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NEW YORK — Nikki Haley became a trusted member of Donald Trump’s inner circle over the past year, but she's recently refamiliarized herself with a downside of professional success: rumors of an affair, this time with the president of the United States. Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations calls the chatter “highly offensive” and “disgusting,” the result of what happens far too often to strong women. The online speculation was instigated by “Fire and Fury” author Michael Wolff, who dropped hints on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week when he said he was “absolutely sure” Trump is having an affair — just not sure enough to write about it in his book. Wolff went on to say that discriminating readers would be able to determine the president's paramour by giving his book a close reading: “Now that I've told you, when you hit that paragraph, you're gonna say, 'Bingo.'” Readers quickly homed in on a single sentence in the runaway best-seller, which has been criticized for everything from sloppy copy editing to gross factual inaccuracies. Wolff writes, “The president had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future.” “It is absolutely not true,” Haley said, arguing that Wolff not only has his facts wrong, but that his insinuation is similar to other attacks that she and other successful women have faced when they've been forced to swat down suggestions they've slept their way to the top. “I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there,” she said in an interview Thursday for POLITICO’s Women Rule podcast, referring to a flight from Washington to Long Island in late July. “He says that I’ve been talking a lot with the president in the Oval about my political future. I’ve never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him.” “So the idea that these things come out, that’s a problem,” she said. “But it goes to a bigger issue that we need to always be conscious of: At every point in my life, I’ve noticed that if you speak your mind and you’re strong about it and you say what you believe, there is a small percentage of people that resent that and the way they deal with it is to try and throw arrows, lies or not.” Wolff did not respond to a request for comment. During a 40-minute conversation at the U.S. mission to the U.N. in Manhattan, Haley not only swatted down Wolff’s allegations, but also discussed how the daughter of Indian immigrants raised in small-town Bamburg, South Carolina, got into American politics, wending her way from the Statehouse to the governorship of the Palmetto State and now, to Turtle Bay, where she represents a president she spoke out against during the Republican primary. Haley, during the campaign, said she was “not a fan” of Trump, who in turn told his Twitter followers, “The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!” When she joined the Trump administration, Haley was already considered a rising star in the GOP — a young and compelling red-state governor. But Trump’s unexpected rise seemed to serve as a rebuke to the Republican Party Haley represented — a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming coalition. Tapped to deliver the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address, she warned her fellow party against following “the siren call of the angriest voices” — a not-so-subtle jab at Trump. But the real estate mogul went on to win the South Carolina primary, besting Haley’s preferred candidate, Marco Rubio by 10 points. And then Trump asked Haley to join his administration. Having risen from a state Legislature, she had little preparation for the job. “This has felt like a big crash course, but I love it,” she said. “I am a fast learner and especially when it’s something I love, I soak it all in.” Haley said former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger — with whom she shares monthly lunches — has had the biggest influence on her worldview. “Whether it’s politics or whether it’s foreign policy, you tend to pass judgment, whether you should or not, on what you think is right or wrong.” “And what Dr. Kissinger has taught me is, get into the shoes of the other person: Think like the Russians, see what the motivations of the Russians are, then decide how you’re gonna act. Think like the Chinese, what are the Chinese worried about? Why would they be making that decision? And when you start to make decisions based on what they’re thinking, then you all of a sudden have a conversation that they can relate to.” The former governor distinguished herself early in the administration for her outspoken style and a willingness to clash publicly with the president. On Russia, for example, she has been far more confrontational than Trump, saying that “when a country can come interfere in another country’s elections, that is warfare.” Asked about the women who have accused the president of sexual harassment, she told CBS News last month, “women should always feel comfortable coming forward and we should all be willing to listen to them.” Haley maintains she has suffered little blowback for these comments and said that, after her CBS appearance, the president called her and “said I did a good job.” It's that sort of fearlessness, in Haley's telling, that has made her subject to a slew of salacious rumors intended to ruin her career. She was plagued by accusations of an extramarital relationship during her campaign for South Carolina governor and in her early governorship, something she dismisses as the product of resentment from a small minority of men who have it out for strong women.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. shares sank more than 8 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported that its founder, casino industry legend Steve Wynn, sexually harassed numerous women over many years. Wynn, also the finance chairman for the Republican National Committee, paid $7.5 million to settle claims brought by a former manicurist at his resort who said the executive pressured her to have sex with him, the Journal said. Wynn pressured massage therapists to perform sex acts for $1,000 tips, and others at the spa created fictitious appointments to avoid contact with him, said the newspaper, which contacted more than 150 people who worked with the casino magnate. Wynn, who turns 76 on Saturday, denied the allegations. “The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous,” he told the Journal. His fortune is valued at about $3.7 billion, most of it in Wynn shares, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The allegations are a major blow to a company whose reputation is synonymous with that of its founder, who starred in TV commercials with the likes of Frank Sinatra to promote his properties. Wynn Resorts fell as much as 8.2 percent to $184.13 in New York, the biggest drop since July 2017. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did the Republican National Committee, which urged the Democratic National Committee last year to return campaign donations from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein when he was accused of sexual assault. “If the DNC truly stands up for women like they say they do, then returning Weinstein’s dirty money should be a no-brainer,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted last year. The legal settlement detailed by the Journal in Friday’s report has become a major focus of a lawsuit between Wynn and his ex-wife Elaine Wynn, who is seeking to gain control of her 9 percent stake in the casino giant. Steve Wynn has long sought to maintain his hold over the company because he lost his previous business, Mirage Resorts, to an unsolicited bid from mogul Kirk Kerkorian. Wynn’s second-in-command and heir apparent at Wynn Resorts is Matt Maddox, a 16-year company veteran who rose from vice president of investor relations to president. Wynn is chairman of the board, whose lead director is former Nevada Governor Robert J. Miller. Maddox and Miller didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. While Wynn Resorts is based in Las Vegas, it generates more than 70 percent of its business in the Chinese gambling market of Macau. After reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings this week, the company said it plans to develop the next phase of the $4.2 billion Wynn Palace there on 11 acres (4.45 hectares). The company also announced plans for a new 2,500-room property across Las Vegas Boulevard from its current towers on the site of the former Frontier casino and is constructing a new hotel, convention and lake resort behind its existing properties.

WASHINGTON — A senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign who was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a young subordinate was kept on the campaign at Mrs. Clinton’s request, according to four people familiar with what took place. Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager at the time recommended that she fire the adviser, Burns Strider. But Mrs. Clinton did not. Instead, Mr. Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job. Mr. Strider, who was Mrs. Clinton’s faith adviser, a co-founder of the American Values Network, and sent the candidate scripture readings every morning for months during the campaign, was hired five years later to lead an independent group that supported Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 candidacy, Correct the Record, which was created by a close Clinton ally, David Brock. He was fired after several months for workplace issues, including allegations that he harassed a young female aide, according to three people close to Correct the Record’s management. Mr. Strider did not respond to an email seeking comment. A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton provided a statement from Utrecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners, the law firm that had represented the campaign in 2008 and has been involved on sexual harassment issues. Continue reading the main story RELATED COVERAGE NEWS ANALYSIS Hillary Clinton Ignited a Feminist Movement. By Losing. JAN. 13, 2018 “To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct or harassment. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken,” the statement said. “This complaint was no exception.” The woman’s experience and the reaction to it have not been previously reported. Until now, former Clinton associates were unwilling to discuss the events for publication. But that changed in the wake of the #MeToo movement, in which dozens of men across the country and across different industries, have been fired or suspended for sexual misconduct. This account was based on interviews with eight former campaign officials and associates of Mrs. Clinton. They said the campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, and other senior campaign officials discussed the situation involving Mr. Strider and Mrs. Clinton’s response at the time. Some of them were troubled that he was allowed to remain on the campaign. The complaint against Mr. Strider was made by a 30-year-old woman who shared an office with him. She told a campaign official that Mr. Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent her a string of suggestive emails, including at least one during the night, according to three former campaign officials familiar with what took place. The complaint was taken to Ms. Doyle, the campaign manager, who approached Mrs. Clinton and urged that Mr. Strider, who was married at the time, be fired, according to the officials familiar with what took place. Mrs. Clinton said she did not want to, and instead he remained on her staff. The woman who made the accusation against Mr. Strider in 2008 has not spoken publicly about it. She, like most campaign staffers, signed a nondisclosure agreement that barred employees from publicly discussing internal dynamics on the campaign, according to two people with direct knowledge of the contract. Reached by a reporter, she declined to comment. Ms. Solis Doyle also declined to comment. Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy has been cited as an inspiration for the #MeToo movement, but she has not played a visible role in it. After several Hollywood actresses told The Times and The New Yorker that Harvey Weinstein, a longtime friend and donor to the Clintons, had harassed or assaulted them, Mrs. Clinton spoke out against his behavior, saying in a statement that she was “shocked and appalled by the revelations.” Weeks later the actress Lena Dunham, one of Mrs. Clinton’s most visible celebrity supporters in her 2016 presidential bid, told the Times that she warned two Clinton campaign aides against associating with Mr. Weinstein. “I just want you to know that Harvey’s a rapist and this is going to come out at some point,” Ms. Dunham said she told the campaign. Nick Merrill, the communications director for Mrs. Clinton, said at the time Ms. Dunham spoke publicly that she was mistaken. “As to claims about a warning, that’s something staff wouldn’t forget,” he said.

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And both peace and goodwill are sentiments celebrated annually when the city of Oslo donates a giant Christmas tree to London in recognition of our country’s efforts during World War 2. This year we’re celebrating that enduring tradition with a delivery of our own, transporting a Christmas tree the length of the country from Scotland’s west coast to the Autocar offices in London, bringing joy and festive merriment to the editorial team. Aston Martin DB11 review And what greater freighter for the task than our favourite British grand tourer, the Aston Martin DB11? It should provide some back-road thrills up north, then devour the motorway miles on the home run. Along the way, we’ll stop by Immingham Docks in Lincolnshire to see how the professionals do it as the big tree from Norway gets loaded up before heading south. Even without the detours and general wombling involved in photographing such road trips, that’s a respectable 550-mile journey. I know what you’re thinking, though: the DB11 only has a 270-litre boot – sapling territory at best – and Aston isn’t in the habit of selling roof racks. Online reviews of aftermarket ‘soft’ racks bear unwelcome titles such as “Stitching split” and “Kayak skidded down road”, so those are out, too. But with protective film on the roof, £20 worth of ratchet straps from Screwfix and some padding, we’re ready for action. We begin at Argyll Forest Park’s Glenbranter Estate, first leased to the Forestry Commission Scotland by chief gloaming-roamer Sir Harry Lauder. We’re met by visitor services manager Sue Morris, who invites us to follow tree-wise men Andy Kerr and Stevie Cooper in search of our star conifer. Aston Martin DB11 V8 review Our DB11 is the full-cheese 600bhp V12, whose £182,660 sticker price includes £3495 of Morning Frost White paint and £4740 worth of diamond-turned 20in alloy wheels. It couldn’t be more incongruous following Kerr’s van, smothering nature’s sweet chorus as we burble past a sparkling burn and up a muddy track into shaded woodland. Then it’s wellies on for a tramp into the trees, Kerr’s tiny dog, Ness, leading us between enormous Sitka spruce on a plush carpet of bouncy sphagnum. Unlike the manually shaped, farmed Christmas trees you’ll find in most homes, we’re searching for one of the naturally occurring, free-range examples dotted around the estate’s rugged expanse of almost 10,000 acres. In an improbably perfect, sunlit clearing, we find what we’re looking for: a fine, bushy, six-foot Norway spruce. I’m no expert, but this is one handsome tree. Its counterpart from Oslo is perennially known as ‘Queen of the Forest’, so for commensurate regalness, and in honour of a fellow Argyll resident, ours becomes ‘Robert the Spruce’.

We've watched plenty of Yule log videos for the holidays. There's the classic "just a burning log" video, which you can stream to your TV for hours if you don't actually have a fireplace of your own. And don't forget the ever-delightful "Lil BUB" variant, which trades annoying holiday music for the world's cutest cat. Even Nick Offerman has a Yule log video—though this writer would much prefer what's in his glass than the log. Not to be outdone, Blizzard's own Jeff Kaplan—creative director of the po[CENSORED]r first-person shooter Overwatch$59.99 at Best Buy—has been sitting in front of a fire for nearly four hours as of when we wrote this article. He's streaming the entire affair to Twitch, but you might find yourself looking for a bit more excitement if you tune in. Like Offerman, Kaplan is taking a strong, silent approach to his stream. Rarely does he chat with the camera (or anyone Blizzard roped in to film the stunt over its holiday break). He's not even drinking from the not-full coffee mug or eating any of the nearby (and delicious-looking) holiday cookies. He's just staring. Staring, thinking, and perhaps revisiting whatever bet he lost that places him in the holiday hot seat for an unknown amount of time. RELATED Blizzard Creates 'Incubation Teams' to Develop New IP Blizzard Creates 'Incubation Teams' to Develop New IP Some of our favorite moments of Kaplan's stream include the time the sound guy bopped him on the head with a boom mic—a classic holiday tradition—as well as the delivery of an Overwatch-themed present. We also enjoy the brief look of sadness on Kaplan's face when he realizes that he's only three hours into an (allegedly) 10-hour stream. He also considers a cookie at one point, but fails to follow through. We're not quite sure what Kaplan's ultimate goal is, aside from having the numbest bottom in the world come Christmas Day. If this is some kind of bet for charity, we commend him for his dedication. If he's just trying to drum up some enthusiasm for Overwatch, it seems unnecessary; in October of this year, Overwatch officially hit 35 million worldwide players, though its growth has slowed a bit from previous milestones. Regardless of reason, Kaplan is at least getting plenty of eyeballs for his stunt. The Overwatch Twitch channel is currently featured on the site's home page, and just around 43,000 viewers are watching Kaplan keep warm for the holidays.