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Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Impartner's Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive partner program growth and enhance business strategies. SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner , a leading provider of partner management and partner marketing automation solutions, today announced the availability of its Partnership Relationship Management (PRM) platform in Microsoft Azure Marketplace , an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Impartner customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Impartner PRM enables businesses to effectively manage and scale their partner ecosystems. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform offers real-time data synchronization, scalable cloud infrastructure, and enterprise-grade security. Impartner's PRM leverages Dynamics 365 to provide bi-directional data synchronization, streamlining partner management and optimizing the sales pipeline. Customers benefit from improved partner engagement, increased scalability through Azure, and secure compliance with global standards. Impartner's PRM includes AI-powered tools, such as an AI-driven chatbot, that enhance resource accessibility and partner engagement with 24/7 support. By integrating with Dynamics 365 and Azure, Impartner ensures customers can scale their operations and benefit from a cloud infrastructure that supports growth, efficiency, and innovation. "We're excited to make Impartner's PRM available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, enabling businesses to manage and grow their partner ecosystems more effectively," said Ryan Knapp , Global Head of Partnerships at Impartner. "By combining our advanced platform with Microsoft cloud infrastructure, we're helping companies streamline operations, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth. This integration opens up new possibilities for businesses to scale efficiently and innovate with confidence." "Microsoft welcomes Impartner to Azure Marketplace, where global customers can find, try, and buy from among thousands of partner solutions," said Jake Zborowski , General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace and trusted partners like Impartner help customers do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About Impartner Impartner is the fastest-growing, most awarded provider of channel management technologies, including its flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Partner Marketing Automation solutions. These tools empower organizations worldwide to effectively manage partner relationships, drive demand through partners, and accelerate revenue via indirect sales channels. For more information, visit impartner.com . For more information, press only: Lola Phonpadith Impartner Lola.phonpadith@impartner.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-partner-relationship-management-platform-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302339325.html SOURCE Impartner

Freshly fried kartoffelpuffer next to southern barbecued ribs. Hand-carved nutcrackers neighboring kitchen utensils made from bullets. A snow machine spouting flurries in the shade of Choctaw Stadium. The blending of Bavarian and Arlington culture at the Texas Christkindl Market brings a smile to Sheri Capehart’s face. Get Arlington news that matters. Sign up for local stories in your inbox every Thursday. Every Christmas for the past 14 years, the Texas Christkindl Market has given Arlington a taste of its German sister city, Bad Königshofen . The bazaar draws inspiration from traditional Christmas markets across Europe, putting vendors from around the world behind holly-decorated wooden stalls. The market is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. Each afternoon features a new form of entertainment on the market’s main stage, with performances from local school choirs, North Texas bands and dance groups. The market is a passion project for Capehart, who served on Arlington City Council for 16 years before retiring in 2020. She serves as director of Arlington Sister Cities and now sits on Sister Cities International’s board of directors. Her idea for the festival sprouted during an official winter visit to Bad Königshofen, where she was visiting to honor the retirement of the town’s burgomeister, effectively its mayor. Arlington’s relationship with Königshofen dates back to 1951, when a relationship formed between the German town’s city manager and 23-year-old Arlington mayor Tom Vandergriff. At the time, the cities were similar in size with populations of about 7,000. Bad Königshofen, located a few miles west of the East German border, was overwhelmed by an influx in refugees from the east in the post-World War II political climate, and it needed help supplying food and clothing. Arlington residents, excited to form healing relationships with Germans, started donating supplies to help Bad Königshofen. The relationship has continued since, now evolving into a cultural exchange between Germany and North Texas. In fall 2024, Arlington also became an official friendship city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, another German city. Capehart knew the German markets would appeal to Texans. When she returned to Arlington, she set to work to win the city’s support, eventually debuting the market in 2011. The market started small, only operating for four days in its first year, but it drew crowds from across North Texas and quickly sold out of German chocolate and crafts. Eric and Kathryn Escutia stumbled upon the market on its 2024 opening day on their way to the Texas Live! entertainment venue. It was a pleasant surprise to find the cozy pocket of Europe among the stadiums, they said. They’ve lived in Arlington for over five years, but this was the first time they heard about the market or the city’s German ties. As Christkindl grew in its early years, Capehart set her eyes on getting on the radar of Käthe Wohlfahrt , a renowned German boutique craft-making brand, to set up shop in Arlington. The company is picky where it shows face, Capehart said, with 10 seasonal locations in North America including the Texas Christkindl Market. Käthe Wohlfahrt would only agree to come to Arlington if the market was open for four weeks — long enough to justify importing products from Germany. Capehart was happy to oblige. Around 20 vendors come from across the world, with most returning each year, said Henry Lewczyk, who manages the market. Vendors sell clothing weavings from Peru, ornaments from Egypt and German concessions from Montana. Robb Pocklington spends his time at the market sitting behind a table of polished gemstones, custom jewelry and geodes. He’s the face of Doc Pock’s Harmonious Rocks and has been a vendor since its first year. Often surrounded by visitors gawking at his geode cracking and polished stone jewelry, he’s watched the market grow, change locations and attract new vendors. “It keeps me busy,” he said. Lewczyk has managed the market since it first opened. Year-round, he keeps in touch with vendors, city officials and stadium managers to ensure Christkindl can open smoothly for the holiday season. Lewczyk’s favorite parts of the job are admittedly cliche, he said. He loves watching children grow up taking photos each year with the market’s Santa Claus, whose face hasn’t changed since 2011. He loves showering families with synthetic snow each night — some of whom have never experienced a flurry. Most of all, Lewczyk loves seeing people smile. So, at a place as jolly as the Christkindl Market, he feels he’s in the right line of work. Drew Shaw is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601 . At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Drew Shaw, Arlington Report December 3, 2024West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski alert and conscious after being taken off on a stretcher

2024 year in review: How did California pay for everything?Victoria Police are investigating an incident in the downtown core on Christmas Eve, involving a stolen vehicle that evaded officers before being recovered. Around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, officers received a call from the owners of a stolen vehicle that it had been spotted being driven downtown, Vic PD confirmed in an email to Victoria News. Officers located the vehicle and moved into position behind it. However, the driver ran a red light, which caused officers to end their pursuit for public safety reasons. Police located the stolen vehicle again, a few moments later, immobile. In an attempt to prevent the individual from fleeing further, officers executed a manoeuvre which resulted in the stolen vehicle losing one of its tires. Despite the damage, the vehicle managed to flee the scene on three wheels. The pursuit resumed as the stolen vehicle sped down some of Victoria's busiest arteries. Many social media users commented on the event and posted videos of the sighting. “Holy there is a guy driving a three-wheeled 4x4 down Douglas sparks flying with two dozen cops chasing them they almost hit us,” said Facebook user Takuma Valcourt. VicPD confirmed that the stolen vehicle was later recovered, and the investigation remains ongoing.Actress Annette Bening rallied outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday as justices heard oral arguments in a case surrounding Tennessee’s law banning sex change drugs and procedures for minors who believe they are transgender. The American Beauty star pressed for confused minors to have access to sex-mutilating drugs and surgeries, and called upon her experience with her own daughter, Stephen Ira Beatty, who identifies as a man. “I have four beautiful children, and I’m allowed to brag about my children ’cause they’re mine. And my eldest is a remarkable trans man, an extraordinary human being,” she said to a crowd of people outside the nation’s highest court. “As a well-meaning parent, I didn’t always know how to support my teenager — my vulnerable teenager who was just trying to live his truth. But you know what? I learned.” “I learned that what these kids and families need is judicious counseling, sound medical advice, and an atmosphere of calm and love and acceptance,” she continued. “Our trans kid and all trans folks need to be seen and heard. There is nothing to be frightened of.” Bening went on to assert that people who identify as transgender “are everywhere” and that it is “our responsibility to support and love them.” “I think the greatest gift of my life is to have kids, and to have a transgender child has made me so much more interesting, so much more wise,” she said with a touch of humor to her voice, as the crowd cheered and laughed. “And for the Supreme Court justices, I encourage them to talk to their kids, their grandkids, their nieces and nephews, because I’ll bet if they really sit down and ask them, do you know trans kids around you? Do you have any non-binary friends? They’re going to say yes. And they’re going to say that this is part of the beautiful rainbow of human beings everywhere,” she concluded. Bening has previously spoken in favor of sex changes for minors, claiming that parents who allow such procedures simply want “what is best” for their child. She also previously said her transgender child is “such an inspiration” to her, and wished everyone would have a trans person in their family in order to truly “get it.” RELATED: Mothers Pushing Transgenderism on Children Seek ‘Mama Bear Crusade’ The Biden administration ultimately asked the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling from the Ohio-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding Tennessee’s law protecting minors from sex-mutilating drugs and surgeries. “This is a relatively new diagnosis with ever-shifting approaches to care over the last decade or two. Under these circumstances, it is difficult for anyone to be sure about predicting the long-term consequences of abandoning age limits of any sort for these treatments,” Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, who was joined by Judge Amul Thapar, wrote for the 6th Circuit. As almost half of the United States has passed laws barring minors from obtaining transgender drugs and surgeries, the resulting Supreme Court ruling will likely have wide-ranging impacts for the future of so-called “gender-affirming care,” as well as parental rights. READ MORE: Transgender Curbs Protect Children, Not Sexism, Lawyer Tell SCOTUS The side effects for sex change drugs and procedures can be severe , including irreversible mutilation and infertility. Some of these so-called treatments include double mastectomies (the removal of healthy breasts), female and male genital mutilation and removal, facial feminization and masculinization, hormone treatments, and puberty blockers that can cause chemical sterilization. Puberty blockers can also have long-term impact on bone growth, bone density, and growth spurts, according to Mayo Clinic. Transgender activists frequently claim that such sex-mutilating drugs and procedures for confused minors reduce suicides and improve mental health — dubious claims which increasingly appear untrue as more studies and data come to light. Other research has indicated that a majority of children who are confused about their sex grow out of that feeling by the time they become adults. Opponents of sex changes for minors argue that it is impossible for young people to comprehend and legally consent to the potential lasting impacts of these drugs and surgeries. European countries that pushed sex change drugs and surgeries for minors before the United States are notably reversing course over concerns about long-term impacts. In the United States, the top-down push for minors to obtain sex-mutilating drugs and surgeries under the misleading moniker “gender-affirming care” is clear, promulgated by President Joe Biden’s White House , academia , large hospitals , and major medical organizations . READ MORE: Biden Administration Promotes Transgender Sex-Change Surgery, Puberty Blockers for Minors At the root, these actors, along with the proliferation of gender ideology on social media, ultimately promote the false idea that human beings can be a different sex than what they were born as. Even further, the gender ideology complex claims these individuals should take sex-change drugs and get sex-change procedures to align their outward appearance with how they feel on the inside. While the push toward transgenderism is heavily ideological, a report released in December 2020 found that the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market size was valued at $267 million in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4 percent from 2020 to 2027.WILLMAR — As the wind blew and the snow fell Wednesday evening in Willmar, everything was sweet and warm in the Willmar Community Center . As a Thanksgiving treat for the community, GlenOaks hosted a free pie social at the center, complete with various pie flavors and warm apple cider. Pies on hand included traditional seasonal flavors of pumpkin and pecan, along with Boston cream, strawberry rhubarb and tangy lemon meringue. There were also arts and crafts projects for all ages. Deb Stelter assisted people in making a beautiful Christmas greeting card, and there was also the opportunity to make leaf-shaped suncatchers and puzzle trees. Community members at the social were able to enjoy a piece of pie, make a craft, visit with friends and family and experience the season of thanksgiving and togetherness.

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Superstar Olympian Maher joins Bristol in blockbuster dealThe "Finest Cultural Gifts from China" Cultural and Tourism Trade Promotion Activity (Special Session for Musical Journey) Held in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province 12-03-2024 09:32 PM CET | Fashion, Lifestyle, Trends Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Stones_PR On November 30, the "Finest Cultural Gifts from China" Cultural and Tourism Trade Promotion Activity (Special Session for Musical Journey), guided by the Department of Industry Development of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was held in Bailu Music Town, Pengzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The event was conducted both online and offline, with live coverage through text, images, and video on domestic and international platforms, attracting over 2.14 million online participants, including more than 970,000 overseas viewers. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/11/b5785942218be5b523eaf61ea341bafc.jpg The event was hosted by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and organized by the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcast-TV, and Tourism, the Pengzhou Municipal Government, China Tourism News, and the Institute of Creative Industries Technology at the Renmin University of China. It aimed to propel outstanding Chinese music products, projects, and services onto the global stage and attract international tourists to "travel with music in China" while contributing to the development of Sichuan's cultural and tourism industries as well as Chengdu's efforts to build itself into an "International Music City". This event features a total of 43 music-related products and projects and 12 music-themed tourism routes, along with a dedicated product manual. Five music-related companies participated in roadshow presentations to showcase their offerings, including the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center "Art Performance for Parent-Child Bonding" boutique tourism routes and Bailu Music Town. On the same day, the "Finest Music from China" Bailu International Music Artists Alliance was officially established. In addition, the host introduced 10 music-themed tourism routes, inviting domestic and international tourists to explore the scenic beauty of Sichuan through a music-themed journey. A special concert by the China National Traditional Orchestra was held during the event, captivating guests from home and abroad with the charms of traditional Chinese music. Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/11/0d099e0880c7ad131745134bc5a918c8.jpg The music industry is a key part of the cultural industry. In recent years, with "content + technology + integrated innovation" as the core driver, Tencent Music and Migu Music, among others, have played their platform strengths to deepen their presence in the music sector. Through initiatives like Tencent Music Entertainment Group's Global Music Outreach Initiative, they have strived to advance the global expansion of Chinese music, achieving fruitful results. Various guests were present at the event, including Ye Xiaogang, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Chairman of the China Musicians Association; Wang Xiaofeng, President of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association; officials from the Department of Industry Development of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, some provincial (district and municipal) administrative departments of culture and tourism, and local governments; and representatives from cultural and tourism enterprises, cross-border e-commerce platforms, investment and financing institutions, experts, and media outlets. It is understood that by integrating domestic and international resources as well as online and offline resources, the "Finest Cultural Gifts from China" Cultural and Tourism Trade Promotion Activity seeks to showcase, promote, and trade high-quality cultural and tourism products with distinct Chinese characteristics and styles that are well-received in the international market. It strives to build a platform for exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises, expanding the cultural trade scale and optimizing the structure. Ultimately, the campaign aims to boost the international competitiveness and popularity of Chinese enterprises and brands. Over 11 special sessions have been previously held for the "Finest Cultural Gifts from China" Cultural and Tourism Trade Promotion Activity. They have received an overwhelming response and produced remarkable results. Media Contact Company Name: Globalnewsonline Contact Person: Luayy Alkilani Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=the-finest-cultural-gifts-from-china-cultural-and-tourism-trade-promotion-activity-special-session-for-musical-journey-held-in-pengzhou-sichuan-province ] Country: United States Website: http://www.globalnewsonline.info/ This release was published on openPR.

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Netflix's Squid Game Season 1 was one of the biggest hits ever for the streamer. The Korean drama series from Hwang Dong-hyuk pitted those on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder , and deeply in debt, against each other in a twisted win-or-die tournament for a large cash prize. So, in celebration of Season 2, Jung-jae and Seo-hwan sat down with me to reflect on behind-the-scenes moments and important themes from Squid Game 's second installment. 1. What messages about classism and society in this season do you think are most important for viewers to take away? Lee Seo-hwan : Being a player in Season 2, I felt that this season is not really about classism, but it's really about the choices that people make. Choice, in and of itself, becomes very important in Season 2 because we have a voting system. And it may look like a democracy from the outset, but there's a lot of psychological warfare going on behind the scenes. And it's not a vertical, hierarchical situation, but it's horizontal. There are a lot of different sides, people taking sides and being in silos, and when you make a choice, you understand that you have to be responsible for your choice. That is the main theme of this season. Lee Jung-jae: What really stood out for me in Season 2 is that we have to vote for every round, as my friend just said, and the vote becomes as tense as the games themselves. There's so much at stake for the participants, and they want to talk people into siding with them, and if you don't side with me, you become my enemy that I have to kill. There's a lot of tension around that. 2. Do you think that represents the world right now? Lee Jung-jae: I think it's parallel to the political sphere that we see nowadays. It's so polarized, it's just two sides, and they can't come to a compromise. So it feels like, "Is this the right way to go? Is this how politics should be?" Competing with other people is good, but should we not have so much conflict with people? So those are the questions that Squid Game Season 2 deals with, and I think it could provide a lot of food for thought for the viewers. 3. What's an important difference between Season 2 and Season 1 that creates a different feeling or element? Lee Seo-hwan : In Season 2, you see less of the VIPs compared to Season 1. I thought about why director Hwang did it that way. When we don't see the VIPs, the entire drama, the Squid Game Show, becomes more like The Truman Show . The Front Man is like the producer of the Truman Squid Game Show , and we are the viewers who are watching from afar. 4. Jung-jae, in Season 1, your character's main motive was making money. But this season, revenge or retribution is his main motive. How do you feel like your character evolved? Lee Jung-jae: Gi-hun is just an ordinary man. He doesn't have any special abilities. So I question myself, and I think the viewers would question themselves: Can he really bring the people behind the game to justice? Does he have the power? Could he complete his mission of ending the game by creating unity with the participants? Or maybe people would not want to listen to him. They might attack him, and maybe he would be in danger. 5. If you could play any other character in Season 2, who would it be? Lee Jung-jae: I actually want to try playing Gi-hun again. 6. Why is that? Lee Jung-jae: I could really relate to Gi-hun, because after witnessing all the atrocities that happened in the game, he just couldn't turn a blind eye to it. And I think I would have done the same. 7. Seo-hwan, what is your favorite scene that you filmed as Jeong-bae? Lee Seo-hwan: My favorite scene is when I'm talking with Gi-hun about what we did in the past. And I tell him, "Let's grab a soju when we get out of here." That line really tells me that he wants his normal life back, and he knows how precious that life was. We always say this in Korea, "Let's grab a soju." That means, "We'll meet up later," or "I'll see you again." We always say it when we part ways in Korea, but when I was saying the line in the show, it actually brought me to tears. For the first time, Jeong-bae is really noticing that his life is a very precious one, and he wants to return to that life. 8. Why is Jeong-bae's friendship with Gi-hun integral to this season? Lee Seo-hwan: They used to be coworkers, and they protested together for their rights, but they both got fired. So they're not just friends; they're more like comrades, and I'm an ex-Marine too, in the show. So that bond, that bromance, and that loyalty that I feel with Gi-hun, it's something that's very special. And it might sound cheesy, but I could even give up my life for my friend. 9. What was the hardest scene for both of you to film? Lee Seo-hwan: The round and round game. The lights would come on and off quickly. There would be sparks of lights. I have really bad eyesight, so that was quite blinding for me, and it was really slippery on the floor with all that blood. That was the most challenging scene for me to shoot. Lee Jung-jae: I would like to say that all scenes and all cuts were extremely difficult for me [ Laughs ]. 10. And finally, what real-life kid's game are you an expert at, and you feel like you could beat anyone? Lee Seo-hwan : [ Laughs ] The Sugar Honeycombs for me. Lee Jung-jae: Red Light, Green Light!India’s 13th prime minister and a key architect of the country’s economic liberalization, Manmohan Singh, died on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi following a health emergency at his residence. Doctors confirmed his death late Thursday evening. Born in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Singh held significant roles in Indian public life, including as finance minister, where he introduced reforms in 1991 that opened the Indian economy to global markets. A former economist with a doctorate from Oxford University, Singh also served as governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Singh became prime minister in 2004, leading the nation for a decade. During his tenure, his government oversaw a civil nuclear agreement with the US in 2008 and other significant initiatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on social media, saying: “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.” Singh is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters.NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russian attack with hypersonic missile

By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.” AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.

Join this golf club and you’ll get 7 ‘home’ courses across the USSan Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has added his voice to groups calling for clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, who had been in jail in Indonesia for more than 10 years and is expected to return to the country soon as part of the "transfer of custody" agreement between the Philippine and Indonesian governments. Bishop Alminaza, in a statement posted in his social media account, provided a short account of Veloso's incarceration as well as quotes of Pope Francis on human trafficking in the 2015 World Day of Peace message and exhortation on the 2024 International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. The advocacy group Migrante and church-based Task Force Save Mary Jane launched a petition asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant Mary Jane clemency. The signature campaign is supported by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), which as private lawyers of the Velosos have advised Task Force Save Mary Jane. "When Mary Jane Veloso left the Philippines in April 2010, she was going to Malaysia to work as a housemaid/domestic worker. Unfortunately, she had fallen into the trap of human traffickers who tricked her into unknowingly carrying a suitcase lined with drugs to Indonesia," he said. "Mary Jane ended up being arrested in the yogyakarta airport and within a few months she had been sentenced to death by firing squad," he added. Veloso, he also said, "is not unlike many of our kababayan who leave the Philippines at a rate higher than 6,000 a day; many are desperate to earn for their families and carry hopes of becoming breadwinners for their loved ones." But in April 2015, he recalled, there was a global movement #SaveMaryJane and a few weeks before a scheduled execution her parents related her story to the media. "Through the call for help, a miracle grew with thousands upon thousands joining a global appeal to save human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, a spirit of cooperation took root between countries, cultures and even faiths," said Alminaza. Mary Jane was spared from being executed by a temporary reprieve. "She would be given the opportunity to testify against her accused traffickers. More than nine years have passed and Mary Jane is still waiting to testify," the prelate said. With the new development, that is, with the Philippine and Indonesian governments facilitating her transfer of custody will allow her to be presented as state witness in the ongoing human trafficking and illegal recruitment trial of her traffickers in a Nueva Ecija court. "The faith of Mary Jane is a lesson for us all. Even after a deepest betrayal by her traffickers, Mary Jane believed in God's hand on her life. Mabubuhay siya," Alminaza said. He lifted a quote from Pope Francis' message on the 2024 International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, "Let us help one another to be more responsive, to open our lives and hearts to our sisters and brothers, who even now are being bought and sold as slaves. It is never too late to take action." "We cannot help but walk with her in solidarity, joining the prayers for her immediate and full clemency on humanitarian grounds, as a victim of human trafficking. we cannot help but continue in HOPE that granting her freedom will be as easy as Isang Hibla... for a little bit of mercy will make the world less cold and more just this Christmas," said Bishop Alminaza. — BAP, GMA Integrated News

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