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Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection

How can he affect a team on a six-game losing streak? How does he plan to balance offensive play calling with head coach duties on game day? How can he further quarterback Caleb Williams’ development ? How does he look at the grand opportunity in front of him to show the NFL what he’s all about? But about four minutes in, when considering the most notable changes around Halas Hall since the Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus , Brown veered down a lighthearted tangent — about weight loss. At 225 pounds early in November, Brown was trying to cut weight. It turned out being named offensive coordinator to replace Shane Waldron was just what he needed. “You increase tasks to your day, you forget about food,” Brown said later. “I went a couple days and just really didn’t eat, didn’t really think about it, wasn’t hungry. I was thinking about the next moment, what to say to this player, doing game planning and I look up and I’m almost 30 pounds down. So we’ll keep going, see how long it lasts.” Brown was told he should market the unorthodox plan that has him down to 205 pounds. “I’ll write a book and we’ll see,” Brown said. “I hope you guys buy it. I’ll probably be pretty pissed if you don’t buy it.” The ensuing laughter was a surprising sound amid all the dreariness in Lake Forest lately. It’s that presence from Brown as the Bears’ new temporary leader that has players buying into his message ahead of their road game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Multiple players said Brown’s direct and clear approach to communication, his energy and his focus on accountability and unity have helped ease the transition from Eberflus, who was fired Nov. 29 after posting a 14-32 record in 21⁄2 seasons. “(Brown) is very deliberate in how he talks to us,” left guard Teven Jenkins said. “Everything he’s telling us right now is very intentional and all of us are very locked in. Everybody is sitting at the front of their seat, leaning in.” To be clear, that presence is not necessarily going to help Brown balance coordinator and head coach duties on game day. It doesn’t mean he’s going to formulate winning game plans or make better late-game decisions than the ones that ultimately led to the demise of Eberflus. That all remains to be seen. But it was Step 1 in steadying the upheaval at Halas Hall this week after the Bears fired a head coach midseason for the first time in team history. Now, Brown and the players hope to ride his spark and put an end to a maddening string of losses that have turned their season upside down . Brown doesn’t so much avoid the topic as indicate that he can’t really be concerned about it in this most hectic of all months. He interviewed for head coaching vacancies before — with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, the Houston Texans in 2023 and the Tennessee Titans in 2024. The former Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach under Sean McVay and the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator last season, Brown knows he’ll be assessed across the league for how he steps in for Eberflus. He surely knows the Bears, who promoted him twice in less than three weeks, will keep him on their candidate list for their next head coach if he handles himself well. And he knows his work between now and Jan. 6 may earn him consideration for other openings around the NFL. But he is focused on this job over the next month. “I’ve always had the thought process of every job I’ve had, try to excel at a high level,” Brown said. “What I realized about this profession is if you are bad at your job, they move on from you. If you’re good at your job, they give you an opportunity to stay around. If you’re great at your job, you get elevated. So my thought process was always to be the best I can be — not make it about myself — and let the chips fall where they may.” Bears President Kevin Warren gave Brown a strong endorsement Monday in talking about the coaching change and upcoming search, calling him bright, hardworking, talented, decisive and clear with “great leadership capabilities.” But nobody around Halas Hall will pretend that what lies ahead for Brown is easy. Interim coaches almost always are asked to step in because there are serious issues within a team — and the outcomes usually reflect that. In turn, the interims more often than not don’t return the next season. According to the Washington Post , from 1990-2021 interim coaches compiled a 111-209 record. Only 13 interim coaches — of the 46 the Post counted since 1990 — were hired into the teams’ full-time roles the next season. Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the only interim coach of six from 2022-23 to be hired to the full-time job when he was promoted in January 2024. And there is speculation around the league that his job could be in jeopardy after the season. Brown is one of three NFL interims this season, joining Jeff Ulbrich with the New York Jets and Darren Rizzi with the New Orleans Saints. He’s accepting of the hand he has been dealt. “I said at the beginning, I wanted to thank God for the opportunity that he’s presented me with because I can’t complain about prayers being answered in certain different orders,” Brown said. “Maybe it’s not the ideal scenario, but I live every day to be at my best for those around me. Every job I’ve had that’s led me to the future is based on the current work I do. So that’s all I care about. “I’m not worried about what happens in five weeks. ... It’s not even in my thought process. I’m focused on this very moment and how to do the best job I can for this football team to help lead these guys the right way and go have success.” How Brown leads Williams over the next month is as valuable as anything. After his second game with Brown as offensive coordinator, Williams hesitated to use the word — but then decided it fit. Brown has “a certain aura to him,” Williams said, that allows the quarterback to play free. “He knows what he wants,” Williams said. “You know he knows what he wants.” Brown was a self-described introvert growing up. He wasn’t shy as much as quiet, someone who kept to himself. But he has grown to find his voice, first through the communication required during 16 years of marriage to his wife, Jessica, then through parenting three sons, each with unique personalities that require different approaches. “It’s about still being my authentic self but also (knowing) how to deliver a message,” he said. “I’m never going to lie to you. I’m going to tell you the truth, but how I deliver it is based on what brings the best out of you.” His communication with Williams is key as the Bears try to help the quarterback squeeze the most out of the rest of his rookie season. In three games with Brown as his play caller, Williams has completed 64% of his passes for 827 yards and five touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception in six games. And he has made clutch fourth-quarter plays to keep the Bears in games late. Those are promising results against three solid NFC North defenses and certainly a step up from the previous three games that helped prompt the Waldron firing. Williams didn’t throw for more than 217 yards in a game, and the Bears totaled just 27 points in those three contests. There are still issues to iron out. The Bears offense, which has been slow to start games for much of the season under Williams, didn’t score in the first half and totaled just 53 yards before halftime against the Detroit Lions in Eberflus’ last game. Williams said Wednesday that he wasn’t moving with enough urgency at the end of the game, when the Bears got just one play off in the final 32 seconds despite having a timeout. He said he also wasn’t on the same page as coaches about the play they wanted to run to set up a potential tying field goal. But there have been more reasons than not to believe the union is working. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph said Brown’s clear and concise communication methods have helped to simplify things for Williams, “the way it hits Caleb’s brain, the way he sees it.” And Joseph believes the confidence with which Brown delivers his plans — and his emphasis on how they prepare — have rubbed off on Williams in the right way. Brown has stated more than once that he wants Williams to play with “no fear.” “When you have that as a player, you feel that,” Joseph said. “As coaches around him, you feel that — just that, ‘Hey, you can run through that wall if you choose to.’ That’s the confidence and command he’s brought in the room. It’s infectious. It spreads. He has put his DNA on it, and guys are walking in and believing in it.” Williams said last month that he didn’t have a lot of one-on-one talks with Brown when he was the passing game coordinator. The Bears, while trying to limit the number of voices in Williams’ ear in his rookie season, instead stressed his relationships with Eberflus and Waldron. When Brown took over for Waldron, he called the quarterback to lay out what Williams could expect from him and vice versa. He said the relationship required some “blind trust” to get moving so quickly in the middle of the season. Williams didn’t initially have the comfort that comes with working with a coordinator for months, for example being at ease with expressing when he doesn’t like a play call. They’re working on getting more comfortable. “I’m a pretty direct person,” Brown said. “That can come off different ways to different people. But he is not soft, which I appreciate. Me and soft people sometimes don’t always see eye to eye, get along. But he likes being challenged, likes being coached. “I’m definitely all about encouraging, uplifting our guys when it comes to doing things the right way, but it’s finding a balance (between) we have made some great improvements, great strides, but being good is not to be confused with good enough. So I can be better. He can be better. The entire group can be better.” Williams has been appreciative of how demanding Brown is of young players and veterans alike. “One of the most important things is accountability,” Williams said. “He’s done a solid job so far with that and holding me accountable, holding all the guys accountable. And just how he is. He’s a lead-by-example type of guy, and that’s been great.” Now the Bears must see if the leadership extends to the whole team on game day. A few days ago, McVay reached out to Brown to talk with him about his new opportunity. Brown worked for three seasons under McVay from 2020-22, first as the running backs coach, then as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach. He was a part of the 2021 Rams Super Bowl-winning team. Brown, a former running back at Georgia, listed a few coaches who have made an impact on him over his 14 seasons of coaching at the collegiate and NFL levels. He was the running backs coach under offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig at Wisconsin and studied how to marry the run and pass. He learned from Mark Richt as the running backs coach at Georgia and the offensive coordinator at Miami. He valued his time learning how to be a communicator, leader and teacher with senior assistant Jim Caldwell in Carolina last year. But McVay is his biggest influence, both in how to design an offense and use personnel but also how to lead. He learned “the really good stuff” about how to be consistent and own the room but also lean on the people around him. Brown obviously made an impression on McVay, who at 38 years old is the same age and played against Brown in high school in Georgia. He told Los Angeles reporters last week that he always thought Brown would be a head coach at some point. “There are just certain people when you watch (them), you’re like, ‘Man, they’re a little different’ in terms of the competitiveness, the spirit, the never-say-die attitude,” McVay said. “And then just his overall presence in general is impressive. A good way to articulate it is he commands respect by the way he handles himself, and he gives it back.” That command will be put under a much bigger spotlight when he takes on his first game as interim head coach Sunday. Brown was matter of fact in the week leading up to his debut about how he is handling his expanded duties. He is not a micromanager, he said, so he will not do a lot of meddling with defensive coordinator Eric Washington and his staff as they navigate their first game without Eberflus as defensive play caller. Brown already has been working closely with newly named offensive coordinator Chris Beatty, also the wide receivers coach, over the last three games. But they’ve added discussions about in-game situations , such as clock management, over the last week as they try to purge some of the issues of the past. Wide receiver Keenan Allen said Thursday that late-game decisions — and accountability from the coaching staff on some of those decisions — were some of the biggest frustrations for players under Eberflus. When asked if he thinks accountability will be better under Brown, Allen said, “We’ve got to wait to see, but yeah, I do.” That’s the hopeful attitude many players have taken this week as they deal with the change and try to finish the season off right. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker believes in Brown’s direct, transparent, “grown men” approach to communication. And he’s behind Brown as he tries to help them put an end to a losing streak they think is not indicative of their talent. “We love his energy and his demeanor and attitude he brings for us as a team,” Walker said. “Obviously ever since he’s been calling plays, he’s brought a different level to it. And we’ve got his back.” When Brown considered what he wants the Bears’ identity to be under his leadership, he said he has “more of a defensive mentality, even as an offensive guy.” He wants players to understand the physicality they need to play with and the discipline they need to have when they apply themselves. And he wants them to maximize their next opportunity. “Life isn’t guaranteed; this game isn’t guaranteed,” Brown said. “It’s a privilege to be here, so I want us to maximize it every single day in the building. And when we have an opportunity to excel on game day, go cut it loose, man. Play with no fear.” Brown is approaching his big moment the same way.WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.

CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 22 points as Central Arkansas beat Southwestern Christian 87-69 on Sunday night. Cato also contributed 11 rebounds and three blocks for the Bears (4-9). Layne Taylor scored 15 points while shooting 6 for 14, including 3 for 10 from beyond the arc and added three steals. Brayden Fagbemi had 13 points. The Eagles were led by Deondre Dunn, who posted 26 points, six rebounds and three steals. George McCurdy added 14 points for Southwestern Christian. Chris Fetuga had 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .E-bike Market size to increase by USD 16.48 Billion between 2023 to 2028, Market Segmentation by Battery Type, Propulsion, Geography , Technavio

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials on Monday requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3 amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant from the Seoul Western District Court. They plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It’s not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

Nonepg // Georgia Democrats map out postelection strategy after Trump’s win

Caprock Group LLC lifted its stake in Packaging Co. of America ( NYSE:PKG – Free Report ) by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,465 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 63 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Packaging Co. of America were worth $534,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in Packaging Co. of America by 49.3% during the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,446,303 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $274,421,000 after purchasing an additional 477,487 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 34.3% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,027,585 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $187,596,000 after purchasing an additional 262,315 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 164.3% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 401,360 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $73,272,000 after buying an additional 249,483 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Packaging Co. of America by 41,151.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 155,519 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $33,499,000 after buying an additional 155,142 shares during the period. Finally, Mizuho Securities USA LLC increased its stake in Packaging Co. of America by 1,800.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 130,583 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,128,000 after buying an additional 123,711 shares in the last quarter. 89.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Packaging Co. of America Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of PKG opened at $246.43 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.95 and a quick ratio of 1.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 0.76. Packaging Co. of America has a 1 year low of $153.58 and a 1 year high of $248.62. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $224.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $202.27. Packaging Co. of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 15th were given a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.03%. Packaging Co. of America’s dividend payout ratio is currently 58.28%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Donald R. Shirley sold 8,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.20, for a total transaction of $1,921,600.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 15,725 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,777,145. The trade was a 33.72 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CFO Robert P. Mundy sold 12,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.62, for a total value of $3,007,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 43,954 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,576,211.48. This represents a 22.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 31,000 shares of company stock valued at $7,500,905 over the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets PKG has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Packaging Co. of America from $199.00 to $221.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Packaging Co. of America from $235.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $252.00 price objective (up previously from $242.00) on shares of Packaging Co. of America in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Packaging Co. of America from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $221.60. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PKG Packaging Co. of America Profile ( Free Report ) Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers various containerboard and corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods; multi-color boxes and displays that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations; and honeycomb protective packaging products, as well as packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PKG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Packaging Co. of America ( NYSE:PKG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Packaging Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Packaging Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Banks' 28 lead UMBC past American 96-93 in double OT

Jimmy Carter’s ‘Giant’ Legacy: Politicians and Celebrities Pay Tribute

AP News Summary at 9:17 p.m. ESTThe Detroit Lions will play without two high draft picks in rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. while possibly getting back veteran Emmanuel Moseley against the host Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Arnold was downgraded Saturday from questionable to out because of a groin injury. He was limited at practice on Thursday and participated in a full practice on Friday. The Lions drafted Arnold with the 24th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Arnold, 21, has started all 10 games and has 38 tackles and six passes defended. Rakestraw (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve after not practicing all week. He already had been ruled out for Sunday's game. Detroit picked Rakestraw in the second round (61st overall) out of Missouri. He has played in eight games and has six tackles. Rakestraw, 22, has played on 46 defensive snaps (8 percent) and 95 special teams snaps (42 percent). Moseley had full practice sessions all week and was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but was listed as questionable for Sunday. The 28-year-old is in his second season with Detroit and appeared in one game last season before going on IR in October 2023. He was placed on IR on Aug. 27 with a designation to return. Moseley played from 2018-22 for the San Francisco 49ers and had 162 tackles, four interceptions -- one returned for a touchdown -- and 33 passes defensed in 46 games (33 starts). Detroit elevated linebacker David Long on Saturday for game day. Long, 28, signed with the practice squad on Tuesday after the Miami Dolphins released him on Nov. 13. He had started six of eight games for the Dolphins this season and had 38 tackles. In other Lions news, the NFL fined wide receiver Jameson Williams $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct for making an obscene gesture during a touchdown celebration in last Sunday's 52-6 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL Network reported Saturday. Williams, 23, scored on a 65-yard pass from Jared Goff with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter. --Field Level MediaSpecified Technologies Inc. Unveils Firestop Clash Management and Locator Updates

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.

None

South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached president

Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Aaron Rodgers went to the bench after an interception, one that preceded the first unnecessary roughness penalty of his career. He sat down, then he laughed. Record scratch. Freeze frame. “You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.” The ref laughs as he calls a personal foul on Aaron Rodgers for a late hit. pic.twitter.com/eJ1GDzPzD1 — Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 29, 2024 It’s Week 17 and the Jets lost again, a stinker of the highest order. Rodgers’ pick and late hit was one of many lowlights in a game that would get much, much worse from there. A 12-0 deficit turned into 19-0, then 26-0, then 33-0, then 40-0 — and then Rodgers, according to Rodgers, told interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich that it might be time to for him to give way to backup Tyrod Taylor, who led the Jets on two scoring drives to close out the game. Final score: 40-14. The Jets’ record is 4-12, their season reaching a level of futility that seemed unfathomable when the year began. Imagine saying that Rodgers would play all 17 games — he’s expected to start again next week — and that the Jets would be sitting here on Dec. 29, on the verge of a full-scale teardown, wondering how it all went so wrong. Advertisement “I mean, it’s kind of like the season, it just got away from us,” Rodgers said, staring at the likelihood that next week’s season finale will be his last game in a Jets uniform — and possibly his last in the NFL. “Too many games got away from us. We were moving the ball and then we just hit a wall and that’s kind of been the season.” So how did the Jets, and Rodgers, get here? Well, through a series of poor offseason decisions by general manager Joe Douglas, a rash of reactive decisions from owner Woody Johnson — namely firing Robert Saleh after Week 5 — and a team that by the end of the year has not appeared to care about much, other than getting to the finish line. Sunday’s effort might have been the worst of the season, from start to finish, a game that saw the Jets penalized 16 times for 120 yards, turn the ball over three times (twice on Rodgers interceptions, once on a lost Garrett Wilson fumble) and fall flat on their face, over and over again, in the same way they have most weeks since Ulbrich took over for Saleh. “I was at peace with everything last week. It finally took me last week to be like: It is what it is,” cornerback D.J. Reed said. “But the frustration just creeped in. Even though we’ve got a bad record we’ve still gotta go out there and put stuff on tape that’s good. The fact that we’re not is very frustrating. Going out like that is unacceptable. It’s the NFL. Every game is supposed to be competitive. To be down 40-0, that s—‘s embarrassing, point blank, period.” Added Wilson: “I always feel like we go out there, the vibe feels right, we’re ready to play. Then we get our ass kicked.” Cornerback Sauce Gardner pointed out that the last Bills game — a 23-20 loss in Week 6 — was close. “So if you ask me, that means it’s the end of the season. Obviously we’re not going to playoffs. Some people might be checked out. That’s just me going off speculation ... we can’t be playing as a team. We’re probably just individuals because last year and the year before we had a roster that wasn’t as talented as this roster, but we found ways to beat the Bills. What’s stopping that now?” Advertisement There are plenty of problems for the Jets to confront, and it will be on a new general manager and a new head coach to figure out how to fix them. But it’s undeniable that the Rodgers marriage has been an unmitigated disaster. In recent weeks, it’s as if the future Hall of Famer has been trolling Johnson, like he wants the Jets owner to release him at the end of the season. On Tuesday last week, Rodgers cracked a joke about the idea of Johnson’s teenage son, Brick, being the one to release him. The next day, Rodgers told reporters he believes there’s a nonzero chance he’s released promptly after the season — and he didn’t sound too upset at the prospect. Lately, Rodgers has seemed more concerned with throwing for his 500th career touchdown pass, and he’s desperately tried to make sure wide receiver Davante Adams, his longtime close friend, is the one to catch it. That’s impacted his already tenuous relationship with Wilson. A few weeks ago, The Athletic reported that Wilson was unhappy with the direction of the Jets. On Sunday, an NFL Network report suggested that the disintegration of the Wilson-Rodgers relationship started during training camp when they got into a heated, animated discussion during a practice that made waves on social media (the two downplayed it afterward). It’s only gotten worse since Adams arrived via trade on Oct. 15. Now, per NFL Network, Wilson might not want to return to the Jets if Rodgers is still around. If the Jets are choosing between Rodgers and Wilson, the correct choice is obvious: The 24-year-old star receiver, putting the finishing touches on his third straight 1,000-yard season, not the 41-year-old quarterback coming off one of his worst-ever games (12 of 18, 112 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions) and the circus that follows him. Advertisement Ulbrich didn’t have much to say about Rodgers’ performance on Sunday. “I got to look at the tape honestly,” Ulbrich said. “I didn’t get to see a whole lot of the offense.” It’s not hard to figure out which of the Jets’ two veteran quarterbacks Wilson prefers. In last week’s loss to the Rams, Rodgers got the Jets into the red zone early in the fourth quarter and on fourth down forced a fade to Adams rather than targeting Wilson, who was open elsewhere (the pass was broken up). Wilson only had three targets in that game until late in the fourth quarter. After that game, Wilson was asked about his lack of involvement. His answer: “I’d like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently.” It was a clear shot at Rodgers. A few days later, Rodgers said he and Wilson hadn’t spoken about the wide receiver’s frustration in weeks — and he didn’t seem particularly interested in delving into their relationship. On Sunday, it took Rodgers exiting the game for Wilson to finally get targets in the red zone. Taylor looked Wilson’s way promptly after getting the offense into the red zone against Bills backups, and Wilson hauled it in for an impressive touchdown catch. It was Wilson’s first target in the red zone since Week 14. The Jets scored on Taylor’s next drive too. Taylor completed 11 of 14 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. “We knew how it was going to go when he gets out there,” Wilson said of Taylor. “At the end of the day, we’re all pros. When you say that word, he’s someone that exemplifies that more than anyone. When he gets out there and gets his opportunity, he’s going to take advantage.” If the assumption is that Rodgers won’t be returning to the Jets in 2025, as of now Taylor is the leading candidate to be their starting quarterback in 2025. The 35-year-old is under contract for another season, and he offers a different flavor than Rodgers with his mobility and willingness to take shots down the field, though he has been injury-prone throughout his career. Advertisement But if starting Taylor (or someone else) is what it takes to keep Wilson around, then that is what should happen. The Rodgers experiment failed. The Wilson experiment is still ongoing, and he at least sounds like someone who can see a future in which he’s still a Jet and things are better than they are now. There are a lot of factors to consider — Wilson is eligible for a contract extension for the first time this offseason, and the Jets still need to hire a head coach and GM — but he’s the sort of player to build around. Rodgers, at this point, is not. “It’s frustrating,” Wilson said of the Jets’ season, “but it’s going to make those good times coming down the road that much more enjoyable because we went through things like this.” (Photo: Timothy T. 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CJ Donaldson has two short TD runs, West Virginia beats UCF 31-21 to become bowl eligible

In an era of global uncertainty, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-India partnership stands as a paragon of stability and progress. Our relationship — built on shared values and mutual respect — has evolved into a comprehensive strategic alliance that transcends mere economic cooperation. It is a partnership that envisions a future of shared prosperity, innovation and global leadership. The year 2024 has been pivotal in cementing this extraordinary bond. High-level visits, including those of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in January, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in September, and Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to the UAE, underscore the depth of our commitment. These exchanges have not only reinforced our shared vision but have also paved the way for groundbreaking collaborations. The UAE has proudly upheld a “legacy of diplomacy” in its relationship with India, symbolised by the visits of three generations of UAE leaders. This tradition began with the late Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, who visited India in 1992 and planted an amaltas sapling (Cassia fistula) at the Mahatma Gandhi Mausoleum in New Delhi. In 2016, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed followed this gesture with the planting of a molshri (Mimusops elengi) sapling, and this year, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed planted an amaltas sapling, further strengthening this legacy. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed is the third generation leader from the UAE to plant a sapling at Rajghat, reflecting the UAE’s enduring commitment to this historic partnership. The recent gathering of the 15th UAE-India Joint Committee and the Fourth Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi marks another significant milestone in the relationship between the two nations. It provided an excellent opportunity to look back on what we have accomplished, and to find new ways to work together to make our partnership even stronger. The UAE-India economic partnership has reached unprecedented heights. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) — signed in 2022 — has ushered in a new era of trade and investment. The bilateral trade, which reached close to $84 billion in 2023-2024, positions the UAE as India’s second-largest export destination and third-largest trading partner. We are well on track to surpass our ambitious goal of $100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030. The UAE’s emergence as India’s fourth-largest foreign direct investor in 2023, with investments exceeding $3 billion, marks another significant milestone. This three-fold increase from 2022 spans critical sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, health care and technology, which reflects the deep trust between the two nations. The UAE-India partnership extends far beyond economic figures. The large community of Indian nationals in the UAE form the bedrock of our people-to-people ties. The inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir and the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi in 2024 are testaments to our shared cultural and educational aspirations. These initiatives, along with the upcoming Indian Institute of Foreign Trade campus at Expo City Dubai, herald a new era of intellectual and cultural exchange. As we look to the future, our focus shifts to sectors that will define the coming decades. Supercomputing, space exploration, semiconductor technology and genomic sequencing are areas where UAE-India collaboration can lead to groundbreaking advancements. Our recent agreements in civil nuclear energy and LNG supply underscore our commitment to sustainable and cutting edge technologies. The aviation sector also presents immense opportunities for growth. Enhanced connectivity between the two nations will not only prove a boost to tourism and business but also will strengthen their position as global hubs for trade and innovation. The two countries’ partnership extends to the global stage, where they collaborate on platforms such as G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor initiative exemplifies the shared vision for transcontinental connectivity and economic integration. Through these engagements, the UAE and India are shaping a more balanced and multipolar world order. The partnership has also expanded significantly in the realm of defence and security. The 12th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting in July 2024 focused on joint military exercises, defence industrial partnerships and research and development initiatives. The two countries have also strengthened their cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, including combating cross-border terrorism and terrorist financing. The UAE-India partnership is more than a bilateral relationship; it is a model for international cooperation in the 21st century. As we continue to deepen our ties across various sectors, from energy to artificial intelligence (AI), we are not just building economic synergies but fostering a shared future of innovation, sustainability, and global leadership. Our journey together is a testament to what nations can achieve when they unite with a common purpose and shared values. As we stand on the cusp of a new era, the UAE-India partnership is poised to lead the way in creating a more prosperous, sustainable, and interconnected world. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan is minister of foreign affairs and a deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The views expressed are personalJordan Jones scores 18 to lead Central Connecticut over Johnson & Wales (RI) 100-51The Dallas Cowboys ruled out right guard Zack Martin and cornerback Trevon Diggs with injuries on Saturday, one day prior to a road game against the Washington Commanders. Martin has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries and didn't practice at all this week before initially being listed as doubtful to play on Friday. He also physically struggled during Monday night's loss to the Houston Texans. Martin, who turned 34 on Wednesday, has started all 162 games played in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He's a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. Diggs has been dealing with groin and knee injuries. He was listed as questionable on Friday before being downgraded Saturday. Diggs, 26, has 37 tackles and two interceptions in 10 games this season. The two-time Pro Bowl pick led the NFL with 11 picks in 2021 and has 20 in 57 games. The Cowboys elected not to activate receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) for the game. He returned to practice earlier this week and he was listed as questionable on Friday. Dallas activated offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (toe) and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee) off injured reserve Saturday, placed safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) on IR and released defensive end KJ Henry. Tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) was previously ruled out. Tight end Princeton Fant was elevated from the practice squad to replace him. Cornerback Kemon Hall also was elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media