. “And at some point we’ll work out through extradition to bring him back to New York to face charges here, working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun that may have been made on a 3D printer, capable of firing a 9 mm round,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. The document suggested the suspect had “ill will toward corporate America,” police added. Mangione, 26, was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Police have arrested a 26-year-old with a weapon “consistent with” the gun used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , New York City’s police commissioner says. Thompson , 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at Manhattan hotel. Thompson had traveled from Minnesota for the event. A man being questioned Monday in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had writings that appeared to be critical of the health insurance industry, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man also had a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing, the official said. Police apprehended the man after receiving a tip that he had been spotted at a McDonald’s near Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, said the official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Along with the gun, police found a silencer and fake IDs, according to the official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s also according to the law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s according to a law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to address this development at a previously scheduled afternoon news briefing in Manhattan. While still looking to identify the suspect, the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. That’s on top of a $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD. That included footage of the attack, as well as images of someone at a Starbucks beforehand. Photos taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side showed the person grinning after removing his mask, police said. NYPD dogs and divers returned to New York’s Central Park today while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. Investigators have been combing the park since the Wednesday shooting and searching at least one of its ponds for three days, looking for evidence that may have been thrown into it. Police say the shooter used a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. Police said they had not yet found the gun itself. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . A man with a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was taken into police custody Monday for questioning in Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man is being held in the area of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, the official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The development came as dogs and divers returned Monday to New York’s Central Park while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. — Michael R. Sisak

Soon-to-be President Donald Trump has tasked biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy and the world's richest man Elon Musk with co-leading an entity they are calling the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. With this assignment, you have a perfect cocktail of corruption, a nascent federal advisory committee poised to violate open government rules, declared goals that are unattainable, and an underlying agenda that's unpopular. The super wealthy men have a two-part plan. Part one, gut federal government regulations. Part two, slash government spending. The ideas they are discussing would hamstring government agencies from protecting Americans against wrongdoing corporations, hurt regular people, and transfer massive amounts of wealth to the super rich class that Musk and Ramaswamy represent (not to mention the two men, themselves). Take cutting regulations—Musk has called this push an "existential" issue, claiming that " humanity will never reach Mars " unless "we get rid of the mountain of smothering regulations." This perspective is one we should expect from a CEO who prioritizes profits, but not one that rings true for most Americans—the people government rules are intended to protect. We all depend on government regulations to defend our air and water from pollutants, protect our workers from unsafe workplaces, protect us from side effects of drugs that are intended to improve our health, defend children's safety, keep our roads safe, and so much more. When it comes to these types of essential regulations, Musk and Ramaswamy are private persons making recommendations. They have no special authority or magic dust. By law, the process of rescission —formally removing a rule from the books—follows the same rules as issuing a new rule. It can take a year or more, as agencies follow an official notice and comment process, solicit feedback, do cost-benefit analysis on removing the rules, and much more. Beyond cutting rules we care about, Musk and Ramaswamy also say they want to cut $2 trillion in spending. Musk acknowledged during a town hall event before the election that the huge cuts he is looking for would bring "temporary hardship" to Main Street Americans. Finding a place to make these cuts is a challenge that is almost insurmountable considering the largest parts of the budget go to causes Trump has said he will protect, such as Medicare, Social Security, and the Pentagon . What is left are popular expenditures on things like education, Meals on Wheels, national parks, and much more. The backlash to these expenditures being labeled "cuttable," will likely be great. The total amount of spending in these areas is also far less than Musk's made-up $2 trillion figure. Now to the next part of the unsavory cocktail, the government corruption issues inherent in having these two men helm this project. The potential personal benefits for Musk from this position are vast. He leads several companies that are under federal scrutiny . In an October report , we found that at least three of Musk's businesses are currently under investigation or facing scrutiny for alleged misconduct by at least nine federal agencies. In addition, Musk benefits from massive ongoing federal contracts. SpaceX is likely to accrue another $20 billion in federal business between now and 2028, (or at least another $5 billion to $6 billion annually). Ramaswamy is a much lesser billionaire, but he too has broad financial interests affected by the government . Putting Musk and Ramaswamy in a position to help influence how the government spends its money, even as they both stand to personally benefit, would leave a stink in anyone's nose. The final ingredient of the DOGE cocktail is the potential improper conduct of the entity itself. DOGE meets the textbook definition of a federal advisory committee, and as such, it should be governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA (or will be, once Trump takes office). This law is intended to ensure that advisory committees contain balanced representation (two billionaires does not constitute balance), and that federal open-records laws apply. Public Citizen has sent a letter to the Trump Transition making clear that DOGE will be an advisory committee once Trump is inaugurated and becomes president, and that it must abide by all the rules that come with that definition. This includes rigorous transparency and the requirement to represent diverse and balanced points of view, and will require DOGE to work very differently than how Musk has announced it will. DOGE is a bad idea. It's unpopular, irresponsible, and dangerous to slash critical, life-saving regulations and cut programs and policies we all care about and benefit from. It is also incredibly problematic that it is helmed by people who are trying to take shortcuts, are poised to use the project to enrich themselves at the expense of other people, and are skirting the open government regulations that will be applicable to it. It's a cocktail no one ordered. Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman are co-presidents of Public Citizen. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turnWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is committed to bringing him home after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus . “We think we can get him back," Biden told reporters at the White House, while acknowledging that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. "Assad should be held accountable.” Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. “We've remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said. Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. The United States has no new evidence that Tice is alive, but continues to operate under that assumption, according to a U.S. official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. will continue to work to identify where he is and to try to bring him home. His mother, Debra, said at a news conference Friday in Washington that the family had information from a “significant source,” whom she did not identify, establishing that her son was alive. “He is being cared for and he is well — we do know that,” she said. The Tice family met this past week with officials at the State Department and the White House. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Debra Tice said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media Sunday. “We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed and he’s going to need lots of care and direction. Direct him to his family please!” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump's pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump's unusual nominees . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump's America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect's choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump's foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees' qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump's team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, Nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump's allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president's Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump's first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will "prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies" — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump's 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump's first inauguration during the country's bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it's important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family's five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It's one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. ___ Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.Missing in action

By Clarissa-Jan Lim Five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on Thursday, according to the news outlet that employed them and local officials. It's the latest report of slain journalists in the besieged enclave as life-threatening conditions in the area continue to hamper wartime reporting efforts. The media office of Gaza's Hamas-run government said the journalists worked at Al Quds Today TV, a local news channel, The New York Times reported . Al Quds Today is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), though it’s unclear whether the journalists subscribed to such ideology and were members of the jihadist group. Al Quds Today named the five men and attached photos of them in a post on social media that show some of them wearing “Press” vests. Quds News Network also posted a photo on X of what it reported was the vehicle targeted in the airstrike. The white vehicle pictured was marked with the word “PRESS” in red. The Israeli military disputed claims that the men were journalists, saying it “conducted a precise strike on a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat.” According to The Washington Post , the Israeli Defense Forces did not publicly provide evidence for its allegations and cited intelligence from “multiple sources” that allegedly indicated the men belonged to the Islamic Jihad group. IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani wrote on X that claims that the military targeted journalists are “fake.” Israel has been accused of taking a drastically more lenient approach to its rules of armed conflict as it wages a fierce war to eliminate Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks . Human rights organizations have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the rules of war and international humanitarian law in Gaza , resulting in a soaring civilian death toll. The IDF has said that it works to minimize civilian harm and that it "is committed to adhering to international legal obligations and operating under the laws of armed conflict." For the past 14 months, journalists in Gaza, alongside approximately 2 million other civilians who are trapped in the area , have been under relentless attacks from Israel while living under what human rights groups have called inhumane conditions . Although media workers are protected by international humanitarian law, journalists in Gaza face especially high risks as they cover the war. Between Oct. 7, 2023, and Dec. 20, 2024, at least 141 members of the media — including 133 Palestinians, six Lebanese and two Israelis — have been killed, according to the CPJ, making it the deadliest period for journalists in more than 30 years. Several dozen journalists in Gaza have also been arrested and reported missing, and their family members threatened and killed , according to the organization. Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking/trending news blogger for MSNBC Digital. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.

A quarterback has taken home 12 of the last 14 Heisman Trophies, including the last three straight. But that streak looks like it is about to end this year. The finalists for the 2024 Heisman Trophy were announced Monday, and there is a distinct non-quarterback feel to the race. That is because Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty seemed to have separated themselves from the field. They aren't the only finalists, though, as they were joined by some signal-callers after all. Heisman Trophy Finalists There were times this season when it seemed like different quarterbacks would make a serious run at the trophy. And in a normal year, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel may be the front-runner. After all, his Ducks are the only undefeated FBS team in the country and secured the No. 1 seed in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff with Saturday's win over Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Miami's Cam Ward also impressed throughout the season while throwing for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions, although a season-ending loss to Syracuse stood in the Hurricanes' way of reaching the CFP. Perhaps the quarterback who made the most headlines this season was Hunter's teammate, Shedeur Sanders. Sanders wasn't named a Heisman finalist, but he won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as a major reason the Buffaloes went from 4-8 during the 2023 season to 9-3 in 2024. He completed 74.2 percent of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions and skyrocketed up NFL draft boards in the process. Still, he, along with the rest of the country, was overshadowed by Hunter this season. The two-way star thrived on both sides of the field as a shutdown cornerback and go-to wide receiver. His stats alone as a receiver stand out with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he was also tasked with defending the opponent's best pass-catcher on a weekly basis. Much like Shohei Ohtani in baseball, being so effective at multiple positions made Hunter all the more valuable when compared to the rest of the country. And the end result will likely be him taking the Heisman Trophy, as he is the overwhelming favorite to win the award. As of Monday, DraftKings lists Hunter as a -2,500 favorite (bet $2,500 to win $100), underscoring how the race has felt largely over for the past couple weeks. Still, Jeanty captured the attention of the nation like few running backs have since Barry Sanders set the FBS records for most rushing yards (2,628) and rushing touchdowns (37) in a single season as the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner. The Boise State star challenged those numbers and is short with 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground going into the CFP. That effort likely would have positioned him to take home the Heisman in a number of different seasons. But Hunter did something college football fans have rarely ever seen and is lined up to win it during Saturday's ceremony.Who are A.J., Big Justice and The Rizzler, and why do your kids know them?

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